Patrick Cote Deserves a Rematch with Anderson Silva
By Brandt DeLorenzo on Oct 26, 2008
Why? You name the last person to make it into the third round with Anderson Silva. I’ll help you out – It was Ryo Chonan back in Silva’s Pride days. He also lost via a flying heel hook in that very round. Before that, Silva had only won via decision if the fight made it past round two. Now, I’ll be realistic here as well; things have changed and I’m not going to base my argument on MMA math.
For those who thought that the UFC told Silva to wait it out and not kill Cote in the first round: Isn’t that asking Silva to fix the outcome of the fight? Isn’t that what got Seth Petruzelli and EliteXC into deep trouble just a couple weeks ago? I doubt anyone would ‘fess up and I doubt Anderson Silva would allow someone else to tell him how to fight. But, who knows in this crazy world of MMA these days.
Back to last night’s fight – I’m not saying that Cote was winning the fight or that Silva wasn’t feeling his opponent out. But there are a couple of questions to be answered. Why didn’t Silva end the fight earlier if he thought he could? Cote wasn’t going to make the same mistakes as James Irvin and suffer a KO in the first 30 seconds of the fight. Why didn’t the fight end on the ground when Anderson was in Cote’s guard? Everyone said that Cote had zero ground game. The fact of the matter here is that Anderson Silva didn’t find a way to “kill Patrick Cote via KO” in the first round like we all expected and because Cote was able to survive where many, including ex-Pride middleweight and light heavyweight champion Dan Henderson, failed.
I would like to see some answers without the rampant back and forth forum posts about who “would have” won last nights fight. I want to see someone win this fight. There’s a rematch that needs to happen in 2009 and this fight is it. Yushim Okami may just have to wait. And we’re waiting, at least give Cote a shirt that says “I made it past the second round with Anderson Silva!”
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Unfortunately a torn ACL may end Cote’s career or at least seriously hinder his return to the ring. First he’s going to have to clear medically and the state sports commission may give him at least 6 months. Then he have to get back in fighting form.
In that time, Silva will probably already have 2 more fights which may include a fight in the 205 weight limit.
Did they explain the severity of his particular ACL injury? And you’re right, Silva wasn’t hurt yet again and will be fighting before we know it. That’s the upside to never getting hit hard and winning.
I actually disagree. I could care less about seeing a rematch. There is no need for closure. Silva was playing with Cote like he was a toy. In the first 2 minutes Silva threw 1 kick… It was ridiculous. I can see how the UFC could market it…Rematch with the only guy who took him 3 rounds and only lost due to an injury, but lets be serious… Barring something extreme Cote was not going to beat Silva.
Cote isn’t top 3 in that division, let alone #1 contender… I hope the UFC lets this one slowly disappear.
If he was toying with Cote then why didn’t he finish him why of all people would Anderson let Cote make it to the third round?. The answer is simple he wasn’t toying with him Cote frustrated and completely took Silva off his game and it showed. Cote has a great chin and took everything Silva dished at him without breaking a sweat he also landed more shots on Silva than anybody else in he has faced in the UFC. All the kool-aid drinkers need to stop coming up with excuses as to why Anderson didn’t finish Cote in the first like they predicted, because Patrick showed he is more than deserving of a rematch at UFC 90.
EJ, I think you’re right except for one thing, Silva didn’t necessarily throw everything at him.
There was an exchange where at the end of the 2nd round where Silva appeared to hurt Cote with some knees. Cote caught Anderson with a good overhand right that made Silva come back with some good combinations. There’s a strong chance that Silva’s leg kicks were the cause of Cote’s freak injury.
Silva definitely appeared to be more patient with his attack. But Patrick Cote definitely gets credit for making Silva adjust his attack position often.
As far as the big question why didn’t Silva chop Cote’s head off or finish him in the first round? Whatever happened to why didn’t Cote use his granite hard chin and KO-powered hands to impose his will, “constantly pressure Silva” and take the championship. Great chin and all, he didn’t do that. Like Forrest, his job was to hurt the champion, outpoint him, ground and pound him, win the belt.
Anderson Silva’s job was to retain his belt, not necessarily decapitate his opponent within the first 2 rounds. He’s a regular MMA fighter just Fedor, GSP and B.J. Penn. He does not deliver automatic highlight reel executions to please crowds. What did Rogan say before “a ballet of violence?” I guess this time there was more ballet? Ha!!
That was a different Anderson Silva than the one that fought Rich Franklin or Dan Henderson… Why would Cote bring him off his game and none of those guys?
I thought Anderson Silva was en route to winning that fight, but that doesn’t diminish the significance of Cote’s survival.
Patrick is a great fighter, and I’m sure he’ll get a rematch.
I hope, though, that Anderson will be less tentative in the rematch. I understand that Cote is a good striker with a lot of power, but I think Anderson gave him a little too much respect.
Or Anderson wasn’t expecting what Cote was bringing to him. Who knows. I just want to see another fight so we can all stop speculating on “what ifs” and “should haves” for months to come.
I think the way the fight game is going that there’s very little 2nd chances. You either make the most of the first 5 minute or total 15 minutes or you blow it. It’s not as if any of the division champions are fighting all top contenders. By the time UFC 93 hits, other middleweights may make a stronger argument to contend for the MW title. Just like Yushin Okami, you get injured or don’t make the best of an opportunity like Henderson admitted in his first round against Silva, the opportunity may be loss.
If Cote actually won a round or two like Lutter and Henderson then maybe there might be a stronger immediate rematch talk. Reaching the 3rd round, sounds like Lutter’s boast of getting the better of Anderson in Round 1. After his loss to Franklin, I doubt you’ll ever see a rematch happen there. Although it would be interesting.
Cote, heal first and wait in line. I think there’s a number of other fighters who deserves rematch or a match. But the window of opportunity is short.
I don’t know if someone already posted this, as I didn’t take time to read everything, but it is NOT and ACL or MCL tear. Supposedly it was his muniscus that he injured which usually does not require surgery, and most commonly is associated with arthritus.
Does anyone not find it fishy that he went down on such a freak occurance??? I was at the fight and I found it a complete waste of $150 dollars. The whole thing appeared to be a fix to me, and before you write this off, actually think about the argument.
First off the odds were rediculous in Silva’s favor at -800 to Cote’s +425. That is a 1200 point difference which acts as a deterent to bet in Cote’s favor given the rediculous payoff if he pulls the impossible. Not only can you bet the straight outcome, but you can also bet the round. I’m not 100% on the details, but obviously more money can be wagered to pick Silva in the third considering no opponent in the UFC has made it that long against Silva.
Second, Silva hasn’t acted like Muhammed Ali in the ring, something that Dana White himself said was rediculous of Silva. Why would Silva all of the sudden start putting on a show against a serious underdog, offering help up off the mat, dancing etc. if he wasn’t trying to prove some kind of point. If he was approached to stretch the fight into more rounds than one as mentioned in the article (i.e. just like EliteXc as mentioned), maybe he was pissed about it and tring to prove a point……put someone in the ring worth fighting and let me fight my fight.
The whole thing was bogus, especially when you consider how much money they made off admission ($2.85 million) and pay per view. Oh yeah and the stupid ass t-shirts at $50 bucks a pop.
And in response to Cote taking Silva off his game by taking everything he dished out…..What fight were you watching?? Silva threw a couple counters, one that put Cote on his ass and then Silva offered him a hand to get up. If anything Cote was scared shitless. Silva didn’t do a thing more than a few counters either, he was never the agressor no did he exchange more than a couple counters. Silva didn’t finish him in the first because something fishy was going on. That might explain why COte was so damn excited to make it to the third, even though he took himself out of the fight shortly after. The whole thing was pretty fishy.
C-note thanks for the clarification. Silva didn’t drop him with a punch, it was Cote’s failed takedown attempt. Silva switched levels, spinned Cote for the takedown.
The theories and ideas will continue for a while. But I have a question for you hardcore fans.
Will you watch Silva’s next fight, knowing he has a tendency to feel out his opponent for the first minute and knowing he likes to dance, dodge and weave, and possible dazzle the crowd with creative movements in a fight? Yes, I will.
i wanna say that i am a huge fan of Silva!!! love to watch him fight!!! amazing!!!
but Cote Clearly had Silva frustrated, thats why Silva acted like he was messing with him. Cote got hit a few times, and never budged, and that pissed off Silva, but Silva hated the outcome of this fight as well!!!
i didnt see this as any UFC scandalous fight at all!!!
it was fair in my book til the torn ACL.
and the 2 of them need to go again!!!
But, on the same side….what leg do you think Silva will be kicking in this next fight? its a sure fire good fight, but a crap shoot at the same time!!
Hmmm….
let me know what you think….
i will watch also, Vee
I think lopro’s onto something there. Cote was switching stances as well as levels very very quickly. He’d obviously trained very hard to keep up such an incredible pace with Anderson.
Frankly, I think the only reason people didn’t LIKE this fight is because there was an expectation. People wanted to see a chump get his head knocked off. Instead they got an intelligent fighter going up against another intelligent fighter. Cote frustrated Silva and was making him work his feet. Why do you think Anderson started throwing up all the ninja moves? He was playing mind games. Why do you think Cote switched stances so many times. Mind Games.
You can’t stand and bang against Silva, and you can’t take him to the mat… you have to outwork him and wait for an opening.
Shame about the knee.
“Cote Clearly had Silva frustrated”
I enjoyed the fight. It was a really interesting pairing of strategies and styles displayed by two great combatants. Was Anderson Silva clearly frustrated? He appeared to be when he realized that Cote could not continue. Maybe a little frustrated during the post-fight press conference.
But I don’t think Cote really affected his mental game at all. Dan Henderson ground control during round one of their first fight?? Yeah, Silva pretty much didn’t appreciate the whole hand of the face tactic.
oops, sorry about the bold crap.