UFC president Dana White has been relentless in his criticism of ex-PRIDE heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko over the past several years. White has criticized and mocked the popular Russian for failing to face top competition and taking on inexperienced and even smaller fighters over the past three years. But upon learning that Emelianenko had submitted ex-UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia on Saturday in Anaheim, Calif., in less than a minute, White unflinchingly admitted he was impressed. “It does (change my opinion),†he conceded. “Tim Sylvia was a real opponent.†:: Dana the tool. His former 2 time heavyweight champ got raped!
I am not quite sure how White can criticize Fedor for lack of comp when he beat his current interim heavyweight champion twice. Or is there a different Noguira are these guys triplets?
"This guy is unreal," Sylvia said. "He's incredible, and I don't know if anybody's going to beat him for a while." :atu:
Fedor is the man Anderson Silva is just having a good run, that's it... Let's see him against the elite at LHW
You know Dana was praying Tim would put up a better fight or beat Fedor. Nevertheless, Dana has the second best HW in the world as UFC Champion. That's pretty good. ::
Dana's heavyweight division is emptying out. All the best heavyweights are in Affliction. And he's gotta feel pretty stupid letting Arlovski go considering how amazing Arlovski was this past Saturday. No matter, Dana can still put his marketing into the great Brock Lesnar.:cheer:
I was rooting for him, but I didn't make an official pick in the days leading to the fight. Had the event been held in a cage instead of a ring, I probably would've been saying Sylvia would win, of course after seeing the fight, they could've fought in a ball pit at Chuck-E-Cheese and it wouldn't have made a difference. TFK
:: You have always been a huge fan of the worst athlete in this history of professional sports. I just never understood it I guess.
Like I've said in the past, I think a lot of my support for Sylvia has to do with hanging out with him and a bunch of the Militech guys in Vegas, watching the Superbowl at the Hoffbrauhaus. They (Sylvia, Pulver, Eilers, Rothwell, Whitehead, and a few others) were just really cool, laid back guys, enjoying the game, drinking beer and eating brats. They seemed happy to be recognized and talk MMA, since this was before the UFC really exploded. It just so happens they came in and sat at the table next to us. It was a fun night, and you would've never known that Sylvia and Eilers had both lost the night before. TFK
See, I didn't know that. That's totally cool and understandable. I was under the impression that you really thought he was awesome. ::
he wasn't the best while in Pride. He's had a good run in the UFC, and that's it. Not taking anything away from him. He's the best at his weight, but the division, frankly, has never been the deepest. It's either welter or light heavy.
There is no doubt the competition at LHW is a step above, but the way Silva takes guys out is very impressive. Franklin was the man at middle weight and Silva totally dominated him twice. Irvin is not the best LHW but one small mistake and he was punished his speed and accuracy is amazing. And I was really impressed with his victory over Dan Henderson, lets not forget Dan pushed the LHW champion all the way in his previous fight.
Evan Tanner? Franklins got a decent resume beyond who he won the title against. He beat Okami just recently and everyone seems to think he's the guy who will give Silva trouble. I personally think Silva destroys Okami.
If you've got nearly 30 MMA fights and your only loses are to Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida, you're not too bad. I think Franklin CAN beat any MW in the world, except Silva obviously.
