Horrible card. The fact that Dana is thinking of cutting Coleman the day after he was a mainevent for a ppv tells us all he should have never been a mainevent on a ppv. Straight garbage. And listening to Rogan slurp up Couture's nuts is just disgusting. He hasn't had a win over a top fighter since he beat Gonzaga almost 3 years ago, I don't count Vera. Still not sure how you can win a fight holding your opponent against the cage. I know I am going to catch some flack for this, but I have to say it. :: I have been watching Chael Sonnen since his pro debut. Its a small world up here in the Pacific Northwest MMA community. There are not many guys who have mastered using their wrestling skills in mma as good as Chael Sonnen. The guy has learned from two of the best ever in Couture and Lindland. I have never cared for the guys personality nor his style. I generally never root for the wrestler. But I will predict right now, he will give Anderson Silva huge problems. Chael will not stand with Anderson and Anderson will not be able to stop all of his takedowns. If Chael can get the takedown and stay away from the Thai clinch of Anderson, Anderson will find it very difficult to get out from under Sonnen. The guy can control the shit out of a fighter. Its boring as fuck, but its affective. And anyone that thinks Anderson Silva is a "real" black belt in BJJ is kidding themselves. That belt was a gift from the Nogeira brothers. I am not predicting a Sonnen win, but if Anderson can't keep it standing it will be a long 5 rounds for him. One other note, Sonnen has cardio for days, or as Rogan would say, "phenominal".:kidcool:
Interesting take. I say this mainly because Sonnen said he hopes Anderson wins against Belfort because he thinks Belfort is the harder fight.
That may well be true...but you don't exactly have to be a BJJ blackbelt to sub Sonnen...especially over 5 rounds. But i agree, he's got a good shot at taking Silva down and making things interesting.
Silva would destroy the one dimensional, and big mouthed Sonnen. That win over Nate speaks more against the preparation by Marquardt than it does skill of Sonnen.
Because he trained with them for about two years and they awarded it to them. Silva is a deadly Mauy Thai fighter. His ground game is very average at best. It was badly exposed in Pride. Thales Leitas is a black belt in BJJ. Silva wanted nothing to do with the ground game.
Good point, but I would say this. Nate Marquardt is ten times more likely to catch Sonnen in a sub than Silva is. and to Explosivo, I completely agree, Sonnen is extremely one dimesional. But that one dimension could be the Silva's achille's heel. Silva has never been known as a "ground specialist". He has never faced a true wrestler with relentless takedowns in the UFC. You don't think that could be careful matchmaking?:crafty: Listen guys, I would put my money on Silva. But I just think styles make fights and this is an interesting fight stylistically.opcorn:
sonnen isn't a better wrestler than henderson. silva's ground game is unproven, but he has good takedown defense and knows how to create distance. i hope he kicks the shit outta sonnen.
Different types of wrestling. Henderson is a Greco Roman wrestler, in this he utilizes the clinch. Sonnen is a collegiate and freestyle wrestler who utilizes the takedown. Silva's best weapon here will be his ability to keep distance. I hope he beats Sonnen as well. The guy is an ass.
maybe he was a prodigy like BJ Penn. :hammert: He has shown good ground game in the UFC, especially against Henderson (great wrestler) and Lutter (bjj black belt). Do you guys think Judo is a good base to have in mma?
Anderson has good BJJ. Travis Lutter is a real BJJ black belt and all that got him was choked out by Silva. He also subbed Dan Henderson. Who else has done that? Only Nogueira.
He caught Dan in a nice choke, no doubt. But Dan dominated him in that first round with his wrestling. If you think Lutter is a real BJJ black belt, I really don't know what to say next. Jacare is a "real" BJJ black belt. Maia. Leitas. Penn. Lutter tapped out due to elbow strikes to the head.
I did not know you were the authority on who is and isn't a real blackbelt. Excuse me! I thoght he RNC'd Lutter. Damn you all to hell!
wouldn't call myself an expert at all. There are just tons of camps out there that hand the shit out for nothing. really cheapens the belt
i, actually, i take back what i said about sonnen. i thought he was only a collegiate wrestler, but didn't know he was an all american. henderson himself was a very good collegiate wrestler and both were world class greco competitors. with that said, i do agree that sonnen is a more aggressive wrestler of the two and is more relentless with his takedowns. silva's ground game will be tested for sure, but i believe his takedown defense is being underestimated. i can't say i would be shocked if sonnen wins though, since mma upsets don't really come to me as a huge surprise as compared to boxing.
Saw the main event yesterday. Coleman looked like a bodybuilder who stopped training because he was layed up in bed and all his muscles were just hanging. I'm sure steroids/lack of have a lot to with it. Completely irrelevant win for Couture.
Irrelevant? Didn't you hear? Winning a bogus decision against Vera and beating a shot-to-shit Coleman means Couture is top 5 in the division, according to the UFC.
This is really all I am saying. Silva hasn't faced someone like this since he has been in the UFC. The matchup is an interesting one IMO. The equilizer is Silva's takedown defense. He does a great job getting in the underhooks and bringing his opponent right into the Thai Clinch. If he gets this its lights out for Sonnen. TLC, I don't think I am trying to underrate Silva's ground game. I am just trying to point out that it is definitely not his strongest asset where with Sonnen it most definitely is. With all this said, I would still pick Anderson to adapt and win by KO/TKO in round 2 or 3. Anderson is P4P top 3 in the world, and as we all know, you don't get there not knowing how to beat different styles. Not to mention, Sonnen is a douche and needs his mouth shut.artie:
Sonnen isn't the most exciting fighter around, but he is pretty good though, without a doubt. Why the hate for him? I haven't seen him in interviews etc, is he a right prick? By the way, what kind of name is Chael Sonnen? It's weird, unlike any other name I've heard. He's so ordinary looking to have an unusual name, he looks more like a John Smith. He words as an estate agent too ::
I have met Sonnen. The best way to describe him is a really cocky nerd. He tries to talk shit in interviews, and the dude is just not good at it. He just comes off really corny. And it isn't an act. He really is the same way in real life. The guy is a badass wrestler though.
i disagree. freestyle wrestling has the strongest takedowns and takedown attempts (when it comes to mma, real life or with clothes is different)
judoka's all about defense w/ or w/o gi. when i was in high school, there was this kid who started wrestling his junior year and ended up winning regionals and placed 4th in states. his background was in judo (supposedly placed in nationals) and he was able to transition easily and he was one of the hardest guys to take down in his weight class. guys like akiyama, dong hyun kim aren't often seen taken down even against guys w/ wrestling background.
you should hear some of his interviews, the guy is a complete douchebag. :: My favorite is "women belong in the kitchen, not in the cage". here's an interview: http://squabbles.com/2010/02/chael-sonnen-the-hits-just-keep-coming/ btw, doesen't he sort of physically look like you mws?
Gatti you idiot, no I don't look like him :: He is a fair bit nerdier looking than me. He also has blue eyes. To be honest, there isn't much of a similarity, not in facial structure, eyes, nose etc :: And jarhead - the cocky nerd haha. The cocky nerd is certainly a new breed, and seems to be rapidly growing. Gatti, I remember when you became somewhat obsessed with my new term "Power Nerd". Who was it I have as an example of a power nerd? I remember you kept asking if so and so qualified as a power nerd. Chael is a borderline power nerd. He's not quite dorky enough to be a power nerd, and he's a bit too good looking to be a proper power nerd. A power nerd should be fairly ugly, or at least REALLY dorky looking. If Dustin Hazelett was much cockier, he'd be a power nerd.
