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UFC 62: Liddel vs Babalu and TUF1 rematch Griffin vs. Bonnar

PostPosted:Tue Aug 15, 2006 12:23 pm
by Julius Seeker
Aside from those two fights, everyone else on the card seems to be a bunch of no-names. That's the trouble with UFC vs. Pride, in a Pride event, usually everyone on the card is a recognizable name, UFC there is rarely more than just a few names on the card.

Anyways, the first match between Stephen Bonnar and Forrest Griffin was quite a good one, those two went all out. With this one, I am not entirely sure what to expect, I do think that Griffin will win this one. Griffin put up a very good effort against Tito a short while back. I would say it is safest to place faith in Griffin.

As far as Babalu and Chuck go. Though Babalu lost their first fight years ago, he has come a long way, and has not been defeated since; not to mention he has taken down some big names including Shogun Rua. Chuck took down Randy, who was a huge name (A bigger name in his time than Chuck will likely ever be). My money would go towards Babalu on this one. I feel that Babalu has a good chance of winning via decision or submission if he can avoid Chuck's KO power. Going in Babablu's favour is the fact that Chuck is slower now than he was during their first fight, and Babalu does not seem to have slowed down (he is 6-7 years younger). Babalu needs to take the fight to the ground though, standing up he will have less of a chance. I anticipate that the fight will be a short one, both Babalu and Liddel in the past couple of years have had the tendency to put everyone away very quickly (Chuck by KO, and Babalu by submission).

Of course, most want to see Silva vs. Liddel. So they want Chuck to win. Due to the Yakuza scandal, which is costing Pride a lot of money, we'll likely see more of the World's best fighters over here in North America. Now that there does seem to be a market here for it, Pride is going to want to aggressively take it. It is still a smaller market though, but in 2-3 years time it might be huge.

The major reason why it is usually difficult to get those fighters over here is the money. UFC fighters if they're good enough can make 250K per year. In Pride their fighters make about 500K per fight. The whole Yakuza scandal has caused Pride to lose one of their major television deals in Japan which is costing them millions (supposedly up to 15% of their total income), and so they are definately hurting. As it stands, they are trying to repair the relationship with the Japanese company, at the same time they are starting to make roads into North America. This Silva fight will be one of them; if it happens.

Anyways, less than two weeks from now: UFC 62. The reason I am making this post now and not next week is because there doesn't seem to be much activity on the Daily Stuff board of late.

PostPosted:Wed Aug 16, 2006 2:45 pm
by Julius Seeker
Speaking of Babalu:

“I’ve fought strong guys. Like Fedor, never”
By Renato Babalu, Gracie Barra Combat Team

When I fought Fedor in 2001 no one knew who he was. I suffered a stomach kick in the first round and there went my stamina. He then played technically, striking from the top, and made good use of Rings’ rules. I ended the round exhausted. I went for the jackpot in round two but I was truly done. Look, I’ve fought many people from around the world, so I’ve seen many strong fighters. But like him, never, no kidding…

He’s got takedown skills, but sometimes just throws you down, using tremendous strength that he just doesn’t look like he’s got. But being chubby means nothing, and he is proof of it. Fedor is a modern age fighter, a guy who knows how to do everything. I’m not sure the technique to beat him is to take him down: Randleman gave him quite the takedown, the guy didn’t even shake, just went there and submitted the American. Then the right strategy is to go for the striking. Cro Cop did a great fight with him, just went back a bit too much. He just should have trusted in his shoots some more, he even broke the Russian’s nose. Of course he didn’t even notice it, but that seems to be the way. I think Rizzo has a good weapon to fight him, which is the thigh-kick, which Fedor doesn’t usually block. Then one should make a good strategy and pray one good blow gets in.

In my fight against him I could have gone better. We knew the Russians were strong, but technically a bit weak. But I had some training mistakes and suffered from jet lag, didn’t have the support I have today. Today, to face him, no one can go with a blind training. Further, one must remember who the Russians are. They descend from Caucasians, a race that always fought against the harshest climatic conditions. I’ve heard the Olympic champion Aleksander Karelin was born weighing 11.5lb… Nearly an ox.

PostPosted:Fri Aug 18, 2006 1:25 am
by Julius Seeker
Tonight's Ultimate Fight Night was quite good. Especially the awesome fight between Diego Sanchez and Karo Parisiyan. Lots of awesome take downs, plenty of energy, and Diego sent a knee into Karo's chin sending one of his teeth flying. Both fighters did extremely well, but Diego did a lot more damage, and won the second and third round. It is a fight I would love to see again sometime in the future. Diego is now next in line for a title shot after the GSP vs. Matt Hughes fight.

Diego vs. Karo, one of the best fights the UFC has ever seen.