UFC 97: Redemption

[MizzouBravesFan]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

Leites should never fight for another UFC title after that BS and Anderson Silva needs to move to 205, period.

Although I'd like to see him fight Marquardt again, I think Marquardt has the tools to beat him...only one in the division IMO.

[mgoblue]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

Thats called a smart gameplan. Why play into someone's strengths when you don't have to. Say Silva went to the ground, and got subbed. We would all be talking about how stupid he is. He fought smart and kept his title. I have a hard time believing anyone else would have engaged Thales on the ground if they were dominating the stand up game.

As for GSP vs Silva, I think Silva would knock him out. I don't see GSP being able to handle Silva's striking.

That's why I don't really blame Silva, but that doesn't make everything right. You shouldn't be able to just fall flat on your back all the time begging him to get in his guard. Leites needed to try and take him down, not just flop like a NBA center.

[MizzouBravesFan]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

You would've never seen that BS in Pride, the cards would've been flying lol.

The UFC needs to adopt some sort of rule against the flopping and not engaging...no more of this please.

[LP]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

That's why I don't really blame Silva, but that doesn't make everything right. You shouldn't be able to just fall flat on your back all the time begging him to get in his guard. Leites needed to try and take him down, not just flop like a NBA center.

Exactly. I'm not trying to say that this was an exciting fight, but Silva should not be taking heat for this. Every time he tried to strike Leites just fell to the ground. The only reason Silva is taking heat is that he has had so many exciting KOs before. Its not his fault that people are afraid to engage him, and its not the opponents fault for not engaging. The fact is, Silva is the champ, and he isn't going to be beat by someone who isn't willing to strike or take risks to get him to the ground.

[Scoop_Brady]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

What Leites did was wrong but I still have a major problem with Silva. This is the second time in-a-row that a fighter came into the cage that wasn't going to let him play his counter game. Leites was obviously out of his league in the stand up game and wanted the fight on the ground. Why would a ground guy force the action on the feet against a striker? I'm sure Leites' strategy was to avoid stikes and get the takedown but he doesn't really get the chance when Silva doesn't do anything.

The difference, IMO, is that Leites was working a gameplan so he could win while Silva was working a gameplan to not lose. I don't think Leites had a chance in hell of winning this fight but I don't blame him at all for not walking right into Silva's strength. I hate the flopping it turned into but I also blame Silva a little for that too.

I have a major problem with Silva's last 2 fights. A true champion would have said enough and handed Leites' *** to him in the third round. It was there for the taking regardless of what Leites was doing and Silva failed to do that. He did the same thing against Cote. A true champion will throw himself in harms way to finish a fight, especially against an obviously lesser opponent. A guy like Machida can be boring because he tries to avoid damage but he at least tries to finish fights. Silva, IMO, wasn't trying to avoid damage, he was trying to make the fight go his way and he was unwilling to adapt. This is twice in-a-row now. I'm to the point where I don't want to see another Silva fight. I can't stand GSP but I would love to see him beat the crap out of Silva. Let's get that done UFC.

[DueceDiggla]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

I didn't think the PPV was that bad. The Shogun fight was great. Chuck looked decent in the first round and it was great to see Shogun back.

Cantwell impressed me. I didn't think he'd be able to last that long with Cane. I don't think that loss hurts his stock too bad. Cane is still one of my favorite fighters. Future champ.

Anderson Silva is an ahole. He reminds me of Tim Sylvia to a degree. Fighting not to lose like Sylvia did against Monson back in the day. Is it possible that he's kind of protesting because he is pissed the UFC wont let him fight Roy Jones? Sounds farfetched but ya never know. Wand and Hendo are the two guys who can beat Anderson. Bisping, Nate, GSP and Maia don't stand a chance.

They'll prob have Silva/GSP at a catch weight at the end of the year, but GSP has a questionable chin and Anderson will KO him at some point.

[Keith121212]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

I didn't think the PPV was that bad. The Shogun fight was great. Chuck looked decent in the first round and it was great to see Shogun back.

Cantwell impressed me. I didn't think he'd be able to last that long with Cane. I don't think that loss hurts his stock too bad. Cane is still one of my favorite fighters. Future champ.

Anderson Silva is an ahole. He reminds me of Tim Sylvia to a degree. Fighting not to lose like Sylvia did against Monson back in the day. Is it possible that he's kind of protesting because he is pissed the UFC wont let him fight Roy Jones? Sounds farfetched but ya never know. Wand and Hendo are the two guys who can beat Anderson. Bisping, Nate, GSP and Maia don't stand a chance.

They'll prob have Silva/GSP at a catch weight at the end of the year, but GSP has a questionable chin and Anderson will KO him at some point.

Wand? As in Wanderlei Silva? There is no way that he would stand a chance against Anderson Silva with the way he comes in and wings punches.

Maia is a possibility. Can he get Anderson Silva to the ground without flopping to his back and praying that Silva somehow trips into his guard? Then he has a chance.

Hendo has a chance but there is nothing that makes me believe that Silva is any worse then when they met the first time so the chance isn't good imo.

GSP doesn't stand a chance I agree. His chin is weak and Anderson Silva is as precise as they come. His 8 points of contact will get to GSP's weakness at some point early.

[sven]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

I think you can still finish fights when the other fighter isn't aggressive but to be dancing and avoiding going to the ground makes me question his BJJ Black Belt. I'll be impressed later down the line when he starts fighting better fighters and winning but I can't blame him for who is in his division. I still think Maia,Okami and Akiyama would give him a challenge or even a better fight than his last 3 fights. We all have opinions and that's mine.

Okami is a bitch who got knocked out by an up kick and is scared to death of getting hit. Am I the only one who saw his pathetic performance against Lister? Even after it became clear to everyone in the arena that Lister had no shot at taking him down Okami still refused to engage against a guy with stand up slightly better than my moms. After that fight he doesnt even deserve to be on a main card let alone in a title fight.

[goh]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

I've figured for a while Bisping would be the one to take out Silva.

[DueceDiggla]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

Wand? As in Wanderlei Silva? There is no way that he would stand a chance against Anderson Silva with the way he comes in and wings punches.

Maia is a possibility. Can he get Anderson Silva to the ground without flopping to his back and praying that Silva somehow trips into his guard? Then he has a chance.

Hendo has a chance but there is nothing that makes me believe that Silva is any worse then when they met the first time so the chance isn't good imo.

GSP doesn't stand a chance I agree. His chin is weak and Anderson Silva is as precise as they come. His 8 points of contact will get to GSP's weakness at some point early.

I think Wand can get inside and get to Anderson's chin. We haven't seen Anderson really get hit in the face. I agree that Wand's wild style fits well for Anderson, but Wand could get inside and throw bombs from close. He may also be able to defend the clinch.

[XFactah416]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

I think Wand can get inside and get to Anderson's chin. We haven't seen Anderson really get hit in the face. I agree that Wand's wild style fits well for Anderson, but Wand could get inside and throw bombs from close. He may also be able to defend the clinch.

Wand would get murdered. Anderson's chin is pretty good, but it hasn't been tested because a) nobody can hit him and b) those that do just get murked in the end.

Anderson and Wand are NOT on good terms, and Wanderlei would recieve a Chris Leben-esque beating. Wand's ruthless aggression would put him in a hospital bed, worse then Rich Franklin. At least Silva likes Ace. Wanderlei? ****, Anderson wouldn't let up.

See, the problem is, you have to play Anderson's game if you want to take this belt. Why should Anderson risk going to the ground where the advantage isn't his, when his standup game presents him with the greatest advantage there is? IF you want the fight on the ground, you're going to have to get it there by will, and not just hope Anderson Silva is stupid enough to fall into your gaurd. Thales Leites hoped Anderson would fall into his gaurd and he'd magically submit him. Not happening.

Again, get someone to fight Anderson. Wanderlei would be perfect.

Needless to say, this was the best part of the entire fight: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vELq-4Wu18g.

[Heelfan71]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

The difference, IMO, is that Leites was working a gameplan so he could win while Silva was working a gameplan to not lose.

Leites game plan consisted of not throwing any punches and falling to his back 20 times.

[allBthere]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

I didn't think the PPV was that bad. The Shogun fight was great. Chuck looked decent in the first round and it was great to see Shogun back.

Cantwell impressed me. I didn't think he'd be able to last that long with Cane. I don't think that loss hurts his stock too bad. Cane is still one of my favorite fighters. Future champ.

Anderson Silva is an ahole. He reminds me of Tim Sylvia to a degree. Fighting not to lose like Sylvia did against Monson back in the day. Is it possible that he's kind of protesting because he is pissed the UFC wont let him fight Roy Jones? Sounds farfetched but ya never know. Wand and Hendo are the two guys who can beat Anderson. Bisping, Nate, GSP and Maia don't stand a chance.

They'll prob have Silva/GSP at a catch weight at the end of the year, but GSP has a questionable chin and Anderson will KO him at some point.

don't agree. anderson didn't ko leites or cote, so what makes gsp such a ko victim? because he has one tko defeat? give the man a break already. GSP never phones it in live silva did (btw he threw 3 punches one round that's not 'smart' that's just fighting like a turd).

[Keith121212]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

That Bruce Buffer clip is awesome. He is a great announcer.

[The Chef]

Re: UFC 97: Redemption

As much as I hated that main event Im starting to feel sorry for Silva. He may not have pushed the fight as much as we would like but at the same time Thales put on about as pathetic a display of MMA as Ive ever seen. Who was it that kept running, Kalib Starnes or something like that? Thales was damn near just as bad, he wasnt running but he was like a kid whose about to get his *** whipped, cover that thing up asap which is exactly what he did when he fell to the canvas over and over again. Could Silva have done more? Maybe but I also cant fault him for not diving into a guys guard just so they can roll around while Thales either holds on for dear life to extend the fight or attempts subs from the bottom, but in either situation, how in the hell does that benefit Anderson at all?

In the end I think Anderson is getting a little too much blame while somehow Thales isnt getting much at all and he was the one falling on his *** over and over again.