HeadbangerWillie's MMA Corner

[HBwillie]

So here's the idea...

I'm starting this thread for all things MMA. Fight predictions, Fighter Discussions, Questions regarding the fight game. Anything. Between a couple of my friends and I, we are a virtual encyclopedia of MMA knowledge. I also have strong opinions regarding certain fighters and organizations. Amateur or Pro, feel free to post all questions, thoughts or opinions below.

[HBwillie]

To get the ball rolling...

My Favorite Fighers!

#10 - "Ice Cold" Igor Vovchanchyn - This little butterball is a Pride FC striking machine. His most notable win was probably over Mark Kerr while Kerr was still in his prime. While Igor had trouble with opponents who had a ground game, he was veeeery entertaining to watch.

#9 - Mirko "Crocop" Filipovic - "Right leg hospital, left leg cemetery." This guy has the most brutal head kicks in MMA, period. His kicking highlight reel is very extensive, and he has notable wins over such fighters as Alexsander Emelianenko and Wanderlei Silva.

#8 - Bas "El Guapo" Rutten - Former King of Pancrase, Rutten has always been a strong striker with solid leg locks. Rutten is just as entertaining outside the ring as a Pride announcer alongside Steven Quadros, with his Tony Montana impressions. He comes across as a super fun guy.

#7 - Shinya "The Baka Survivor" Aoki - The only fighter ever to win a fight by way of gogoplata in a major organization, Aoki has SICK jits. He's fast, flexible, and a handful for anyone at 145-155. Famous for his rainbow colored tights, it's always a blast watching Aoki compete.

#6 - Karo "The Heat" Parisyan - I may be the only person in the world to rank Karo so high in their favorites. I just love the judo clinic he puts on in his bouts. He throws guys like rag dolls, as if they were weightless. He's a master of manipulating balance, and while he rarely finishes fights, I find him very exciting.

#5 - Miguel Angel Torres - At 135 lbs, I don't think many heavyweights want to fight this guy. He's got a mullet and a dirty stache. He's got the fastest hands and feet I've seen, and he his jiu-jitsu is even better than his standup. This is arguably the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world.

#4 - BJ "The Prodigy" Penn - I don't think it's any secret I'm a fan of BJ. If he took training seriously 100% of the time, I don't think anyone would get out of the second round. Stand up with him, get knocked out. Take him down, get submitted. Whichever you prefer.

#3 - Anderson "The Spider" Silva - Another candidate for best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Silva, in my opinion, has the best Muay Thai in MMA today, and he has a black belt in BJJ to boot. He's a beast and he'll reign for a long time atop the UFC's middleweight division.

#2 - Fedor "The Last Emperor" Emelianenko - What can I say about this guy that hasn't been said? If Chuck Norris cloned himself, Fedor would submit one and knock out the other. This is the baddest man in the world. Go ahead and critique him. Oh wait, you can't.

#1 - Kazushi "The Gracie Hunter" Sakuraba - War Saku! Ohh man, I love this guy. His problems in MMA have always come at the hands (feet and knees) of strikers. If you're a jiu-jitsu guy, forget it. If you're heavier, it doesn't matter. Sakuraba has the best transitions, armbars and heart in MMA.

[npc_death]

I don't agree that GSP will lose to Thiago. Unlike Hughes, GSP is going to be able to hang with Thiago's amazing standup and will actually be able to take down and control him. I think the only possible way to lose is if he gets careless and his chin fails him...not an impossibility, but I don't think it's probable.

Any clue what the odd-makers are saying?

[HBwillie]

I can't find odds anywhere. It's going to be a while 'til that card comes out so I'll have more info as the date nears. This is a classic matchup of power vs speed. St. Pierre is a wrestler with good strikes. Alves is a striker with good takedown defense. I've seen Alves tap out and I've seen St. Pierre knocked out. Call it a hunch, but I say Alves 2nd round KO.

[npc_death]

My prediction is GSP by TKO round 3.

You think White will ever give Machida the title shot he deserves? I hope for Machida and Rampage's sake that he doesn't have to wait to face Rampage after the Jardine fight. Forrest would make for a good fight (not to the KO-hungry dumbasses), since I think Forest is smart/reserved enough to not to fall into Machida's usual trap.

[HBwillie]

Good question. I think White will give Rampage the title shot first (provided he knocks out Jardine as I predict), and Machida will fight someone overrated next, so as not to jeopardize his title shot. I think Machida deserves it more, but the fact is, Rampage has a lot more fans than Machida. My prediction is that Rampage beats Jardine, Machida beats his guy, Evans beats Rampage, then Evans beats Machida. While I hate Evans, he's got some serious skill.

[npc_death]

Yes, I feel the same way about Rashad. He's just too good at everything...save for BJJ, but he hasn't had to use it. Really, I don't know who can beat him if Machida can't (other than if Anderson decides to go up weight class or if Fedor somehow magically signed a contract with the UFC and went down one). I actually think Machida can take Rashad if he can avoid his heavy hands. Machida, if he's quick enough, can shake off Rashad's take down defense and land his usual attrition blows for a decision victory or if "Lady Luck is on his side" a KO or TKO. If Machida ends up on top, I think he can control Rashad despite Rashad's serious power advantage...I don't know...Wishful thinking I guess.

Jeez, I just wish Shogun would get his act together. I can't believe his last two performances.

[Guest emp_newb]

I propose a top pick for all fighters. Past and Present. And I do not mean those fighters that try to make it past their prime and get ruled for 3-6 fights and then retire. Im counting in their prime. One of my fav fighters of all time is tank abbott. But he was also fighting before mma had a following. He was fighting before sponsors existed. In his prime, he was arguably the SCARIEST people to fight period. He tried to fight past his prime and well, he got wrecked by ankle holds, and sub-par grapplers. He became a build up fight, and not a challenge fight. Got old, got slow, got beat.

[HBwillie]

Sakuraba. Period.

[BigPapa]

Karo should have lost that last UFC fight. I had him losing on my "scorecard".

As for Emp, My favorite UFC's were the first ones, when the karate guy from France had to face the Giant Sumo guy and knocked his teeth out with a high kick but couldnt continue. Those are classics.

The next GSP vs Alves is going to be a much better fight than the GSP Penn fight. Alves is at least as big if not a bigger man walking around weight than GSP.

Anybody ever watch the barefisted MMA that is on the web broadcast from Brazil. KC Armstrong from the Howard Stern Show was one of the announcers at one time..

[Twinblades713]

As for Emp, My favorite UFC's were the first ones, when the karate guy from France had to face the Giant Sumo guy and knocked his teeth out with a high kick but couldnt continue. Those are classics.

Gordeau, wasn't it? That guy was beastly. He walked through guys without thinking about it... everyone until Mr. Gracie got a hold of him.

[HBwillie]

Agreed about Karo, BP. I had Kim winning a split decision. But as they always say, don't let it go to the scorecards and the judges can't screw you.

Also, are you talking about the Savate fighter, Gerard Gordeau (sp?) VS Teila Tuli? The sumo guy slipped and fell against the cage. Gordeau kicked him in the face, knocking out a tooth, and then punched him in the eye. That was the end of the fight. If this is the one you're talking about, Gordeau did continue and TKO Kevin Rosier, then lost to Royce Gracie by rear naked choke in the final of the first tournament.

[BigPapa]

Thats the fight. I loved watching the different styles against each other. With the mixing its a new style in itself. Although the evolution is interesting.

Jiujistu won first, fights kind of boring because it was always on the ground with the bottom guy winning. Then wrestling kind of took over, ground and pound.. again alot of ground action,, everyone learned it, learned how to sprawl and stay on their feet, now it seems like most champions are strikers again.....

I think that guy Lyoto Machida has the newest style that will take some time for folks to figure out.

[HBwillie]

Did anyone see Koscheck get 1st round KO'd by the jiu-jitsu guy? AHAHAHAHA!

[Twinblades713]

omg, that was embarassing. The Sanchez-Stevenson fight was boring as all hell, Marquardt and Goveia put on a good show, Demian Maia is beating the crap out of some guys... those are all that were really of note to me.

[Guest emp_newb]

I think most people learned basic BJJ. Noone is really an expert. When you see a hardcore JJ fighter, you know because it is not just in guard fighting. It is working to submissions. Triangles, arm bars, guillotines, can openers, kimoras. I like watching those near submissions. I REALLY like watching people get choked out via rear naked, you can see the pain in their eyes.

Sadly BJJ cannot win all fights, striking is the key to any, and I think Muay Tha fighters with the 8 point system have taken this to a new level, that is why Stevenson lost to Sanchez. Sanchez was not necessarily rocking him, he just had more strikes to throw. Stevenson looked like an old heavyweight in the eight round. Lumbering across the ring taking 3 punches, throwing 2.

Jardine vs Rampage. I want to see Jardine knock him out badly, I know it IS possible. I just think Rampage is too much of a beast for it to be likely.

[mya]

"Jiujistu won first, fights kind of boring because it was always on the ground with the bottom guy winning."

You really need to know BJJ or ground fighting to really appreciate this part.

And on TV it's always on the Wrong angle. There is nothing like seeing it live and upclose in a mat near you.

[HBwillie]

I didn't think the Stevenson-Sanchez fight was boring at all. Those are two guys with a ton of heart. Neither have good standup, and I think Stevenson's jiu-jitsu is overrated. I mean, what submissions have you seen him use besides a guillotine choke? Elementary, my dear Watson. Sanchez is a better all-around fighter, but nothing spectacular himself.

Maia was very impressive. Even though he's straight jits, I think he has a legit **** at Anderson. If you saw the Silva-Lutter fight, you know why I think this.

Nate and Wilson was good too, but let's not forget the Brit with the mohawk. Dude had solid strikes with good angles. He could be a force. I'm excited for TUF United States VS England.

[KRins]

I'm going to say something that will probably get me chewed out by all the MMA fans around here. Anyone has a chance against Silva. Reason? He has the pain tolerance of a gerbil. If any of you have seen the flying body scissors to inverted heel hook victory Ryo Shonan scored over Anderson, you will notice that Anderson is tapping before Ryo really locks down on the ankle. Of course I say that without some crazy submission ninja hanging off my foot.

There's the link in case you somehow have not seen one of the most random, ninjaesque subs I have personally ever seen.

[Twinblades713]

I'm sorry, I might be overrating Silva, but as it is now, Maia is good but Silva will beat the holy hell out of him.

[HBwillie]

I'm going to say something that will probably get me chewed out by all the MMA fans around here. Anyone has a chance against Silva. Reason? He has the pain tolerance of a gerbil. If any of you have seen the flying body scissors to inverted heel hook victory Ryo Shonan scored over Anderson, you will notice that Anderson is tapping before Ryo really locks down on the ankle. Of course I say that without some crazy submission ninja hanging off my foot.

There's the link in case you somehow have not seen one of the most random, ninjaesque subs I have personally ever seen.

Ok...you've obviously never been caught in a heel hook.

[KRins]

Considering it is my primary training partner's absolute favorite thing in the entire world. I've met several heel hooks. I also know that unless a tendon gives way, conviction and gritting your teeth can get you through the second and a half of heel hook that Silva submitted to.

EDIT: Remember...I kept training while rehabbing a torn MCL with a heel hook addict. A tough soul will carry you far in this world my brother. That and perkocet (yeah I know it is misspelled. I got rid of the scrip bottle)

[Guest emp_newb]

A heel hook does put only pain on you true, unless it is being CRANKED on. But that is ALOT of pain. I doubt your training partner has the same level of power as most of the MMA fighters.

[HBwillie]

No, that's completely untrue. Look at Brock Lesnar against Frank Mir. Look at Mike Ceisnolevic's first fight. A quick heel hook is the reason I haven't even worked out since June. Two seconds after the guy swept me, I cried out in agony with a torn tendon in my knee. I STILL haven't made a full recovery.

It is the achiles loch that is pure pain, not the heel hook.

[npc_death]

Willie's right about the difference between the two locks. Anderson did tap quickly, but that's smart. Why bother holding on for the extra 2 seconds just to lose anyway AND potentially injure yourself. I've only done entry level BJJ, and I can tell you that a good heel hook can make you (me) tap instantly.

Also, regarding anyone with a legit shot at Anderson, I think Maia will have to really work hard on his stand up defense and the power/quickness of his takedowns. Pulling guard won't work on Anderson, I don't think. You'll have to really take him down and wind up and stay on top. To do that, you have to get through the SICK stand up ability.

Willie, I see your point with the Lutter fight. I really thought he was going to take it. He very well may have if he didn't go for that sloppy armbar. We know that, and Anderson does as well. So if he fights another ground specialist, he's going to be more prepared. Also, Lutter has more power than Maia. His techniques are more rudimentary, but they work because he's strong enough to make them work. Maia will have more gas but less power. I don't know if Maia would be able to force Anderson down like Travis. Also, Travis had to eat some nasty punches to get those takedowns. I haven't seen Maia's chin really tested, so there's another variable.