UFC 102 Thoughts: Did Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira Earn A Shot At The Winner Of Lesnar/Carwin?
by Kelvin Hunt on Aug 30, 2009 8:00 AM EDT
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Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira had his best performance inside the octagon against Randy Couture at UFC 102. He was able to drop Randy Couture a couple of times, he had a couple of close submissions, and was able to sweep a great wrestler from the bottom position twice. He was never in any bad positions against Randy Couture, and just looked like a much different fighter than the one that fought Frank Mir at UFC 92. Now, am I in now way putting 46 year old Randy Couture in the same class as Brock Lesnar or Shane Carwin. Those two behemoths present an entirely different set of problems. In fact, I almost want to throw the Frank Mir fight out simply because it's clear that the injuries and staph infection affected Nogueira a lot for that fight. However, Nogueira took that fight and lost fair and square so you have to count it, but I don't know if that fight would go the same if they fought again. In fact, some people may think that Nogueira should have to fight Frank Mir again before getting a title shot. I look at it like this though.
Frank Mir and Brock Lesnar have already fought twice and the second fight was so one sided that I don't know if I want to see that one. Clearly I'm a biased Nogueira fan, but I think the UFC should capitilize on him right now. Who else is ready for a title shot? Frank Mir just got destroyed by the champion Brock Lesnar, and is rumored to fight later this year against Cheick Kongo. Carwin is getting his shot in his next fight. Cain Velasquez isn't ready yet and will be fighting Rothwell in a couple of months. Randy Couture will probably move back down to light heavyweight after the loss to Nogueira. The fight with Lesnar would be marketable provided he beats Carwin. So did Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira earn a shot at the winner of Lesnar/Carwin? Give me your thoughts?
UFC 102: Couture vs. Nogueira coverage
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He won a clear-cut fight against the only man who’s had a competitive fight against Lesnar to date, so yes absolutely – I’d argue, no scratch that, I’ll go on record and say that Couture is a better win than Gonzaga (the fact that it was a flash KO doesn’t really benefit Carwin IMO).
Bloody hell.
by 3PA on Aug 30, 2009 10:18 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Carwin was losing that round. I think a Nogueira/Lesnar fight is much more intriguing. Carwin doesn’t stand much of a chance unless he gets lucky again.
by Ahhhoki on Aug 30, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
I don’t think he will, Lesnar’s head is the size of a LW fighter’s torso. I think he will beat on Carwin for about 2 rounds till they stop it.
Bloody hell.
by 3PA on Aug 30, 2009 11:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Answer, Hell yes!
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by xFenixKnightx on Aug 30, 2009 11:27 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Big Nog has been Hall of Fame bound for quite some time and is way past his prime. I figured he’d pull out the victory last night and was glad he did. I say yes to giving him a title shot. I don’t think he has very much chance against Brock (although I think a 25 year old Nogueira very well could have taken him) but just because of how much Nogueira has meant to the sport and the fact that he is 3-1 (with the one loss coming on the heels of hospitalization for a staph infection) since coming over to the UFC I’m fine with him getting a title shot. I’d be glad to see him get another opportunity at a huge payday.
by SlickRick00 on Aug 30, 2009 11:42 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I say he earned a title shot. It would be an easy sell in terms of both Brock and Big Nog personality. If no, I’d say a rematch with Cro-Cop (assuming he beats Nogueira’s protege, Dos Santos)
by The Bronzeville Bully on Aug 30, 2009 1:12 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Good stuff yall…anyone that think he doesn’t deserve a shot…let me hear ya
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by Kelvin Hunt on Aug 30, 2009 3:25 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
i think he’ll have to take another fight before a title shot given the time frame of the fights already scheduled.
by Poindexter on Aug 30, 2009 4:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I don't know
I hear what everyone is saying and I wouldn’t have a problem with him getting the next fight. I can see him fighting one more time and if he wins get the title shot. Poindexter is right with the timing too. If Mir somehow loses to Kongo maybe Big Nog can get his rematch.
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by MMAvalor on Aug 30, 2009 4:26 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Lesnar/Carwin takes place in November right? They could do Lesnar/Nogueira on the Feb. card…cause I think Lesnar/Carwin is going to be a quick one.
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by Kelvin Hunt on Aug 30, 2009 4:32 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
I think that Nog looked good, if not great, but at the same time let’s temper this win with the Mir loss, as well as the fact that the champion might be the guy to kill him in the ring. We talked about it on the show last night, and I don’t like the idea of Nog getting a title shot not only because he’s only got one win under his belt since losing, but also the danger in him getting beat (and I’m not talking about defeat here) by Lesnar. If we’re in a situation where one win gets a fighter another shot at the title then we’re going to have the same half dozen dudes challenging for the title time after time. Give him another good win, and I mean a win over a quality striker, and then give him a title shot.
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by -Neil- on Aug 30, 2009 4:43 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
Yo
Why does it have to be a quality striker though? Lesnar nor Carwin are great strikers…powerful yes..but not technically sound. I know everybody thinks Lesnar would probably kill Nogueira…and the odds are he would beat him. However, that’s exactly what Nogueira’s entire legacy is based off of…taking punishment and then winning the fight. That would be a big part of marketing the fight. So not giving Nogueira the shot just because you fear for his safety doesn’t really make sense. Granted, it was years ago…he fought a fighter similar to Lesnar in Bob Sapp…who was actually bigger then…than Lesnar is now…and beat him. Nogueira was the interim champ prior to losing to Mir…and he decisively beat the guy that was the HW champion in Couture before Lesnar.
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by Kelvin Hunt on Aug 30, 2009 5:52 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Why does it have to be a quality striker though?
It doesn’t HAVE to be, but putting him against another grappler doesn’t really prove anything. The last half-decent striker he fought was Tim Sylvia, but.. well, Tim Sylvia. We all know he’s going to dummy any guy that’s a grappler, but with his age and technique (ie getting hit in the face until he gets them down for the sub) without seeing what he’s got to offer someone with a good striking game, in his newfound health, I don’t think he should go against someone like Lesnar. Couture was the champ, but does beating the ex-champ get you a title shot? Keither Jardine is enough proof for that. Even if you don’t like the striker tune-up, I still don’t want to see Nog get a title shot so soon; two fights between title fights isn’t much to ask.
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by -Neil- on Aug 31, 2009 12:47 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Who is this unknown quality striker, though?
Kongo? The question for me is whether anyone else not booked to fight deserves a shot at Nog more than he deserves a shot at Lesnar. Assuming of course that Brock handles Carwin. Nog is at a point in his career that few reach, where I do think you give him the benefit of the doubt due to the infection and injuries, and get over the Mir fight. The record doesn’t always tell the tale. Marquardt owned Leites in every way other than the one punch knockdown Thales landed in the first. So while that ended up being a win for Leites, it didn’t mean he was now the best middleweight contender. And we know how that fight worked out. I think Nog vs. Lesnar is a great fight, and that Nog has the best chance of beating Brock in the heavyweight division. Carwin has a decent chance, but not a great one IMO. Presuming the Carwin/Brock fight is short, they could put Nog vs. the winner early in the year.
by Kwisatz Haderach on Aug 31, 2009 4:23 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
Haderach
Welcome to the site and
The question for me is whether anyone else not booked to fight deserves a shot at Nog more than he deserves a shot at Lesnar. Assuming of course that Brock handles Carwin. Nog is at a point in his career that few reach, where I do think you give him the benefit of the doubt due to the infection and injuries, and get over the Mir fight.Well said.
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by Kelvin Hunt on Aug 31, 2009 8:37 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs
To quote an old adage: “If this fight makes dollars, it makes sense.”
by SlickRick00 on Aug 30, 2009 8:22 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs
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