After Sleeping On It: Post-Strikeforce: OMG!! Thoughts
by Anthony Pace on Jun 27, 2010 10:11 AM EDT
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--While I certainly won’t claim I ever gave Fabricio Werdum a chance in last night’s fight with pound-for-pound kingpin Fedor Emelianenko (because I didn’t), I must say it was foolish to disregard Werdum. I mean, Werdum is in the 99th percentile of all Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighters, so when Fedor knocked him to the ground we should have been open to what could happen.
It seemed as if Fedor wanted to go on a rampage in Werdum’s guard a la the Noguiera fights, but the armbar/triangle thrown up from the Brazilian was the natural result of anyone—even a fighter as mythical as Fedor—getting sloppy in an ADCC champion’s guard.
--I couldn’t be happier for Werdum. After a monstrous uppercut from then-unknown Junior dos Santos at UFC 90, he found himself faced with taking a pay cut or being dumped from the UFC roster. He took the prideful route by declining the lesser offer and ended up with not only the biggest win of his career, but also the biggest win in MMA since Brock Lesnar defeated Randy Couture at UFC 91 in late 2008.
--Werdum should decline an immediate rematch with Fedor. It’s not the right fight for him and frankly I don’t care to see it right now. It’s not like he won some close decision reminiscent of Penn/Edgar or Shogun/Machida I. No, this was clear and decisive. He should fight Alistair Overeem for the (laughable) Strikeforce belt. Werdum holds a win (via a rather difficult kimura) over the Dutchman from the opening stage of the PRIDE Open Weight Grand Prix in 2006, when Overeem had yet to become the monstrous K-1 striker known as Megareem.
--By the way, no matter what happens at UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin, Fabricio Werdum is the linear heavyweight champion of the world.
--If Fedor is to fight again in the United States, expect a severe dearth of M-1 attempting to reem (see what I did there?) promoters over the bargaining table.
--Everyone should calm down. Fedor is still the greatest heavyweight of all time and I still have him as the greatest Mixed Martial Artist of all time. In the latter regard, however, Anderson Silva is hot on his heels with George St. Pierre running a horse length behind.
--Non-Fedor/Werdum thoughts:
- I guess if we have to have Cung Le/Scott Smith III due to a rematch clause, it should be in the first round of Strikeforce’s proposed Middleweight Tournament.
- Jan Finney is hot, but she had no business being in the cage with Cyborg last night.
- Kim Winslow is simply Steve Mazzagatti doing his best Buffalo Bill attempt. Jesus, I’m glad they didn’t have her refereeing Silva/Rampage III… Wanderlei might still be in a coma.
- Josh Thomson is a fun fighter to watch but I don’t think he’ll ever be in the top-5 at lightweight.
*Photo by Jeff Chiu/Associated Press
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By the way, no matter what happens at UFC 116: Lesnar vs. Carwin, Fabricio Werdum is the linear heavyweight champion of the world.
Lesnar beat Mir beat Big Nog beat Werdum. Should Carwin beat Brock, he obviously goes to the beginning of that list.
I love me some MMAth. :)
You don't like wrestling in MMA? Go watch K-1.
by Monday Morning Martial Artist on Jun 27, 2010 11:24 AM EDT reply actions
Thats not how linear championship works
Order of defeat is more important than to whom you’ve lost.
Either way you’d like to put the linear title:
1) Werdum>Fedor>Noguiera>Valentijn Overeem>Randy Couture
2) Werdum>Fedor>Cro Cop>Josh Barnett>Randy Couture
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 27, 2010 11:54 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
JDS is the uncrowned king so, if not the KING
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 27, 2010 12:24 PM EDT up reply actions
ehh
or you could say..
JDS>Werdum>Fedor>Cro Cop…etc…..
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whoever wins vs lesnar and carwin is the new ufc heavyweight champion and the worlds number 1 fighter at heavyweight. you just can’t see that fedor and his contemporaries in pride (mirko cro cop and noguiera have declining skillset.
I'm all about covering the spread and moneylines. Fedor: He once had an awkward moment in the cage, just to see what it feels like. Sharks have a week dedicated to him. He would show his feminine side if he had one. He is a lover, not a fighter, but don't get any ideas. He is the most important man in the world. Stay thirsty my comrades b/c i will never fight in the UFC. Sorry Fedor but in America Budweiser is the King of beers and Lesnar is a clydesdale while Fedor is just a mule. Losing to Werdum proves what i have been saying. He is pudgy and is on the donwnside of his career just like his contemporaries in pride like mirko cro cop and noguiera Beat Lesnar, Carwin. JDS, Velasquez or Overeem and i'll be impressed. Just one of them. College Football is still the best sport out there.
by wolfmanshowlforever on Jun 28, 2010 12:50 AM EDT up reply actions
Personally I’d like to see Emelianenko challenge for a Strikeforce championship immediately………..against Lawal. Dude could make 205 with pretty much no effort. I realize it won’t happen and he’ll probably fight Antonio Silva but, just my preference. For Werdum? Sounds like it will be Overeem unless (maybe) they get a longterm contract extension with Emelianenko.
Hendo v Fedor?
Lawal v Fedor at HW? surely?!
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 27, 2010 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
Fedor going to 205 is one of the most stupid ideas ever
by Forrest Lynn on Jun 27, 2010 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions
But that's what people do
Isn’t his SINGLE loss a sign that he can’t hang at HW? If Joe Rogan wasn’t high as a kite, he’d be going ballistic right now.
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Who claimed he can’t hang at heavyweight? Or are you just saying that’s the mindset of fans in general regarding fighters following a loss?
by Rich Wyatt on Jun 28, 2010 7:58 AM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Of course we all knew that sooner or later this would happen. As a huge Fedor fan I used to wonder how I would react to this. I thought perhaps I would be in a shock, disbelief, denial or something like that. But it happened and I a fine. I didn’t expect this kind of a calm reaction from myself.
I remember how shocked I was when Nogueira lost his title to Fedor. I think I was more dumbfounded back then…than now. I guess life goes on.
p.s.
I am still getting over the U.S. team loosing to Ghana in the World Cup. That one was a lot harder on me
U.S. team loosing to Ghana in the World Cup
Yes. Yes, I did. So there :P
Love, The Irish (hehe)
ps. Dooner, the English just got knocked out too!!!
LoL
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 27, 2010 12:33 PM EDT up reply actions
ha ha ha ha ha ha
that’s quite funny, man. I am still really happy we made it as far as we did. One funny things I noticed, the forward, the hope of the U.S. team Altidore was blacker than most Ghana players. It was kind of funny.
good spot, i love those pecularities
i remember about 4 years ago going to a Magners League rugby match between Munster (ireland) and the Neath Swansea Ospreys (Wales) and the welsh half-back Gavin Henson was darker than his Samoan team-mate on the wing due to his extensive use of sun beds and fake tan…it was truly hilarious :) :)
on a side/serious note, that calmness you speak of is intriguing. im an admirer of Fedor and i too thought i would be in greater disbelief when his first proper competitive loss came. But, i suppose in the sporting world it was long over due and as such it must have taken the sting surprise out of it…i mean, naturally the more he fought the greater the chances were…
"Be yourself, don't take anyone's shit, and never let them take you alive." ~ George Way
by RearNakedPoke on Jun 27, 2010 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
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