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MMA
Sept 20, 2007 10:18:46 GMT -5
Post by batman on Sept 20, 2007 10:18:46 GMT -5
Thread to discuss all things MMA.
I still think the top level Pride Fighters, in general, are better than the top level UFC guys. Soon enough we won't be able to distinguish the two, though.
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MMA
Sept 20, 2007 17:46:08 GMT -5
Post by batman on Sept 20, 2007 17:46:08 GMT -5
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MMA
Sept 21, 2007 10:24:24 GMT -5
Post by batman on Sept 21, 2007 10:24:24 GMT -5
Liddell should answer all questions on Saturday night By Michael DiSanto
Chuck Liddell is undoubtedly the most popular mixed martial artist in the UFC. And only a short time ago, he was viewed by many as the most dominant 205-lb champion in UFC history.
Nevertheless, the “Iceman” stands at a very real crossroad heading into Saturday night, as questions linger following his knockout loss at the hands of Quinton “Rampage” Jackson a mere four months ago.
Was the loss to Rampage the result of a perfectly timed punch off of a bad mistake – something that can happen to anyone? Is Rampage the one guy who has Liddell’s number, meaning that as long as he reigns as champion, Liddell might as well focus on other UFC goals? Is he finally slowing down three months shy of his 38th birthday?
Many, if not all, of those questions will be answered on Saturday night when Liddell steps into the Octagon to face Ultimate Fighter alumni Keith Jardine, a man coming off a knockout loss of his own.
For Jardine, this is by far the biggest fight of his career. A win over the former champion erases all past career hiccups and vaults “The Dean of Mean” to the top of the division, ahead of guys like Wanderlei Silva, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua, Tito Ortiz, Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin and anyone else not named Rampage.
Many fans are probably wondering why the UFC decided to give Jardine this golden opportunity. After all, Houston Alexander walked through him in less than a minute. So why isn’t Alexander the one with the opportunity to try and skyrocket his career at Liddell’s expense.
To put it bluntly, Jardine should be the perfect opponent to get the Iceman back on track. That isn’t to suggest that this is an easy fight or that Jardine cannot win. Any 200-lb man wearing those tiny gloves can knock out any other man with a single blow, if it is perfectly placed. Jardine is no different.
So why is he the perfect opponent?
Jardine is not a dominant wrestler with great takedowns. Thus, Liddell doesn’t have to worry about getting taken down, and even if that rarity occurs, he will be able to quickly work back to his feet.
He doesn’t have devastating knockout power, despite dropping Griffin with a single blow. Again, Jardine can knock out anyone, as can any other light heavyweight. But guys with truly destructive punching power, such as Liddell and Silva, can knock out opponents with a variety of glancing blows. Jardine needs to hit Liddell on the button to get the knockout. Liddell, therefore, shouldn’t be overly concerned trading punches with him.
Jardine isn’t a fleet-footed kickboxer who will stick and move effectively on the outside, thereby frustrating Liddell en route to a three round decision. He is a very effective striker, but he likes to jump in and engage his foes, an almost certain ticket to the realm of the unconscious when facing the former champion.
In sum, Jardine doesn’t have many options other than standing and trading with Liddell. And the knockout loss to Alexander almost certainly has a bit of doubt lingering in his mind, which could make him hesitate against a guy like Liddell – huge mistake.
It is safe to assume that Liddell is salivating at the chance to face Jardine on Saturday night. But he is no fool, either. If he is taking Jardine lightly or if age is starting to get the best of him, things could turn out very badly.
Although he is a great opponent stylistically for the Iceman, Jardine does possess a weapon that could prove to be very effective on Saturday night – very hard, quick leg kicks.
If Jardine is able to set the distance by landing leg kicks and then circling out, he will start to sap the power from his opponent. I’m not talking about those slapping leg kicks that fans are accustomed to witnessing in almost every fight. No. I mean leg kicks where Jardine really turns his hips and commits to generating power. He is extremely skilled at doing just that.
When that type of kick lands above a fighter’s knee, it will get anyone’s attention. If he can land five or six of those in the opening round, it will create the opportunity to fake a leg kick and catch lightning in a bottle in the form of a right hand.
It may sound odd to talk about landing a homerun punch out of nowhere, but that must be Jardine’s game plan if he wants any shot at winning. The Iceman is too skilled and brings too much power in his right hand for any other standup-focused game plan to be effective, unless Liddell is starting to show the signs of aging.
For his part, Liddell simply needs to show up and be himself to maximize his odds of winning. That means he should use angles to create openings for his big right hand. He should mix in lead right hands with jabs without worrying about throwing knockout blows – those come effortlessly for the Iceman. He needs to remain mindful of defending the takedown and stay out of unnecessary clinches.
If Liddell does all of that, then he should win by crowd-pleasing knockout after an action-filled fight.
Then again, Cro Cop was supposed to dominate Gabriel Gonzaga. Georges St-Pierre was supposed to dominate Matt Serra. Jens Pulver was supposed to dominate Joe Lauzon. And Jardine was supposed to dominate Alexander.
None of them did. In fact, each of them got dominated.
That thought must be lurking somewhere in the back of Liddell’s mind when he steps in against a perceived heavy underdog on Saturday night.
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MMA
Sept 21, 2007 10:26:59 GMT -5
Post by batman on Sept 21, 2007 10:26:59 GMT -5
i don't think this article makes sense... Why would beating Liddell put Jardine as the #1 contender? He just took a huge loss. Ahead of Shogun or Ortiz without ever fighting them? That's stupid.
Another thing this guy seems to miss is that Liddell WANTS to fight grapplers. He is almost never taken down and loves to get punches off while guys try (ala Ortiz). The last fighter that wanted to go in and bang with him was Rampage...
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MMA
Sept 23, 2007 0:33:22 GMT -5
Post by batman on Sept 23, 2007 0:33:22 GMT -5
OMFG
What an amazing fight card.....
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MMA
Sept 28, 2007 11:30:49 GMT -5
Post by batman on Sept 28, 2007 11:30:49 GMT -5
I thought I got wtfpwnd on my UFC Fantasy card at the last fight since I had the 3 main events 100% wrong. Turns out I got the rest of the card mostly correct and ranked 20 out of 3511. WOOT!
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MMA
Oct 12, 2007 10:44:00 GMT -5
Post by batman on Oct 12, 2007 10:44:00 GMT -5
Randy Couture quit, there is no heavyweight champion now. :s
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MMA
Oct 15, 2007 1:03:11 GMT -5
Post by Trollzy the Messenger of Lordi on Oct 15, 2007 1:03:11 GMT -5
Forrest has had a majorly damaged shoulder for quite a long while. The injuries to his shoulder even before his fight with Shogun were exhaustive. You have never heard of it because Forrest never mentions his injuries, whether he has won or lost, after his fights. This surgery was a long time in coming. Everyone felt it was in his best interest to have the surgery now before fighting another top tier fighter. He basically fought Shogun with one arm. Trust me, Forrest wanted to fight Silva in December but that was not to be
Forrest is a GOD!
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MMA
Oct 15, 2007 1:07:44 GMT -5
Post by batman on Oct 15, 2007 1:07:44 GMT -5
Dude... when he gets healthy I think he should get a title shot. That nuts is ridiculous.
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MMA
Oct 15, 2007 1:28:11 GMT -5
Post by Trollzy the Messenger of Lordi on Oct 15, 2007 1:28:11 GMT -5
i agree. Lordi has forseen Brother Forrest Griffen claiming his rightful title, but only when fully healed!
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MMA
Oct 15, 2007 1:32:31 GMT -5
Post by Trollzy the Messenger of Lordi on Oct 15, 2007 1:32:31 GMT -5
I have to throw this in here cause i feel it is relevent.
"So! You think your kung-fu is pretty good huh? I want to fight your brother! Him against me! Let's Kung-Fu!!! - Forrest Griffen at the weigh-in with Shogun
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MMA
Oct 26, 2007 0:37:30 GMT -5
Post by batman on Oct 26, 2007 0:37:30 GMT -5
Madness
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MMA
Oct 30, 2007 12:58:18 GMT -5
Post by batman on Oct 30, 2007 12:58:18 GMT -5
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