animalmother
Member
UFC 97 looks like a very good card. Anyone see the Countdown Show Monday? If not, it repeats Thurs. Here is the card:
Anderson Silva Vs. Thales Leites
Name: Anderson Silva
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 23-4-0
Name: Thales Leites
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 14-1-0
I'm picking Silva. He remains the top pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world (GSP and Fedor being numbers 2 and 3). He is an elite athlete who is on another level.
Chuck Liddell Vs. Mauricio Rua
Name: Chuck Liddell
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 21-6-0
Name: Mauricio Rua
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 17-3-0
I'm picking Chuck. This is a must win fight for both fighters. The loser will likely be out of the UFC, or relegated to fighting on the undercard of a Fight Night. Both fighters need a win very badly.
Krzysztof Soszynski Vs. Brian Stann
Name: Krzysztof Soszynski
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 17-9-1
Name: Brian Stann
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 6-1-0
I want Brian Stann (a decorated Marine Captain who won the Silver Star in Irag and is the former WEC LH champ) to win.
Cheick Kongo Vs. Antoni Hardonk
Name: Cheick Kongo
Height: 6' 4" (193 cm)
Weight: 240 (109 kg)
Record: 23-4-1
Name: Antoni Hardonk
Height: 6' 4" (193 cm)
Weight: 245 (111 kg)
Record: 8-4-0
Two very big men. Both are strikers. I like both of them, but I got to pick Kongo.
Steve Cantwell Vs. Luiz Cane
Name: Steve Cantwell
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 7-1-0
Name: Luiz Cane
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 10-1-1
I really like former WEC LH champ Steve Cantwell, but Luiz Cane is a monster. I'm picking Cane but would like to see Cantwell win.
Jason MacDonald Vs. Nate Quarry
Name: Jason MacDonald
Height: 6' 3" (191 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 22-11-0
Name: Nate Quarry
Height: 6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 16-3-0
Not sure how you pick this one. Could easily go either way. No pick on this one. Too close to call.
David Loiseau Vs. Ed Herman
Name: David Loiseau
Height: 6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 18-8-0
Name: Ed Herman
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 16-6-0
Another very hard one to call. No pick.
From sherdog, here is who the pros are picking in the Silva vs.
Leites fight:
"Sherdog.com polled dozens of professional fighters and trainers to see what they believe will transpire inside the Octagon when the two Brazilian middleweights collide.
Stephane Vigneault: A beating by Silva. I think it's gonna be a TKO in round three in favor of Silva. Silva is too well-rounded. A ground-and-pound beating.
Thomas Denny: This is the fight I am really excited about. I will go with Silva [by] second-round TKO, but Thales will have Anderson in some trouble for part of the fight. Anderson will take his heart early in the second and finish him late in the round. If you were a betting man, put a couple bucks on Thales because he just might catch him, pull the upset and shake the middleweight division up.
Robin Black: Anderson Silva is a human. Patrick Cote knew that and looked really good in his fight with "The Spider." If Thales Leites goes into that fight focused and ignores the hype, he could submit Silva in the middle rounds and shock the world -- or at least the Internet. Buster Douglas anyone?
Stav Economou: Anderson Silva by KO, probably in the second.
Kultar Gill: Anderson Silva by mid-second-round TKO.
Scott Epstein: Do we really need a prediction on an Anderson Silva fight at this point? Silva by "The Karate Kid"-style wax on-wax off defense to crane kick.
Tom Gavrilos: Anderson Silva KO -- round one.
Michael Guymon: Anderson will have Leites on the pinball table like Jodie Foster from the movie "The Accused." Anderson by rape train.
Elvis Sinosic: This is an intriguing fight for the fact that it is two Brazilians -- or more importantly, no Americans -- in the title fight picture for a UFC belt. This shows international diversity in the titles, which is what we want from the UFC. This fight will only get interesting if Leites can get Silva down and then do something with it. Can Leites get Silva down the same way Lutter did? And if he does, can he do more with it? I don't see this happening. I see Silva punishing Leites and, when taken down, either surviving until the round is over or even getting back to his feet. I don't think Silva will submit Leites. I don't think Leites will be able to monopolize on an opportunity to submit Silva, either. I see Silva winning via KO or TKO in the later rounds.
Randy Couture: I don't think there's a fighter in the UFC at that weight class that's gonna touch Anderson right now if he engages. Thales is a wonderful athlete, but we are looking at an Anderson Silva who's at the top of his game. Is Anderson gonna come with all the sugar moves this outing or bring back the laser-sighted accuracy, strong Thai clinch and stellar ground game? That's what I'm looking for.
Duke Roufus: Leites has a great ground game. If Silva keeps it standing, the fight is Silva's.
Jason Lambert: Silva [by] KO.
Kit Cope: If Leites doesn't get smacked with something that knocks him [silly] from the get-go, he'll tap Silva out via leg submission or some other twisted sub you don't see often.
John Alessio: I gotta roll with Silva in this one. Leites is a tough guy, but I'm afraid Silva's striking will play a big part in this fight. Both guys have good jiu-jitsu, but I'm going with Silva by KO in the second round.
Travis Lutter: I think Thales' BJJ is better than Anderson's, but Anderson is better where it counts, and that is MMA. I think it will be a good fight, but I don't see this fight making it to the end.
Alan Belcher: Silva by KO, round two.
Doug Marshall: Anderson Silva, round two TKO [via] strikes. Anderson is on top of his game; he's accurate, with a sick ass ground game. On the feet, on the ground … Anderson.
Guy Mezger: I'm not sure how funny I can be because of the business-like beating that Silva is going to give Leites. Good-looking fight, but Silva is on top of his game right now. He's tough to beat.
Cung Le: Anderson [wins] by decision.
Chris Lytle: I think it will be tough for anyone to touch Silva right now. Leites is a little too one-dimensional for him. The only one I think that can dethrone Silva is Nate Marquardt.
James Zikic: Anderson Silva to win by second-round TKO. It's going to take more than just jiu-jitsu to beat Anderson. He has been beaten by submission in the past, but he was caught by very unorthodox submissions in the Pride days, and that was a long time ago. He is a different fighter now and, by accounts, has been training with world-class jiu-jitsu guys for this fight. Can't see any way for Thales to win. It will take someone with a hard head and good hands to beat Anderson … someone like myself.
James Thompson: Would like to be different and say Thales [will win], but as much as I try, I can't see it. Silva by devastating clinch in round one.
Pros that picked Silva: 18
Pros that picked Leites: 1
Pros that did not pick a winner: 3"
Picks, comments?
Anderson Silva Vs. Thales Leites
Name: Anderson Silva
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 23-4-0
Name: Thales Leites
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 14-1-0
I'm picking Silva. He remains the top pound-for-pound MMA fighter in the world (GSP and Fedor being numbers 2 and 3). He is an elite athlete who is on another level.
Chuck Liddell Vs. Mauricio Rua
Name: Chuck Liddell
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 21-6-0
Name: Mauricio Rua
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 17-3-0
I'm picking Chuck. This is a must win fight for both fighters. The loser will likely be out of the UFC, or relegated to fighting on the undercard of a Fight Night. Both fighters need a win very badly.
Krzysztof Soszynski Vs. Brian Stann
Name: Krzysztof Soszynski
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 17-9-1
Name: Brian Stann
Height: 6' 1" (185 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 6-1-0
I want Brian Stann (a decorated Marine Captain who won the Silver Star in Irag and is the former WEC LH champ) to win.
Cheick Kongo Vs. Antoni Hardonk
Name: Cheick Kongo
Height: 6' 4" (193 cm)
Weight: 240 (109 kg)
Record: 23-4-1
Name: Antoni Hardonk
Height: 6' 4" (193 cm)
Weight: 245 (111 kg)
Record: 8-4-0
Two very big men. Both are strikers. I like both of them, but I got to pick Kongo.
Steve Cantwell Vs. Luiz Cane
Name: Steve Cantwell
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 7-1-0
Name: Luiz Cane
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 205 (93 kg)
Record: 10-1-1
I really like former WEC LH champ Steve Cantwell, but Luiz Cane is a monster. I'm picking Cane but would like to see Cantwell win.
Jason MacDonald Vs. Nate Quarry
Name: Jason MacDonald
Height: 6' 3" (191 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 22-11-0
Name: Nate Quarry
Height: 6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 16-3-0
Not sure how you pick this one. Could easily go either way. No pick on this one. Too close to call.
David Loiseau Vs. Ed Herman
Name: David Loiseau
Height: 6' 0" (183 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 18-8-0
Name: Ed Herman
Height: 6' 2" (188 cm)
Weight: 185 (84 kg)
Record: 16-6-0
Another very hard one to call. No pick.
From sherdog, here is who the pros are picking in the Silva vs.
Leites fight:
"Sherdog.com polled dozens of professional fighters and trainers to see what they believe will transpire inside the Octagon when the two Brazilian middleweights collide.
Stephane Vigneault: A beating by Silva. I think it's gonna be a TKO in round three in favor of Silva. Silva is too well-rounded. A ground-and-pound beating.
Thomas Denny: This is the fight I am really excited about. I will go with Silva [by] second-round TKO, but Thales will have Anderson in some trouble for part of the fight. Anderson will take his heart early in the second and finish him late in the round. If you were a betting man, put a couple bucks on Thales because he just might catch him, pull the upset and shake the middleweight division up.
Robin Black: Anderson Silva is a human. Patrick Cote knew that and looked really good in his fight with "The Spider." If Thales Leites goes into that fight focused and ignores the hype, he could submit Silva in the middle rounds and shock the world -- or at least the Internet. Buster Douglas anyone?
Stav Economou: Anderson Silva by KO, probably in the second.
Kultar Gill: Anderson Silva by mid-second-round TKO.
Scott Epstein: Do we really need a prediction on an Anderson Silva fight at this point? Silva by "The Karate Kid"-style wax on-wax off defense to crane kick.
Tom Gavrilos: Anderson Silva KO -- round one.
Michael Guymon: Anderson will have Leites on the pinball table like Jodie Foster from the movie "The Accused." Anderson by rape train.
Elvis Sinosic: This is an intriguing fight for the fact that it is two Brazilians -- or more importantly, no Americans -- in the title fight picture for a UFC belt. This shows international diversity in the titles, which is what we want from the UFC. This fight will only get interesting if Leites can get Silva down and then do something with it. Can Leites get Silva down the same way Lutter did? And if he does, can he do more with it? I don't see this happening. I see Silva punishing Leites and, when taken down, either surviving until the round is over or even getting back to his feet. I don't think Silva will submit Leites. I don't think Leites will be able to monopolize on an opportunity to submit Silva, either. I see Silva winning via KO or TKO in the later rounds.
Randy Couture: I don't think there's a fighter in the UFC at that weight class that's gonna touch Anderson right now if he engages. Thales is a wonderful athlete, but we are looking at an Anderson Silva who's at the top of his game. Is Anderson gonna come with all the sugar moves this outing or bring back the laser-sighted accuracy, strong Thai clinch and stellar ground game? That's what I'm looking for.
Duke Roufus: Leites has a great ground game. If Silva keeps it standing, the fight is Silva's.
Jason Lambert: Silva [by] KO.
Kit Cope: If Leites doesn't get smacked with something that knocks him [silly] from the get-go, he'll tap Silva out via leg submission or some other twisted sub you don't see often.
John Alessio: I gotta roll with Silva in this one. Leites is a tough guy, but I'm afraid Silva's striking will play a big part in this fight. Both guys have good jiu-jitsu, but I'm going with Silva by KO in the second round.
Travis Lutter: I think Thales' BJJ is better than Anderson's, but Anderson is better where it counts, and that is MMA. I think it will be a good fight, but I don't see this fight making it to the end.
Alan Belcher: Silva by KO, round two.
Doug Marshall: Anderson Silva, round two TKO [via] strikes. Anderson is on top of his game; he's accurate, with a sick ass ground game. On the feet, on the ground … Anderson.
Guy Mezger: I'm not sure how funny I can be because of the business-like beating that Silva is going to give Leites. Good-looking fight, but Silva is on top of his game right now. He's tough to beat.
Cung Le: Anderson [wins] by decision.
Chris Lytle: I think it will be tough for anyone to touch Silva right now. Leites is a little too one-dimensional for him. The only one I think that can dethrone Silva is Nate Marquardt.
James Zikic: Anderson Silva to win by second-round TKO. It's going to take more than just jiu-jitsu to beat Anderson. He has been beaten by submission in the past, but he was caught by very unorthodox submissions in the Pride days, and that was a long time ago. He is a different fighter now and, by accounts, has been training with world-class jiu-jitsu guys for this fight. Can't see any way for Thales to win. It will take someone with a hard head and good hands to beat Anderson … someone like myself.
James Thompson: Would like to be different and say Thales [will win], but as much as I try, I can't see it. Silva by devastating clinch in round one.
Pros that picked Silva: 18
Pros that picked Leites: 1
Pros that did not pick a winner: 3"
Picks, comments?
