RavishingRickRudo

The last time Randy got tapped, Shaggy had a hit song. When Shaggy becomes relevant again, so does Randy's submission avoidance game.

Explain. Where do you see Fedor having the overwhelming advantage? Because against wrestlers like Randleman and Coleman, Fedor was able to get taken down. Even against someone with a sub-par shot like Noguiera, Fedor got taken down. And those are guys who shoot low, which is going against Fedor's strengths which is his hip control and balance. We haven't really seen anyone take it took Fedor in the clinch. Actually, on second thought, Randleman did well against Fedor in the clinch. Fedor uses the same strategies as Randy does for takedowns, with leg trips and upper-body throws. Given their experience and pedigree, I think it would be much harder for Fedor to take Randy down than it would be for Randy to take Fedor down. Standing, Fedor throws long bombs that only work when his opponents keep their hands low. Randy doesn't. They also work when the opponent covers up and doesn't counter - Randy is not afraid to get hit and will counter. Speaking of countering, Randy has only been rocked when counter-punched and on the offensive, and Fedor doesn't offer much of a threat in that area. Against Cro Cop, Fedor was remarkable in his countering, but that was by design - he had to counter or else he would lose. Since Randy does not pose as much of a threat standing, nor does he have the tools that Cro Cop has, I can't see Fedor adopting that strategy for Couture, since Fedor took so much damage employing that countering strategy (coupled with Randy's straight punches). Therefore, I don't see either guy doing much damage on their feet. So I think standing up, where their striking will only be used to set up their grappling, Randy will get a takedown and put Fedor on his back. Fedor does have the ability to tap Randy off his back, as he did Coleman, and he does have the ability to sweep him as he did Randleman and Nog, but I see Randy being able to neutralize that as his control and submission awareness is better than their's. Fedor hasn't really been put on his back for very long, as he likes to give up his back rather than stay on it, and I think Randy is smart enough to see that and it will be interesting to see what he does to capitalize on that. I can see Randy doing his fair share of GnP damage on the ground to Fedor, but Fedor is very good at avoiding damage and is so adaptable that I don't see Randy finishing it there. I say Randy takes Fedor down a bunch of times and Fedor gets back up, rinse and repeat. Where Fedor does have the advantage is in conditioning. Fedor went 20 minutes at a high pace with Nog twice and with Cro Cop. Randy was winded against Sylvia after 10 minutes. With-that-said, moving around 280 is a lot harder than moving around 230, I don't care how strong Fedor is, he won't make Randy work hard enough to gas that early. I do think Randy would eventually get gassed against Fedor, and that Fedor would have a very good chance to win with GnP in the championship rounds, but what makes this a great fight is that for the first 3 rounds it would be hotly competitive with advantage Couture. So all Randy would have to do is avoid getting put on his back for 2 rounds and he could win the decision (the only way I can see Randy beating Fedor is by cut or decision).

Well, I meant it more in a "2003 wasn't really that long ago, but it feels like a lifetime in MMA", but what you present here is an interesting discussion point, with us coming up on the sports 15th year. 1993-1998 vs. 1998-2003 vs. 2003-2008. In the long-run, we are still probably in what is considered MMA's formative years*, though standing in it now, it's easier to see more distinct rings in the tree stump, so to speak, in terms of the sports development. From 1993-1998, we went from one-style fighters to cross-training. From 1998-2003, we saw a great deal of development in the "MMA style", where it wasn't about "cross-training"; it was about "total-training". 2003-now, it's not just about training styles, it's about training conditioning, strategy, and general preparation. Granted, you would see hints of what is to come in the previous "eras" (for lack of a better term), but in terms of emphasis, today it's not about knowing everything - we already know you have to know everything - it's much more scientific than it was 10 years ago, or IMO even 5 years ago. So I would say that a great deal of change has happened, but it's more like improving the engine and the breaks in a car, rather than figuring out where to put the wheels and the windows. *MMA as we know it. Vale Tudo, which predates 1993 UFC/Pancrase, is a different subject, but needless to say, worldwide MMA growth began with the UFC*

You also know what's pretty good? YOUR IMPENDING DOOM!!!!!!

I am watching Fedor vs. Noguiera I again. I still get excited and amazed by it, and I've seen it at least 50 times. I can't believe it was 4 years ago. That was a lifetime ago for MMA.

But Randy was doing *really* well against Josh and his conditioning and preparation is so much better now. Not saying that Josh wouldn't be the heavy favourite, but there is enough doubt in my mind that makes me want to see the rematch.

Randy would probably punch him in his bad eye. I'd like to see Randy rematch Josh Barnett.

155: Joachim Hansen vs. Frankie Edgar 155: Takanori Gomi vs. Spencer Fisher 170: Shinya Aoki vs. Karo Parisyan 170: GSP vs. Hayato Sakurai 185: Anderson Silva vs. Akihiro Gono 185: Rich Franklin vs. Ryo Chonan 205: Shogun vs. Tito Ortiz 205: Chuck Liddell vs. Dan Henderson 205+: Noguiera vs. Gonzaga 205+: Brandon Vera vs. Josh Barnett

Which COMPLETELY VALIDATED IT.

Oh fuck to you who spoke shit on Mingey and Gary.

The only reason I can think of in regards to Melinda not winning the entire season is her consistency. People could get accustomed to her performances and sorta become numbed to it; where -if taken alone- a song she sings could be outstanding, but on a week-by-week basis, the sense of "awe" so-to-speak, won't be there and it could become sameold/sameold.. So there will be no sense of urgency/importance for her "fans" to vote for her, because they know she was the best and will get the votes, and that sense of security could do her in. There could also be the pro-factor. She is, infact, too good and too polished for idol. The audience wants to create stars, to find the hidden gem, and Melinda is not nearly rough-around-the-edges enough to give that sense of worth to the audience. At the start of the season, it was like "heres a girl who didn't know how good she was and is finding herself on idol", but now it's becoming more clear that she is like a ringer and does know how good she is. But this all would be an extraordinary case, and is as unlikely as the others out-singing her.

Oddly enough, watching Zoolander right now, I can easily see Gwen dressed up as Mugatu and Akon as her Todd.

It's awesome. It's like something Madonna threw out before she made Cherish.

Wow, the writers must've been binging on Tales From The Crypt before writing this one. I liked it. It was a fluff episode.

F-5 then a botched SSP to give HMC the KO win. Then it's Choigasms for everyone.

You should expect nothing less than pure awesome.

http://www.dailymotion.com/search/ufc/vide...ce-ufc-purchase 15 minutes of footage from the press conference.b

Though I have not read it myself, so this is like totally rumoured and shit which is why it's here rather than a thread of it's own... Brandon Vera apparently posted on Sherdog and said he is getting rid of his old management and leaving City Boxing and is staying with the UFC. If true, VERY good news.

The bigger question is: IS BUSHIDO: THE TOURNAMENT still going to come out on DVD? Cause, like, if it doesn't. I'm going to Vegas, and I ain't there to play slots.

Damn, that was going to be my second guess!

Avoid Fedor's Elbows?

Yeah, I am still freaking out. With Zuffa owning PRIDE, this means... - FEDOR FEDOR FEDOR FEDOR FEDOR FEDOR FEDOR FEDOR - CRO COP FOOTAGE. Not just Silva blocking a high kick, but KOs! - JERRY MILLEN GETS FIRED! J E DOUBLE RR Y M I DOUBLE N E N GET THE FUCK OUT YOU FROSTED TIP SHITTY ROCK BITCH.

Fuckin Dana White teasin us with the possibility of Fedor/Randy, Chuck/Shogun, Gomi/GSP, Hendo/Silva. Fuckin boner ragin in my pants makin it hard for me to sit here. From the fight network, what Lorenzo and Dana said word for word... PRIDE FC’S NEW OWNER, LORENZO FERTITTA ADDRESSES THE CROWD “I’m very, very happy tonight to announce the combination of the biggest and the two most important MMA organizations in the world. I’ve been a fan of PRIDE for many years, and I have enormous respect for what Mr. Sakakibara and the rest of the Dream Stage team has been able to accomplish over the last 10 years. It was about 7 years ago that I was sitting in my home in Las Vegas and I had the opportunity to buy on pay-per-view a show, a new show for me - it was called PRIDE. And for me, that was the beginning of a love affair with this brand. I sat there and watched an epic battle between Kazushi Sakuraba and Royce Gracie that lasted for an hour and a half, and I saw the production and the quality of the show, and I was completely blown away. Then a short time later, I was invited to come out to a live event. And I had the pleasure of going to the Saitama Super Arena to see Wanderlei Silva beat Kazushi Sakuraba in another great battle. After seeing the event live and seeing the incredible level of the production and the quality of the fighters and the athleticism, I was hooked on PRIDE forever. One thing that you must understand about me and the reason for this transaction is I’m a huge fan. The bottom line is I’m a huge fan. This is not about business; this is not about making money. This is about putting together the dream fights that me and you as fans have always wanted to see. It’s been six years now since the UFC’s been purchased by me and my brother and Dana White, and through this leadership, the UFC has become a golden powerhouse. When that purchase happened, we were so enthusiastic that we could turn the UFC around into something huge. This is a little bit different, because PRIDE already is a global powerhouse. But it is with that same enthusiasm that it brings me a tremendous amount of joy that I am able to pull these two great organizations and two great brands together to create the most powerful and preeminent group of fighters and shows that has ever been seen in the world of MMA.” APPLAUSE “Thank you. As I said before, this transaction advances PRIDE and the UFC way beyond and light years ahead of any other MMA organization. And I can’t tell you how happy I am. The UFC, obviously to me is like my baby, and now I have another one, and I love both just the same, and we’ll continue to make PRIDE a preeminent brand and grow this business around the world.” “Now I would like to call up on stage, my very close friend, the president of the UFC, Dana White.” UFC PRESIDENT DANA WHITE ADDRESSES THE CROWD “Today’s a great day for me. I’m very ecstatic today. And you know for years, I’ve been coming for seven years, challenging PRIDE and PRIDE fighters to fight the UFC. And I’ll have to disagree with something that Mr. Sakakibara said earlier; he was talking about all other MMA organizations that are coming out, climbing up the ladder. I laugh at that and I think they’re all a joke. The only two companies in this world that matter are the UFC and PRIDE. Being a fighter, fighters are born with something that most normal people don’t have. It’s something inside of them that they’re born with that normal people do not possess. And one of the things for a fighter is to be able to challenge himself against the best fighters in the world. To find out who really is the best fighter in each weight class. Money is great; it’s great to make money; but at the end of the day, what a fighter wants to leave behind is his legacy. Who is the best fighter in the world in each weight class and how does he test himself? So finally, after seven years, we’re gonna be able to answer all the questions we’ve been waiting to answer. All the challenges that we’ve been waiting to make happen are now gonna happen. We get to see the great fights like Fedor [Emelianenko] vs. Randy Couture, Shogun [Rua] vs. Chuck Liddell, Gomi vs. Georges St Pierre, Dan Henderson vs. Anderson Silva, Josh Barnett vs. Andrei Arlovski - whatever the match-ups might be, we finally now can set the best matches ever. We, as an organization; PRIDE as an organization; and you the fans, all have the chance to see who really is the best fighter in the world. And make no mistake about it, I don’t care that Lorenzo bought PRIDE; the UFC is coming to kick your ass.”

Nog retiring would be best. The man had wars in the ring and established a strong legacy; there really is nothing more for him to achieve other than death-in-ring-by-Fedor. Word is Zuffa is going to be part of a conglomerate that will purchase PRIDE. They will not be 100% owners, but rather, have a majority stake in the company. A tv station that is part of FujiTV is apparently involved as well, to make it look less like an American Takeover of a Japanese Company. But then again, Word also is Zuffa is going wholly own the company. Can't wait till this gets cleared up.

Here are some pre-fight videos from PRIDE. If PRIDE is bought by the UFC, I hope these still continue, because nobody does them better. Fedor Fujita http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=389YAzZK_Vs Cro Cop Fedor* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ut2rgVxhGpI ^^Truly sublime, PRIDE meets Terminator^^ Openweight GP Finals http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uFRnjYc2Sd8 Fedor Hunt* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n5lERF8ZFpU ^^Just a really goofy video getting across Hunts laissez-faire attitude towards fighting and yet still hypes up the fight (which was recent, which was very good)^^ Gomi Pulver http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BMwQHSM0DoI Kawajiri Kim http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5HDPgZ-Z70Y Gomi Kawajiri http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=w2LSZVbD97U http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jG93JXbbVKk Gomi Aurelio one http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=90h3S9jFYAg Kawajiri Brennan http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FBOOqrxVn8w PRIDE 13 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=j-gevHMP_ho Gomi vs. Aurelio Pre 2* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LqvLSpKQTiI ^I love this video. The style of it is just... you don't normally associate it with fighting... great, great, great. Maybe my favourite. Gomi vs. Ishida Pre http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CLEcsftFWcY PRIDE 07/06* http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0DJ-DqyJTj8 ^A fancam of a video showing the fans dedication to PRIDE. I love the use of the PRIDE glove on every day people, and the Bridge Over... song is a nice sentimental touch. Poetry. http://www.dailymotion.com/visited/search/...-itadakiopening Takada. Tap Dancing. Thong.