Shoot match of the year?

[Guest The Son of Sting]

I havent seen loads but everything i have seen was very good to excellent.

These are the only matches i can think of from the top of my head.

 

Frye-Shamrock

Frye-Takayama

Sapp-Hoost

[Guest Army Eye]

Those are good ones. Also check out:

 

Pele vs. Newton, Pride 19

Minotauro vs. Sapp, Pride/K-1 Shockwave

Lawler vs. Riley, UFC 37

Ninja vs. Sperry, Pride 20

[The Dames 0]

Hey guys, not to sound like a shill, but Dave Dymond of TSM and WDI wrote a column on the Top 10 MMA fights this year. Not sure if you guys saw it...

 

The Tap Out Wrap Up by Dave Dymond

 

Dames

[Guest Pegasus Kid]

Geez... I guess I have a different impression of what a good "fight" is because taking a look at that guys list:

 

Shamrock vs Ortiz was a total squash in every sense of the word and really showed how Shamrock is both old and behind the times as it concerns how to train for a fight. I give the man props for having a lot of heart but that's about it. Total slaughter.

 

Frye vs Shamrock: I need to re-watch this. My first viewing I came away not very impressed but the match continues to get pimped so I could be wrong.

 

Hughes vs Sakurai: Again, just a big squash. Hughes has got INSANE POWER and it showed here as he basically took Sakurai down at will and GnP. I don't recall Sakurai getting much in the way of offense. Bad ribs show he's got heart to fight a good battle but I doubt Hughes was in danger whether Sak was 100% or not.

 

Horn vs Yvel: NOW we're getting somewhere. Awesome match with Yvel the dirty cheating rope holder (see match vs Frye) going against bad ass submission man Horn. Great back and forth stuff. You cry for Horn when Yvel STEPS ON HIS FACE! good strikes, good submissions. I showed this match to my non MMA fan buddies and they loved it.

 

Newton vs Pele: Eh... I'm not a big fan of this one. Newton's got a titanium jaw to take that kick and then ask for more but aside from that it went how I figured with Newton getting a submission against a predominant striker.

 

Pulver vs Penn: Great great back and forth match. I'm surprised it went to a decision though as Pulver was in control for most of it and I thought could have finished at a couple of points. I was happy to see Penn lose and have reality come back into his life after his smoking out all of his opponents.

 

Ninja vs Sperry: I've got to re-watch this. Ninja is one of my favourite fighters but I can't seem to get a clear picture of this fight in my head. Can't really comment on it.

 

Arona vs Henderson: Same goes for this match. Shit I'm just going to re-watch armed and ready altogether because I'm drawing a blank for most of it.

 

Nogueira vs Sapp: POWERBOMB! POWERBOMB! POWERBOMB! This fight kicked so much ass it's not even funny. Sapp is a BEAST! Nogueira is INSANE for taking the hammer of Thor that is Sapp's right fist and still sticking with it. I remember avoiding spoilers for Shockwave and then watching the next night knowing nothing about it. I jumped out of my chair after the powerbomb and watch the entire first round on my knees in amazement and anticipation of Sapp taking it but Nogueira having none of that shit.

 

Lawler vs Riley: OH MY GOD! BEST FIGHT OF 2002! I KILL YOU! YOU KILL ME! WE DO IT FOR THREE ROUNDS!

 

So yeah, I'd say Lawler vs Riley, Sapp vs Nogueira, Pulver vs Penn, Horn vs Yvel and probably Ninja vs Sperry (as soon as I re-watch it to be sure) are MOTYC's but the rest were squash city and I don't care for that. He'll I'd have put Rodriguez vs Couture over those squash matches. *shrugs* to each their own I guess.

 

Oh yeah; Dames that link doesn't work. most URL's don't use two http://

[Guest Dangerous A]

My pick is with Sapp vs Noguiera. That was just surreal with Noguiera getting dumped on his head twice and then fighting back to get an armbar on a vicious monster like Sapp was just awesome.

[Guest Dopey]

Don Fry and Judo-boy!!! Nice to know someone still knows how to use a gi.

[Guest Evil Ash]

Ninja vs Sperry and Sapp vs Nogueira are the top two PRIDE matches. Can't say much about UFC, as I've seen very little.

[Guest The Thread Killer]

Army Eye: Thanks for the feedback about the column, I really appreciate it.

 

Justin: I think once you go back and watch Armed and Ready you will agree with my picks on those two fights...but I could be wrong.

 

As far as the UFC 40 match, like I said in my column, there were plenty of matches BETTER than last year, but none that had as much significance in my humble opinion. That whole issue with Shamrock and Ortiz had so much maintstream crossover appeal, THAT is what made it noteworthy to me.

 

A lot of people have disagreed with my opinion on Sukurai and Hughes, and there us a valid argument there to be sure...but to me that was Hughes "arrival" fight. I could be wrong.

 

As far as the link, I think the one in my sig below links to that column.

 

And thanks for the plug Dames!

[The Dames 0]

Oh yeah; Dames that link doesn't work. most URL's don't use two http://

Thanks, Justin. It's all fixed now.

 

Dames