The Ghost of bps21 Posted October 1, 2003 Report Posted October 1, 2003 Pride Grand Prix bracketing to be announced today [email protected] Pride is expected to hold a press conference today to announce the official bracketing for the 11/9 Grand Prix finals at the Tokyo Dome. The four men to be bracketed are current middleweight champion Vanderlei Silva, Hidehiko Yoshida, UFC's Chuck Liddell and Quinton Jackson. According to Kami no puroresu Magazine, the bracketing will not be done by fan voting, as was the original plan (which would have resulted in Yoshida vs. Silva and Liddell vs. Jackson). Apparently the change was made due to charges of favoritism in those brackets. Instead, there will be a lottery where all four men will pull a number. The man who picks No. 1, then gets to pick his opponent. The magazine claimed that if Jackson picked No. 1, he would pick Silva, which is a long-awaited match-up.
Ced Posted October 1, 2003 Report Posted October 1, 2003 I haven't seen much of Yoshida. How good is he against strikes? I just have a strange feeling he's going to get mauled by kicks and punches no matter who his opponent is. Silva vs Jackson will be a fight that draws well should it happen during this draw or in the finals.
The Ghost of bps21 Posted October 1, 2003 Author Report Posted October 1, 2003 by Dave Meltzer [email protected] The lottery for the Pride Grand Prix took place today, with Hidehiko Yoshida picking No. 1. Yoshida chose Vanderlei Silva as his opponent, leaving Chuck Liddell vs. Quinton Jackson as the other match. This may have been something decided upon already since at the UFC on Friday, Liddell and Jackson did the face-to-face and talked about their match in the first round.
RavishingRickRudo Posted October 1, 2003 Report Posted October 1, 2003 Yoshida is a horrible striker and was nearly overwhelmed by Tamura in their 1st round match. Wanderlei will eat him alive.
RavishingRickRudo Posted October 1, 2003 Report Posted October 1, 2003 He is the Frank Sinatra of MMA.
The Ghost of bps21 Posted October 1, 2003 Author Report Posted October 1, 2003 So The finals are Silva vs. ??? Yoshida has zero chance...
Your Paragon of Virtue Posted October 2, 2003 Report Posted October 2, 2003 I thought they already knew Silva was fighting him, at least that's what they said on the UFC PPV. SHERDOG IS RUN BY A BUNCH OF LIARS~!
AboveAverage484 Posted October 2, 2003 Report Posted October 2, 2003 SHERDOG IS RUN BY A BUNCH OF LIARS~! No, just by a bunch of guys who want to be the first to post a rumor without using a reliable source. Anyone else want to come to Yoshida's funeral on the 9th?
Your Paragon of Virtue Posted October 2, 2003 Report Posted October 2, 2003 They're trying to show that Yoshida has balls by making him "ask" to fight Silva. He would lose to any of them, and at least picking the favourite would give him a good rep for people in Japan. Odds are either Silva will kill him or he will be in the process of killing him when the referee steps in and pulls him off. Yoshida complains, they say to stop the fight and it looks like a BS decision. I mean you know Silva is going to win, it is just HOW badly is he gonna win? I think Yoshida might succeed in the clinch if it goes that far, but it's doubtful. Liddel or Jackson? I'm picking Liddel, I think he can take on Silva as well. But in one night? Doubtful...
Guest Last Warrior Posted October 3, 2003 Report Posted October 3, 2003 As lond as Silva gets through, you are guarenteed a great final. Personally I would like to Liddell get through and face him but Rampage would be good too.
RavishingRickRudo Posted October 4, 2003 Report Posted October 4, 2003 Might as well throw this out in here:: *Pride's first venture into the U.S will take place on March 13th in Las Vegas. You can expect a lot of UFC involvement with this show. -LAW
Ced Posted October 4, 2003 Report Posted October 4, 2003 Yoshida picked Wanderlei? I guess poor Yoshida's guessing that if he's going down he's going down in a big bloody blaze of glory. From what I've picked up, Yoshida has decent throws and submission techniques, but they don't help him if an insane looking sumbitch is dropping bombs on his face. If he's got anything going for him, he was at least pimped out at the press conference and put the other three to shame in style points. As for the GP finals, I'm predicting the anticipated Silva vs Jackson match will take place.
Guest Choken One Posted October 4, 2003 Report Posted October 4, 2003 Yoshida is Pride's Ric Flair... Wanderlei is just a bum... I'm speaking in fashion terms here...
Guest Army Eye Posted October 4, 2003 Report Posted October 4, 2003 I understand Yoshida vs. Silva is the 'drawing' match and I'm not sure how much of this lottery and Yoshida making this choice was legitimate (I'm sure Takada had his ear at the very least) but the better choice for Yoshida would've been to fight Rampage, as he's the most vulnerable to submissions of the three, and probably the weakest stand-up fighter of the three, though he's still excellent. All three are horrible matchups for him though. I can't believe the guy might actually go through with this fight. Will they take this body out of the ring in a casket or what? Would that be too grim? I love the look that Silva is giving him in that pic up above. "what was this guy THINKING?"
Dangerous A Posted October 4, 2003 Report Posted October 4, 2003 My picks are Silva over Yoshida via ref stoppage in about 3:00 or less. Jackson over Lidell via split decision. If this were to happen, you'd have a built in storyline of a top American Pride guy having defeated a top UFC guy going into Pride's first US produced PPV. I am personally pulling for Jackson, but I think Silva is coming out with this. I have nothing against Silva mind you. Jackson's badassness gets the better of me, plus he'd be huge here in the US. Silva however, has the path of least resistance.
Guest Choken One Posted October 4, 2003 Report Posted October 4, 2003 Silva might be a good fighter but he's one ugly fuck... Which i guess he channels his high school rejections during the fights...
Guest Army Eye Posted October 4, 2003 Report Posted October 4, 2003 Indeed, Rampage could be a huge star in U.S. MMA (relatively speaking). His trash-talking and charisma is PERFECT for the States. On the other hand, the Japanese don't really go for that. They like the silent, humble types.
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