Preview of PRIDE: Final Conflict

[Guest Last Warrior]

I did this preview for Smarks Choice and it can be viewed in its full state here.

 

'The Takedown Testimony' - PRIDE: Final Conflict 

 

First of all, if you can think of a better name for an MMA column then e-mail me (address at the bottom of the page) and let me know.

 

(--Brief intro--)

 

BTW – Check out the MMA folder on the Smarks Choice fourms. They are only new and have little in the way of traffic at the moment but I think they can turn into something good.

 

Anywho, onto the reason you clicked on this (unless it was an accident in which case read on regardless) the PRIDE: Final Conflict show that takes place this Sunday in Japan. For those of you that missed the show prior to this (PRIDE: Total Elimination GP) then you can find the results by clicking here. Read those before you carry on reading this if you want to get a full idea of what is going down. If you can’t be bothered then basically the first show was built around the quarter finals of the PRIDE: GP middleweight tournament. The show also featured three ‘Superfights’ and was being hyped by many going into the event as probably the best MMA card ever assembled. It proved to indeed be a great card and whilst not meeting the unrealistically high expectations of many, provided a great night of action and set up the main selling point for this Sunday’s show.

 

Right, the matches. First column so this is very much a learning experience for me as well but lets see how it goes. The most likely scenario is that I will give a brief rundown of the fight with fighter’s strengths and weakness and then give a prediction. However this could very well change as the column progresses. Here is the my preview:

 

PRIDE: Final Conflict 2003

November 9, 2003

Tokyo Dome

Tokyo, Japan

 

Gary “Big Daddy” Goodridge vs. Dan “The Bull” Bobish

 

Well Goodridge was completely taken apart by Emelianenko Fedor at the last PRIDE show but he is a very popular fighter in Japan and had won his two previous PRIDE fights before Fedor, so that may explain why he has been asked to come back so quickly. I know very little about Bobish apart from that he is a former KOTC champion and has quite a poor record coming into this fight. His overall record in MMA is 9-4-0 but bear in mind those losses featured fights against Kevin Randleman, Jimmy Ambriz and Mark Kerr.

 

People are expecting this sight to be explosive right from the outset with both guys being big and strong, who like to throw punches. The main thing that I notice about this fight though is that Bobish has a 50 pound weight advantage over Goodridge and when you combine that with the wrestling and submission skills that Bobish possesses (above average rather than good) then ‘Big Daddy’ may find himself in some trouble. Desire may also play a key part in this fight. This is the first time in PRIDE for ‘The Bull’ and he may want it more than the ageing Goodridge. He will be keen to make his mark with Japanese fans and will not be easy to beat.

 

The plusses for Goodridge is that if it does end up being a stand-up war then he is as powerful as any heavyweight in the world and if he can connect with Bobish’s chin, he will cause a lot of damage. Also with Bobish’s weight being what it is, stamina may be a problem for him if this fight goes over 5-7 mins.

 

I am picking Dan ‘The Bull’ Bobish to take this one. I do not think it will make it into a second round and expect Bobish to get a KO victory.

 

Middleweight Tournament Match #1

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs. Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell

 

This is definitely the harder semi-final to pick a winner from. Here we have two very good athletes, both of whom were amongst the initial favourites to win the tournament outright. Chuck Liddell is not only representing himself, but also representing the UFC with Dana White betting a large amount of money, and the reputation of his company, on Chuck winning the tournament but more importantly giving him a good account of himself.

 

This is going to come down to who makes the most of their respective strengths. If Chuck can the majority of this fight standing then I would go with him (former kick-boxer) to control the fight. However this may not be enough to secure him a victory. It has been widely reported that the judges in PRIDE are likely to favour any opponent of Chuck’s over him should it come to a decision. Therefore if Chuck is to win, and progress though to the finals, then it will probably have to be the result of a KO or submission.

 

Jackson is far better on the ground than Liddell and if it the fight goes to the ground then Chuck may find himself in trouble. It will be interesting to see how much he has improved his ground-game after his surprising loss to Randy Couture in the UFC recently. Whilst ‘The Iceman’ is probably the harder puncher, Rampage is stronger than him and would control him on the floor. He will also be very difficult to knock out and has never lost as a result of being referee stoppage or KO.

 

I would really like to see a Liddell vs. Silva final to this tournament but everything here seems t be going in the favour of Jackson. I think this fight will go the go the distance because both men have a good chin and stamina and Rampage will pick up the decision. Liddell’s most likely chance of victory in this fight would be a knock out in round three or the latter stages of round two.

 

Middleweight Tournament Match #2

Wanderlei Silva vs. Hidehiko Yoshida

 

According to the laws of pretty much everything, Vanderlei is going to win this fight. Yoshida is the big underdog with the bookmakers and has fought nowhere near the calibre of opponent than Silva has not only fought but beat. To top it all of Yoshida actually got to choose who his opponent would be in the semi-finals and chose Vanderlei because (as the story goes) he had little chance of beating any of the three remaining and by choosing the favourite to fight, he would gain respect and honour from the Japanese fans.

 

There are reasons why Vanderlei is expected to win this fight. He is a devastating striker and Yoshida is notoriously poor when it comes to stand up defence. Silva is not only very strong but combines Muay Thai skills with a good knowledge of wrestling also. He really does seem to have all bases covered in this one.

 

Yoshida must have something going for him. He is an Olympic gold medallist in judo and this suggests that his ground game may be slightly stronger than Silva’s. Whether he has the strength to make Vanderlei submit though is doubtful. When you consider that Silva has fought far better fighters than Yoshida and never submitted before then it looks a very tall order for Hidehiko.

 

Silva will win this fight – you can put the mortgage in this one. But it may be slightly closer than people think and by that I mean it may last 6 minutes instead of two. Sorry Mr. Yoshida but prove me wrong.

 

Middleweight Tournament Match #3 (Reserve Match)

Dan Henderson vs. Murilo Bustamante

 

It would sort of make a mockery of the tournament if there was an injury in one of the other fights and Bustamante came though to win the tournament, having already lost to Jackson at the last show.

 

Henderson is one of the most underrated fighters in the world I think having beaten Nogueira once in RINGS and gave him a good fight when they fought recently in PRIDE. Bustamante on the over hand in one of the most well-rounded guys in MMA with very little going against him.

 

This has been overlooked by many in favour of the Heavyweight bout and the middleweight tourney, but I think could be one of the best fights of the night. Both guys are very strong and should be evenly matched here. Both guys also have excellent conditioning and stamina, which leads me to believe it, may go the distance. One thing that stands out for me is that Henderson is making his return from a knee injury where as Murilo is fresh having narrowly been beaten by Quinton Jackson at the last PRIDE show.

 

If it goes the distance then I think Bustamante will take the decision. Morilo also has better ground technique than Henderson so may be able to capitalise on his possible knee weakness with a submission.

 

Heath Herring vs. Norihisa Yamamoto

 

On paper this looks likely to be a very one sided fight, much like the Silva / Yoshida fight. I know pretty much nothing about Yamamoto apart from that he has a poor record in MMA that shows 5 wins and 10 losses. Herring is a strong stand-up fighter and should pick up the win by knock out. From what I have read about Yamamoto he is a very gutsy fighter however who is respected in Japan for his warrior spirit.

 

Relying simply on an inner feeling, I think Yamamoto may last the first round but will find himself looking at the arena ceiling fairly soon in the second round. Herring by KO.

 

Kazushi Sakuraba vs. Kevin Randleman

 

Sakuraba is a legend in Japan. He has had a number of very famous fights and showed good skills and most importantly great heart in them all, which in turn means the people love him.

 

However time is catching up with him and he has taken a lot of punishment in recent fights. You have to believe that if this is not his last match then all that remains for him is a big money retirement match against someone with a lot bigger name than Kevin Randleman.

 

Randleman is one of the best wrestlers in the MMA world and I think he will utilise that well against Sakuraba and dominate him for the majority of the fight. I don’t think that Kazushi has the strength necessary to KO Randleman and if the fight goes 2-3 rounds then Kevin should have better conditioning and be able to capitalise. Therefore Sakuraba’s best chance is to submit Randleman in the first round, which when you consider the pedigree of his wrestling skills, will be a very difficult task.

 

I do not think Sakuraba will submit but he will be on the receiving end of a pounding. I look for Randleman to pick up the win via referee stoppage in round two.

 

PRIDE FC Interim Heavyweight Championship Match

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira

 

Whilst the tournament matches will be good, this is undoubtedly the fight I am most looking forward to.

 

Cro Cop is one of the most devastating fighters in MMA today and has unbelievable kick-boxing skills. He is also coming off the back of a number of impressive victories not only in PRIDE but against Bob Sapp in K-1 as well. He is really developing a name for himself worldwide now as well and will probably be the fan favourite going into this fight.

 

Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is one of my favourite MMA fighters ever and combines a superb ground game (Black belt in Brazillian Jiu-Jitsu) and good stand up skills thanks to a boxing background. This is his first fight since his controversial victory over Ricco Rodriguez, but he has the skills to beat Mirko.

 

If Cro Cop can catch Antonio with one of his trademark high kicks to the temple then it could be lights out for him. Filipovic is also a strong puncher and despite Nogueira’s background in boxing, he may be too strong for him.

 

Mirko has never really been seriously tested on the floor in PRIDE and if he can be taken down for any sustained period of time then this fight could be Nogueira’s for the taking. Cro Cop has an excellent sprawl and as such can avoid takedowns some of the time, however there is more than one way to skin a cat. Although Cro Cop has never been submitted in his career thus far.

 

The betting favours Cro Cop but I think Nogueira will surprise people and pick up the win via submission (Filipovic may fall into the triangle choke trap that Antonio often sets). If it goes the distance then I also expect Nogueira to win but I think we will see Cro Cop submitted in the early parts of round three.

 

Middleweight Tournament Final Match

Winner Liddell/Jackson vs. Winner Silva/Yoshida

 

I am going on the basis that my earlier predictions are correct and we will see a Silva vs. Jackson final. The main thing I think will play a part in this fight is what state the men are in after their semi-finals. I expect Vanderlei to come out of his relatively unscathed whereas Jackson may still be feeling the effects of a hard fought contest with Liddell.

 

When I consider this as well as Silva’s all round skills and vast experience over Jackson, then I think that come Sunday night Vanderlei Silva will be bing crowned as the PRIDE GP middleweight tournament champion. Do not underestimate Jackson though because he is an extremely tough competitor with a lot of heart. He also has the skills required to beat Vanderlei if the fight goes to the floor. Ramapage is also the stronger of the two men and will be able to absorb a lot of the shots that Silva will throw at him.

 

Jackson has also has the trademark slam in his armoury and if he can utilise that whilst he still has the strength, then Silva may be in real trouble.

 

I have no dislike towards Silva but I would prefer Rampage (or possibly Liddell) to beat Silva in the final. However realistically I expect Silva to win via referee stoppage in round three simply because Jackson will have nothing left in the tank by that point.

 

 

Man, I was looking forward to this show beforehand but I am really psyched for it now I have properly thought about all of the fights. I will be back next week t review what went down at the show and how close my predictions were to the actual results.

 

I realise that this is not being shown in the UK but if you want to check it out then you can e-mail Bob Barnett ([email protected]) who will ship copies on Monday morning and will hit the UK by Wednesday or Thursday. Otherwise, you can wait for a UK trader to get it in – Niall at ‘King of the Shill’ or bobbins are probably your best bet. If you are broke and cannot afford to see the show then you can do the next best thing and read my ‘Takedown Testimony’ next week to see full results and analysis of the show.

 

Feedback is greatly appreciated from everyone, and I would really like to know what you think of this column by e-mailing me at the address below this.

 

Cheers and see you next time.

 

Let me know what you think.