Just My Thoughts: From UFC to PRIDE to K-1
UFC52
Mike Sloan May 3, 2005
Rather than capping off my UFC 52 JMT trilogy with an article by
itself, I figured I'd kill three pigeons with one stone and add my
opinions on the PRIDE GP extravaganza and last weekend's K-1 USA
event.
In doing such a tremendous feat (note the sarcasm), I am going to delve deep into my psyche in regards to all three shows the major fighters involved and, of course, compare the three mighty organizations' latest opuses. In comparing the three, which is not unlike comparing apples, oranges and cantaloupes, who wound up as the victor as the supreme show — at least for the time being?
For starters, I must commend Chuck Liddell for squashing all
doubt by not only capturing the coveted UFC light heavyweight
title, he did so in such an emphatic manner that there is no doubt
as to who is the supreme commander among the UFC 205-pound
crop.
That crippling straight right hand, a Patriot missile launched right through the Ice Man's turret that crashed flush against then-defending champion Randy Couture's jaw, sent a shockwave throughout the MMA world that, yes, even the granite-chinned Couture's mystique can be disintegrated with a solitary punch.
Liddell's feat was so magnificent, so triumphant that even his most ardent critics had to give props through clinched teeth.
For Liddell his biggest dream had finally come true, as he stepped outside that Octagon with the belt around his waist. Finally, once and for all, Chuck Liddell, MMA's most popular uncrowned champion, had become the ruler of the light heavyweights.
What bodes in the future for Liddell? Well, he has to defend his title his next time out, but no opponent has been officially announced as of yet.
As for Couture, he is actually in good spirits about being lifted from consciousness and losing his title (a feature article with Couture is coming shortly). He made no excuses for the loss and has taken it like the true champion he is.
Like Liddell before him, Couture has to rethink his strategy and get to the back of the line and patiently await his next shot at regaining the title. Couture mentioned to me a few days ago that he is scheduled to make his initial comeback bout on the August UFC card, but no official opponent has been named (Ken Shamrock and Renato Sobral are the two primary suspects).
According to other sources, if Couture is successful come August as well as Liddell (who is allegedly going to fight on that same card), the thrilling trilogy could happen as early as January.
Couture was being hailed as the greatest fighter in UFC history and was beginning to be debated as, quite possibly, the mightiest warrior in the history of MMA. While that debate can't truly be waged between "experts" until after "The Natural" finally calls it a day, that argument must be kept on ice for the time being. As for Liddell, he should take some time off, soak up the sun and hammer down as many celebratory brews as he can until duty calls once more.
While I don't like to see any fighter lose (well, maybe I like seeing guys like Zab Judah lose), it is with a grin that I write about Liddell, who like so many other great fighters give it their all to finally win a championship. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing a fighter so determined and so passionate about his practice like Liddell finally win it all after succumbing to so many pillars and setbacks.
When a man like John Elway, who, after being let down time after time, can finally win the Super Bowl or when the Boston Red Sox after so many decades of disappointment win the whole ball of wax, I am usually overcome with joy for the athlete as well as gratitude that I am alive to witness such feats. The same can be said about Liddell.
Hopefully as the years go by we'll be witnesses to many more young fighters who not only deserve a shot at a title but to also win one. So for anybody who suffers losses along the way or for anybody who feels shunned and ignored: stick with it. Good things come to those who wait. Liddell is a classic example of that.
Moving on to their conquest in the Octagon and into the world of senseless chat room banter from the fans. It is so funny, hilarious even, that all of a sudden people claim that Couture has either 1) taken a dive so Chuck could be champ or 2) he turned old overnight.
I'm sorry my keyboard warriors, but neither is true. How can anybody even suggest that Couture took a dive? Have you idiots actually seen the fight? And for the suggestion that Randy became older than Papa Smurf in that fight — that's ludicrous as well. Couture threw a few too many wild shots, was off balance and got clobbered. Simple as that. Give both fighters some credit, will ya?
Now let's move onto defending welterweight champion Matt Hughes. I can assure you that I was not the only bystander who thought Hughes was finished once arch nemesis Frank Trigg unfurled a dizzying flurry of strikes upon the then-hapless Miletich student. Somehow Hughes was able to survive and eventually latched on another rear-naked choke, submitting Trigg for the second time.
Trigg was the only man in the UFC ranks capable enough of beating Hughes at this stage of his career and after Matt was successful once again, the question remains: Who in the hell is going to beat this guy at 170?
The simple answer is nobody.
The only sensible course of action I see Zuffa taking right now is to line up somewhat worthy contenders and allow Hughes to wipe the canvas with them. If he can't to move up to middleweight, just pump him up with thrilling win after thrilling win and hopefully pray that a deal to re-sign BJ Penn blossoms along the line. According to UFC president Dana White, a contract was offered to Penn, but he hasn't signed it. I'm pretty confident that the whole BJ vs. Zuffa saga has just begun.
Until then, the only person I see beating Hughes is Hughes himself. He is notorious for allegedly not training anywhere near as much as he should, yet he still finds ways to trounce foes. It'd be good for the sport to keep Hughes at 170 for at least another year and let him feast upon tough guys with enough clout to merit their shot at his belt.
When Hughes was walking down to the Octagon and also when ring announcer Bruce Buffer introduced him, the capacity crowd inside the sold out MGM Grand Garden Arena erupted more than I've ever witnessed for him before. Call me crazy, but I believe Hughes received a louder ovation of cheers than those that were bestowed upon both Liddell and Couture. For a fighter who has been labeled as an unmarketable figure in the sport, that chorus of cheers for the Illinois farmer must mean something. With that said and with the amount of fame Hughes has suddenly been engrossed with, now's the time for Hughes to start selling John Deere lawnmowers and Weed B Gone on television commercials.
In doing such a tremendous feat (note the sarcasm), I am going to delve deep into my psyche in regards to all three shows the major fighters involved and, of course, compare the three mighty organizations' latest opuses. In comparing the three, which is not unlike comparing apples, oranges and cantaloupes, who wound up as the victor as the supreme show — at least for the time being?
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That crippling straight right hand, a Patriot missile launched right through the Ice Man's turret that crashed flush against then-defending champion Randy Couture's jaw, sent a shockwave throughout the MMA world that, yes, even the granite-chinned Couture's mystique can be disintegrated with a solitary punch.
Couture was thought to be knockout proof after having been through
countless wars against the ferocious Pedro Rizzo, Vitor Belfort,
Josh Barnett, Liddell and countless others and never being
stretched flat on his back.
Liddell's feat was so magnificent, so triumphant that even his most ardent critics had to give props through clinched teeth.
For Liddell his biggest dream had finally come true, as he stepped outside that Octagon with the belt around his waist. Finally, once and for all, Chuck Liddell, MMA's most popular uncrowned champion, had become the ruler of the light heavyweights.
What bodes in the future for Liddell? Well, he has to defend his title his next time out, but no opponent has been officially announced as of yet.
As for Couture, he is actually in good spirits about being lifted from consciousness and losing his title (a feature article with Couture is coming shortly). He made no excuses for the loss and has taken it like the true champion he is.
Like Liddell before him, Couture has to rethink his strategy and get to the back of the line and patiently await his next shot at regaining the title. Couture mentioned to me a few days ago that he is scheduled to make his initial comeback bout on the August UFC card, but no official opponent has been named (Ken Shamrock and Renato Sobral are the two primary suspects).
According to other sources, if Couture is successful come August as well as Liddell (who is allegedly going to fight on that same card), the thrilling trilogy could happen as early as January.
Couture was being hailed as the greatest fighter in UFC history and was beginning to be debated as, quite possibly, the mightiest warrior in the history of MMA. While that debate can't truly be waged between "experts" until after "The Natural" finally calls it a day, that argument must be kept on ice for the time being. As for Liddell, he should take some time off, soak up the sun and hammer down as many celebratory brews as he can until duty calls once more.
While I don't like to see any fighter lose (well, maybe I like seeing guys like Zab Judah lose), it is with a grin that I write about Liddell, who like so many other great fighters give it their all to finally win a championship. Nothing is more satisfying than seeing a fighter so determined and so passionate about his practice like Liddell finally win it all after succumbing to so many pillars and setbacks.
When a man like John Elway, who, after being let down time after time, can finally win the Super Bowl or when the Boston Red Sox after so many decades of disappointment win the whole ball of wax, I am usually overcome with joy for the athlete as well as gratitude that I am alive to witness such feats. The same can be said about Liddell.
Hopefully as the years go by we'll be witnesses to many more young fighters who not only deserve a shot at a title but to also win one. So for anybody who suffers losses along the way or for anybody who feels shunned and ignored: stick with it. Good things come to those who wait. Liddell is a classic example of that.
Moving on to their conquest in the Octagon and into the world of senseless chat room banter from the fans. It is so funny, hilarious even, that all of a sudden people claim that Couture has either 1) taken a dive so Chuck could be champ or 2) he turned old overnight.
I'm sorry my keyboard warriors, but neither is true. How can anybody even suggest that Couture took a dive? Have you idiots actually seen the fight? And for the suggestion that Randy became older than Papa Smurf in that fight — that's ludicrous as well. Couture threw a few too many wild shots, was off balance and got clobbered. Simple as that. Give both fighters some credit, will ya?
Now let's move onto defending welterweight champion Matt Hughes. I can assure you that I was not the only bystander who thought Hughes was finished once arch nemesis Frank Trigg unfurled a dizzying flurry of strikes upon the then-hapless Miletich student. Somehow Hughes was able to survive and eventually latched on another rear-naked choke, submitting Trigg for the second time.
Trigg was the only man in the UFC ranks capable enough of beating Hughes at this stage of his career and after Matt was successful once again, the question remains: Who in the hell is going to beat this guy at 170?
The simple answer is nobody.
The only sensible course of action I see Zuffa taking right now is to line up somewhat worthy contenders and allow Hughes to wipe the canvas with them. If he can't to move up to middleweight, just pump him up with thrilling win after thrilling win and hopefully pray that a deal to re-sign BJ Penn blossoms along the line. According to UFC president Dana White, a contract was offered to Penn, but he hasn't signed it. I'm pretty confident that the whole BJ vs. Zuffa saga has just begun.
Until then, the only person I see beating Hughes is Hughes himself. He is notorious for allegedly not training anywhere near as much as he should, yet he still finds ways to trounce foes. It'd be good for the sport to keep Hughes at 170 for at least another year and let him feast upon tough guys with enough clout to merit their shot at his belt.
When Hughes was walking down to the Octagon and also when ring announcer Bruce Buffer introduced him, the capacity crowd inside the sold out MGM Grand Garden Arena erupted more than I've ever witnessed for him before. Call me crazy, but I believe Hughes received a louder ovation of cheers than those that were bestowed upon both Liddell and Couture. For a fighter who has been labeled as an unmarketable figure in the sport, that chorus of cheers for the Illinois farmer must mean something. With that said and with the amount of fame Hughes has suddenly been engrossed with, now's the time for Hughes to start selling John Deere lawnmowers and Weed B Gone on television commercials.
