I want to start with best wishes to those fighters who were injured in PRIDE 28. I am very sorry that you got such serious injuries while you were performing your skills. Some people may like to see when people get hurt, but those people are nothing but jerks. For the fighters, not being healthy is like, for the rest of us, not having computer at work. Without the full use of their bodies, they can’t do their job.
OK, so let’s kick off the backstage talk as I always do. Where should I start? Let’s go with the Champion. I can't leave this topics to the bottom of this story, can I?
Wandy's Fight Style
There are people who say, "Wanderlei always fight against Japanese fighters. He ain't no champ." Well, now he proved he is the Champ. Silva fought excellent on his feet, also on his back. He already showed his ground skill when he fought Yoshida. (Yoshida was commentating during this fight, and he confessed he felt strong pressure from Wanderlei on the ground.) Did you notice that Silva barely closed his guard? He was looking for the submission or sweep the entire time he was on his back. And Quinton hardly passed Wanderlei's guard. Nicely done.
About his striking, I've been hearing so many people say Silva’s punching style is ugly when you consider the beautiful boxing form. Now results speak for themselves. Maybe, Wanderlei's punch technique could be the best style in MMA?At least best for him! Don’t you think? Some boxing trainer may still say, “No! Fighters need to twist at the hip to add more power when they punch.” But hey, look at Wand’s shoulders and arms. He already got the power. Maybe he doesn’t need to twist his hip to hit hard.
I guess “quick hands” is the strategy he learned from his fight in Ultimate Brazil. Check out the Sparring Chronicles. How he warms up, what kind of mitt training he does. I saw him backstage right before his rematch with Quinton and he was doing some of the same kind of punch training I saw in that DVD: machinegun punches while stepping forward. Oh boy!