The Great Sherdog Debate IV: Tanner vs. Franklin
Round One
Sloan: I need to redeem myself here as I am getting killed in these
debates! I got lucky with the Tito Ortiz-Vitor Belfort pick because we
agree that Vitor truly won the fight. But then I stupidly predicted
that Ken Shamrock would beat
Rich Franklin and figured
Randy Couture would
replicate his performance against Chuck Liddell. I am on a losing
streak and now I predict that it will end. Franklin will score the
win over Evan Tanner and
walk away with the UFC middleweight title.
I doubt the fight will end similarly to how their initial encounter at UFC 42 in Miami did, but I am confident that Franklin will prevail. Tanner has improved greatly in all aspects of the game, but I believe that “Ace (Ventura)” is just a tad better all around, particularly in the striking department. While it is logical to think that the under-appreciated Tanner will be victorious, I just don’t think it’ll happen this Saturday up in New Jersey.
I am tired of picking against Franklin, as he has proven me wrong
countless times. Let’s see … I picked him to lose against Tanner
the first time, chose Shamrock over him, predicted that Marvin Eastman would steamroll
him and then I figured he’d crush Ryoto Machida. This guy is
killing me! My string of horrible luck in pre-fight Franklin picks
has to come to end some day and on Saturday, you’ll see ol’
Sloandiggity redeeming himself.
We’re not going to see that same walking corpse waging war within the Octagon like when he fought Jorge Rivera. This time, Franklin the Pet Detective will not only look like himself, he will also look like an unbeatable force of MMA mastery. I just don’t see Tanner winning as Franklin will score the win. I just don’t know how he’ll do it, though …
Gross: While I may be pinch-hitting for our loveable (in a Michelin Man sort of way) author of the “Savage Truth,” I can hardly replace him. Let me clear something up: It’s not that Savage is running short on time — he’s got plenty, trust me — it’s that he’s content batting .666. What that means, I’ll leave for you to decide.
But since I’m doing this, I’m happy to stick your face in the mud one more time. Sorry Mike, you’re on the wrong side. It starts with this whole weight-cutting thing you alluded to it in your opening salvo.
Quick, what’s 205-185? … And don’t answer “20”?
The short of it (because I don’t want to blow my argument-winning wad this early) is that Tanner at 185 is a lot better than Tanner at 205. As far as Franklin, I can’t say the same. He’s got one middleweight fight under his belt and struggled to put away Jorge Rivera, a tough fighter but not someone of Franklin’s pedigree.
The lesson here: An explosive light heavyweight isn’t always better for shedding 20 pounds to battle middleweights.
Tanner was always undersized and, despite that, managed a good measure of success at 205. At 185, however, he’s been great, improving in each of his four division wins. Finally, he enjoys the fruits of size and strength, instead of suffering opposite men that cut 10-15 pounds to make the weight.
Franklin isn’t like a lot of these guys than can get away with cutting. He hasn’t wrestled his entire life and to start working the weight off at this stage of his career — he’s 30 — elicits a heavy price.
So, reason No. 1 in this little conversation of ours, Mike, clearly goes to me. You really want to continue this charade?
I doubt the fight will end similarly to how their initial encounter at UFC 42 in Miami did, but I am confident that Franklin will prevail. Tanner has improved greatly in all aspects of the game, but I believe that “Ace (Ventura)” is just a tad better all around, particularly in the striking department. While it is logical to think that the under-appreciated Tanner will be victorious, I just don’t think it’ll happen this Saturday up in New Jersey.
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We’re not going to see that same walking corpse waging war within the Octagon like when he fought Jorge Rivera. This time, Franklin the Pet Detective will not only look like himself, he will also look like an unbeatable force of MMA mastery. I just don’t see Tanner winning as Franklin will score the win. I just don’t know how he’ll do it, though …
And since my good chum Greg Savage is playing hooky this time with
the Great Sherdog Debate, our teen idol Editor, Josh Gross, has decided to fill
in. Josh, what do you think and who is your pick?
Gross: While I may be pinch-hitting for our loveable (in a Michelin Man sort of way) author of the “Savage Truth,” I can hardly replace him. Let me clear something up: It’s not that Savage is running short on time — he’s got plenty, trust me — it’s that he’s content batting .666. What that means, I’ll leave for you to decide.
But since I’m doing this, I’m happy to stick your face in the mud one more time. Sorry Mike, you’re on the wrong side. It starts with this whole weight-cutting thing you alluded to it in your opening salvo.
Quick, what’s 205-185? … And don’t answer “20”?
The short of it (because I don’t want to blow my argument-winning wad this early) is that Tanner at 185 is a lot better than Tanner at 205. As far as Franklin, I can’t say the same. He’s got one middleweight fight under his belt and struggled to put away Jorge Rivera, a tough fighter but not someone of Franklin’s pedigree.
The lesson here: An explosive light heavyweight isn’t always better for shedding 20 pounds to battle middleweights.
Tanner was always undersized and, despite that, managed a good measure of success at 205. At 185, however, he’s been great, improving in each of his four division wins. Finally, he enjoys the fruits of size and strength, instead of suffering opposite men that cut 10-15 pounds to make the weight.
Franklin isn’t like a lot of these guys than can get away with cutting. He hasn’t wrestled his entire life and to start working the weight off at this stage of his career — he’s 30 — elicits a heavy price.
So, reason No. 1 in this little conversation of ours, Mike, clearly goes to me. You really want to continue this charade?
