James Irvin: The Spoiler?

by Michael Rome on Jun 27, 2008 3:46 PM EDT in News

The UFC is banking on Anderson Silva getting a highlight reel knockout win over James Irvin on July 19th. While I do think that is the most likely result, Irvin is definitely capable of knocking Silva out. This is nowhere near the "safe" fight some people are making it out to be.

Rampage Jackson once said James Irvin was the hardest hitter he'd ever sparred with. Jackson doesn't just say stuff like that, and he has sparred with many great strikers. The power in Irvin's hands is also pretty apparent in his fights, where he has looked very good on his feet, despite a series of bad breaks. Everyone has seen his spectacular flying knee KO of Terry Martin, but people often forget that he dropped Thiago Silva with one punch at the beginning of their fight at UFC 71, only to lose because he injured his leg in a freak accident. Since then, he had another controversial fight with Luis Cane, and knocked out Houston Alexander in eight seconds.

James Irvin is a very dangerous striker. He was picked as a sacraficial lamb for Houston Alexander back in April, but that backfired in a big way. This is pretty much the biggest opportunity of his career, and I think he has more than a puncher's chance.

I definitely think Anderson Silva is going to win this fight, but it's not going to be a walk in the park.

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I agree. I think it’s arguable that they gave Silva a much more potentially dangerous opponent for his LHW debut than they did Vera for his—and Vera is coming down to LHW while Silva is going up.

by Kierkegaard on Jun 27, 2008 3:56 PM EDT 0 recs

Potential disaster for UFC if Spider is knocked out. This is what makes UFC legit though—Dana White doesn’t put up scrubs against his featured fighters, a la EXC.

Ask Brock Lesnar.

by steak_knife on Jun 27, 2008 3:57 PM EDT 0 recs

touche

by lovingmma25 on Jun 27, 2008 4:00 PM EDT up 0 recs

double touche

by dugmouth on Jun 27, 2008 11:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

I guess it’s a disaster, but not the biggest one really. Silva is yet to draw anything for them, so it’s not like killing Liddell or something.

by Michael Rome on Jun 27, 2008 4:01 PM EDT 0 recs

do you think they are giving up on trying to make him a ppv draw? this card is on free tv and his next fight after that is rumored in the UK (aka the land of 200k ppv buys).... after that i expect them to put him in semi mains instead of mains….

by robnashville on Jun 27, 2008 6:18 PM EDT up 0 recs

I don’t think they’re giving up at all. They just made a big investment in him at the Spike awards with winning “World’s Most Dangerous Man”.

by Simco on Jun 27, 2008 8:07 PM EDT up 0 recs

Just the opposite. They’re doing this to expose 2 million people to him because all of his shows as champion have been seen by very few people. You have a few million people see him kill 2 people, and then hype him up against Liddell on PPV.

by Michael Rome on Jun 27, 2008 8:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

fo shizzle…exposing the man to the mainstream (hopefully getting over the no-english thing) and bringing his humble post into every home would be…and i quote the tiget…GGGrrrrrreat!

by dugmouth on Jun 28, 2008 1:27 AM EDT up 0 recs

I am a big fan of both so I just want to see a good fight. Both guys really bring it on the feet so I’m sure it will be entertaining.

by SplitBreast on Jun 27, 2008 4:07 PM EDT 0 recs

Irvin

will have my support come fight time! Knock em out!

all you gotta do is...

by imapimp08 on Jun 27, 2008 4:10 PM EDT 0 recs

It’s hard to cheer for either fighter in this case. I want to see Silva lose, but not too Irvin.

by lovingmma25 on Jun 27, 2008 4:11 PM EDT 0 recs

Can I ask why you want to see Silva lose? Silva’s one of those guys that seems hard to dislike—very respectful of the sport and his opponents, a hard-worker, an exciting fighter in the ring, willing to face anyone, etc. Just curious.

by Kierkegaard on Jun 27, 2008 4:26 PM EDT up 0 recs

Agreed.

by Popetastic on Jun 27, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

I want to see him lose for rearranging Rich’s face.

by lovingmma25 on Jun 27, 2008 4:37 PM EDT up 0 recs

Hey!

Don’t forget that he wasn’t just punching him in the face. There were all those body shots, and leg kicks, and…

Oh, sorry. I just appreciate a nice destruction.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Jun 27, 2008 4:54 PM EDT up 0 recs

Respectful to the sport?

Not always. I recall an article posted on this very fight where Silva has pulled out of an obligation at the last minute with a false excuse, then was found to be doing something entirely different. Thats not respectful at all in my opinion. Not to mention, after his last win all he could talk about was switching to boxing. How about showing some respect for the company that you hold a belt with?

He is however a great fighter and a lot of fun to watch. I certainly dont hate him, but I wouldnt consider myself a fan either.

Read My Blog
"Life's tough, tougher if you're stupid."

by Brandon Jones on Jun 27, 2008 5:01 PM EDT up 0 recs

Ooops

I meant to say article posted on this “site” not “fight”

Read My Blog
"Life's tough, tougher if you're stupid."

by Brandon Jones on Jun 27, 2008 5:02 PM EDT up 0 recs

You mean that situation where the woman who raised him was in a coma and later died? Yeah, what an asshole.

by FRANKIE on Jun 27, 2008 5:12 PM EDT up 0 recs

I assume you mean when he pulled out of a training seminar in Texas to tend to his dying “mother”? People then said he pulled out to be in Florida for his gym’s opening.

Yeah, it turned out the lady that raised him was in a coma and dying.

by Mike Fagan on Jun 27, 2008 5:44 PM EDT up 0 recs

yeah B.. might wanna check ur facts again. after being reported by that (camp), his personal problems were proved to be that of a dead parent. Big OOps. Not that he was at an opening with Big Nog in Miami (presumably with with smith, who can spell, Miami, with style, in a rap…..

by dugmouth on Jun 28, 2008 1:33 AM EDT up 0 recs

No Reason

I just want to see him lose!

all you gotta do is...

by imapimp08 on Jun 27, 2008 5:39 PM EDT up 0 recs

i’ve always had this thing where i have to see a fighter lose before i can support him fully. i dunno, i’m weird, but i like seeing how winners deal with losing. If they’re gracious it makes them winning seem better.

by dugmouth on Jun 27, 2008 11:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

Silva has lost, I can send you the fight if you like :P

by Jiiri on Jun 28, 2008 7:06 AM EDT up 0 recs

Michael Rome, you are correct sir.

However, the UFC doesn’t give their best guys easy fights. That’s why Anderson (and GSP and Penn) are the best. If Irvin happenned to win, Irvin becomes a star, and Anderson goes back to MW where he’s still the champ and still dominates everyone, and they emphasize how going up in weight classes makes a big difference.

by Hardcharger on Jun 27, 2008 4:17 PM EDT 0 recs

Yea I’m gonna have a hard time watching this fight. I like both fighters and they both have the capabilities to end the fight anytime.

by Yasnian on Jun 27, 2008 4:25 PM EDT 0 recs

My only fear is that it goes all three rounds.

by lovingmma25 on Jun 27, 2008 4:38 PM EDT up 0 recs

I’d be elated if it went into the 3rd round.

IMO, anytime I get to see Anderson or GSP or Penn fight for 3 rounds, that’s a huge bonus, because I get to see their amazing skills for a longer time period. Fights that go less than 2 round don’t give you as much exposure to the greatness of fighters like these. And if Irvin goes 3 rounds, then mad props to him.

by Hardcharger on Jun 27, 2008 4:46 PM EDT up 0 recs

Fights that go less than 2 round don’t give you as much exposure to the greatness of fighters like these.

Unless the fighter’s greatness is finishing fights early. At which point, you miss their greatness entirely by going to the third round.

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- TangleBones

by jemaleddin on Jun 27, 2008 4:55 PM EDT up 0 recs

exactly

UFC’s biggest nightmare would not be Silva getting knocked out. It would be Silva losing by decision in a lackluster performance.

by steak_knife on Jun 27, 2008 5:51 PM EDT up 0 recs

I know I’m gonna be a minority view here, but I just don’t think it’s that big a deal whatever happens. It doesn’t destroy Silva’s credibility in the UFC middleweight division if he loses – he’s fighting bigger guys. It hurts the hardcore fans’ opinion of him as the lb-for-lb best fighter in the world, but it doesnt change his domination over the lower weight division.

The other thing that seems to be missing from a lot of these blog sites’ commentary about this matchup is that Silva himself wants it. Dana’s constantly saying that Silve WANTS to fight 6 times a year and he doesn’t want scrubs. Silva’s no Fedor, he doesn’t seem to want to build a huge reputation and then sit back and get bank by fighting cans. He wants to move up to fight tougher opponents, and he wants to fight more often. The UFC won’t let him box, but they’ll oblige him if he wants to fight more MMA.

I love the guy win lose or draw, personally. Even if he goes in there and gets clocked and knocked out in 5 seconds, it happens, and it can happen to anybody in this sport. It isn’t what happens that is the most important thing, but how a guy deals with it. Look at GSP. The guy rebounded with a vengeance.

sometimes we should take a step back, and look at this from a different view. Silva is a person,a nd has drives and goals that may not match up with what’s best for the UFC, or even best for his career in the long run. Taking risky fights and moving up just seems to be his thing. Who cares if the UFC doesn’t love it? Who cares if he’s risking some of his drawing power to do so? His drive to challenge himself seems to be a bit more pressing to him, regardless of the ‘risk.’

Sorry for the length.

by Jiiri on Jun 27, 2008 7:00 PM EDT 0 recs

Nice

Well said Jiiri.

by lovingmma25 on Jun 27, 2008 10:21 PM EDT up 0 recs

i love your post. i have to agree with it all. what does the ufc risk by him going up in weight….nadda. he loses, oh well….he wins…great, start thinking rampage and two belts. win win…..

by dugmouth on Jun 28, 2008 1:38 AM EDT up 0 recs