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Monte Cox Wants Tim Sylvia vs Hong Man Choi at DREAM's NYE Show

Ariel Helwani has the story:

Tim Sylvia has verbally agreed to make his Japanese MMA debut for DREAM on New Year's Eve. Sylvia's agent Monte Cox confirmed the news with FanHouse.

The former UFC heavyweight champion will be a part of the Dynamite!! 2009 MMA/K-1 hybrid show, which has become a yearly tradition in Japan.

While Cox said Sylvia has been proposed fights against Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem and Hong Man Choi, he thinks it would make more sense to have "The Maine-iac" fight the Korean giant.

"We're still trying to make a comeback, so I think he and Choi be the best match-up," Cox said.

I've been a vocal critic of Monte Cox's handling of Sylvia's career for a long time but it's hard to argue that Sylvia needs a fight he can win at this point in his career.

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Not a big surprise here. Fight Choi and most likely get a win or get murdered by Overeem.
Cox is doing the right thing.

by scrambledeggs on Oct 21, 2009 9:17 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

The bad part is… Sylvia might lose if Choi falls on his ass.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 21, 2009 9:17 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Would he really gain anything by beating HMC?

It’s better than fighting a no-name, but defeating Choi isn’t going to increase Tim’s reputation. Regardless, best of luck.

Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett

by themachiavellian on Oct 21, 2009 9:18 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

In Japan he’ll probably get a decent pay day compared to fighting on an Adrenaline card.

by nottheface on Oct 21, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

To be fair (unfair?)

Silva doesn’t have much to gain by beating anybody.

I STILL poop rainbows.

by Blackout612 on Oct 21, 2009 9:25 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yes

1) introduction to the Japanese fans
2) a nice pay day
3) an opportunity to fight for the 3rd biggest promotion in the world (which is partnered w/ the 2nd biggest)
4) a desperately needed 2nd win in a row

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Oct 21, 2009 9:29 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

yeah, he'll be fighting in japan a lot

somethin about his career being much better on the juice or something?

by amadeus on Oct 21, 2009 9:33 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

He’ll never get that six pack he wants so desperately.

'Ello G'vnor!

by IHateMMA on Oct 21, 2009 9:36 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Coors?

SHOGUN WILL SLAY THE DRAGON!!!
SHOGUN TO BE THE NEW LHW CHAMP!!!
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Oct 21, 2009 9:58 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

japan beats the shit out of alabama

Tim’s not got a lot of options these days

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Oct 21, 2009 10:31 PM EDT up reply actions   1 recs

I love Alabama, I got like seven bottom bitches in Mobile

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.

by Robert Downey Sr. on Oct 22, 2009 2:40 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

The fight is already being marketed as "sloth “baby” ruthie vs. Choi"

'Ello G'vnor!

by IHateMMA on Oct 21, 2009 9:23 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

shouldnt sylvia be fighting minowaman instead? size obviously didnt help him in that fight

by pandaboy99 on Oct 21, 2009 9:24 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Man that Mercer loss in killing him. Sure he’s on a bad streak, but no one could rag on him fort his other losses (Couture, Big Nog, Fedor) if he hadn’t be KTFO by a 50 year old washed up boxer who in his only other mma match managed to get choked out by Kimbo Slice. That just doesn’t look good on the resume.

by nottheface on Oct 21, 2009 9:29 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

People get off ragging on him because he was he wants to be liked so bad by fight fans and they hate him for it.

by scrambledeggs on Oct 21, 2009 9:42 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I might be all by myself in being underwhelmed by this from a “smart management” perspective. I think the big flaw in the Mercer fight was it being a case of “He should beat this guy.” Fights like that don’t leave you a lot of room to look good, but can make you look like a complete fool.

Don’t get me wrong, this is obviously nowhere near as bad in that regard. I would just advise them to soberly consider the potential that Tim Sylvia could cap his year off by being Hong Man Choi’s slumpbuster.

50% more Ultimate than the leading competitor.

by Dodectagon on Oct 21, 2009 9:40 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

It was more like Sylvia took the fight lightly.

Follow me on Twitter @lelandroling
"Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe." - Albert Einstein

by Leland Roling on Oct 21, 2009 9:45 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

i ripped Cox mercilessly for the Mercer fight

I’m just saying at this point he’s doing the right thing to lobby for Hong rather than Overeem.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Oct 21, 2009 10:32 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Choi has got a dec victory over Semmy Schilt in K1. He’s bigger, stronger, longer reach and has some wrestling experience. I actually think Choi has better fights against big guys. Unless Big Tim takes this down, I have Choi winning the decision here.

I am blinded by a sea of green.

by bubbafat on Oct 21, 2009 9:51 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Choi is a bit more of a threat than people are accepting here. He’s big and can strike. Certainly if Mercer can catch Sylvia so can Choi.

Editor - BloodyElbow.com - SBNation's mixed martial arts headquarters.

by Brent Brookhouse on Oct 21, 2009 9:51 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

That’s true. I just hope the money is right. This is an easier fight than Overeem, but not a joke at all, I hope he’s in better shape than he has been in his last two fights.

If he wants to bulk because the guy is huge he should do it in the gym, not in McDonald’s

by Phildo on Oct 21, 2009 10:46 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

agreed

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.

by Robert Downey Sr. on Oct 22, 2009 2:42 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Certainly if Mercer can catch Sylvia so can Choi.

I have to think that a 60 year old Mercer would still hit a lot harder than Choi.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Oct 21, 2009 11:27 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

And more accurately. Not really a comparison at all.

by Chromium on Oct 22, 2009 3:31 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Go ahead and juice up while you’re there, Timmy. No, seriously, take some.

SHOGUN WILL SLAY THE DRAGON!!!
SHOGUN TO BE THE NEW LHW CHAMP!!!
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Oct 21, 2009 9:57 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

EL OH EL!!!!

SHOGUN WILL SLAY THE DRAGON!!!
SHOGUN TO BE THE NEW LHW CHAMP!!!
Mike Goldberg: "You know Joe, When Matt and his brother Mark Hughes were growing up, they would pound each other behind the barn."

by xFenixKnightx on Oct 21, 2009 11:08 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Ha! You've inspired me, sir.

"Never underestimate the predictability of stupidity." - Bullet Tooth Tony
@deowade

by Deo Wade on Oct 21, 2009 11:46 PM EDT up reply actions   2 recs

the picture at the top of the story

is tim on roids, i believe after the gan magee fight. he almost looked ripped. might look the same in japan.

by bdw on Oct 22, 2009 1:40 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

actually

it was after knocking out A.A. no steriods…

Be a man, not a child-Phil Anselmo

by ANance on Oct 22, 2009 11:54 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

No matter what he does, Sylvia will never fight for a major North American promotion again. If he gets in shape, he still has the potential to be a top fighter, and no promoter wants the headache of having to explain why one of their top fighters (or god forbid champion) got KTFO’d by an extremely washed up boxer.

If I were Overeem or another top level heavyweight’s management, I’d avoid Sylvia like the plague. It’s the ultimate lose-lose fight. Beating him does nothing for your career, especially since it’s almost impossible to pwn him worse than Mercer already did, and losing to him would make you toxic to the UFC and Strikeforce.

by Jahbulon on Oct 21, 2009 10:41 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Eh

Everyone (or most) has their black spots, their embarrassments. I don’t think it’s completely out of line to thnk that he’d eventually sign with Strikeforce if he racks up a few more wins. At least he doesn’t have anymore aspirations to box!

by LeonDaLion on Oct 22, 2009 1:55 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

I can’t think of another top fighter that has a black spot worst than that one, at least in the ring. No one. In North America I think Bellator is about as high as Sylvia could go right now, and maybe not even that.

Jahbulon is right, it’s a lose-lose situation for any other top heavyweight to fight him.

by Chromium on Oct 22, 2009 3:45 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

What, was Butterbean booked that night or something?

by oasis77 on Oct 21, 2009 10:59 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Did you guys really hide my comment? I think there’s a difference between fighter bashing and good natured ribbing of a guy who recently weighed in for a fight at over 310 pounds. I honestly hope Tim can resurrect his career and I’ll be rooting for him.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Oct 22, 2009 6:35 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

While I realize why Tim Sylvia is an easy target, I’ve never completely understood the hate. The dude’s big, awkward and kinda goofy but why the hate? Anyhow, I think this match is a good choice for him at this point in his career. It’s probably one of the best matchups he can muster at this point, even though he should easily murder Choi.

by LeonDaLion on Oct 22, 2009 1:52 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

War Choi!

Hello, Japan!

by Mr.Kib on Oct 22, 2009 3:11 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

I see a match up like this...

… and all I can think is that too my knowledge Tim has never fought in a ring. Choi has fought his whole career in a ring, even notching a decent win over Schilt while only being KO’d once by Mighty Mo. This may not seem like much but Tim is not a ground fighter. He’s never taken a fight to the ground and he’s only done enough on the floor to get back up again. The ring is well known to favor strikers and in my opinion matching up Tim with another established striker that is just as slow and lumbering as he is can only end in disaster.

On the other hand, Choi has only beaten Ologun (who?!) and Jose Canseco in MMA.

I just can’t shake the feeling that Tim is gonna end up on the short end of the stick here.

by exsanguinator on Oct 22, 2009 5:15 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

and I forgot to add

Monte Cox is an idiot. Tim needs to find a new manager… why doesn’t Cox have any other notable fighters under his name? I can’ t think of anyone aside from fighters from MFS that still uses him as an agent.

by exsanguinator on Oct 22, 2009 5:17 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Tim's fought in a ring several times

he whupped Wes Sims in a ring. Lost to Fedor in a ring.

Follow me on Twitter @KidNate

by Kid Nate on Oct 22, 2009 9:53 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

not to mention...

a ton of up and comer fights in a ring.

Be a man, not a child-Phil Anselmo

by ANance on Oct 22, 2009 11:56 AM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

They should add this fight to the Super Hulk Tourney somehow.

for all intents and purposes, just consider all my posts as works of satire.

by Bandaka on Oct 22, 2009 9:02 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Fighting HMC is a nessecary step in getting your career back on track.

Keep firing Assholes!

Never trust a man with no shirt on.

by Ubernoober on Oct 22, 2009 11:58 AM EDT reply actions   0 recs

Agreed

I mean look what it’s done for Fedro, he was really struggling before he fought Choi at the greatest MMA event of all time, now some people are calling him the best fighter in the world.

Walla walla walla I'm an idiot.

by ufc4 on Oct 22, 2009 6:38 PM EDT up reply actions   0 recs

Choi deserves more credit

While not the best in the MMA ring, Choi has shown some smarts in K-1. While a disputed decision, the fact that he was able to hang with Lebanner is proof enough that he can compete.

Given Sylvia’s sloppy kickboxing + jab style, this could be a good fight with Choi coming out on top. Since Sylvia will be smaller, he’s not going to be able to employ the jab against Choi. Bring this fight on, i’ll be watching.

by cyke on Oct 22, 2009 12:02 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs

While I agree with Monte’s thinking here I do have to wonder why he would say that publically? Is announcing you want the much much easier fight neccessarily the way to “revive” a career? It sort of sounds like Monte doesn’t have much faith in Tim and wants to cherry pick fights when he admits things like that publically.

Tim should want to fight Overeem because if he could beat the Strikeforce champion in Japan he would revive his career and open up doors in the US. A big win over Overeem could get him a real contract offer from Strikeforce/Showtime and may also get Dana’s attention too. I mean if he could beat Overeem there then a rematch on CBS/Showtime for the belt early next year would make sense as would the UFC signing him before they could get a chance at him. A win over HMC at best makes Tim a Superhulk alternate or sets him up to fight Sapp.

by who me on Oct 22, 2009 1:08 PM EDT via mobile reply actions   0 recs

I think I know why I don't like Tim

Anybody remember that Matt Hughes fight where Rich Franklin was his corner man? And then after Hughes has won, they’re all in the ring and Sylvia is wearing his championship belt. IDK, it just felt like the fucking nWo was in the ring.

We're just a million little gods causin' rain storms, turning every good thing to rust.

by Robert Downey Sr. on Oct 22, 2009 2:48 PM EDT reply actions   0 recs


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