Tim Sylvia to Face Ray Mercer in a Boxing Main Event
by Cannon Jacques on Feb 26, 2009 8:42 AM EST
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MMA Junkie spreads the good news:
While first pitched as an MMA contest, Sylvia (24-5 MMA, 0-0 Boxing) will instead turn in his open-fingered gloves for a pair of boxing mitts.
"I was doing Tim Sylvia against Ray Mercer as a headliner," Cox said. "First I was doing it in MMA. We changed and thought it would be a lot more interesting in boxing."
Mercer (36-7-1 Boxing) began boxing professionally in 1989. Now 47-years-old, Mercer last fought in a majority decision win over Richel Hersisia (30-2 boxing).
You won't be able to catch the May 30 Adrenaline MMA III event from Trump Taj Mahal on HDNet:
Despite having one event remaining on a broadcast contract with HDNet, Adrenaline's third event will not be shown on the network that carried the organization's first two outings.
"It won't be on HDNet," Cox said. "I still have a deal left. But (HDNet Fights CEO) Andrew Simon decided that he didn't want to do that show."
Instead, Cox will look to broadcast the event with an alternate partner.
"I've got another group that put together a deal with me where it would be available in 55 million homes and another one that's up to 70 million homes," Cox said. "I'll do one of those two."
Tim Sylvia has gone from being an unpopular, but largely successful, UFC heavyweight champion to the guy who got beat up by Fedor Emelianenko in short order (over and over again via the Affliction TV spot) to an MMA fighter set for a boxing scrap against a 47-year-old former champ in Mercer. Explain to me why HDNet wants no part of this MMA/Boxing hybrid event.
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Wow. Tim Sylvia is Ross Clifton. What a difference a year makes – from fighting Nog for the interim belt (and winning the first two rounds decisively) to this.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 25, 2009 8:08 PM EST reply actions
And even funnier… Mercer can probably beat him in a Boxing match.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
Mercer is OLD
"the spirit of your average dumbass with more overblown rhetoric" OR "the self-appointed savior of MMA"
It doesn’t really matter, Mercer has actually been decent even in his old age, and it’s a boxing rules matchup. Holyfield easily won the Heavyweight title this year, but was robbed by a corrupt judging body. It was everywhere, and that just shows that even at his age, he’s still within the landscape of a crappy heavyweight boxing climate.
Editor-in-chief of MMA-Analyst.com
by Leland Roling on Feb 25, 2009 9:10 PM EST up reply actions
I can't believe I am saying this..
Mercer still has a very dangerous jab. Sylvia’s reach may help him avoid that jab but without the option of taking Mercer down he is kind of just waiting………What am I doing!?
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
Monte Cox . . . let the hate begin. He makes t-shirt look like an uber-genius.
Sylvia vs Mercer went from a horrible MMA fight to a horrible boxing fight . . . except Cox has now setup his biggest client (Sylvia) for an utterly embarrassing failure. Worst manager of the year award right here.
Was this a plan to put on a bigger boxing match than Arlovski? Dude, get over it. You still tasted his pee pee.
When is the last time HDNet turned down anything MMA. They say yes before you can finish saying “Kimbo YouTube videos”. That’s just how awful this is.
by bignerd on Feb 25, 2009 8:14 PM EST reply actions 7 recs
This needs to be green
They say yes before you can finish saying "Kimbo YouTube videos". That’s just how awful this is.
"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich." --Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy
I serioulsy hope yer not a fighter ...
… ’cause that kind of insult would get you dropped from your handshake in the blink of an eye.
I’m all for more MMA on TV, but that first Adrenaline so was so awful that I don’t honestly know if HDNet aired the second one. I assume it did, based on the tone of the article, but I certainly never looked into it myself.
As far as freak show matches go, this is one of the least interesting options available. When HDNet turns you down, it really says something about the product being offered. It’s a shame, too, because Cox has a ton of talent to work with, it’s just that they are mostly training together, thus negating any chance of matching them up against each other.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
New Adrenaline is airing this week on HDNet, I believe
"It's like a flying knuckle sandwich." --Rogan
"And many men have eaten it." -- Goldy
Adrenaline 2 was aired LIVE late last year.
Thomas Denny vs Pat Miletich Main Event, Terry Martin was in the card, etc.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 25, 2009 8:22 PM EST up reply actions
I actually know what happened on the card, because they had an episode of Inside MMA that was filmed in the arena, featuring the likes of Miletich, Hughes, Lawler, Pulver, and Sylvia.
You know, now that I think of it, I’m pretty sure that was one of the most dull episodes of Inside MMA as well.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
by Brett Jones on Feb 25, 2009 8:27 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
Man, I must be a train wreck, because part of me wants to see this aberration.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
Kimbo Slice submitted Ray Mercer in Kimbo’s MMA debut.
I mean, what else really need be said? I know it’s a boxing match, but if you get submitted by a debuting street fighter (you know, outside of Dhalsim or something) in an MMA contest, then seriously, just get out.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
I’d say you’re more likely an aberration that wants to see a train wreck.
by Cannon Jacques on Feb 25, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions 4 recs
+1
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
by Chris Nelson on Feb 25, 2009 8:29 PM EST up reply actions
If Big Tim can get through Mercer, Tommy Hearns is looking for a fight.
Contributor Emeritus - BloodyElbow.com
Just do Mercer and Hearns v. Big Tim in a handicap match.
Special Enforcer: Mike Tyson.
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
Hassim Rahman is Coming To MMA As Well
There is a source out there somewhere, but this is true.
He wants to fight Kimbo.
Not so much here or here…but right here.
If you're not submitting, you're just rolling around with another guy.
Nope, nothing.
Oh my god what happend to your face?!?
I KNEW IT!!
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
YAMMA 2: PIT BOXING
A one night tournament to crown the king of PIT BOXING, featuring:
Tim Sylvia v. Ray Mercer
Kimbo Slice v. Hassim Rahman
Tommy Hearns v. Frank Shamrock
Andrei Arlovski v. Nikolai Valuev
Mike Tyson v. Butterbean
Francois Botha v. Hong Man Choi
Oleg Taktarov v. Art Jimmerson in a special one glove match
Evander “I’m Not Dead Yet!” Holyfield v. YAMMA 1 Champion Travis Wiuff
Plus a Special Masters Re-Match:
Manute Bol v. Ed “Refrigerator” Perry
"BJ on the BE" - Kierkegaard
Even at 47
Mercer is going to knock the shit out of Sylvia.
Creator of the FightMatrix rating system.
"(HDNet Fights CEO) Andrew Simon decided that he didn't want to do that show."
Jeez, I wonder why?
“First I was doing it in MMA. We changed and thought it would be a lot more interesting in boxing.”
No. Not really.
Although detractors decry (MMA) as a brutal, bloody form of human cockfighting, aficionados know it is a brutal, bloody, totally fucking awesome form of human cockfighting. -The Onion
by The Kittitas Kid on Feb 25, 2009 9:43 PM EST reply actions
I want to make a joke but I’m just too disgusted. How in the world can Monte Cox call himself an agent? Tim Sylvia’s career has gone from consensus top-10 HW to seemingly irredeemable joke in a little more than a year.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
What this donkey show proves is...
Fedor doesn’t just finish fights, he finishes careers.
Or he largely fights guys that are at the end of them.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 1:04 AM EST up reply actions 3 recs
Oh pleeaaaaase....
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
Had he not left the UFC in search of a big payday and the chance of beating Fedor…he’d still be a top contender. So I really don’t see how anyone could say “he largely fights guys at the end of them [careers].”…total b.s.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
Large difference between “ending someone’s career” and “fighting somone at the end of their career” – one is a causative effect, the other is a large insult.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
There is no law that says that everyone has to like Fedor or make honestly truthful comments about him in a blog comment section, but I’m sure they are getting a kick out of the insulted over-reactions to them.
Right, rationalize the trolling because people are calling out the troll. You make me laugh at your ridiculousness sometimes.
There certainly is no law against making blatantly biased and untrue comments because you’re some type of hater/nuthugger, but that doesn’t mean you’re not a biased hater/nuthugger.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
Sigh… Fedor’s the best HW in the world. He’s just fought a lot of cans (Zulu, HMC), lighter people (Randleman, Lindland) and people at the end of their roads (Coleman, Nog if you believe his haters which I don’t) instead of prime, top ten HW. Before Sylvia, it had been almost two years.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 1:29 PM EST up reply actions
*rolls eyes*
Still on this (largely untrue) gripe?….
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
No he is right about that Fedor has fought a lot of cans and odd matches, Pride was famous for that stuff.
Sure he has...
But I don’t think there’s much of a list of the fighters he should have fought and hasn’t. And he’s made it pretty apparent he wasn’t ducking them out of fear or lack of want either.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
I don't see anyone saying...
your dreamboat Brock Lesnar only beats scrubs or guys at the end of their careers. I guess I could say it, whether it’s an “honestly truthful comment” or not, but I’d hate to see the butt-hurt fanboy reactions to that one.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
I don’t get butt-hurt very often. I sure do seem to inspire it, though.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 1:30 PM EST up reply actions
*Still rolling eyes*
Right…how dare anyone call out a blatant Sherdog-ian post!! One that apparently got rec’d by 3 other retards.
Let’s just all start making posts in these threads that say “FIRST”, “+1”, “GSP is gay”, “So and so is a [biased insult]” and then call out someone for telling them to shut up.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
Sorry - my response should have been:
Fedorz the suKkZzzzz!!!
Junior Dos Santos, Stefan Struve, Neil Grove, Justin Hendriks, Neil Wain, “ThaInsane1” Justin McCully and Antoni Hardonk = tha futUR1
Git WuR itz @ FeDoR u P*$$Y…quit dUcKiN @LL tha gUyz who Rn’T cummin 2 tha ring wit waLKrz, reddi 2 retiaR n suk b-cuz tHey dn’t fIGHT in the UFC caGez NeMoRe.
WAAAAAAR wtvr SpIkE Tv sez!!
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
Now that is a Sherdog-ian post. Excellent showing good sir.
"I see him beating Anderson Silva. I see him picking him apart. Him at a 131 years old...(trails off)." - Tito on Belfort at Affliction:DOR
by Rundownloser on Feb 26, 2009 2:47 PM EST up reply actions
I’m actually laughing… I said Fedor was the best HW in the world. This is tylerdurdenesque.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 3:10 PM EST up reply actions
I wasn't responding to you with that one ;)
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
I’ll say it, Brock Lesnar hasn’t beaten anyone under the age of 30 and that was just because Heath Herring was a late replacement for a 44 year old Mark Coleman. Of course Herring is probably in on the tail end of his career too for that matter. Lesnar has only fought 4 guys, a can, a guy everyone thought was washed up(who beat him), a journeyman with silly hair and a old guy coming off a very long layoff.
Does that make you feel any better?
by who me on Feb 26, 2009 1:35 PM EST up reply actions 2 recs
Now we'll wait for the 3 recs...
And see how biased and trolling that is? Does anyone really believe it? Or does it sound equally ridiculous to you?
Those type of comments belong on Sherdog or FightOpinion, not here.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
No I'm not rec'ing it...
…that would defeat the whole purpose of my argument. My ego is far from damaged, I just think it was a stupid comment and totally ridiculous.
I’m just tired of reading the endless hate from the “if you’re not in the UFC you suck”, that set a bar and say “well if he beats, X and Y, he’s proven he’s Z.” And then as soon as he beats X and Y there’s some new argument that “X and Y were never that good and thus A must to done to prove Z.”
It’s obvious people have some stupid bias and they will never be satisfied, regardless of what wins he has in his career…it’s pretty pathetic, but there’s not much you can do.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
To be honest I didn’t agree with that post and I didn’t rec it either I was just picking at you for the over-reaction(I do agree with my post on Brock Lesnar because that’s actually the truth, Brock still has a lot to prove). I think maybe you got to the point of it finally when you said there’s not much you can do.
What always bugs me is that it does go both ways, some people will never be satisfied regardless of what Fedor does and some people will never accept that a large part of Fedor’s career has been wasted on worthless fights, heck the majority of his Pride fights were non-title fights and fighting a Middleweight and HMC were pretty worthless too.
Oh he definitely has some questionable/freakshow fights on his resumer, but unfortunately that is what the nature of the business was/is, especially when Japan was the “Super Bowl of mma”.
Is it shite that he spent time fighting the HMCs, Ogawas and Zulu’s of the world instead of taking on the Barnett’s and Sergei’s? Hell yes it is.
Should it diminish the accomplishments of his great wins against guys when they were at the peak of their careers in Cro Cop, Nog, Herring, and then his former competition’s champions in Sylvia, AA? Absolutely not.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
I like how you list Herring as a big win for Fedor.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 3:13 PM EST up reply actions
Herring was the favorite at the time...
whether it turned out to be “that big” in hindsight is much different.
Funny then that beating Herring was a legitimate cause for Lesnar to get a title shot at 1-1 however….
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
2-1 – 1-1 in the UFC. And if you want to blame anyone for Brock getting offered that fight, blame Randy Couture.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 3:38 PM EST up reply actions
Twas what I was referring to...
For the most part if you’re not a former PRIDE fighter…your record begins, for the UFC’s purposes, in the UFC.
I don’t think anyone is going to blame anyone for Brock getting offered the fight, it did absolute gangbusters, and he won. So hindsight being 20/20, they did it perfectly…however flimsy their initial justification.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
I think the initial justification was that Randy wanted Brock for his comeback fight.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 3:41 PM EST up reply actions
Really?
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
I SAID FEDOR IS THE BEST HW IN THE WORLD
My head hurts.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 3:12 PM EST up reply actions
Or we could go with ‘a can, the Interim HW Champion/former HW Champion in his second fight ever (also the first guy ever to finish Nog), a 28-13 veteran who held his own against Fedor, Nog (when he was invincible) and others, and the greatest HW champion in history. To start his career.’
All subjective, I guess.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 3:16 PM EST up reply actions
The myth that Couture was the greatest HW champion in history
…still astounds me to this day.
Full and complete props to the Zuffa hype machine’s ability to perpetuate that myth.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
Take a look at his resume as UFC HW champion and a HW overall...
much less stellar then people would like to make it out to be.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
I strongly disagree.
His record is now 16-9, and the vast majority of those fights were title fights – either for or defending. He beat Chuck in his prime, he owned Tito, he held belts at two weight classes, and then came out of retirement in his forty’s and beat Sylvia (who was in the process of buying a toy for Arlovski) and Gonzaga (who had just kicked Cro Cop in the head and was picked by many to win decisively).
Lesnar beating Randy in his fourth fight ever is a b-i-g deal.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 3:40 PM EST up reply actions
Chuck and Tito were not at HW…and the list of fighters he beat at HW are a list of fighters that have been highly criticized for either being on or being the equivalent of a certain other HW’s resume.
- Vitor Belfort @ HW, when he’s a 185er? = Lindland?
- Randleman = Randleman
- Rizzo = Cro Cop
- TK = TK
- Sylvia = Sylvia (and FAR less spectacularly)
- Barnett cheater
- Jeremy Horn?
- Crushed by Ricco
- Illoukhine, Inoue losses insert Fedor’s Rings wins with modded rules
Frankly I think Couture’s HW legacy is a big puffed up myth based two wins, albeit very legit ones, against Sylvia and Gonzaga.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
Regardless...
Fedor and Randy are both HoF fighters in their own rights…but Fedor’s legacy > Randy’s and I think if they were going to fight it would be a massive beatdown – but if MMA has proved anything, it’s expect the unexpected.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
I agree Fedor would beat Randy, but I’d also argue the level of Randy’s competition over the length of his career is deeper and better than Fedor’s.
Of course, I ain’t arguing shit right now because I’m hungry. I just think what Brock has done A YEAR AFTER STARTING is nothing short of amazing.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 3:49 PM EST up reply actions
I will agree with you on the Brock thing.
Whether or not the size and rust played any factor against Randy, for a total n00b to come in and do that within 1-2 years of activity against an elite HW fighter, is nothing short of AH-mazing.
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
Seriously...
who did “rec” that comment?
I am the bastard love child of Junie Browning and Diamond Dave Kaplan.
who the ‘F’ are the three guys that rec’d this comment? I demand you reveal yourselves!
Fedor became my favorite fighter after he kicked my prior favorite fighters ass. (not choi) You must have had the opposite reaction.
In all seriosness, nothing is that certain in MMA. Fighters level of motivation comes and goes, Lucky punches can happen. But “fedor is the best ever” is the closest thing we have to indisputable fact in this sport. (or that UK judges cant see very well)
You’ve never seen me say he’s not the best HW in the world.
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 1:31 PM EST up reply actions
And big timmeh kept on whining that the UFC doesnt promote him well.. tsktsk..
http://weoweoweo.deviantart.com/
Unbelievable how low Tim Sylvia’s career has sunk. Guess leaving the UFC for Affliction for a $800k payday hasn’t worked out like they thought it would. Hope he invested that money wisely.
I am pretty sure he will fight for Affliction again, although for much less than 800K.
If that doesn’t pan out, he will head to Sengoku or Dream.
by MMASuPreMaCy on Feb 26, 2009 5:17 AM EST up reply actions
The original Junkie post floated the idea that Buentello might be next for Sylvia. Cox stated that whether or not Sylvia’s on the next Affliction card depends on when the card actually takes place.
by Cannon Jacques on Feb 26, 2009 9:11 AM EST up reply actions
…that’s kind of the case with every fighter they have, isn’t it?
by Derek Suboticki on Feb 26, 2009 1:32 PM EST up reply actions
Well...
that’s technically true, but I think Cox was referring to the potential that an Affliction card may come about too close to this epic matchup with the 47-year-old phenom that is Ray Mercer. That’s just my interpretation. My guess is that the worry of an Affliction card happening too soon isn’t legit. They haven’t even announced a press conference and then canceled it. Not to mention the fact that they haven’t announced and subsequently canceled the entire fight card for Affliction 3. Much work still needs to be done.
by Cannon Jacques on Feb 26, 2009 1:40 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs
I think that we have a better shot at seeing Roy Nelson finally getting on an Affliction card than seeing Tim Sylvia booked again, he has pretty much priced himself out of the company at this point.
I’d rather see Roy Nelson. Sounds like a win, win.
by Cannon Jacques on Feb 26, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
It’s part of the evolution of the company.
by Cannon Jacques on Feb 26, 2009 1:52 PM EST up reply actions
I’m sure it would be a lot less than 800k but honestly even if they only paid half it’s still cheaper to just use Gilbert Yvel again. Tim just doesn’t draw a lot of eyeballs and the Fedor loss made things even worse.
As far as Dream or Sengoku then why hasn’t he in the last 8 months? Tim also said he wanted to go back to the UFC after Affliction too, I don’t see that happening. It’s got nothing to do with promotions it’s got to do with Tim Sylvia’s management drastically overplaying his hand.
why wouldn't hdnet want to air this card?
are you kidding me? they don’t air airplane crashes either. this is a mess.
Ah Timmah, whats to say
welcome to irrelavence…yeah, you’ve been here for a while…but we’re just getting around to notifying you…thats how irrelavent you are.
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