Countdown to UFC 101: Declaration Sneak Peak

by Nick Thomas on Aug 1, 2009 8:23 AM EDT in News Comment 30 comments

Watch the entire show Tue August 4th at 11pm ET/PT on SPIKE.

Main Card Bouts:
- B.J. Penn (13-5-1) -270 vs. Kenny Florian (12-3) +210
- Anderson Silva (24-4) -400 vs. Forrest Griffin (18-5) +300
- Amir Sadollah (5-0) -130 vs. Johny Hendricks (5-0) +105
- Ricardo Almeida (10-3) -165 vs. Kendall Grove (12-5) +140
- Josh Neer (25-7-1) -250 vs. Kurt Pellegrino (13-4) +190

Preliminary Bouts:
- Aaron Riley (27-11-1) -165 vs. Shane Nelson (12-3) +140
- Tamdan McCrory (11-2) -200 vs. John Howard (11-4) +160
- Thales Leites (14-2) -500 vs. Alessio Sakara (13-7) +300
- Matt Riddle (3-1) -185 vs. Dan Cramer (3-1) +145
- Danillo Villefort (9-2) -210 vs. Jesse Lennox (10-1) +170

0 recs | Comment 30 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

I love the attitude that fighters are going to take Anderson down and beat him up. With all this talk of Hendo getting a title shot, it’s starting to bubble up again, even before the Forrest fight. But as I’ve said before: if you doubt Anderson Silva’s ground game, please phrase your response in the form of a letter to the Nogueira brothers stating that they give out black belts like Cracker Jack prizes.

How many BJJ fighters does one guy have to beat before people learn to try something else?

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.

by jemaleddin on Aug 1, 2009 8:51 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Hendo won the first round by controling Silva on the ground. He did little damage, but he did control him.

by Lynchman on Aug 1, 2009 10:10 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Where by “little damange” you mean, “nothing but annoy Silva into beating the piss out of him and choking him out.”

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.

by jemaleddin on Aug 1, 2009 2:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

It’s not that taking Anderson down means a guaranteed win – it’s just that it seems the most logical path to victory. It makes a heck of a lot more sense than trying to strike wit him.

Two of Anderson’s four losses are by submission, and the only trouble he’s had in the UFC were when Travis Lutter and Dan Henderson had him on the ground.

Visit MMAEruption.com!

by MMAEruption on Aug 1, 2009 10:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Those two “trouble” spots you mention are also fights he won on the ground by submission.

So….

Don't believe a word I say, I don't train BJJ. -- I blog at TangleBones - you should follow me on Twitter here.

by jemaleddin on Aug 1, 2009 2:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Forrest " The Cannon-Fodder" Griffin.

He’s a funny guy but he has no tools to beat the Spider.

by dancingChicken on Aug 1, 2009 9:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Not entirely true.

One thing that Silva has always had is a big size advantage. None of his UFC opponents have been as big as him. He has had a weight and reach advantage on all of them. His clinch game works so well, in part, because he outweighs most of them by 10-20 pound. Even Rich gave up 10 pounds.

Also, Forrest is very good at working from the outside. He showed that against Rampage.

Should Silva be the fav? Certainly, but it is not out of the realm of pos that Forrest wins.

by Lynchman on Aug 1, 2009 10:09 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Spider isn' so big like people think

He weighs around 205lbs in the octagon, just like everybody else in MW. He’s tall and lankyt not very muscular. When you look at him and Marquardt, you can see the difference.
The clinch game works so well for him, because he’s got technic. Look what Buakaw does to his opponents in K-1: he’s not big but is throwing them like ragdolls, and it’s because his clinch game is on another level due to fighting in Thailand on Muay Thai rules.
And as for Rampage: he isn’t known to be a kickboxer. Those Griffin kicks won’t work so well against Muay Thai specialist.
(sorry for bad english-still learning)

by dancingChicken on Aug 1, 2009 10:40 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

your English is more that decent for someone learning. Just thought I’d point that out.

by cauliflower_ears on Aug 1, 2009 10:46 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

agreed.

I'm like PacMan fightin you silly kids... throw ya Hatton the ring, and get knocked outlike Ricky did.
lol.

by Loot on Aug 1, 2009 11:33 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Silva and his camp has said he starts his cut from 215. That is about 15 pounds more than Nate or Rich. When he was fighting at MW, Rich said he walked around at 200.

Rich talked about how strong Silva was, that it took him by surprise.

Anderson should be the favorite, but forrest negates the reach and weight advantage. It will be interesting to see how those factors affect this fight.

Anderson has not fought any UFC fighters that would work the outside like that.

IMO, Forrest needs to fight the perfect fight (once again) to beat Silva. He can do it, but any mistakes and he is screwed. I think we would all agree he did far better against Rampage than anyone expected so it is not out of the realm of pos that he could do it again.

But I am not betting my house on him.

by Lynchman on Aug 1, 2009 11:49 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am wrong about weight.

I looked online and there is video of Anderson saying he walks around at 220.

by Lynchman on Aug 1, 2009 12:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

From what i know everybody in MW cuts about 10-15lbs

and Franklin supposed to be BIG for a MW, so i don’t think he weighed 200lbs.
And Spider is FAT when he weighs 220, he even admitted that he like trash food (sodium+carbs+fat= lbs). It’s like Shane Carwin who walks around 280 but in fight time he weighs 256.
But assuming you’re right (but you aren’t) and Spider weighs 215 in MW. It means he will weight about 230 in fight with Griffin, who weighs about 235 – that’s not much of a weoght advantage + Forrest isn’t known for bullying people+ he has no power for such a big dude.
And even if Griffin is stronger, he doesn’t have the technic to beat Silva. He wont KO him, wont submit him, wont outpoint him. He could hold him on the ground and pickle.

by dancingChicken on Aug 1, 2009 12:12 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Can I somehow edit my posts?

cause it looks like i’m making lots of bad spelling

by dancingChicken on Aug 1, 2009 12:15 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I was at an MMA/Muay Thai Hybrid show in SF a few months ago...

And Silva was coaching an MMA fighter. He is a fucking large man when not training. I went to Cal Poly and used to see Liddell all the time; Silva is bigger. I’d say he is easily 220 if not more.

BOOSH

by Farthammer on Aug 1, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

The word is -When Not Training-

Anthony Johnson weighs 220lbs when not training.

You wont convince me that Silva weighs 15-20lbs more than Leites on this picture

by dancingChicken on Aug 1, 2009 12:54 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

ofcourse they're both dehydrated

but there’s not much weight difference, i’d even say that Leites looked bigger in that fight

by dancingChicken on Aug 1, 2009 1:00 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Your English is better that a lot of native speakers who comment

A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who

by thetakeover on Aug 1, 2009 1:21 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

It’s like against GSP, it’s not that the stand up is anywhere near bad, but since once you’re taken down your in the deepest shit, you should try to avoid taking it to the ground.
Silva’s trainer was pretty clear on the subject, his stand up is so deadly, at one point it just became common sense, you have better chances with him on the ground.

You don't look like a Tanaka.

by spectaa on Aug 1, 2009 9:34 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I love BJ’s Sean Sherk imitation. The Team Hawaii shirts make it seem absurd, but I think he’s gonna steamroll Kenny.

Visit MMAEruption.com!

by MMAEruption on Aug 1, 2009 10:36 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Holy crap that Anderson Silva voiceover was hilarious.

Visit MMAEruption.com!

by MMAEruption on Aug 1, 2009 10:41 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I cant believe Pellegrino is at a +190. I would have bet on him at even money. Anyone else think that line is way off or is it just me?? either way its my pick for FOTN

by moopwontplay on Aug 1, 2009 11:50 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I definitely agree with you. I even have Pellegrino as part of a parlay.

Visit MMAEruption.com!

by MMAEruption on Aug 1, 2009 12:03 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Especially since Neer has experienced distractions in his personal life lately.

A wise man told me don't argue with fools
Cause people from a distance can't tell who is who

by thetakeover on Aug 1, 2009 1:24 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions 0 recs

Sakara at +300 shocks me. Thales had to get him to the ground to win. I get him being the fav, but Sakara is better standing and works out of ATT.

Unless it hits the ground, Leites is going to bed.

by Lynchman on Aug 1, 2009 12:03 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

After watching this -- it's official:

I just creamed my pants.

MMACrack.com | It's addicting.

by FightingIrish on Aug 1, 2009 12:09 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Damn reply button is not working!

Rich said he was walking around at 200 when fighting at MW. He has talked about having to put on 10-15 pounds to fight at 205.

Anderson himself has talked about cutting from 215-220. He, and Ed, are saying that, not me.

While I don’t know that Forrest will be stronger, he is bigger than everyone else Anderson has faced. Anderson will not have the size advantage he normally has.

by Lynchman on Aug 1, 2009 1:11 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Makes no sense to argue

but when did Spider actually use his size advantege? Cause Thai clinch is more about technique than strenght. I may be blind, but i didn’t see him ovepower any of his opponent.
Either way, i don’t think size will matter. Griffin is sloppy in his kickboxing, leaves lots of openings, and once he gets hit ,he will open even more…

by dancingChicken on Aug 1, 2009 1:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs