Is Paulo Thiago Being Overlooked Going in to UFC 115?
by Nate Wilcox on Jun 8, 2010 4:51 PM EDT
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Michael David Smith thinks so:
The best fighter at UFC 115 is Paulo Thiago, who in my opinion is the No. 5 welterweight in the world and is the only Top 10 fighter in any weight class on Saturday night's card. When Thiago steps into the Octagon against Martin Kampmann on Saturday night, we'll see a fighter who's 13-1, whose only loss is to the No. 2 welterweight in the world, Jon Fitch, and whose three victories since entering the UFC in 2009 include a Knockout of the Night-winning upset of Josh Koscheck and a Submission of the Night-winning upset of Mike Swick.
Despite those accomplishments, and the fact that just about everyone who really follows MMA views Thiago as one of the Top 10 welterweights in the world, we're not hearing much about Thiago heading into this fight. I think that's a shame.
Thiago has a great personal story to tell. In addition to his job as a UFC fighter, he still works for the elite special forces unit of Brazil's military police, and he's by all accounts a dedicated, hard-working public servant. There aren't many professional athletes who have side jobs like that one.
I'm not going to get all "don't cry for me Argentina" about Thiago being overlooked going into this fight against Martin Kampmann. Paulo is ranked as the #5 welterweight on the USAT/SBN Consensus MMA Rankings but Kampmann is a very respectable #11. I'll probably pick Thiago, but I wouldn't be entirely shocked if Kampmann pulled off the upset.
This MMA Mania interview with Thiago does get him to discuss his day job as a member of the Brazilian police:
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Share with me a brief story about the most dangerous mission or task you have been involved in.
Paulo Thiago: So many of them. I couldn't pick just one...drug dealers, robbers, and all kinds of bad guys.
Derek Bolender (MMAmania.com): Why do you choose to be a part of such a potentially harmful job when no one is forcing you to do so?
Paulo Thiago: I just love doing that. There is no way I could explain the sensation of accomplishing a special operations mission. I think it could be a physiological reason. The need for controlled adrenaline.
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If Paulo Thiago was an British or Canadian he would have fought for the belt a year ago.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
by RolloTomasi on Jun 8, 2010 4:15 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
sarcasm?
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 4:16 PM EDT up reply actions
no
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
Why did Dan Hardy get a shot before Thiago? He finished Swick, finished KOS, the only loss he has is to Fitch.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
I agree about the Hardy thing. I just think the Fitch fight kinda derailed that train. If he would have lost to Fitch and then beat Swick and got the title shot we would have all been bitching that a guy on a 1 fight win streak got a shot at the belt. It would have been just like the Demian Maia title shot.
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 4:20 PM EDT up reply actions
Why did Hardy get the shot before Thiago?
Because when they set up GSP/Hardy, Thiago was coming off a loss to Fitch. It’s easy now to say Thiago deserved the shot but had they given it to him off the Fitch loss or even after decisioning Volkmann people would have been pissed.
It’s because of the Fitch loss, if he had beaten Kos and Fitch back to back he would have definitely gotten a title shot. I don’t think Nationality has anything to do with it.
He doesn’t speak english (so nationality is a little involved). He also fights about as emotionally as I wash dishes, and doesn’t have a freaky heel streak like KOS to catch people’s attention. The BOPA stuff is cool, but most Americans don’t know what that is. He might be crazy-marketable to Brazilians, but it’s not as effective in this country as a selling point.
He is a killer, the hardcores know that. But unless some BOPA story of his turns into some insane movie-of-the-week, there really isn’t a hook for the casuals to latch onto. Therefore UFC has to be forced into the title shot.
He KO’s Kos,and chokes Swick. Dan Hardy decisions Swick and gets a title shot. Kos decisions Daley and gets atitle shot.
When is it Paulos turn?
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
Its all about PPV sales not merit.
The squeaky wheel gets the title shot, being humble and not flashy puts you further back in line. Look how long it Fitch to get a title shot.
If he gets a quick, highlight reel finish of Kampmann, he should be the next #1 contender
Or maybe he should fight Thiago Alves (if he gets by Fitch) or the winner of Hughes / Almeida for the next shot.
"If I wanted to spend a half hour between two hairy legs I'd go to your mother's house." -Don Frye
Alves/Fitch winner prolly gets next title shot, but Paulo vs. Hughes/Almeida sounds great
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
It’s about winning. Thiago was coming off a loss when Hardy was awarded his shot.
Bolts from the Blue // "He looks like a catfish" - Nick Hardwick on Brandon Siler
Bloody Elbow // " looks like your comment violated rule #4. and it’s a heck of a rule, rule #4" - Kid Nate
by Richard Wade on Jun 8, 2010 10:29 PM EDT up reply actions
never. he hasn’t been around long enough. he has 4 UFC fights. the only people who get title shots in that short of time are Brock Lesnar, Anderson Silva, and inexplicably Dan Hardy.
Kos is the only guy right now who has enough of a history to justify a title shot.
IHardy got his shot so quickly (or Swick if he had won) because the division was cleaned out and they needed contenders.
Paul Daley would have gotten the shot after only 2 fights in the UFC if he could have stuffed a takedown.
I’m not saying Paulo deserves the shot before Kos, I’m just saying he deserved it before Hardy and Daley. I mean he hasn’t even be mentioned in title contention until now.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
I thought he KO’ed that jujitus fighter who I can’t remember his name, and fought Kos. Who else did he fight in the UFC?
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
"I thought he KO’ed that jujitus fighter who I can’t remember his name"
Dustin Hazelett
Never engage in a battle of wits with an idiot. They drag you down to their level and beat you with experience.
But Paul Daley is British…..And Explosive……And Athletic………..Seems to me he would have been tailor made for a title shot.
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 4:36 PM EDT up reply actions
the folly in this statement is that Daley, almost more than any competitively booked match i can think of, never had any chance of winning that fight. and that ain’t hindsight. i said it all along.
Should Paulo have been mentioned for a title shot after he lost to Fitch at UFC 100?
After he decisioned Volkman at UFC 106?
After beating Swick at UFC 109?
Getting a title shot also depends on if the champ is healthy, and if he’s already scheduled to fight. Since GSP is booked, Thiago is getting more fights, which he needs.
A 1 win streak vs a 4 win streak is worth something....
Thiago would beat Hardy, but I don’t think he was in the mix yet when they booked Hardy vs GSP
True, but that was 5.5 years ago when the division had no depth. Guys were getting title shots with no prior UFC fights.
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
Some people will say Cote's shot wasn't deserved
After he won 5 straight against Almeida, Mcfedries, Jason Day, Kendall Grove, and Scott Smith.
but he only got the shot because Okami was injured, and those 5 straight wins are against fairly solid competition.
Too bad he blew his knee.
by pickleofguatemala on Jun 8, 2010 4:39 PM EDT up reply actions
Too bad indeed
we could have gotten another two rounds of Silva periodically kneeing him in the face kicking the cartilage out of his leg.
Training BE since January 2010
I don't know man
With those heavy hands, I wouldn’t have counted him out in the rest of the fight. That’s unless Anderson was planning on face-planting him.
the problem is
they put him up against Fitch too early. That was just his second fight in the Octagon. if they’d seen him as a contender no doubt they would have kept him away from him (as Fitch just ruins title contenders without being a contender himself). Tough to give him the shot with a loss. Remember Hardy (though fighting against weaker opposition) hadn’t loss in like 12 fights.
I am a p. thiago fan but remember the order of his fights:
-koscheck (good win but looked flukey AT THE TIME)
-fitch (loss)
-volkmann (close decision win, not a well known opponent)
-swick (awesome performance), but this was only a few months ago.
I really don’t think the UFC can be faulted for not putting him in line for a shot yet. The one thing they did was have him fight Fitch too early.
The real issue is delaying GSP’s next fight till December – that means than no one else in the division gets a shot till April 2011? Lameness city.
BTW
I am not saying Kos or Hardy deserved a shot more than Thiago. He doesn’t. Just saying I can’t see how Thiago deserved a shot “a year ago”.
British maybe
You have to like a fighter that does that kind of job in his real life. He’s obviously a true blue tough guy with some ethics and moral integrity. Qualities becoming more and more rare in this day and age. Brazils a rough place to be doing that job as well. Cro cop is another good dude in my book. Can’t say him kicking peoples heads off is a bad thing either.
This fight I am looking for a Uppercut-BitchSlap-Anaconda Choke combo. Come On Paulo!
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
Thiago is one of my favorite fighters
But he is not at the stage in his UFC career where he can sell PPVs.
One of the reasons I like Bellator, no matchmaking just the best fighters earning the title shot.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
to be fair: they do pick the matchups each round with whatever guys are left. its not a pre-set bracket
Yeah but if you win you advance. Not always the case in other organizations.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
So did Kos by that logic…
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
How about this
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 4:49 PM EDT up reply actions 3 recs
They are trying to build him up though. They did that piece on whatever countdown show for whatever event he wrecked Mike Swick on.
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 4:21 PM EDT up reply actions
The fact that he wasn’t already “built up” should tell you all you need to know. Again, if Paulo was from a market the UFC was wanting to take over (like the UK or Germany) he’d already have a big name.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
Paulo derailed Kos……yet Kos gets the shot…
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
exactly my point….
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
F that
There is no merit to a Thiago title shot yet and never has been. Maybe with a win over Martin he’ll get another #1 contender style match.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
I'm not saying if Thiago deserves a shot or not, I’m saying that it’s not merit that determines it
If anything Fitch deserves the next shot.
Merit
is one of many moving factors that determine title shots. Fitch already had his shot, it takes a while to move back into the position for another one.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
by Chris Barton on Jun 9, 2010 12:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Kos has beaten Frank Trigg (i know, but still) Anthony Johnson and Paul Daley since that loss to Paulo…..That is why he has a title shot.
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Dan Hardy dec. Gono dec. Davis dec. Swick = title shot? Oh right he’s from the UK.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
I think the lack of a title shot for one Michael Bisping is kind of hurting this line of thinking. That and 2 of the 5 UFC champions are Brazilians
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 4:34 PM EDT up reply actions
Dana would saw off his left ball with a butter knife to get a strap around Bisping’s waist…..I’m suprised he didn’t get a shot after beating Chris Leben.
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 4:38 PM EDT up reply actions
Bisping gets close to a shot but then he loses.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
Bleh could you imagine a Bisping vs Sliva (new) fight
it would be 25 minutes of bisping swing light jabs outside of the pocket with Sliva looking like he is auditioning for You got Served 2.
which is why the UFC has no desire for another Brazilian champ. They already have the Brazil market.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
Well that is pretty obvious
It’s like Pride would have loved to have Japanese champs.
If Saku could have beat Wanderlei, or Takada beat Coleman, they would have been all for it.
by pickleofguatemala on Jun 8, 2010 4:53 PM EDT up reply actions
I don’t really get why your missing a simple fact here. It isn’t about nationality, but timing and win streaks. Paulo Thiago beat Koscheck, lost to Fitch, beat Volkmann, and then beat Swick. With Dan Hardy beating Swick before Paulo Thiago fought Swick, Swick was “damaged goods” in that he was a fighter coming off a loss and not as high up the rankings because he just came off a loss to Dan Hardy. Before Swick fought Hardy, Swick was on a four fight win streak in the UFC and Hardy was on a three fight win streak in the UFC. Swick and Hardy weren’t coming off losses when they fought each other, but coming off win streaks. It is different with Paulo Thiago though because he fought Swick who was coming off a loss. With Koscheck getting a Title shot right now, Koscheck is coming off a three fight win streak in the UFC and coming off a win over a top ten Welterweight in Paul Daley, and Daley was coming into his fight with Koscheck with wins of his own.
I don't think they are
otherwise they would have him headline fight night cards (kind of like what they are doing with Bones Jones) where he will be exposed to more viewers.
Let’s just get it outta the way early, shall we?
http://www.twitter.com/TB_Money
by Tim Burke on Jun 8, 2010 4:18 PM EDT reply actions 11 recs
These always go green so far be it from me to slow down that party train.
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 4:24 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
this is still one of my favoritist things ever:
by woooburn on Jun 8, 2010 4:30 PM EDT up reply actions 14 recs
Green this shit too because i don’t have to read pictures!!!!!
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 4:35 PM EDT up reply actions 8 recs
“I don’t have to read pictures” – That’s a rec, and possibly a future sig.
If you don't like the effect, don't produce the cause.
360Gamertag:Flipadelph1a
AWESOME gamertag
Me and some buddies got the t-shirt
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
by Anthony Pace on Jun 8, 2010 5:19 PM EDT up reply actions 1 recs
Flip Flip Flipadelphia!
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
WIld card bitches!!!! I have that shirt and nobody here (Philly) knows what it’s from. Isn’t it ironic? It’s ra-ee-ain, on your wedding day.
If you don't like the effect, don't produce the cause.
360Gamertag:Flipadelph1a
WHAT?
I’m from Philly and the only person who doesn’t like that show is my grandma.
by Body Triangle on Jun 9, 2010 12:52 PM EDT up reply actions
There is no reason but a psychological disorder that could make anyone be a police officer....
especially that kind of officer.
How much money an hour do you want to make to take a bullet? Just crazy IMO. Props to ppl like him though. True public service (unlike congress LOL)
I’m sure he’s not thinking about taking a bullet…..more about giveing one.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
I think even some hardcore fans
are reserving judgment until he can prove he’s not Sokoudjou. Will another win do it? Probably not.
13-1 yeah he’s not Sokoudju…
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
Also he has fought 3 top guys in the UFC
Dominated two of them and hung in there with the #2 welterweight in the world, I’d say he has proven himself.
Hung in there?
He got Fitched the same way everyone else does.
ALL OF YOU LISTEN TO MEE, DON'T DISTURB HERE, I WILL CALL POLICE CATCH YOU, DON'T COME TO MY BANGOLOW HOUSE, UNDERSTAND, O.K. I HATE ALL OF YOU.
Most people did think he won the first round, though. That’s better than most do against Fitch.
If you're not watching Treme, you're a bad person.
Ever tried. Ever failed. No matter. Try Again. Fail again. Fail better. -Samuel Beckett
by Scott C. Broussard on Jun 8, 2010 6:52 PM EDT up reply actions
He definitely won the first, almost wrecked my five man parlay that night.
by ufc4 on Jun 8, 2010 10:44 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
Yea, he's a dark horse in the division
Guys like Fitch, Kos, Alves, Shields, and GSP are the main WWs that get talked about.
Thiago is in the dark horse of the group, trying to stir things up.
If they gave him a fight with Hughes or Serra, which he’d win it would put him in immediate title contention.
by pickleofguatemala on Jun 8, 2010 4:34 PM EDT reply actions
wouldn’t this article have made a better comment on the original articles?
I'm old school hating Lesnar, I've been hating Lesnar since '08
no. nobody was talking about Paul Thiago in the other 115 articles, and one comment in another post wouldn’t have gotten 65+ responses. Now, as we should be, we are extensively discussing Paulo Thiago.
People will be hearing about him soon enough. He runs a clinic on Martin Kampmann this Saturday.
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 Jun 8, 2010 4:36 PM EDT reply actions 3 recs
i agree
his striking was good enough to down swick, and his grappling is a high enough level to put the #2 WW in the world into a position that would submit 99% of fighters, discluding Jon Fitch, and Benderson.
i’m going to say what i’ve always said:
WAR BRAZ COP!!!!
Even when I'm laying on my back I'm never backing down
by Austin Martin on Jun 8, 2010 4:59 PM EDT up reply actions
WAR BOPE
Gentlemen, just so you know, he’s not just a cop. He’s a special forces kind of guy, and he’s doing that in an incredibly dangerous setting. He dives deep into Favelas, which, if you know anything about them, are scary as fuck places. Thiago is a sound fighter and he’s got the courage of a lion that ate 3 other lions that ate the God of courage (me).
Look up BOPE. There’s a brazillian movie about them…name escapes me now…I’ll check with the girlfriend and get back to you.
by Body Triangle on Jun 9, 2010 12:56 PM EDT up reply actions
:D
I am going to try and get a chant going for him when he fights. Vancouver is a very vocal crowd…. I hope you guys are ready for lots of boos as well :P
The UFC has a difficult time promoting their fighters with limited to know English. Which is all the more reason why they should be making more of an effort to do so.
Just think about it. What if the UFC had all of their fighters from the country of Brazil?
Dos Santos- Heavyweight
Shogun – Light Heavyweight
Spider- Middleweight
Thiago- Welterweight
Etc, etc. Would the UFC throw in the towel trying to promote all these guys to the casual fan just because their English may be lacking? Hell no
If Zuffa and company want to thrive as a business, then they need to step up their promotions of their own fighters!
by devious1 on Jun 8, 2010 4:42 PM EDT reply actions 2 recs
i think the fighters’ performances can promote them. if thiago beats kampmann soundly, he’ll be promoting himself. only a matter of time.
Even when I'm laying on my back I'm never backing down
by Austin Martin on Jun 8, 2010 5:02 PM EDT up reply actions
Guys like Dos Santos and Silva (when he’s in the mood) can be promoted solely on the basis of their highlight reels.
Tatum: I think he's a good man. I like him. I got nothing against him, but I'm definitely gonna make orphans of his children.
by Dave Strummer on Jun 8, 2010 5:07 PM EDT up reply actions
Yes and no
Sure they make great highlights to play on comercials but you can’t stick either of them on ESPN for an interview to help sell the fight to non MMA fans, or have them do a radio blitz before the fights (as most english speaking headliners do).
Shogun has the best highlight reel of them all.
Remember, they own all those PRIDE videos with flying stomps and soccer kicks!!!
Zuffa can promote a guy all they want, if the guy isn’t exciting (Thiago, Fitch, Maynard, etc) then the casual fans aren’t gonna wanna watch them no matter how much they win.
by ufc4 on Jun 9, 2010 12:05 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
WHOA! WHOA! WHOA!
There is a fight this Saturday?!
"Stop smiling you are about to be punched in the face !"
I don’t mind him being brought along. He’s developing into a well-rounded fighter, which is great. It may not be as big a win, but he looked far better against Swick than he did against Koscheck.
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
he also didn’t look terrible against fitch. he was just too green. the rematch might go the same way, but he had fitch in a DEEP choke.
Even when I'm laying on my back I'm never backing down
by Austin Martin on Jun 8, 2010 5:01 PM EDT up reply actions
Then after that the dry-humping began
Total dud to end UFC 100.
"It's fourth and fifteen and you're looking at a full-court press." - Lt. Frank Drebin, Police Squad
Still better than the alternate ending to UFC 100:
Brock Lesnar drinking Kewer’s Light and getting on top of his wife.
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 8, 2010 5:05 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d watch that.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
If it was 2000 and Sable still looked good
Inhale deep, like the words of my breath—I never sleep, cause sleep is the cousin of death
Meh, I’d watch two 80 year olds’ go at it. I’m not too picky.
"Bottom line, wrestling is a martal art. If you can’t hang, go kickbox for K-1."
Pain don't hurt...
by RolloTomasi on Jun 8, 2010 5:08 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Simply amazing comment.
Bolts from the Blue // "He looks like a catfish" - Nick Hardwick on Brandon Siler
Bloody Elbow // " looks like your comment violated rule #4. and it’s a heck of a rule, rule #4" - Kid Nate
by Richard Wade on Jun 8, 2010 10:39 PM EDT up reply actions
If only Bisping/Hendo was the main event...
"It's fourth and fifteen and you're looking at a full-court press." - Lt. Frank Drebin, Police Squad
Diabolical Haters Gonna Hate Diabolically
Come on, those crazy hammer fists followed by WHO IS THE FUCKING MAN followed by the Quit Eating My Strawberries moment? That was AWESOME imo. And how could you not get some laughs from the Coors Light/ Get On Top Of My Wife thing?
by Polyhedron on Jun 8, 2010 5:25 PM EDT up reply actions 2 recs
Honestly, I thought that was the best thing I had ever seen. To see a real outburst of emotion after conquering his nemesis was great. Not to mention getting the shit boo’d out of you for no goddamn good reason and just whipping the crowd up even more was priceless. My favorite part though was when he just turn his back on frank and walked off when Herb told them to touch gloves. The sound of the crowd combined with Frank’s facial expression was so good.
"The only reason I'm cryin is cuz of the adrenaline."
by Earl Montclair on Jun 9, 2010 12:31 AM EDT up reply actions
Yeah and he clearly stole the first found.
I was very impressed with that. Imagine if he was a full time fighter.
I AGREE
they screw him by giving kos’ the tuf 12 spot this guy is a real test for gsp gsp is humble so he wont truly say who he will beat but he knows that this fight isnt his toughest nor was hardy tho hardy has stand up we all knew no ground compared to gsp
by Isaac Audacia Jaz on Jun 8, 2010 5:28 PM EDT reply actions
Actually the guy who is being overlooked is Kampman, now the fact that people keep talking about Thiago getting a title shot is ridiculous.
Thiago got handled by Fitch that’s why he didn’t get a title shot, stop with the conspiracy bs it makes you sound insane.
Luckily, Kampman will beat Thiago and we can put all of this nonsense to the side.
"they mad at me, I keep going hard reppin/
cause what's your Rampage to Rashad Evans/"
-Joe Budden (Something To Ride To)
http://www.zshare.net/audio/76866807deabe3c1/
He in NO way got handled.
Kampmann is good, but thiagos gonna finish this with a highlight and force the ufc brass to give him a title shot. That, or they’ll give him shields, and he’ll beat shields.
Braz Cop is the future.
Even when I'm laying on my back I'm never backing down
by Austin Martin on Jun 8, 2010 5:51 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
off topic...
But 5 oz is reporting that fedor’s next fight will be on PPV if he wins.
On topic: paulo thiago is a beast and I would love to see him get a shot if he gets past kampmann and I assume 1 more fight.
I liked the ideas earlier of winner of alves vs fitch or hughes vs almeida
by logic_101 on Jun 8, 2010 6:29 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
PT is a great fighter. He's very mentally tough and a really good grappler and has proven he has power in his hands too.
I made bank when he was the UD against Swick
PT will never be mentally defeated in the octogan
That coupled with the fact that he has displayed impressive skills in both striking and grappling (both of which can use work but are great none the less) makes him the most exciting fighter in the WW not named GSP. He was thrown to the wolves in the Fitch fight, which was his, what, 2nd fight in the UFC? I expect that fight to go differently if they rematch. I do think the UFC is underplaying him in terms of promotional material. It very well may be because he’s Brazilian and has another job (weak word for being an active member of BOPE) besides fighting which may make him and his contractual agreements with the UFC more of a hassle than other fighters. The UFC may just be playing it cool with him because he offers too much long term risk.
IIRC Brasilia BOPE put him on modified duty
But he most likely still has to train skills, especially perishable ones, on a regular basis alongside his MMA training.
I’m not buying into it just yet, I thought he looked pretty terrible with Volkmann. I suspect that he is going to run into issues when the wrestlers at 170 smother him the way Fitch did. I think if Kos fought him smart it would be a similar outcome.
He has great power standing and nice top game. They should bring him along slowly while he learns to wrestle effectively.
by Michael Rome on Jun 8, 2010 8:32 PM EDT reply actions 1 recs
Go ahead and be a nattering nabob of negativism
But I take a more positive view and think that Volkmann looked good, using some impressive, funky wrestling to keep it competitive.
by John Nash on Jun 9, 2010 4:15 AM EDT via mobile up reply actions
The Conspiracy is Real...
Consider that 3 of the 6 champs are Brazilian (Aldo’s 145 class will be in the UFC soon enough), and Thiago is not (yet) among the most marketable of guys. Look how many fights (and even then the combination of events) for Machida to get his title shot. Now, look how Cain not only got essentially a “pass” to a title shot, but now gets left on the shelf for way too long.
JDS being put against Nelson is part of the UFC anti-brazilian conspiracy as well. Love him or hate him, Roy Nelson is no joke, and he WILL put JDS on the ground at some point, probably more than once. JDS likely manages the UD if not the TKO, but now the top HW contenders will have tape on JDS’ ground game prior to any of them fighting him – an area of unknowns at this point.
Just because I’m paranoid, doesn’t mean people aren’t out to get me…
Totally agree. Giving top level contendors winnable, but tough matches with main card exposure while they wait for a logjam at their respective titles is utter bullshit.
Keep Firing, Assholes!
Have you accepted BROCKLESNARRRRRR!!!!!!! as your personal Heavyweight Champion?
Actually...
I was being somewhat tongue-in-cheek, but I really don’t get that Cain will have been sitting on the shelf for what will turn out to be a year+ (save only his 2:20 KO of a way over the hill Big Nog). Even now, he has fought only twice in the last almost 12 months.
JDS on the other hand will have fought 4 times over the previous 12 months by the earliest possible time Cain could fight the winner of Lesnar – Carwin (ie Lesnar).
Its not that I’m particularly for either Cain or JDS, as either would get owned by Lesner and probably Carwin too, this just seems a little hairball to me…
by BigDNotDallas on Jun 8, 2010 9:59 PM EDT up reply actions
Other than "Sam the Eagle"
This is the picture that should always accompany Paulo Thiago articles.
Looks like dead poodle.
"...ride life straight to perfect laughter,
it's the only good fight there is."
by dancingChicken on Jun 9, 2010 3:37 AM EDT up reply actions
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