Strikeforce's Heavyweight Grand Prix starts TODAY! ( 2/12/11 )

[WaTaGuMp]

He went to the promotion with the better HW division.

 

[Woosta]

See this thread, perhaps you missed it

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2131601&highlight=

 

[WaTaGuMp]

See this thread, perhaps you missed it

http://forums.anandtech.com/showthread.php?t=2131601&highlight=

Worth a double.

 

[erikistired]

He went to the promotion with the better HW division.

ROFL. the only reason he isn't in the UFC is because of M-1 Global. it has nothing to do with the HW division. even a noob like you should be able to figure that one out.

 

[Woosta]

ROFL. the only reason he isn't in the UFC is because of M-1 Global. it has nothing to do with the HW division. even a noob like you should be able to figure that one out.

Well, both statements are true.

The UFC contract makes you a slave to the UFC and M-1 did have that copromotion policy.

And SF does have the better hw division.

 

[dr150]

i'm not sure he cares to do that much work at this point. he's done about all there is to do, and he seemed to be okay with the fight being ended last night. i know he's a quiet guy, but he's fedor, he could have at least tried to push for a third round and rolled the dice.

+1

Like any aging fighter, they don't know when to quit--even as shadows of their former selves. He knows he's great and his elite place in fighter history.

His eyes after the fight shows he really doesn't give a shit on many levels.....the eye of the tiger viciousness and the DESIRE to put in the effort before you show up.

In this fight, he looked like a shadow of his former self. In recent training vids, he looked contemplative and matured that there are greater things than those of the arena.

He's been there, done that. He knows his legendary status.

....But, like many ex-champs before him, they think they can now do less (i.e. show up out of shape) and garner the same great results. They believe in their press and that is their ultimate downfall from the sport of fighting.

The sport advances. You get older. Your concussions take a toll on you (the more flavor of concussions you have in training/ring, the easier it is to take you down). You're rich, have women galore, and motivation is eroded away (as Tyson has also admitted to).......Then....the competition catches up to your unique techniques/style. Now, there's young/fit fighters that have adapted to your style and will ultimately beat your shadow self.

Fedor should retire and take his rightful place in the pantheon and no longer sully his legend....

 

[Woosta]

+1

Like any aging fighter, they don't know when to quit--even as shadows of their former selves. He knows he's great and his elite place in fighter history.

His eyes after the fight shows he really doesn't give a shit on many levels.....the eye of the tiger viciousness and the DESIRE to put in the effort before you show up.

In this fight, he looked like a shadow of his former self. In recent training vids, he looked contemplative and matured that there are greater things than those of the arena.

He's been there, done that. He knows his legendary status.

....But, like many ex-champs before him, they think they can now do less (i.e. show up out of shape) and garner the same great results. They believe in their press and that is their ultimate downfall from the sport of fighting.

The sport advances. You get older. Your concussions take a toll on you (the more flavor of concussions you have in training/ring, the easier it is to take you down). You're rich, have women galore, and motivation is eroded away (as Tyson has also admitted to).......Then....the competition catches up to your unique techniques/style. Now, there's young/fit fighters that have adapted to your style and will ultimately beat your shadow self.

Fedor should retire and take his rightful place in the pantheon and no longer sully his legend....

Well put.

He doesn't need to prove himself any longer, he's already done more than he needed to. He should've retired 2 years ago, but he gave us more.

Whatever his decision, I support.

 

[ctark]

The fact that you keep rambling on about Fedor just proves you are blind and stupid. He's not top 10, period.

 

[erikistired]

Well, both statements are true.

The UFC contract makes you a slave to the UFC and M-1 did have that copromotion policy.

And SF does have the better hw division.

 

[Woosta]

Get back to me after you realize the SF HW division is by far better and you'll facepalm your current state of MMA mind.

 

[erikistired]

Get back to me after you realize the SF HW division is by far better and you'll facepalm your current state of MMA mind.

it doesn't matter, it had absolutely NOTHING to do with fedor's decision, so no, both statements were not true. he went there because his handler's told him to.

and a parade of cans does a HW division make.

 

[Crazee]

Hey Woosta, how is Strikeforce HW division far better than the UFC? Both Arlovski and Fedor will now both be out of the top 10. That leaves Werdum (Who was KO'ed by JDS), Silva (who lost a decision to Werdum), Alistair Overroid who hasn't fought a top 10 opponent in MMA yet (K1 doesn't count ask Cro Cop), Sergei Kharitonov (Hasn't fought much over the last 4 years but is the latest to knock out Glass Joe errr Arlovski), Brett Rogers (whose biggest claim to fame besides losing to both Fedor and Overroid is knocking out Glass Joe errr Arlovski), Josh Barnett (who hasn't fought a top 10 opponent and has failed more drug tests than Dwight Gooden).

They may have looked better a year ago but what a difference a year makes. This tournament has backfired on Strikeforce and is going to rob it of it's biggest draws and names. This bracket was put together by someone who is seriously lacking intelligence. They stacked the left side of the bracket with Overroid, Silva, Fedor and Werdum. The right side had Glass Joe err Arlovski, Kharitonov, Barnett and Rogers. The best matchup they can hope for in the finals for excitement is Overroid or Silva versus Barnett.

No one really knows who Kharitonov is, he may end up being great and the winner but he doesn't sell tickets. If Werdum goes far then Strikeforce will continue to have a Champion that JDS knocked out in 1 round. They need Silva to continue to do well or it will further marginalize Fedor if the man who destroyed him losses badly.

Strikeforce had the better HW division but that is no longer the case. The future is brighter for the UFC as Cain is 28 and JDS is 26. The exposure that the UFC gets to the general population is far greater than Strikeforce so they will attract the younger prospects as evidenced by both JDS and Cain being the only top 10 HW under 30 and both are in the UFC.

 

[SAWYER]

LOL wow people are still going on about Fedor

 

[bfdd]

TBH I think the HW divisions are rather even. I just think to many people underestimated Antonio Silva because they have no clue who he was and I also don't think Fedor's mind/heart are in the fight game anymore. Before he was a hungry young man trying to conquer the world to feed himself and his family. He has already accomplished that and so much more for himself, he just doesn't have drive it looked like. His skills are still there, he had trouble dealing with the size difference, but did pretty well imo.

I think if Fedor wants to retire, he should, he has had 30 + something fights and one of(imo the greatest) the greatest careers in MMA history(so far).

 

[Woosta]

LOL wow people are still going on about Fedor

Why shouldn't we?

 

[QueBert]

News Flash, neither UFC or SF have a solid HW division, once this GP is done SF will have to recycle fighters every fight to have any future match ups. If Fedor does retire it'll be even worse and means every fight you'll see Roidistar vs Werdum, or Werdum Vs Silva, or Silva Vs Barnett. That's assuming Josh learns how to cycle his roids, because having been busted THREE times already tells me he's not going to ever stop using them.

So essentially every HW they got is only about 1 win away from a title shot. Yep, great division indeed!

 

[AznAnarchy99]

News Flash, neither UFC or SF have a solid HW division, once this GP is done SF will have to recycle fighters every fight to have any future match ups. If Fedor does retire it'll be even worse and means every fight you'll see Roidistar vs Werdum, or Werdum Vs Silva, or Silva Vs Barnett. That's assuming Josh learns how to cycle his roids, because having been busted THREE times already tells me he's not going to ever stop using them.

So essentially every HW they got is only about 1 win away from a title shot. Yep, great division indeed!

Been waiting for someone to notice the same thing I have.

 

[Zebo]

LOL wow people are still going on about Fedor

Why not? He's the greatest MMA fighter ever. You see respect others have for him - Silva was bowing repeatedly for a reason. Fighters not named Randy C0outure age his time has past does not take away being the man ~7-8 years. And yeah HW is the man. No matter how good GSP or AS are there is a reason they cut weight. It's Cain's time to be the man now.

 

[torpid]

I think SF has more total talented HWs but they don't really have many people beyond who we see in this tournament. Like it or not, fighting sports need cans or "opponents" to keep the division active. So I'd call it a toss-up.

Fedor is clearly on the decline. Whether or not he is top 10 is kind of moot, IMO, as being top 10 in the HW division is not very impressive at all these days. I am sure he could have some wins in the future, but clearly he is not at the level he once was. The sport has advanced too much for him to be at the top still.

Bigfoot looks much more acromegalic in HD than I remembered. I hope his condition is cured!

 

[Howard]

Why not? He's the greatest MMA fighter ever. You see respect others have for him - Silva was bowing repeatedly for a reason. Fighters not named Randy C0outure age his time has past does not take away being the man ~7-8 years. And yeah HW is the man. No matter how good GSP or AS are there is a reason they cut weight. It's Cain's time to be the man now.

I hope Brock takes a few lessons with Mr. Roach - there's a lot more potential in him, I think.

As far as Fedor goes... unless he changes his training and prep, he's not in a position to keep up, unfortunately.

 

[wheresmybacon]

Get back to me after you realize the SF HW division is by far better and you'll facepalm your current state of MMA mind.

Off the top of my head, top 5 of each.

Cain
JDS
Carwin
Brock
Bignog

vs

Werdum
Overeem
Fedor
Barnett
Arlovski

IMO at the point the talent falls off pretty quickly in both organizations.

I just don't agree that SF is "far better". Competitive? Sure. Better? No way. You're entitled to your opinion, but the only SF guy I like against anyone in the UFC I've listed here is Overeem.

 

[Axon]

Why not? He's the greatest MMA fighter ever. You see respect others have for him - Silva was bowing repeatedly for a reason. Fighters not named Randy C0outure age his time has past does not take away being the man ~7-8 years. And yeah HW is the man. No matter how good GSP or AS are there is a reason they cut weight. It's Cain's time to be the man now.

While I agree with this, I can't see any situation where GSP could be a heavyweight. He ain't got the frame for it. LHW, tops.

 

[Russwinters]

I feel like it's already been said but not "put together"

Fedor lost for two major reason imo:

1) As mentioned, he hasn't changed his strategy much.


2) Every single one of those fighters (including silva) have likely ritually watched every single one of fedors fights multiple times (Most professional MMA fighters probably have).

When your on the top, you need to reinvent constantly; because everyone is watching YOU and knows the way you fight.

 

[torpid]

Off the top of my head, top 5 of each.

Cain
JDS
Carwin
Brock
Bignog

vs

Werdum
Overeem
Fedor
Barnett
Arlovski

IMO at the point the talent falls off pretty quickly in both organizations.

I just don't agree that SF is "far better". Competitive? Sure. Better? No way. You're entitled to your opinion, but the only SF guy I like against anyone in the UFC I've listed here is Overeem.

How does Fedor make your SF list, but not the guy who soundly trounced him this past weekend?

 

[wheresmybacon]

OK Replace Fedor with Bigfoot and scoot old glass jaw Arlovski out the top 5. It doesn't matter. My point is that I don't agree that SF's HW division is "far better" than the UFC.