evilbeefchan

Well 2008 looks to be a big year for both boxing and MMA. Boxing had a great 2007, MMA in general made decent strides towards mainstream acceptance. Any predictions for the upcoming year? Mayweather showing his face in MMA (as a promoter or fighter?), another MMA company landing big ppv deals, UFC finally getting a non-cable deal with cbs/nbc/abc, etc?

I think we're all over the actual "debate." It was a good 4-5 pages before it degraded into typical pub-speak/arguments. What are your opinions for the upcoming year for both sports?

silent_jay

Anyone catch the Fedor vs. Hong Man Choi fight on New Years Eve? Fedor was fuckin impressive against that 7'2" giant.

__________________
Absence makes the heart grow fonder

evilbeefchan

I caught it the other day, never realized how big 7'2 really is! Was really hoping to see a decent fight, especially with that kind of size/reach difference. But then I remembered Choi's record (of what, ONE MMA fight?) and ended up grunting Andre the Giant quotes when he tapped.

With that said, I'm really hoping he has a fight lined up with opponents who can actually put up a fight. (*cough COUTURE *cough BARNETT *cough) I'm hoping Cuban and his deep pockets can make his promotion a contender, cuz competition can only mean better fights/fighters.

I'm wondering if anyone can compare the Fedor/Choi match with an equivalent matchup in boxing? The big guy everyone considers champion going against an untested, mostly unknown fighter. But instead of a Rocky scenario, we get a TOTAL squash.

something red

Klitschko vs Brewster #1 was a bit like that. As was Corrie Sanders vs Klitschko (Vladamir, not Vitali). Corrie Sanders was small and flabby, but, boy, does that man pack a punch.

evilbeefchan

I should have worded my original reply better. I was looking for "the champ" taking on "lesser" opponents, and just squashing them. In Fedor's case, it seems like his management is intentionally having him face lesser opponents just to keep making Fedor a monster. Its like they don't care about him proving to the world that he is better than everyone, just coasting on the reputation he had in Pride FC.

Thanks for the recommendations though, that Sanders fight was pretty damn exciting to watch! It reminded me of the recent Gonzaga vs CroCop match. Brewster/Klitschko #1 had a better finish though.

Strange Famous

ever see the time Danny Williams fought for a world title???

was the worst contender for a world title I can remember, but will soon probably be outdone by Matt Skelton!

__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

Not Right Now

As far as MMA goes:

I'm expecting Cro-cop, Arlovski, Shogun, Brandon Vera and Wanderlei to get back on track.

I'm also expecting BJ Penn prove that he is still the best pure fighter in the world, and re-dedicate himself he lost sight of things after his stint in K-1 where he beat the Gracies and wound up fighting across every single weight class. When he came back to the UFC he expected to walk through GSP and Hughes (again). Then he wound up with a decision loss to GSP; one that would have been a draw were it not for the matter of the #1 contender slot. Then a loss to Hughes after he separated his rib cage in a scramble after stuffing Hughes' takedowns for two rounds.

Fedor v Randy is definitely going to happen next year in the final quarter of the year.

Paulo Filho will get his first loss this year, possibly move into the UFC, where he belongs. I think UFC is simply going to use the WEC as proving ground.

I can't say much about the Anderson and Hendo fight.

Machida will probably grind out a five round win against Rampage, because I don't think Rampage will be the one to figure his style out. if anyone does it will be either Hendo, Tito has a slightly better chance than 'Page. If it were the Tito of old... Hello decision win.

GSP will dominate 170 and probably have a fight of the year candidate whenever he meets Jon Fitch.

Roger Huerta will also have a good year, but he will lose at some point, either to Tyson Griffin or Frankie Edgar.




I really wish we could do away with MMA companies, and just use fighters as independents, but it would be too chaotic. I still say all fans should put our money together and buy an island which we hold events on once a month, Mortal Kombat style using the unified rules of combat... but with the Pride yellow card system.... I'll keep dreaming.


As far as boxing goes:

I am really sweet on Kelly Pavlik right now. Boxing needs a champion like him right now, I think we'll see more of the same from him.

B-hop and Calzaghe looks like it's going to be an excellent fight. I think B-hop may hang it up sometime in the near future.

Hopefully PBF stops being a bitch and fights Cotto, forgets his "MMA Career". HE can take his "break" after that. He's a giant draw, but it seems like most of the people I know watch him fight simply hoping they can see hi get KOd. He is an incredible technician and does deserve to be called the best pound for pound fighter in the world at the moment.

I'm not to big on HW boxing, especially since Lennox Lewis retired. I am however very pleased that the division seems to be ruled by the Eastern Europeans right now. I have always maintained that Eastern Europeans are probably the best natural fighters in the world. Whether it's MMA or Boxing, the Eastern Europeans are always very strong, powerful, intense, and more often than not exciting. I hope it continues this way.

I'm anxious to see how Ricky Hatton rebounds from his first loss, because you never know a true warrior until they lose.

__________________
I only came to dance.

Strange Famous

I think Ricky Hatton was never as good as people thought. One of the problems of the alphabet era...you can hold a title and an unbeaten record, and not fight the really big fights.

Hatton is a tough fighter, and he is world class, but getting to 40-0 or whatever he did before PBF took him apart was flattering.

I would like to see PBF vs Cotto too... but I dont think anyone can call him a bitch in terms of as a fighter... he doesnt have anything to prove anymore.

Hopkins vs Calzaghe doesnt excite me that much. Calzaghe is over-rated in my opinion, and utterly classless as an individual... Hopkins is a warrior but he is getting old...

Heavyweight division is desolate to me.

Enzo vs Haye will be an exciting fight and generate a lot of hype in the UK, they are both brave and tough.. but you cant shake the sneaking suspicion that if you dug Jonny Nelson out of retirement he could whip them both with a weeks gap inbetween the fights.

What boxing needs, desperately, is one title per weight. This shouldnt be a hard concept for all the people involved to grab.

One champion, one man who is the greatest in his class.

There are some good fights between featherweight and middleweight.

Also, what is the point of the cruiserweight division? I didnt like it when it was at 190, but now its extended to 200... its a joke. If you weight 200 lbs, you are a heavyweight.

__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

Not Right Now

I agree, but saying that he's not goign to tak the fight and take a year or two off, to then decide to jump into an mma career is absurd.

__________________
I only came to dance.

Strange Famous

Yeah... it would be GREAT for MMA, but I cant see what it will do for him.

The thing is, PBF will go down as one of the greats, whatever he does.

He has enough money now, whatever he does.

He is never going to be loved, until he gets whipped, and then comes back.

So... I guess this is why he cant see the way forwards now. Cotto is the best fight out there. I kind of think he should take it, or really go ahead and quit and NOT come back.

The other option is Hatton rematch, which might be the richest fight out there if you put it in Manchester... but has no sporting justification - he beat him well first time and would do the same again.

The MMA adventure really does nothing to his legacy as a boxer, and he could be better paid fighting brave and game, but limited Englishmen... but it would be a tremendous fight for MMA, and if they could swing the two way fight I spoke about (1 boxing fight, 1 MMA fight) - I think it would be saleable... PBF would win the boxing fight at a canter against the brawler, and would be an outsider with a genius' chance in the MMA fight... you could sell it really well. But if I was him I wouldnt do it. What does getting beaten in round 2 by an arm bar by a wrestler prove? And if he does pull it off and beat an MMA champ... it doesnt mean much in the boxing world.

The worst case is he goes in and whips a couple of no-hoper, unrated MMA fighters, and then goes back to boxing... which would mean nothing at all.

__________________
"Do not tell lies, and do not do what you hate,
for all things are plain in the sight of Heaven. For nothing
hidden will not become manifest, and nothing covered will remain
without being uncovered."

The Gospel of Thomas

Not Right Now

that is definitely the way I see it happening. I think he'd probably try to get the rules changed in his favour

__________________
I only came to dance.