Post by James Hetfield on Jun 24, 2012 20:00:54 GMT -5
Blasting Trivium's "Departure" as I type this.
All of us by now have either seen or read the results of last nights UFC 147 PPV. A very exciting battle between Rich Franklin and Wanderlei was the highlight of the night. We saw the old Axe Murderer in round 2 with a viscous onslaught on Franklin with knees and a barrage of ground-and-pound. Rich survived the storm, and went on to win a 5 round unanimous decision. Now, while the main event is probably going to be the most talked about aspect of this particular PPV, there's one guy on the card who really is in a bit of limbo right now.... Vai Cavalo himself, Fabricio Werdum.
Werdum at UFC 147 was able to easily dispose of Mike Russow, a relative no-name in the UFC's heavyweight division. What does this fight really do for him? Most people would think nothing. And I actually kind of agree. Now, I'm a HUGE Werdum fan, always have been since the PRIDE days. I think he was, and probably still is, one of the most under-appreciated and overlooked guys in the sport. The dude's résumé is nuts: Gonzaga x2, Overeem, Aleksander Emelianenko, Bigfoot Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, etc. He came into the UFC with a loss on his debut fight agsinst Andrei Arlovski, but was able to defeat Brandon Vera and Gabriel Gonzaga after, becoming the #1 contender after Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture.
The fight that sticks out in a lot of fans minds is the is the BRUTAL KO loss to current UFC Heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos at UFC 90. This being dos Santos' debut fight, the loss was looked at as as bringing Fabricio several steps down the ladder, although Cigano would go onto become undefeated in the UFC, becoming the UFC Heavyweight champion in the process. Werdum was surprisingly cut from the UFC following the loss, disappearing for a year before signing to Strikeforce, where he went onto defeat Mike Kyle, Antonio Silva, and the previously 10 year undefeated Fedor Emelianenko. His next fight was a rematch from a fight in PRIDE in 2006 against Strikeforce Heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem. Werdum showed improved striking, yet still could not defeat the K-1 WGP champion and lost a unanimous decision.
Now, he's back in the UFC and has looked GREAT. Beat the hell out of Roy Nelson, and EASILY TKO'd Mike Russow, but.... Russow didn't do sh*t for him in many people's eyes. So what would YOU do with him?
Here's what I say....
There is NO telling if and when December comes that Alistair Overeem will even be able to be licensed. December is only the time where he can re-apply for the license. The Nevada State Athletic Commission has a history of impotence, so who knows what they will decide. Nothing is for certain. We have no idea. We can only hope the right thing is done and Overeem gets another chance. But, like I said, we have no idea what's gonna be done with that.
Either do one of two things --- see of Alistair is granted a license, and set up Werdum vs. Overeem III at the beginning of the year to determine the #1 contender after Dos Santos vs. Velasquez II in Deptember.... OR.... Have Werdum wait for the winner of JDS/Cain, and do the fight as the traditional end of the year card on December 28.
What do you guys think?
Sorry for the long read. Figured I'd do something different with my free time.
All of us by now have either seen or read the results of last nights UFC 147 PPV. A very exciting battle between Rich Franklin and Wanderlei was the highlight of the night. We saw the old Axe Murderer in round 2 with a viscous onslaught on Franklin with knees and a barrage of ground-and-pound. Rich survived the storm, and went on to win a 5 round unanimous decision. Now, while the main event is probably going to be the most talked about aspect of this particular PPV, there's one guy on the card who really is in a bit of limbo right now.... Vai Cavalo himself, Fabricio Werdum.
Werdum at UFC 147 was able to easily dispose of Mike Russow, a relative no-name in the UFC's heavyweight division. What does this fight really do for him? Most people would think nothing. And I actually kind of agree. Now, I'm a HUGE Werdum fan, always have been since the PRIDE days. I think he was, and probably still is, one of the most under-appreciated and overlooked guys in the sport. The dude's résumé is nuts: Gonzaga x2, Overeem, Aleksander Emelianenko, Bigfoot Silva, Fedor Emelianenko, etc. He came into the UFC with a loss on his debut fight agsinst Andrei Arlovski, but was able to defeat Brandon Vera and Gabriel Gonzaga after, becoming the #1 contender after Brock Lesnar vs. Randy Couture.
The fight that sticks out in a lot of fans minds is the is the BRUTAL KO loss to current UFC Heavyweight champion, Junior dos Santos at UFC 90. This being dos Santos' debut fight, the loss was looked at as as bringing Fabricio several steps down the ladder, although Cigano would go onto become undefeated in the UFC, becoming the UFC Heavyweight champion in the process. Werdum was surprisingly cut from the UFC following the loss, disappearing for a year before signing to Strikeforce, where he went onto defeat Mike Kyle, Antonio Silva, and the previously 10 year undefeated Fedor Emelianenko. His next fight was a rematch from a fight in PRIDE in 2006 against Strikeforce Heavyweight champion, Alistair Overeem. Werdum showed improved striking, yet still could not defeat the K-1 WGP champion and lost a unanimous decision.
Now, he's back in the UFC and has looked GREAT. Beat the hell out of Roy Nelson, and EASILY TKO'd Mike Russow, but.... Russow didn't do sh*t for him in many people's eyes. So what would YOU do with him?
Here's what I say....
There is NO telling if and when December comes that Alistair Overeem will even be able to be licensed. December is only the time where he can re-apply for the license. The Nevada State Athletic Commission has a history of impotence, so who knows what they will decide. Nothing is for certain. We have no idea. We can only hope the right thing is done and Overeem gets another chance. But, like I said, we have no idea what's gonna be done with that.
Either do one of two things --- see of Alistair is granted a license, and set up Werdum vs. Overeem III at the beginning of the year to determine the #1 contender after Dos Santos vs. Velasquez II in Deptember.... OR.... Have Werdum wait for the winner of JDS/Cain, and do the fight as the traditional end of the year card on December 28.
What do you guys think?
Sorry for the long read. Figured I'd do something different with my free time.
ing awesome. I'd love to see Josh back in the UFC.
