After taking some time to recover from the shock of UFC 76, I would like to analyze the current rash of upset victories plaguing not only the UFC, but MMA as a sport in general.
First of all. Lets dispel a myth: It’s not just former Pride fighters coming over to the UFC and getting smoked by seemingly easy prey. Sure that’s been happening. But that’s not all that’s been happening.
In fact, I personally think this “Bizarro World” or whatever you want to call it began back at Pride’s Second Coming PPV in February. That night, in 4 of the 5 main bouts major upsets occurred. Nick Diaz toppled then ranked #1 Lightweight Takanori Gomi. Complete unkown Sokoudjou knocked out heavily favoured Minotoro Nogueira. And most shockingly of all, Dan Henderson (moving up in weight) dethroned Pride 205 lbs kingpin Wanderlei Silva. Silva had at that time held the title for over 5 years.
Here is a list of what I would consider to be SHOCKING upsets since then:
- Sokoudjou knocks out Ricardo Arona at Pride 34
- Randy Couture def. Tim Sylvia
- Matt Serra dominates GSP
- Gabe Gonzaga knocks out Cro Cop with Filipovic’s own trademark head kick
- Unknown fighter Houston Alexander knocks out Keith Jardine
- Cheick Kongo def. Cro Cop
- Forrest Griffin submits Shogun
- Keith Jardine def. Chuck Liddell
That’s a pretty healthy list of top 10 guys, beaten by mostly unseeded fighters.
So, what can we learn from looking at this list? Well, only 2 Pride fighters appear in the “lost to UFC fighters” category so I guess it’s safe to say that isn’t the core of the problem. Second, notice that Keith Jardine appears in both the “win” and “loss” column of our little list which brings me to my point (I knew I had one!).
The point is more mismatches are being made these days than ever before. Usually in an effort to “showcase” a fighter against a lesser opponent. I believe the recent unpredictability is due in part to this type of mismatching. These “elite” fights simply aren’t taking their lesser known opponents seriously.
If you don’t believe me, just listen to Jardine’s comments before the Alexander fight. He said he didn’t think he should “Have to fight this guy” implying that he was so superior to Alexander that there would be no point in the bout occurring at all.
Now how hard do you think old Kiethy boy trained for that fight?
Cro Cop is also one who is notorious for underestimating his opponents. *cough* Kevin Randleman *cough*
In a sport with 4 ounce gloves, where knees, elbows and choking are all fair game - you can’t afford to underestimate ANYONE.
(9 votes, average: 4.22 out of 5)
No doubt the upsets have been going on alot in the ufc, but I always really thought the pride guys were really overrated!
great post i so agree these guy need to train there asses off for who ever they fight cause u just dont know with who is going to submit or choke or knock your ass out these day…AND IF ANYBODY SEES LIDDELL TELL HIM HE PHUKIN OWES ME MY MONEY I LOSS FOOL LET SARDINE WIN LOLOL
LETS GET IT ON !!!!!!!!!!!
Hey you are totally right! Chuck needs to watch theother fighters’ videos and train accordingly. He has not come out with any SHOCKING moves in a very long time, just always looking for that one lucky hard punch. Don’t get me wrong he is one of my favs but no-one should ever underestimate their opponent. Should tell yah something looking at Chuck’s serious bruise on his side. Grab his leg, you know it’s coming! But then again Chuck is not one to take it to the mat.
The first fight on that card was great. Thanks for letting me spill!!Trishaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa
Thanks for the comments! I think Chuck may have been expecting Jardine to try to take the fight to the ground, based on his wide front-on stance. Great for stuffing shots but not so great for kickboxing!
Yeah Liddell needs to train for his opponents more and look at their style to see how he can beat them, btw anybody know whos next for Rampage I heard Shogun would get a shot if he beat Gump but now that Forrest won I bet he will change his mind.
lets get it on!!!!!!
Hey! I lost a little side bet myself!@#&! Yup pride fighters are over rated but they are getting the picture that the UFC is the place to be. Chow!Trishaaaaaaaaaaa
Pride is dead, Cheers Dana!
Yup, pride guys are realy overrated. the worst part is, that goes 4 fedor 2, hes good but people make him sound invincable, you can talk trash all you want but randy wouldve scored his first standing KO if he wouldnt have retired. Fedor is not ready for this Randy Couture with all the ring rust fedors been building up, hes never faught anyone near randys level, and this wouldve been the perfect opp for randy to become a GOD. I think big nog has a better chance against randy than fedor and was a bigger part of his decision 2 throw in the gloves. 2 bad.
Fedor to fight the 7 foot 1 Hong Man Choi next up “The bearded lady”.
fedor,wandy,anderson silva,crocop,hunt,bignog,henderson etc
all overrated?
thats a ridiculous generalisation.
randy fedor would be a tough fight i think.randy knocking out fedor? hilarious ha ha
I think that Fedor knows Randy would beat him, Fedor in my opinion is now the biggest joke in mma I mean look who hes gonna fight next geez!
i have to disagree mate.
its all about the money with fedor.he signed with m1 cause hes got a piece of the action and its his pals company.
fedor is undoutably the biggest draw in mma and he knows it.
he can do his thing and then still return 2 the table with dana anytime he wants to.
ok man i didnt know its his bros company but seriously I know of LOADS of mma fans who dont know much about Fedor! Maybe he is the biggest draw but right now the place to be is in the ufc. I think Randy draws more in the ufc than Fedor will in M1 just my opinion
the ufc is the place to be,i agree.im gutted fedor didnt sign.that fight would have been huge.
m1 at the moment is in the mma wilderness as far as a lot of fans are concerned.i think fedor and co are trying to put it on the map.it isnt going to be easy.
exactly my point it will take a load of fighters and hard work!
There are alot of best kept secrets out there. The “underdogs” in some peoples’ eyes are shocking everyone because they are not as big a name as the ONES WE KNOW AND LOVE. I don’t think it will take that much of an effort for Fedor and co. We are all hyped about Fedor! Why? Big deal, he will lose just as many as he wins just like everyone else JMO
Sorry just venting! Fedor has become a household name now. Not saying he is one that I would route for often but he may just as well have studied tapes and moves and come back to shock everyone. He’s got something up his sleeve if he did not want Randy. There is something about this guy! JUUUUUST venting!
No offence to Fedor but I would rather watch Frankie Edgar fight cans than watch Fedor tangle with a 7-2 japanese kickboxer!
The sad, secret reality of fighting is; there are plenty of barroom nobody’s who can easily crush many mma superstars in seconds. It’s all overrated. There are bound to be upsets in the ring and out. Look at what happened to Don Frye, drunk or not. Next we’ll probably hear big Nog was beaten to a pulp by Rory singer in a shared lockerroom, or Fedor crippled by two college girls in a back alley brawl.
Next we’ll probably hear big Nog was beaten to a pulp by Rory singer in a shared lockerroom, or Fedor crippled by two college girls in a back alley brawl.
LOL!
Hahahaha. You kill me!!!! LOL
The most shocking of all in the list you got there is absolutely the Griffin Submission on Shogun, but I belive it’s harder for pride fighters in the octagon and in the ufc, because in pride there’s no limit of injecting drugs, everyone in pride were anabolic monsters.
I hope that Shogun is making a good comeback after the loss against Griffin, and I hope that he’s one day going to fight for the UFC middle weight champion belt!