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[dabig2]

Which 205ers could realistically cut down?
Henderson again? Rashad (I know he said he wouldn't but he looks like he could if he really wanted to).

Would any of them do any better?

I still think the most compelling match up for Silva would be Belfort again. That could be exciting.
Should have Bisping fight Belfort. Winner (Belfort) gets title shot.

How long is Belfort out for?

I think Rashad actually just challenged Silva like right after the fight. That would be quite the interesting matchup there. Rashad not only can wrestlefuck you, but he's a smarter fighter than Chael and has more power.

Then again, I think we all remember what happened the last time Rashad went up against an elite striker...

 

[industrian]

Its like Anderson Silva saw that move coming way before Sonnen even considered using it.

It was awareness of Sonnen's movement. If you're jabbing with your non-lead hand you're obviously moving into it to make it your lead hand. The spinning attack was probably a pure instinctual reaction from Sonnen at seeing Silva move away which is why it failed completely.

Either way, Anderson's movement and awareness was impeccable. I actually thought he had tripped Sonnen when I saw it live.

 

[TheKaeptain]

Its like Anderson Silva saw that move coming way before Sonnen even considered using it.

Silva does that to people.

 

[SKINNER!]

It was awareness of Sonnen's movement. If you're jabbing with your non-lead hand you're obviously moving into it to make it your lead hand. The spinning attack was probably a pure instinctual reaction from Sonnen at seeing Silva move away which is why it failed completely.

Either way, Anderson's movement and awareness was impeccable. I actually thought he had tripped Sonnen when I saw it live.

woah! That Anderson Silva has gotta be a machine.

btw, What's the MMA scene like in Taiwan? Did you watch it at a bar there or at home?

 

[Bossun]

What to say. Silva is the best. What's more he's really fairplay. Him trying to calm the masses and put an end to his fights with Chael was truly a great move.

I like Chael too because even though he talks a lot, he backs it up and seldom tries to find excuses. When he lost he admits it and that true sportmanship too.

 

[Nocebo]

Does it? Really? I see it going right through his hands. Then the knee gets obscured. Then I see Sonnen's head go back.

Err you see Sonnen's head go back? Maybe you should look more carefully because HIS ENTIRE BODY GOES BACK. Which is what you would expect when someone rams his knee into the body's torso. You know the head is connected to the rest of the body right?

 

[industrian]

woah! That Anderson Silva has gotta be a machine.

btw, What's the MMA scene like in Taiwan? Did you watch it at a bar there or at home?

Silva currently occupies the "god tier" position of Muay Thai practitioners in MMA. As humble as he acts, the fact he ducks his head that low and fights with his hands down is just as us British folks call "taking the piss." It's like Lionel Messi if he was playing in League 2 and doing all sorts of shit on his way to scoring 10 hat-tricks against AFC Wimbledon or some shit.

I watched it in a bar (as far as I know the only bar in Taipei to show UFC PPVs) and it was fucking packed today. It's normally nowhere near as busy as that for UFC events. The fact it took 30-40 mins for my breakfast to be made was testament to that. The buyrates/ticket sales for this event must have been huge.

They also were promoting Taiwan's very-own

Spoiler

Bad

MMA organisation called "PRO Fighting" (the PRO meaning "Pacific Rim Organised") and they had a competition to win tickets. I won.

The funny thing being that since I train (well, used to train before my pulmonary embolism) with some of the guys fighting in this event I would get heavily-discounted tickets regardless.

 

[Salih]

Anderson Silva proves again that he is not a human being. Matrix-style evasion plus the way Sonnen tries to crouch away and Silva slowly coming to him to make him pay for his stupid mistake is pure insanity.

It is really a privilege to watch this man fight live.

 

[JimiNutz]

I think Rashad actually just challenged Silva like right after the fight. That would be quite the interesting matchup there. Rashad not only can wrestlefuck you, but he's a smarter fighter than Chael and has more power.

Then again, I think we all remember what happened the last time Rashad went up against an elite striker...

Yeah I think Silva def picks Rashad apart. If he stuffs takedowns like he did against Sonnen in the second then Rashad would be KO/TKO within three rounds.

Henderson has the skillset to provide big challenge but his body is too old. I agree he'd gas.

Leaving Belfort as only interesting fight IMO.
Just read that he's thinking of moving UP though...

 

[Biff]

Anderson did not anticipate a spinning backfist. He ducked under Chael's left jab like he's done countless times in other fights.

Silva's the best fighter in the league, but that doesn't make him clairvoyant. Chael never throws spinning backfists. No way Silva could have known.

 

[alr1ght]

 

[Dosia]

Its amazing how much shit my friends were talking on facebook up to the fight nut hugging Sonnen. There has not been a single post still about the fight. Hilarious.

 

[Platy]

AERIAL knee ???

Wow !

Talk about spider-sense

...

and ..

 

[charsace]

I think Rashad actually just challenged Silva like right after the fight. That would be quite the interesting matchup there. Rashad not only can wrestlefuck you, but he's a smarter fighter than Chael and has more power.

Then again, I think we all remember what happened the last time Rashad went up against an elite striker...

He lost a decision with Jones?

 

[op_ivy]

He lost a decision with Jones?

elite striker = machida. elite athlete = jones.

 

[ElyrionX]

I only just started watching UFC a couple of months back but why didn't Sonnen just scamper away very quickly and get on his feet after falling instead of backing slowly into the cage like that? The expression on his face shows that he knew what was coming so why didn't he evade quicker after losing his feet?

 

[op_ivy]

I only just started watching UFC a couple of months back but why didn't Sonnen just scamper away very quickly and get on his feet after falling instead of backing slowly into the cage like that? The expression on his face shows that he knew what was coming so why didn't he evade quicker after losing his feet?

i imagine scrambling to get up would leave him open to a knee or kick to the head. he scooted against the cage to be able to wall walk up when safe. heh

 

[Insane Metal]

THAT'S ILLEGAL!!!! IT HIT HIS FACE!!!

oh wait.

great pics btw

 

[Jado]

Mma gaf is such a shitty board. Trollzone.
sonnen slipped on a spinning backfist and got killed. Big deal.
Where does Silva go from here? John bones Jones would kill Silva's bitch ass. Jones the wrestler and striker. Fuck Silva. God dammit that was fucking bullshit.

I'm a big Jones fan, but much of his dominance comes from really good genes: he has immense reach and is naturally very strong. In all his title fights, he muscles around seasoned, well-conditioned fighters like a grown man pushing around a skinny kid. This is noted repeatedly by the commentators: he hits from the next block over, man vs. boys, looks an entire weight class larger than the other guy, too strong, etc. Silva is much older and has accomplished as much (if not more) without none of these overt, physical advantages over his opponents.

The two will never fight because it doesn't make any sense. Jones, besides being young and in his prime, is built like a large heavyweight and will be one when he gets older and puts on weight. Silva, near 40, is a compact middleweight and a stretch as a light heavy. It's a dumb match-up and only thrown around as a suggestion because each is the dominant figure in their respective weight classes. The two have no business being in the ring together.

Regarding Silva vs. Sonnen, this thread is evidence of the cluelessness of even so-called "fans." Do people hate Silva that much that they want such an incomplete and untalented fighter to be the champion? Besides his mouth, Chael is a poor, dull fighter. Who brags about throwing 300 punches when they're all too ineffective to end a fight? This is Chael in every fight. Get in a guy's guard, tie up with him on the floor for nearly the entire fight, and literally do no damage with weak punches. No-power arm swings, lay-and-pray smothering. This is not dominance, this is not exciting. It's a very cheap method of winning fights with points. It's about as awful as the guy who runs around for the remainder of a fight after he thinks he has done enough to win (which I hope Silva never does again himself).

If Silva loses, let it to be a truly well-rounded fighter with actual strategy and ability to cause damage. Chael had his 15 minutes. He needs to fade away now.

 

[Latvian Hitman]

Yeah I think Silva def picks Rashad apart. If he stuffs takedowns like he did against Sonnen in the second then Rashad would be KO/TKO within three rounds

Plus Rashad's had issues with cardio in the past at 205. This would likely be worse after the hard cut to 185. Rashad's takedowns are world class, but his top control is meh.

I think Rashad is reaching a bit now that the reality has hit him that he'll never be champ again at 205. He should have gotten comfortable with that a long time ago.

 

[Salih]

thanks for posting those pictures, alr1ghtstart.

Anderson is just a beast. he can even snipe with his knees.

 

[mattbison]

What?

i was addressing someone else.. just a weird, mouthy internet mma guy getting dominated, nothing to see here!

 

[BobTheFork]

Both fights pretty much ended the same way: Sonnen make one mistake and it's over. Last time he made it late, this time he made it early.

Odds on Sonnen actually leaving the UCF like he said?

 

[alr1ght]

 

[GungHo]

has anyone successfully landed a spinning punch like that?

Absolutely. It's still a low percentage technique that only lands if you are really good, really fast, and/or the other guy doesn't know it's coming. Shale is an okay striker, not that fast, and Silva saw it coming from a mile away. Shale's smartest move in the fight was to take Silva down in the first round and he should have kept doing that.

 

[Platy]

Rewateched the fight ... and looks like Silva is meditating in the first round while Sonnen gets all red of trying to beat him ...

 

[Insane Metal]

Rewateched the fight ... and looks like Silva is meditating in the first round while Sonnen gets all red of trying to beat him ...

Yeah. Silva didn't even try to hit back.

 

[industrian]

I only just started watching UFC a couple of months back but why didn't Sonnen just scamper away very quickly and get on his feet after falling instead of backing slowly into the cage like that? The expression on his face shows that he knew what was coming so why didn't he evade quicker after losing his feet?

Stand up: get kneed in the face.

Scamper away quickly: lose a lot of gas, and not "quickly" enough to avoid Silva. Especially since he was probably already dazed/fatigued before he dropped.

He was fucked if he moved, fucked if he stayed put. He knew what was coming, that's why he covered up. Didn't do a lot of good though.

Absolutely. It's still a low percentage technique that only lands if you are really good, really fast, and/or the other guy doesn't know it's coming.

Balance.

That and only throw flashy strikes like this when you're 100% sure it'll hit. Sonnen went for it purely out of instinct when he saw Silva dodge his jab and threw his entire body weight into it. Not a good option, especially when Silva's already outmanoeuvred the strike due to his rapid movement.

 

[dream]

"Thanks for the $60, marks."

 

[iqubal]

 

[Power Glove]

Truly the King of burgers.

 

[Sarcastic Response]

"I don't eat food."

LOL Awesome. Anderson "The Burger King" Silva.

 

[Zampano]

Rewateched the fight ... and looks like Silva is meditating in the first round while Sonnen gets all red of trying to beat him ...

I started training BJJ about two months ago, and it's amazing the new perspective you get when watching MMA. Silva was in control throughout the first round - not expending energy, managing Sonnen's posture and not eating any big shots. The guy's incredible.

 

[Jado]

I started training BJJ about two months ago, and it's amazing the new perspective you get when watching MMA. Silva was in control throughout the first round - not expending energy, managing Sonnen's posture and not eating any big shots. The guy's incredible.

I have to agree. I practiced BJJ and kickboxing for about a year (non-competitively) before I gave it up to take care of a neck problem. Anyone who thinks Chael dominated the first round doesn't have insight into the nuances of the sport. The opening moments of the second round said it all. Silva looked perfectly fine and well-composed, Sonnen looked exhausted and out of breath after all the wasted energy/effort of the first five minutes.

 

[Warrior at Heart]

I have to agree. I practiced BJJ and kickboxing for about a year (non-competitively) before I gave it up to take care of a neck problem. Anyone who thinks Chael dominated the first round doesn't have insight into the nuances of the sport. The opening moments of the second round said it all. Silva looked perfectly fine and well-composed, Sonnen looked exhausted and out of breath after all the wasted energy/effort of the first five minutes.

Yup, Silva was incredibly calm and relaxed throughout the whole first round. Looked like a man on a mission from the start, executed perfectly in the second round. Though Sonnen looked to me like he wilted after falling and kinda gave up, maybe an upkick would have been a better defence then nothing at all but that's hindsight talking.

 

[Latvian Hitman]

Lol affliction was going down anyway. One show wasn't going to save them.

Doesn't change anything. If you shoot a terminally ill cancer patient in the face, you still shot someone in the face. Doesn't matter if they were going to die from natural causes soon.

Just find it ironic that Barnett would tweet about being the loneliest guy in the room. I guess maybe he knows what that feels like.

 

[Fersis]

Did Chael retire from the UFC? He said he was going to if he lost to Silva.

 

[Latvian Hitman]

Did Chael retire from the UFC? He said he was going to if he lost to Silva.

No. That offer was put on the table when Sonnen beat Stann and challenged Anderson in the cage. Anderson didn't take the fight at that time.

 

[Warrior at Heart]

Did Chael retire from the UFC? He said he was going to if he lost to Silva.

No, he was asked that earlier in the week and said that those terms were never accepted by Silva's side so they were no longer valid.

 

[joeygreco1985]

How do you figure?

Yeah, he's lost in four title fights. Two of those against arguably the best Pound-for-Pound fighter in the world today. He's successfully defended a title ELEVEN TIMES.

He consistently takes out the top contenders to earn title shots. He often wins "fight of the night" or "submission of the night" bonuses when doing it too. And the guy actually draws money.

The "one and your back in" booking with Faber still astounds me. How can you say he earns title shots when he's handed title shots after one win? Are the divisions that shallow?

 

[abstract alien]

I still can't believe it. Sonnen had that first round within 3 seconds and easily won it. Second round started good for both, but he was clearly capable of winning. Then he made one mistake. ONE mistake...and Silva proceeded to murder his ass afterward for it.

 

[SunhiLegend]

I still can't believe it. Sonnen had that first round within 3 seconds and easily won it. Second round started good for both, but he was clearly capable of winning. Then he made one mistake. ONE mistake...and Silva proceeded to murder his ass afterward for it.

Sonnen tried to take Silva down twice in the second round, Silva was able to defend his attemps, Chael without his takedowns was a sitting duck. Sonnen also barely did any damage to Silva at all in the first round.

 

[Brian Fellows]

Sonnen tried to take Silva down twice in the second round, Silva was able to defend his attemps, Chael without his takedowns was a sitting duck. Sonnen also barely did any damage to Silva at all in the first round.

So the first round was pretty much like the last 4 rounds of their first fight?

 

[Pakkidis]

How anybody in their right mind would bet against silva is beyond me, after seeing his performance time and time again, the man is simply leagues ahead of everyone.

 

[abstract alien]

Sonnen tried to take Silva down twice in the second round, Silva was able to defend his attemps, Chael without his takedowns was a sitting duck. Sonnen also barely did any damage to Silva at all in the first round.

Not that he damaged him or anything, but he clearly one the round. He was the aggressor, he made the moves, and Silva was left defending for it's entirety. There is no way Sonnen didn't win the first one.

 

[SunhiLegend]

Not that he damaged him or anything, but he clearly one the round. He was the aggressor, he made the moves, and Silva was left defending for it's entirety. There is no way Sonnen didn't win the first one.

Yeah, Sonnen clearly won the round, but with the minimal damage he inflicted Silva was always going to look more dangerous if he was able to defend the takedown attemps.

 

[abstract alien]

Yeah, Sonnen clearly won the round, but with the minimal damage he inflicted Silva was always going to look more dangerous if he was able to defend the takedown attemps.

I agree. After the first round, I was under the impressing that Silva might not be able to defend against the take downs too well. The moment he started to, I had a bit of an "oh shit..." feeling my stomach.

 

[SKINNER!]

Silva currently occupies the "god tier" position of Muay Thai practitioners in MMA. As humble as he acts, the fact he ducks his head that low and fights with his hands down is just as us British folks call "taking the piss." It's like Lionel Messi if he was playing in League 2 and doing all sorts of shit on his way to scoring 10 hat-tricks against AFC Wimbledon or some shit.

I watched it in a bar (as far as I know the only bar in Taipei to show UFC PPVs) and it was fucking packed today. It's normally nowhere near as busy as that for UFC events. The fact it took 30-40 mins for my breakfast to be made was testament to that. The buyrates/ticket sales for this event must have been huge.

They also were promoting Taiwan's very-own

Spoiler

Bad

MMA organisation called "PRO Fighting" (the PRO meaning "Pacific Rim Organised") and they had a competition to win tickets. I won.



The funny thing being that since I train (well, used to train before my pulmonary embolism) with some of the guys fighting in this event I would get heavily-discounted tickets regardless.

That's awesome! I'd love to watch some MMA in another part of the world while having breakfast. Let me know when you're back in Scotland man because you gotta tell me more about PRO fighting haha!

 

[Unregistered007]

dam I wish Sonnen would have won, I really love that guy.

 

[abstract alien]

dam I wish Sonnen would have won, I really love that guy.

For a moment, it looked like he just might have. Then he turned into Jon Jones for some reason, except his equilibrium didn't agree with him.