Tim Sylvia vs. Jeff Monson for the UFC Heavyweight Title
 

I am comming out now and saying that if this match happens, Monson will become the Next UFC heavyweight champion. It's just my opinion, but that's what I think will happen. Does anyone have anything to add?

Yeah, I disagree. I won't Sherdog you and just say "Yeah, you're wrong." But with Sylvia's height/reach advantage, power advantage, striking advantage, and solid takedown defense...I don't see Monson having much luck here. Liddell beat him just leg kicking him years ago, Pe De Pano gave him tons of trouble with nothing more than a jab and some leg kicks. Sylvia will have more to offer than a jab or some leg kicks. Sylvia should easily win this fight by knockout. Anything else would be a pretty big shock.

Monson's standup was shite against Pe De Pano.
Everyone knows Monson will own Sylvia on the ground but the chances Monson will get it to the cage floor are very slim imo.
Sylvia by KO

yeah but then again you cant just say he is as good as he was in those fights you mentioned..hes defitnley improved since then..though he wouldnt probley beat sylvia id be going for him

Since then? The Pe De Pano fight was like 2 months ago, I was there for that one. Sylvia is bigger, meaning if he wants to (which he usually does) use a jab, he's gonna give Monson even more problems unless he improved light years since that fight. And the fact that knowing Sylvia is a striker, and not only that but the champion, Monson will likely be more tenative on the feet than he was with Pe De Pano, a fellow submission guy completely new to MMA that was out-striking him.

And about owning Sylvia on the ground, two other points you didn't make was not only will Monson have trouble getting the fight there, but getting it there and being on top, and keeping it there, are totally different things. I say that because the only way Monson "owns" Sylvia is on top, as submission wizard or not, underneath Sylvia's giant ass is nowhere he wants to be.

I see where you are comming from, but I think that Monson has had alot of time to grow since that Liddell match. He has had to fight his last few matches stand up and i think he has improved a fair amount. Now I'm not saying he will win a stand up war, but I think he will beable to hold his own until he takes Sylvia down. Syliva hasn't had to deal with a ground fighter in a good amount of time and i think with Monsons low centre of gravity and his power I think Monson will be able to take this fight to the ground easier than you may think. Then on the ground it is end game for Sylvia. With Pa De Pano he had to really stand up with him because they would have bacically cancelled themselves out with their gound game. So I think it will be a shock for sure, but I'm going to have to go with Monson.

Not many have taken Sylvia down.
Ricco couldn't and AA only got him to the canvas with a big right.
I doubt Monson will be able to take hime down, let alone keep him down.

the reason he was standing with cruz is because their ground games basically cancel each other out. he's going to be far more inclined to take sylvia down and on the ground syliva will be owned.

That said it perfectly.It's like I've said before every time he goes to take Tim down he's going to be eating jabs.How many jabs can he eat?Sylvia will win by KO.The Height difference is huge.Monson would make a good LHW and that's where he should go again.