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[AJL416AZ]

Originally Posted by Big Daddy Duker

Here's my question: if this stuff was to actually happen and Wanderlei took Liddell's belt (for example), what would be Wanderlei's status? If he has to defend the UFC belt at UFC shows, wouldn't that, in a sense, make him a UFC fighter? It seems like we might wind up with a mess of fighters who aren't really either Pride or UFC guys anymore, but who are defined more by their contractual status (i.e. who is giving them checks) rather than where they do their fighting. Hmmm...one giant league with two factions which are supposedly separate, but are functionally the same....nWo anyone?

i see it more of an annual defense, whenever they pit the big fights up.
Say Wandy wins in the UFC. then he has two belts, and can say that he is the world's best LHW
but he's still a Pride fighter, and will only defend his UFC belt in the UFC.

so they would likely make an interim belt or #1 contender in the year or so i see being in between these fights if they are a continuous affair

i think some sort of MMA big card every year or so would be an incredible draw, a great way to even out some rankings, a treat for hardcore fans, and a great way to bring in new fans

[startrak]

YES an MMA big card or MMA world cup would be great, maybe once a year, or I think twice a year. I don't think organization-specific belts should be handed out, but "World Cup" belts should be handed out, so in this sense if Wanderlei beat Chuck he would have the "World Cup" LHW belt, PRIDE MW belt, and Chuck would lose his LHW belt and it would be up for grabs in the UFC.


I don't think PRIDE would devour the UFC in all divisions...I see PRIDE dominating the HW, LHW, and LW divisions. Although I still see the PRIDE WW superior to the UFC MW division, it won't be as easy for PRIDE to dominate in that division.

[kickass32]

I don't think you can realistically say Pride wins all the belts or UFC wins all the belts......Take Fedor, and Hughes out of the equation, and every other fight is a crap shoot....there really is no clear cut favorites in any of these matches......

[dagreat1]

Originally Posted by kickass32

I don't think you can realistically say Pride wins all the belts or UFC wins all the belts......Take Fedor, and Hughes out of the equation, and every other fight is a crap shoot....there really is no clear cut favorites in any of these matches......

True but I think Silva, Arona and Lil Nog would completely wipeout UFC's LHW division. Chuck, Babalu and Tito would lose IMO in any 3 of those matchups. Chuck would have a very legit chance against Lil Nog but IMO Silva and Arona are at levels that exceed any UFC LHW and any LHW in any other MMA organization including Manhoef. I think Manhoef would clean out the UFC as well and him vs Chuck would be a great war.

If I were choosing the matchup the most exciting fight for me (LHW) would be Chuck vs Silva and Chuck vs Melvin Manhoef, I think those would/will be amazing fights.

[ccl2087]

Pride has better HWs but if you match Matt Hughes, GSP, or BJ with anyone in their weight class it's a UFC win. And Rich Franklin and Chuck Liddell can give anyone in their weight classes a great fight. As for the LWs Jens Pulver is a great fighter, and if BJ drops down to LW they would both give any Pride LW a good fight. So I don't see Pride dominating anything but the HW division, and the UFC would dominate the 170 division. All of the other divisions would be well matched, and would make for great fights.

[Dominus]

Well, I think if DANA and the UFC let this happen then there is a good chance will. Dana is not stupid, he knows thatif he gave to Pride fighters title shots against all his fighters he would probably lose the majority of the titles. Liddell will be the first loss, then I think Dana will think twice about putting his other fighter in a title defence against Pride guys.