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[startrak]

While everyone knows that the WFA has been touting itself as a "fighters first" organization and that it has gotten off to a fairly good start, what DO y'all think about the actual fighters?

It seems like the WFA had to pick up fighters who were in the midst of their own "rebirths" or transitions in their life (because they had to).

Quinton Jackson called Wanderlei out years ago and got KO'd 2/3 times. Mauricio Shogun also KO'd him. In his last fight for PRIDE, Rampage had trouble finishing the inexperienced, winless Korean judoka Yoon Dong Sik; Yoon even got mount on Rampage.

Bas Rutten decided to come out of retirement and color commentating to give it a go again in MMA.

Ricco Rodriguez went from the guy who beat Nogueira at ADCC, won (and subsequently lost) UFC HW belt, lost a unanimous D to Nogeuira in PRIDE which many people thought he won, to becoming a slouch. Many predicted him to be ripping up the HW division, whether it be in PRIDE or the UFC, or wherever he fought. He is still a bit overweight but much better, and is looking to get back to his old self/form in the WFA.

Marvin Eastman is trying to get back on his feet in an up and coming organization while darting between kickboxing and MMA...

ETC the list goes on.


But have all these fighters chosen the right path? Is WFA the answer? IT really seems like WFA has collected a good roster but one full of fighters "rediscovering" themselves, and in my opinion, many would've benefited from joining other organizations.


Your thoughts?

[LethalStriker]

Solid start for the promotion but will have to continue bringing in new fighters to add depth to their divisions.

[Matt Boone]

A lot of fighters they got seemed to be just to compare them to known draws. Rampage "the guy who destroyed Chuck Liddell"....and always the word destroyed too. They never just settled on beat. Bas Rutten was the legendary former UFC Heavyweight champion. Ricco Rodriguez was the former Heavyweight champion. Lindland is the former UFC Middleweight stand out and training partner with UFC legend Randy Couture at the famed Team Quest. Pele was the guy who beat Matt Hughes. A ton of guys were training partners and friends of Tito Ortiz. Lyoto is the guy who beat Rich Franklin, BJ Penn and Stephan Bonnar. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Nonetheless, it's a good roster of talent. Just funny how they promote them a lot around their UFC-related accomplishments as opposed to just being a nice list of good fighters.

[dagreat1]

Originally Posted by Matt Boone

A lot of fighters they got seemed to be just to compare them to known draws. Rampage "the guy who destroyed Chuck Liddell"....and always the word destroyed too. They never just settled on beat. Bas Rutten was the legendary former UFC Heavyweight champion. Ricco Rodriguez was the former Heavyweight champion. Lindland is the former UFC Middleweight stand out and training partner with UFC legend Randy Couture at the famed Team Quest. Pele was the guy who beat Matt Hughes. A ton of guys were training partners and friends of Tito Ortiz. Lyoto is the guy who beat Rich Franklin, BJ Penn and Stephan Bonnar. Etc. Etc. Etc.

Nonetheless, it's a good roster of talent. Just funny how they promote them a lot around their UFC-related accomplishments as opposed to just being a nice list of good fighters.

They have to do that, well not really but it certainly hepls their cause when trying to bring back an organization. What do the newbie fans know? They know UFC so what beter way to promote than to say "so and so former UFc champ" or so and so destroyed golden boy Liddell" (they use destroyed becasue that is exactly what heppened and they are just calling it how it is).

I think the WFA has picked up some really good names but yes they will certainly need to expand their talent pool.

Rampage, Lindland, Bas, Ricco, Meyhem, Salaverry, Lyoto and Mccollough are all good names.

Ricco was not mentally sound when he was champion in UFC, you have to underdstand that he was the UFC golden boy who was undefeated in PRIDE and UFC then he got spanked the unlikliest of opponents, Tim "the sasquatch" Sylvia and when Ricco lost that fight he went into a huge state of depression and ballooned from his normal 225lbs to 300lbs.

He does seem to be getting back on track so hopefully he will be back because he had an unlimited amount of talent.