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[Warchief]

EliteXC: “Street Certified” at the BankUnited Center at the University of Miami on February 16 in Miami, Fla., featuring the main event fight between Kimbo Slice and Tank Abbott, just got a bit more interesting.

Former UFC heavyweight champion Ricco “Suave” Rodriguez (27-7) will take on Antonio “Big Foot” Silva (9-1), according to ProElite.com, in a match up that could decide the best heavyweight in the EliteXC organization.

Silva — who is also the Cage Rage heavyweight champion — most recently defeated Jonathan Wiezorek via rear naked choke in the first round. He has been real impressive throughout his Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) career, ending all nine of his fights in the first round. His lone loss was a questionable stoppage to Eric Pele in a Bodog event in December 2006.

EliteXC Live Events President Gary Shaw is high on the Brazilian, going as far to say recently that he is the best in the world.

Here’s the snip:

“I believe Silva is the No. 1 heavyweight in the world. If there is a UFC heavyweight or, for that matter, any heavyweight out there that feels they are the best then lets make a match. We can do the fight in an Octagon, in the EliteXC cage or any venue. I truly believe ‘Big Foot’ will kick any heavyweight’s butt and look forward to giving him the opportunity to do it.’’

That opportunity is one that a veteran fighter like Ricco Rodriguez has no problem stepping up to take. He has fought some of the biggest names in the MMA heavyweight world such as Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria, Tim Sylvia, Jeff Monson, Andrei Arlovski and Randy Couture.

And he’s had success to some degree in most of those contests sans the knockout loss to Sylvia.

However, even though he just turned 30 years old there are a lot of miles on his odometer. He has struggled with his weight and substance abuse issues for the past few years. In fact, he will appear on VH-1’s “Celebrity Rehab” in the coming weeks.

The experience appears to have Rodriguez heading in the right direction, however. He recently put up a decent fight (on super short notice) against the IFL’s top heavyweight, Ben Rothwell, albeit in a losing effort at 2007 Team Championship Final. He rebounded from that defeat to pick up a technical knockout win over Kevin Filal less than three months later.

Regardless, this is definitely a great opportunity for Rodriguez and a fight in which he will not be intimidated. It’s also a great chance for Silva to get a win over a notable “big” name opponent.

Source

[atj-lucko]

Antonio Silva is for real this guy is a monster.
Pray for Ricco he'll need it.

[Warchief]

I bet this will be a long tough night for Mr. Suave lol.

[Intellectual]

Big foot via foot stomp

[b0sH]

I believe Silva is the No. 1 heavyweight in the world. If there is a UFC heavyweight or, for that matter, any heavyweight out there that feels they are the best then lets make a match. We can do the fight in an Octagon, in the EliteXC cage or any venue. I truly believe ‘Big Foot’ will kick any heavyweight’s butt and look forward to giving him the opportunity to do it.

What a dick.

Silva's a freakshow but one that actually has some skill set. But even contemplating for a minute thats he's the best HW in the world is mental. He's not even top 10.

I get the fact thats its a publicity stunt and is simply a statement to provoke a reaction but lets be real here, you can only take things so far. Whats his next claim? Ricco is actually Jesus and Kimbo once KO'd Randy and Fedor at the same time in a parking lot?

[Gmunit]

Originally Posted by b0sH

What a dick.

Silva's a freakshow but one that actually has some skill set. But even contemplating for a minute thats he's the best HW in the world is mental. He's not even top 10.

I get the fact thats its a publicity stunt and is simply a statement to provoke a reaction but lets be real here, you can only take things so far. Whats his next claim? Ricco is actually Jesus and Kimbo once KO'd Randy and Fedor at the same time in a parking lot?

i wouldn't go as far as to saying he's a "freakshow", i mean he makes 265 like other HW's, but he's defiantely a big mofo and would give the top 10's trouble IMHO

also, stating that he's the best HW in the world may be a little much, but its no different than when Dana does it concerning the UFC, its almost to be expected

with that said, R.I.P. Ricco

[sandywh]

Originally Posted by Warchief

I bet this will be a long tough night for Mr. Suave lol.

Only if the ambulance gets stuck in traffic.

Bigfoot will KO Ricco in the staredown.

I'm not going to make the claim that Silva is in the mix to be the best HW in the world, but I like his chances against virtually any opponent. If he were in the UFC, he'd likely be getting the next title shot (compared to Werdum).

[ArMnHC]

WAR RICCO! screw Gary Shaw and all his poster boys. i hope Ricco taps Silva

[baba]

Ricco's gonna be all cranky detoxing and shit. I think Shaw's #1 HW in the world (no its not "a little much" gmunit) is going to have a few limbs broken.

[Gmunit]

Originally Posted by baba

Ricco's gonna be all cranky detoxing and shit. I think Shaw's #1 HW in the world (no its not "a little much" gmunit) is going to have a few limbs broken.

my point was, is it really to be expected that the owner's of organizations tell it like it is ?

after Dana has hyped up the UFC, in the past, and gotten "ALL the best fighters", its kinda an industry norm