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[rivethead]

Originally Posted by goodtimes

When it comes down to it, fighters are entertainers. If you have guys like Maynard and Fitch who are generally loathed by fans, they are not going to make the same kind of money as people who put on more entertaining fights. However, I think everyone realizes that winning comes first.

Sadly, I do not think that everyone realizes winnng comes first. Fitch is as good a wrestler as Sonnen, but Sonnen talks shit to hype/entertain/detract from a very similar style to Fitch...so he has more fans.

Fitch has lost once--to the standing champion/arguably best WW of all time--in the last seven years. Jake Shields hasn't lost since 2004, and has moved up in weight to beat legitimate MW's, and they're dismissed by casual fans.

Mopes don't realize it; but Jake moving up to beat Lawler, Miller and Henderson is--comparitively--a far, far greater accomplishment at MW than what Anderson did at LHW. And yet clueless fans dismiss his performance, while simultaneously touting the fact that Silva beat [an actively drug-addicted] Irvin [who was actually smaller than Anderson] and a softly ranked Forrest--who was the same size as Anderson] as though it's the greatest thing that's ever happened in the history of the sport.

So no--unless you were being sarcastic--I just can't agree that everyone realizes winning comes first.

rh

[pantomime horse]

Originally Posted by rivethead

Mopes don't realize it; but Jake moving up to beat Lawler, Miller and Henderson is--comparitively--a far, far greater accomplishment at MW than what Anderson did at LHW. And yet clueless fans dismiss his performance, while simultaneously touting the fact that Silva beat [an actively drug-addicted] Irvin [who was actually smaller than Anderson] and a softly ranked Forrest--who was the same size as Anderson] as though it's the greatest thing that's ever happened in the history of the sport.

So no--unless you were being sarcastic--I just can't agree that everyone realizes winning comes first.

rh

I don't know. Beating Hendo was impressive, but Miller (while I'm a fan) hasn't proven himself yet and Lawler isn't a top fighter, imo.

I'll take Silva's accomplishments over Shiields' though I will say that Jake has the perfect opportunity to make use of his grappling skills to stun MMA fans around the world. A win over GSP would be huge and then nobody could question his abilities.

As for wrestlers, I find Fitch to be almost unbearable to watch. He takes opponents down and basically works for dominant positions as if he is strictly wrestling. Sonnen and Edgar stay busy, utilizing different aspects of their skill sets so I don't mind watching them fight at all. Why Chael would disrespect Edgar is beyond me. If he is going to simply bash everyone he isn't affiliated with his 'game' is going to get old fast.

[macewen]

i dont like maynard vs edgar....because personally, in a sense, i dont think maynard deserves it. I know giving his record..yes for sure...but, i dont think he should have gotten the nod of nate diaz...maybe im just being biased, but this is probably the title fight i am lookin least forward too in recent memory

[rivethead]

Originally Posted by pantomime horse

I don't know. Beating Hendo was impressive, but Miller (while I'm a fan) hasn't proven himself yet and Lawler isn't a top fighter, imo.

I'll take Silva's accomplishments over Shiields' though I will say that Jake has the perfect opportunity to make use of his grappling skills to stun MMA fans around the world. A win over GSP would be huge and then nobody could question his abilities.

In my opinion, moving up to beat Lawler [who hovers around the fringes of top 15 at MW] is a far, far better win than Silva over Irvin. Career-wise, Lawler wasn't nearly as inconsistent as Irvin has been, he was the last standing EXC MW champ and was on something like a 5 or 6 fight win streak. It was a very big deal at the time, Lawler was supposed to walk through Jake. It's similar to the Anderson/Irvin fight in that both Silva and Shields "moved up" to beat guys they're physically bigger then. It's dissimilar to the Silva/Irvin fight in that Robbie was not actively addicted to narcotics at the time.

The Miller win was a great win, in that he effectively controlled a bigger, stronger fighter who also hovers around the edges of top 15-10. The Henderson win is a bigger accomplishment than Forrest, in my opinion. Both have been inconsistent in their careers, but Dan has reached heights Forrest has not, and has beaten better competition than Forrest has. I had Henderson ranked #2 at MW going into the fight.

As for wrestlers, I find Fitch to be almost unbearable to watch. He takes opponents down and basically works for dominant positions as if he is strictly wrestling. Sonnen and Edgar stay busy, utilizing different aspects of their skill sets so I don't mind watching them fight at all. Why Chael would disrespect Edgar is beyond me. If he is going to simply bash everyone he isn't affiliated with his 'game' is going to get old fast.

I don't find Fitch unbearable, but I watch wrestling [not that WWE dreck], so I'm ok with it. I get what I expect from him.

Sonnen talks because he thinks it keeps him relevant, and I'm convinced he has a disorder.

rh

[U shut ur FACE]

Look guys you don't seem to understand that when Chael has something to say it's usually meaningful and never to be ignored. Take his statements regarding Lance Armstrong, VERY INFORMED AND INTELLIGENT STATEMENTS.

Chael: Lance Armstrong cheated and gave himself cancer.
After UFC 117 Sonnen fails to pass the drug test to the athletic commissions standards...
Very smart man indeed because what this basically tells you is that he doesn't say stuff because he believes it, he simply bitches about nonsense until he's heard; less people pay attention the more outlandish he becomes.