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[TBEAR]

Rockhold vs Weidman then...winner gets Anderson.


by the way Rockhold gets smoked by Weidman

[YukonJordan]

A lot of champions were in the WEC when that place folded and NONE of those guys got immediate title shots or were ever billed as champion vs champion. The only reason Henderson got that treatment was because at one point Pride was a legitimate contender. WEC and Strikeforce were never threats to the UFC.

But if there is a precedent to fall back on it is this: If you were a champion in an organization that Zuffa purchased and immediatley folded you might get a titleshot right away. If you were a champion of a non-UFC organization that Zuffa owned and ran for some period of time you will not get a titleshot.

That said, I'm on record as saying I could care less at this point whether Anderson fights Cung Le, Rockhold or Weidman. Just get that coward of a champion into the octagon to defend his belt more than once a year.

[Mr. Cornute]

Originally Posted by Uvall

Pride had a huge fan-base and UFC knew it. They wanted this fan-base. Pride was big enough to give these fighters great exposure/hype, during its time. I'm sure this is why UFC did as you said. Stirkeforce on the other hand was mediocre at best. Sure the die-hards watched and payed attention to what was going on within the organization. But they definitely didn't give the fighters they had anywhere close to half the exposure Pride had given theirs. That being said, I doubt the UFC really banked on gaining much of a 'new' fan-base from the absorption, like they had when taking over and absorbing Pride. Because the Champions don't have as much weight behind their names yet. I mean, look at what happened to Jake Shields when he came over. And he actually had a little bit of that weight behind his name.

@ Mr. Cornute,
How many of these WEC Champs got an immediate Title Fight when they came over after WEC was absorbed? I don't think your comparison of these 'situations' hold any water because, as I stated above, it is actually a completely different situation. The only similarity with this is that they were absorbed by the UFC. You can't necessarily dismiss the organization known as Pride, its fan-base, and what it stood for within that fan-base to compare these situations. Pride gave its fighters a heck of a lot more exposure/hype, even after its death, because of its legacy. This is what the UFC feeds off of to further hype and sell their fights. Strikeforce didn't come close to giving it's fighters this kind of exposure, even during its prime. So they can't be compared.

The only WEC champ that did not get a title shot (or title) was Pettis and this was due to Edgar and Maynard II resulting in a Draw. If that did not occur they would have given Pettis a shot, especially riding the heat from his fight with Bendo. They immediately recognized Aldo and Dom as champions and rightfully so as they were just introducing those divisions. By the time WEC folded the UFC already absorbed their larger divisions, WW/MW/LHW/HW.
Dan represented Pride when he came over when Zuffa bought Pride for both the MW and LHW divisions. Fedor held the HW title in Pride and did not sign and that is the ONLY reason and even then he still would have likely received an immediate title shot (DESERVING) if he would have signed to the UFC.
Hell when they brought Shields over he was billed as a champion (Strikeforce) and worthy opponent for GSP. They took Nate Diaz from Strikeforce and billed him as a champion vs GSP (until he fucked up the press conference).
I think many have missed the point that I stated "The UFC COULD do a CHAMP vs CHAMP because it is easiest to promote". I didn't state that Rockhold deserved it, nor did I state that Strikeforce was exactly the same but the two do compare.
In no way did I dismiss Pride, considering I stated that without Pride as competition the UFC would not be where they are today, I think it shows the level of respect I have for Pride, what it brought to MMA and the fighters the UFC absorbed with it.

What I am stating is that since the MW division is in a bit of flux this would be an easy fix for the UFC to promote Rockhold to fight Anderson.

[AnchorPunch]

Originally Posted by Dr. MMA

Nog wasn't the champ in Pride. Don't you remember Fedor beating the hell out of him 4 years prior to the end of Pride to take the title? I have to add the gifs:

Ohh late nights, I have no idea why I asked that, clearly Fedor was champ... But I'm glad you posted those gifs

[Sakara=Excitement]

Originally Posted by roaddawg

Despite your feelings on the matter you can't stick your head in the sand and attempt to revise history. A champion is a champion until defeated.

Some people are clearly fans of revisionist history. I am not amongst them.


P.S. Tell me you had a problem with the title unification bout between Henderson/Rampage. You likely won't because of Henderon's popularity amongst hardcore fans.

Yes let's use something from 5 years ago. Seems logical.

Rockhold and superfight in the same sentence? That shit cray.

*Oh and if we are somehow comparing Dan Henderson coming in being a dual division champion from Pride to Luke fucking Rockhold....yeah.

[dbader08]

Those gifs of Fedor bouncing Nog's head off the canvas like a basketball will never get old.

[Sakara=Excitement]

Originally Posted by dbader08

Those gifs of Fedor bouncing Nog's head off the canvas like a basketball will never get old.

He actually knocks him out, and then wakes him back up.

[dbader08]

Originally Posted by Sakara=Excitement

He actually knocks him out, and then wakes him back up.

Nog's legs definitely go limp after that 1st big shot, but he seems like he was starting to recover before the ensuing blows start to land...then again it's kind of instinctive and reactionary to have your arms up like that even if you really are pretty much out of it, but not completely out cold (Shaub vs Rothwell), so it's hard to tell...

It does seem like he is a bit more aware of things right after that 2nd punch lands though, now that I've watched it about 10 times in a row.

[Kimbo> Rampage]

it wouldnt be fair to have Anderson fight Weidman on only 6 months notice...

Anderson needs atleast a year to prepare for an opponent of that caliber...

have Chris fight Jones or Cain in the meantime. Although I dont know if he will want to come back down once he takes those belts.

[Uvall]

Originally Posted by Mr. Cornute

The only WEC champ that did not get a title shot (or title) was Pettis and this was due to Edgar and Maynard II resulting in a Draw. If that did not occur they would have given Pettis a shot, especially riding the heat from his fight with Bendo. They immediately recognized Aldo and Dom as champions and rightfully so as they were just introducing those divisions. By the time WEC folded the UFC already absorbed their larger divisions, WW/MW/LHW/HW.
Dan represented Pride when he came over when Zuffa bought Pride for both the MW and LHW divisions. Fedor held the HW title in Pride and did not sign and that is the ONLY reason and even then he still would have likely received an immediate title shot (DESERVING) if he would have signed to the UFC.
Hell when they brought Shields over he was billed as a champion (Strikeforce) and worthy opponent for GSP. They took Nate Diaz from Strikeforce and billed him as a champion vs GSP (until he fucked up the press conference).
I think many have missed the point that I stated "The UFC COULD do a CHAMP vs CHAMP because it is easiest to promote". I didn't state that Rockhold deserved it, nor did I state that Strikeforce was exactly the same but the two do compare.
In no way did I dismiss Pride, considering I stated that without Pride as competition the UFC would not be where they are today, I think it shows the level of respect I have for Pride, what it brought to MMA and the fighters the UFC absorbed with it.

What I am stating is that since the MW division is in a bit of flux this would be an easy fix for the UFC to promote Rockhold to fight Anderson.

Cantwell and Condit got immediate Title Shots? I must of missed those fights. Aldo and Cruz were given titles because those divisions were being created, as you said. That's a bit different than getting an actual title shot and was definitely the right move to make considering the UFC didn't have any fighters for them to fight. I also think you missed the point of my post. You should re-read it. It was a rebuttal to your "apples to apples" comparison. My Jake Shields comment was in reference to the UFC most likely learning a lesson in promoting a so called Champ from Strikeforce with the kind of hype they put behind him. And yes, the UFC could do a Champ vs Champ promotion but you fail to realize that most casual fans have most likely never heard of Rockhold. So they could promote another fight just as easily or maybe even easier. And if the lesson from Shields was learned, they may be smart enough not to touch the Champ vs Champ promo with him. Oh and Diaz, was a UFC and Pride fighter before he went to Strikeforce, so he already had a name behind him that was well known. Rockhold might be the fight to make, I was not completely disputing that. I was however disputing your comparison of Strikeforce and Pride.