UFC 85

Mario · Post by **Mario** » 05 Mar 2008, 08:45

Dont worry, i haven't posted in the wrong forum! I just got a couple of tickets this morning for the ufc in London in June. I still havent decided if im going yet but i thought i'd get them just in case, and i shouldn't have too much trouble selling them on if i need too.

ANYWAY... the point is, i was hoping there might be some boxing at the York Hall on the Friday so i could make a weekend of it (i do kinda begrudge paying all that money to get to London and the hotel etc just for the ufc) but theres nothing scheduled yet. I know there tends to be a break in the summer for the Sky Friday bills but its pretty early, 7th june so i guess theres a chance something might happen.

So what do yous reckon the likelihood is of anything being on, and when might it be announced?

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 05 Mar 2008, 09:13

I got my tickets this morning too, Mario. Have to meet up for a Nandos and a pint

I'll be in Block 417 row P.

Mario · Post by **Mario** » 05 Mar 2008, 14:10

Yeah why not!

I think im in block 409, in the cheap seats.

The card's already falling apart after Rua dropped out injured and the rumoured Brock Lesnar fights now on ufc 86, so hopefully Maloney or someone will put a show on on the friday! Fingers crossed!

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 05 Mar 2008, 14:13

PM Frank and ask bud. Yeah Rua out with an ACL is harsh, I'm secretely hoping for Evans.

Lesnar v Coleman is confirmed for UFC 86. C'mon Brock

Mario · Post by **Mario** » 05 Mar 2008, 14:40

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:PM Frank and ask bud. Yeah Rua out with an ACL is harsh, I'm secretely hoping for Evans.

Lesnar v Coleman is confirmed for UFC 86. C'mon Brock

You mean on here? Is Frank on the forum? His website isn't working so i'll just wait and see, even if i leave it to the last minute to make my mind up i can get the megabus to London for 8 quid!

Theres not many light heavies left, they're all tied up with other fights. Cro cop rematch?

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 05 Mar 2008, 14:57

Mario wrote:
Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:PM Frank and ask bud. Yeah Rua out with an ACL is harsh, I'm secretely hoping for Evans.

Lesnar v Coleman is confirmed for UFC 86. C'mon Brock
You mean on here? Is Frank on the forum? His website isn't working so i'll just wait and see, even if i leave it to the last minute to make my mind up i can get the megabus to London for 8 quid!

Theres not many light heavies left, they're all tied up with other fights. Cro cop rematch?

Mirko is past his best IMO. Plus he won't be able to get back to 205 now. I'd prefer a Jardine or Jackson rematch.

Yeah, Frank posts under his name.

ArtOfWar · Post by **ArtOfWar** » 05 Mar 2008, 16:16

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:
Mario wrote:
Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:PM Frank and ask bud. Yeah Rua out with an ACL is harsh, I'm secretely hoping for Evans.

Lesnar v Coleman is confirmed for UFC 86. C'mon Brock
You mean on here? Is Frank on the forum? His website isn't working so i'll just wait and see, even if i leave it to the last minute to make my mind up i can get the megabus to London for 8 quid!

Theres not many light heavies left, they're all tied up with other fights. Cro cop rematch?
Mirko is past his best IMO. Plus he won't be able to get back to 205 now. I'd prefer a Jardine or Jackson rematch.

Yeah, Frank posts under his name.

Cro Crop has also left the UFC.

daveo61 · Post by **daveo61** » 05 Mar 2008, 18:04

Apologies if this seems a strange question, but where are people of thinking of staying in hotels?

At the last event at the O2 we stayed in Canary Wharf, but I'm hoping to be able to stay somewhere where there may be an after show party.

So any ideas at all??

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 06 Mar 2008, 04:46

Heard last night that it's definately gonna be Evans as the Rua replacement. Much better fight IMO.

Expect an announcement from Dana soon.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 06 Mar 2008, 06:30

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:Heard last night that it's definately gonna be Evans as the Rua replacement. Much better fight IMO.

I dunno mate - I think Rua would have been a great fight for Liddell.

Forget Rua's underwhelming performance against Griffin last time out - he was a killer in Pride and I am sure if he had been fully fit for Liddell it would have been a great war.

Evans bores me in truth - a solid wrestler with quick hands but few KO wins. It could end up as a pair of counter punchers just staring at each other for 15 mins.

I hope I am wrong, but its a match up that just leaves me cold.

Poncey · Post by **Poncey** » 06 Mar 2008, 06:39

TerribleTerry wrote:
Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:Heard last night that it's definately gonna be Evans as the Rua replacement. Much better fight IMO.
I dunno mate - I think Rua would have been a great fight for Liddell.

Forget Rua's underwhelming performance against Griffin last time out - he was a killer in Pride and I am sure if he had been fully fit for Liddell it would have been a great war.

Evans bores me in truth - a solid wrestler with quick hands but few KO wins. It could end up as a pair of counter punchers just staring at each other for 15 mins.

I hope I am wrong, but its a match up that just leaves me cold.

I think PRIDE fighters, with the exception of Jackson, are starting to look over-rated:

Crop Cop got stopped on his debut, and looks a shadow of the 2004 version
Silva lost to Liddell
Henderson lost to Jackson and Silva
Rua lost to Griffin

Jackson is the only one to come out with a bit of respect out of the big PRIDE names that moved across.

Liddell looked to press the action a bit more against Silva than against Jardine and Jackson, perhaps he's shying away from his counter-puncher style?

Mario · Post by **Mario** » 06 Mar 2008, 06:44

I wont be impressed if it Evans for Liddell. Surely if its not going to be one of the top 5 in the world it would make more sense for Chuck to fight Mike Bisping, with it being in the UK. I know he lost to Evans in his last fight but it was only on a split decision and think he'd as much of a chance of winning as Evans. The undercards not looking that great at the moment either.

TerribleTerry · Post by **TerribleTerry** » 06 Mar 2008, 06:59

Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:
TerribleTerry wrote:
Emerson Poncey Name Ghent wrote:Heard last night that it's definately gonna be Evans as the Rua replacement. Much better fight IMO.
I dunno mate - I think Rua would have been a great fight for Liddell.

Forget Rua's underwhelming performance against Griffin last time out - he was a killer in Pride and I am sure if he had been fully fit for Liddell it would have been a great war.

Evans bores me in truth - a solid wrestler with quick hands but few KO wins. It could end up as a pair of counter punchers just staring at each other for 15 mins.

I hope I am wrong, but its a match up that just leaves me cold.
I think PRIDE fighters, with the exception of Jackson, are starting to look over-rated:

Crop Cop got stopped on his debut, and looks a shadow of the 2004 version
Silva lost to Liddell
Henderson lost to Jackson and Silva
Rua lost to Griffin

Jackson is the only one to come out with a bit of respect out of the big PRIDE names that moved across.

Liddell looked to press the action a bit more against Silva than against Jardine and Jackson, perhaps he's shying away from his counter-puncher style?

Yes and no I would say to the Pride over rated question.

A number of factors come into play:

the use of a large cage instead of 20' boxing ring - it may seem a small difference but is significant IMO>

the stringent drug tests in the US - there were no drug tests in Japanese Pride shows.

As for Cro Cop - yeah, that was a MAJOR shock in my book. I Was there to see him get KO'ed and was shell shocked. Having siad that Kevin Randleman, of all people, cold cocked him in Pride so it had been down before.

Wanderlei - was on the slide before leaving Pride IMO - loses to Cro Cop (no shame up at heavy) and Henderson put his form into perspective

Henderson was probably a little flattered by the Middleweight/Light Heavyweight Pride champ tags. He eeked out a decision over Yuki Kondo and lost to Misaki before leaving Pride.

Also, Spider Silva was a Pride fighter before he was ever in UFC. Its where he had his last loss, although his form since joing UFC has just been scintillating,. The large cage gives him the room he needs for his amazing stand up.

Rampage was battered in Pride by Wanderlei (twice) and Shogun Rua, although he was been resurgent in the cage.

A lot comes down to form and the stages of their careers they were in, as opposed to solely 'Pride fighters were over rated' I reckon.

knockout · Post by **knockout** » 06 Mar 2008, 08:32

Careful Terry, posting a intellectual and non-biased message on MMA is unheard of on the internet (with the exception on boxrec forum of course)....

Agree entirely with what you are saying... Pride fighters werent over-rated, just as you say most of them have gone to UFC as damaged goods anyway.

and as we say in boxing styles make fights.... the style of the ring/cage also makes fights.

Anderson is looking incredible and makes you think how far Lee Murray could have gone. There fight was a cagey affair, Lee dropped the decision but did ok.... since then Spiderman has gone on to destroy a number of HUGE names.