The Best: Fedor Emelianenko

[whiteCB]

This guy is the best fighter in the world bar none. He would beat the crap out of Liddell(sorry guys Chuck is 37 and over the hill) and Rampage Jackson. Fedor is the best technician I've seen and is as tough as those brutal Russian winters. He's 15-0 in PRIDE FC; which I think is better and more brutal than UFC. Fedor is the man and will beat anyone in his way.

http://www.pridefc.com/pride2005/index.php?mainpage=fighters &fID=61

 

[Guest]

A lot of guys would beat the crap out of Liddell. At least 15 fighters would beat him in the first round. He's a product of the Dana White marketing machine, nothing more. He's certainly not bad, but any long time fan laughs at the idea that "the best guy in the sport" lost at UFC 71.

Even making the qualification that "sorry, but I think fighter X would beat Liddell" just goes to show how well those millions of advertising dollars paid off.

Edited by: nevada

 

[freedom1]

Good point CB and Nevada. Lidell was definitely overrated, definitely not on a level with Fedor.

Lidell's problem is that he started to believe the hype.

 

[Gary]

Right now Fedor is the toughest man on planet Earth!!

 

[JD074]

You guys make it sound like Liddell is terrible. He's defeated Couture twice, Ortiz twice, Randleman, Horn, Overeem, Metzger, Monson, Belfort, and Babalu twice. Those wins are nothing to scoff at. Yeah, he got beat by Jackson twice. So what? Look at Jackson's record. Except for a loss to Eastman in his third fight and a DQ, his only other losses are to Silva (twice,) Rua, and Sakuraba. Only quality fighters have beat Jackson in his prime. Losing to him is nothing to be ashamed of. If every fighter who has a loss to a quality opponent is sh*t, then almost everybody is sh*t.

 

[freedom1]

I'm not saying he's sh't, He's definitely had a good run, but him thinking he could hang with Fedor is in my opinion delusional on his part.

 

[White Shogun]

I don't know, did someone on here say that Chuck would beat Fedor somewhere? Who wouldn't Fedor beat the crap out of is a better question.

 

[guest301]

You guys make it sound like Liddell is terrible. He's defeated Couture twice, Ortiz twice, Randleman, Horn, Overeem, Metzger, Monson, Belfort, and Babalu twice. Those wins are nothing to scoff at. Yeah, he got beat by Jackson twice. So what? Look at Jackson's record. Except for a loss to Eastman in his third fight and a DQ, his only other losses are to Silva (twice,) Rua, and Sakuraba. Only quality fighters have beat Jackson in his prime. Losing to him is nothing to be ashamed of. If every fighter who has a loss to a quality opponent is sh*t, then almost everybody is sh*t.

Ditto to all that. Liddell got beat by a quality fighter. Jackson is a bad matchup for him. He's not over the hill and he's still a better fighter than 99.9 % of the MMA fighters out there..of course he couldn't beat Fedor...Fedor is more skilled and in a bigger weight class..Chuck would have a punchers chance..nothing more...I still think that Chuck will be on top again before all this is said and done.

 

[Guest]

You guys make it sound like Liddell is terrible.

And Dana White makes it sound like Liddell is one of the greatest fighters of all time in MMA. A little balance is all the serious fan asks for.

Again I go back to the qualification that Liddell might lose to a good fighter at 265. To any serious fan that sounds ridiculous. There are just so many fighters at 265 that would blow Liddell away. The main reason Liddell fights at 205 is because he knows this. He normally weighs 220 pounds. He's a natural heavyweight. He dehydrates himself to make 205 so he can avoid the guys at 265 that would kick his ass.

 

[White Shogun]

Looks like just another thread to denigrate a white fighter to me.

It's obvious Chuck Liddell has been a great light heavyweight for some time. Some of the fighters he's beaten are on who's-who list of MMA. What brought up this comparison to Fedor in the first place? Most people only bring up Fedor when they actually have someone whom they think will beat Fedor, not list everyone who would lose to him.

 

[Bart]

Again I go back to the qualification that Liddell might lose to a good fighter at 265. To any serious fan that sounds ridiculous. There are just so many fighters at 265 that would blow Liddell away. The main reason Liddell fights at 205 is because he knows this. He normally weighs 220 pounds. He's a natural heavyweight. He dehydrates himself to make 205 so he can avoid the guys at 265 that would kick his ass.

I don't think Chuck has the body structure to handle more weight effectively. He does not have a mesamorphic or endorphicframe.He is not stocky, arms and legs are somewhat long.His chest cavity is slightyl ectomorphic. He could probably drop more weight and fightcomfortably.In the photo from his last match, it appears his mid - section was carrying excess flab.

 

[Guest]

I don't think Chuck has the body structure to handle more weight effectively.

Chuck Liddell weighs 220 pounds about 350 days a year. One time when he was recovering from an injury he was up to 230 pounds.

The only time he weighs 205 pounds is one day before a fight when he has to weigh 205 pounds to avoid bigger fighters that can dominate him. Liddell is a natural heavyweight that avoids other heavyweights.

This is nothing specific to Liddell. Every major fighter at 205 is a natural heavyweight that dehydrates himself down to 205 pounds. Ortiz, Griffin, Evans, Lambert, Shamrock all weigh 220 pounds. They are all natural heavyweights. Pride fighters are exactly the same. Silva, Jackson, Rua are all 220 pounds.

Rich Franklin is the biggest weight cutter in the game. He weighs 210 pounds. He cuts all the way down to 185.

 

[freedom1]

It was this interview that led some to think Chuck was overestimating himself.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zihjlUk2gf4

 

[JD074]

This is nothing specific to Liddell. Every major fighter at 205 is a natural heavyweight that dehydrates himself down to 205 pounds. Ortiz, Griffin, Evans, Lambert, Shamrock all weigh 220 pounds. They are all natural heavyweights. Pride fighters are exactly the same. Silva, Jackson, Rua are all 220 pounds.Rich Franklin is the biggest weight cutter in the game. He weighs 210 pounds. He cuts all the way down to 185.

If everybody does it, what's the big deal?

 

[Guest]

If everybody does it, what's the big deal?

I ask myself the same question, but about Chuck Liddell. What's the big deal if this guy loses? He avoids fighters that can blow him away so is the sky really going to fall if he drops a fight?

205 is fun, but 205 is not where the battle for domination of the sport takes place. 220 pound boxers do not cut to 200 pounds to make cruiserweight. They simply box at heavyweight. Few people care what happens at 200 in boxing.

But in MMA, lots of 220 pound fighters cut to 205 pounds. That's probably the reason 205 in MMA is so much more exciting than 200 in boxing. If MMA fighters were following the boxing model, Chuck Liddell would like Rob Calloway or something, getting pasted by good heavyweights and never holding any belts. Arlovski and Sylvia and Vera would have already knocked out Liddell and "the iceman" would be just a nickname instead of an icon.

 

[White Shogun]

So now Chuck is avoiding fights? Sounds like a conspiracy! Oh no! There aren't any agendas or conspiracies in MMA, right?

What is it with you and the Chuck hate, dude? Edited by: White Shogun

 

[Guest]

Yes, Liddell avoids fighting at 265, anybody can plainly see that. There's no conspiracy and no agenda. In MMA, natural heavyweights avoid natural heavyweights all the time, every show, every month. That's normal, that's how the sport works. Jackson avoids BIG WHITE GUYS WHO CAN KICK HIS ASS. There, does that make sense to you now?

There is no Liddell hate here, just a reality check for people who think the sky is falling in the sport. There are plenty of big strikers that are a bad matchup for Liddell. There are several big grapplers that he probably can't get out from under. So instead of weighing 220 pounds, he weighs 205 pounds the day before a fight so he can avoid those guys. Liddell is not the best fighter in the sport, and the sky is not falling.

What's the big problem here White Shogun? I'm explaining how the sky is not falling, and you're mad about it. Are those Dana White dollars paying off again? Did you buy into the Liddell hype?

 

[White Shogun]

nevada,
Who makes the matchups, Chuck or Dana? Does Dana ask Chuck who he wants to fight before he makes the matchup? Or do you mean only that Chuck cuts weight to avoid heavyweights?

If this is normal, and natural heavyweights avoid natural heavyweights all the time, why is Chuck Liddell criticized for doing what they all do?

For the record (I suppose I can go back and do the search for it, if I have to) I said long before the Chuck - Rampage fight that Chuck losing wasn't the end of the world in MMA. You're right, the sky is not falling, MMA is not over, we don't have to resort to watching ice skating. However, I don't think Chuck was a paper champion who couldn't fight his way out of a paperbag, as you seem to be saying. I mean, you have the right to think Chuck was overrated, which if you mean 'he was the best champ EVA!' I'd probably agree with you - but Chuck is a capable light heavyweight who would still beat any number of good light heavyweights.

For comparison purposes, what are your thoughts on Matt Hughes, Rich Franklin, and GSP?

 

[Bart]

Chuck Liddell weighs 220 pounds about 350 days a year.

Just because he may reach 220 between matches,doesn't mean that is his optimum fighting weight. Most boxers, wrestlers, and MMA fighters pack on extra poundsand get out of peak conditionbetween bouts. When they resume training and honing their bodies, most of the excess flab will be burned off. Walking around weight is NOT the same as- fighting condition - weight.

 

[JD074]

I ask myself the same question, but about Chuck Liddell. What's the big deal if this guy loses?

I agree, what's the big deal if he loses to a guy who's only lost to Silva, Rua, and Sakuraba in his prime? Not a big deal.

He avoids fighters that can blow him away so is the sky really going to fall if he drops a fight?205 is fun, but 205 is not where the battle for domination of the sport takes place.

You make Light-Heavyweight seem so meaningless. So what about the other divisions? Are they also meaningless? Is someone who weighs 170 and cuts down to 155 a coward?

220 pound boxers do not cut to 200 pounds to make cruiserweight. They simply box at heavyweight. Few people care what happens at 200 in boxing.

That's different. The HW division has been the "glamor division" in boxing for over a century, even when they weighed 200 pounds or less! People are very sentimental about it. I don't think there's anything inherently logical about that anymore. I don't see any reason why the Cruiserweight division couldn't be a great division. If anything, smaller fighters are more fun to watch because they're more energetic. But the money is at HW and that's where they all go. It's just tradition. Don't you think Sultan would be great at Cruiser?

But in MMA, lots of 220 pound fighters cut to 205 pounds. That's probably the reason 205 in MMA is so much more exciting than 200 in boxing.

Hmm. So if there were more stars at Cruiser, it would be more exciting. Interesting.

 

[freedom1]

Yeah, when you're the best in a division, you can beat everyone in that division. When you're the best heavyweight, you can beat everyone.

 

[White_Savage]

Boxers (below HW) have been cutting weight for years, the only exception being the HWs, since you get such a big jump in pay and notoriety for being a HW if you can hang there at all. Better off being a perpetual contender as a HW than a champ in lighter divisions, oddly enough. Now for the last 20 years when they've been training truly huge men to box, you may see more marginal HWs moving to cruiser. Or you may not.

I think it might be a stretch for Liddell to try to get to MW, but if his bones aren't made of lead, he could get 10-15 lbs lighter reasonably there is not any profit in that of course, the next division staring at 185. But he's certainly not the naturally biggest guy in the weight class.

 

[whiteCB]

When the hell did this thread become the Chuck Liddell weight shreading thread. Anyways Fedor is actually healing a broken foot right now so that's why he hasn't fought since last year. Also who else would love to see fedor beat the crap out of Rampage Jackson, Liddell, or anyother of those overrated UFC guys?

 

[White Shogun]

Which of those overrated UFC guys are you referring to, Cro Cop, Shogun, Nog, or Jackson?

Are you saying Liddell is overrated because he lost to Jackson? Liddell beat Couture twice, Tito Ortiz twice, Babalu Sobral, and Jeremy Horn in seven of his last eight fights. He beat Sobral once before that too, earlier in his career. That's not a shabby list of also-rans.

He has beaten Belfort, Bustamante, Suloev, Mezger, Randleman, and Jeff Monson, too.

Chuck isn't overrated. He may not be the greatest MMA fighter to ever walk the earth, but he's pretty damn good. His biggest problem these days appears to be that he no longer has the desire to put in the hours of training to stay in top physical condition, if anything.

 

[paladin]

Fedor is the definition of MMA, true champion