UFC 75

[Triad]

Date: Sept. 8, 2007
Location: London, England
Venue: The O2 Arena
Broadcast: TBA

PRIDE champion Dan Henderson vs. UFC champion Quinton Jackson (for UFC light heavyweight belt)
Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs. Cheick Kongo
Michael Bisping vs. Matt Hamill
Houston Alexander vs. Alessio Sakara
Marcus Davis vs. Paul Taylor
Anthony Johnson vs. Jess Liaudin
Dennis Siver vs. TBA

Edited by: Triad

 

[KG2422]

Michael Bisping is a tough dude. I like the way he fights. Henderson and Jackson should be interesting.

 

[Triad]

Today's newest "rumor' is Bisping may fight Ken Shamrock instead of Hammill.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Dan Henderson is a stud...he is a world class wrestler with good hands. I think he takes Jackson out.

I like Bisping and think he'd probably KO or TKO Hamill. If/when Hamill upgrades his boxing/muy-thai and submission, he has the potential to be a superstar, but right now Bisping is the better fighter.

 

[Leonardfan]

Hopefully Henderson can end the Jackson reign and they can replay that fight over and over on ESPN

 

[Poacher]

One week out. War Dan! War CC!

 

[nopictures]

Are they really referring to Dan as "Pride Champion"? I know he was/is, but from what I can tell the organization has become nothing now. Their website is now a large advertisement for UFC and even the WEC with a pride fighter database. This is really disappointing for me as I really preferred the more epic presentation Pride had, and I prefer the ring aspect as well (it's too easy for alot of guys to just stuff their opponent into the bottom of the cage and basically win that way). I was hoping the fertitta brothers or whoever the hell they are would at least try and keep pride going. Oh well, I sure as hell am going to miss those yellow cards ;_;

 

[dkr77]

Henderson has an excellent chance of beating Jackson. I read where Henderson brought in Matt Lindland to help him prepare for the match. Lindland lost a controversial decision to Jackson earlier this year and I'm sure he will be a big help in preparing Henderson for this fight.

 

[Triad]

Disappointing night from the caste perspective. 0-3.
Alexander was very dominating, Cro Cop has lost it. Henderson - Jackson could have gone either way.

Worst decision of the night was Hamill- Bisping. To me Hamill dominated for three rounds and lost.

 

[DixieDestroyer]

Man, what a disappointing night. First, my UGA Dawgs lose to SC, then the caste match-ups go 0-3 at UFC 75. Triad, I think you're correct that Hamill was ripped off. Also, I think CroCop isn't clicking on all cylinders...he should've wiped the floor with Kongo. BTW, did ya'll hear Goldberg salivating about how Kongo could be the new image for the UFC with his "look", physique, etc?! Blatant caste propaganda IMO.

Edited by: DixieDestroyer

 

[nopictures]

yeah, it's a sad day for this website particularly when the only fight that could be considered rigged was a white on white gift decision. I couldnt believe how much Hamill was tooling Bisping, who I thought was a much better fighter. I always viewed Hamill as slow and plodding and...well...he is, clumsy too, but it was actually working for him and he was landing bombs! I expected much better from Bisping in his home land, I think deep down he knew he lost...

that "Irish Hand Grenade" was something though, he was for all intents and purposes DONE but he soldiered through and came out on top. Overall an incredibly disappointing night.

 

[White Shogun]

Too bad we have two threads going on this topic.

I posted some comments on the UFC 75 picks thread about Rogan and Goldberg's man-love for Kongo over there.

 

[Triad]

Good points, DD. I'm not sure what's a good MMA look. Sounds like Goldberg prefers the dark look. Cro Cop definitely looks different/hesistant in the UFC. I never liked this matchup, though.

Makes you wonder how will Fedor do in the UFC?

 

[Triad]

Too bad we have two threads going on this topic.

We had two for UFC 74 as well.

But good points nonetheless. As sherdog would say, "try the search button".

 

[freedom1]

Just watching the UFC out here on the West Coast. The heavyweight picture looks more unclear than ever. No doubt Kongo's got the tools, but Crocop didn't look right. Fedor hasn't fought a real heavyweight in a long time. Norgueira has taken too many beatings, and Couture's pushing 50.

Wow, look at Hamill go! He's got no respect for Bisping. He's already got him cut up. I thought this would be a walk for Bisping. Hamill is way better than when he was on the show.

 

[freedom1]

I'm happy to see Mauricio "Shogun" Rua is going to be in the UFC. He wasted Quinton Jackson when they fought in Pride.

 

[Liverlips]

I'm surprised you guys don't think Rampage got a gift decision. I thought it was close but that Henderson pulled it out. Matter of fact, I was about to post "four down, one to go."

Our guys will hold all 5 belts again soon. The only black that really impresses me is Houston Alexander. Let's see him fight Lidell next.

Rua will beat Rampage.

 

[JD074]

I never liked this matchup, though.

Maybe his agent/ manager/ whatever should be fired. MMA fighters should be a little more selective of who they fight, and when they fight them. Not that they should be afraid to fight other top fighters, but they need to be intelligent about it. Cro-Cop should be able to pick and choose who he wants to fight, and when he's ready to fight them, and a tall rangy kickboxer was probably not the best choice. What is Dana White going to do, kick him out of the UFC? Doubt it. There has to be a happy balance between boxing and MMA; between pulling teeth to get Calzaghe/ Kessler and Hatton/ Mayweather deals done, and MMA fighters who will fight anyone, anytime, any place. Good career choices should come before bravado.

Although I have to agree with what Kaptain Poop said in the other thread. Cro-Cop could be very dangerous at LHW, if he has the discipline cut weight. He should deeply consider it.

 

[PitBull]

The one thing that you can't say about UFC is that the fighters are "clean".
Its pretty obvious to me that a lot of those guys are taking supplements, and
not the legal kind. Saying that Cro-Cop lost because he isn't able to juice up
anymore is ridiculous. I got a good look at Alexander, and even though he's
a good fighter, he's taking a LOT of junk, and so are many of the rest of
them. Just look at Kongo! Its hard for me to get too excited about guys
who are doping up. I wish there were a real testing policy in place.

I want to see Rua in 205. Henderson would rule at 185. I don't think Liddell
will retake the title.

 

[White Shogun]

Pitbull, although I agree that there are plenty of guys juicing in the UFC, I suspect that they are having to use different kinds of steroids, in lesser amounts, and with different masking methods because they actually DO test here, unlike in Japan. They are used to using whatever regimen they want, so having to make drastic changes on a different cycle could affect them. But I'm no expert, either, it's just what common sense tells me, with what little knowledge I have on the subject.

The real trouble with Cro Cop, I believe, is that he isn't the same fighter mentally he used to be. Simple as that. Edited by: White Shogun

 

[PitBull]

White Shogun,

I just read an article saying that Alexander works out 3 times a day, 7
days a
week--the guy's 36 for Chrissakes! It sounds like the Sean Sherk workout
plan, and we all know how that turned out! Seriously, I think there is no
way you do that at his age and have time to recover and rest, no way. I
remember reading a book about boxers workouts, and they run in the
morning, and then do an afternoon workout, and they don't train seven
days a week either, more like five.

I don't think its a coincidence that this guy is tearing it up in MMA and he
is a hip-hop black guy. You're right, they test, but they may look the
other way on the drugs if the fighter fits the demographic that is desired.
I don't see why not if they are setting up and promoting fights racially
why they wouldn't do this as well. It is a business, after all.Edited by: PitBull

 

[White Shogun]

I don't think its a coincidence that this guy is tearing it up in MMA and he is a hip-hop black guy. You're right, they test, but they may look the other way on the drugs if the fighter fits the demographic that is desired. I don't see why not if they are setting up and promoting fights racially why they wouldn't do this as well. It is a business, after all.

Good point.

I agree, I don't think there is anyway a 36-year old guy can work out like that without supplementation. But what about Couture? He's 44 and looks bigger than he ever has, although he said this is the first time he's ever trained with a strength and conditioning coach.

 

[PitBull]

"I agree, I don't think there is anyway a 36-year old guy can work out like
that without supplementation. But what about Couture? He's 44 and looks
bigger than he ever has, although he said this is the first time he's ever
trained with a strength and conditioning coach. "

Actually, Randy was a wrestling and strength and conditioning coach
himself at Oregon State. I doubt that this is the first time he's been lifting
weights seriously. At 44, training as hard as he does, I doubt he would
be able to gain 15-20 lbs of muscle. But those wrestlers are masters at
cutting and gaining weight. It seems pretty fishy to me. I hate to say it,
but it seems that "The Natural" may not be so natural anymore. I guess
my opinion is that if the other guys are juicing, its okay for our guys to
juice, but I just have a hard time getting excited watching two doped up
guys in a ring.Edited by: PitBull

 

[patriot]

alexander and rampage are very over rated. Ican't wait for shogun to defeat griffin so he can rip rampage a new one.

 

[White Shogun]

I heard it said by one of the talking heads during UFC 74. They said that Randy told them it's the first time he's used a strength and conditioning coach. Supposedly, Couture said it motivated him because he was now obligated to someone else. If his coach is at the gym waiting on him, then he would be there because he didn't want to cancel or leave the guy hanging. Otherwise, he would find excuses not to go sometimes.

Couture looked larger than ever in his fight against Gonzaga. His arms were huge. Maybe it's all that green powder he was on... maybe like Popeye, lol.