1. yes, i get it. its long.
go read a short Conor thread if words intimidate you.
2. For years Ive seen posters misunderstand Chael, typically exaggerating certain strengths or weaknesses to arrive at either opposite end of bias.
Having closely followed MMA and Chael for years, and with mutual friends from competition, I'd like to offer a 3rd point of view:
1. POINT: CHAEL WAS/IS A GREAT FIGHTER
A top MW for many years, IN 2 DIFFERENT FIGHTS he was 30 seconds away from a win and a belt that would have him properly remembered as 1 of the best.
EXAMPLES:
- beat Anderson every minute of every round in both fights before losing, many of them legitimate 10-8s.
- beat Bisping, Stann and Shogun when all were top contenders
- if he would have lasted another 20 seconds vs Jones, he would have won the LHW title.
COUNTERPOINT: Chael has always sucked, simply been benefiting from right/time and place, friendship with Dana, and mostly talking his way in to fights he didnt deserve.
EXAMPLES:
- seems to have lost every title fight or important fight that mattered
- even "normal"" fights with Rashad and recently Tito had subpar results
REALITY:
I think Chael would beat Anderson 7-8/10 times, but it doesnt mean he was better, nor do i think at that time he was the best- i think he is an example "OVERPERFORMING", rather than a "choker".
While I think it IS fair to say that Anderson escaped likely defeat from Chael 2X (im a huge Anderson fan, but he wanted NOTHING to do with either fight, ESPECIALLY the rematch) I also think it is fair to say Anderson in many ways is the perfect matchup for Chael.
Ever since the early UFCs, a 1-dimensional fighter whose base was wrestling STILL HAD A FANTASTIC CHANCE TO WIN ANY FIGHT, PROVIDED THEY HAD AT LEAST 1 OF (2) QUALITIES:
- good submission defense
- power in their hands
If they were weak in ju-jitsu but could avoid a sub (Couture, for example), or if they were poor in standup technique and fundamentals, but had decent power (Kerr, for example) a wrestler was always in the fight.
To be blunt, Chael was a bit of an exception, in that he had NEITHER- he was always vulnerable to a sub, and was never known for knockout power.
The truth was, Chael only had a few things going for him, and IMHO it wasnt that he choked, it was that he got these strengths to carry him much farther than he really ever should have gotten in the first place:
- 1 of the best double legs in MMA, ever
- great cardio
- great toughness, mental warfare
Now i can already imagine how some of the responses here will read (among the few literate enough to read more than a @heemann photo thread with an @ArmBarbarian meme reply) but hear this out:
If you dont think Chael had ANY respectable talent, how did he get where he did, and stay there for so long?
it wasnt just "mike skills" keeping him in ring with Silva for 24 min when Hendo, Belfortand many others could not)
It wasnt his offensive or defensive BJJ, or his fearsome standup.
It was his wrestling and relentless cardio, and his toughness.
Before you go posting memes, keep in mind HE NEVER ONCE APPEARED HURT BEFORE A FIGHT WAS OVER.
2. POINT: Chael is exceptionally articulate, with original material and unmatched wit.
EXAMPLES:
- Chael effectively "reinvented" self-promotion in MMA, and many of his sound bytes ("Nogueira and The Bus", "West-Linn Gangster") are the most entertaining lines in all of MMA.
- Chael paved the way for others, by both demonstarting AND EXPLAINING a fighter must be able to fight, but also command attention- speaking Englsh, being charming, getting a laugh, or calling out another fighter-werent just "good ideas", but necessary to succeed, in the UFC in particular.
COUNTERPOINT: Chael is a "a parrot", with no actual ability to speak extemporaneously, all of his lines were either ripped directly from Pro Wrestling promos from the 80s, or written for him by some "hired comedian" or speech writer.
REALITY:
I will start conceding 2 points:
1. I think at times he memorized certain lines- so what?
- Platinum Mike admitted he's "planned for years" to say what e does, without any criticism for rehearsal.
- If Chael practiced, IT DOESNT MEAN THE MATERIAL WAS SOMEONE ELSE'S.
2. in sports today, nearly ALL "smack talk" can seem copied or directly ripped off- there just isnt much new ground- even Ali, in his generation, was often criticized for being unoriginal in his verbal insults (those which wouldnt be considered blatantly racist today)
On occasion Ive seen him say something that sounded like ThunderLips in '89- not shocking considering he's an admitted pro-wrestling fan since childhood.
"Chael's best lines were written by a comedian" is the 2nd biggest repeated myth on Sherdog since "MMA has evolved so much in the last 5-8 yrs", etc- i havent seen a shred of evidence of it.
Take his 5-10 most memorable quotes, then find a source where he "stole" it from.
- Where did he steal the "Nog with a carrot and a bus" line?
- Who inspired the "Okami's mom" story?
What comedian ever claimed to write Chaels material, when did Chael say it happended, or when has anyone but Sherdog posters once given a reason to think this?
Just listem to him speak live- he never seems at a loss for words. he's won political election, done live commentating, records a popular podcast, and "fooled" ESPN into giving him an analyst's job- ALL WHILE BEING A SHITTY FIGHTER?
Im bewildered some are so jaded they cant admit the guy can talk.
IF THERE IS 1 THING THE GUY CAN DO, IT IS TALK.
3. POINT: Chael's PED hsirtory was limited- a 1-time thing that doesnt tarnish his MMA record.
COUNTERPOINT: Chael's failed tests, and the results in particular, show his whole career was based on PEDs.
REALITY: While there is no way to know, i think the truth is in the middle, and in general his responses to the failed tests and his current PED observations are both top-notch.
After successful college wrestling AND olympic wrestling, to say he is a career juicer is unlikely ( i wouldnt care if he was)
As already stated, he got very close to a belt, in reality i think it was farther than his skill, talent and genetic lottery should have allowed- especially after the 2nd Anderson fight he realized- "i dont have quite what it takes", so knowing most are on PEDs, and with nothing to lose, im gonna give it a go" - NOT ONLY HAS CHAEL HIMSELF SAID NEARLY EXACTLY THIS, I REMEMEBR WELL THINKING "I DONT KNOW IF HE WAS CLEAN BEFORE,BUT I SEE HE ISNT NOW"...
His weight went up, body began to change- he started flexing all the time,and talking about the "biggest arm in West Linn"- stuff he was never known for prior.
im sure many of you are going to disagree, but if so, back it up with examples or sources.
i MAINLY WROTE ALL OF THIS TO SAY:
HOW THE FUCK DID HE LOSE TO TITO? SO LAME, CHAEL.
