How good was Tim Sylvia?

TheNinja said:
I agree that size was his biggest advantage. But I disagree on fight IQ. I feel like he was one of the better IQ fighters who actually used his size to his advantage. Look at some of these other big dudes like Struve. Struve fights close up instead of using his range. Timmy knew his skillset and limitations and fought pretty good within them.

He's probably be top 7 now. I think both Mirko and Sergei beat him b/c of speed though.
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<mma4> A true point made, big enough fight fan to admit that...
 
UFC HW division was just so, so bad in that era. Guys like Buentello, Eilers, etc even stumbling accidentally into title shots says it all.

Timmy did what he had to do and he was the champ. But he also would have lost to Crocop, Sergei, Barnett, Fedor, and Nog pretty easily IMO so he was never a top 3 HW.
 
Paynebringer said:
I agree, top 10 because he knew how to bully and use his size I don't believe you would have to be elite to whip him just smarter and not let him hold onto you with his size make him move all that mass constantly always chipping away at him until he tires and fall.
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The "Sylvia was only good cause he was a size bully" argument doesn't work because Tim beat two guys who were bigger than he was (Wes Sims and Gan McGee). Granted, neither of them were very skilled, but if it was only about size, Tim should've lost. He also beat Ben Rothwell near the beginning of both of their careers. Rothwell isn't as tall as Tim, but he's a big guy who wouldn't lose to a tall, unskilled "bully."
 
WalkenWouldOwn said:
UFC HW division was just so, so bad in that era. Guys like Buentello, Eilers, etc even stumbling accidentally into title shots says it all.

Timmy did what he had to do and he was the champ. But he also would have lost to Crocop, Sergei, Barnett, Fedor, and Nog pretty easily IMO so he was never a top 3 HW.
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Agreed!
 
NoSmilez said:
It depends which Timmy shows. One of those incarnations where he outlasted AA and should give UFC Cro Cop trouble in the cage. He is just one of those guys who is too big and injury prone. He also isn't athletic.

What is Sergei in his prime? I thought he was in his prime when he lost to Alexs. The Golden Glory Sergei is just a squared kickboxer who doesn't kick. He is also chinny from training in Holland all the time. His boxing is a little overrated as in he is a pro competing in amateur competition. People like to bring up he was Olympic hopeful for one of the former USSR countries but that country didn't even have a boxing team for previous olympics. The one Sergei was suppose to compete in had one LW fighter on the team.
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Good post. It also depends which Cro-Cop shows up. The one who lost to Randleman and Gonzaga could lose to Tim.
 
The roided version "for looks" was very good. Looked great vs Ricco and Gan. Against AA and Monson pretty good, but also lost the key fights vs Nog, Randy and Fedor. Tim was consistent against guys below the top-tier, hence the good record on paper, but didn't do well against the very best. Lack of speed, defense and chin prevented being dominant.
 
The tim that smashed cabbage and ricco would have problematic for pretty much any n every heavyweight

Displayed horrendous fight IQ against mir tho
 
mkt said:
The "Sylvia was only good cause he was a size bully" argument doesn't work because Tim beat two guys who were bigger than he was (Wes Sims and Gan McGee). Granted, neither of them were very skilled, but if it was only about size, Tim should've lost. He also beat Ben Rothwell near the beginning of both of their careers. Rothwell isn't as tall as Tim, but he's a big guy who wouldn't lose to a big, unskilled "bully."
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Thanks for making my argument, Tim knew how to use his Big Boy style I will give him credit for that...
 
He gets crapped on a lot and subsequently gets viewed as crap by people who never saw him. He came along at a time when he got by against a lot fighters with his size and physicality. Much of what was in the HW division at that time wasn't that good so to his credit he emerged from that group to be titleholder and rolled with it until he couldn't go any further. He wasn't a great but he wasn't crap. He came along at the right time in the right place to make the mark he made.
 
UncleChester said:
He was great when he was on the gear. Not so good without it. That was way back when he got popped right before UFC 47 (I think). First time 2 Maine fighters were going to be on the same card. After Tim popped there was only one Maine boy.
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I completely forgot about his use of aide...
 
Russie said:
He gets crapped on a lot and subsequently gets viewed as crap by people who never saw him. He came along at a time when he got by against a lot fighters with his size and physicality. Much of what was in the HW division at that time wasn't that good so to his credit he emerged from that group to be titleholder and rolled with it until he couldn't go any further. He wasn't a great but he wasn't crap. He came along at the right time in the right place to make the mark he made.
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<mma4> A True point made...
 
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