Isn't it funny how the 1 thing PRIDE vs UFC nerds agreed on was Spider was overrated?

[Hatredcopter]

this is disturbing, please don't do it again

 

[ShogunTBone]

Fedor has always been, and will always be, the greatest fighter to ever live.

 

[MMA]

Tim Sylvia was one of the longest reigning UFC HW champs. Problems?

I have a creeping suspicion that the majority of people who hate on Fedor have only been watching MMA for a couple years and have absolutely no concept or understanding of what the aura, rankings and atmosphere of MMA was like 5+ years ago.

That's not even true

 

[Trollinator]

this is disturbing, please don't do it again

I have no idea what the fuck it is, but I laugh every time. Can't give any promises -- Sorry

 

[ShogunTBone]

That's not even true

To the contrary.

Sylvia is one of the most disrespected and underappreciated champions ever. It is actually saddening how much hate he gets.

 

[soohrednaB]

Yet he turned out to be the GOAT?

Back in 2006 when PRIDE was still the top dog and UFC was gaining on them at an incredible pace, the PRIDE vs UFC debates were in full swing -- especially on Sherdog where the two organizations shared a forum.

Anderson Silva was one of the first guys who had fought in PRIDE to come over to the UFC (after a short stint in Cage Rage).

To UFC fans, Anderson was going to be one of the first guys to be exposed in the post TUF UFC. Chris Leben was going to beat him and, as he claimed, "send him back to Japan where the competition is easier."

PRIDE fans were trying to stop the damage before it even happened claiming it doesn't matter if Leben beats him because Anderson already showed he couldn't hang in PRIDE anyways. Leben beating him would prove nothing.

Fast-forward to a couple years later when UFC has already bought PRIDE and PRIDE vs UFC matches are on going, and after it's proven it never mattered what org someone was from, but more about how they matched up with any given opponent, both PRIDE and UFC fans changed their tune and were trying to claim Anderson for their own. Anderson was a PRIDE fighter so his wins should count in the PRIDE fighters win totals according to PRIDE fans. Nope. Anderson left PRIDE and was brought over on the cheap by Dana, so he was a UFC fighter.

In reality, Anderson, like anyone else, was never a PRIDE or UFC fighter. He was a prizefighter fighting for the biggest purses he could get.

In the end it showed how silly that whole debate was when the only thing UFC and PRIDE fans could agree on was that Anderson wasn't very good, but then he turned out to be the best.

It doesn't matter what organization you're in, it matters what matchups you get and how you handle them. PRIDE vs UFC, WEC and Strikeforce guys coming over, etc has taught us that. Chances are the win/loss will be 50/50 because organizations matter little in determining who wins a fight between 2 individuals.

These days, UFC fans seem to be doing the same thing to non UFC fighters that they hated PRIDE fans for doing to them. Claiming UFC fighters weren't good because they didn't fight in PRIDE was silly because it was never about where someone fought, it matters who they match up with. Remember that next time you want to claim someone isn't going to do well in the UFC because they never fought there.

Great post, TS.

I was among those who thought that the Octagon would not be so kind to Anderson. I wasn't surprised at what he did to Leben--I knew damned well from watching Anderson fight in PRIDE that he was fully capable of carving up any brawler foolish enough to engage him in a striking match--but I was skeptical about his ability to handle the wrestlers he would undoubtedly encounter in the UFC.

To a degree, that skepticism has been justified even now. Silva had a bitch of a time with Sonnen the first time around, was grounded for a full round in their rematch, and was controlled for the better part of round one against Hendo. Of course, he managed to win every one of those fights in emphatic fashion.

You're absolutely right that matchups between individuals are what this game is. For instance, I would pick Ben Askren against a lot of UFC WWs just because his wrestling game is suffocating (side note: boring as it would be, I'd love to see him "Fitch" Fitch...talk about a bitter dose of your own medicine!). Does he fight in an inferior organization? Of course. But that doesn't mean he isn't a good fighter.

I knew that the guys at the top of the WEC ranks would be major factors in the UFC, and they absolutely are. Many derided guys like Condit, Bendo, Pettis, Cerrone, etc. as minor-leaguers that would be eaten alive in the UFC. We've all seen the results.

 

[MMApick**]

/end thread.

What about Igor?

32 fight win streak [28 finishes all 1st round]
Undefeated for 37 straight fights (the Kerr NC). [31 finishes - 1st rd].

And he's smaller than Fedor.

If we're talking p4p GOAT, no one is even close to Sakuraba.

 

[Prider]

Yet he turned out to be the GOAT?

Back in 2006 when PRIDE was still the top dog and UFC was gaining on them at an incredible pace, the PRIDE vs UFC debates were in full swing -- especially on Sherdog where the two organizations shared a forum.

Anderson Silva was one of the first guys who had fought in PRIDE to come over to the UFC (after a short stint in Cage Rage).

To UFC fans, Anderson was going to be one of the first guys to be exposed in the post TUF UFC. Chris Leben was going to beat him and, as he claimed, "send him back to Japan where the competition is easier."

PRIDE fans were trying to stop the damage before it even happened claiming it doesn't matter if Leben beats him because Anderson already showed he couldn't hang in PRIDE anyways. Leben beating him would prove nothing.

Fast-forward to a couple years later when UFC has already bought PRIDE and PRIDE vs UFC matches are on going, and after it's proven it never mattered what org someone was from, but more about how they matched up with any given opponent, both PRIDE and UFC fans changed their tune and were trying to claim Anderson for their own. Anderson was a PRIDE fighter so his wins should count in the PRIDE fighters win totals according to PRIDE fans. Nope. Anderson left PRIDE and was brought over on the cheap by Dana, so he was a UFC fighter.

In reality, Anderson, like anyone else, was never a PRIDE or UFC fighter. He was a prizefighter fighting for the biggest purses he could get.

In the end it showed how silly that whole debate was when the only thing UFC and PRIDE fans could agree on was that Anderson wasn't very good, but then he turned out to be the best.

It doesn't matter what organization you're in, it matters what matchups you get and how you handle them. PRIDE vs UFC, WEC and Strikeforce guys coming over, etc has taught us that. Chances are the win/loss will be 50/50 because organizations matter little in determining who wins a fight between 2 individuals.

These days, UFC fans seem to be doing the same thing to non UFC fighters that they hated PRIDE fans for doing to them. Claiming UFC fighters weren't good because they didn't fight in PRIDE was silly because it was never about where someone fought, it matters who they match up with. Remember that next time you want to claim someone isn't going to do well in the UFC because they never fought there.

So what you're saying is Cage Rage was clearly better than both Pride and the UFC?