to have both Sok and Thompson win via 1st round finishes? Both guys are fun "blast from the past" fighters, but what does that say about the credibility of Bellator's competition? We're talking one guy who lost to a 40-year old Houston Alexander + a bunch of nobodies (Sok) and another guy who lost to Butterbean and Kimbo (JT).
Pretty sure the Sok fight was made so he could look good and win. Have you seen his opponent's record? This was also his first fight in Bellator, possibly last.
it does not say anything about Bellator's competition. They gave them cans for the sake of getting what happened...atleast in Sokoudjou's case. I think they were hoping Prindle would make it a war but the guy is showing up for a check. He should've been cut after his last pitiful performance.
It still gives an impression of Bellator's level of competition. Now that the UFC has brought back Arlovski, do you think they'd put him on the main card against some mediocre regional fighter...just to give him an "impressive" win?
I can't imagine how it would be more adventageous for thier opponents to win. Soko's opponent was a no-name, and Prindle is past his peak.
Sure, its why they were given the fights they got. Both did what they were meant to do. Both guys can be thrown into fights or tournaments. Its why they were signed.
It only makes Bellator's HW division look bad. Soko got an obvious sacrificial lamb. Prindle actually fought for the belt!
Well, there was a time he knocked a few guys out on TV. Much better than what we see today...so, everybody has a peak
Wasn't his first...he KO'd Matt Van Buren of current TUF season in 15 seconds or so. Not that it says boatloads or anything, but yeah. I'm sure Bellator sees Prindle on a downslide of sorts, and as being a former finalist/tourny winner, can help push Thompson over his inner-bellator name (not saying prindle is a household name in general, but he has a history within their company). Now Thomspon beat a tourny winner and can either be fed to an upcoming newcomer to make them look solid or be thrown in a tourny as i'm sure they are digging his charisma and such. I'm sure they also have it set in their minds that having people win against Sok will further credibility as beating a former UFC fighter and guy who KOd two names in Pride. Not that it is true essentilally.... But on the flipside, think about it, if Davinney would've destroyed Sok, that would make some interest garner on his end to some of us atleast for having a chance future Bellators.
The number they did for that show would lead me to think you are wrong about that. Certainly they don't mean as much as they once did but they mean "something"
Nothing much, since both losers were way, way, way down the Bellator totem pole. Defining a fighter purely by their worst losses is usually extremely misleading.
I think it was good for Bellator - their investment (however large or small) in these over-the-hill fighters seems to have not been a waste. Sokoudjou and Thompson didn't really derail any Bellator-bred fighter's hype (like Tito did to Shlemenko), nor did they turn in a forgettable snoozefest like Matyshenko-H.AlexanderIs4Real. Neither Sokoudjou nor Thompson are going to make any waves in their respective divisions, but my interest was piqued, and it paid off - I watched the other fights, and didn't skip through all the commercials, which should make Viacom happy. It's not a sustainable long-term strategy (that is, having Pride has-beens fight local semi-pros), but then again, this was Bellator's (successful) attempt at salvaging a card that was potentially going to be wrecked by injuries. Respect.
Which are present in neither Soko and Thompson. Are you really saying those two are the talent they need? These two were signed to have recognizable names bring attention their shows. Setting them up with low level competition builds up their highlight reels and ability to promote them to casual fans, and also pique the interest of hardcore fans. Then they'll be used as stepping stones for whatever guy they wanna promote, like a prospect or vet who needs a rebound.
