Just something I've been wondering lately. I mean in actuality AND perception? Is this part of the UFC stratagy to disparage Fedor? If Randy loses, does this make the fight between the two more likely? I can understand the UFC's point in the contract they proposed. He would be with them as long as he won. They couldn't NOT have the champ under contract could they? I wish this part was more like boxing. One contract at a time. At least the ABC's don't have direct contracts with the fighters.
Just beat 2-time UFC CHamp Sylvia, pencilled to fight Bartnett or AA. Who are you thinking of when you say he isnt fighting the best?
The point is, the UFC will freeze him out. Unless the competitiors ramp up he will have trouble getting good fights. Will fighting FORMER UFC champs count? I'll admit I lost touch with MMA a bit after Pride.
He won't be figthing the current champs. Or probably even the top contenders the way things are at the moment. The UFC will continue to lock those guys up under the contracts that Fedor wouldn't/couldn't sign. He will get the 'former' champs. My question is how long can this go on before he suffers from it? I hope the competition gets serious and breaks the strangle hold the UFC currently enjoys.
It doesn't matter if he's not fighting the current champs, there is alot of great fights for him outside the UFC right now anyhow. AA and Barnett are a couple of great fights anyhow.
Well Sylvia, AA, Fedor, and Barnett are all signed with Affliction. That's 4 of the top 5 HWs in my opinion.
No. But I do think you might be working under the mistaken impression all the best heaveyweights other than Fedor are contracted by the UFC.
Nog has already been bested by Fedor. If he manages to maintain his status as UFC champion, Fedor is automatically better. If Randy defeats Lesnar and Nog, some doubts will remain. If Brock beats Couture, Nog, and Mir; then the UFC will seem to have the real champ with the hype that will follow those impressive wins.
The UFC doesnt have the best heavies in the world. They never have. The reality is the best heavies arent in the UFC. There elsewhere. I couldnt care less who wins there heavyweight tourny as neither Nog Randy and certainly NOT Lesnar are the best heavweights in the world.
Yeah - but Noguiera and Randy Couture might be the second best heavyweights in the world. As noted above - if Couture makes it through Lesnar AND Noguiera - it knocks all the luster off Fedor's aura. I still have to see it to believe it - because I don't think Randy will beat Nogueira.
yes it does. fedor's claim to the top were his dominating performances over the other top heavies which included Crocop and nogueira. Crocop got crushed in the UFC - while Nogueira is the interim champ. If Noguiera loses in the UFC - then Fedor's two biggest wins become less significant. That's how it works. These fighters don't suddenly become irrelevant because they are in the UFC. I've been watching MMA since the inception of UFC and Pride. Try that no it doesn't **** with newbies. Tito knows what he speaks of. lol
Well that doesn't take away from Fedor's credit, imo. He destroyed Nog and CC in their primes. We all know Nog isn't the same fighter, even I have to admit that. And look what Fedor did to Sylvia. He demolished him in under a minute. It took Randy 5 rounds to beat Timmy.