Rickson vs Sakuraba = Mayweather vs Pacquiao

Do you believe a sailboat can defeat a battleship?

I change my avatar from time to time. It isn't always about who I think the best fighter in the world might by. That last avatar was in support of Silva in his fight against Sonnen.

 

Yes Oleg could be considered that...but in striking terms Rickson was below Oleg, by the distance of Dana's jaw line from before he started the roid therapy to now... Ruas actually fought rudimentary strikers who's chin allowed them to get away with such in antiquities Who would fair best in such situations, Marco stopping the favoured Rickson pass to side control to armbar, or Rickson slipping a jab or checking a leg kick?

 

I never said a Sailboat is the best war machine ever.

 

I dont see Ruas preventing a takedown and Im no Rickson fan but his BJJ is some of the most refined ever, I just cant see Ruas not tapping. I wouldnt pick Ruas over Severn for example or even Shamrock.

 

Touche

 

I'd give Rickson the edge in both of these scenarios, but that is due to Ruas' passivity. If Ruas had been more aggressive with his strikes, I might doubt Rickson's ability to get him to the floor.

That does not address the point you are making, and it is a good one.

I'll use Rizzo as an example, because he was more effective with his stand-up than Ruas was in my opinion. Rizzo is also quite large for Rickson, so maybe this isn't the best example. **** it, I think it will work.

With longer time limits, and no separations due to inactivity, I think Rickson would do well against Rizzo. He would only have to close the distance once, and if he ever got the fight to the ground, you would get to see whether or not he ends the fight in submission.

With separations due to inactivity, more frequent round changes, etc...It makes Rickson have to close the distance against a much better striker repeatedly, and gives the better striker a chance to catch him with something and knock him out.

 

**** it, Rickson by armbar ;-)

 

Rickson never ducked Sakuraba. Rickson Gracie was the best jiujitsu player and fighter to come out of Brazil by virtue of defeating all opponents in the birthplace of what would become MMA where BJJ schools had intense rivalries with Vale Tudo schools that emphasized what? Muay thai and no gi jiujistu ala modern mixed martial artists. Rickson came to the States with his brother in the late 80's and spread the art through backroom smokers against all challengers.

Rickson helped raised MMA at the world level by his victories in Japan at the same time his brother was winning in the UFC. Rickson at what was by then the end of his career helped raise Brazilian jiujitsu and the sport that would become mixed martial arts to prominence. If Sakuraba wanted to fight Rickson then he had two Japanese based tournaments to enter and get his chance but it never happened. Sakuraba wasn't a mixed martial artist at the point Rickson was ending his career. Saks DUBIOUS victory over Royler hurt his chance to get a superfight with Rickson - when the ref stopped the fight without a tap or verbal submission from Royler who was severely outweighed by Sakuraba. Sak and the for lack of a better term scheming Japanese were not to be trusted after that point much like in Royce's first fight with Yoshida which was stopped simply because Yoshida obtained the mount position.

Rickson left the Pride org which was essentially started to defeat him - to fight in the fledgling Kingdom organization against one of the best Japanese martial artist to come out of the Pancrase org - Funaki - who held submission victories over everyone from Bas Rutten to Ken and Frank Shamrock to Guy Mezger to Maurice Smith. Rickson chocked him unconscious - the same as he would have done to Ruas, Rutten, Shamrock, Sakuraba and any other fighter below 200 lbs that you could have put in the ring with him at the time. Poll any number of knowledgeable jiujitsuan about the best jiujitsu fighter ever and they will all point to one man. Now let's lay off the lame ass ducking bull**** talk and show some respect to the God of Jiujitsu Rickson Gracie.

End of paragraph. End of thread.

 

Wait. You think He can beat the king of the Streets?