Comments on: Top Ten Tantrums

By: Mikee

Mikee — Fri, 04 Apr 2008 22:09:27 +0000

I strongly disagree with you Sam. Although GSP is a phenomenal fighter I do not believe that he deserves the number one ranking as P4P fighter in the MMA world. He has been unbelievable in his performances but he has been very suspect in some as well. Just going over his fights with Penn and Serra. While you can argue the Serra fight could have been a fluke, he was outclassed in his match against Penn. Aside from the split decision victory from an out of shape Penn, it just proves to me that Penn had the4 greater natural ability and talent and more well rounded technique that I think puts him above St.Pierre in that particular category. Plus looking at Silva, holy crap is that guy just tearing through people with ease. I’m through typing, this one was too long. Just venting.

By: Mike

Mike — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:59:46 +0000

Sam I agree with you on GSP. He is definitely the best P4P.

By: Glock

Glock — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 21:58:31 +0000

A non-story as echoed above by others “and Shaw is a what?”
Whew, this and a kimbo story in one day…

By: Mike Wolfe

Mike Wolfe — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 20:15:27 +0000

I’m not sure Shaw was really suggesting where “his” fighters should be ranked. His reference to fights with UFC fighters suggests his agenda is to eventually have joint promotions between fighters from both orgs, thereby increasing his revenues and the stature of his fighters and Elite. If he can start enough dialogue in MMA about the possibility, he increases the possibility it will happen. Failing that, he can say that White/UFC are ducking his fighters. That kind of rhetoric also helps him promote his guys.

That having been said, Shields doesn’t have the record to justify Shaw’s claim. Le might actually be top ten, but until he fights a highly ranked opponent with legit grappling and submissions, he hasn’t proved it.

By: Sam Caplan

Sam Caplan — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:42:31 +0000

I agree with Shields being top five. The argument is whether he is number the number one welterweight in the world. As far as Le, there are a lot of people with you that would disagree whether he’s top 10.

By: Jay K.

Jay K. — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:42:25 +0000

Sam,

After rereading your article and your comments, I cant’ agree. Niether promoter can claim objectivity when both are in the business of marketing. Thus, the reason those two mental heavyweights go for the cheap shot. Heck, I can make an arguement that Silva is the best p4p fighter out there. Convincingly! GSP should be second to Silva because of his loss to Serra. This is a a “What have you done for me lately?” sport. Not a “well so and so beat that guy several years ago, but he still should matter.”

It doesn’t work like that. It should be more along the lines of: Show up, put out, kick ass, get your ranking.

Jay K.

By: smoogleton

smoogleton — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 18:30:34 +0000

Shaw is a promoter, it has nothing to do with guilting anyone, and Shields being Top 5 and Le being top 10 aren’t even a big stretch. This is much ado about nothing

By: mike

mike — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:42:59 +0000

didnt shaw on sherdog say kj noons was no 1 is fighter as well? if u see him cageside when hes watching his events he always has this confused look on his face.

By: Evan

Evan — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:19:41 +0000

“Jay, but they could have credibility. There are ways to go to bat for your fighter without going over the top.”

Only the die hard fans notice such things. Shaw and White are doing that they’re supposed to do,

By: Rich S.

Rich S. — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:18:33 +0000

“………………….April fools!”

if you wouldn’t have thrown that part in at the end.. you would’ve been in for the biggest beating you’ve ever received..

lol.

By: Rich S.

Rich S. — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 16:03:05 +0000

Shields is good.. but he’d be in for a schooling if he fought GSP..

and with fighters like Hendo, Spider Silva, Franklin, Mayhem Miller, Paulo Filho, and Okami hangin’ around at MW.. i wouldn’t say Cung Le’s a top 10 MW.. although, i really like Le, i just think there’s too many other top 10 [MW] material fighters for him to be considered one..

By: Sam Caplan

Sam Caplan — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:45:50 +0000

Jay, but they could have credibility. There are ways to go to bat for your fighter without going over the top.

By: John Chandler

John Chandler — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:27:39 +0000

Amen to all of that. Amazing piece Sam.

By: Jay K.

Jay K. — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 15:16:58 +0000

This method is pretty popular in politics. If you’re not with us, you’re against us! LOL, gimme a break! Mouthpieces like Shaw and White are blowhard promoters that do what their supposed to do. That doesn’t necessarily translate into either of them having credibility.

Jay K.

By: islandguy666

islandguy666 — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:28:21 +0000

I guess you can argue that St. Pierre has a wrestling game as part of his arsenal that Silva doesn’t have. But Silva wins more despite that fact… Look at Liddell… very one dimensional fighter but still has (mostly ) been pretty dominant because he’s just so good at what he does. Over all the whole “best pound-for-pound” this is pretty sketchy.. but I guess it’s gives us something to talk about.

By: Derek B.

Derek B. — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:07:00 +0000

“Gary Shaw stating that Jake Shields in the number one fighter in his weight class and that Cung Le is a top ten middleweight.”

HAHA I remember hearing that from Shaw. He’s just a promoter…that’s what they all do. They want to say they have the best fighters….but come on There is no way that Shields is the number fighter in his weight class…and Cung Le is probably barely able to make it in the top 20 middle-weights.

Shaw should be careful with his words. I think he making the mistake of saying he has the best figthers. That just gives them more of a reason to test their abilities and go fight for UFC to see if they really are the best.

By: Kelvin

Kelvin — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:03:38 +0000

I agree with the article…nice job Sam

By: Kelvin

Kelvin — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:03:02 +0000

Nice article Sam…I pretty much agree with everything you said…cept

By: PhilB

PhilB — Tue, 01 Apr 2008 14:00:39 +0000

your friends at Junkie did an interview with Shields a week or two ago. He said himself that he thinks he is a top 5 in his weightclass. He all but said GSP is number 1 but he’d like to fight him and test himself.

I agree it puts everyone in a crappy spot when promoters do this. It’s not fair to the fighters for one. Now Shields who has a very realistic view of himself in the scope of his division, has to yet again listen to backlash against him due to someone elses words.