Comments on: Wanderlei not moving to middleweight

By: king mah mah

king mah mah — Wed, 28 May 2008 15:27:35 +0000

How the hell is wanderlei a small fish? Are you on dope?! Yeah, you’re right wanderlei should just retire now………..NOT!

By: the Levi

the Levi — Wed, 28 May 2008 02:20:28 +0000

Wanderlei is one of many big fish inthe Lhwt div. he definetly shopuld stay in the div. that made him famous. he could compete with the best of the div. no problem.

By: Mike Wolfe

Mike Wolfe — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:42:15 +0000

I’m not trivializing Wanderlai or his accomplishments, just speculating about how he’ll fare against other fighters at light heavy. As far as a title shot is concerned, you could build a case for one as a result of his win over Jardine. Sure, Silva lost to Liddell, but Liddell lost to Rampage and Jardine. Silva has already beaten Rampage and Jardine, and the Jardine win was dramatic. If Rampage beats Griffin, who else do you put up against Rampage? Machida and Thiago Silva need a few more quality wins, but Wanderlai is already there.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 27 May 2008 19:07:46 +0000

In my opinion, Wandy is one high profile win away, just because of his star power. IF they feed him Liddell, Thiago Silva, or Machida and he wins, Wandy gets a shot at Rampage. I would put money on it. I think he difinitively beats Thiago and Machida, and has a 50/50 shot at Liddell. Just my two cents.

By: Gary Herman

Gary Herman — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:55:43 +0000

No one is discounting Wanderlei’s accomplishments in Pride in any way. What I’m saying is that the shortest route to a title shot is through the middleweight division, and the middleweight division desperately needs someone like Wanderlei in it.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 27 May 2008 18:36:37 +0000

Mike and Gary- you both apparently live by the mantra “What have you done for me lately.” Wanderlei wasn’t beaten for 5 years. He loses to a true top 5 heavyweight, a guy who was ranked number 2 in two weight classes with a scud missle for a right hand, and the only other LHW who can match his dominance. And after rewatching the Liddell fight, it was pretty damn close until the third period.
There might be guys ahead of him on the list of contenders, but he has only fought 2 fights in his new stint with the UFC. To forget his previous accomplishements and catagorize him as a “little fish” soley on a 1-1 record is ridiculous. Wanderlei has the ability to beat everyone in the division, and in devestating manner. Including two demolitions of the current champ. The “your only as good as your last fight” mentality is what is wrong with the fans in this sport in my opinion. Sorry guys, I just can’t agree here. I guess we aree to disagree.

By: Gary Herman

Gary Herman — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:55:00 +0000

Nick -

The 205 lb weight class is loaded with big name talent – Liddell, Machida, and Griffin – all ahead of Wanderlei as title contenders. The 185 lb weight class has – Okami? – in front of him as a title contender which basically means no one.

So basically Wanderlei hopes to remain undefeated (see Karo Parisyan) until the middle to end of 2009 for a title shot at 205 or he drops to 185 and receives a title shot almost immediately.

By: Mike Wolfe

Mike Wolfe — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:34:25 +0000

IMO is a contraction of “In My Opinion.”

Silva’s win over Jardine says more about Jardine’s weaknesses than it does about Silva’s strengths. Jardine also lost to Houston Alexander, who came at him aggressively like Silva did. Liddell, who is more of a counter puncher, didn’t push the pace and lost.

Silva lost to Liddell, who is bigger, taller, and mobile. IMO, Silva will have the same problems with other light heavies who significantly cut weight to get to 205.

I question whether Silva can beat Rampage, who is more serious about his training since his move to the UFC. Rampage’s losses to Silva in Pride don’t indicate his current conditioning and abilities.

By: Nick

Nick — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:29:34 +0000

Gary, I was with you until the “Wanderlei is a small fish in a big pond.” comment. How you can catagorize Wand as a “small fish” is beyond me. Leads me to believe you might be a relative newcomer to the sport. I would like to hear your reasoning behind that silly comment. thanks.

By: Fred

Fred — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:25:43 +0000

Wand has a chance to be champ in the division. Chuck will never be champ again.

By: Joe

Joe — Tue, 27 May 2008 17:20:21 +0000

Excuse my ignorance, for I am not a native english speaker, but what does IMO mean?

By: UFC69INTX

UFC69INTX — Tue, 27 May 2008 15:42:40 +0000

i see the only chance chuck has at being lhw champ again is if wanderlei beats rampage and then a rematch between chuck and wandi, chuck wins and gets belt back, IMO

By: Bad Monkey

Bad Monkey — Tue, 27 May 2008 14:34:45 +0000

After dismantling Jardine, there’s no reason for him to drop down. Plus, Rampage has got to be sweating a bit with some bad memories of knees to the face in Japan. Go Wandi!!!!

By: Kelvin

Kelvin — Tue, 27 May 2008 12:23:33 +0000

The matchup’s at 205 are much more interesting than the fights for Wandy at 185 IMO.

By: mo

mo — Tue, 27 May 2008 10:35:47 +0000

i also think a key part to this was Dana saying the whole thing was up to Wandy. I think the UFC pressures Dan Henderson a bit to move down, and maybe with other guys in other places, but from what i read it really seemed that Dana was saying if Wandy moves down or stays at his weight is all up to him.

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Tue, 27 May 2008 10:02:13 +0000

[...] Five OuncesWanderlei not moving to middleweight [...]

By: DPK

DPK — Tue, 27 May 2008 09:32:33 +0000

Silva v Silva would be an awsome fight, but I don’t see him leaving a division where he has stopped the current champion twice, and he is probably one fight away from another shot at Rampage.