Comments on: Making the case for Evan Tanner to be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/ Your Destination for Insider MMA News and Opinion Sat, 26 May 2012 18:11:48 +0000 hourly 1 http://wordpress.org/?v=3.0.4 By: Eamon J God http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-61146 Eamon J God Tue, 23 Dec 2008 04:13:13 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-61146 I agree completely, being a great champion isn't just about your record in mma. I agree completely, being a great champion isn’t just about your record in mma.

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]]> By: THORAZINE http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-61069 THORAZINE Mon, 22 Dec 2008 06:16:20 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-61069 " Gracie, Shamrock, Severn, and Coleman helped built the sport.".. but guys like Evan Tanner fighting in the then failing UFC from 1999-2005 taking on the best of what that era had to offer helped keep the UFC alive and makes him very worthy of HOF recognition... Caplan hits' the nail on the head here. ” Gracie, Shamrock, Severn, and Coleman helped built the sport.”.. but guys like Evan Tanner fighting in the then failing UFC from 1999-2005 taking on the best of what that era had to offer helped keep the UFC alive and makes him very worthy of HOF recognition… Caplan hits’ the nail on the head here.

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]]> By: nate http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-61027 nate Sun, 21 Dec 2008 22:33:37 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-61027 great read, thanks Sam. great read, thanks Sam.

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]]> By: Sam Caplan http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60998 Sam Caplan Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:39:01 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60998 Jonathan, my point is that there wasn't a lot of depth in MMA in the early years and that most top fighters that competed prior to 2001 are going to have a lot of "soft" wins on their record. Jonathan, my point is that there wasn’t a lot of depth in MMA in the early years and that most top fighters that competed prior to 2001 are going to have a lot of “soft” wins on their record.

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]]> By: Jonathan Snowden http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60996 Jonathan Snowden Sun, 21 Dec 2008 17:15:13 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60996 Sam, Surely you see the difference between Gracie, Shamrock, Severn, and Coleman and Evan Tanner? Those men built the sport. I liked Evan as much as anyone, but his sad demise doesn't mean he should be propped up to a status his skills as a fighter didn't merit. Ask yourself if anyone would be advocating Evan for a HOF if he had merely retired, rather than passed away. I think the answer is obvious. Jonathan Sam,

Surely you see the difference between Gracie, Shamrock, Severn, and Coleman and Evan Tanner? Those men built the sport.

I liked Evan as much as anyone, but his sad demise doesn’t mean he should be propped up to a status his skills as a fighter didn’t merit. Ask yourself if anyone would be advocating Evan for a HOF if he had merely retired, rather than passed away. I think the answer is obvious.

Jonathan

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]]> By: Sam Caplan http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60991 Sam Caplan Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:41:45 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60991 Brandon, Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn and Mark Coleman are all in the UFC Hall of Fame and all have wins against some opponents with less than impressive records. Brandon, Royce Gracie, Ken Shamrock, Dan Severn and Mark Coleman are all in the UFC Hall of Fame and all have wins against some opponents with less than impressive records.

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]]> By: Brandon http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60990 Brandon Sun, 21 Dec 2008 16:38:52 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60990 I still don't understand why should Tanner be inducted while Nick Diaz is ignored? If winning against Robbie Lawler is what it takes to be inducted into the HOF then why not Nick? It's similar to the NFL HOF debates that always go on... should a player be inducted because of longevity and playing many years at average or slightly above average place... Check out Sherdog's fightfinder.. aside from Homer Moore, nearly every one of his UFC wins was against a .500 (give or take a win or two) figher. Hardly the credentials of an elite fighter. I still don’t understand why should Tanner be inducted while Nick Diaz is ignored? If winning against Robbie Lawler is what it takes to be inducted into the HOF then why not Nick?

It’s similar to the NFL HOF debates that always go on… should a player be inducted because of longevity and playing many years at average or slightly above average place…

Check out Sherdog’s fightfinder.. aside from Homer Moore, nearly every one of his UFC wins was against a .500 (give or take a win or two) figher. Hardly the credentials of an elite fighter.

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]]> By: Sam Caplan http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60978 Sam Caplan Sun, 21 Dec 2008 14:16:19 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60978 Neal, I would disagree. For one, 17 fights inside the Octagon is an accomplishment into itself. And sure, Tanner never was able to get the win over Rich Franklin... but Chuck Liddell has never been able to get the win over Quinton Jackson. Tanner also held the middleweight title and I would beg to differ that he has losses to every top-flight fighter he faced. You stated that all the victories cited came outside the UFC and that simply is incorrect. At the time, Baroni, Terrell, and Lawler were all top guys in the UFC's middleweight division. Terrell had just smoked Matt Lindland prior to fighting Tanner and had wins outside the UFC against Yuki Sasaki and Joey Villasenor. We can laugh now, but at the time, Terrell was considered the future of the UFC's middleweight division. Before he started to fade and be exposed as one dimensional, Lawler began his UFC career 3-0 and was thought to be a star in the making. It didn't work out that way and he had to leave the UFC in order to become well-rounded, but at the time, the UFC's divisions weren't anywhere near as deep as they are now and Lawler was still a top guy even though he was coming off the Diaz KO. And today, Baroni, even by his own admission, is a journeyman. But there was a time in the UFC where, like Lawler, he was thought to be considered a rising star. Cardio issues and a failure to diversify his style led to Baroni's downfall, but the two wins meant something at the time. Are there fighters more deserving? Absolutely, and I stated that in my article. But Pat Miletich and Frank Shamrock aren't getting in anytime soon due to politics. Can you think of a candidate more deserving than Tanner that the UFC could realistically induct? Neal, I would disagree. For one, 17 fights inside the Octagon is an accomplishment into itself. And sure, Tanner never was able to get the win over Rich Franklin… but Chuck Liddell has never been able to get the win over Quinton Jackson. Tanner also held the middleweight title and I would beg to differ that he has losses to every top-flight fighter he faced. You stated that all the victories cited came outside the UFC and that simply is incorrect. At the time, Baroni, Terrell, and Lawler were all top guys in the UFC’s middleweight division.

Terrell had just smoked Matt Lindland prior to fighting Tanner and had wins outside the UFC against Yuki Sasaki and Joey Villasenor. We can laugh now, but at the time, Terrell was considered the future of the UFC’s middleweight division.

Before he started to fade and be exposed as one dimensional, Lawler began his UFC career 3-0 and was thought to be a star in the making. It didn’t work out that way and he had to leave the UFC in order to become well-rounded, but at the time, the UFC’s divisions weren’t anywhere near as deep as they are now and Lawler was still a top guy even though he was coming off the Diaz KO.

And today, Baroni, even by his own admission, is a journeyman. But there was a time in the UFC where, like Lawler, he was thought to be considered a rising star. Cardio issues and a failure to diversify his style led to Baroni’s downfall, but the two wins meant something at the time.

Are there fighters more deserving? Absolutely, and I stated that in my article. But Pat Miletich and Frank Shamrock aren’t getting in anytime soon due to politics. Can you think of a candidate more deserving than Tanner that the UFC could realistically induct?

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]]> By: NealTaflinger http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60977 NealTaflinger Sun, 21 Dec 2008 13:34:22 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60977 All due respect to the dead, I don't think Tanner's credentials merit inclusion in the UFC HoF. All the victories cited came outside of the UFC, his record was...11-6(?) inside the promotion with losses to every top-flight fighter he faced. I'd love for Zuffa to create an award in his honor but if you compare resumes there are much more deserving guys. All due respect to the dead, I don’t think Tanner’s credentials merit inclusion in the UFC HoF. All the victories cited came outside of the UFC, his record was…11-6(?) inside the promotion with losses to every top-flight fighter he faced. I’d love for Zuffa to create an award in his honor but if you compare resumes there are much more deserving guys.

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]]> By: Seriously http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60925 Seriously Sun, 21 Dec 2008 00:08:44 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60925 Forget what I posted earlier. It's really a matter of worthiness. The UFC is not worthy of having Tanner as a UFC HoFer. Forget what I posted earlier. It’s really a matter of worthiness. The UFC is not worthy of having Tanner as a UFC HoFer.

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]]> By: Robert http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60840 Robert Sat, 20 Dec 2008 12:43:24 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60840 The UFC hall of fame won't be complete until Tito Ortiz is inducted. He held the light heavyweight championship longer than anyone in history and had a UFC record of 14 Wins 6 Losses and 1 Draw . Not to mention the Ortiz/Shamrock rivalry was the biggest in the history of MMA. The UFC hall of fame won’t be complete until Tito Ortiz is inducted. He held the light heavyweight championship longer than anyone in history and had a UFC record of 14 Wins 6 Losses and 1 Draw . Not to mention the Ortiz/Shamrock rivalry was the biggest in the history of MMA.

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]]> By: Tom Hodgson http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60826 Tom Hodgson Sat, 20 Dec 2008 08:12:34 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60826 This is all posthumous recognition. Granted he deserves the recognition he's receiving in general and I could not agree more, but it would NOT be given to him if he had not passed away this year. No one is putting words in your mouth. Logically, there are others lined up who have done more for the UFC and to deny that is just the blatancy of your nod because of his passing. This is all posthumous recognition. Granted he deserves the recognition he’s receiving in general and I could not agree more, but it would NOT be given to him if he had not passed away this year. No one is putting words in your mouth. Logically, there are others lined up who have done more for the UFC and to deny that is just the blatancy of your nod because of his passing.

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]]> By: THORAZINE http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60823 THORAZINE Sat, 20 Dec 2008 07:18:22 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60823 BRANDON, Here's the Guy's MARK KERR BEAT IN THE UFC. Who the hell are they? and who's Morti? LMAO! This doesn't make Mark Kerr UFC HOF material. Remember the key here is UFC Hall of Fame not MMA Hall of Fame. Mark Kerr should be inducted into the MMA Hall of Fame, not UFC Hall of Fame. 1. Dwayne Cason 2. Greg Stott 3. Dan Bobish 4. Moti Horenstei BRANDON, Here’s the Guy’s MARK KERR BEAT IN THE UFC. Who the hell are they? and who’s Morti? LMAO! This doesn’t make Mark Kerr UFC HOF material. Remember the key here is UFC Hall of Fame not MMA Hall of Fame. Mark Kerr should be inducted into the MMA Hall of Fame, not UFC Hall of Fame.

1. Dwayne Cason
2. Greg Stott
3. Dan Bobish
4. Moti Horenstei

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]]> By: Turtlesmmaspot http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60816 Turtlesmmaspot Sat, 20 Dec 2008 03:34:44 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60816 I read all your thoughts and I know i'm going to be flamed for this but, I think Tito Ortiz love him or hate him should be in the hall of fame before Tanner. Just think about it. I read all your thoughts and I know i’m going to be flamed for this but, I think Tito Ortiz love him or hate him should be in the hall of fame before Tanner.
Just think about it.

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]]> By: HexRei http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60798 HexRei Fri, 19 Dec 2008 22:13:31 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60798 I think he would not be out of place as a Hall of Famer, but Dana will probably tap Lesnar for that honor this year ;) I think he would not be out of place as a Hall of Famer, but Dana will probably tap Lesnar for that honor this year ;)

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]]> By: Spencer Kyte http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60793 Spencer Kyte Fri, 19 Dec 2008 20:43:00 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60793 You make a compelling case Sam and I believe you're genuine when you say you'd have written the piece even if Tanner was still alive. Personally, I don't see Tanner as a Hall of Famer. Citing his being a former champion isn't enough, especially because he won a vacant title and lost the belt in his first defense. If Murilo Bustamante doesn't go to Pride, Tanner never wears the belt. Yes he had some exciting fights in those early years when the UFC wasn't on Reality TV and those accomplishments shouldn't be diminished, but the whole of his career isn't Hall of Fame worthy in comparison to other guys who fought during that same time. On a different note, the fact that Dana & Co. can't get over themselves and old issues to induct a guy like Militech is absurd... You make a compelling case Sam and I believe you’re genuine when you say you’d have written the piece even if Tanner was still alive.

Personally, I don’t see Tanner as a Hall of Famer. Citing his being a former champion isn’t enough, especially because he won a vacant title and lost the belt in his first defense. If Murilo Bustamante doesn’t go to Pride, Tanner never wears the belt.

Yes he had some exciting fights in those early years when the UFC wasn’t on Reality TV and those accomplishments shouldn’t be diminished, but the whole of his career isn’t Hall of Fame worthy in comparison to other guys who fought during that same time.

On a different note, the fact that Dana & Co. can’t get over themselves and old issues to induct a guy like Militech is absurd…

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]]> By: Brandon http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60787 Brandon Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:49:52 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60787 Thorazine -> Yup and with those 4 fights he accomplished more then Tanner... not hating Tanner he was an interesting cat. I would induct him in the Hall of Fame of Gatekeepers along side with Elvis Sinosic, Chris Lytle, Karo Parisyan and Heath Herring.... Beating Phil Baroni isn't some kind of accomplishment that makes you HOF material... Thorazine -> Yup and with those 4 fights he accomplished more then Tanner… not hating Tanner he was an interesting cat.

I would induct him in the Hall of Fame of Gatekeepers along side with Elvis Sinosic, Chris Lytle, Karo Parisyan and Heath Herring….

Beating Phil Baroni isn’t some kind of accomplishment that makes you HOF material…

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]]> By: Joe http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60782 Joe Fri, 19 Dec 2008 19:15:36 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60782 In my mind Matt Hughes deserves to be inducted into the hall of fame. In my mind Matt Hughes deserves to be inducted into the hall of fame.

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]]> By: tim http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60718 tim Fri, 19 Dec 2008 02:55:48 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60718 thank you for this article, sam. it is one of the best pieces i've read in some time. very well said, and very well presented. Evan Tanner, UFC HOF...would be more than deserved. thank you for this article, sam. it is one of the best pieces i’ve read in some time. very well said, and very well presented. Evan Tanner, UFC HOF…would be more than deserved.

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]]> By: platypus http://fiveouncesofpain.com/2008/12/16/making-the-case-for-evan-tanner-to-be-inducted-into-the-ufc-hall-of-fame/comment-page-1/#comment-60706 platypus Fri, 19 Dec 2008 00:47:48 +0000 http://fiveouncesofpain.com/?p=10058#comment-60706 great article great article

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