Anything MMA, except thumb wrestling

[Dance04]

Oh cool, what's your website?

Forrest does have to bring together an all-around game. His chin is good, no matter how you judge the Jardine fight. Jardine spanked him with about 4 good hooks to put him down, and Forrest still fought back while he was down. Albeit his jaw may not survive a good Rampage haymaker.

My disagreement is with Forrest having to throw knees because of what Wanderlei and Shogun did to Rampage. Rampage has definitely made advancements in his game since those fights happened. He was a brawling, out of shape fighter. Now he's disciplined and in fantastic shape. He has worked on his weaknesses, and is definitely the man at LHW throughout the world. I'd be surprised if Rua of 2005 could take the Rampage of 2007.

Forrest's ground game has obviously taken strides. I think you're right that it's where he needs to find himself against Rampage. You know Randy will be preaching the clinch and takedowns throughout Forrest's training. Nonetheless, I think Rampage will still beat Forrest on the ground. However, I will be pleasantly surprised if Forrest wins, even though I really like Rampage, too. These are my two favorite fighters. :doh: :doh:

While I think that rampage is the hands down favorite, and deservedly so, you cannot doubt ANYONE who trains with randy. Randy is hands down the best when it comes to gameplans and executing them. that, in turn, is also shown through his fighters. Therefore, I fully expect to see forrest come in, and not only put up a fight, but a hell of a fight worthy of knocking off the champ

[ZEPHEAD]

While I think that rampage is the hands down favorite, and deservedly so, you cannot doubt ANYONE who trains with randy. Randy is hands down the best when it comes to gameplans and executing them. that, in turn, is also shown through his fighters. Therefore, I fully expect to see forrest come in, and not only put up a fight, but a hell of a fight worthy of knocking off the champ

I agree. Randy can game plan like nobody else. But the problem fighting Page is, he is so strong and can take a beating. Page is a wrestler first. So to come in and try toshot to take him down won't work. Page doesn't stand straight up like a striker. He crouches a little waiting for the shot. And his strength is amazing.

If you saw his KO win over Ricardo Arona in Pride,you'll know just how strong he is. They were on the ground, with Page on top. Arona was holding both of Page's hands to his stomach. In one motion Page stands up, picks Arona up over his head and slams him down and KO's him.

The game plan that Forrest has to have is, hurt or get Page off his game in the standup and then go for the clinch, from there work for the double leg and get him down. Forrest has some decent Jui Jitsu so submitting Page isn't out of the question

[Dance04]

I agree. Randy can game plan like nobody else. But the problem fighting Page is, he is so strong and can take a beating. Page is a wrestler first. So to come in and try toshot to take him down won't work. Page doesn't stand straight up like a striker. He crouches a little waiting for the shot. And his strength is amazing.

If you saw his KO win over Ricardo Arona in Pride,you'll know just how strong he is. They were on the ground, with Page on top. Arona was holding both of Page's hands to his stomach. In one motion Page stands up, picks Arona up over his head and slams him down and KO's him.

The game plan that Forrest has to have is, hurt or get Page off his game in the standup and then go for the clinch, from there work for the double leg and get him down. Forrest has some decent Jui Jitsu so submitting Page isn't out of the question

Zep, agreed 100% And yes, that slam by Page on Arona was pure beast!Having that said, I do agree that rampage is incredibly strong.

IMO, Randy and forrests game plan is gonig to look similar, if not identical to the game lan randy used vs gonzaga. Pin him up against the cageand use dirty boxing.

You may think that wont work because page is too strong, but IMO its the best option for forrest. like you said, if forrest goes down, his chances of winnng diminish significantly. Then again, the man chocked out Rua.

Once in the cage, anything can happen

[ZEPHEAD]

Zep, agreed 100% And yes, that slam by Page on Arona was pure beast!Having that said, I do agree that rampage is incredibly strong.

IMO, Randy and forrests game plan is gonig to look similar, if not identical to the game lan randy used vs gonzaga. Pin him up against the cageand use dirty boxing.

You may think that wont work because page is too strong, but IMO its the best option for forrest. like you said, if forrest goes down, his chances of winnng diminish significantly. Then again, the man chocked out Rua.

Once in the cage, anything can happen

I agree. Dirty boxing is gonna play a big part in this fight. The clinch game is the weakest part of Page's game. I don't care who wins this fight, I just want a war

[Dance04]

I don't care who wins this fight, I just want a war

Ill drink to that!

now, only problems is, we need to wait 6 months for it to happen :doh:

[ZEPHEAD]

Ill drink to that!

now, only problems is, we need to wait 6 months for it to happen :doh:

Yea, sucks we have to wait that long for it, but we have this card on Dec. 29 to occupy us:

http://79.ufc.com/

And then this card on Jan. 19th

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail.fightCard&eid=1001

And then this Jan. 23rd.

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=9117

And then this on Feb, 2nd

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=EventDetail.FightCard&eid=1023

I don't know why they don't show the other fights, but this is them:

Tim Sylvia vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria

Tyson Griffin vs. Gleison Tibau

Nate Marwuardt vs. Thales Leites

Alan Belcher vs. Ricardo Almeida

Terry Martin vs. Marvin Eastman

Thomas Drwal vs. David Heath

And then UFC 82 on March 1st.

Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson

Jon Fitch vs. Akihiro Gono

John Halverson vs. Jorge Gurgel

Josh Koschecl vs. Dustin Hazelett

Other fights TBA.

And that's only the UFC. You have the HDNets Fights to night. IFL Gran Prix finals on Dec. 29th. M-1 on Dec. 31st.

The WCO on Jan. 12th with Babalu and Vernon White. Ricco Rodriguez and Mike Kyle. Gustavo Machado and Joe Riggs. Mark Kerr is back in action against Rick Roofus. Also Cabbage and Tiki are fighting on the card. MMA is blowing up

[Dance04]

Yea, sucks we have to wait that long for it, but we have this card on Dec. 29 to occupy us:

http://79.ufc.com/

And then this card on Jan. 19th

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=eventDetail.fightCard&eid=1001

And then this Jan. 23rd.

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=news.detail&gid=9117

And then this on Feb, 2nd

http://www.ufc.com/index.cfm?fa=EventDetail.FightCard&eid=1023

I don't know why they don't show the other fights, but this is them:

Tim Sylvia vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria

Tyson Griffin vs. Gleison Tibau

Nate Marwuardt vs. Thales Leites

Alan Belcher vs. Ricardo Almeida

Terry Martin vs. Marvin Eastman

Thomas Drwal vs. David Heath

And then UFC 82 on March 1st.

Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson

Jon Fitch vs. Akihiro Gono

John Halverson vs. Jorge Gurgel

Josh Koschecl vs. Dustin Hazelett

Other fights TBA.

And that's only the UFC. You have the HDNets Fights to night. IFL Gran Prix finals on Dec. 29th. M-1 on Dec. 31st.

The WCO on Jan. 12th with Babalu and Vernon White. Ricco Rodriguez and Mike Kyle. Gustavo Machado and Joe Riggs. Mark Kerr is back in action against Rick Roofus. Also Cabbage and Tiki are fighting on the card. MMA is blowing up

agreed man, its a great time to be an mma fan.

just saw on mmajunkie.com that bisping confirms he is moving to middleweight.

he will be higher ranked at that division, but it doesnt matter, he still wont be able to beat franklin, never mind ever contending with silva

[StillUnknown]

i'm lookin forward to the JZ vs. Shinya Aoki on the dec. 31 card

[ZEPHEAD]

agreed man, its a great time to be an mma fan.

just saw on mmajunkie.com that bisping confirms he is moving to middleweight.

he will be higher ranked at that division, but it doesnt matter, he still wont be able to beat franklin, never mind ever contending with silva

Bisping will still have his hands full at 185. Leaving Silva at of it, he has to beat Franklin, Dan Henderson, Dean Lister (To people who don't know, The Boogeyman, is one of the best grapplers in the world), Evan Tanner (He's comg back) Nathan Marquardt . The list goes on and on. But I agree with you, Franklin and Silva are out of his league, let alone the ones I mention above

[StillUnknown]

Bisping will still have his hands full at 185. Leaving Silva at of it, he has to beat Franklin, Dan Henderson, Dean Lister (To people who don't know, The Boogeyman, is one of the best grapplers in the world), Evan Tanner (He's comg back) Nathan Marquardt . The list goes on and on. But I agree with you, Franklin and Silva are out of his league, let alone the ones I mention above

truth be told i think Evans should drop to 185 as well.

[Chachie]

truth be told i think Evans should drop to 185 as well.

Be nice to see the look on Bisping's face if he heard that.

[ZEPHEAD]

truth be told i think Evans should drop to 185 as well.

Evan has been at 185 for a couple of years. His first fight with Franklin in 2003 was when he started fighting at 185. His last fight at 205 was against Shannon Ritch at a event called FCFF, Full Contact Fighting Federation out of Oregon. That event ended becoming Strike Force that is owned by Randy Coutre and Matt Linland

[StillUnknown]

Evan has been at 185 for a couple of years. His first fight with Franklin in 2003 was when he started fighting at 185. His last fight at 205 was against Shannon Ritch at a event called FCFF, Full Contact Fighting Federation out of Oregon. That event ended becoming Strike Force that is owned by Randy Coutre and Matt Linland

i should've clarified myself. I was referring to Rashad Evans

[ZEPHEAD]

i should've clarified myself. I was referring to Rashad Evans

I agree. To many good 205' out there for him to compete against. Do you think he could cut the wait?

[StillUnknown]

I agree. To many good 205' out there for him to compete against. Do you think he could cut the wait?

thats the million dollar question. his last two fights he seemed to tire a bit towards the end, even though he won the 3rd against Tito, he was still sucking wind. then he slowed down again against bisping as the fight went on. I'm not sure how cutting and extra 20 would affect him

but if he can handle the cut, he definitely should. I don't see him competing with any of the big dogs at 205, but he could make some waves at MW.

[Dance04]

Bisping will still have his hands full at 185. Leaving Silva at of it, he has to beat Franklin, Dan Henderson, Dean Lister (To people who don't know, The Boogeyman, is one of the best grapplers in the world), Evan Tanner (He's comg back) Nathan Marquardt . The list goes on and on. But I agree with you, Franklin and Silva are out of his league, let alone the ones I mention above

agreed 100%

by the way, you should go check back a couple pages. I posted pics from last weekend, I met marquardt and GSP. Was an awesome time. Nate is probably one of the nicest people I have ever met.

[Dance04]

thats the million dollar question. his last two fights he seemed to tire a bit towards the end, even though he won the 3rd against Tito, he was still sucking wind. then he slowed down again against bisping as the fight went on. I'm not sure how cutting and extra 20 would affect him

but if he can handle the cut, he definitely should. I don't see him competing with any of the big dogs at 205, but he could make some waves at MW.

If evans declares that he is dropping to 185, that will make his winning the HW TUF that much more impressive

as for where he would be placed in 185, he would be the same as bisping. Good, but not good enough.

We haven't even discussed people such as kendall grove (who I think is legit) and patrick Cote. (hey man, i gotta represent my homegrown boy!)

wow, suddenly the 185 wouldnt be so crap

[ZEPHEAD]

I was waiting for Cote to do what he did to Grove. I knew he had it in him (Heavy hands) it just had to come together.

Anybody watch the fights on HDNet?

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

While I think that rampage is the hands down favorite, and deservedly so, you cannot doubt ANYONE who trains with randy. Randy is hands down the best when it comes to gameplans and executing them. that, in turn, is also shown through his fighters. Therefore, I fully expect to see forrest come in, and not only put up a fight, but a hell of a fight worthy of knocking off the champ

Yep, not doubting anyone that trains with Randy - but I don't doubt Rampage will punch right through a gameplan like the paper it's written on. Randy got Forrest to kick his way through an injury vs. an unworthy student of Rampage's, and also got Forrest to beat a jellybean Shogun with an ACL. Who else in the UFC does Randy train? (Might be slipping my mind, Koscheck?). We all know Randy wins his own fights with execution and gameplanning, and it has rubbed off on a previously impatient Forrest Griffin. Randy is definitley up there as a guy you'd want in your corner as a gameplanner.

But he isn't a stand up specialist. He can show you how to chip at your opponent in order to shoot for a clinch or takedown...but I imagine Randy's fighters are most vunerable when they're toe to toe. Forrest looked fantastic on the ground. IF it goes there, expect Randy's golden boy to be tested to the fullest. I don't care if Bill Belicheat gameplanned for Forrest, fighters of the Henderson/Silva/Rampage ilk are too experienced and shapely to fall in to a finness trap.

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

If evans declares that he is dropping to 185, that will make his winning the HW TUF that much more impressive

as for where he would be placed in 185, he would be the same as bisping. Good, but not good enough.

We haven't even discussed people such as kendall grove (who I think is legit) and patrick Cote. (hey man, i gotta represent my homegrown boy!)

wow, suddenly the 185 wouldnt be so crap

True, there would be more lower-tier fights in MW, which is much needed.

Grove is a long kid with a lot of pride, I just think he's too mopey to survive in middleweight. Young, got a lot of time ahead of him. It's just hard for me to believe a 6'6" guy will be champ at 185 one day. Not enough technique, speed and power for someone who likes to stand and throw. But we'll see in time, could be wrong.

I think Rashad will fair better in MW than Bisping will. A guy who can KO people in HW certainly opens my eyes when he moves two weight classes down. Bisping will get ravaged by the ground fighters in MW. Rashad, he can keep up with some of that. Silva, Henderson, Franklin, Marquart, Okami, Evans - is how I'd see it as of now

[StillUnknown]

Yep, not doubting anyone that trains with Randy - but I don't doubt Rampage will punch right through a gameplan like the paper it's written on. Randy got Forrest to kick his way through an injury vs. an unworthy student of Rampage's, and also got Forrest to beat a jellybean Shogun with an ACL. Who else in the UFC does Randy train? (Might be slipping my mind, Koscheck?). We all know Randy wins his own fights with execution and gameplanning, and it has rubbed off on a previously impatient Forrest Griffin. Randy is definitley up there as a guy you'd want in your corner as a gameplanner.

But he isn't a stand up specialist. He can show you how to chip at your opponent in order to shoot for a clinch or takedown...but I imagine Randy's fighters are most vunerable when they're toe to toe. Forrest looked fantastic on the ground. IF it goes there, expect Randy's golden boy to be tested to the fullest. I don't care if Bill Belicheat gameplanned for Forrest, fighters of the Henderson/Silva/Rampage ilk are too experienced and shapely to fall in to a finness trap.

Koscheck trains with AKA, Randy corners for Karo definitely and a couple of others that are slipping my mind.

[StillUnknown]

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5285&zoneid=13

Randy Couture appeared at HDNet Fights on Saturday night and reaffirmed to fans that he will return to fighting, but not in the Ultimate Fighting Championship, as he will stay out until his current contract expires and wait for a fight with Fedor Emelianenko.

“I am not retired,” said Couture at the HDNet Fights show in Dallas, Texas. “I am waiting for my UFC contract to expire. I will fight Fedor Emelianenko.”

Couture’s statement will surely come as a shock to many fans who were waiting to see if the current UFC heavyweight champion would return to the Octagon, but it looks as if now he has decided sit out and wait for the dream match-up with Fedor at some point in the future.

Another embattled UFC heavyweight was a guest at the HDNet Fights show, as former champion Andrei Arlovski was present at the show and post fight press conference.

“I will fight very soon,” Arlovski stated about his fight career.

Sources close to the fighter confirmed to MMAWeekly.com that Arlovski is also waiting out his UFC contract which according to them expires in April and at that time the Belarus native will look to move on to another organization.

Arlovski should've had a fight by now

[d0ublestr0ker0ll]

http://www.mmaweekly.com/absolutenm/templates/dailynews.asp?articleid=5285&zoneid=13

Arlovski should've had a fight by now

Interesting, I wonder what Arlovski's beef with the UFC is. Maybe that the fighting requires you to actually fight?

And Randy wants to fight Fedor in what, 7 months? I find it sad that Randy can't find a way to have good communication with the brass of the UFC. He must feel deeply dishonered stemming from a long time period if he can't. A fight like this, if it's great, will make the UFC look foolish. The two best heavyweights in the world will be fighting in Moscow. It's like if the Patriots and Colts decided to play in the CFL.

[StillUnknown]

Interesting, I wonder what Arlovski's beef with the UFC is. Maybe that the fighting requires you to actually fight?

i wouldn't have a problem with what they're doing to Arlovski except for the fact that the guy he beat, Werdum, is in a headline fight against Gonzaga at UFC 80 i believe. i don't understand how the guy arlovski beat, albeit a boring decision, gets a major fight before him. Its not like Werdum did anything of worth in that fight (excluding the infamous pimp slap :laugh: )

[#98QBKiller]

"War Machine" pleads guilty to felony assault charge

link:

http://signonsandiego.printthis.clickability.com/pt/cpt?action=cpt&title=SignOnSanDiego.com+%3E+News+%3E+Metro+--+%27Ultimate+Fighting%27+star+pleads+guilty+to+assault+charge&expire=&urlID=25410269&fb=Y&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.signonsandiego.com%2Fnews%2Fmetro%2F20071213-1621-bn13fight2.html&partnerID=621

By Angelica Martinez

UNION-TRIBUNE BREAKING NEWS TEAM

4:21 p.m. December 13, 2007

SAN DIEGO – Jon Koppenhaver, known as “War Machine” from Spike TV's reality series “The Ultimate Fighter,” pleaded guilty Thursday in Superior Court to a felony assault charge.

The professional cage-fighter choked a Las Vegas man unconscious and hit him in the face outside San Diego's Undisputed fitness and training center early Sept. 2.

Koppenhaver also faced a battery charge, but that was dismissed as part of a plea agreement reached during the preliminary hearing Thursday afternoon.

The victim, Darren Zatkow, testified during the hearing that he was visiting San Diego with his then-girlfriend when he was assaulted outside the fitness club after a night of drinks on the town.

Zatkow said he made a joke as he walked out with friends, calling a group of men standing outside the club without shirts “tough guys” while holding his hands up to his shoulders with palms open before he was surrounded by the men. “I cracked a joke and I got hit for it,” Zatkow said.

Zatkow said he was grabbed from behind in a carotid choke and dragged a few feet by one of the men. Zatkow said he did not see who grabbed him.

Zatkow, who practices martial arts but has never competed in tournaments, said he became unconscious 10 seconds after he was choked and came to moments later. Friends of Zatkow's who testified said he was punched in the face while he lay unconscious on the ground.

San Diego Police Detective Fernando Ramirez said a Las Vegas doctor who saw Zatkow days after the assault determined that the facial blow caused four fractures to his left eye socket. The injuries could cause temporary or permanent nerve damage, Ramirez said. The extent of the injury is not yet known because Zatkow is still recovering, he said.

Koppenhaver, 26, of Simi Valley, is skilled in mixed martial arts, according to his profile on the Ultimate Fighting Championship Web site, and also is a resident trainer for San Diego's Undisputed club.

Last week, he won with a technical knockout against Jared Rollins in the third round of Spike TV's Ultimate Fighter Finale held in Nevada.

Judge Frank Brown said the change in plea could result in a misdemeanor punishment. Zatkow told the court he thought a reduced punishment was OK because he believed a felony conviction would destroy Koppenhaver's career.

“I'm not interested in destroying somebody's life,” Zatkow said, noting that fighting should stay in the ring.

Koppenhaver is scheduled to be sentenced Feb. 7 at 1:30 p.m.