UFC 97 – Anderson Silva Vs Thales Leites my thoughts and reactions
Here comes a rant so please bare with me please….
Ok so for the people who didnt see the fight or hasn’t seen the reports:-
Anderson Silva defeated Thales Leites after 5 rounds, yes he did go 5 rounds.
A brief explanation of the fight, very defensive start and leading Thales Leites always dropping onto his back if Anderson Silva looked to take control. Silva in turn had to come out attacking in round 3 and for the next two rounds took apart Thales Leites who didnt seem to be able to deal with the best pound for pound fighter in the world. The Canadian fans booed from the second round.
Which really frustrates is the fans for a start, then the abuse Anderson recieved from other fighters, the fans and the press…. and Dana White.
What everyone needs to remember is he is the top fighter, the title holder and now record holder for unbeaten fighting run in the UFC and most title defenses in UFC history.
If you hold the title the contender has to do enough to beat you whether it is a knock out, a TKO or submission, which Leites wouldnt have done in 50 rounds.
So Anderson Silva did more than enough to retain his title and the challenger did not. Whether it was the game plan or the shear fear when facing Anderson Silva.
The more annoying fact is how rude the fans were ringside, I know it was not the best fight almost boring… but then if you cannot appreciate the fight and what the fighters are doing then dont buy the tickets.
The fans ringside wouldnt all have been casual fans but are definitely blinded by hometown favourite GSP, Joe Rogan had it spot on in commentary.
Chanting his name during the title fight is disrespectful and had no relevance to the fight. All this crap about GSP moving up and possibly fighting Anderson Silva is nonsense in my honest opinion, the only way that will happen is if there is a real shortage of talent in middleweight which there is not really or Silva cannot go up to light heavyweight and destroy that division which he is more than capable of doing as demonstrated against James Irvin last July 2008.
GSP still has to beat Thiago Alves who is more than able to knock GSP out in one punch and then there is the matter of the GSP BJ Penn rubber match after grease gate, which Dana White and Joe Silva have to give the fans after grease gate scandal and it is still really unfinished business.
The other issue I have is Dana White, attacking Anderson Silva for not throwing punches, knees, elbows etc, coming out and saying your embarassed by your top figher is crazy. Note to Steve Cofield you are a journo tool who clearly is scooping for a story…. you clearly do not get MMA!
Video interview between Steve Cofield and Dana White
My personal feelings is that if Dana is that annoyed with Anderson Silva then seak to him and his management or either let him fight Roy Jones Jr in the boxing match they both clearly want or lastly, make Anderson move up to light heavyweight (and at Dana’s risk possibly make your middleweight less attractive, which the UFC cannot afford at the moment as it is probably the weakest division at the moment)
This would be my thoughts -
Get GSP and Thiago Alves fight at UFC 100 over and done with – if GSP wins then let BJ Penn beat Kenny Florian at UFC 101. Then let GSP BJ Penn 3 (rubber match) happen
Get the light heavyweight division clearer, so let the UFC 98 title fight happen, Lyoto Machida and champ Rashad Evans. Then let Rampage have his title shot against the winner. Allow the fight between Dan Henderson and Michael Bisping happen at UFC 100, then you have your top fighters mapped out.
Allow Anderson have a couple of months off then get him to fight a top 5 fighter, whether its Forrest, the loser of the title shot or throw him in. You then can set up the real big fights and have Anderson fighting the bigger more powerful fighters and will no doubt knock the majority out or make them tap.
Ultimately Anderson Silva was treated unfairly and was attacked because everyone expects him to kick 7 bells out of all the fighters the UFC put in front of him, Dana White needs to remember that not every fight can end in a TKO or submission and if it did then he would have to line up 15 fights per card.
Give him a break and back your top fighter or lose him!
Rant over… 
Danny Denhard
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UFC 97 Fight Results
UFC 97 results –
Middleweight title fight
Anderson Silva wins over Thales Leites Decision Round 5
Co main event
Mauricio Shogun Rua defeated Chuck Liddell TKO 4:28 Round 1
Cheik Kongo wins over Antoni Hardonk TKO 2:29 Round 2
Kzysztof Soszynski defeated Brian Stann via Kimura 3:53 Round 1
Luiz Arthur Cane defeated Steve Cantwell via Decision Round 3
Eliot Marshall wins over Vinicius Magalhaes Decision Round 3
Denis Kang wins over Xavier Foupa-Poukam Decision Round 3
Mark Bocek wins over David Bielkheden Submission Choke 4:57 Round 1
Nate Quarry wins over Jason MacDonald TKO 2:27 Round 1
Ed Herman wins over David Loiseau Unanimous Decision Round 3
TJ Grant wins over Ryo Chonan Unanimous Decision Round 3
Sam Stout wins over Matt Wiman Unanimous Decision Round 3
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Anderson The Spider Silva video highlight
I thought as UFC 97 was upon us and a potential record could be broken I would find a great preview video of one of my favourite MMA and UFC fighter Anderson The Spider Silva
Enjoy (apologises about the music my my personal choice of course)
Fingers crossed for the victory on Saturday night/Sunday morning!
Danny Denhard
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UFC news and UFC daily update with UFC 97 build up
Firstly dont forget the upcoming UFC event UFC 97 on Saturday night/Sunday morning on Setanta Sports 2 from 03.00 Sky channel 424. For full card info check out my UFC 97 preview article
UFC 102 has two new bouts
Heavyweight battle – highly rated Junior Dos Santos VS. Justin McCully. McCully is a wrestling specialist and is 2 and 1 in he UFC. Whereas Dos Santos starting his short UFC career at UFC 90, he has already beaten Fabricio Werdum and distroyed Stephan Struve at UFC 95.
Light heavyweight bout Matt Hamill vs. Brandon Vera has been moved from UFC 101. No tellings why yet, but this one is definitely one I am looking forward to. Brandon Vera looks to revenge the brutual KO of team mate Mark Munoz at UFC 96.
Sherdog has written a very good pound for pound top ten.
Their top ten is -
1. Anderson Silva
2. Georges St. Pierre
3. Fedor Emelianenko (Affliction fighter)
4. Miguel Torres (WEC fighter)
5. B.J. Penn
6. Rashad Evans
7. Quinton Jackson
8. Mike Thomas Brown (WEC fighter)
9. Forrest Griffin
10. Thiago Alves
For the very good full article check out Sherdog top ten pound for pound
Lastly only a few days until the fight that could end Chuck Liddell’s place in the UFC at UFC 97 with his showdown with Shogun Rua, he releases his video blog (vlog)
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UFC 97 Redemption Liddell Vs Rua in depth review
The co main event for upcoming UFC 97 is just over a week away and thought I would have a good look at former UFC Light Heavyweight champion and fans favourite Chuck The Iceman Liddell and Pride hero and highly rated Mauricio Shogan Rua.
Chuck “The Iceman” Liddell
Fighting out of San Luis Obispo, California, America
Age 39
Height 6′ 2″
Weight 205 lbs. Light Havyweight
Overall MMA Record 21-6-0
Strengths Excellent striker and well-rounded experienced grappler
Last 5 fights (UFC)
Loss Rashad Evans Knock Out UFC 88 BREAKTHROUGH
Win Wanderlei Silva Unanimous Decision UFC 79 NEMESIS
Loss Keith Jardine Split Decision UFC 76 KNOCKOUT
Loss Quinton Jackson Technical Knock Out UFC 71: LIDDELL VS. JACKSON
Win Tito Ortiz Technical Knock Out UFC 66: LIDDELL VS. ORTIZ
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Fighting out of Curitiba, Brazil
Age 27
Height 6′ 1″
Weight 205 lbs Light Heavyweight
Overall MMA Record (W-L-D) 17-3-0
Strengths Very aggressive, good skills in Muay Thai and Jiu-Jitsu, and very strong
Fights in the UFC
Win Mark Coleman TKO UFC 93 FRANKLIN vs HENDERSON
Loss Forrest Griffin Submission by choke UFC 76 KNOCKOUT
Both men havent had it easy in the last few months/years in the UFC. Shogun was rated up there with the elite across the board in MMA has had a difficult time when he first came to the UFC, he had numerous injuries and it showed in his lose to Forrest Griffin, and last time out he struggled with a win over hall of famer Mark Coleman, this was a bad blood rematch from a former fight in Pride. Shogan was far from his best and just finished off mid 40′s fighter Coleman.
Shogun is known for his extreme and brutual fighting style which will be a must with Chuck Liddell who hasnt looked anything near his best in his last 5 fights. Liddell has been knocked out twice recently and ultimately questions are asked whether he can take a good punch or not, which Shogun will no doubt try and take advantage of.
Liddell has been training hard for this fight and has given numerous interviews which suggests he has worked incredibily hard and harder than recent training, Liddell has had a warning from his friend Dana White about another lose and he will find myself out of the UFC which should give him the kick up the ass he needs. Maybe his age is catching up with him, caught with a plum left from Rampage and tagged hard by current champ Rashad Evans, being 39 cant be easy to get up for fights and train harder for another fight, if any inspiration can be taken, Chuck can take it from old enermy Randy Couture who until his lose to Brock Lesnar looked better than ever and is in his 40′s.
Liddell may have to bring in big kicks and be more defence rather than his usual swing for the fences approach. Shogun’s muay thai may have to be brought out to take out The Iceman, his stand up against Mark Coleman was not great and to dominate a man like Chuck he needs to dedicate the fight and pick Liddell apart with select attacks and then dominate him getting close and over powering Chuck and finishing him off.
The fight will be very close, but hink if Shogun Rua is fit enough and confident he will take out the former champion Chuck Liddell, Liddell will need to KO Shogun to win and cant see that happening. Maybe its the last fight in Liddell’s successful UFC career.
Remember to check it out on Setanta Sports 2 (sky channel 424) Sunday April 19th 03.00 – 06.00 in UK and Eire, America and Canada it will be on PPV on Spike or Yahoo online.
Check out the overview of UFC 97 – link
And don’t forget the real big fight of the night Anderson The Spider Silva Vs fellow Brazilian Thales Leites for the Middleweight title. If Anderson Silva wins he will be the record holder. Silva win real talk!
Danny Denhard
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UFC 97 redemption video preview
Check out the UFC preview for UFC 97 Redemption,
Joe Rogan has interview with MMA ring report regarding UFC 97, the Liddell Shogun fight (he is a ledgend)
Fight card -
Main Card Bouts:
Main event: Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites – 185lbs – Middleweight
Co main event: Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio “Shogun” Rua – 205lbs Light heavyweight
Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann – 205 lbs – Light Heavyweight
Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk – 265lbs – Heavyweight
Steve Cantwell vs. Luiz Cane – 205lbs – Light Heavyweight
Preliminary Bouts:
May not be televised
Denis Kang vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam – 185lbs – Middleweight
Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry – 185lbs – Middleweight
David Loiseau vs. Ed Herman – 185lbs – Middleweight
Mark Bocek vs. David Bielkheden – 155lbs – Lightweight
Ryo Chonan vs. TJ Grant – 170lbs – Welterweight
Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman – 155lbs – Lightweight
For the official UFC 97 site – link
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UFC daily update – UFC news
Georges St-Pierre Shoots Ad For Gatorade- GSP welterweight champ shoots new ad for a new line G.
UFC 101 looks set to take place at the Wachovia Center, in south Philadelphia, UFC have suggested they would like a summer event in South Philadelphia and lines up nicely with UFC 101.
UFC 100 -
There has been one fight confirmed and one suggested for the showcast 2 day event.
Belcher agrees to face Akiyama – Alan Belcher beat highly fought of Denis Kang @ UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland recently and is looking to keep the momenum going.
Stephan Bonnar Vs Mark Coleman is looking more and more possible, it is suggested that Coleman has not agreed to sign but looks likely.
UFC 2009 undisputed full line up was released last night here is the full list
Heavyweights
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
Brock Lesnar
Frank Mir
Brandon Vera
Gabriel Gonzaga
Cain Velasquez
Cheick Kongo
Eddie Sanchez
Heath Herring
Andrei Arlovski
Mirko Crocop
Fabricio Werdum
Tim Sylvia
Mark Coleman
Antoni Hardonk
Justin McCully
Light Heavyweights
Chuck Lidell
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson
Forrest Griffin
Tito Ortiz
Keith Jardine
Wanderlei Silva
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
Lyoto Machida
Rashad Evans
Stephan Bonnar
James Irvin
Wilson Gouveia
Houston Alexander
Kazuhiro Nakamura
Thiago Silva
Tim Boetsch
Ryan Bader
Middleweights
Anderson Silva
Rich Franklin
Dan Henderson
Michael Bisping
Kendall Grove
Chris Leben
Jason MacDonald
Nate Marquardt
Drew McFedries
Ricardo Almeida
Evan Tanner
Yushin Okami
Demian Maia
Martin Kampmann
Amir Sadollah
Thales Leites
Welterweights
Georges St-Pierre Matt Hughes
Matt Sera
Jon Fitch
Karo Parisyan
Josh Koscheck
Diego Sanchez
Mike Swick
Marcus Davis
Thiago Alves
Chris Lytle
Ben Saunders
Josh Burkman
Kyle Bradley
Matt Arroyo
Anthony Johnson
Lightweights
BJ Penn
Sean Sherk
Kenny Florian
Roger Huerta
Joe Stevenson
Mac Danzig
Nathan Diaz
Spencer Fisher
Tyson Griffin
Gray Maynard
Thiago Tavares
Joe Lauzon
Rich Clementi
Mark Bocek
Hermes Franca
Frank Edgar
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UFC daily update
Unfortunately not much on the UFC radar today,
A small change to the UFC 97 line, Eliot Marshall vs Vinny Magalhaes has been added.
Mauricio Shogun Rua has been training with Demian Maia for preparation for his batle due at UFC 97 Redemption. Rua faces Chuck Liddell and training partner Maia has been impressed with the light heavyweight.
Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago signed for July’s UFC 100, both men impressive in previous outtings, Jon Fitch on his way back up the welterweight ladder after his title shot failures against current champ Georges St Pierre. Fitch won recently at UFC 94 against Gono. Thiago is the unbeaten fighter from Brazil who knocked out Josh Koscheck at UFC 95.
John Hathaway and Rick Story To Meet at UFC 99, another European fighter added to its first German card. Hathaway is unbeaten and looking to take another vicitim in his raise in the UFC.
Finally Detroit has been earmarked on the UFC radar for a future event.
Danny Denhard
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ufc daily update
Today’s quick fire UFC update
Welterweight fight in the making is former number 1 contender Jon Fitch looks likely to battle undefeated submission specialist Paulo Thiago, Fitch is said to want to prove himself again and work his way back into title contention fights the relative unknown Paulo Thiago, famous for his shock KO of Josh Koscheck.
WEC formally release the fight card for WEC 40
Title fight – WEC Bantamweight Champion Miguel Torres vs. Takeya Mizugaki
Televised Main Card:
135 lbs.: Jeff Curran vs. Joseph Benavidez
155 lbs.: Shane Roller vs. Ben “Smooth” Henderson
155 lbs.: Raphael Assuncao vs. Jameel “The Sergeant” Massouh
Under card:
145 lbs.: Wagnney Fabiano vs. Fredson Paixao
135 lbs.: Akitoshi “Ironman” Tamura vs. Manny “The Mangler” Tapia
145 lbs.: Cub Swanson vs. Diego “The Gun” Nunes
155 lbs.: Anthony Njokuani vs. Anthony “Showtime” Pettis
135 lbs.: Dominick Cruz vs. Ivan Lopez
145 lbs.: Rafael Dias vs. Cole Province
135 lbs.: Rani Yahya vs. Eddie Wineland
UFC 100 -
The highly fancied Jon Bones Jones is due to fight wrestling standout Jake O’Brien (11-2) @ UFC 100.
UFC confirms UFC 97 fight card -
Title Fight – ANDERSON SILVA vs. THALES LEITES
CHUCK LIDDELL vs. MAURICIO MILANI RUA
KRZYSZTOF SOSZYNSKI vs. BRIAN STANN
CHEICK KONGO vs. ANTONI HARDONK
STEVE CANTWELL vs. LUIZ CANE
ELIOT MARSHALL vs. MIKE CIESNOLEVICZ
DENIS KANG vs. XAVIER FOUPA-POKAM
NATE QUARRY vs. JASON MACDONALD
DAVID LOISEAU vs. ED HERMAN
MARK BOCEK vs. DAVID BIELKHEDEN
RYO CHONAN vs. TJ GRANT
SAM STOUT vs. MATT WIMAN
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UFC daily update
Gleson Tibau steps in to fight Jeremy Stephens at UFN. Tibau steps in for injured Efrain Escudero who had to pull out due to his injured ribs.
UFC hall of famer Ken Shamrock has been tested positive banned substances for Norandrosterone, Noretiocholanolone, and Stanozolol. Shamrock due to fight ex WWE Bobby Lashley at Roy Jones Jr’s MMA/Boxing mash up next week. At 44 and not fighting at a high level for years it is not a surprise he has turned to substances to preserve his fighting career. Ken is due to appeal.
UFC 97 preview video has been released, title fight Anderson the spider Silva Vs Thales Leites and Chuck the iceman Liddell Vs Mauricio Shogun Rua check it out -
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