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Kelvin Hunt: Making the case for Tim Sylvia beating Fedor
By Zach Arnold | July 17, 2008
This weekend, a fight is taking place that to the casual fan bears little significance. However, this fight could very well be the most important fight happening this weekend. Tim Sylvia vs. Fedor Emelianenko is a fight that hardcore fans have been talking about forever and now it’s happening.
This fight answers many questions like:
- Is Fedor still the #1 HW in the world?
- Who was better, PRIDE or UFC?
- Can Fedor survive a crushing 1-2 combo from Sylvia?
- Can Sylvia survive if this fight goes to the ground?
Fedor hasn’t fought a credible opponent since Mark Hunt in December of 2006. Sylvia, on the other hand, has faced: Antonio “Big Nog” Nogueira, Brandon Vera, Randy Couture, and Jeff Monson within the past two years. All of these fighters are credible opponents for Sylvia’s resume.
I think this fight will be very similiar to the Fedor/Cro Cop fight that took place back in 2005. Sylvia is a feared striker, just as Mirko was back then but with less kicks in his arsenal.
This will work to his advantage.
Fedor was able to take Mirko down almost at will because of Mirko’s propensity to throw kicks. Sylvia primarily uses his hands moreso than kicks, although he has the ability to kick very well. I think he would be smart to abstain from using kicks often due to risking a takedown. Also, Sylvia is much larger than Cro Cop was back then and has much better cardio, so he will not tire in the later rounds.
Fedor has good standup and throws quick looping punches that overwhelm his opponents.
I think that’s going to be his downfall in this fight.
If Sylvia can keep his composure and throw straight strikes, he’ll have a good night. The following are 3 keys that Sylvia must implement to win this fight:
- Avoid the clinch and keep this fight standing at all costs
- Use combinations and throw punches straight down the middle
- Use his reach and keep Fedor on the defensive
If he does those three things, the odds are that he will win via decision or by doctor stoppage due to cuts (Fedor’s prone to bleed with that thin skin).
Now, let’s talk about the lineage between these two fighters with Big Nog being the common denominator. Currently, Big Nog is the UFC HW champion. He defeated Sylvia to earn that belt. Fedor has two dominating wins over Big Nog via decision. Also, Sylvia lost to Randy Couture via decision and, currently, Couture wants to fight Fedor for the #1 spot. However, if Sylvia defeats Fedor, wouldn’t we need to see Couture vs. Big Nog for the rightful owner of the #1 spot?
In reality, it’s a match we should have seen already. However, Couture isn’t willing to fulfill his contract with the UFC. If Sylvia wins this fight against Fedor, maybe Couture will swallow his pride and do the right thing by fighting Nogueira. Hell, Dana White could toss Frank Mir aside and put Big Nog/Couture on the always stacked December card since Mir hasn’t really earned his shot at the title. However, I do understand why he’s in that spot.
Let’s all sit back and enjoy this one. Sylvia/Fedor could be one for the ages.
Topics: Affliction, Media, MMA, UFC | 58 Comments » | Permalink | Trackback |
Sylvia’s a choker, right? Doesn’t respond well to pressure?
The only thing that’s working for him is that I think he will lose and I’ve been terrible all year when it comes to picking the winner of a main event.
MMAth is the worst thing ever, and this is no exception. Sylvia beating Fedor would make him very argurably the #1 heavyweight in the world. It is hardly like Noguiera dominated and destroyed Big Tim. On the other hand, Tim will have beaten a guy who did absolutely dominate and pretty much destroy Noguiera twice. Given that Couture is essentially retired at this point, Noguiera/Sylvia II would be the best fight imaginable. And given how good the first fight was, I can’t imagine people not being excited for a rematch.
Those who think Tim Sylvia doesn’t have a chance are pretty awful analysts at the sport, btw. The evidence of both men’s careers tells a totally different tale.
He has choked in the past…but has also risen to the occasion before as well…so we’ll see.
Sylvia’s a choker, right? Doesn’t respond well to pressure?
Well, he beat Ricco when no one expected him to do it and beat Arlovski by KO when his job might have been on the line. I would say that there was probably some pressure on the guy in both situations. He was also beating the living hell out of Noguiera until he got lulled into engaging in close with him. I doubt he’d make that mistake again.
Choi was bigger than Sylvia and look what happened. It didn’t last long.
It doesn’t matter how big someone is when you can shoot and work from the ground like Emelianenko can. And unfortunately for Sylvia, weight and height means nothing for him in this fight.
Fedor by armbar in R1.
The only difference is that Choi is a kickboxer with no serious wrestling background apart from that Korean sumo crap and Tim Sylvia has very solid takedown defense. Maybe you can compare him to Semmy Schilt while you’re at it?
“Tim Sylvia vs. Fedor Emelianenko is a fight that hardcore fans have been talking about forever and now it’s happening.”
I have to disagree with the above statement. No one has been talking about that fight specifically. In fact, no one ever talks about Tim Sylvia’s fights specifically. They have been talking about Fedor in the UFC, fighting against various HWs. Sylvia was never a part of anyone’s dream match of any sort.
Fedor’s takedown style is closer to Randy’s–get to the hips, clinch and greco-roman trips and so on. Not freestyle deep shots for a double or a single. I think with his speed he’ll be able (like Randy) to get inside to Tim’s hips.
But I’m REAL curious.
Sylvia/Fedor should be an interesting fight. If 5’9″ Mark Hunt can give Fedor trouble, 6’8″ Tim Sylvia certainly can.
I have to disagree with the above statement. No one has been talking about that fight specifically. In fact, no one ever talks about Tim Sylvia’s fights specifically. They have been talking about Fedor in the UFC, fighting against various HWs. Sylvia was never a part of anyone’s dream match of any sort.
During both his stints as champ in the UFC…people debated who would win between him and Fedor during the PRIDE/UFC discussion wars.
Last year, when the conversation of the month was Zuffa’s acquisition of the PRIDE assets, everyone and their mother was talking about the prospects of Fedor vs. Sylvia in UFC and how Fedor was supposedly ‘scared’ to fight him.
I have to disagree with the above statement.
Fedor/Sylvia was regularly talked about back when both men were concurrently champion.
Fedor’s takedown style is closer to Randy’s–get to the hips, clinch and greco-roman trips and so on. Not freestyle deep shots for a double or a single.
Difference is that Fedor isn’t a guy with a lot of head movement and he cuts a lot easier than Randy. The difference between moving your head and not moving your head to get the clinch on Sylvia is the difference between being Randy (who’s a much, much better wrestler than Fedor) and Monson (who’s also a much, much better wrestler than Fedor).
(a) I don’t recall Hunt ever “giving Fedor trouble”, other than it took him longer than 3 minutes to finish the fight.
(b) If Randy Couture is able to get inside and drop Sylvia, surely to god someone like Fedor who’s quicker and hits a hell of a lot harder can do the same.
I understand that Tim hits damn hard and has the reach advantage, but god, people are trying to push an argument an awfully long way strongly on the basis of a reach advantage.
Also points #1. – #3 look a lot like the gameplan everyone outlined for Jardine (a much less talented bigger fighter) to beat Wanderlei (the much more skilled smaller fighter) and we all saw how that went.
Kelvin,
Yes, but they talked about Fedor against everybody. The article made it seem like this specifically was a long time dream match among MMA fans, and it wasn’t. The only reason most people wanted to see Sylvia v Fedor at all was so that Fedor could beat him and they wouldn’t have to watch Tim. Chuck v Wanderlei was Fedor v Couture were the real highly anticipated matchups.
Zach has RNC’ed the correct.
>I don’t recall Hunt ever “giving Fedor trouble”, other than it took him longer than 3 minutes to finish the fight.
Hunt nearly finished the fight twice with kimuras from side control.
If Randy Couture is able to get inside and drop Sylvia, surely to god someone like Fedor who’s quicker and hits a hell of a lot harder can do the same.
I think he’s probably going to expect Fedor coming out swinging. He’s much more prone to it than Randy.
I understand that Tim hits damn hard and has the reach advantage, but god, people are trying to push an argument an awfully long way strongly on the basis of a reach advantage.
Its kind of important.
Also points #1. – #3 look a lot like the gameplan everyone outlined for Jardine (a much less talented bigger fighter) to beat Wanderlei (the much more skilled smaller fighter) and we all saw how that went.
Except that Fedor isn’t anything like Wanderlei.
1. Attempting a submission and a “catch” of a submission are worlds apart.
2. So if he expects Fedor to come out swinging, all the more dangerous the takedowns are going to be.
3. Yes, reach certainly is ONE important aspect of the fight. But it’s only one aspect and that’s pretty much all Sylvia has going for him if you compare attribute-to-attribute in the fight.
4. Yes, Fedor is different from Wanderlei. He’s got great stand-up AND an ultra dangerous ground game. The gameplans are still pretty much identical – mainly that the bigger fighter is going to try to use their reach and that’s all they really have going for them – I’m just not prepared to throw all my eggs in the basket of “he’s got a big reach advantage”, especially when he won’t even be throwing low kicks.
And as for your “head movement” claim, you should watch Fedor’s fights against strikers. He did an excellent job slipping punches against Mirko and the way Fedor strikes – constantly moving, changing angles and approaches – head movement isn’t as important. If he plans on standing right in front of Sylvia and moving straight ahead, then it’s a FAR bigger issue.
Did somebody just compare Tim Sylvia with Choi!?
Attempting a submission and a “catch” of a submission are worlds apart.
He had the arm pretty damn bent. Credit to Fedor to getting out, but Hunt was in control for a good chunk of that fight and doing damage.
So if he expects Fedor to come out swinging, all the more dangerous the takedowns are going to be.
He’s going to expect Fedor to come forwards as fast as he can for either. Sylvia, who’s shown that he generally learns from his mistakes, will probably come in with the mindset of establishing the jab and distance early.
Yes, reach certainly is ONE important aspect of the fight. But it’s only one aspect and that’s pretty much all Sylvia has going for him if you compare attribute-to-attribute in the fight.
What other attributes are there? Fedor’s boxing isn’t that great. His submission skills are good but his wrestling is also questionable. You can point that he got Noguiera down, but so did mediocre wrestlers like Yokoi and Herring. Sylvia’s offense is generally one dimensional, but its a big dimension to overcome. If it wasn’t, he wouldn’t have beaten so many top ten heavyweights over his career.
Yes, Fedor is different from Wanderlei. He’s got great stand-up AND an ultra dangerous ground game.
His standup is nothing like Wanderlei’s. Wanderlei is a pressure fighter standing who relies less on technique and more on volume and sheer aggression. Fedor tries his best to not engage most strikers and when he has to he’s highly defensive. Who has Fedor bodied up standing for such a claim?
I’m just not prepared to throw all my eggs in the basket of “he’s got a big reach advantage”, especially when he won’t even be throwing low kicks.
Why does he need to? Because he wants to be taken down?
All I know is that this fight will prove once and for all that Fedor is the greatest of all time… or not.
And as for your “head movement” claim, you should watch Fedor’s fights against strikers.
What strikers has he fought? Schilt can’t defend a takedown to save his life and Fedor laid on him. Goodridge is not exactly an “elite” striker. He was able to minimize the damage from Cro-Cop, who also happens to do nothing Sylvia does standing and has none of his physical attributes. Choi and Hunt were not masters on the ground by any stretch of the imagination, and yet Hunt was able to land blows and end up controlling on top for a large chunk of the round.
I don’t know what the issue is here. Sylvia is a totally different package of fighter than, oh, anyone he’s ever faced. This is not a 6’0” Samoan who won the K-1 Grand Prix because he absorbed more than he dealt out. He’s the Wladimir Klitschko of MMA, for better or worse.
All I know is that this fight will prove once and for all that Fedor is the greatest of all time… or not.
The funny thing is that if Sylvia wins, he will recieve no credit as a result. Instead it will be seen as the UFC “exposing” PRIDE, even if Fedor beat the tar out of the UFC’s (interim) heavyweight champ and would likely do so in any subsequent rematches.
You know, its really funny: I have the opportunity to sit in a nice empty room on my breaks and watch fights, and it just so happens I brought FC 2005 with me today. I’m looking at the Fightmetric report and wondering what they were watching. It shows a number of jabs being thrown by Cro-Cop, but watching the fight, it was clear that he was throwing nothing but single overhand rights he was loading up on. There’s a massive difference in what the two men do. Cro-Cop was most effective with his kicks and Sylvia rarely throws them. Mirko was also obviously gassed after round 1. Sylvia has gone 25 minutes several times now. And there was a disturbing lack of head movement from Fedor. He was cut over the right eye, on the side of the head, had his nose busted up, and that was just at the end of Round 1 from a couple striking exchanges.
Hey, I fully appreciate that you think Sylvia has a chance – he certainly does bc this is not pro wrestling and anything can happen.
Fact is he has fought guys that are good/great strikers and was successful. Obviously you can’t make perfect comparisons because he hasn’t fought Sylvia’s clone before. But he has proven that he can fight very effectively against fighter’s who are “strikers”. And again, on Fedor’s “head movement” point – as I said, he’s constantly moving, changing angles and his approach as well as a threat to take the fight to the ground – so long as he isn’t standing directly in front of or coming straight ahead at Sylvia, it not as much of a problem.
If someone like Nog who has horrendous takedowns is able to get Sylvia down, it stands to reason that Fedor, who’s got quite good sambo/judo skills, can pull a Randy and get Sylvia down from the greco. Sylvia is going to try to pump jabs all night and I just see Fedor being able to get inside on someone who lacks speed and has shown weakness against guys who can get in on him quickly and pose a threat to him on the mat.
We’ll find out for certain Saturday night and if Sylvia should win, then full credit to him for taking out the “#1 HW in the world”.
A few facts to consider:
01. You can’t prepare for Fedor. You never know what his game plan is, or what he’s going to do. He’s equally good at everything.
02. You can easily prepare for Sylvia. His ground game, in BJJ terms, is sub-purple belt. Takedown defense is decent. But against Fedor?
03. Fedor can win via KO, TKO, cut stoppage, submission, or decision.
04. Sylvia has a 1% chance of a KO or TKO over Fedor. He sure as hell will not submit him.
He MIGHT luck out with a cut stoppage, or snooze us to a decision.
* Is Fedor still the #1 HW in the world?
Yes. If he beats Sylvia on Saturday, that’s undisputed. If Sylvia wins, Fedor will be tied for #1, or maybe slip to #2.
* Who was better, PRIDE or UFC?
PRIDE. 🙂
Well, their heavyweights were FAR better, but UFC excels at 155, 170 for sure.
* Can Fedor survive a crushing 1-2 combo from Sylvia?
Yes. If Nog and Couture can, then Fedor can.
* Can Sylvia survive if this fight goes to the ground?
For about 15-30 seconds maybe.
I think as far as Fedor never facing someone like Sylvia (which is true) at least he has a pretty good stand-in “sparring partner” to prepare for Sylvia in his brother Aleks.
Ultimo I think you’re over-estimating on Fedor and underestimating on Sylvia. There’s a very good chance Fedor could get stopped on a cut – we’ve seen him cut easily before – and the style Syliva fights would potentially allow him to pick away at the cut until a stoppage was required. And we’ve also seen him get wobbled before, so while i’d never say his chin is not good, it’s not Hunt’s or Nog’s.
If someone like Nog who has horrendous takedowns is able to get Sylvia down, it stands to reason that Fedor, who’s got quite good sambo/judo skills, can pull a Randy and get Sylvia down from the greco.
Noguiera didn’t shoot a double though. He lured Sylvia to come inside by taking a lot shots and pulled guard in desperation. Do you think Fedor wants to pull guard?
Fujita had Fedor out on his feet…I’m pretty sure Sylvia hits just as hard…and we must also remember that Fedor hasn’t really been hit hard in a LONG time due to the side show fight’s he has been having…
Yeah you’re totally correct on that – which I meant to qualify my previous statement on that. But in all honesty I think it wouldn’t phase Emelianenko for a second to pull guard on Sylvia, because honestly I don’t think I’ve ever seen a HW or many other fighters for that matter with the ability to pull off an armbar from guard.
Can he successfully pull guard against Sylvia? That’s a better question imho.
Fedor took a couple kicks to the head from Cro Cop and got hit pretty hard by Hunt, but withstood them pretty reasonably. Of course, Fedor’s grappling didn’t look all that great against either Hunt (a significantly larger guy, and not a great grappler) or Lindland (great pedigree, fights two divisions lower, hoisted Fedor in the air).
He might pull guard, but I doubt its a strategy of his to win. He definitely doesn’t want to get hit like Noguiera does before hand either. If that happens, Fedor’s face will probably look like he was in some old school Thai rope fight or something. Additionally, since leaving RINGS, the only guys I can think of that had him on his back were Randleman and Coleman, neither of which is noted for submission defense.
Another thing to consider is that Fedor may not have quite the same clinching strength as Randy.
I don’t remember exactly how Fedor got Hunt on his back on route to the win, but both Hunt and Choi reversed his takedown attempts and put Fedor on his back and I can easily see Sylvia doing the same thing.
May or may not end up being relevant in the Sylvia fight, but definitely worth a thought in any kind of analysis.
Fedor is clearly a better, more skilled fighter, but I’m surprised to see people saying that the only way Sylvia wins is by cut. I think it’s way more likely that he’ll win by a legitimate TKO/KO than a cut.
If Sylvia is able to reverse Fedor and take him down…I hope he is smart enough to stand back up out of his guard.
Most of what I might have said about the analysis in this article has already been discussed.
But the repeated use of phrase ‘Big Nog’ just smacks of total Sherdoggery for me.
The man’s name is Nogueira. Is anyone really going to confuse him with his brother in this context? And besides, when did ‘Big Nog’ become anything other than the shorthand of lazy forum users. Its NOT the man’s nickname and using it as such in this piece is irritating.
Bottom line: Sylvia taps. Earlier than later. If BIG NOG could make him tap, then Fedor can.
Fedor can do anything BIG NOG can on the ground.
Choi is no slouch in the striking department, and he has excellent balance. Nowhere NEAR the MMA experience of Sylvia, but it was a good indication of how a giant, towering striker would fare against Fedor. I don’t see Fedor/Sylvia being all that diffeent.
PS: BIG NOG.
Bottom line: Sylvia taps. Earlier than later. If BIG NOG could make him tap, then Fedor can.
Fedor? As good as Noguiera off his back? Fedor wouldn’t even say that drunk.
Choi is no slouch in the striking department,
Choi is a horrible kickboxer who gets by off of corrupt judges or poor competition. And his prior MMA fight was against the host of an incredibly racist talk/game show. I assume trolling here.
One thing I’ve noticed reading the analysis on this page is that Fedor hasn’t fought many (any?) well rounded fighters. It’s been strikers that have no ground game (Crocop, Hunt, Schilt, Choi, etc) or ground fighters that don’t have much striking, like Big Nog.
As a result, he’s generally been able to capitalize on a fighter’s biggest flaw. He was able to beat Choi and Hunt with submissions, and take top position to grind out a decision over Crocop and Schilt. Also, he didn’t beat up Big Nog any worse than most people usually do; the only difference is that he’s good enough on the ground to not get submitted.
I really think Tim can beat Fedor. I still think Fedor’s the favorite just because of the danger he poses on the ground, but Tim poses some challenges we haven’t seen Fedor go up against yet. He’s big, patient, strikes well, follows gameplans, and has solid wrestling.
So it is a coincidence that UFC-mark D.Captitated is shamelessly pushing for Sylvia by making inane statements? I dont think so.
Fedor’s boxing isnt good?
His wrestling is suspect?
He isnt as good as Nogueira off his back?
Wrong, Wrong, Wrong.
Fedor has fantastic, and highly explosive (yet unconventional) standup hand-striking. Now as you may know (but probably dont), at least 50% (probably more) of boxing is footwork, and Fedor has some of the best footwork out there. He is extremely light on his feet and uses this to his advantage.
Fedor’s Sambo and wrestling are almost second-to-none.
Fedor’s back game is one of his best attributes (and that is saying something). I have never, ever seen someone move so smoothly into an armbar from his back as Fedor (and that includes Nogueira). If Fedor ended up on his back against Sylvia, the fight will end within 30 seconds. Guaranteed.
As much as D.Captitated refuses to admit it. The only advantave that Sylvia has (and this is questionable) is his size and his striking. Fedor has defeated numerous K1 champions and legends (Schilt, Hunt, Crocop) as well as giants bigger than Sylvia (Schilt and Choi).
As easy as Fedor made it look beating Choi, the fact of the matter is he is not a “horrible” kickboxer. I doubt you have even watched a significant portion of his fights. And there is absolutely no fighter on the planet who could have beaten him as easily (in MMA) as Fedor.
D.Capitated needs to get off the the UFC and all of its fighters nuts.
Samscaff, I agree with everything you wrote about Fedor, Sylvia, and D.Capitated.
I would like to subscribe to your RSS feed.
UFC mark? That’s the first time I’ve heard that.
[quote]Fedor has fantastic, and highly explosive (yet unconventional) standup hand-striking. Now as you may know (but probably dont), at least 50% (probably more) of boxing is footwork, and Fedor has some of the best footwork out there. He is extremely light on his feet and uses this to his advantage.[/quote]
Where then are the KOs standing? Apart from Gary Goodridge and argurably Fujita, there aren’t any since RINGS.
Fedor’s Sambo and wrestling are almost second-to-none.
Sambo and wrestling are not the same thing. And no way in hell is Fedor’s wrestling even in the top ten of the division.
Fedor’s back game is one of his best attributes (and that is saying something). I have never, ever seen someone move so smoothly into an armbar from his back as Fedor (and that includes Nogueira). If Fedor ended up on his back against Sylvia, the fight will end within 30 seconds. Guaranteed.
Hunt passed his guard and had a keylock. Meanwhile, Sylvia recently threw triangle attempts up against an ADCC champ. I hate to tell you, but Sylvia is better than Mark Coleman or Kevin Randleman.
Actually, add to the above if you want….
As easy as Fedor made it look beating Choi, the fact of the matter is he is not a “horrible” kickboxer. I doubt you have even watched a significant portion of his fights. And there is absolutely no fighter on the planet who could have beaten him as easily (in MMA) as Fedor.
Choi is a horrible kickboxer. I’m not standing down from that whatsoever. He is incredibly green as one and looks it in the ring. His “win” against Schilt (one I’m sure you’ve not seen) was a garbage decision from K-1 judges in an attempt to build the guy’s credibility and marketing potential. His losses to Bonjasky and Mighty Mo speak more loudly than anything else I can say here, otherwise I have no idea what you can use as a basis. Beating Akebono? Predator Terkay?
Matter of fact, given how Tim Sylvia has done against near 7′ giants in the past, I’d bet the house he probably disposes of him without significant difficulty.
1. Choi in NO WAY is a horrible kickboxer. His “green”-ness was so pronounced that he was able to still compile a 12-4 record against K-1 level competition including being able to take Schiltt, the best kickboxer of his generation, to a decision win. His only losses are decisions against LeBanner, Bonjasky, and being KO’d by Mighty mo which he was able to avenge later.
It’s a shame that some are this sort of way where they throw the very real accomplishments of people (especially someone of such a kind and good-hearted nature like Choi) against elite compeition “under the bus” in order to try to prop up emotionally-charged arguments.
BTW, Hunt was in no way in a position to extend the kimura which is why Fedor didn’t exert energy trying to get out of it right away. He had no leverage and later admitted what everyone without a bias against Fedor knew, he didn’t really know what he was doing.
On Fedor’s hand strength, of course if you watch him you would know that because he is so versed as a submission artist what he does is uses his hand strength to put his opponent in a position of being off guard to where he can establish a clinch and throw them to the ground. Anyone who ever watched him know this is the general way in which fedor fights. That is why he is undefeated outside of a technicality for being the recipient of an illegal blow during a tourny.
RXLthe1000, It’s how 99% of the Internet argues: the zero-sum equation.
“My favorite guy is the best, and yours is the worst!” The best way to make a point without exerting any brain power.
Just because Choi isn’t the best kickboxer or MMA fighter on the planet, beating him is hardly a joke.
I would like to see Sylvia, Couture, BIG NOG, or a number of top-10 ranked fighters beat Choi in a matter of minutes like Fedor did.
I am picking Tim Sylvia over Fedor Emelianenko. I know it isn’t the smart choice.
Fedor hasn’t fought a top guy in a long time. This sport changes so much every few years. And Fedor cuts badly. All of this could end up being a long night.
If Fedor wins, he does so in the first 3 minutes. If it gets past that, Sylvia is going to slowly pick him apart.
Ultimo, i agree about other fighters fighting Choi. Fedor has proven unlike many (including some of the other supposed “P4P” fighters floating around on the internet)to be able to fight and win against other fighters of various classes including putting himself with a a massive size disadvantage. What is so special i think is that Fedor does it at the top weightclass and doesnt protect himself by fighting at MW or LHW through severe cutting.
The fight, I think if anyone would choose Tim over Fedor it shouldnt be because of Fedor’s recent activity. He has fought 4x since the end of 2006, 1 less fight than Anderson Silva and GSP, and has fought quality-enough competition which shows his skill or capability hasn’t in any way diminished. The main way i could see this going Tim’s way is if he were to connect like Fujita (which he has a very real chance to do) and somehow be able to finish it off. I don’t see how Tim will be able to avoid the clinch or prevent the subsequent takedown after it. I really don’t think this will go the distance.
More and more that I reflect on comments, the more I agree with D. Cap.
I think that my opinion lies in the fact that Fedor seems to be the type of fighter where the sum >>> the whole of the parts. By definition he is not “great” at anything. But the way he combines all aspects of mma is along the line of how BJ Penn does it (w/o the BJJ creds). There is not ONE thing that he does incredibly well or is lauded for his prowess but he combines every skill in a way that makes him a total threat.
It’s one of those things that explanations do not do justice, or that a skill-by-skill analysis will prove, but if you take the “total package” Fedor is one bad mofo. It’s an unquantifiable entity and that’s what makes it hard to defend (as a supporter) but it’s something that you feel is an almost certainty and just can’t seem to grasp as a defensible concept…but you just “can”.
I hope that “makes sense” to ppl here, but it’s just a feeling that seems impossible to describe.