UFC 97: Redemption (fight, money, vs)

[Linson]

i've said before that i think the UFC puts out too many PPVs and this happens to be one that i would not normally pay money to see. but it seems like all the PPVs that seem weak turn out to be quite good, and sometimes the stronger cards make for less exciting PPVs. so i think i will check this one out.

the problem that i have with this PPV is that it seems like a series of "squash matches" (one sided matches) especially the two main events. and the Liddell v. Rua thing could have easilly been rolled into another PPV like UFC 100. just sayin'.


http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/anderson_silva.jpg (broken link) Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/thales_leites.jpg (broken link)

to me, it kinda comes off like Anderson Silva vs. his next victim. for anyone who thinks that MMA doesnt have "dominant champions" and feel that that's important (for whatever reason - T-shirt sales, maybe), guess again. Thales Leites has as good of a chance as anybody to defeat Silva, i guess - but just looking at when, how, and who Silva has beaten, and when, how, and who has beaten Leites - i just dont think it's gonna happen.


http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/chuck_liddell.jpg (broken link) Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/mauricio_rua.jpg (broken link)

i dont want to call anybody "washed-up." and i'm not calling for anyone's retirement. all i'm saying is that, in my ameteur opinion
*i don't see Chuck Liddell as ever being a contender for the Light Heavyweight Title.
*at this point, i dont see a defeat over Rua as an indication that one is worthy of title contention.
*so sorry to offend any "Shogun" Rua fans, but he has not looked good in the UFC...at all. i'm not sayin' that he doesnt have injuries that have limitted his ability to train. all i'm sayin' is that he cannot hang with the best 205 pounders in the UFC.

this will probably be a dominant victory for Liddell.


http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/krzysztof_soszynski.jpg (broken link) Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/brian_stann.jpg (broken link)

i am looking for Brian Stann to outclass Soszynski in all areas winning a dominant victory.


http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/cheick_kongo.jpg (broken link) Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/antoni_hardonk.jpg (broken link)

this could be a good heavyweight fight. i'm looking for Kongo to get the win, though.


http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/luiz_cane.jpg (broken link) Luiz Cane vs. Steve Cantwell http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/steve_cantwell.jpg (broken link)

Cantwell is gonna be a force in the 205 lb division. probably going to get a 1st or 2nd round victory over Cane.




there are more matches on the preliminary card than on the main card. two that i want to see in particular:

http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/jason_macdonald.jpg (broken link) Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/nate_quarry.jpg (broken link)

this could be an awesome fight. both great fighters. MacDonald will be looking for a victory after his recent loss to Wilson Gouveia. if i had to bet, i would go with MacDonald. this is the type of fight that i would pay to see. they better show this fight.


http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/ed_herman.jpg (broken link) Ed Herman vs. David Loiseau http://www.mmaconvert.com/wp-content/themes/mmaconvert/images/cards/david_loiseau.jpg (broken link)

Loiseau was once a top contender at 185 lbs in the UFC. he kinda fell off after losing his title match against Rich Franklin. and Ed Herman was over-rated on UFC season (3, i think) but has improved a lot and put together some impressive victories. Loiseau is solid, with nasty knees and elbows, but Herman has been improving since Loiseau left the UFC and is now pretty well rounded and has shown good composure. hard to call because dispite Hermans improvements, Loiseau was one of those very athletic fighters. i hope they air this one.

Herman...by decision, i guess.

[krudmonk]

I think Liddell will destroy Rua, but perhaps I'm overemphasizing how pathetic Shogun looked against Coleman.

I'm eager to see Kongo and I'm not entirely sure why.

[Linson]

because he could be on a colision course with Lesnar for a title shot?

[JL]

You guys can watch the fights for free on mmascraps.com though it is after the fight. There is a site that shows it live streaming, but i can't recall at the moment. A relative of mine knows, but he is out of the country on business, so hopefully he returns my email.

[JL]

The site which shows live streaming fights as it happens is ....(send me a pm) and i'll give it to you

[tcs1366]

I also watch them streaming.

the two i'm interested in seeing are...

Ed [you should have picked me first] Herman vs David Loiseau -- he certainly had/has razor sharp elbows

and Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry ... for some reason, i think MacDonald will win. should be a good fight though.

[Linson]

^ yeah, those are the two fights that i wanna see most, and they're on the under-card!

if you could post a link to the streaming site, that would be cool - for the ones i'm not willing to pay to watch. for this one, i'm having people over and cooking out. cant have a bunch of people gathered around the ole computer moniter.

[tcs1366]

I use MMAHACKS.com
and DH uses a different one... have to look for it....

channelsurfing.net .... then you have to wait for the whole page to load and look for UFC.
for me, i find that site frustrating... but i guess you use what you are used to. He likes that site, and i like the first one.

I found a direct link off the channel surfing one... hope this works.
Watch UFC 97 - Online TV (http://channelsurfing.net/watch-online-tv-2.php?w=emmatv6&i=UFC%2097 - broken link)

[Fishy]

Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites

silva will roll leites


Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio ‘Shogun’ Rua

i hate chuck, but never saw pride so am neutral about shogun. either way, i dont care about this fight


Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann

dont like stann, hope he loses


Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk

never heard of hardonk, i think cheik will win. im calling out 2 groin shots


Luiz Cane vs. Steve Cantwell

no idea


Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry

like em both, both rooting for quarry


Ed Herman vs. David Loiseau

i dont like herman, and i always thought loiseau was anderson silva

[Positiveone]

Can someone please shoot me the link to the UFC 97.