This show should be very exciting on Sunday, with some excellent match-ups.
Especially Fedor vs Cro Cop, Finally!
PRIDE Final Conflict 2005 Sunday August 28th Saitama Super Arena
The Semi-Finals and Finals of the Middleweight Tournament Wanderlei Silva (Brazil) vs. Ricardo Arona (Brazil) This is the textbook clash of styles pitting Arona's brilliant submissions game against the most brutal striker in all of MMA. Arona wants Silva on the ground and that's his only chance. If it stays standing, look for a devestatingly sick KO. Prediction: Silva by KO
Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (Brazil) vs. Alistair Overeem (Holland) This one's almost too close to call, but Rua proved he can hang with a world class grappler from his match with Sobral. Overeem is tough with and his submissions are great (just ask Vitor), but he can get KO'd (see: Chuck Liddell 2003). Prediction: Shogun by TKO
Finals: Wanderlei Silva (Brazil) vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (Brazil) A slugfest that will end just like many before it. Prediction: Silva by KO
Heavyweight Championship Match Fedor Emelianenko (Russia) vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic (Croatia) This is the most anticipated MMA match in quite some time. Fedor has suffered a series of hand injuries over the past many months delaying this match a number of times. Accusations of Fedor ducking Cro Cop are unfounded in my opinion. To have a dream match-up like this, one wants the situation to be optimal and have both fighters be in top condition. This pits the man with the most devestating kicks in MMA (Cro Cop) against a vicious puncher and submissions specialist (Fedor). One note: Fedor's hand is still swollen up and it may not be 100%. Prediction: Fedor by Submission
Additional Matches David "Tank" Abbott (USA) vs. Hidehiko Yoshida (Japan) I love Tank from his early UFC days as well as Dancin' Tank Abbott (Three Count's Enforcer). But, Tank was submitted by KIMO! Tank has a puncher's chance, but Yoshida has proved he can take an ass whipping. Prediction: Yoshida by Submission
Reserve Match: Igor Vovchanchyn (Ukraine) vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura (Japan) Igor turns out Nakamura's lights. Prediction: Igor by KO
Fabricio Werdum (Brazil/Spain) vs. Roman Zentsov (Russia) Werdum's tremendous on the ground and has been training with Cro Cop. Prediction: Werdum by Submission
(edited by NickBockwinkelFan on 27.8.05 0312) "Well, you can't involve friendship with business. It has to be one or the other. It's either business or friendship, or hit the bricks!" --Life Lessons from Bobby the Brain Heenan WCW Uncensored 2000 preview
Generalissimo Takada's Energy Beverage Provides Maximum Nourishment!
I am pumped! I can't wait for the Fedor/Crocop match.
Crocop by Liver Kick! No wait, I wish.
Oh, and get Tank's fatass off the damned card, how can he still draw people. He won a few matches in the early primitive years of the UFC and has been terrible ever since.
Yep, Dr. Black. He's quoted in one of those articles on ESPN.com. The difference seems to be that Dr. Black has control of when the driver (or whoever) will be allowed back in NASCAR, while WWE has a set number of days.