Great to see some well thought out and articulate posts on this thread - beats reading the Sherdog forums for sure!
Anyhoo, I’ve been working on updating my PRIDE DVD collection. I’ve got a few of the earlier years. Any must haves?
[quote]justrob wrote:
Great to see some well thought out and articulate posts on this thread - beats reading the Sherdog forums for sure!
Anyhoo, I’ve been working on updating my PRIDE DVD collection. I’ve got a few of the earlier years. Any must haves?
[/quote]
Final Conflict 2005 comes out next Tuesday: A must have. In fact, any of the 2005 tournament fights are great. High Octane is good, Jackson/Silva II is one of the most dramatic knockouts ever, and a damn close fight up till the end. Shockwave 2004 is great, Randy Couture does commentary and you get to see Hunt/Silva and Fedor/Nog III.
Awesome, awesome new interview with Silva about the OWGP, courtesy of Freikorp on Sherdog. Very interesting that Shogun is going to stay heavyweight, and that he KO’d Wandy in practice.
How did you trained striking for the fight?
My injury in the ribs gave me some trouble, I hurt myself training. SHOGUN helped me a lot. Yesterday, he KO me with a kick in my nose! It wasn’t fair! But he’s backing to the trainning routine very well, it seems that nothing wrong ever happened (he’s talking about his injury against COLEMAN). I think the next year will be SHOGUN’s year and I hope this year end as my year.
What is the difference between your trainning to the OWGP and your regular trainning?
I gave a lot of attention to physical preparation (fitness). I made a gym on my own house, and brought in my physical instructor. We worked with a new kind of equipment attempting to incorporate the mobility of the fight, increase my muscular quality and explosion in order to fight as long as possible – and keeping the quality from the beginning to the end. I’m 99kg now. I’m training a lot of wrestling and jiu-jitsu too.
Talking about your strategy: what did you planned to this GP?
Well, I’ll face Mirko, a very strong guy who is one of the biggest idols of the GP. If I can beat him or even KO him, it will be damn good for me. I’m going with that on my mind: “KO or TKO Mirko”…
I think I did a good job at our first encounter, and now I’m so much strong and more experienced, so I believe I can make it. I think this is the beginning of the prime of my career…
But talking about his skills, I think CC is much more wise today. He learned JJ with WERDUM, who is very good on the ground. But in my opinion, if I can put Mirko on the ground, the things will be easier to me. But this is the B-plan, my preparation is to fight stand 'cos it’s what I love to do. The biggest thing about a grand-prix is that you have to come in with everything you have, and at the same time, you have to take a lot of care… I think it could be the biggest challenge of my career. CC is 110kg, he have a very powerful kick, so I have to paid attention all the time and fight smart.
What do you think about the relationship between Pride and UFC?
It’s great. It will result in good matches to the audience. My opinion is: the bigger is the challenge, more respectful became the fighter and more fans he will have. This is the old story of courage and the one who have guts, you know what I mean? If you train really hard, you know that you can face anyone, doesn’t matter how great is your opponent. You don’t know if you’ll win or lose but you need enough guts to give a try. Several times I fought with doubts about my performance, people who said “you won’t win, you aren’t in a good shape”… But you have to try. I’m still here. And I’m still Alive. And still working more than ever!..
What give you the motivation to keep trainning that hard?
Did you watched “Na Luta pela Esperan?a”? (AKA “Cinderella man”) This is all about another kind of fight, the fight to change the condition of your life. You know, I already had that kind of life… Today it’s like heaven comparing to the old times. I used to live with the minimal in the past, but today it’s different and I want to keep it in this way. I’m not a lazy guy, I will work very hard 'cos I want to give the best to my children, so I look at it (MMA) in a very serious way.
What about the possibility to face FEDOR? It’s possible that you’ll face CC and NOG or BARNETT at the same very night. Then, you will face FEDOR after three months…
If it happens… My god! It will be very very good! THIS IS a challenge! I think we have to do everything possible – and sometimes, the impossible – everytime. I know that I will face him, this time or in the future. He is the guy yet to be beaten, he is the #1 of the world.
'Til the day I retire, I will challenge everyone and search for the best fighters in the world.
CC said he’ll beat you fast, then he’ll face BARNETT at the finals. What do you think about that?
“It’s like a fish, who dies from his mouth” (brazilian popular expression). He knows that he had a bad time against both of us (Silva and Nogueira). But it’s ok, 'cos we have to think that we always gonna win and everything will be just fine in the time of the fight.
Do you think the heart is the differential of the brazilian fighters?
The heart is always the biggest differential… When a fighter is able to became well known in Brazil, he have great chances to became the champion at any place in the world. You know, our training routine sometimes is much harder and exciting than the real fight. There’s some people who already recorded these trainnings and will get a lot of money…
Who’ll be the HW fighter from Chute-Boxe?
SHOGUN. He is too big and too strong. He lost a lot of weight and he’s still 101kg now. (222 lbs)
SAKURABA just come back to another trainning with CB. What about the possibility of a fight between SAKU and RICKSON? Who do you think that will get it?
SAKURABA is the kind of fighter who can do everything: ground fight, fight on his feet. He have a great heart, so if he train hard, RICKSON will have a lot of trouble. RICKSON is too old, so if he isn’t in a good shape, “the legend will fall”… (my quotes)
But PAULO FILHO trained with RICKSON, and he was shocked with his ground game…
So the guy must be very good on the ground, 'cos PAULO FILHO is an awesome BJJ fighter. But BJJ is not a brawl. MMA is not BJJ, in MMA you have to punch and kick, and SAKURABA is great on it. RICKSON must work “the technical aspect of MMA”. (my quotes - it looks like a sarcasm)
source: TATAME MAGAZINE (tatamemag.com.br)
It’s a sick card. I can’t wait. My guess is that the GP winner will either be Wandy or Nog (CroCop would lose to Nog, Wandy would beat him). I like Silva’s chances. At least with Fedor out, we get to guess who will win.
New Cro Cop interview, translation courtesy of North on Sherdog. Everytime I read about this fight I get a half chub. This is going to be so good. Mirko seems hungry, and I’m impressed that both fighters gave each other stunning reviews. It’s a nice change from all the shit-talking. Mirko’s birthday is September 10, the day of the tournament, so maybe that is a good omen!
http://www.vecernji-list.hr/newsroom...23247/index.do
Free translation
We thought that we will meet the serious face expressions of someone approaching the very important moment in his career. However, Mirko was in very good mood this evening. Making his usual jokes all the time, he also said this:
“I feel very good, I really feel like fight with someone.” Luckily, there wasn’t any serious sparing today. He was only training with his old partner Igor Pokrajac, who looks great - his skin is darker, like some Brasilian. Mirko will have an opportunity for a real fight next Sunday. The biggest challenge in his career is waiting for him in Saitama Arena, in the same arena where final match for the basketball championship was played. 4-men tournament for the crown of the absolute world champion.
“Each next fight is the most important, but this is the tournament with the biggest ante. If I want to win, I’ll have to beat 2 extremely dangerous and powerful opponents in only two hours. First Silva, then winner of Nog/Barnett fight.”
By the opinion of Mirko’s manager Zvonimir Lucic, Mirko has to fight the meanest opponent, extremely wild Wanderlei Silva.
“Silva likes to make an impression that he is wild and agressive. The fact is that he is not afraid of anyone, but he will have to be very careful against me. When he pushes you in the corner, he starts swinging with the hooks. He can KO anyone while standing since he came from Thai boxing, but my opinion is that we are at the same level on the ground.” - says Mirko.
Ex wrestler Davor Lukic, who is kinesitherapist from the “Ligament” ambulance, which Mirko visits on regular basis, says that Mirko never looked in the better shape (speaking of muscles shape, that is). It is also, the result of good work of his cardio trainer prof. dr. Igor Jukic, but also of doctor from Vinkovci (city in Croatia) Zeljko Kapulica who is Mirko’s nutrician.
“Dr. Kapulica is taking care of my food, and Dr. Bucan is my guardian angel, he is taking care of my injuries. Kapulica is going with me in Tokio, and dr. Bucan will go to Las Vegas with me (Woot, CC is going to Las Vegas!)”.
Before leaving for Tokio, the strongest Croat will have 2 more light training sessions. Both of them will be done in his great dojo in the basement of his house. There is something written on it’s wall - Pride - the name of the organization whose belt he is after.
“I’m sticking to the old - “Pride or Die”. And I won’t let anyone step on my pride at Sunday.”
New Noguiera interview. Nog says Barnett is too good on the top for him to work past a stalemate from his back, and he wants a reversal to fight JB from the top. Also predicts Silva will take out Mirko because of his aggresiveness.
http://completevaletudoaccess.blogspot.com/2006/09/nogueira-talks-barnett-fight-expects.html
Antonio Rodrigo ‘Minotauro’ Nogueira gave performed a practice session open to the media today in DEEP Official Gym IMPACT in the Shinjuku sector of Tokyo.
Nogueira showed off his reknowned jiu-jitsu expertise in sparring, making a point of showing off his kimura and anaconda choke techniques. Nogueira looked to be in top form, as he himself made a note of his extraordinary condition," I feel in good condition, Japan’s climate is a lot like Brazil’s."
But what occupied Nogueira’s mind the most was his opponent, AMC Pankration’s Josh Barnett. Nogueira spoke frankly about what he saw in his September 10th opponent, "We’re looking for Barnett to use some kind of throwing technique to take the fight to the ground. If he takes top, expect a stalemate. But Barnett’s weakness is being on his back.
We’ve already seen in his fight with Mirko that he has problems off of his back." Darrell Gholar, Brazillian Top Team’s long-time wrestling coach ,was bought in to advance Nogueira’s wrestling ability for the bout.
Nogueira also had his personal complaints about Barnett: “He’s said jiu-jitsu is unneccessary to fight with a lot of confidence. But all of his techniques are from jiu-jitsu.”
Nogueira also predicted an all-Brazillian final: “Mirko has a lot of technique in his stand-up, but what Wanderlei has is that he always comes forward. I have a feeling I’ll be facing Silva in the finals.”
Amazing interviews! Thanx. I’m psyched!
I’d love to see the Chute Boxe intense sparring bouts!
Official weigh-ins today, from the official Pride site:
From the official PRIDE site:
Yosuke Nishijima - 202lbs(91.0 KG)
Evangelista Cyborg - 203.5lbs(92.5 KG)
Mirko Cro Cop - 220.9lbs(100.5 KG)
Wanderlei Silva - 225.1lbs(102.3 KG)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueirs - 242lbs(110 KG)
Josh Barnett - 255.2lbs(116 KG)
Aleksander Emelianenko - 259.6lbs(118 KG)
Sergei Kharitonov - 244.2lbs(111 KG)
Ricardo Morais - 277.2lbs(126 KG)
Lee Tae Hyun - 294.8lbs(134 KG)
Kazuhiro Nakamura - 223.3lbs(101.5 KG)
Yoshihiro “Kiss” Nakao - 224.4lbs(102 KG)
Mauricio Shogun - 203.9lbs(92.7 KG)
Cyrille Diabate - 201.7lbs(91.7 KG)
Ricardo Arona - 204.4lbs(92.9 KG)
Allistair Overeem - 208.9lbs(94.9 KG)
Very interesting that Silva is so huge. Mirko lost a lot of weight, presumably from doing tons of cardio work. Overeem, once again, managed to come in heavy. He has 24 hours to reweigh, which means once again he won’t have enough time to be properly rehydrated and will probably gas 3 minutes into the fight. I don’t know why he’s still sticking to 205 pounds…
[quote]Naphta wrote:
Does anyone know how I might be able to order the fight if I don’t have satelite?
I’m at college right now and the cable here is provided by the school (ppv’s can’t be ordered.)
I know ufc fights can be watched online, does pride have the same ability? I’d really like to see this card.[/quote]
might try hitting up some of your local sports bars. around here (dallas) every pub, hooter’s, buffalo wild wings, etc. shows UFC fights and what not, usually free. so it may be worth a shot.