The Show Off
05-30-2007, 12:01 AM
For some reason I can't post on Sherdog's MMA forum, because of something with my computer, so I hope this will intrest enough people here at TPWW. Those of you who like MMA please feel free to respond.
Anyway, I've been reading a lot of MMA boards for a while now, and it seems that their is always a darling for the internet MMA fans. It's either Fedor, Wanderlei, Cro Cop, and for the past few months Shogun has garnered this respect. Not being totally versed in PRIDE (I've seen a few shows but only saw one Shogun fight) I desided to research his fights and see what the hype was about.
Upon first seeing it I instantly knew why this guy is so revered, the guy is a very flashy and talented striker, with leathal knees and devistating stomps, and a pretty slick gorund game. But as I watched more and more I realized that Shogun either can't or just doesn't defend against the take down. I keep wanting to find his fight against Lil Nog to see how he does against a really goog ground fighter but alas I can't.
After watching Shogun get taken down time after time it dawned on me that Tito Ortiz, if he beats Rashad Evans, should call out Shogun. I really believe that Tito could take him, and obviously if Tito beats Shogun then Tito will most certianly have to get a shot at the Rampage/Hendo fight.
I'm not a fan of Tito Ortiz or anything, but he's really the perfect MMA villan, he's a brash young man that has no problem talking trash, is media savvy and doesn't mind playing the villan role. The only thing missing is Tito's reputation, with him losing to Liddell he really needs some quality wins. If he can beat Evans and Shogun back to back he'll get that respect back, and the Light Heavyweight Division will have it's villan back.
Am I saying Shogun is over-rated? Hell no. I think against stand up fighteres he'd kill most of them, he'd probably beat Liddell, and has already beaten Rampage so I'm certianly not denagrating his abilities. I just think wrestlers are a bad match up for him. I think with Tito's strength he could hold Shogun down and pound him out.
Anyway, I've been reading a lot of MMA boards for a while now, and it seems that their is always a darling for the internet MMA fans. It's either Fedor, Wanderlei, Cro Cop, and for the past few months Shogun has garnered this respect. Not being totally versed in PRIDE (I've seen a few shows but only saw one Shogun fight) I desided to research his fights and see what the hype was about.
Upon first seeing it I instantly knew why this guy is so revered, the guy is a very flashy and talented striker, with leathal knees and devistating stomps, and a pretty slick gorund game. But as I watched more and more I realized that Shogun either can't or just doesn't defend against the take down. I keep wanting to find his fight against Lil Nog to see how he does against a really goog ground fighter but alas I can't.
After watching Shogun get taken down time after time it dawned on me that Tito Ortiz, if he beats Rashad Evans, should call out Shogun. I really believe that Tito could take him, and obviously if Tito beats Shogun then Tito will most certianly have to get a shot at the Rampage/Hendo fight.
I'm not a fan of Tito Ortiz or anything, but he's really the perfect MMA villan, he's a brash young man that has no problem talking trash, is media savvy and doesn't mind playing the villan role. The only thing missing is Tito's reputation, with him losing to Liddell he really needs some quality wins. If he can beat Evans and Shogun back to back he'll get that respect back, and the Light Heavyweight Division will have it's villan back.
Am I saying Shogun is over-rated? Hell no. I think against stand up fighteres he'd kill most of them, he'd probably beat Liddell, and has already beaten Rampage so I'm certianly not denagrating his abilities. I just think wrestlers are a bad match up for him. I think with Tito's strength he could hold Shogun down and pound him out.