Most Overrated Fighters (Blame IC for This)

**Next Big Thing** · 07-13-2011, 05:46 PM

I don't see what's retarded about wondering if some of the Pride guys are overrated, especially in Fedor's case.

It's not like these guys are Sakuraba or Couture or even have been fighting the same volume of opponents in the past 6 years like they did in Pride. Fedor is 34 and hasn't fought more than twice in a year since he was 28. Chuck, Randy and Matt Hughes (if you think winning 3 out of your last 4 is a bad ending) were all 38 or older when they started their decline.

I don't see how the "back in the day," "different era" argument can be made for Fedor or even Wandy like it would be made for Chuck, Randy and Matt. Fedor's the same age as Lesnar, younger than Carwin and both of those guys were UFC champions at one point. He very much still could have competed in that division unlike Couture and Liddell at LHW who were both in their late 30's/early 40's at that same point in time.

Volume of fights doesn't really help the argument either. Rampage has 5 more fights under his belt than Fedor and only 6 less than Wanderlei but I think it's more than fair to say that the caliber of opponent Rampage has defeated and lost to is much better than what Fedor faced and unlike both Fedor and Wandy, he's been successful off the Japanese circuit. Anderson Silva has just as many fights as Fedor, is two years older and has dominated a higher level of competition. Matt Hughes had just as many fights when he debuted in the UFC as Fedor does total fights now. It's fair to say that all of those guys have sustained their fair share of injuries over that time period, but Hughes, Rampage and Silva all proved themselves against tougher competition.

Even caliber of opponent doesn't compare. Think about the guys Fedor beat during that period. He clearly had Big Nog's number and fought Cro Cop once. It wouldn't be like giving GSP a can between every other fight against a legit contender. It would be like giving him 10 cans between every other legit contender.

Now... All that being said. I was just playing devil's advocate with Fedor and Wandy. I think the runs they had in Pride were amazing due to the level of dominance and not necessarily the caliber of opponents, although Wandy beat a better level of fighters in my opinion. I do believe that it's not as cut and dry a debate though.

07-13-2011, 05:46 PM	#9
Next Big Thing Posts: 4,839	I don't see what's retarded about wondering if some of the Pride guys are overrated, especially in Fedor's case. It's not like these guys are Sakuraba or Couture or even have been fighting the same volume of opponents in the past 6 years like they did in Pride. Fedor is 34 and hasn't fought more than twice in a year since he was 28. Chuck, Randy and Matt Hughes (if you think winning 3 out of your last 4 is a bad ending) were all 38 or older when they started their decline. I don't see how the "back in the day," "different era" argument can be made for Fedor or even Wandy like it would be made for Chuck, Randy and Matt. Fedor's the same age as Lesnar, younger than Carwin and both of those guys were UFC champions at one point. He very much still could have competed in that division unlike Couture and Liddell at LHW who were both in their late 30's/early 40's at that same point in time. Volume of fights doesn't really help the argument either. Rampage has 5 more fights under his belt than Fedor and only 6 less than Wanderlei but I think it's more than fair to say that the caliber of opponent Rampage has defeated and lost to is much better than what Fedor faced and unlike both Fedor and Wandy, he's been successful off the Japanese circuit. Anderson Silva has just as many fights as Fedor, is two years older and has dominated a higher level of competition. Matt Hughes had just as many fights when he debuted in the UFC as Fedor does total fights now. It's fair to say that all of those guys have sustained their fair share of injuries over that time period, but Hughes, Rampage and Silva all proved themselves against tougher competition. Even caliber of opponent doesn't compare. Think about the guys Fedor beat during that period. He clearly had Big Nog's number and fought Cro Cop once. It wouldn't be like giving GSP a can between every other fight against a legit contender. It would be like giving him 10 cans between every other legit contender. Now... All that being said. I was just playing devil's advocate with Fedor and Wandy. I think the runs they had in Pride were amazing due to the level of dominance and not necessarily the caliber of opponents, although Wandy beat a better level of fighters in my opinion. I do believe that it's not as cut and dry a debate though.