Did you just grab my a$$? Re Pride 14

[Zhoozhitsu]

Originally posted by Hookah Smokin Caterpillar

Nino vs. Johil - I was impressed (obviously) with Nino's ground game but damn did he scare the shit out of me with his terrible stand up. His stand up is the same as Gilbert's ground game. Still, once it hit the floor Johil stood no chance.

Exactly, which is why Nino would in trouble against any decent striker/grappler closer to his size. I don't see him going very far in NHB. He will probably meet the same fate as Saulo.

Dan Henderson vs. Shoji - OMG! Henderson impressed me so much; I can't believe I turned into a Henderson fan so fast. He was awesome in EVERY part of his game.

Henderson has been my favorite fighter for some time. I have him as the #2 middleweight or light heavyweight behind Silva. His heart is amazing. And his grappling is world class. His submissions are okay, but his combination of athleticism, striking and grappling is impressive. Not many fighters in the game like him.

Disapointment of the night - I would normally say Yvel vs. Igor, but I never expect an Yvel match to be good anymore. So its Belfort vs. Herring.

Yvel x Vovchanchin was a great fight. Watching Vovchanchin was like watching a world class BJJist at work. It was amazing.

[Karlinhos]

i didn't watch the even yet, but BRIAN... on page 2 did your "*****" word begin with the letter "N" or "B"???

[Zhoozhitsu]

I'd rather not say which Karlie.

[Karlinhos]

hahaha...

okay... then i'll just assumre you're a stern listner, in which case it can be either. (lmao)

[hounddog]

Only one fight surprised me but Im glad I stayed away from here so as not to hear the results before watching the PPV on Saturday.

Silva vs. Oyama - Early stoppage. Bad matchup. Silva is in another league.

Nino vs. Johil - Nino's standup was embarassing. Sweet armbar however.

Pele vs. Matsui - Matsui neutralized Pele's attacks and played a smart fight. Pretty much a boring fight.
--actually, what was i thinking? this was an entertaining fight, but watching it, you know it was going to a decision.


Goodridge vs. Overeem - Ouch. You do not want to be turtled or side mounted by Big Daddy.

Mezger vs. Liddel - This was awesome. Lidell got super rocked in rd 1 and Mezger earned rd 1. You could tell Mezger was tired at the end of rd 1 and still tired going into rd 2. Seems like Lidell fights with a game plan, keeping energy expenditure in mind. He came out blasting and put the sickest KO ive seen in a long time. It was the best fight of the night, hands down.

Vitor vs. Herring - Hmmmm.... I must have watched a different fight than the judges. Ill have to rewatch this one tonight. Vitor didnt show much IMO. He tried to fight a jiu jitsu fight against herring when he should have been throwing bombs. im tired of watching him do nothing from the guard. he did have one nice reversal though.


Dan Henderson vs. Shoji - Henderson beat the shit out of Shoji. Should have been stopped way earlier.

Igor vs. Yvel - Yvel better go back to jiu jitsu class. Nice work by Igor.

Fujita vs. Takayama - Can you find two guys with thicker skulls? an ugly display of ugly striking. Fairly entertaining though.

[YeLLa-TiGeR]

Pele VS Matsui was the BEST fight that I have ever seen. They were constantly giving 100% and there were some GREAT reversals and striking.

The drop kicks were funny!

[sakattacked]

After a 3 month absence, I'm back on the forum (but with an "ed" at the end of my name even though Sak is still a badass).

Zhoo & Hookah,
Did Vitor control most of the fight? Was it mostly on the ground? I thought that fight would be explosive but Vitor seems to be winning with G&P nowadays. A little more description of the fight please.

[Zhoozhitsu]

Sakman,

Vitor had Herring in his guard for a good chunk of the fight. He got 3 or so takedowns, one of which caused Herring hold on to the ropes w/ both hands (resulted in a yellow card). Vitor also got sidemount a couple of times and mount off of a reversal once. If the fight had continued, I think Vitor would've been killed eventually. Herring had too much size and strength on him.

[Zhoozhitsu]

hounddog, it wasn't because of lack of effort on Vitor's part that he didn't get a chance to throw bombs on Herring. Herring wouldn't let him. He'd clinch w/ him effectively everytime.

[hounddog]

Agreed. I do think he could have tried to be more agressive and initiated the exchanges rather than backing away. I guess he was afraid of Herring's lead roundhouse and up knee. Vitor looked like a typical jiu jitsu fighter. He did have a couple of nice headbutts to Herring's knees and feet on his way in for a takedown. Also, I think he gave up top position too easily on the ground, gathering to his guard too quickly rather than fighting to stay on top of Herring.

All in all, he's not that entertaining to watch unless he is aggressively striking ala his fight with Silva. Who wants to watch Vitor in his guard? I'd rather watch someone who is going to catch a sub.
-hD

[Zhoozhitsu]

HD,

Vitor fought an oustanding fight given the circumstances. Remember, Herring pimp slapped and rear naked choked Erikson. He also man handled Enson. Both of these guys were stronger than Vitor. If you take the huge size and strength disparity into account, you will see Vitor in a more positive light.

Vitor didn't get a chance to pound on Herring. Herring was too big, strong and skillful for that. To say that you're disappointed in Vitor for that, or that Vitor chose to fight BJJ is erroneous. Vitor fought the only fight he could.

[hounddog]

I don't think he fought an outstanding fight. I'm sure he gave his best effort but I did not witness an outstanding fight from Vitor. Herring is a complete animal. I feel that Vitor's only chance at beating him was with punches from standing and he only threw 1.

I will watch the fight again this week with new perspective and see if I find a different viewpoint.
-hD

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Please guys, just look at Vitor's face and look at Herring's face and tell me who won the fight. Herring did absolutely nothing to Vitor. Look at it this way;

Herring won the first round barely
Vitor won the second round barely
Vitor won the thir round decisvely enough

Now you may say that thats half the fight for each fighter because the 2nd and 3rd rounds are only 5 minutes each, you can add the yellow card and there you go. Plus, the 15 lbs. rule is not a bad rule on the Pride organization and it helps matters.

As far as eating knees, I didn't see Vitor look phased at all. It was Vitor's fight guys, check who got the damage. Herring is overrated and looks like a fat hillbilly who got his first Kid Rock makeover

[Zhoozhitsu]

HD,

You honestly think Vitor would forgo his standup game to beat Herring on the ground???? Vitor didn't throw punches standing up because he couldn't, not because he didn't want to. Herring didn't give him any opportunities.

[Hookah Smokin Caterpillar]

Yeah sure, because Vitor has constantly been giving people Silva beatings left and right since his Sakuraba match. Vitor hardly ever throws punches in his fights anymore from standing. Look at his fight with Bobby Southworth, if there was ever a guy Vitor should've boxed up it would be him. Yet he took him down and fought him using BJJ; just like he did to Herring. The only time Vitor even through a punch was after Cleatus the Slackjawed Yokel got pissed at him butt scooting and wanted him to get up. Then as soon as Vitor got up he threw one punch and Herring took him down right away. The only reason Herring didn't get beat even worse is his 22+ lbs. weight advantage.

Vitor barely won, I don't see how you guys saw an ass whooping for Herring.