Abu Dhabi lineup

[Newbie]

I believe Yamashita weighed 265 pounds in his prime. Karelin weighed about 285. I believe Baumgartner weighed about 265. I still think he would lose in the takedown department unless Karelin and Baumgartner if the wrestlers weren't forced to wear Gis, except I don't think size should be an issue in this case.

[yusul]

Newbie: i'll take your word for it, although i'm not sure that Yamashita was that heavy because i read accounts that the majority of his opponents in the open class were bigger and heavier than him, but even if he was that heavy, he was pudgy. (he had muscle of course). Karelin, is pure muscle at 285 probably at around 4%, if Yamashita had his body fat%, he would be down at 220 i think. Karelin runs through thigh deep snow almost every day, a few months in the winter before the Olympics!! but anyways i agree that size by itself isn't a factor, i was talking about Karelin's combination of size (where he still has an advantage, although not as big of one if you are right about Yamashita's weight), Power, althleticism and skill all together. Wrestlers are great at both takedowns and positioning as Kerr and others have shown, and AD favours these over submission or Ippon throws. btw, do you think Rickson would win his hypothetical match? it would be great to see the greatest BJJ fighter at the world's premier grappling event.

[Edited by yusul on 10-11-2000 at 11:21 AM]

[Newbie]

---yusul

I personally think Baumgartner would win if he did a little homework before competing. However, I believe Rickson could could catch Karelin, Yamashita, or Baumgartner in a submission and probably would catch either Karelin or Baumgartner if they didn't have some anti-submission training.