UFC 53 Rumored Card...

[Jeremy]

From MMAWeekly.com...

- Evan Tanner vs Rich Franklin - UFC TITLE FIGHT

- Matt Serra vs Karo Parisyan

- Nick Diaz vs Pancrase opponent

- Andrei Arlovski vs Justin Eilers

- Charles "Chainsaw" McCarthy vs David Terrell

- Stephan Bonner vs Sam Hoger

- Tim Sylvia vs Minotauro Nogueira

[Jeremy]

HOLY ****!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

If Nogueira fights in the Octagon, I'll cream my pants as he owns Tim Sylvia.

[ColeTrain]

What!?! Nog's comin' to the Octagon? That is so bad ass. He'll tap Sylvia out in less than 3 minutes...

[gunslinger]

sam hoger... What the ****!

[kimura]

Nog/Sylvia? In the UFC? What the hell?

[ColeTrain]

gunslinger, Hoger owned B-South in the TUF finals pre-lim with a lot of striking. I think they want a Hoger/Bonnar match for its KO possibility. I hate Hoger's attitude, but he's actually somewhat talented, he's been training at Miletich for awhile now...

Obviously there are better fighters that deserve to be on a UFC card, but when in doubt as a promoter, go with a seemingly sure KO match-up...

[Rootsa]

If this turns out then Silva vs Randy is around the corner


Man i wish it was Andrei Arlovski vs Minotauro Nogueira, that would be a war

[ColeTrain]

I'd like Nog over Arlovski, but yeah, that'd be a great fight.

[Jeremy]

I'll believe it when it happens, but I am PRAYING that it does.

[dogofwar]

They should put Sylvia and Eilners together and have Arlovski/Nog for the main event. Sylvia doesn't defend submissions well so why match him up w/ a submissions expert?

[kai]

Nog in the octagon?

Keep dreaming guys.

[WEREWOLF]

Nog in the UFC? What's the source? Nog would make short work of Sylvia. I don't think Arlovski would prove too great a challenge either. Mir/Nog on the other hand would be interesting.

[dogofwar]

Nog in the octagon?

Keep dreaming guys.
You are probably right...DSE is a bunch of pussies. But maybe just maybe they found a set and are living up to their end of the deal. Dana sends his guys to fight but DSE have been a bunch of cowards up to this point.

[Jeremy]

Nog for Couture.

[ColeTrain]

Jeremy, is that a deal made between UFC/Pride (Nog for Couture)? Or are you saying that UFC should send Randy over in return?

[PREDATOR]

It would have been great to see nog matched up against arlovski. BUt they cant just send nog over to the ufc and have him fight for a title shot. IS nog even a pride fighter still? Last i heard he wasnt under contract.

Ive said this before and ill say it again. Sylvia would be a tough matchup for nog, because of his size and his takedown defense. Nog doesnt have great takedowns, and he doesnt have ko power. Most of us would agree that the fight would favor sylvia if the fight remained standing. If the fight went to the ground then nog would sub sylvia.

NOg would definately be the favorite, but if hes not careful tim might land the big right hand. And ANYBODY can be kod. Couture was kod. cabbage, mirco etc

[robbypark]

Tim Sylvia cannot KO Nog. If Cro Cop's kick couldn't take Nog out, than Sylvia's right hand sure as hell wouldn't do it.

[ColeTrain]

Nog subbed Cro Cop after taking a vicious beating in the first round. Nog dealt with Mirco's power, he can surely deal with Sylvia's. I think Nog is a huge favorite in that fight. Like I said before, it'd be over in less than 3 minutes.

[jadakkiss81]

I think Nog would have trouble trying to sub Sylvia. Even though Sylvia did get exposed with Mir and Arlovsky, I dont think its an easy fight for Nog. Lets remember what Happend to Ricco who in my opinion beat Nog. I think you can never say its an easy fight when you have a heavy puncher like Tim.

[cumthedestroyer]

Nog will take anyone in the UFC. Who is it that got the idea Frank Mir is so phenomenal? So he subbed Sylvia....he's pretty unexperienced really and had a hell of a struggle with Wes Sims. His gas is poor and his skills are limited. I really don't think he's shown exceptional prowess with anything. Nog should walk through him faster than any of them.

[WEREWOLF]

Nog will take anyone in the UFC. Who is it that got the idea Frank Mir is so phenomenal? So he subbed Sylvia....he's pretty unexperienced really and had a hell of a struggle with Wes Sims. His gas is poor and his skills are limited. I really don't think he's shown exceptional prowess with anything. Nog should walk through him faster than any of them.

I think Mir is a bit underrated. He is lightning quick with his submissions and very technical on the ground. The injuries he suffered in the motorcycle accident sound to me like they might be career ending though, which is a shame. I agree with you however about his conditioning. If he does come back he absolutely needs to improve in that area.

Nog/Mir would be an interesting match IMO. I think it would be a technical ground war. Nog has the edge in stand up and conditioning, but it would be a great submission match while it lasted.

[Pipesote]

Nog will take anyone in the UFC. Who is it that got the idea Frank Mir is so phenomenal? So he subbed Sylvia....he's pretty unexperienced really and had a hell of a struggle with Wes Sims. His gas is poor and his skills are limited. I really don't think he's shown exceptional prowess with anything. Nog should walk through him faster than any of them.


Mir subbed Roberto Traven, who is a damn good BJJ black belt and has done good in grappling competitions, and that was a few years ago when Mir wasn't a black belt. His wrestling is better than Nog's and he is stronger, Nog however has one of the best guard games in MMA, along with great cardio, he'll possibly sub Mir in the late rounds or win a decision, but I think Mir will put up a good fight.

I remember people saying how Ricco was gonna get killed by Nog when they fought...

[Solaris Flare]

I am pulling for Minotauro. *crosses fingers* I really hope Nog has been working on his takedowns. It'll be a short night for him if he has. The only real problem Nog should have with Sylvia is the MASSIVE weight difference. If he gets the take down Sylvia is in deep trouble.

[robbypark]

Nog wouldn't have to go to the ground to beat Mir. Nog could simply stand up with Mir and end up winning a Unanimous Decision. Not only is Nog's ground game far better than Mir's, but his stand up is light years ahead as well.

[Solaris Flare]

I agree with that. Plus there is this giant question mark about Mir recovering FULLY. Can Mir bring his "A" game to a fight anymore? We just don’t know. Also Mir been known to have stamina issues.

[ACIDBATHBELFORT]

Mir isnt far from Nog on the ground. He is damn slick as well with subs. Stamina would be the key issue, as well as Mirs recovery from his accident.

[kai]

Mir isnt far from Nog on the ground. He is damn slick as well with subs. Stamina would be the key issue, as well as Mirs recovery from his accident.

Mir is very far from Nog on the ground. Hell, Mir got his black belt just a few months ago.

[bigjay]

If Nog vs Sylvia happens and goes more than two minutes I'd be surprised. Sylvia doesn't appear to have great takedown defense or judgement in the ring. I think Nog's stand up would distract him enough to open him up for a takedown. Once he's on the ground, Nog would easily submit him quickly.

If Mirko, Fedor or Bob Sapp couldn't KO Nog I think Syvlia was very little chance. Just re-watch Nog/Fedor I and I think you'll see why. I shudder to think of how many heavy head shots Nog took in that match and still kept fighting.

[bigjay]

Mir is very far from Nog on the ground. Hell, Mir got his black belt just a few months ago.


I don't think Mir can even see Nog's ground game from where he is. He looks good but that's been mainly against relatively unskilled opponents (ground wise). Put him up against a Ricco or Nog and you'll see the holes.

[Deathrow]

Sylvia doesn't appear to have great takedown defense or judgement in the ring.

Don't know what you've been watching, but Sylvia has GREAT take down defense and has never been taken down before. In his fight vs Mir he was the one who did the take down. Against Arlovski he got punched then fell.

As far as his judgement goes, I agree with you. His judgement is pretty subpar.

[Cbear]

Actually, Big Nog would be a very smart play on Prides part as the guy to send to UFC to make peace. Big Nog isn't the champ so there is no embarrasment if he loses. UFC isn't followed very closely in Japan so Pride could basically pretend the match never happened (if Nog lost); if they don't mention it on a Pride show, then most Japanese fans won't know or care. Plus the fans there are more forgiving of a loss. Big Nog could stand still and let Sylvia whail away on him and he isn't going down. Nogs arguably got the strongest chin in mma and I think he is a better boxer than Tim. I'll even predict Nog gets the Anaconda vise (from standing clinch, to takedown, to the vise) and shows Tim a new way to lose.

Arlovski or Mir vs Nog would be a much better match. Makes me wonder why Dana wants Tim to get his 3rd loss in a row instead of rehab him for the title race?

[Grappling-fan]

Don't know what you've been watching, but Sylvia has GREAT take down defense and has never been taken down before.

He got tooled and taken down at will by his opponent in a Gladiator challenge match he had.

[Ash]

The prospect of a Noguiera/Sylvia match doesn't interest me too much. As for Noguiera vs. Mir, that seems like it'd be an interesting and entertaining fight. If Mir could pull off a win, it'd silence alot of his critics. Noguiera vs. Arlovski I don't think would make for a good match though. Andre would no doubt keep it standing, and he's way too technical standing up to get taken down, or hit many times by Noguiera. It'd just be alot of circling with the occasional Arlovski counter-punch thrown in, which may or may not cause a KO. I'm still all for the idea of bringing Rizzo back to fight Arlovski. I know UFC didn't want him back because he cost too much money, but now that the sport has grown perhaps they won't be so stingy. And as long as you put Rizzo in with a striker, he'll always come out on top. Also, if Arlovski ever became champ, it would be a natural rematch to have. I mean, if they've asked Ricco to give Arlovski a rematch, wouldn't they likely have asked Rizzo too? Seems logical to me. As for the other fights on the card, Tanner vs. Franklin II should be good, but hopefully we won't get another bull**** stoppage. Best fight on the card, in my opinion anyways, should be Karo vs. Serra. Hopefully it'll be shown on the PPV.

[Grappling-fan]

Ash,
If Mir beats Arlovski it will slinece many of his critics bud...

[Ash]

Oh absolutely, but I don't think that's a fight Mir would win. Noguiera, while arguably a better fighter than Arlovski, is a more beatable fighter for Mir in my opinion.