Rumor: Renzo Gracie vs Matt Hughes @ UFC 109

[zY|]

Re: Rumor: Renzo Gracie vs Matt Hughes @ UFC 109

Fedor is an anomaly. A statistical outlier. As such, we discard him from the discussion.

[SPX]

Re: Rumor: Renzo Gracie vs Matt Hughes @ UFC 109

Strikeforce has a lot of UFC level fighters (and a lot that aren't). Not only do that have Fedor, but they also have Werdum. And I'd consider Rogers really to be as good as many UFC HWs. And there's also Gil Melendez, Jake Shields and Mousasi. And Cung Le, who we really don't know exactly how good he is or isn't because he hasn't fought the best.

[zY|]

Re: Rumor: Renzo Gracie vs Matt Hughes @ UFC 109

Whose side are you on here? Sounds like a classic fencesitter argument.

[SPX]

Re: Rumor: Renzo Gracie vs Matt Hughes @ UFC 109

Whose side are you on here? Sounds like a classic fencesitter argument.

Well just as you say Fedor is an anomaly, I'd say Strikeforce is a bit of an anomaly. It's odd because they have arguably the very best MMArtist in all of history (Fedor). And they also have another very hot prospect who by all accounts really should be in the UFC (Mousasi). I think Shields also is UFC caliber, as well as Gil Melendez, Diaz, and probably a few others.

But as a whole, Strikeforce's roster is a notch below the UFCs. Are they the minor leagues? Hard to call them that when they have Fedor. But at the same time, it does seem like if you get your ass beat out of the UFC then Strikeforce is where you go. So I don't think Strikeforce is on the UFC's level, but they're working hard to pull a lot of talent in their direction and it's not inconceivable that if this trend keeps up then the top talent will be evenly split between both orgs.

[Mr. IWS]

Re: Rumor: Renzo Gracie vs Matt Hughes @ UFC 109

It may go down in Abu Dhabi

MEMPHIS, Tenn. -- When Matt Hughes announced on his Web site last week that he’d be fighting on April 10, the 36-year-old Illinois native did not divulge whom he would be squaring off with or where UFC 112 would be held. However, the former welterweight champion has been long rumored to be facing Renzo Gracie, 42, who reportedly signed a six-fight contract with the promotion recently.

When Dana White was asked Thursday if the Hughes-Gracie bout would he held in Abu Dhabi –- a location White recently scouted himself –- the UFC President answered cryptically.

“Sounds good to me,” he said, smiling broadly.

Asked about making that match, White noted that he respects a lot of fighters in the sport and implied that not every UFC fight has to have title implications.

“There’s this whole beef over Renzo choking out Pat Miletich (Hughes’ mentor) and sometimes it’s more than just; sometimes guys just want to fight and Renzo’s been training, he wants to fight Matt Hughes and Matt Hughes wants to fight him,” said White.

The fact that Sheik Tahnoon, of the Abu Dhabi Royal Family, is a Renzo Gracie black belt, along with White’s own statements on the promotion’s desire to hold an event in the United Arab Emirate’s capital, all point to the UFC’s Middle Eastern debut with this headlining bout.

UFC UK president Marshall Zelaznik told Sherdog.com at UFC 105 in November that he would be heading back to the Persian Gulf in hopes of cementing the deal. He said the window for promoting the show would narrow as the extremely hot summer season approached.

[Luke]

Re: Rumor: Renzo Gracie vs Matt Hughes @ UFC 109

This fight is a joke .This is even worse than when Dana brought in a 40 year old Royce Gracie to fight a prime Hughes .Hughes much suck a good one for Dana to keep bringing in the cream puffs for him