I'll give you my answers as I see them.
First off I think the Hendo-Fedor stop was weak as hell. Hendo hit him a few times sure but they didn't even give him a chance to get up or try to? 3 seconds after Fedor gets dropped down it was stopped....is 3 seconds even enough time for someone to do anything? Especially a fighter of Fedors caliber, he should have gotten more time. -
I am a big fan of Fedor's but he was knocked out. As in unconscious. When that happens to any fighter the fight should be stopped. Very serious injury can come quickly if it's not.
Seems like a setup for Dana to get the last laugh (kicking Fedor out because it took so long to get him.) He promptly kicks Fedor out. However he says Wanderlei Silva stays in the UFC no matter what his record is. Same with many other fighters. He has a grudge against Fedor. -
I agree I think he has a grudge against Fedor, but mainly more towards Fedor's promotion.
Were all the Pride fighters on roids? They were all legends (Nogueira, Fedor, Cro Cop, Shogun, Wanderlei Silva) yet they are doing terrible in the UFC. -
I am not sure. They got tested, but it seems it wasn't as big of an issue.
Is the cage to octagon
THAT much of a difference? -
Yes and No. The cage is a small factor. I think the bigger factors are the difference in rules and round times. Pride was 10 minute first round and you couldn't elbow a downed opponent. For a grappler that makes a world of difference. And for a striker you know you have more time and have to adjust.
Nogueira was knocked senseless in Pride for 33 fights, never got tko'd or ko'd it happens twice in 5 UFC fights? -
Age, pure and simple.
Fedor never loses...28 fights in a row. He suffers 3 losses in a row under the UFC? -
IMO, I think Fedor went the route that many great fighters do and paid for it just like they did. When he fought Hong Man Choi it was more of an exhibition. And just like Ali, Forman, etc who fought exhibition fights before him, He got beat up pretty bad in that fight. I don't think his brain ever recovered. Come then to the Strikeforce and he gets tagged by Brett Rogers, again brain is damaged. Then UFC and, well, your brain can only take so much. I think that is what is happening now. Just like Wanderlei gets knocked out every time now, a fighter only has so many knockouts in them. I have seen this time and time again in boxing.
Cro Cop has a highlight reel of wicked head kicks, yet in the UFC he has yet to knock one fighter out with a head kick? Also why did he let Dos Santos beat him....watch the fight he walks right up to Dos Santos, lets him get a headlock clinch and knee the crap out of him. -
This one is easier to explain. Cro Cop was never the same after Gonzaga caught him. ANY fighter can be caught by surprise.
Wanderlei Silva has 2 wins and 4 losses in the UFC. He was fighting A LOT more in Pride too, now he's got 6 fights in almost 4 years? Trains more, wins less
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Wanderlei has just taken too many hits to the head.
Shogun 6 fights in the UFC, loses half of them? How? His first fight he gases out? I just don't get it. -
I never was a fan of Shogun. I do think though that he is one of the fighters in who the round time differences between Pride and UFC is something that can be seen. Big Nog is another one.
Rampage is doing OKAY, but all his fights are going to decision. Not the Pride rampage we all know and love. 6 out of his 9 fights went to decision
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Age, and maybe Hollywood.
Are the rules in UFC not to their liking? This Hendo held Fedor for 2.5 minutes against the cage just doing minimal damage, is that wearing out these fighters out? -
See above on the explanation of rules and round times differences.
As to the rest of the questions. It seems you are a Cro Cop fan. I was never a huge fan of his, but I truly think his best days are past him. That Gonzaga fight not only did something to him physically, but he never was the same emotionally or mentally.