The ghosts of PRIDE’s past makes UFC 110 a fun card to watch
Published by Zach Arnold on February 11th, 2010 in Current Events

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When Mark Coleman was cut from UFC on Wednesday, a few days after headlining a UFC PPV fight against Randy Coleman, you could immediately hear the loud chatter online about whether or not the move was fair. After all, Coleman did get licensed by Keith Kizer and the Nevada State Athletic Commission. Plus, Dana White was in a defensive mode leading up to the PPV event, telling everyone that it would be a competitive fight and that the show would be great. So, naturally, the boo-birds are out given that UFC is now worried about Coleman’s safety in the cage against elite competition.

Despite the ugly ending for Mark Coleman in UFC, it has been a very interesting time for former PRIDE fighters in UFC. Only in the last year have we really seen the full marketing and integration of PRIDE fighters as, well, PRIDE guys in UFC. And isn’t it ironic that some of UFC’s most interesting bouts on paper have focused not only on the ex-PRIDE guys but the fact that UFC suddenly is willing to push the legacy of PRIDE as an equal? After all these years where UFC dumped on PRIDE and Joe Silva reportedly handing a note to UFC commentators to say “This ain’t Japan” during a fight involving Sokoudjou, it is hilarious to watch UFC resurrect the ghost of PRIDE past — and do so when they could very well be heading to court this Summer against Nobuyuki Sakakibara.

UFC 110 in Sydney, Australia on February 20th is a perfect example of PRIDE’s ghost hovering over UFC matchmaking. UFC has recently been airing “Best of PRIDE” specials featuring UFC guys going over or ex-PRIDE guys who signed with UFC going over. The top two matches for the UFC 110 event feature Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez in essentially a #2 contender’s bout for the Heavyweight division, along with Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping at Middleweight. The event is already sold out and it will be interesting to see how the fans react to the two Brazilians who became icons during their days in PRIDE.

For Cain Velaquez, facing a worn-down but crafty veteran like Nogueira is a challenge that he is not only looking forward to but is also very confident in succeeding at as far as winning is concerned.

“It’s definitely the toughest task that I’ve had to face,” stated Velaquez in an official UFC media interview. “I watched a lot of his tapes and his films, a lot with his fights. I know that he has a lot of experience and he’s always dangerous when he fights but I know it’s my time now. He’s just another guy up in the line to fight to get to where I want to be and that’s you know to be the UFC Heavyweight champion.

“I knew this time would come when I got here, every fight’s going to get tougher and tougher. I’m going to have to fight tougher guys and I might be fighting guys that I watched you know ever since you know this sport was young.

“I think for Nogueira I got to be twice as sharp on the ground… I mean he’s awesome on the ground. He doesn’t give up, I don’t give up either. When the cage door closes, I expect a war.”

For Nogueira’s part, he knows that he is still recovering image-wise from the loss to Frank Mir. Part one of that recovery was beating Randy Couture in a very entertaining fight last August in Portland. Part two is trying to beat the young upstart in Australia.

“I’m still in the game,” Nogueira said confidently in a UFC interview released last week. “I got to train more than ever. I’ve been fighting for 11 years. I have a lot of passion for what I do. I’ve been improving a lot. I feel very motivated. I got a very good conditioning coach. I improve about everything.”

He expects a violent ground-and-pound style and a smothering in an attempt to wear him down and not be able to pull out a submission attempt.

“Top wrestling. He got a good single legs, double legs, good transitions. He moves a lot. He got a good shape. Think he’s using MMA same style he uses in wrestling, just go and go and go and go. Not many fighters can follow him in the Heavyweight (division). He’s moving like a Light Heavyweight for the Heavyweight division. He’s not a good submission fighter, but he positions himself in a way he can punch (where) he can control his opponent. That’s what makes him good. I got a lot more experience than him. For sure I’m going to use that in the cage. He’s hungry, I’m experienced and hungry, too. So I’m going to use that you know. I got more experience in jiu-jitsu and my boxing is very good too. I think that’s a good match up for me.”

Nogueira and Velasquez are about dead even as far as the oddsmakers at the sportsbooks are concerned.

Nogueira’s Brazilian counterpart from PRIDE, Wanderlei Silva, is not an underdog going into his fight against Michael Bisping. Silva is a slight favorite (anywhere in the -150 to -170 range) over Bisping. Despite Bisping beating Denis Kang in England, the image of him getting knocked out silly by Dan Henderson last July is on the mind of everyone in the MMA community. Silva, who made his bones in PRIDE as the ultimate knockout artist, is definitely living off of his past reputation. Can he knock out Bisping? If Bisping goes back to his old striking habits of circling around the cage in a certain direction, he could very well leave himself wide open — just like he did for Dan Henderson at UFC 100.

Bisping, going into the fight, has toned down his trash-talking ways but is still as confident as he ever is going into a fight.

“I’m very excited. Number one, I’m fighting a legend like Wanderlei Silva,” exclaimed the UFC British ace in a media interview last week. “I want to fight the best Wanderlei Silva there is and I think based on the losses that he’s had recently, I think it’s going to make him more dangerous than what he normally is. I think he has to win this fight to revive his career. I got nothing but respect for Wanderlei. I think he’s a tremendous fighter, I think he’s done a lot for the sport, for Mixed Martial Arts, with his exciting style and it brings a lot of fans to the sport. But that respect’s going to go out the window, I’m going to fight this guy. Every time I walk in the gym, I leave that respect at the gym door. On the 20th of February, we’re going to fight and I’m looking to knock him out. We’re both going to try to impose our will, I know Wanderlei’s going to come in aggressive, I’m going to come in aggressive, it’s going to be a test of wills. I think it’s going to be fantastic fight to watch. As I said, it’s definitely got potential for Fight of the Night. Obviously I see myself winning, that’s what I’m training for, that’s what I’m dedicating my entire life to right now and I’m going to win this fight. It’s going to be a great fight, it’s going to be a hard fight. As I said, Wanderlei Silva is no pushover. I got absolute respect for the guy, but I want to win this fight.”