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**MEB Boy** · 01-01-2001, 03:03 PM

ttt

any thoughts?

**YeLLa-TiGeR** · 01-01-2001, 04:35 PM

Its ironic that Daijro Matsui is in the same camp as Sakuraba. Looks like he carries all the skill and luck in that camp.

**Twisted up** · 01-01-2001, 06:23 PM

Allan Goes

I agree about Goes! I think he'll be someone to reckon with this year providing he's healthy.

He'll give ANYONE a run for their money. I'd LOVE to see him and Ortiz mix it up.

What about Carlos Barretto? He's also someone to respect. Who knows what's going to happen this year. It ought to be exciting!

John

**vortrex** · 01-01-2001, 07:39 PM

the fight I most want to see:

ralph gracie x pat miletich

**MEB Boy** · 01-01-2001, 08:54 PM

Alan Goes vs Tito Ortiz would be good, but Goes vs Vanderlai Silva would be awesome. Both weigh the same and both have a killer instinct and would go all out. I'd love to see a no-time limit format for their fight. Also headbutts (a Goes favorite) and kicking a downed opponent (a Silva favorite) would be allowed.

I forgot about Ralph Gracie and would to see him back in action. Militech would be alright for him, but I'd much rather see Ralph against Pele, Dave Menne, Sakurai or Matt Hughes.

MEB Boy

**fil** · 01-01-2001, 11:04 PM

Pete Williams, seems likes he has got his head back on straight now. Very good fast KO off a good up an comer Roger Neff. His match with Randleman he let slip away. Even though he dominated the first round he seemed to not be mentaly into winning what should of been an easy win after such a lopsided first round but his confidence wasnt their and it seemed he was just going through the motions and letting Randleman make a comeback in the fight. Note that Kohsaka did beat Williams so I woudnt rank Pete as high as you do untill he fights another top veteran fighter. Since he fights now in King of Cage which has an alliance with Pride it is only a matter of time before Pride decides to bring him over to Japan.

Tsyoshyi Kohsaka, he just comes off two good wins in the RINGS Block B card. KOing well respected sambo fighter Mikkail Illukhine and stoping the unknown Fedor who came off a huge upset defeated BJJ champ Ricardo Arona. Looks like T.K's training in standup is finaly paying off...

Ray "Bruddah" Cooper, just got submited by Alex Cook in shooto and an odd submision at that too. Still the guy has some awesome punching skills but it looks like he needs some work on his ground game.

Heath Herring is the most improved fighter of the year by far. I saw his match against Travis Fulton two years ago and he looked mediocre at best. Quite an amazing transformation from being bitch slapped by a B level fighter to beating the likes of Erickson and Inoue. Herring proves their is hope for any fighter if you train enough and go train with the right people.

Josh Barnett, I was glad that he got a chance in the UFC since he certainly deserved it having some very good wins. I know alot of people dont like him because of his flabby body but it doesnt seem to prevent him from performing well.

Alan Goes, I never liked him since seeing him repeatedly fight dirty against Macias in Extreme Fighting. One of the few fighters that I would like to see get beaten....

Carlos Barreto, many consider him the one of the most disapointing fighters not being able to meet expectations. He just lost a unaminous decision to Cris Haseman in RINGS Block B. Haseman just used his better standup to dominate Barreto. Its too bad because I always liked Barreto after seeing him fight with alot of heart in the old brutally tough tournament Univeral Fighting in Brazil against Kahlman, Bobish and Randleman.

Alexandre "Cacareco" Ferreira, he does look like he has a promising future but got a set back recently being armbared by Kanehara in RINGS Block B. Kanehara by the way used to be Sakuraba's old tag team partner in his prowrestling days. Cacareco left Hugo Duartes camp and is now part of Ruas vale tudo team.

Definatly Matt Hume is extremely good trainer. AMC prankation has a great stable of fighters. I like to see that new fighter I have been hearing a bit about Ivan Sallasvery (spelling?). New team member Arron Riley will be fighting Paul Rodrigues soon in HooknShoot, it will be intresting to see what he can do to Rodriguez who KOed Dennis Hallman.

**Domingo** · 01-01-2001, 11:40 PM

Stuff this coming year...

I agree about Pete Williams. I think he honestly should've won the fight with Randleman, simply because Kevin couldn't even stand up after the end of the round. Considering the positions they were in at the end of the round, had the round not ended right then - Kevin was toast anyway. Pete was in position to throw any type of strike he wanted, and if Kevin did anything to even attempt a reversal, the kneebar would've been a gimme.
The fight with Kohsaka never should've happened. With their whole "Friendly" fight thing, it just seemed tainted throughout. Neither guy seemed to be going 100%.
Anyway, Pete took some time off, and he's back and ready to rock. I wish him the best, and I think he'll be a force in the new year.
On a side note - Jerry Bohlander should also be back in the coming year. I've always liked Jerry's aggressiveness and will to win, and can't wait to see him back either.
On to other things:
I've heard lots of people say that Barnett looks flabby and out of shape. I've got news for you - not everyone can get flawless abdominals and look like a bodybuilder. There are people out there who can do 1000 sit-ups a day and run forever, but will always have a little bit of pudge around the midsection. It's just how some people are built - they might have abs of steel and wind for days under there, but it's not always easy to tell. I've got a feeling that's just how he carries his weight, and he's in fine condition.

Kohsaka might be back, too. Bear in mind that people overemphasized his recent losses and forget his accomplishments. He's not the youngest guy out there, and he probably just needed some time to re-adjust.

In the middleweight division - I think we've got 3-5 guys who are all on the top level of competition.
Obviously Sakuraba and Frank have to be considered among the best until they lose. Tito is certainly looking amazing lately. Next, I think we've got Silva, Henderson, Liddell, and the return of Evan Tanner. Bas will be back someday as well. He might not be the best at facing ground 'n pounders - but I don't think any of the fighters can beat him standing, and that applies to the heavyweights, too. As long as he's got wind, there's a chance for a KO. Tito has been hit before - and if Bas hits him like Kondo or Silva did, I don't think he'll recover. He's beaten Frank twice before - and the 2nd time it was essentially the "new" Frank he fought.
On the outskirts of that division is still Jeremy Horn. I'd like to see a rematch against Liddell or possible fights with Tanner or Ortiz.

As for the lightweights - I'm guessing we're going to see that divison split permanantly. I think we'll see guys like Uno and Pulver own the "feather" division, and Sakurai, Militich, Trigg, Hughes, Pele, etc. own the "light" division.

On a side note - whatever happened to the IVC and more importantly it's other major fighter (besides Silva, Patino, and Pele) - Milton Bahia? That guy was freakin' brutal! I'll never forget those mean axe kicks he took Bunn out with. I'm not so sure his style would fit in with the various rules outside of pure Vale Tudo, but I'd LOVE to see him fight in Pride or the UFC. Anyone know anything about him? He lost his last fight via a cut, even though he was clearly winning at the time (much like Silva did early in his career). Anything new about him?

**Chop Wisby** · 01-02-2001, 03:17 AM

making weight

re: tito; i don't like the weight-cutting tricks.

i've heard that some states' boxing commissions are using a second weigh-in, closer to the fight, to limit fights with excessive weight disparities; nhb might benefit from this, and more weight divisions. these moves might help keep heavyweights out of the middleweight div.

EJ · 01-02-2001, 06:07 AM

This thread gives me wood...

Ray Cooper is exciting as hell but his tap to Cook left me saying "WTF???"

Barnett is talented.

Matsui needs an easy fight.

**Bau13** · 01-02-2001, 04:51 PM

Just my opinion but I dont think Goes could hang with Tito..
Not one bit...

**MEB Boy** · 01-02-2001, 06:21 PM

I like Ray "Bruddah" Cooper and saw him fight several times in Superbrawl. He is an exciting fighter and definately goes for the win. I wonder what his future holds, now that he's lost his last 2 fights to Trigg and Alex ???
Hopefully he'll be back, and I can tell you he and Ronald "Machine Gun" Jhun have been really working on their submissions the last 2 yrs and they are only getting better.

I really don't like the weight cutting tactics either, but if it continues then I believe Tito will rule the middleweights in the near future. I also think Tito can beat Goes but I don't think it would be easy. I'd much rather see two kill-minded fighters w/ heart and the same natural weight go at it----Alan Goes vs Vanderlai Silva. I forgot about Evan Tanner and would like to see how he does in the next year or so.

I haven't heard about Milton Bahia in awhile. He was an awesome fighter and met Pele in the finals of an 8-man tournament awhile back in Brazil (can't remember if it was BVT or IVC). Milton had a bad cut from his other two fights but still came out w/ a vengeance. He and Pele were in each other's face talking trash and the doctor later stopped their fight due to Milton's cut. Milton was angry and he and Pele were still talking trash and ready to fight. I'd love to see them go at it in a single match, rather than in a torunament final where one could have taken more punishment prior. I think Milton was later ko'd in a later fight. Does anyone know for sure? Too bad we haven't heard much from him.

I still think their are fighters who are very good and less well known internationally, but they could be in the top 5 of their weight divisions. Tulia Pulhares is one. He is a lightweight (170-180 lbs I guess) but he went the distance w/ Igor Vovchanchin in Brazil and lost the decision. I think his style is chines boxing, and his standup is very good. Milton Bahia and Cacareco are others. Maxim Tarasov is another....what has happened to him? He won one of those Russian Tournaments a year or so ago. Also where is Vlad Matyushenko?

MEB Boy

EJ · 01-02-2001, 07:27 PM

That doc stoppage loss to Pele is the only loss I remember Bahia taking. He was Brazilian LW, G & P. Mean sumbeech.

**Zhoozhitsu** · 01-02-2001, 08:15 PM

Originally posted by Bau13
Just my opinion but I dont think Goes could hang with Tito..
Not one bit...

Bau, I'm with you on that one. Goes couldn't do damage against a much smaller Dan Henderson. I don't see him doing a whole lot against Ortiz.

MEB, thanks for taking the time to post your thoughts, but were you a little on the wild side when you posted the following matchups my friend?!!

Tank Abbott vs Ralph Gracie: WTF??

Helio Gracie vs Sakuraba Ok. I know you were kidding on this one.

Rickson Gracie vs Takada III : If you weren't kidding on this one, then you must've skipped your medication.

Igor Vovchancin vs Gilbert Yvel : Now this is one fight I'd like to see happen. I can't believe DSE put him against Fujita. That was a sure way to make Yvel look bad. Vovchanchin would still win though. He has wayyyy better ground skills than Yvel.

**fil** · 01-03-2001, 12:30 AM

Originally posted by MEB Boy

But they could be in the top 5 of their weight divisions. Tulia Pulhares is one. He is a lightweight (170-180 lbs I guess) but he went the distance w/ Igor Vovchanchin in Brazil and lost the decision. I think his style is chines boxing, and his standup is very good. Milton Bahia and Cacareco are others. Maxim Tarasov is another....what has happened to him? He won one of those Russian Tournaments a year or so ago. Also where is Vlad Matyushenko?

Milton Bahai, Christ he went to fight Pele with a massive bruising over his eye. I remember the ending of his match with Pele, Pele kisses one side of his face and slaps the other side it was hilarious but Bahai was not amused and it looked like the fight was going to continue. Their was supose to be a rematch but it ended up that Bahai faught Flavio Moura (remember him? he faught Paul Jones in the UFC) instead in another IVC which he lost when he opened a deep cut on his own head after headbuting Moura. The cut was so deep that bone was showing.

Tulio Palares, I used to use this guy as an example as why Vochanchin isnt that good back in the old days that Vochanchin had just started in Pride. Tulio took the match on very short notice against Igor in WVC 5 heavyweight tournament despite being 180 pounds and for about 10 or so minutes the match was very even and then for no aparent reason he just quits to the anger of the Brazilian crowd. It was weird because fighting people his own weight he had a much worse performance then against a heavyweight like Igor. He lost to Milton Bahai when Bahai headbutted his chest and fractured his sternum!! He got KOed easily by another lightwight in another IVC. He has a couple of losses on his record I believe his only win was in the non televised alternate match in Ultimate Brazil but I hear that was mediocre match. Last thing I heard about him was in Full Contact fighter magazine had an article on the recent Luta Livre Interstate championship (grappling) and Palhares competed and lost his first match to a Ruas Vale tudo team member.

Maxim Tarrasov, I always like this guy way back when I saw him fight Ricardo Morrais in the Russian AFC. He gets a nice throw on Ricardo and pins him for a few seconds (too bad it wasnt a judo match) which was suprising cosidering the huge weight difference. Last match I heard he had about 1 or 2 years ago was against Pat Smith which he won when Pat tapped out for no aparent reason. I remember someone a long time ago mentioning that Tarrasov had trained with Vochanchin but I dont know if that was true.

Vlady Matyushenko, he just moved to LA is training full time now, their is a rumour going around that he may be fighting in Pride soon. He still is a RAW team member. A really entertaining fighter to watch, even though he has great credentials as a wrestler (defeated kevin Jackson, Shultz) he doesnt fight like a typical wrestler and packs quite alot of power in his punches.

As for IVC, last I heard Batereli was suposedly busy trying to set up some super mega tournament in California sometime this year. Doubtfull if he can get the cash to finance the event since even WEF is having serious financial problems. Seems the only regular Vale tudo shows now in Brazil are the Mecca Vale tudo events which is basicly a show for the local chute box fighters (Pele, Silva, etc) to gain experience. I wouldnt be suprised if Bahai or Palhares show up on future cards. Lapenda and his WVC events seems to have moved to Europe, I dont think he does events in Brazil anymore suposedly his next event will be in Yugoslavia of all places!

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