MMA Roundtable: 7/27 edition

Day late and a writer short. Sorry about that people, thankfully, we at SN have a European writer whose schedule is not always on US time.

But moving on, Welcome to the SportsNickel MMA roundtable where we answer YOUR questions about the world of MMA! Have a question? Submit below, and if you disagree with the answers feel free to post that as well.

This week we have Steve Bowen, Collin Caprini, and David Snipes

1. What card in August is the most exciting for you?

Shane: UFC 117 hands down. I am probably one of the few that believes Sonnen hasn’t bitten of more than he can chew. I picked Sonnen over Okami and Marquardt, truly, I don’t believe that those were big upsets. I think he offers a stiff challenge to Silva and he will push the pace and make Silva actually fight for a win! Plus a consensus number 1 contender vs number 2 in Fitch v Alves (Go Fitch). What does Hughes still have, let’s find out when he faces the “Big Dawg”. Last, and certainly not least, look for my boy Cigano to KO “Big Belly” Nelson.

Collin: 117 Undoubtedly.
Sonnen/Silva, Hughes/Alemeida, Nelson/Dos Santos and Fitch/Alves are all terrific fights.  Plus the Sonnen fight is so much more interesting and dynamic because of Sonnen’s trash talk.

David: I tell you, if the WEC card had held, It might have been the best- but its closer than you think. This is the 4th time Fitch/Alves has been scheduled, and who knows if it will still come to pass.

2. Rashad passed on a rematch with Lyoto- and Rampage took the fight, what does this do to the LHW title picture if Lyoto wins?

Shane: Shuffling rankings seems so impossible since you can string wins together without ever facing the guy that beat you. Machida earned his first loss at the hands of the champ. Rashad survived Rampage and Silva, though he did own the fight by going to his roots to wrestle on that same token he showed that same “CHIN” weakness that made him do the “stanky leg” (courtesy Rampage) against Machida. I liked the idea of Evans facing Machida first and if Machida beats Rampage in impressive fashion then I believe Machida ranks above Evans until they square off again. Besides, why does Rashad want to wait so long for the butt stomping that Rua has waiting for him?

Collin: It shouldn’t do a whole lot to the title picture.  Maybe give Lyoto a shot against Rashad again or set up a future opponent for Bones.

David: I actually think Lyoto could leapfrog Rashad for a title shot. he comes out and destroys Rampage- he already has beaten Rashad head to head- and with an impressive win, he could pass Rashad who is sitting there waiting for a title shot. The list of guys that were named the #1 contender but got passed by is LONG in the UFC. I think Rashad is making a mistake waiting for a year, he needs to fight Lil Nog or someone to keep his name out there.

3. Jake Shields is facing Martin Kampmann- are you excited by this matchup?

Shane: Why not? Everyone loves to say, “hey, I wonder how he’d do in the UFC”? WW has a deep pool of competition but it’s not their fault that GSP keeps drowning them in that pool. Sheilds offers a real stiff challenge should he get past Kampmann. I’m excited because it’s not a pushover fight. Kampmann just showed his dangerousness over Paulo Thiago and other than making a terrible decision to stand with Semtex Kampmann has been solid at 170 lbs. I’m actually going to be taking Kampmann in this one because the UFC WW division is an easy pool to drown in. Let’s test Sheilds talent and grit at 121.

Collin: Very excited, especially considering Kampmann’s performance against Paulo Thiago earlier this year.  Very good fight.
Martin is probably the more well rounded fighter but Shields is nigh upon untouchable on the ground right now.

David: No, not really. Kampmann is not a solid wrestler and Id rather see someone with some potential face him. If Martin wins this fight- is he in a title eliminator? I think not. Thats the problem here, Jake could be the biggest FA bust since  . . .DAN HENDERSON.

4. Randy Couture came out and said that he would fight Anderson Silva if the UFC asked him too. If Randy beats Toney, what chances do you give this fight happening?

Shane: I like that! If he beats Toney! I would be shocked “IF” Toney beats him. I don’t give this fight much of a chance of happening. Randy said he is open to it but so what. Many other LHWs would probably be willing to get a chance to beat a legend in Silva. There are better fights for Silva at 205 and the UFC would appear to have something to lose if this fight took place. Taking nothing away from Randy, if Silva lost he’d be stripped of the “Best fighter ever” award that Dana so graciously bestowed upon him and that could be a promotional gut check as Randy doesn’t have a lot left (seemingly) at 47 years old.

Collin: If Randy asks for it and the fans show interest it will almost certainly happen.  I would be really excited for that fight.  It should have a great finish and if Randy is cometitive it will be an exciting fight and if he isn’t it should be an exciting KO.

David: Randy has a tendency to get fights he wants- there is a reason dang near every fight he has had in the past half-decade is either a title fight or a headliner. Randy is no dope, Chuck dented his chin so he has to see something in Anderson he can exploit. If this fight comes off, its gonna be HUGE. You slap this on a card with a solid co-main (say Carwin vs the Roy Nelson/JDS winner) and thats a million buys -including my 49.95.

5. Of all the fighters from Impact FC 1 & 2, who is the most likely to see UFC main card status?

Shane: Such a tough question. So many of these guys are already been there and done (mostly lost) that with the UFC. One guy we haven’t seen in the UFC is Paulo Filho. If he can keep his crap together and make some headway then he would easily be main card material for a UFC PPV. Not a headliner mind you, although he has the potential if he gets serious and makes a run for the gold. He’d also need to chose one weight division and stick to it. Remember Filho, dedication!

Collin: Pedro Rizzo.

David: Ninja Rua. His brother is the 205 champion, and pulling another high level 185er into the ranks might be interesting. Rua is not near as good as Shogun, but with a 4 fight winning streak, I think that a Ninja/Bisping fight could be a VERY good  co-headliner under a Brock fight or if the Nog Bros show comes off well, a Shogun/Rashad title defense.

Well, that does it for this week, hope you enjoyed it, and keep those questions coming!