I'm amazed at so few seeing the appeal of Wand/Rampage 3.
Let's recap the drama here:
Despite a monumental entrance ("Is it getting COLD in here?"), Chuck surprisingly gets spanked Randy, but the UFC sends him to Pride for the tournament and the long awaited showdown with longstanding and dominant Pride champ, Vanderlei Silva.
Chuck foolishly does not follow Dana White's gameplan, and because of this he suffers a convincing loss to Rampage.
Rampage goes on to fight Wand in the finals and is battered, and then battered even worse in the 2nd fight, in what I think are two of the most highly anticipated and exciting high-profile fights in MMA history.
Rampage also loses to Shogun and looks sub-par against Lindland, so everyone writes him off as washed up and is convinced that Jesus has stole his mojo.
Then Wand gets put to sleep twice in a row by Hendo and CC, so everyone writes him off as washed up and overrated and only good because Pride allows steroids and fed him Japanese cans.
Rampage re-emerges in the UFC, looks sub-par against Eastman, and everyone confidently states that Chuck is a different fighter now and will kill him.
After Rampage destroys Chuck inside a minute, Rampage gets the belt and becomes the undisputed #1 LHW in the world, which is weird because Wand fucking crushed him but the UFC hasn't signed Wand yet.
Wand gets signed, and loses a highly anticipated fight with Chuck, which is weird because Wand crushed Rampage twice and Rampage crushed Chuck twice.
Meanwhile, back at the ranch, Forrest beats Rampage for the belt, and Chuck loses surprisingly to Keith Jardine.
Keith Jardine fights Wand, and gets KTFO inside a minute.
This history perfectly defies MMA Math, and proves that in a stacked division like the UFC 205 lb class, anyone can beat anyone on any night. Since their first two fights were entertaining as hell, and we've often seen excellent match-ups spoiled by delaying them and offering other opponents, I think this is the perfect fucking time for this fight.
FYI
I sure as hell am!!!
That card is sick.
I'm excited for it, I would watch these 2 fight 100 times.
BUT...
I don't think this is the ideal time for this fight. With Wanderlei winning the first 2 decisively, it doesn't make a lot of sense now unless Rampage has the belt and Wanderlei is the challenger (which is why I loved this fight instead of Rampage/Forrest).
I just don't see a ton of upside, if Wanderlei wins yet again, we just see that Wanderlei indeed has Rampage's number, which we assume already. If Rampage wins this, then it sets Wanderlei back again, and I think kind of unfairly so since he'll be 2-1 against Quinton.
That being said its an exciting matchup, and a great rivalry, so I'll always watch it.
Great night of fights, this one becomes buried because of all the other matchups. Hopefully this sets the stage for a great fight that some people may not have been expecting. I am still a bit concerned after all the Rampage drama from this summer that he may not be his best. Wandy has already seen his best days. It just isn't as compelling as it would have been a few years back. Given all that I hope they put on a great show.
Silva seems like a new fighter after some tough losses.
I expect him to wreck Rampage once again.
Silva by snorkle workout
snorkle cardio = win
All I know is if it resembles either of the first two fights then it's going to be a huge setback for Rampage.
I agree though, I would watch these two fight on every card.
I don't see how anyone isn't excited for a fight in which you KNOW someone is getting KTFO. That's what fans want isn't it? Both fighters have come a long way since their last fight and a lot has changed. Lends a new dynamic to this fight.
i wouldnt mind seeing rampage get viciously KOd yet again.
Mad Xyientist - I'm excited for it, I would watch these 2 fight 100 times.
BUT...
I don't think this is the ideal time for this fight. With Wanderlei winning the first 2 decisively, it doesn't make a lot of sense now unless Rampage has the belt and Wanderlei is the challenger (which is why I loved this fight instead of Rampage/Forrest).
I just don't see a ton of upside, if Wanderlei wins yet again, we just see that Wanderlei indeed has Rampage's number, which we assume already. If Rampage wins this, then it sets Wanderlei back again, and I think kind of unfairly so since he'll be 2-1 against Quinton.
That being said its an exciting matchup, and a great rivalry, so I'll always watch it.
I've heard you and many others claim that the worth of the fight is degraded because a belt is not on the line, and I respectfully but firmly disagree.
Shit, I wouldn't be surprised if either guy was never the champ again. Additionally, there are many opinions that the luster of this fight is gone after both have received losses to other fighters, and I think delaying the fight any further only opens the door for more of this "luster" to wear off (I'm still waiting for CroCop x Arlovski and Sylvia).
There are so many new and up and coming fighters taking over the spotlight, that this fight is one of the few that still has some very magical history associated with it, and I'm glad they're striking while the iron is hot... or still luke-warm, at least.
It'll be a good fight, but the matchup is kind of depressing. Neither guy is young and another bad loss could be the end or the beginning of the end. There are so many more interesting matchups for both.
Also, 3x5 means it could just be Rampage laying on Wanderlei.
Don't get me wrong SP, I am definitely still excited. I have to let it go that they didn't make this instead of Rampage/Forrest, because they didn't and now we're here. Its always a great matchup and one of the best rivalries ever in MMA.
Now if this thread was about Mir/Nog, I would need about 10 paragraphs.
Great post, Sandy. I'm excited about the fight, but I still think it's ridiculous that it's only 3 rounds. 15 minutes is nowhere near long enough. Can you image 1 or 2 more rounds of Liddell Silva?
Big name fights should at least get to be 4 rounds.
I see no point. Sure, Rampage can certainly beat Silva, I'm not saying we can predict the outcome. But they already fought 2 times, the results were clear cut, and unless it's for THE BELT, why bother? I don't mind rematches that make sense. This one doesnt.
Hey, I'll watch it. But I'd rather have these two fight someone else.
Crazy Zimmerman - Great post, Sandy. I'm excited about the fight, but I still think it's ridiculous that it's only 3 rounds. 15 minutes is nowhere near long enough. Can you image 1 or 2 more rounds of Liddell Silva?
Big name fights should at least get to be 4 rounds.
BRING BACK THE UFC SUPERFIGHTS! 30 MINUTES NO BREAKS!
Crazy Zimmerman - Great post, Sandy. I'm excited about the fight, but I still think it's ridiculous that it's only 3 rounds. 15 minutes is nowhere near long enough. Can you image 1 or 2 more rounds of Liddell Silva?
Big name fights should at least get to be 4 rounds.
You're kidding right? Based on the first two fights alone, what makes you think more than 3 rounds will be required?
I am!
I dont like the fight at this juncture at all. Fair enough when Rampage was champ and he wanted to get one back and it would be 5 rounds.
However as a 3 round fight with Rampage having just lost his title an almost being sent to an asylum, I dont see the point in it right now. Also having it be a 3 round fight is a joke, I can see Rampage going for a 3 round TD decision, he has said in multiple interviews that was his gameplan in both his fights with Wand to wear him out and get a decision, stopping him if he gets the chance. If Rampage did manage to edge bout a decision what does it prove? We know who the better fighter is.
If you make 2 guys fight enough times eventually one guy will win, look at Herring/Nog 3 another waste of time, Herring almost head kick KOd Nog, if he had won, it wouldnt prove he is a better fighter as we know Nog is.
Most stacked division in MMA and instead of making new fights we are still seeing rematches, pretty ridiculous.
Nog Herring 3, Silva Rampage 3, Sonnen Horn 3 and Tito, Ken 3; none of these were needed at the time they were made.
I couldn't care less about the belt not being on the line. These two will put on a show and the winner will have a title shot in the near future. if not a #1 contender fight (Machida really deserves the next shot). I think too much is made of prior fights between fights, especially when they were years ago. It's one thing if it just happened 3 months ago or so, but it's been 4 years now. I'd like to see how the Rampage and Axe Murderer do today, especially with the different ruleset and mandatory drug testing in place.
Should be a great fight.