Have you guys thought for once that its Dana Whites decision not to do an interim belt? If I am not mistaken Rashad actaully said that a year was too long too wait, and that Dana said the only reason they did an interim at HVWT was becuase they didnt know when Brock would be recovered from his illness....they arent doing one in this case because they know when Shogun will be ready to go.
You guys kill me....there was all this talk about how stupid an interim belt was, but now that its a fighter that the masses dont neccessarily like (Rashad)...he is a pussy for not fighting.
well its not his choice fellas!!!
Rashad is a pretty bright guy. Funny to see people with none of the information he has saying Rashad made the wrong decision. Maybe he has some injuries he is going to rehab in the same time frame. Maybe he has guaranteed money anyhow. You just don't know so why guess? My guess is Rashad has developed alot of nagging injuries and is using this time to fully rehab.
BasicChit - He made a couple of million for fighting Rampage so I am sure he has a few bucks to live on for the next year ½.A couple of million? Dude, I think your pay scale is WAY off!
1 year without Rashad....Thank god for that, can't stand watching him fight.
I've said this since it was announced that Rua would be on the shelf for a long time: Rashad should fight Randy Couture.
I understand it's a risky fight for Rashad because any fight is a risky fight, especially when you have a title shot guaranteed, but otherwise this fight is a win all around. UFC wins because they get a big fight between Rashad/Randy and the winner would be a legit #1 contender to Shogun, not to mention they'd be a new challenger as well. Rashad and Randy both get nice paydays, the winner gets their title shot, and there's not much shame for the loser because of who they lost to.
Again, I know it's a risk for Rashad but just how much of a risk is it? No offense to Couture but he's 47 years old now and hasn't been fighting the best competition this year. Rashad is much quicker, won't break mentally, is a better striker, and a good enough wrestler. Fighting Couture not only gives him a chance to get that win on his record (and it's still a big deal to beat Couture. Plus he'd be the only man in history to beat both Liddell and Couture, which is one of those meaningless facts that UFC could throw out) but it also keeps his training on schedule.
Rua is going to be coming off a longer layoff than Rashad and his layoff will include surgery so his training will be limited compared to Rashad's but it's still not a good idea to sit on the sidelines for so long, especially when you're in your prime.
LambertCFMMA - I've said this since it was announced that Rua would be on the shelf for a long time: Rashad should fight Randy Couture.
I understand it's a risky fight for Rashad because any fight is a risky fight, especially when you have a title shot guaranteed, but otherwise this fight is a win all around. UFC wins because they get a big fight between Rashad/Randy and the winner would be a legit #1 contender to Shogun, not to mention they'd be a new challenger as well. Rashad and Randy both get nice paydays, the winner gets their title shot, and there's not much shame for the loser because of who they lost to.
Again, I know it's a risk for Rashad but just how much of a risk is it? No offense to Couture but he's 47 years old now and hasn't been fighting the best competition this year. Rashad is much quicker, won't break mentally, is a better striker, and a good enough wrestler. Fighting Couture not only gives him a chance to get that win on his record (and it's still a big deal to beat Couture. Plus he'd be the only man in history to beat both Liddell and Couture, which is one of those meaningless facts that UFC could throw out) but it also keeps his training on schedule.
Rua is going to be coming off a longer layoff than Rashad and his layoff will include surgery so his training will be limited compared to Rashad's but it's still not a good idea to sit on the sidelines for so long, especially when you're in your prime.
Great post. 100% agree.
Rashad is a really annoying fighter. First off, he fights in the most boring, conservative fashion of anyone in the UFC outside of Grey Maynard.
Second, he has a long list of fighters who he won't fight because they're friends. Third, he turns down fights against even beatable opponents, like Little Nog, because he's so scared of losing.
First off he looked like a bitch against rampage and silva they both rocked him his stand up is shit and he knows it sorry to say but most of jacksons camp is affrad to stand and trade look at the gsp hardy and alves fights wouldn't stand and trade no one wants to see a 3 or 5 round wresling match there BORING bottem line rashad is sitting out because he's affraid of losing what a PUSSSS
Herring In A Fur Coat -GodSaveTheQueen - Rashad is is a pre-madonna.
Agreed. A post-madonna Rashad would still be the champ.
hahahahahahahahahahahahahahahaha
explodin - Remember when chuck took that fight with babalu @ ufc 40 and risking his title shot? He took that fight against such a dangerous opponent and risked everything. The ufc ain't what it used to be.
omgwtfeat1 - he has to take time to glue that crack in his glass jaw that rampage gave him
Glass jaw? What are you talking about?
raf_269 - If Rashad ends up losing to Shogun, all this time waiting will have been a waste in his MMA career. I think it's gonna be hard to sell this fight aside from it being for the LHW championship. Rua will have been out over a year and Rashad will have been waiting all this time, not keeping himself relevant to the fans.
this
im not in any rush to see him fight
KillBob - im not in any rush to see him fight
Me either but I still think he should.
Jack Skellington - I know he was promised a title shot if he beat Rampage. But with Shogun reinjuring his knee it looks like they wont meet until the middle of 2011.
Shane Carwin was promised a title shot if he beat Napao. But when Brock got sick, he ended up fighting (and destroying) Mir instead of sitting. But Rashad has chosen to sit out the entire year for his title shot.
I like Rashad & always did. And I know he earned his title shot by beating Thiago & then Rampage. But sitting out that long does zero to keep the fans interest in him. Especially to the casual fan. He's certainly within his rights to sit & wait for Rua to get healthy, I'm just not sure it's the best move.
The Carwin/Mir fight was is title shot and by winning, he received another title shot in his next match. For Carwin it was a no brainer to take the much easier title shot against Mir rather than wait for Brock and possibly never become UFc champion. As it stands, he won a UFC heavyweight title without having to beat the reigning champion. Rashad does not have this option thus it's a poor comparison.