It is protection. DSE's biggets star right now is Vanderlei. They want to make sure that Pancrase doesn't get bragging rights if he wins, ie Pancrase doesn't have pride's belt.
Kondo got his ass handed to him in what could have only been called an absolute assrape by Josh Barnett for a shot at the openweight Pancrase title. He couldn't strike for shit then, and he can't now.
Now he's goin up against VANDERLEI of all people, for his belt, in his ring, with the only shot of him winning being his game. Yoshida... more thinking, less speaking.
Get your minds off Tito/Kondo. Kondo has improved 100x since then.
It's just like saying Belfort would beat Silva today because of that old fight in UFC brazil.
Kondo probably won't win, but he'll certainly give a better fight than rampage.
"Kondo Yuki has beaten two of the most elite grapplers in MMA in sperry and kikuta"
It is apparent that our ethic on this is worlds apart. Sperry's not even in contention for the title, and what the FUCK has Kikuta done in the past 3 years that makes a win over him notable in a here-and-now situation?
"Kondo got his ass handed to him in what could have only been called an absolute assrape by Josh Barnett for a shot at the openweight Pancrase title. He couldn't strike for shit then, and he can't now. "
there is no point in the arguing with such an idiotic statment. say whatever you want... lol
Kondo can't strike, LOL!
Silva will be the one taking Kondo down, mark my words, he won't trade with Kondo.
"the FUCK has Kikuta done in the past 3 years that makes a win over him notable in a here-and-now situation?
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kikuta's claim to fame is the same as Arona's, ADCC CHAMP.
so then what all the supporters of this decesion are saying is Pride is stupid for having a Champion.
So Either Pride is Stupid for having a champion because it doesnt matter if its for the title we get the same action and get to see the same fight so there is no need for champions.
or Pride is Stupid for making every fight Silva has a non title fight or a fight vs a tomatoe can.
I have to believe if this shit was coming from the UFC we wouldnt be hearing the same support.
A little off topic but when is the Silva Kondo fight and the Arona Rampage fight?
Are they on the GP card. I have been away a while?
ttt
Random Thoughts:
- DSE is definitely protecting champion. They feel Kondo has a shot and will not let one of their biggest draws lose the belt to a guy that is not signed to an exclusive contract.
- Rampage was at a huge disadvantage facing Silva due to his significantly more difficult fight with Chuck, while Silva rolled around a little with a completely inferior Yoshida. Rampage will defeat Silva in a rematch and I will back this statement with some solid amounts of money at the sportsbooks.
- Kondo does deserve a title shot, especially in Japan where his reputation is big. This is the fight the Japanese want to see.
- Silva will defeat Kondo who is not in the same league as the very top guys; Silva, Couture, Liddell, Ortiz, Rampage and Belfort.
Who cares if Arona has been too inactive?
He's the last darkhorse LHW that we havent seen lose (except to Fedor, but thats Fedor).
For all we know Arona can put any 205er on earth on his back and control him there indefinatly. I think he'll prove this vs Rampage and then Silva.
Kondo vs Silva is perfect. They can't lose either way.
Silva wins, he just gains more fame, honor and all that with the Japanese for beating Kondo, more hype for him. Kondo also looks good in the loss because going up a tough opponent and loosing is good in Japanese culture.
Kondo wins, they have their dream come true, a big name Japanese fighters beats the foreign champion against all odds.
Oh God Pride has such a hardon for Silva it's unbelievable. The only person who should be in line to fight Silva next and it should be for the title is Rampage Jackson. He was the number one contender for the title before the Grand Prix, and he was promised a title fight with Silva win or lose in the Grand Prix. Now Rampage has to fight Arona, while some guy who doesn't even fight in the Pride organization gets a crack at Silva. To add insult to injury Silva gets an immediate rematch with him if he loses, and this fight is not for any kind of title?
Pride matchmakers are complete fucking morons. I'm so sick of them feeding Silva underskilled, small Japanses fighters when there are plenty of worthy light heavyweights for him to fight. Do you think we'll ever see a rematch between him and Vitor? Of course not, even though Vitor is begging for the match. Do you think Pride will ever allow Randy Couture to fight Silva. Of course not, even though Randy is begging for that fight. How about Arona who desparately wanted a fight with Silva, that never happened. And Dan Henderson who gave Silva his toughest fight on 3 weeks notice has been begging for a fight with him again (where he can properly train for it). Do you think that fight will ever happen? Again, of course not. Chuck Liddel was begging for a fight with Silva, they made Chuck fight in a tournament just to get a crack at him. That fight never happened. I know Kevin Randleman has asked for a crack at Silva, Tito Ortiz and Guy Mezger would fight him again. Of course all of those fights won't happen either.
Do you see a trend here? Silva is a great fighter, but I've said before, since Pride is content to feed him tomatoe cans all day instead of giving him the best fighters in the world, Silva should be stepping up and asking for these fights. The best champions call out the best fighters, Silva should be doing the same.
" underskilled, small Japanses fighters when there are plenty of worthy light heavyweights for him to fight. "
small maybe, but underskilled? Tamura, Kanehara, sakuraba, Kondo., Minowa underskilled? IF these guys fought within their weight class they would own.
KONDO SHOULD GET A TITLE SHOT "IF AND ONLY IF HE WINS OVER SILVA" YUKI HAS EVERYTHING TO GAIN IN THIS ONE. WHAT DOES SILVA GAIN BY BEATING KONDO ? IT WOULD BE DIFFERENT IF IT WAS -SAY THE PANCRASE TITLE FOR THE PRIDE BELT BUT IT IS NOT. I AM A FAN OF BOTH BUT YUKI TAKES THIS ONE....IN MY OPINION.
"Kikuta's claim to fame is the same as Arona's, ADCC CHAMP."
... and not to disrespect, but the premise of my question was worded as such to ask, again, what relevance that has to ANYTHING as far as the contendership picture in Pride.
I do see Kondo as a great athlete and an achieved martial artist... what I do NOT see him as is a contender for Vanderlei's belt. Honestly, I see this as a pad fight, something to give the Japanese another Vanderlei knockout to talk about... and to be honest, I'm quite sure the Japanese themselves are waiting with baited breath to see it happen.
Kondo was not put in because he's an ADCC champion or because he deserves a shot... he's the modern day Fabiano Iha, almost there but not quite... at just about every professional opportunity he's ever had. Can't do it in UFC. Can't do it in Pancrase. Now, he will add Pride to that list.
"so then what all the supporters of this decesion are saying is Pride is stupid for having a Champion.
So Either Pride is Stupid for having a champion because it doesnt matter if its for the title we get the same action and get to see the same fight so there is no need for champions.
or Pride is Stupid for making every fight Silva has a non title fight or a fight vs a tomatoe can.
I have to believe if this shit was coming from the UFC we wouldnt be hearing the same support."
Please learn how to write legibly before spouting off with no control...
Ghost. Kondo is the #1 contender. Belfort is highly overrated and he can't win ANY fight if it goes over a minute. Belfort's accomplishments were many years ago.
Randy beat an overrated Chuck and an even more overrated Tito. The other ones I have discussed.
Kondo has improved a lot since the tito fight. He's one of the best sprawl and brawlers in fightsport. He used that against Kikuta and Sperry and KTFO of both of them.
His grappling game is very sound too. he got rear hooks on Sperry and dominated him like NO OTHER. He was holding his own against a very accomplished grappler in Kikuta.
Kondo just dominated the living shit out of Cesar Gracie star Steve Heath a month ago as well.
Kondo has done a lot, has been active, has always been fighting people above his weight, only losing by decision mostly and occasionaly by choke.
Kondo's skill set is the biggest threat to Silva. Most people don't want to trade with Silva, kondo wants to keep it standing, I'm afraid Wandy won't.
Ninja had a very hard time with sperry, and most of you guys consider Ninja the 4th best fighter in the HW GP.
Well take a look at Kondo/Sperry. Kondo beat Sperry w/ ease, dominated him, while Ninja was fighting for his life and cryed like a little baby after he won. That just shows the difference in skill set that Kondo has. Kondo has the most superior p4p skill set. That's why I'm saying he's the number one contender.