After a hiatus, the Great Sherdog Debate has finally returned for your reading pleasure. GSD co-conspirator Mike Sloan is back and hopes to extend his massive winning streak to unmatchable heights, but his trusty nemesis Greg Savage remains at large.
This time around, Sloan will try to tackle another Sherdog.com staple in managing editor Mike Fridley, as they attempt to predict the outcome of Sylvia-Couture. Does the GSD newbie have what it takes to halt the Sloan Express?
Well, well, well. What do we have here? Why, it's managing editor Fridley joining the debate team. I must be honest, I am quite shocked that you've decided to venture into my territory with this debate, seeing as though the outcome is a slam dunk for yours truly. Do you even know what you're getting yourself into, Fridley?
I'll go easy on you since you've never been involved in a GSD before but the obvious choice in this bout is the massive
Tim Sylvia (Pictures). I see absolutely no way that Couture can come close to surviving this fight for the allotted five rounds, let alone actually winning it. I've been griping loud and clear with dissatisfaction over why this slaughter was even created, and I've since harbored a growing concern for Randy's health.
Naturally, Couture is a UFC Hall of Famer and he's pulled off the unthinkable time and time again. However, this cat is completely sapped of lives and I see Sylvia scoring another highlight reel knockout.
I actually would be shocked and impressed if Couture lasts to the midway point of the second round. There's this old cliché about how nothing is impossible in life, but I finally found something that is and that is a Couture victory.
A slam dunk? Not so fast Sloan. I think it's more likely that your drive to the hoop will result in something more similar to Shawn Livingston's ugly scene this past Monday than the Jordan-esque dunk you are expecting.
And no need to take it easy on me, Mikeyboy. I eat part-time writers like you for breakfast. But, before this gets too ugly, I feel the need to say thank you for taking time out of your daily King Diamond listening rituals to invite me to duel.
Now let's get on to the fights.
Have you learned nothing in your many years of writing Just My Thoughts and the Great Sherdog Debate? Anyone that has been in the game as long as you should know by now that "The Natural" is at his best when he's a huge underdog. Perhaps you have forgotten what happened to
Tito Ortiz (Pictures) and
Chuck Liddell (Pictures) when Couture was written off as nothing more than an over-the-hill 40-year-old ex-champion.
Randy has faced and defeated the best in the world, and owns the accolades in his trophy collection to attest to that.
You have got some serious cojones for picking Sylvia, Sloan. The current UFC heavyweight ace has yet to be tested in a true war with the level of competition that the Oregon native has confronted in his stellar 10-year career.
Forget about the fluke shot Sylvia landed in his second battle with
Andrei Arlovski (Pictures). Never has the 6' 8'' "Maine-iac" been pushed to the limits by a warrior the caliber of Couture.
How will Sylvia react when he is mounted and getting beat on like a red-headed stepchild? I'll tell you how, Sloan. Expect to see Sylvia disappointedly gaze across the cage as the UFC crowns its first five-time champion after a third-round stoppage from strikes in the mount.
Hold on while I catch my breath from the uncontrollable laughter. Seriously, Fridley, that was probably the funniest few paragraphs I have ever read in my entire life. It was like
Brain Droppings Part 2. I understand that you are in love with Couture's past, but sadly my friend that's all it is: Couture's past.
I'm tired about hearing how Couture rises to the occasion whenever he is a massive underdog and how he proves everybody wrong over and over and over. Liddell-Couture III? Hardly anybody with more than half a brain gave "The Natural" a shot in the rubber match with Liddell and Chuck proved why.
It's pleasing to see the spunk in your witty diatribe, Fridley, but this debate is too easy. In fact, it's almost as easy as that National Championship game between my beloved Florida Gators and your lowly Ohio State Buckeyes. If only I knew how much of a Buckeye fan you were
before the game! The Gators steamrolled that team and Sylvia will replicate that exact performance against Couture. Except, of course, without cheerleaders, helmets and pigskins.
Sorry that your maiden voyage into my realm had to be dealt with a crushing iceberg. Maybe I'll sit out the next GSD and let you try to get your first win against one of the other three winless (courtesy of me, of course) chumps: Sherwood and Gross. Better luck next time, sucka!
All I have to say about the National Championship game is this: I will never drink Gatorade again as long as I live — it's unfit for an Ohioan's lips. And how did a Las Vegan become a University of Florida fan? My nose is catching a whiff of some BS, and it isn't that crap you spewed in the opening paragraphs of this debate.
Who knew my first foray into the Great Sherdog Debate would be such a cakewalk? I'm telling you Sloan, not even Britney Spears' hair dresser got off this easy.
Seriously, I can't wait to read next week's edition of the Monday Morning Reverie. How will you explain your obtuse views of Saturday's main event to your loyal readers? Oh my. This could be as ugly and poorly received as your MySpace page.
Make no doubt about it Sloan. Couture will win this fight.
Unlike
Jeff Monson (Pictures), who was forced to take shots from long range when he faced the incumbent champ back in November, Randy's game plan will be to get past Sylvia's jab and work for a takedown from the clinch. Expect Tim to be effective early on if he can double-up on his jab, but when the fight enters the championship rounds, Couture will rise to the challenge and take home the heavyweight crown for the third time.
Will this be the start of another epic title reign for Hughes? He has to get past the tough Lytle first and it shouldn't be too easy. Hughes is a legend and Lytle is not. My pick is Hughes by comfortable decision.
No argument here. Hughes will cruise to an easy unanimous decision victory. Lytle's only shot is to avoid Matt's elbows on the ground and use his short range boxing game while on the feet.
Absolutely crucial fight for "Ace" mainly because nobody (see: fans) seems to care about him anymore. He has to win or else it's curtains in my opinion. My prediction is that Franklin plays it too safe and barely edges TQ Killer MacDonald via dubious decision.
MacDonald's ground game is incredible, but the Canadian lacks the hands and stand-up defense to make it out of the second round with "Ace." Franklin by TKO in the second frame.
While he hasn't exactly ripped up the charts yet in the Octagon, I expect great things from Kampmann. This time around he electrifies the crowd with an awesome second round ground-and-pound stoppage win.
I was impressed with McFedries' Octagon debut against
Alessio Sakara (Pictures) at UFC 65. Look for Drew to add another first-round TKO victory to his résumé come Saturday night.
"Babalu" will probably never get another crack at
Chuck Liddell (Pictures) but he'll fight like a title shot is on the line. Should be a good scrap because Lambert is a solid pro. Babalu by guillotine in the second.
Sobral will have no problem taking out the overmatched Californian, and most likely will find himself a candidate for the evening's submission or knockout of the night award.
This may sound rude, but Hamill just doesn't do it for me. Maybe it's because he has literally no stand-up ability yet? Who knows. Either way, Hamill by decision in what should a lackluster affair.
Hamill has lots of potential, but is his wrestling on par with the 1993 national champion from THE Ohio State University? Probably not, but I feel the
Ultimate Fighter veteran will have just enough raw MMA skill to see his hand raised after three rounds.
Fioravanti by points. I don't expect this to be Gomi-Diaz part 2, so that's all I'll say.
Is Fitch ever going to live up the hype? Maybe not, but he'll have no trouble in dispatching Luigi via knockout in the first round.
Tibau is coming off that loss to
Nick Diaz (Pictures) and he wants nothing more than to reverse his fortunes against Dent, also coming off a loss. Should be interesting and my guess is Tibau via unanimous decision.
I'll take Dent. He'll ride the home field advantage to a split decision victory.
Jeez! How many fighters named "Jason" are on this bloody card? This is a fight that piques my interest as KOTC vet Gilliam looks like he's the goods. We'll see. My pick is Gilliam over RITC vet Varner by second round TKO.
Nice to see you show some common sense. It's a shame you couldn't have done it earlier in the debate. Gilliam by TKO in the opening period.
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