Pride GP Total Elimination 2004 Preview

Paulo Cesar “Giant” Silva vs. Henry “Sentoryu” Armstrong Miller

PEDRO CESAR SILVA: Brazilian professional wrestler, 1992 Olympic Games in Barcelona competitor, has recently been training in the U.S. to learn submissions, with a 0-1 record in MMA making his 2nd appearance in the PFC

Abbreviated Fight History: Pedro Silva began playing basketball as a youth in Brazil and represented the Brazilian National Team at the 1992 Olympics. In 1998 he was offered a contract by World Wrestling Federation (now WWE). He began a member of “The Oddities” which was a group of strange looking and acting wrestlers and stayed with the organization until 1999. From there he traveled to Mexico to compete in the CMLL and work on his lucha livre wrestling skills. In 2001, Team 2000 leader Masahiro Chono brought Silva and Giant Singh to Japan to wrestle in New Japan Pro Wrestling as “Club 7” (as they were both in the 7 foot range). They would compete and win “handicap matches” where the two of them would face three or more wrestlers and Silva could pin two men at one time. Silva had a falling out with Singh in 2002, wrestling and beating his former partner that same year. He continued to wrestle in Japan and Mexico and stayed in good standing with Antonio Inoki. Silva and Inoki “fought” on his ’01 Inoki Bom Be Ye New Year’s Eve show. He currently lives in New Jersey and is looking to train submissions in New York. Although reported as being 7’7 and 525 to 625 lbs by the Japanese media, he admits he is 7’2 and right around 400lbs.

Silva/Heath Herring: This was part of the Pride edition of the Japan 2003 New Years Eve “Let’s Bring Out The Freaks!” celebration. They should’ve at least given Heath a slingshot or something. Silva is simply gigantic. However, like the giants in most storybooks, he cannot move. Heath was forced to resort to racing in, kicking Silva in the legs, and racing out of reach. With Silva’s pro wrestling background, he wasn’t really familiar with hot to actually fight so his best offensive maneuver was to catch Herring on the top of the head with “strikes”. A kick from Heath was caught early in round three and both fighters went to the mat. Herring avoided a “submission” from the giant (more like a big sloppy hug) and took Silva’s back to apply a rear choke for the win.

Strengths And Weaknesses: Silva’s strength is his physical strength. He’s a gigantic man and could probably KO someone of he landed a solid strike on them. With his extensive reach, he can throw good strikes from his back and is not easily taken down. As for weaknesses, he has one MMA fight to his credit. He knows little or nothing about submissions and as a professional wrestler, he isn’t used to throwing or receiving real kicks and punches.

How He Can Beat Miller: Use his reach and keep the bout standing. If Silva avoids the rush of the sumo wrestler and is able to corner Miller, a few well placed strikes may end the match without him having to test his primitive ground skills.

HENRY ARMSTRONG MILLER: American professional sumo wrestler (retired), training with Daijiro Matsui, Kazushi Sakuraba and Nobuhiko Takada at Takada Dojo, with a record of 351-253 in sumo, making his MMA debut and his 1st appearance in the PFC

Abbreviated Fight History: Miller began playing football in school at 6 years old. He continued to play the sport in high school and was scouted by numerous universities as a junior. During his senior year he blew out his knee and his dream of making the NFL crumbled. He likely could’ve healed and pursued his dream but the injury broke his confidence and he gave the sport up. Henry also began wrestling in high school so when football was no longer an option, his grandfather suggested sumo. He is half Japanese (on his mother’s side) and it seemed like a natural road to take and still become a professional athlete. Henry made the move to Japan but it wasn’t easy going and he suffered a number of serious injuries in the early stages of training. With his parents’ support he continued to train and excelled in the sport. “Sentoryu” made his sumo debut in Nagoya Grand Sumo Tournament in 1988. He did not make it to the high ranks of the sport and the makuuchi division until the end of his professional career. The 34-year-old St. Louis native officially retired from the sport of sumo in February of this year. A formal ceremony was held and former sumo wrestler-turned-MMA-fighter Akebono was in attendance. “Sentoryu” is now focusing on the sport of MMA.

Strengths And Weaknesses: As a wrestler and sumo wrestler, Miller has superior balance. He will be able to control his opponent physically and use momentum in his favor. He should also be able to knock someone to the floor relatively easily. Maybe not Silva, but your average man. He is used to being pushed and slapped from the contact in the sport of sumo and will likely win battles in the clinch. “Sentoryu” has been working on his striking and sparring in continuous rounds to improve his skills and stamina. As for a weakness, aside from takedowns he likely has no ground game. Stamina will also be a huge factor, given the relatively short bursts of energy required to compete in sumo. He has been training with Takada Dojo for several months so he may have a basic understanding of the ground but it is unlikely he is efficient on the mat, especially against an incredibly large and heavy opponent.

How He Can Beat Silva: Ground and pound his way to a win. If Miller can blindside Silva and send him crashing to the mat, he may be able to finish this one early by keeping him down and punching him until he taps.

MY PICK: Tough call. This is going to have “spectacle” written all over it, especially since I see the winner here just being fodder for someone to make it to the semifinal. Neither has much experience but Silva did go three rounds with Herring and Heath used to be one of the top names in the sport. I feel it will be Silva by TKO from strikes in the 1st Rd.