For the most part, speculation articles are a lot like masturbating in a rocking chair: it is something different, it may even sound like a good idea, but in the end it just gets too messy.
Having said that, let’s get messy.
Anderson Silva has had the most successful transition from Pride to the UFC. He had seven straight wins with seven straight finishes. None of his opponents were tomato cans (a tomato can is someone that was scheduled to fight Kimbo in an EliteXC fight).
Silva defeated the near-impossible-to-knock-out Chris Leben via knock out.
Then he beat the once thought unbeatable Rich Franklin and in so doing found a new location for the former champion’s nose- a little closer to his cheek.
He made BJJ black belt Travis Lutter look like a white belt.
He dominated Pancrese champion Nate Marquardt.
He stripped the unification belt from Dan Henderson by beating the dominant wrestler on the ground.
Then he knocked Rich Franklin’s nose to the other side of this face.
- B/R Ticket Guide
Finally, he moved up to light heavyweight and put James Irvin to sleep in 39 seconds.
After beating the toughest that the UFC middleweight division had to offer, he was paired up against Patrick Cote. While Cote had a respectable amount of success in the UFC, he had been flying low on the radar and almost seemed an odd choice for a title shot.
Of course, that is until you stop and realize that Silva has beaten all the other top contenders (minus Yushin Okami).
Still, Cote stepped into the Octagon and did what no competitor has done against Silva: he made it to the third round.
But, why?
Silva is known for being patient in the first round, getting his timing and setting up his opponent. However, against Cote, Silva almost seemed passive. He did some kicking and counter punching, but mounted little in terms of combinations.
Silva seemed to be giving a lot of respect to Cote’s knock-out ability as he danced around Cote like a cross between Bruce Lee and Caleb Starnes in his fight with Nate Quarry (sad, but true).
As the second round came to a close Rogan and Goldie had to remind fans over and over again that no one had ever made it to the third round against Silva. Then again, no opponent had to work so little against Silva.
It seemed like Silva was more interested with toying with Cote. Perhaps stretching the fight out to give the fans a thrill or even to show how well he could fight in the championship rounds. This strategy failed miserably as Cote fell to a freak knee injury, ending the fight in a TKO.
Yes, Cote made it to the third round, because Silva wanted it. There is no evidence to suggest that Silva was interested in ending the fight earlier. He didn’t capitalize on his counter punches or opportunities to take the boxer to the mat.
Congratulations to Cote for standing and throwing hands with Anderson Silva, but the third round was a gift, and in the end, it looked a lot more like a session of rocking-chair masturbation than a UFC title fight.
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2 months ago
I wish I was better at MMA and had a little more insight into what was really going on there.
It could have been that Silvas game plan was simply to be patient and let Cote walk into it and maybe Cote and his team were smart enough to figure that was his game plan and instead decided to force Anderson to come get an overhand right.
We've all seen that stalking Anderson didn't work (Hendo) , standing and trading with him didn't work (Leben) taking him to the ground didn't work (Lutter) and clinching with him didn't work (Franklin). The only viable tactic for Cote was to get Anderson to come to him and use good footwork/timing to set up some bombs. Anderson might have just been biding his time.
At what point did showmanship and keeping it ultra entertaining become more important than actually winning? If we keep putting this kind of emphasis on the exciting part of the fights then we're just going to create a new version of the WWE where guys will try to overhead slam there opponents to sleep or throw them out of the cage.
When I get in a poker tournament I pretty much fold everything barring AA, AK or KK for the first 95% of the tournament, then I really play. It's boring but it's a winning strategy.
Exciting is good but winning should be the most important thing and it might not always be the most exciting to watch.
Just my opinion.
from 2 months ago
All excellent points. Thanks a lot Jeff.
from 2 months ago
Exactly, man. That's the reason people love to hate on Machida, because he's not out there standing toe to toe trading punches like Tank Abbott. But he's undefeated... that's gotta be good for something. Coincidentally, Silva and Machida train together. And your comment later about run aways... Every division except for 205 has a dominant champ. Yet, 205 is, by far, the most exciting division.
from 2 months ago
Thanks Jon, good to know I'm not the only one who see's these things this way. Great read by the way, really got me thinking...
Brad, I agree with you man. Why should Machida stand there and take a punch when he's good enough to avoid it. Machida is a master of misdirection and I can tell the two train together, they move the same way. Andersons Muay tai is just more devastating.
As people get more educated about MMA hopefully their thirst for action will succumb to a thirst for skill.
2 months ago
Silva said his gameplan was to pick his shots in the first 3 rounds, and then go for the KO in the 4th or the 5th.
He carried him to that third round without a doubt.
from 2 months ago
Then perhaps the better question would be, why? What is the point in waiting? Is it showing how conceited he is that he doesn't think anyone could beat him in the first 3 rounds?
from 2 months ago
He might have been trying to shut up the nay sayers that were mouthing off about his endurance/cardio. Saying he couldn't last 5 rounds w/ someone.
Anderson is always trying to challenge himself, maybe that was his new way of doing so.
2 months ago
Wow what an interesting metaphor. So if it was masturbation then who got ****** on? Perhaps everyone, in their own special way. Classic stuff man.
As for your point, Cote got carried like a newborn baby (although Silva dropped him on floor at least once). Didn't Silva draw blood in the first round?
On a tangent, Do you really think Yushin deserves a title shot? He couldn't beat Rich Franklin in their fight. This title shot dropped into Cote's lap because of Yushin, and his injury. Otherwise, Okami would have been in there dancing with Silva right?
2 months ago
I think Yushin deserves the shot, no pun intended.
I realize that Franklin beat him, but there isn't much left. Plus, Franklin was in trouble at the end of that fight. If Yushin gets another win, I say give him a shot. I would be interested to see Silva fight another big/tall middleweight.
from 2 months ago
I posted this in another thread but I thought I would post it here too and get your thoughts:
Since everyone seems to be so high on Yushin Okami lets look at his record a little closer:
He started out in the UFC going 3-0 beating the likes of: Alan Belcher, Kalib Starnes, and Rory Singer.
Nothing too impressive but he did what he was was supposed to.
Then he gets up upgrade in competition, and gets the decision win over Mike Swick. After that fight, Swick drops to welterweight. Then Okami gets his "fight before the title fight" and goes on to lose to Rich Franklin. To rebound, he gets decision wins over Jason McDonald and the late Evan Tanner. All of those, the loss and the two wins, by decision.
His only fight that hasn't gone to a decision was against Kalib Starnes, the man that ran from Nate Quarry and got kicked out of the UFC. Okami was able to TKO him.
Dana doesn't reward people who cant finish fights. Also, Okami hasn't really beaten a true top 10 Middleweight. I dont think Swick or McDonald were top 10 middleweights when he beat them, If they were they may have been 9th or 10th.
So why is Okami is a legitimate #1 or why does he deserve a title fight? Is it because Silva was beating him handily back at ROTR, but lost to Yushin by DQ?
Wanted to get your thoughts, Thanks Jon.
2 months ago
I really think it's time for Silva to take some 205 or catch weight fights or his dominance will threaten his appeal. Just like when Ricky Carmichael did a perfect season in supercross. It was one of the least succesful seasons ($$$). Run aways just aren't that fun when it happens over and over. Too predictable.
2 months ago
I honestly thought Silva finally learned the Jedi Mind Trick and made Cote THINK he messed his knee up...
2 months ago
I honestly think Anderson Silva liked Patrick Cote and let him get to the third round with him. Silva could of finished the fight whenever he wanted, but like you said, he seemed to be more interested in "playing" with Cote then finishing him off.
So congrats to Cote for making it to the 3 round on your own... well sort of.
2 months ago
According to Anderson and Philo he did NOT carry anyone anywhere, it was part of the game-plan. Very standard technique known as "reconnaissance". Anderson was simply being smart, and didn't want to walk into anything stupid... like a right hand to the mouth :)
The hand movements were the exact same thing Fedor did with Fujita and in many other fights to a lesser degree, it distracts the opponent, gets him to commit to something.
from 2 months ago
Silva is yet to walk into anything stupid in his seven UFC fights. Yet for some reason he gave more credit to Cote than any other opponent. It seems suspect.
from 2 months ago
Jon,
I'm going by what Silva said himself, as well as Philo, who trains with Silva and specifically described this game-plan for this particular fight.
Cote was not as stupid as say Leven was, and didn't give Anderson anything to work with, so Anderson was waiting. Philo described the game-plan as "flush Cote out eventually".
2 months ago
Did Anderson Silva carry Patrick Cote to the Third round? lol OF COURSE
from 2 months ago
that's not what Anderson and his training partners who know the game-plan said.
2 months ago
His training partners and Anderson's team would NEVER admit to something like that because in reality....it is disrespectful to Cote. The truth is Anderson was probably bored with his fights and he decided to try something "new". His actions in the ring (doing bruce lee hand gestures and offering a hand to cote when he gets him down) prove it.
from 2 months ago
prove it??? Prove what? Hand gestures are a standard technique to distract the opponent (see Fedor-Fujita opening minutes). In fact Fedor commentates the fight himself later and specifically says this: "The hand gestures, fakes and dancing is a way to distract the opponent who has heavy hands and is laying back carefully. In order to open up his defenses I try to distract him. It's not a good idea to commit and go for the finish when you fight a guy with heavy hands who is alert and careful. It's better to conduct some "reconnaissance" first".
Even Joe Rogan explains during the Cote-Silva fight: "He is doing Wing Chun trapping hands in the air now, he is just trying to get Cote to look at something".
Very standard normal technique. The game plan was to draw Cote out and outpoint him slightly and carefully every round if he doesn't open up.
from 2 months ago
Damn Anthony, I think I have to agree with you
from 2 months ago
Alright guys w/e you say.......
2 months ago
There is no way Anderson is into charity. If he could finish Cote in 2 seconds, 2 minutes, or 2 rounds, than he would. Nobody carries anyone anywhere, that is a sure way to lose the fight, and Anderson isn't risking that sh1t :)
2 months ago
Touche
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