The UFC heavyweight division may get a lot more interesting...

[Journeyman]

I hope this happens:


http://www.mmanews.com/ufc/Aleksander-Emelianenko-Leaving-PRIDE-Signing-With-UFC.html

[Oversoul]

"Interesting" in the sense that if Aleks moved over to the UFC, he would walk through the heavyweight division?

[Sever]

It probably won't happen, but if it does, he'll hold that belt for a long time

[Apotheosis]

Doubt very much that it will happen for these reasons-

A- Pride pays better

B- He doesn't speak English(the Japanese fans don't care what language he speaks but us Americans are typically short with foreign fighters who don't speak English)

C- He has a felony on his criminal record and "alleged" ties to the Russian Mob. If a guy like Mike Bisping has trouble getting a work Visa, Aleks is never getting one.

D- Why would the UFC bring in a guy from Pride to dominate their heavyweight division and make people question every UFc fighter sparking conversations like this "Wow, Aleks wasn't even in the top 3 at Pride but he came here and dominated...this must mean Pride>UFC"

E- Pride likes Aleks, he is a pretty good draw and is a very exciting up and comer who has a bright future. Why would they let the UFC take him away?

Of course it would be fun to see him smack every heavyweight around like mosquitos, but I doubt it will happen.

[spirez]

The heavyweight division bores the hell out of me for the most part, if he joined i might actually bother watching it.

[Liffguard]

As funny as it would be to watch Aleks go through the UFC like a chainsaw through an emo kid I'd imagine that it would get old fast. You'd simply end up with the same situation as the LHW division with one guy at the top who nobody can realistically challenge.

[Sever]

I've got to admit, I would pay good money to watch him knock Tim Sylvia into next month (who wouldn't?!), but I really would lose interest in seeing the UFC bring in fighters who aren't even top ten to get beaten by him. They've proven time and time again that they aren't interested in putting their hands in their pockets for quality heavyweights when they're on the market, I see no reason for them to change that for Fedor's less-skilled younger brother

[Wigglyman]

Aleksander Emelianenko would be marketable...look at his last name! However that said he gets over-rated due to his last name aswell. I dont believe he would rip through the division. He seems to have a weakness against grapplers so you'd give Monson a good chance against him and as much as everyone hates Big Tim you have got to give him a chance with the reach against a striker as he could just jap to keep distance and either win a dicision or set up a big right.

[Rapid]

I dont think AE would Rip through the division, Monson could beat him and Sylvia could beat him. As weve seen before Sylvia is an excellent striker and utilises his big reach and technical boxing skills and i think he could out strike AE. However Sylvia wont have that much of a reach advantage as AE is 6"6 which is only 2 inches shorter than Tim. Would be a good fight though.

[Rapid]

Just watched a few of AE's previous fights and some highlight clips and was impressed. He seems to have well rounded skills but his striking doesnt seem all that to be honest. Not very technical just seemed to swing for the fences alot of the time. He did seem to have a good clinch game though where he clinches quickly gives a good knee to the head and then releases the clinch. I still think Sylvia and Monson would best him though.

[ED-209]

I'm just watching clips of Aleksander Emelianenko as well
first one was cro cop beating the hell out him in under 2 mins
was not impressed
better go watch some more......

[ED-209]

no, first impressions were wrong, he is better than i thought
bad choice of first video
no fedor, but who is

pause to fantasise about fedors fists slamming into tim sylvias face

the heavyweight division is in a sad state when the champion is not only an average fighter who relis on his size, but is also the single most boring fighter ever to step foot into ring or cage

[Sever]

I dont think AE would Rip through the division, Monson could beat him and Sylvia could beat him. As weve seen before Sylvia is an excellent striker and utilises his big reach and technical boxing skills and i think he could out strike AE. However Sylvia wont have that much of a reach advantage as AE is 6"6 which is only 2 inches shorter than Tim. Would be a good fight though.Man, you're really squeezing Sylvia's nuts lately aren't you?! :D I'll be the first to admit that I underrate him, but using long jabs and sprawl n' stall tactics to win decisions doesn't make him a good technical striker or even an A-grade fighter (especially when his last win was by not engaging with a guy nearly a foot shorter than him)
Aleks has some of the fastest hands I've seen on a heavyweight MMA fighter, undoubtedly the quickest for someone of his size, not to mention the kind of power behind them that'd put most people down. He's not top-five just yet (just took a sub loss to Werdum in 2H2H), but Aleks would absolutely wreck Sylvia and would probably be able to survive Monson on the ground long enough to get the standup and break his face. I still don't think we'll ever see him in the Octagon though, the UFC just won't want him. Even if they did, he'd probably be a visa nightmare with his background

[Wigglyman]

I still don't think we'll ever see him in the Octagon though, the UFC just won't want him. Even if they did, he'd probably be a visa nightmare with his background

The UFC do want him, they are in negotiation (sp?) with him apparently, I can't remember where but I do remeber reading that, I shall try to find the source again.

[Rapid]

Man, you're really squeezing Sylvia's nuts lately aren't you?! :D I'll be the first to admit that I underrate him, but using long jabs and sprawl n' stall tactics to win decisions doesn't make him a good technical striker or even an A-grade fighter (especially when his last win was by not engaging with a guy nearly a foot shorter than him)
Aleks has some of the fastest hands I've seen on a heavyweight MMA fighter, undoubtedly the quickest for someone of his size, not to mention the kind of power behind them that'd put most people down. He's not top-five just yet (just took a sub loss to Werdum in 2H2H), but Aleks would absolutely wreck Sylvia and would probably be able to survive Monson on the ground long enough to get the standup and break his face. I still don't think we'll ever see him in the Octagon though, the UFC just won't want him. Even if they did, he'd probably be a visa nightmare with his background

Yes because obviosly im basing Sylvia's ability on one fight. Ive watched every single one of Sylvia's fights since he got in the UFC. I dont think AE has hands as quick as Andre Arlowski, nor are his punches as precise or as technical, he doesnt move aswel either, he may have a slight edge on power but Arlowski has knocked out alot of people with one punch, and guess what Sylvia's beat him twice. You Sylvia haters need to look at the facts, he is a top quality fighter and has beaten great opponents. He is a good striker and a better one than AE, give the man the credit he deserves. He's won the heavyweight title twice and took it away from someone who was knocking out everyone in the division seconds into the first round (by out striking him). Everyone assumes he is only good cos he's bigger than his opponents and that he beats them using purely his size. Yes he uses his reach to his advantage but any sensible fighter is gunna do the exact same thing, i mean what idiot doesnt utilise a good tool. Youve got to be a fool to not be able to look past Tim Sylvia's height and see his other assests and skills.

[Sever]

The UFC do want him, they are in negotiation (sp?) with him apparently, I can't remember where but I do remeber reading that, I shall try to find the source again.Yeah, Aleks has said it, but that could easily be because Pride's PR lot asked him to mention it in order to make it look like the UFC are scared of importing Pride fighters; they've done that a few times before - hell, for a while a few years back, there were rumours that Noguiera was going to the UFC. Like I say, I'd love to see him in there, but I just don't see it going down
Rapid, seriously mate, PLEASE treat yourself to a paragraph here and there. Your posts are very hard to read. You also might want to watch more of Aleksander's fights; try his ones with Barnett (he lost that, but he was knocking him around the ring for the first round) and Kharitonov to see the kind of striking he's got. Arlovski's got good striking, but it's not quite on that level and Sylvia's isn't either. The thing is, that Emilianenko has been in the ring with a much higher calibre of competition than Sylvia and win or lose, has pretty much always looked impressive, whereas Sylvia just hasn't really impressed me in any fight he's been in since he beat Ricco Rodriguez (I'll give him his due, that was a perfectly played fight and one SICK right hand) aside from when he beat Gan McGee, the fight for which he pissed hot for steroids

[Apotheosis]

I have to agree with Sever...

Sylvia is the champion of the WORST division in MMA at this moment.

AE is the better striker, hands down.(Pun intended)

He has been fighting the best of the best in MMA, while Sylvia has been fighting B or even C level fighters.

I will not lie, I dislike Sylvia...I really dislike him. But I dislike a lot of fighters like Hughes and still respect them as great fighters.

Sylvia is not great, he is pretty good but not great.

[spirez]

Brandon Vera could be he saviour of the heavyweight division. I love watching this dude, he's a character and a great athlete

[Apotheosis]

Only thing is, he needs someone to fight him who is willing to take a risk and be exciting.

[kwang gae]

IMHO AE gets KO'd by Tim just like Crocop KO'd AE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKc2haFnifE

[Apotheosis]

You are honestly comparing Mirko to Sylvia?

You have flown the coop altogether...

[bujingodai]

Gee I'd just love to see a merge now just like WWE/WWF/TNA/WCW or whatever.
AE would dominate what the UFC is offering. But if Fedor or CroCop came in, even for an exhibition match.... there would be a lot less UFC fans IMO.
I like UFC for the show and personalities. Sometimes the fight. Much like the NFL and Fox TV. Lots of glitz, lots of filler.
But for the real fighters it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know they are in Pride.

[Apotheosis]

Gee I'd just love to see a merge now just like WWE/WWF/TNA/WCW or whatever.
AE would dominate what the UFC is offering. But if Fedor or CroCop came in, even for an exhibition match.... there would be a lot less UFC fans IMO.
I like UFC for the show and personalities. Sometimes the fight. Much like the NFL and Fox TV. Lots of glitz, lots of filler.
But for the real fighters it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know they are in Pride.


Not a chance the UFC will merge, they are making a killing and 5 years from now they will be sitting on a giant cash cow.

[Rapid]

Not a chance the UFC will merge, they are making a killing and 5 years from now they will be sitting on a giant cash cow.

I can see someones studied business. To be honest were all speculating far to much, unless AE comes to the UFC and fights Sylvia then no one knows who would win. Lets let it die and start talking about UFC 66 instead!!!!

[kwang gae]

You are honestly comparing Mirko to Sylvia?

You have flown the coop altogether...

No, not really I think Mirko would kill Tim. Just saying that Aleks is human. :)

[Sever]

No, not really I think Mirko would kill Tim. Just saying that Aleks is human. :)Yeah, he's human, but he's still miles better than Sylvia :)

[Wigglyman]

IMHO AE gets KO'd by Tim just like Crocop KO'd AE.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xKc2haFnifE


Yes because Tim's footwork is as good as Crocop's,
Yes because Tim's punching is as good as Crocop's,
Yes because Tim's kicking is as good as Crocop's,
Yes because Tim is as good as Crocop.....[/Sarcasm]

In all seriousness watching that Tim would get KO'd in the Clinch, AE is the same height as him and would be able to get into the clinch easily.

But as it has already been said, AE hasn't signed with the UFC, yet....and I still doubt he ever will.