Zuffa purchases Strikeforce

[ITurnGirlsGay]

In keeping with my analysis.

Middleweights

Ronaldo Souza: This is okay, but I don't see him winning anything in the UFC because he's simply a grappler. I think him vs. Maia would be an amazing match. But, he'd undoubtedly get spanked by most of the UFC middleweights.

Tim Kennedy: I like this acquisition.

Robbie Lawler: Already flunked his way out of the UFC.

Cung Le: Really doesn't fight all that much and is pretty damn old anyhow.

Matt Lindland: Flunked his way out of the UFC and is pretty old.

Yancy Medeiros: Who?

Benji Radach: Flunked his way out of Zuffa once before. Not really even good enough for StrikeForce, to be honest.

Melvin Manhoef: Not good enough for UFC. You know what you need to do to beat him and it works every time.

 

[ITurnGirlsGay]

Now for the Welterweights

Paul Daley: Need I say more? Also, he's really one dimensional

Nathan Coy: His biggest win came over Rick Story. Probably not good enough.

Nick Diaz: This is a prized acquisition

Evangelista Santos: Eh, bottom rung UFC fighter at best.

Tyron Woodley: Good young fighter

Marius Žaromskis: All he has are his highlights, no real notable wins. Please don't say Sakuraba, either.

Scott Smith: Couldn't hack it in the UFC the first time.

Nate Moore: Good enough for TUF

Tarec Saffiedine: Needs serious improvement in his overall game.

Bobby Voelker: Talk about a bunch of fights with absolutely no names to even speak of.

 

[Fizzy]

ITGG I think you are wrong about Gracie. The dude is really developing his striking skills, and we all know how brilliant he is on the ground. He also stated he is focusing on MMA more now so we can expect to see him fight on a regular basis. I predict big things out of the guy. Very big things.

Anyway I love this. Hopefully they make SF watchable for me by adding to their promotion of cards, and using better announcing. A major reason I dislike SF is the damn commentators. I can't listen to them. With this acquisition there will be no more cards being finalized in the final week before the actual card. Now SF says they will use the unified rules which means elbows on the ground are permitted. Gilbert Melendez+elbows=awesome.

 

[ITurnGirlsGay]

Finally...and probably the best division they acquired.

Lightweights

Shinya Aoki: This one is good, but I wonder how he'll do in the UFC. He struggles with powerful wrestlers and the LW division in the UFC is PACKED with these.

Rodrigo Damm: He's only got one decent win.

Billy Evangelista: Good and young, but needs some work

Jorge Gurgel: Bigger waste of potential than BJ. Penn. Plus, he already failed out of the UFC.

Gilbert Melendez: The only downside to him is that we won't get to see him fight with Alvarez now.

Josh Thomson: Already fought in the UFC with mixed success.

JZ Calvancante: Could do well.

Jorge Masvidal: I don't honestly know what's up with this guy, sometimes he lights it up, other times he fights horribly. Probably a C range UFC fighter

KJ Noons: Depending on the match-ups he could have success in the UFC.

Lyle Beerbohm: I like this pick-up. He has a ton of potential.

Pat Healy: This guy has lost to just about every name in the UFC world, but has sandwiched wins over Condit and Hardy in there as well. Probably as good as he's ever going to be.

Ryan Couture: 2 fights? Who knows, probably TUF bound.

Justin Wilcox: A decision warrior who struggles with high level wrestlers. Won't do well at LW in the UFC.

Vitor Ribeiro: There's promise here, but not someone that's going to get me out of my seat.

Conor Heun: Really love Heun, but he's lost every big fight.

 

[ITurnGirlsGay]

ITGG I think you are wrong about Gracie. The dude is really developing his striking skills, and we all know how brilliant he is on the ground. He also stated he is focusing on MMA more now so we can expect to see him fight on a regular basis. I predict big things out of the guy. Very big things.

He can work on his striking all he wants. He's 29 years old and going to be fighting in a division where most people have a Black-Belt in BJJ, solid wrestling, and much better striking than him. With only 4 professional MMA fights under his belt, I wouldn't give him much of a chance against any of the middle of the pack LHW in the UFC.

He certainly couldn't get past Lil Nog, I think Thiago Silva would knock him out, Rashad could outwrestle him, Rampage could out work him. He couldn't get Machida to the ground and would likely get knocked out by him. I think Hamill could ground and pound him. I think Bones would slam him around and pick him apart on the feet. Couture could outwrestle and out-box him. Shogun would dismantle him completely.

When I say that the sport has passed the Gracie's by, it's because it's true. They become really really really good at BJJ and then work on every thing else. You'd think that with the Gracie name in Brazil, they'd be working on several things all at once. I mean, fuck, trade free lessons for Chute Boxe lessons or something.

Ryan Gracie, may he rest in peace, was the most complete Gracie fighter and he, sadly, just passed away too soon.