Tentative Lineup for PRIDE 31

[no1 jobber]

PRIDE announced a few early names and matchups for th PRIDE 31 show on Feb 26th

Mark Hunt will take on former WBF/WBO crusierweight champion Yosuke Nishijima.

Tsuyoshi Kohsaka vs Marios Sperry

Set to fight:
Jon Olav Einemo
Antonio Roddrigo Nog
Mauricio Rua
Sergei Kharitonov
Quinton Jackson
Mark Coleman
Kevin Randleman
James Thompson
Pedro Rizzo

lots of big (and so so) names.

[Roger Deaton]

Hunt will destroy Nishijima. No contest. Interesting name I hadn't seen, Jon Olva Einemo. Guy who has been talked about for Pride for a few years. 6'6, undefeated in mma, though has yet to really step-up to a Pride level fight. Great submission wrestler. I have seen him in mma and ADCC. Might be a guy to keep an eye on to get into the GP.

[no1 jobber]

To behonest I think the Hunt match was thrown together just so Hunt wont leave...he's made it quite vocal that he doesnt like the fact Pride uses him once a year...I think Hunt is also a shoe in to make at least the semi finals of the GP.

[SoCal Tom Walters]

I hope they don't feed Coleman or Randleman to Hunt. I would like to see The Monster get back to his winning ways.

[LBOinyamouf4sho]

i heard somewhere that overeem was going to fight rampage. i hope this doesn't happen as i like both guys and don't want to see either lose, but it would be an interesting match up.

[no1 jobber]

I would think having Hunt beat Randleman or Coleman as a great way to boost Hunt's credibility to figth Fedor...I dont undersatnd how that would be a bad thing.

OVeereem vs Rampage....intresting....

[The Loose Cannon]

I hope they don't feed Coleman or Randleman to Hunt. I would like to see The Monster get back to his winning ways.

Okay, this is either a hilarious joke, or it's easily one of the most ridiculous statements in SCU history. I would even go so far to say that Hunt, rather than KTFO'ing Randleman, could potential submit Randleman by armbar, seeing as Randleman is one of the dumbest fighters out there and is prone to roll into armbars and rear naked chokes. And Coleman? Come on now, there has to be a limit to how many comebacks a washed up fighter can make. Coleman must have surpassed this limit by now. Hunt isn't fighting either of these guys, and if he did, he'd make short work of them. Hunt deserves a shot at Kharitonov, and if he beats him then he deserves an outright shot at Fedor.

[SoCal Tom Walters]

Okay, this is either a hilarious joke, or it's easily one of the most ridiculous statements in SCU history. I would even go so far to say that Hunt, rather than KTFO'ing Randleman, could potential submit Randleman by armbar, seeing as Randleman is one of the dumbest fighters out there and is prone to roll into armbars and rear naked chokes. And Coleman? Come on now, there has to be a limit to how many comebacks a washed up fighter can make. Coleman must have surpassed this limit by now. Hunt isn't fighting either of these guys, and if he did, he'd make short work of them. Hunt deserves a shot at Kharitonov, and if he beats him then he deserves an outright shot at Fedor.

Can you even read? I put "I hope Hunt DOESN'T face Randleman or Coleman because I'd like to see them get back to their winning ways", ie. I am fans of them and do not want to see them lose to Hunt (which they would).

[The Loose Cannon]

I hope they don't feed Coleman or Randleman to Hunt. I would like to see The Monster get back to his winning ways.

Hmm, I figured you were speaking about Hunt by the "Monster" comment, not sure why the hell you would consider Randleman or Coleman as "Monsters" when all they do is suck something awful nowadays.

[Justin Crast]

Randleman's nickname is "The Monster".

Justin

[The Loose Cannon]

I see, I still stand by my statement that Randleman sucks though.

[SoCal Tom Walters]

Randleman is probably the best pure athlete to ever do MMA. Unforunately he trains at the Hammer House and hasn't learned a single thing since 1995.

[The Loose Cannon]

Randleman is probably the best pure athlete to ever do MMA. Unforunately he trains at the Hammer House and hasn't learned a single thing since 1995.

Ha! Truer words have never been said, I commend you sir.

[Justin Crast]

Although Hammer House may not be the best fight team, I'm of the belief that Randleman is a pure idiot and that no fight team can help his ability to make stupid mistakes.

Justin

[Steve72]

Randleman = MMA's Andrew Golata

[Ruben]

You all need to stop talking shit about my boy Da Monstah. I remember I spoted him when he was bench pressing at the gym located at the Stratosphere back in the summer of 2003. I remember he was straight wearing a some shirt with himself in a track suit.

Team Hammer House owns the tomato can divisions, REMEMBER THAT!

[The Loose Cannon]

Randleman = MMA's Andrew Golata

After reading that I wan't to see another Randleman-Sakuraba fight, but this time Randleman could just go apeshit on Sakuraba's balls causing a near-riot to ensue at the Saitama Super Arena.

And Sakuraba would still win by armbar.

[no1 jobber]

nevermind.

[Roger Deaton]

Randleman's career has gone south in the last few years. 2-6 since '03. Submitted 4 times, hammered by Jackson, and beaten by a guy (Nakamura) he was more than capable of giving a beat-down to (even though I kind of like Nakamura). I still refuse to call the ko of Mirko a fluke. The other win was against a .500 fighter. At this point in his career, I don't see Randleman beating any of the fighters on that list. Maybe Thompson who doesn't impress me at all. I would like Einemo step-up to the next level against a Nogueira or Shogun. Like to see Kharitinov vs. Jackson- the old Rampage.

[SoCal Tom Walters]

Randleman's career has gone south in the last few years. 2-6 since '03. Submitted 4 times, hammered by Jackson, and beaten by a guy (Nakamura) he was more than capable of giving a beat-down to (even though I kind of like Nakamura). I still refuse to call the ko of Mirko a fluke. The other win was against a .500 fighter. At this point in his career, I don't see Randleman beating any of the fighters on that list. Maybe Thompson who doesn't impress me at all. I would like Einemo step-up to the next level against a Nogueira or Shogun. Like to see Kharitinov vs. Jackson- the old Rampage.

Randleman frustrates me the most to watch cause I think if he was a smarter fighter and trained with different guys he'd be at the elite level. Even lately he's had flashes of brilliance, like the Mirko KO and he was doing awesome against Fedor. That suplex he did on him would have KO'd anyone else that isn't Fedor, IMO. Jackson, Nakamura, and Sakuraba fights really dissapointed me. I think he goes into these fights so amped up that he just completely loses focus once the bell rings and has no gameplan.

[no1 jobber]

Oh that suplex on Fedor was UNREAL...honestly Randleman threw that better than most pro wrestlers.

Anyway just confirme for the Pride 2/26 show

Shogun Vs Coleman!
Let the openweight contests begin.

[Justin Crast]

Not sure if that's a stupid match up or not. Pride must think Coleman is washed up to put Shogun in there with him. It's too bad that Shogun won the LHW GP while Silva was champ. His logical next direction is the belt but because of Silva, he's gonna start fighting heavyweights, I guess.

Justin

[no1 jobber]

If anything its a good warmup for Shogun for the suppsoed openweight GP this year.

[Justin Crast]

"warmup" is too light a word for Coleman. He has an elite takedown ability, maybe the best in the world. People are beginning to forget how good he is at takedowns based on the Fedor and Cro Cop fights. Coleman did take Fedor down but Fedor's jui jitsu was a lot better than he expected. Cro Cop just has unreal takedown defense.

Justin

[no1 jobber]

Very true about Cro Cop's takedown defense I remmeber his Pride fight with Herring...man he made Herring look like an amateur with the way he was just side stepping his takedowns...granted Herring is no takedown expert but it wa just sad.

BTW rumor main event for the Pride show is Big Nog vs Josh Barnett...this is just a rumor.

[no1 jobber]

New match just annoucned: Overeem Vs Sergei Kharitonov

Already on the card:

Shogun vs Coleman
Mark Hunt vs Yosuke Nishijima
Kohsaka Vs Mario Sperry
Rumor: Nog Vs Josh Barnett

[The Loose Cannon]

Sweet, it always pleases me to know that an Overeem shit push-in will be on the card.

[no1 jobber]

In an interview by Total MMA with Nog, he confirmed he will face the babyface assassin, Josh Barnett at Pride 31. This will be an intresting fight.

Card so far:

Shogun vs Coleman
Mark Hunt vs Yosuke Nishijima
Kohsaka Vs Mario Sperry
Overeem Vs Sergei Kharitonov
Nog Vs Josh Barnett

[SoCal Tom Walters]

Mino will own Barnett standing & on the ground. I hope Kharitonov KO's Overeem too, I'm sick of that dude.

[no1 jobber]

I agree...I dont know what it is but I hate Overeem with a passion...maybe its that smug look he has...reminds me of Cyril Abidi...

[SoCal Tom Walters]

I was pissed when he beat Igor and Vitor. I expected Igor to walk thru that dude.

[The Loose Cannon]

Vitor has some seirous rethinking and training to undergo if he wants to make a comeback, he really hasn't been in a good fight for at least a couple years now. I was completely disappointed in the Igor-Overeem fight though, Igor looked like a brand new man, but he had a dismal showing against Overeem, I think I'm about to give up on Vovchanchyn too.

But yeah, Overeem has that unique quality that can make someone hate him the second they see him, some sort of bizarre phenomenea I guess.

[SoCal Tom Walters]

Vitor looked like the "Vitor of old" in his last fight in Cage Rage. I think he needs to seek the help of a sports psychologist.

[Sweet Evil Jesus]

I agree...I dont know what it is but I hate Overeem with a passion

is it the hair

http://www.sherdog.com/fightfinder/Pictures/Overeem2.JPG

[no1 jobber]

no because I have spikey hair and lots of my friends do too...its probably that smug look on his face...it just screams HIT ME!

[no1 jobber]

Four new matches announced for the show now titled "Dreamers":

Quinton Jackson Vs Dong Sik Yoon
Jon Olav Einemo Vs Fabricio Werdum
Pedro Rizzo Vs Roman Zetsnov
and in a apparant change Barnett will NOT be facing nOg but instead Kazuhiro Nakamura

Card so far:
Shogun vs Coleman
Mark Hunt vs Yosuke Nishijima
Kohsaka Vs Mario Sperry
Overeem Vs Sergei Kharitonov
Jsoh Barnett Vs Kazuhiro Nakamura
Quinton Jackson Vs Dong Sik Yoon
Jon Olav Einemo Vs Fabricio Werdum
Pedro Rizzo Vs Roman Zetsnov

[no1 jobber]

Explanation about the change in the Barnett match: According to Nog's side...he was all set to fight Barnett but then Barnett asked for too much money at the last second to fight with NOg so DSE decided to book Barnett against Nakamura and pay Barnett less. Barnett claims that is not the case, that DSE changed the match on him and he jsut heard about it.

Other news reports that the winner between Barnett/Nakamura will get a slot in the Openweight GP on 5/5 in the Osaka Dome. Barnett outweighs Nakamura by 50 lbs and will definitly be a challenge for him.

[SoCal Tom Walters]

Explanation about the change in the Barnett match: According to Nog's side...he was all set to fight Barnett but then Barnett asked for too much money at the last second to fight with NOg so DSE decided to book Barnett against Nakamura and pay Barnett less. Barnett claims that is not the case, that DSE changed the match on him and he jsut heard about it.

Other news reports that the winner between Barnett/Nakamura will get a slot in the Openweight GP on 5/5 in the Osaka Dome. Barnett outweighs Nakamura by 50 lbs and will definitly be a challenge for him.

I hope Nakamura throws that pudgy bitch and taps him out.

[SUPA]

I hope Nakamura throws that pudgy bitch and taps him out.

That would be so funny. :D
http://www.sherdog.com/images/pictures/24492.jpg

[SoCal Tom Walters]

That would be so funny. :D
http://www.sherdog.com/images/pictures/24492.jpg

What is this, like 5 fights in a row now?

[The Loose Cannon]

Well I'll be damned, so Liddell did give Couture an Eye Poke-O-Doom on Saturday! Thanks for the evidence SUPA!

As for the Pride card, Rampage is fighting that Judo Faggot from Korea? That's downright hilarious, it's been awhile since Jackson annihilated someone (like Arona for example), but he sure is going to be expected to do something awesomely devastating to Yoon Dong Sik. Barnett Vs. Nakamura will be an interesting match-up, I guess it'll be a warm-up to what potentially lop-sided match-ups the Openweight GP may have. Also, I look forward to seeing more of Pedro "Fatto" Rizzo, and if Chute Boxe miraculously didn't give up on him in training and got him to lose 100 lbs. I do believe I may crap myself.

Oh yeah, and I hope Pride doesn't keep the name "Dreamers" for their American show because, uh..... that would be quite gay.

[Sweet Evil Jesus]

Sakuraba has entered the GP, OH FUCK

http://www.sanspo.com/fight/top/f200602/image/06020802sakurabaGRA00220G060207T.jpg

[no1 jobber]

The PRIDE 31 "Dreamers" card is complete with the announcing of Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria Vs Kiyoshi Tamura. Nog was supposed to fight with Josh Barnett at PRIDE 31 but that was unfortunatly changed due to contract arguments....also should be noted Tamura was supposed to fight with Sakuraba at last NYE PRIDE show but that also didnt happen due to contract arguments.

FINAL PRIDE 31 CARD

Shogun vs Coleman
Mark Hunt vs Yosuke Nishijima
Kohsaka Vs Mario Sperry
Overeem Vs Sergei Kharitonov
Jsoh Barnett Vs Kazuhiro Nakamura
Quinton Jackson Vs Dong Sik Yoon
Jon Olav Einemo Vs Fabricio Werdum
Pedro Rizzo Vs Roman Zetsnov
Nog Vs Kiyoshi Tamura

[Justin Crast]

I don't quite understand why Tamura reportedly won't sign a deal to fight Sakuraba but he takes fights like this one?

Justin

[The Loose Cannon]

I don't quite understand why Tamura reportedly won't sign a deal to fight Sakuraba but he takes fights like this one?

Justin

I agree, fighting Nog instead of Sakuraba is a bad move, I really can't see Tamura winning this one.

[Sweet Evil Jesus]

I might buy this, to watch Nog kill Tamura

[Justin Crast]

I doubt he'll kill Tamura. Tamura was a quite skilled fighter, but is probably over the hill now. He also had the stupid "small Japanese must fight all huge foreigners" syndrome and got murdered by Vanderlei Silva and Bob Sapp (the absolute dumbest mismatch in history, perhaps), and ever since is considered a can. If he'd had just stuck to fighting other 185 pounders, his career probably would be in better shape.

Justin