Nuno
11-04-2003, 08:38 AM
MMAWEEKLY.COM
PRIDE PREVIEW: Hidehiko Yoshida vs Wanderlei Silva
by Niko Motiee
MMAWeekly's Niko Motiee continues to preview the Pride Grand Prix
This is the fight that is going to draw the massive gates at the Tokyo Dome. The Japanese have been clamoring for a hero since the decline of Kazushi Sakuraba, and have apparently found one in 1992 Judo Olympic Gold Medalist Hidehiko Yoshida. Opposite of this national hero will be the Japanese killer Wanderlei Silva. Silva has made a living off of destroying Japanese middleweights, and many believe that will be the case once again here. This bout is the classic grappler versus striker, except that the grappler lacks any apparent striking ability, while the striker at least has a semblance of a ground game.
Before I begin to breakdown this fight, I want to express my opinion regarding the cloud of controversy hanging over Yoshida’s head. People have labeled him a fraud, and a cheat, who Pride has protected via worked fights. I concur that there may be a bit of legitimate controversy surrounding him for the bizarre ending in the Royce Gracie fight, but I must side with Dave Meltzer in believing that all of Yoshida’s MMA bouts have been legit.
There simply is no redeeming evidence that succinctly shows Yoshida’s MMA matches being works. Sure, there are conspiracy theorists who believe that Yoshida’s choke on Tamura was too easily attained, and that Don Frye didn’t throw haymakers for reason, and that Maasaki Satake is actually a capable grappler, but in the end, these theories fail the litmus test. In fact, the evidence in favor of these fights (specifically the Tamura, and Frye fights) being legitimate seems greater than them being works. Having seen nearly every RINGS card since 1992, alongside nearly every Kiyoshi Tamura WORKED SHOOT & SHOOT since 1994, I can wholeheartedly state that I have never, EVER seen him punch somebody the way he hit Yoshida. Nor have I ever seen him throw his low kicks with such unbridled vigor. If they wanted to work that fight, it could’ve been done without exposing Yoshida’s horrid stand-up.
Do you think exposing Yoshida’s stand-up would attract more people to buy expensive Tokyo Dome seats to see him fight against a man that is twice the striker Tamura is? As for the Frye fight, the arm injury is strong evidence for the legitimacy of the fight. People without any knowledge of worked shoots state that this is a commonality in order to make the fights look real. Having seen a majority of top-grade (and a majority of low-grade) worked shoots over the last 14 years, I can tell you that I can’t recall a sustained arm injury like Frye’s as a result of an armbar. Frye, a man that was lauded as a man of honor in the MMA community in the past, has all of a sudden become a liar because people simply can not (or do not want to) accept Yoshida’s success. I believe this stems from the bad taste most got when the jacket match with Royce Gracie was prematurely stopped. Had Yoshida legitimately choked Royce unconscious, or if there had been a clean finish to the match, would internet gurus be vindicating Yoshida’s every move?
The keys to the Yoshida-Silva fight are pretty simple: one fighter wants this fight on the ground, and the other wants it on the feet. Yoshida is a tremendous Judoka, with great throws, and great athletic ability (do not ever underestimate the importance of athletic ability in MMA). He is renowned in the Judo world for his vice-like grip, and his ability to neutralize his opponents’ strength. However, this is not a Judo competition. This is a Mixed Martial Arts bout. Yoshida will have to deal directly with Silva’s striking ability; chiefly his punching ability. Silva has shown development in his stand-up game, and his combinations look quicker than ever. But can he avoid the takedown long enough to impose his will on Yoshida’s head?
Yoshida, for all of his faults, does have a strong ground game. He has shown strong
ne-waza (matwork) in his fights with Gracie, Frye, and Tamura, so he obviously wants Silva on his back. But will Silva even be willing to risk getting into the clinch with Yoshida? Yoshida needs to close the distance from the opening bell if he is to score a takedown, which means that Silva CAN NOT be as passive as he was in the opening moments of his last fight with Sakuraba. Silva *must* come out aggressively, as he did against Sakuraba at Pride 13, and against Mezger, and Oyama.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of this fight is what will happen if they clinch. Can Yoshida throw Silva? What type of takedown would he use? A legtrip, an Uchimata, or something else? Furthermore, will Wanderlei risk getting taken down to land his devastating knees? Can he negate Yoshida’s wrist control to get his hands over the top of Yoshida’s head to aid his knees (ala Silva-Sakuraba 1).
If Yoshida finds a way to take this fight to the mat, and that may mean taking a few Silva strikes, then he may have a chance here. Most think that Yoshida will simply walk right into a Silva right hand, or a high kick. You don’t win Gold Medals in Judo by being stupid, but by invoking disciplined tactics. Yoshida will have a strategy, and it will be staying the hell away from Silva standing. Yoshida will be opportunistic, but not foolish. If he is overzealous like he was against Tamura, he WILL get Ko’d. It is as simple as that. But again, if Yoshida finds a way to put Silva on his back (lesser grapplers like Matsui, Otsuka, and Malenko have done it), I don’t see Silva sweeping him. Silva would probably close his guard, and wait for a stand-up (but then it will come down to whether Shimada or whomever refs the fight stands them up).
In the end, I see this fight being an incredibly exciting, and unpredictable affair. I believe Yoshida will have a spirited performance, but Silva’s experience, coupled with his superior striking, will most likely overwhelm Yoshida sometime late in the first round.
PRIDE PREVIEW: Hidehiko Yoshida vs Wanderlei Silva
by Niko Motiee
MMAWeekly's Niko Motiee continues to preview the Pride Grand Prix
This is the fight that is going to draw the massive gates at the Tokyo Dome. The Japanese have been clamoring for a hero since the decline of Kazushi Sakuraba, and have apparently found one in 1992 Judo Olympic Gold Medalist Hidehiko Yoshida. Opposite of this national hero will be the Japanese killer Wanderlei Silva. Silva has made a living off of destroying Japanese middleweights, and many believe that will be the case once again here. This bout is the classic grappler versus striker, except that the grappler lacks any apparent striking ability, while the striker at least has a semblance of a ground game.
Before I begin to breakdown this fight, I want to express my opinion regarding the cloud of controversy hanging over Yoshida’s head. People have labeled him a fraud, and a cheat, who Pride has protected via worked fights. I concur that there may be a bit of legitimate controversy surrounding him for the bizarre ending in the Royce Gracie fight, but I must side with Dave Meltzer in believing that all of Yoshida’s MMA bouts have been legit.
There simply is no redeeming evidence that succinctly shows Yoshida’s MMA matches being works. Sure, there are conspiracy theorists who believe that Yoshida’s choke on Tamura was too easily attained, and that Don Frye didn’t throw haymakers for reason, and that Maasaki Satake is actually a capable grappler, but in the end, these theories fail the litmus test. In fact, the evidence in favor of these fights (specifically the Tamura, and Frye fights) being legitimate seems greater than them being works. Having seen nearly every RINGS card since 1992, alongside nearly every Kiyoshi Tamura WORKED SHOOT & SHOOT since 1994, I can wholeheartedly state that I have never, EVER seen him punch somebody the way he hit Yoshida. Nor have I ever seen him throw his low kicks with such unbridled vigor. If they wanted to work that fight, it could’ve been done without exposing Yoshida’s horrid stand-up.
Do you think exposing Yoshida’s stand-up would attract more people to buy expensive Tokyo Dome seats to see him fight against a man that is twice the striker Tamura is? As for the Frye fight, the arm injury is strong evidence for the legitimacy of the fight. People without any knowledge of worked shoots state that this is a commonality in order to make the fights look real. Having seen a majority of top-grade (and a majority of low-grade) worked shoots over the last 14 years, I can tell you that I can’t recall a sustained arm injury like Frye’s as a result of an armbar. Frye, a man that was lauded as a man of honor in the MMA community in the past, has all of a sudden become a liar because people simply can not (or do not want to) accept Yoshida’s success. I believe this stems from the bad taste most got when the jacket match with Royce Gracie was prematurely stopped. Had Yoshida legitimately choked Royce unconscious, or if there had been a clean finish to the match, would internet gurus be vindicating Yoshida’s every move?
The keys to the Yoshida-Silva fight are pretty simple: one fighter wants this fight on the ground, and the other wants it on the feet. Yoshida is a tremendous Judoka, with great throws, and great athletic ability (do not ever underestimate the importance of athletic ability in MMA). He is renowned in the Judo world for his vice-like grip, and his ability to neutralize his opponents’ strength. However, this is not a Judo competition. This is a Mixed Martial Arts bout. Yoshida will have to deal directly with Silva’s striking ability; chiefly his punching ability. Silva has shown development in his stand-up game, and his combinations look quicker than ever. But can he avoid the takedown long enough to impose his will on Yoshida’s head?
Yoshida, for all of his faults, does have a strong ground game. He has shown strong
ne-waza (matwork) in his fights with Gracie, Frye, and Tamura, so he obviously wants Silva on his back. But will Silva even be willing to risk getting into the clinch with Yoshida? Yoshida needs to close the distance from the opening bell if he is to score a takedown, which means that Silva CAN NOT be as passive as he was in the opening moments of his last fight with Sakuraba. Silva *must* come out aggressively, as he did against Sakuraba at Pride 13, and against Mezger, and Oyama.
Perhaps the most intriguing part of this fight is what will happen if they clinch. Can Yoshida throw Silva? What type of takedown would he use? A legtrip, an Uchimata, or something else? Furthermore, will Wanderlei risk getting taken down to land his devastating knees? Can he negate Yoshida’s wrist control to get his hands over the top of Yoshida’s head to aid his knees (ala Silva-Sakuraba 1).
If Yoshida finds a way to take this fight to the mat, and that may mean taking a few Silva strikes, then he may have a chance here. Most think that Yoshida will simply walk right into a Silva right hand, or a high kick. You don’t win Gold Medals in Judo by being stupid, but by invoking disciplined tactics. Yoshida will have a strategy, and it will be staying the hell away from Silva standing. Yoshida will be opportunistic, but not foolish. If he is overzealous like he was against Tamura, he WILL get Ko’d. It is as simple as that. But again, if Yoshida finds a way to put Silva on his back (lesser grapplers like Matsui, Otsuka, and Malenko have done it), I don’t see Silva sweeping him. Silva would probably close his guard, and wait for a stand-up (but then it will come down to whether Shimada or whomever refs the fight stands them up).
In the end, I see this fight being an incredibly exciting, and unpredictable affair. I believe Yoshida will have a spirited performance, but Silva’s experience, coupled with his superior striking, will most likely overwhelm Yoshida sometime late in the first round.