Mirko Filipovic vs. Minotauro Nogueira, 11/9/2003

[Technosphile]

I don't think Nogueira has a chance in hell. Discuss.

-Tech

[edgehead1984]

I don't think Nogueira has a chance in hell. Discuss.

-Tech

Agreed. Then CroCop gets his shot at Fyodor as he deserves, and wins that match too.

The win will be by KO.

[Luds]

This match shouldn't even last one round... Cro Cop will kill him.

[TWolf]

I heard that Fedor forfeited his title, claiming he is injured. It was rumored he didn't want to fight Cro Cop. I think the winner of this fight becomes the new champ.

[Dr Feelgood]

Fyodor's injury is more than a claim, PRIDE even showed his X-Ray to the press.

I firmly believe Nogueira has a chance, you'd have to be crazy not to. It all boils down to how the match will turn out, and I'm afraid we might well get a Takada/Cro-Cop or Inoki/Ali style snoozer due to the extreme grappler vs striker contrast.
If Mino wants to win, he needs to ground Cro Cop. Unless he's been taking the same strategy classes as Heath Herring did before PRIDE 26, he won't be trying to do it mainly with shoot-in takedowns (and his takedowns aren't much good to start with). The way I see it, that leaves throwing and pulling guard from the clinch. Mirko's strong and will be hard to pull down from the clinch, however the clinch still is the best position for Nogueira to work from IMO. Nogueira might want to work on this with teammate Ricardo Arona who is one of the best in this department (and would also provide Cro Cop with a good challenge).
Working from the clinch, he might also be able to catch Mirko in a standing sub or feint and catch him in a leglock.
The exact reverse is true for Cro Cop: he'll certainly win if it stays standing (despite Nogueira being no slouch standing). Especially considering Nogueira's supreme submission skills, his strategy will probably be to NEVER find himself in the brazilian's guard under any circumstance. That and the fact that Nogueira's strategy is as clear to him as his is to Nogueira. So if Nogueira buttscoots, I doubt we'll see Cro Cop dive in to follow up with punches. This means that Cro Cop will pretty much need to knock him out directly, which will be tough considering how resistant the brazilian is. The fight may well go the following way: as soon as Mino gets tagged he buttscoots, Mirko refuses to follow and just jogs up and down gesturing for him to stand up and fight a kickboxing match, Mino recuperates and so on till either one catches the other out or till a boring decision (did I just describe Takada vs Cro Cop or what?).

Both fighters offer such a contrast that as long as one doesn't get forced into the other's game they can pretty much prevent one another from dictating the pace of the fight. Considering their respective skills, they probably won't be taking many risks and may well fight extremely conservatively.
The clinch will probably the terrain where they are both most likely to engage and difference be made. Nog is probably fast and strong enough to make it into the clinch (though how much damage Mirko does before that will be a big factor). Mirko is probably confident enough in his skills and ability to fend opponents off from that position to be willing to engage there. My bet is that that may well be the place where we get to see whether Mirko can keep it a striking match or Nog can make it a grappling match.

[edgehead1984]

Well, Noguiera won, 2nd round by submission (armbar) pretty defensive battle. Crocop nailed his kicks in the first round, but didn't get him by the end of the first round, Noguiera caught him at the beginning of the second round.

[Luds]

Well that was a huge upset! Or a work

[DANGEROUS DAN]

[message deleted by admin]

Lets all throw a pity party for Inoki. His dream of being more than McMahon in Japan as well as here in the states have hit a snag. Not to worry Inoki backers, he has enough resources to see to it that he will rise again, if by nothing else but by his name value alone.
AS far as the PRIDE CHAMP goes he has his rematch with Fedor. That my friends could be electric!

[Dr Feelgood]

Lets all throw a pity party for Inoki. His dream of being more than McMahon in Japan as well as here in the states have hit a snag. Not to worry Inoki backers, he has enough resources to see to it that he will rise again, if by nothing else but by his name value alone.

Now that's what I call a one-post KO

[The Franceman]

Maybe after that, CroCop will make a face(?) turn and says "I'm with New Japan !". Suddenly Fujinami comes, says to Inoki he will not retire and INOKI IS FIREEEEDDD !!!!


Hmmm no...