Manx

Just announced earlier today.......


http://mmaoverdrive.com/2008/04/21/j...ku-2/#more-196

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Extreme Bias For:
Heath Herring-Josh Barnett-Roxy Modafferi-Kazushi Sakurauba-Murrillo Bustamante-Tatsuya Kawajiri-Megumi Fujii-Dan Henderson-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria-Kazuyuki Fujita-Hideki Kadowaki

Manx

Also, I didn't add it in the article because it is far from confirmed, but srong rumors are bouncing around that Barnett will be facing either Marcio Cruz or Naoya Ogawa...

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Extreme Bias For:
Heath Herring-Josh Barnett-Roxy Modafferi-Kazushi Sakurauba-Murrillo Bustamante-Tatsuya Kawajiri-Megumi Fujii-Dan Henderson-Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria-Kazuyuki Fujita-Hideki Kadowaki

bbjd7

If Barnett fights Pe de Pano he better check his pride at the door because if he takes Pe de Pano down he migth lose.

Damone

I don't think Cruz would sub Barnett. Barnett's an excellent MMA grappler. Cruz is an excellent pure grappler, but in an MMA setting, I think he's below Nog and Barnett did really well against Nogueira's subs. Cruz doesn't have the stand-up to deal with Joshy Boy.

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bbjd7

I don't think he would submit him either but I think if Barnett takes him down every round he could lose a decision to Pe de Pano. He needs to be smart and pick up points standing before he takes Cruz down.

Damone

I could see Barnett GnP'ing his way to a victory. His wrestling is solid, and his sub defense is excellent. He's also really good at sweeping his opponent.

I'd like to see this fight. Cruz is underrated.

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plazzman

I really can't see how Marcio could beat the more stronger, well rounded MMA fighter.

bbjd7

Because his ground game is so good. I mean Pe de Pano is so great on the ground that even in MMA I would say the are about even IMO on the ground. So Barnett taking him down early w/o scoring points in the stand up is a dangerous thing for Barnett to do and I could see him losing a decision that way.

plazzman

I don't know about that, I mean sure Marcio has ridiculous grappling, but Barnett does as well, plus hes super strong and has great striking, something Marcio doesn't. Plus I don't think Marcio likes getting hit very much. As Damone said, Barnett held his own against Nog, who has better MMA grappling than Marcio.

Damone

I actually think Barnett has better MMA BJJ than Cruz does. Barnett got Nog in a guillotine and a kneebar in their first fight, and a tight guillotine in their second fight. Not to mention he tapped a world class judoka, weight difference aside.

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