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Where does Tarec Saffiedine stand in the UFC?

2K views 21 replies 21 participants last post by  jonnyg4508 
#1 ·
The current, and final, Strikeforce WW champion will no doubt be signing (if he hasn't already) with the UFC.

He looked pretty impressive last night defeating Marquardt in a convincing decision ... but where does he place in the UFC?

I don't think he's ready to face the top 5, probably not even the top 10, but his Strikeforce belt should count towards justifying some immediate top 10 competition.

So who does he fight next?

Keep in mind that GSP/Diaz, Hendricks/Ellenberger, McDonald/Condit all seem to be heading to Montreal in March (that sounds like an awesome card btw) So definitely no top 5 matches for him, but does he even get a top 10 fighter, or does he get a 'warm up' match first?

Maybe Kampmann in April-ish?
 
#22 ·
That would be a terrible "start him off slow fight". Some people aren't as high on Silva as I may be. But he gave Fitch all he could handle at the beginning of that fight. He is a good striker with very good BJJ. His kryptonite will be wrestlers who can out-work him. Saff is a kickboxer with solid TDD and solid BJJ.

Why start him off vs a guy with little name recognition, but very dangerous on the feet...a place Saff likes to keep it?

I think Saff should get a decent guy. Why would Melendez get a auto shot, DC get Mir, Rockhold maybe a title shot but Saff get a non top 10 guy? He just beat a top 5-7 WW.

I would give him Kampmann. It would be an excellent fight as well.
 
#8 ·


Yep...

The thing is the fights I'd like to see him in I don't see him winning. I don't think he'll beat Kammpman but I didn't think he'd beat Nate. Was Tarec that good or was Nate that bad last night?

I think he's best off fighting say, Matt Brown.
 
#9 ·
I had no idea Saffiedine was only 26. He looked really good against Marquardt last night but the thing with Nate is that he is so inconsistent that it's a hard situation to gauge.

I'd like to see Saffiedine against Matt Brown as well.
 
#11 ·
Pyle, Pierce, or Maia-Fitch winner.

You HAVE to give him a decently ranked and profile fighter, given that he comes over as the SF champ. It's owed to him imho. So I'd probably prefer the Maia-Fitch winner as that would be a stiff test and really gauge where Saff is at.
 
#14 ·
Ufc 158 still has two openings on the PPV...


Have Nate Marquardt vs Erick Silva

And Tarec vs Kampmann

All WW card!
 
#17 ·
I wouldn't mind seeing Tarec against the following in no particular order
Dan Hardy
Martin Kampmann
Diego Sanchez-if he is staying at WW
Josh Neer-provided he still has a job

I don't think they should put in him with Eric Silva as he is another prospect they are trying to give the slow build to. If they fight now you hurt one or both chances of be coming something in the division.
 
#21 ·
I would give him an introductory fight with Pyle, I don't wanna rain on a man's parade but Nate has Kenny Florian syndrome where he just completely shits the bed when the lights are on bright, coming in with these cockamamie game plans that are designed to conserve victory, I normally don't have a problem with it but those two just really mess up when they fight that way. Props to Tarec though, he landed vicious kicks which no doubt hampered Nate but I'd start him off slow.

Pyle, Kampmann, and then a guy like Fitch. His TDD looked really sharp against Nate but a guy like Fitch is a totally different animal.
 
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