We have a ton of MMA goodness to get to today, but before we rush into things, let's take a moment for a quick hitter.
Not too long ago UFC President Dana White declared that most fighters were predicting Chris Weidman to upset Anderson Silva. It's a preposterous statement, but lately it seems like he might be on to something, because wouldn't you know it, Frankie Edgar just jumped aboard the Weidman bandwagon.
"Gotta go with the East Coast boy Weidman. He's the whole package," Edgar wrote on a UFC.com fan chat when asked about UFC 162's main event. "Anderson has fought good wrestlers, but Chris has got great jiu-jitsu and a solid standup game as well."
In unrelated news, Silva apparently bailed on practice yesterday, visibly upset after accidently destroying a sparring partner with a high kick. Needless to say, Weidman has his work cut out for him.
It's not really shocking that a few North American wrestlers are picking Weidman to win. If someone bothered to ask some of the high profile Brazilian fighters, I think we know who they would pick.
I don't think the North American part matters as much, American fighters and fans tend to be the least nationalistic and don't much base their fighter preferences on that. Brazilians on the other hand are practically unanimous in supporting their countrymen against others, they'd probably pick Jussier Da Silva over Jones.
I do agree though that the whole wrestling fraternity tends to stick together more and have mutual admiration, so it'd mean more if a prominent non-wrestler made the pick.
Brazilians on the other hand are practically unanimous in supporting their countrymen against others, they'd probably pick Jussier Da Silva over Jones.
I will take my chances and say you don't have enough data and research to make this statement about Brazilian fans opinions. Anyway, it must be emphasized that "to support" and "to pick" are two completely different things. While I agree with the first part of your post, which is pretty obvious, the "picking" part is way off. Unless we are speaking about uneducated MMA fans, in which the case, nationality will matter little to nothing.
Brazilian TV comentators oftenly and openly cheer for Brazilian fighters, but at the same time they "prepare" the public to the beating the Brazilian is about to get, when this is the case.
Frankie and Chris are even closer and more frequent trainning partners then even GSP who came out and said the same thing. Frankie and Chris' camp are two branches off the same tree.
Chris and Frankie are both from the same area. One is from Jersey and the other is from NY.
Sonnen jumped on the Weidman wagon on FUEL when during the post fight show of Munoz vs Weidman. He said Weidman was the best MW in the World and he even said that included himself. He actually tried to make a push for Weidman vs Anderson that night and was all over Chris' nuts.
Shocking, A Jersey boy picking the Long Island boy, who trains with many of the same people.
Shocking, Sonnen, a guy who has disrespected Silva up and down and is one of the most prideful wrestlers out there....picking against Silva in favor of a powerhouse wrestler.
Kind of surprises me a bit cuz I never hear Frankie give his word, so it bares some weight to me.
At the same time, no one should be surprised Sonnen is picking whoever Silva's fighting to win...he's made his career out of condescending Anderson Silva.
I tend to think that in most cases fans support fighters from their own nation, unless they have a specific reason for not doing so.
For example, I'll always support British fighters when they fight because I like to see my countrymen win, and besides its good for the sport over here. However, somebody like James McSweeney who is such a dick, I don't care who he fights, I want him to lose badly.
Whatever happens I hope Weidman puts up a good fight. I loves me some Silva and at this stage in his career he needs tough fights that carry weight. He may well be the GOAT right now, but he knows full well he might lose that title unless he has tough fights to close out his career.
Weidman is a tough fight. Or at the very least, the toughest fight for Silva at MW right now.
If Silva does the expected and knocks Chris the feck out in round one? Well... that means nothing more then further proof that Silva is a very very special fighter. Its a shame Weidman didnt start earlier. 9 fights is awfully green. Especially going up against a fighter who has seen it all. Hes 28 ( 29? ). If he was at his current level at 25, he could have had over a decade at the very top.
Yea I agree. If Anderson wins it will most likely be an early KO. And I'm afraid if that happens people will discredit the win as just a win over a GREEN fighter.
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