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Rush Talks About Old School UFC

2K views 29 replies 11 participants last post by  kds13 
#1 ·
I will be making some blog threads on my obsession with MMA now, reviews mostly or talking about certain PPVs since I am getting bored of these "this person .vs. that person" threads.

Anyways, I can't help but talk about old school UFC mainly 1-22 because I love that era and I think it was more enjoyable and less predictable than the new era.

I must admit I like violence, UFC 1-10 basically allowed anything from low blows to downward elbows. People being cut like they were hit with an axe or KOd. Nowadays it seems like more decisions or TKO Strikes rather than the KOs.

Have you seen a Tank .vs. John Matua recently? Gary Goodridge on Paul Herrera? Yes we saw a nice KO at UFC 65 from Antoni Hardonk to Sherman Pendergarst but before that I couldn't really remember unless you count Anderson .vs. Franklin a KO which in my opinion wasn't as nice as the old school UFC KOs. It seems like there is one KO every 3 PPVs unlike the old UFC where there was a KO every PPV, maybe even two.

But the rules have changed, yes now more tactical fighters. But I think violence make things a little more exciting, one strong bastard like Mark Kerr KOing a weakling like Greg Stott rather than an even battle.

After UFC 22 it seemed like it fell off the map, never heard from again but bounced back at UFC 30 which is one of my favourite eras.

What do you all think about the old UFC compared to nowadays? Feel free to debate, I'm having a shitty day as I broke my tailbone...
 
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#2 ·
I made a thread similar to this not that long ago. I like these type of topics more than "Will Tito actually beat Liddell?" or "Who would win in a rematch between GSP vs Matt Hughes?". I find myself watching older MMA. I just value the older, classic matches as opposed to the flavor of the month fights, that get overrated. I dug Sell vs Smith, but when I see people listing it as one of the greatest fights ever, I just sort of roll my eyes.

Maurice Smith vs Mark Coleman

Frank Shamrock vs Tito Ortiz

Couture vs Belfort 1

Don Frye ruling it.

Royce Gracie being the man, and having a fun fight with Keith Hackney.

Dan Severn's awesome mustache.

Belfort being this unstoppable badass. Hell, Vitor being motivated.

Frank Shamrock being awesome.

Ken being a force.

These moments are what make me appreciate the early UFC days. I love MMA nowadays, but I'd be lying if I said I enjoy it more than the old days. It also seemed like fans in the old UFC days appreciated it more. They weren't so wishy washy, and there wasn't a whole lotta planted celebrities who act like they rather be somewhere else.
 
#3 ·
Damone said:
I made a thread similar to this not that long ago. I like these type of topics more than "Will Tito actually beat Liddell?" or "Who would win in a rematch between GSP vs Matt Hughes?". I find myself watching older MMA. I just value the older, classic matches as opposed to the flavor of the month fights, that get overrated. I dug Sell vs Smith, but when I see people listing it as one of the greatest fights ever, I just sort of roll my eyes.

Maurice Smith vs Mark Coleman

Frank Shamrock vs Tito Ortiz

Couture vs Belfort 1

Don Frye ruling it.

Royce Gracie being the man, and having a fun fight with Keith Hackney.

Dan Severn's awesome mustache.

Belfort being this unstoppable badass. Hell, Vitor being motivated.

Frank Shamrock being awesome.

Ken being a force.

These moments are what make me appreciate the early UFC days. I love MMA nowadays, but I'd be lying if I said I enjoy it more than the old days. It also seemed like fans in the old UFC days appreciated it more. They weren't so wishy washy, and there wasn't a whole lotta planted celebrities who act like they rather be somewhere else.
You just made my day, my new favourite poster.

Mark Coleman .vs. Don Frye, the match I mark for. No one ever seems to agree with me what a great fight it was. People always talk about Coleman .vs. Frye 2 at PRIDE 26 but this match made that one look like a elementary school fight.

Colemans cardio wasn't the greatest but he managed to pull it off.

I also loved Pedro Rizzo coming into the UFC and earning a name for himself. Beating Coleman and Abbott to near death then Telligman. I feared for Coutures safety at UFC 31.

Also Kevin Randleman, who could have forgotten him either. He was at the top of his game in the early UFC 20-30 days besides that mini streak he had at the PRIDE GP. The man carried a nasty streak, robbed against Bas Rutten. He took Rutten down ten times, controlled the fight. Everytime he lost he went downhill. After Fedor beat him, downhill. After Couture beat him, Liddell KOd him.
 
#4 ·
Bas must've had incriminating photo's of the judges, because that's the only reason I can come up with. I have no clue what those idiot judges saw in the Randleman vs Bas fight that even suggested Bas winning. Randleman decimated him, and showed why he has always been a great talent. Randleman's like Belfort & Rizzo, in that he had all the tools, but didn't quite put it all together.

Frye vs Coleman 1 was really fun. Coleman was truly a sight to behold back then, and Frye showed why he has always been a tough bastard. I also really really liked Tank vs Frye.

Where did all the old school fans go? it just sort of seems like all these past memories just faded away into obscurity. Jerry Bohlander(Who had one of the best guards I have ever seen) is ignored. It's a shame, really. Maybe it's because I'm a huge mark for the Lions Den, but Pete Williams & Jerry Bohlander need more love.
 
#5 ·
The only thing I could come up with is how Rutten was defending himself on his back and started being the better one towards the end. But other than that, domination.

I also liked Tank .vs. Frye, Tank beat him up the first minute then a choke.
 
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#6 ·
Can't forget Nate Quarry vs. Rich Franklin, that's a clean f***in KO of the newer days...



But for the most part, I tend to agree with you. Gary Goodrich with a crucifix and simultaneous knee-elbow to the dome was probably the coolest thing I ever saw. The old UFC was more "skill vs. skill" of a particular style as opposed to all the cross-training, which is in part why I think it was more exciting. Now everything is controlled and weight limits and contracts and who knows? Maybe people can or have thrown fights for money, too? But anyway, wouldnt it be kicki to find two nobodys with no MA experience whatsoever, stick them in 2 different arts and make those the ONLY arts they train in, then have them go at it? Haha, new TV reality series (j/k)....


But anyway, gotta lean with you guys on this one. The only thing I disliked about those ealier fights was 30-65 minute matches. Too long. Too slow.
 
#7 ·
Redwings7777 said:
I will be making some blog threads on my obsession with MMA now, reviews mostly or talking about certain PPVs since I am getting bored of these "this person .vs. that person" threads.

Anyways, I can't help but talk about old school UFC mainly 1-22 because I love that era and I think it was more enjoyable and less predictable than the new era.

I must admit I like violence, UFC 1-10 basically allowed anything from low blows to downward elbows. People being cut like they were hit with an axe or KOd. Nowadays it seems like more decisions or TKO Strikes rather than the KOs.

Have you seen a Tank .vs. John Matua recently? Gary Goodridge on Paul Herrera? Yes we saw a nice KO at UFC 65 from Antoni Hardonk to Sherman Pendergarst but before that I couldn't really remember unless you count Anderson .vs. Franklin a KO which in my opinion wasn't as nice as the old school UFC KOs. It seems like there is one KO every 3 PPVs unlike the old UFC where there was a KO every PPV, maybe even two.

But the rules have changed, yes now more tactical fighters. But I think violence make things a little more exciting, one strong bastard like Mark Kerr KOing a weakling like Greg Stott rather than an even battle.

After UFC 22 it seemed like it fell off the map, never heard from again but bounced back at UFC 30 which is one of my favourite eras.

What do you all think about the old UFC compared to nowadays? Feel free to debate, I'm having a shitty day as I broke my tailbone...
Stop referring to yourself in third person as "Rush". Very annoying and deceptive, makes me think this is a thread about GSP's opinions instead of some armchair expert.
I agree with most of the post though.. rules HAVE taken away from the excitement to some degree. However, for UFC to grow and be recognized as a sport instead of an underground pitfighting consortium, it needed them.
 
#8 ·
My favorite old school UFC KO was Gerrard Gordeau over Teila Tuli at UFC 1. Kick to face!

Some of my other favorites from not that long ago include:

Couture v Rizzo (on TV on thursday)

Anybody v Randleman (back when Kevin was good and in the UFC)

Chuck Liddell v Vernon White (exciting the whole time)

Barnett v Couture (obviously, the crowning glory for Barnett in the UFC)

Griffin v Bonnar (anyone who talks down about this fight doesn't understand what a great brawl this was)

Tank KOing Anyone

Royce Gracie tapping people out

Keith Hackney fights
 
#9 ·
#11 ·
doublelegtakedown said:
the first ufc's owned! style vs style with no rules, just like a street fight and totally violent. i loved them.
just two brawlers neither to well rounded...idk just liked it...i just like the old days. lol
UFC - Best of Mark Coleman.mpg - Google Video
UFC 27 Pedro Rizzo vs Dan Severn - Google Video
back when coleman, frye, shamrock, abbott, and gracie ruled the ring.
Thanks for the Severn clip, nastiest leg kick ever in the UFC besides Hardonk on Pendergarst so far.
 
#12 ·
Damone said:
I really dug Rizzo vs Couture 1. I'm still trying to figure out how Couture won that fight. I honestly thought it was Rizzo's to win after the first round domination by Couture.

I also have to give props to my main man Oleg Taktarov. He set the stage for scary Russian fighters.
I don't understand how Couture won either. He won round 1 10-8 IMO but other than that Rizzo dominated it start to finish. Rizzo was someone you didn't want to trade with or you would get KOd, ask Tank :D.
 
#15 ·
It's odd to believe that was Goodridge doing that. After that, Gary just became this oafish standup fighter. I still dig Big Gary though.

Tank vs Rizzo was such a satisfying KO. Rizzo gives tank the nastiest leg kick you'll ever see, then follows up with a really hard shot to the chin. It was great seeing someone who took the sport so seriously in Rizzo, KO someone who made a mockery out of it.
 
#18 ·
JawShattera said:
man tank was always fun to watch, dont diss tank he was one of the true ufc pioneers and one of the few in it for the love of fighting
But, at the same time, he never changed up his style, bashed other fighters, and just in general didn't respect anyone. Tank's style brought in people like Alex Karalexis and other worthless one dimensional strikers. I recognize Tank is a pioneer in his own right, but I have never liked the guy. He looked like some kid's dad after 1 too many Wild Turkey shots, and he fought like it as well. He was a bar fighter who never evolved.
 
#22 ·
JawShattera said:
man tank was always fun to watch, dont diss tank he was one of the true ufc pioneers and one of the few in it for the love of fighting
Hes alright, I sort of think he didn't deserve that title shot against Smith after being killed against Belfort.

And the fight against Rizzo was amazing, he got knocked down about five times, Rizzo is boring but that fight had me on my feet!
 
#23 ·
Some of the best submissions ever occured in old school UFC, the 2001 era UFC 30-39. Ricardo Almeida .vs. Eugene Jackson, best ever triangle choke in the UFC. Matt Serra .vs. Kelly Dullanty was great. And how about Newton squeezing the crap out of Miletichs head?

I can never stop talking about the old school UFC, I will make this thread survive.
 
#24 ·
I'm not getting the "Rizzo is boring" comment. Rizzo was a very fun fighter to watch in his prime. Sickening leg kicks, and really good striking. I will say that an unmotivated Rizzo is frustrating to watch.

Frank Shamrock vs Igor Zinoviev=Sickest slam I have ever seen. Frank just drilled poor Igor to the mat, right on the back of his head & neck. I love Frank Shamrock.....in a totally hetero way of course.
 
#25 ·
Damone said:
I'm not getting the "Rizzo is boring" comment. Rizzo was a very fun fighter to watch in his prime. Sickening leg kicks, and really good striking. I will say that an unmotivated Rizzo is frustrating to watch.

Frank Shamrock vs Igor Zinoviev=Sickest slam I have ever seen. Frank just drilled poor Igor to the mat, right on the back of his head & neck. I love Frank Shamrock.....in a totally hetero way of course.
Rizzo was sometimes boring. I didn't like his fights after UFC 34. His fight with Gan McGee, well a little exciting but he was picked apart. His fight with Matyushenko made me fall asleep. His rematch with Telligman was a great bout actually, favourite match from UFC 43 besides Couture .vs. Liddell. But his final match in the UFC, don't like to talk about :(.

I take those words back, hes an exciting fighter.

How about Patrick "Prince Of Bel Air Hair" Smith :laugh:. Best fighter ever.
 
#26 ·
To the thread starter:

Do me a favor and stop referring to yourself in the 3rd person. You're username is "Redwings7777", not "Rush".
 
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