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Cagewriter - UFC

Cagewriter

Mon Dec 08, 2008 11:40 am EST

Next UFC middleweight champ may come from WEC

By Steve Cofield

The UFC is on the look out for anyone who can legitimately challenge Anderson Silva for his middleweight title. The best options appear to be Michael Bisping, two guys Silva already beat in Dan Henderson and Nate Marquardt, and new UFC signee Denis Kang. There could be two other options coming over from Zuffa's second promotion World Extreme Cagefighting. Chael Sonnen, who's only lost once at 185 lbs., could be a challenger. And down the road the best prospect at 185 may be Mark Munoz.

Munoz, the 197-pound NCAA Division I wrestling champ in 2001 at Oklahoma State, has been fighting at 205 lbs. but appears to have extra masss and could get down to the middleweight limit. After a victory last week over jiu-jitsu black belt Ricardo Barros, Yahoo! Sports caught up with Munoz who says he's ready for the big show.

It's unlikely that Munoz will be ready any time soon. He could be the guy once Silva retires or permanently moves onto the light heavyweight division. Munoz said he'll be working on his striking in the future with Freddie Roach, Manny Pacquiao's trainer, at the Wild Card Gym in Hollywood. Speaking of Roach, in talking to him during the Pacquiao-Oscar De La Hoya pre-fight, he didn't exactly give glowing reports about Silva's early boxing work at the Wild Card Gym. Roach said that he needs work, had a rough couple of days early on and is laying on the ropes too much.

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46 Comments

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  1. HAHA
    1. Posted by HAHA Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

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    Munoz looks good in the cage
    he has power and great wrestling foundation
    he could be a force, but is too early in his career to call him a threat for the title rite now
    i would like 2 see sonnen vd silva
    sonnen called out silva, said he thinks he can beat him, and isnt scared of him
    i think silva would destroy bisping, and win over marquart and hendo again
    he may not be the best boxer, but his muay thai is what seperate him from others
    jtakeo always screams melvin maneoff
    i saw he won at k-1 this weekend, and read how powerfuk he looked
    maybe he can be the challenge for silva, since he is so powerful
  2. Ican2
    2. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    I don't think Sonnen will stop Silva but it would be a better fight then Boosbang, the dude already admitted he wasnt ready for Silva. I'd like to see Kang step right up to the plate..
  3. Nutcracker
    3. Posted by Nutcracker Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:22 pm EDT

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    I cant see any of em beating Silva. I would rather watch Hendo get another crack at him first.
  4. Darkness!
    4. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    Nutcracker-
    I agree with u on the Hendo opinion; but I'd kinda like to see Silva/Bisping, just cuz I'm not a big fan of Bisping, and like to watch him get beat up...
    : p
    BTW- have to commend u for not jumping on Roach's review of Silva's boxing.
  5. Ican2
    5. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    I'd buy a Hendo repeat, Why not? Hell the dude is 38 but showed he had Silva under raps in the first, just needs to do it for five that's the downside, Unless he drops serious leather and goes for the KO..NUT..Why don't you think Kang could make it a fight?
  6. HAHA
    6. Posted by HAHA Thu Sep 03, 2009 10:49 pm EDT

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    Ican2, u kno ufc is gonna have to build up kang
    to make him look like a legit threat
    i wish they would jus throw him out there
    we prolly wont see them square off until next year tho
  7. Darrell S
    7. Posted by Darrell S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    I would love to see GSP move up to fight Silva if he beats Penn.
  8. Parrot
    8. Posted by Parrot Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:57 pm EDT

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    Silva needs to fight some decent fighters at 205, like rashad evans, rampage and forrest!
  9. Darkness!
    9. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    Darrell-
    yeah, def. agree... I think GSP could prob. dethrone Silva. Actually, if he loses to Penn, it'd be easier for him to move up to MW, wouldn't it? He wouldn't be welterweight champ anymore...
  10. Clint
    10. Posted by Clint Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    I wonder how many top guys Munoz will have to fight before he gets a shot....Will he be a Machita, or a Lesnar??? I don't see Silva moving to LHW permanently....What do you guys think?
  11. Clint
    11. Posted by Clint Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:27 pm EDT

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    Silva v Hendo II would be nice....or if he is going to fight LHW, there are a bunch better than Irvin. Put him against loser of Page v Wandy!
  12. pez
    12. Posted by pez Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:08 pm EDT

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    of all current 185 lb-ers, hollywood has the best chance.
    i still want to see bisbing take a beating too though!
  13. Shaun
    13. Posted by Shaun Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    Are you kidding me Hendo agian??WTF he comes in gets a title fight at 205 then drops down to 185 and gets a shot at that belt??Whats going on there thats just not right!! It's just stupid!!
  14. Shaun
    14. Posted by Shaun Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    I would love to see Silva vs. Rampage Jackson..or Silva vs Thaigo Silva at 205 now that would be crazy!!!
  15. Darkness!
    15. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    Silva vs. Rampage- please make it happen, if for no other reason than that Shaun will have something else to talk about...
    : p
  16. Shaun
    16. Posted by Shaun Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    This just hit me too...Randy Couture if he fights again he might fight at 205 but he would probally get hurt really bad if he fought Silva but Silva would have to fight not dance around!!!It's the UFC not Dancing With The Stars!!
  17. Shaun
    17. Posted by Shaun Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    Well I Wanna see that fight..It's stupid how he gets these weak fights and now hes ANGRY haha pretty stupid if you ask me!!
  18. Darrell S
    18. Posted by Darrell S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    Shaun
    Henderson was the Pride Middleweight Champ. and since prided didn't have a lightheavyweight division but rather middleweight was up to 205 pounds which is the UFC lightheavyweight limit they placed Henderson vs Rampage as the bout Hence the name of UFC 75 Champion vs. Champion. Since Jackson went from Pride Middleweight to UFC light Heavyweight this was the perfect match. Remember he took Rampage to a decision even though it was a Unanimous decision Henderson is no chump. I believe he deserved the fight with Silva and if he beats Rich Franklin in January why wouldn't he deserve a rematch with Silva?
  19. Shaun
    19. Posted by Shaun Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:44 pm EDT

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    I just dont think he deserves it..All these fighters get title shot after title shot and come up short..
  20. Darrell S
    20. Posted by Darrell S Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:49 pm EDT

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    Ok Shaun, Rampage lost to Wanderlei Silva for the Pride Middleweight Championship in 2004. Dan Henderson beat Wanderlei Silva for Middleweight title in 2007. How does this not qualify him for a fight with Rampage. As far as them coming up short that is the glory of MMA. And damn, isn't everyone coming up short against Silva right now?
  21. Darkness!
    21. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    "It's the UFC not Dancing With The Stars!!"
    Shaun-
    really... this is the best comment u could come up with? Before u criticize, u should actually watch the fights, and not just read an archived blog by an idiot reporter. I don't recall Silva coming out with a press release saying he's angry about not having any competition. I do recall him saying that he was disappointed Cote was inadvertantly injured during their match; but I've never heard Anderson Silva be anything but the most respectful, decent role model in mma... maybe in all of pro sports. As opposed to Rampage Jackson, with his several kids from diff. mothers and arrest record and all. Guess u can take the rat out of the hood, but u can't take the hood out of the rat, huh? And that isn't even a mildly racist comment (as I've said many times before, I'm mixed myself); it's just a true observation. Rampage Jackson is a hoodrat with money... nothing more. The media was upset with Silva before the Cote fight that he didn't "entertain" enough; so he does a little showboating to make the people happy, and suddenly he's an arrogant a**hole... what do u want from the guy? BTW- that's not taking away from Rampages wrestling or KO ability; but I haven't been nearly as impressed with him in the UFC as I was in Pride; maybe cuz the competition level is higher, I dunno. Either way- I don't think Rampage would present that much of a challenge to Anderson, even at LtHvyWt. Forrest or Rashad, on the other hand... or if GSP jumped up to MdlWt... awesome!
  22. Darkness!
    22. Posted by Darkness! Thu Sep 03, 2009 4:45 pm EDT

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    ok, I'm out for the day. sorry if that Rampage hoodrat comment offended anyone; that wasn't my intention. I just don't really care for his behavior, or understand why he's so popular... just my opinion.
  23. Ican2
    23. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    OK With me "Darkness", I'm pulling out my action figure Hughes doll and making him salute ya..;-) LOL..I actually like Rampage, He's got stones and while were at it. Why should he be a roll model? this coming from a Dana W..Fan..With his F this F that...gutter mouth...Hmmmmm. I don't know bro???....If you ask me Evans is a undercover hater, Not Page...But that's just my 2cents...
  24. Ican2
    24. Posted by Ican2 Thu Sep 03, 2009 3:39 pm EDT

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    And I'm surprised you find yourself wondering why Rampage is so popular??Just look at Kimbo's fame and riddle me that..You know what I mean?
  25. ruckaone
    25. Posted by ruckaone Thu Sep 03, 2009 8:55 pm EDT

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    The middleweight division needs Robbie Lawler back in the ufc. dream match would be silva vs winner of lawler/cung le. yeah right though

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