Belfort is injured, Wanderlei Needs a new opponent

Shit, I really wanted to see this. I know Belfort was a bad match for him and all but it was either going to show he had evolved or should retire after a bad KO.

Anyway who is going to step in you reckon.

I think Bisping should do it. He didnt think Wanderlei beat him the 1st time (Or at least started saying that when Wand was out of ear shot)

Boetsch isnt the biggest name in MMA and he is seen as having a win over Okami who isnt the most popular fighter that most think he couldnt do again.

Wand just coached a cracking series of TUF and is a Legend with a recent win over him. I think Bisping would leapfrog Boetsch in the list of title challengers with a win over Wand.

Hope thats the fights thats suggested because I know Wand would get the job done again and look better doing it in a rematch.

Anyone else want to see anyone else step in?

Bisping wouldn't be ready. I doubt he'd take the risk of cutting his camp short by that much. Rich Franklin on the other hand might do it. Him and Wandi had a good fight last time and it's only a 2 week difference.

Belcher if he's ready.

He'd probably take the fight even if he wasn't ready!

I assume they want a brazilian for this fight? I dont know if Palhares would take it. This card surely is not PPV right? I heard it was but that honestly cant be true!

Maby he could step up to Lhw and fight Rampage again, both guys want that. I like the idea of Franlin or Belcher, both would be great to watch and less likely to turn his lights out than Rampage!

I think God has done Wand a huge favor with Vitor being injured, Belcher is the obvious candidate but to be honest I think like Vitor he will smash Wand.

I like the idea of Belcher or Franklin TBH. Not so keen on a rematch with Bisping, unfortunately, I see it as a very winnable fight for pretty much any decent MW, Wandy just doesn't seem to have it in him anymore. Cowboy's hit the nail on the head, when he said that it's saved him from a proper hiding.

Cowboys From Hell wrote:I think God has done Wand a huge favor with Vitor being injured, Belcher is the obvious candidate but to be honest I think like Vitor he will smash Wand.

As much as it pains me to say, I dont think there's many top 10/15 mw's that Wandi would beat these days ..but Vitor was a lot more likely to end Wandi's career via vicious knockout than Bisping is in my opinion.

Belcher has an injured hand, Palhares is still medically suspended. Rampage is injured as well for whoever suggested him.

Ramplod had surgeries on both knees. He's out for a while.

Might be a good way to introduce Hector Lombard to the UFC.

Franklin v Cung Le will be more interesting than a rematch IMO.

If they wanted a Brazilian, would Jacare do it or are him and Wanderlei mates?

Jacare has trained with Wanderlei before and spent some time training at his gym. I think they're on fairly good terms. It'd be a good fight though, Jacare badly needs someone relevant.

Rockhold - Wanderlei would be good but I think don't think he's been training.

I like the Idea of Rockhold fighting Wand but Showtime would be pretty pissed If Zuffa sabotage Strikeforce upcoming Main Event on Showtime.

Thinking about It Bisping seems the most likely choice and the biggest fight available on short notice If he want's It which I'm sure he does after their last fight.

I think I'd actually kind of like to see some sort of catch-weight wackiness for Wanderlei, or something like a big welterweight moving up to fight him.

I don't really have much interest in seeing Wanderlei fighting top 10 middleweights, because ultimately we know he's not really going to work his way up that ladder, and there aren't really any light heavyweights who wouldn't just smash him at this point. I think things like the Cung Le and Franklin fights are perfect for him at this time in his career. Even though they're not possible, I find the thought of him fighting, guys like Thiago Alves, Nick Diaz, Jake Shields etc a lot more engaging. I even think maybe Kazuo Misaki would be a really fun opponent.

Yeah that could be good something unexpected like a catch-weight or something out of the blue like a fight with Manhoef, Daley or any other fighter who normally guarantees great fights.

Misaki would be good he or even how about Jorge Santiago returning.

p4pnumber_1 wrote:

Cowboys From Hell wrote:I think God has done Wand a huge favor with Vitor being injured, Belcher is the obvious candidate but to be honest I think like Vitor he will smash Wand.

As much as it pains me to say, I dont think there's many top 10/15 mw's that Wandi would beat these days ..but Vitor was a lot more likely to end Wandi's career via vicious knockout than Bisping is in my opinion.

At the risk of argueing with you and looking stupid... again.

He cant beat top 10/15 Mw's? He beat Bisping, what has changed so much since then? Bisping isnt likely to KO him is he?

His fight with Franklin was razor thin and he was just adjusting to cutting weight. He beat Cung Le who a lot though would beat Belfort...

Being a close fight for Bisping/Franklin and people dont rate him? Surely if he can hang with these guys he still is top 10/15 good?

What about all the wrestlers? Is it a given Weidman or Munoz would outwrestle him for 15mins? In Pride he hung with Arona on the ground and were yet to see a wrestler controll him in the UFC, I think most just accept they would without putting too much thought into his grappling abilities.

Lets not forget Munoz has got his ass handed to him and KO'd by lesser men than Wand. Look how he struggled with Maia's standup... you think Wand wouldnt just walk through Maia, or Munoz for that matter.... because he would.

Boetsch would get beat down. Okami could see a repeat of the Franklin fight...

Wands chin isnt what it use to be (it was never really his strong point) but he has beat top 10/15 guys recently and nothing has changed to suggest he cant do it again. Sure Stann, Lombard and Belfort might not be good matches for him but why all of a sudden can he not hang with the others despite being better than Bisping?

I think if Wand wins his next one you have to put him on the Underrated list!

Jake Shields, heard it here first.

Shit thats a great call... guess I will see Wands grappling defence on display. Probabally the worst of the wrestlers for him to fight. Someone like Munoz would stand with him for a while, Shileds is a single minded figher. He will fight this Exactly like the Hendo fight, charge and try to smother him.

Wand took Bisping down though didnt he? His wrestling might be good enough to keep it standing to get a KO

rudeboyben84 wrote:

p4pnumber_1 wrote:

Cowboys From Hell wrote:I think God has done Wand a huge favor with Vitor being injured, Belcher is the obvious candidate but to be honest I think like Vitor he will smash Wand.

As much as it pains me to say, I dont think there's many top 10/15 mw's that Wandi would beat these days ..but Vitor was a lot more likely to end Wandi's career via vicious knockout than Bisping is in my opinion.

At the risk of argueing with you and looking stupid... again.

He cant beat top 10/15 Mw's? He beat Bisping, what has changed so much since then? Bisping isnt likely to KO him is he?

His fight with Franklin was razor thin and he was just adjusting to cutting weight. He beat Cung Le who a lot though would beat Belfort...

Being a close fight for Bisping/Franklin and people dont rate him? Surely if he can hang with these guys he still is top 10/15 good?

What about all the wrestlers? Is it a given Weidman or Munoz would outwrestle him for 15mins? In Pride he hung with Arona on the ground and were yet to see a wrestler controll him in the UFC, I think most just accept they would without putting too much thought into his grappling abilities.

Lets not forget Munoz has got his ass handed to him and KO'd by lesser men than Wand. Look how he struggled with Maia's standup... you think Wand wouldnt just walk through Maia, or Munoz for that matter.... because he would.

Boetsch would get beat down. Okami could see a repeat of the Franklin fight...

Wands chin isnt what it use to be (it was never really his strong point) but he has beat top 10/15 guys recently and nothing has changed to suggest he cant do it again. Sure Stann, Lombard and Belfort might not be good matches for him but why all of a sudden can he not hang with the others despite being better than Bisping?

I think if Wand wins his next one you have to put him on the Underrated list!

Now now mate, no hard feelings lad

Before I say anything else, let me make it clear, Im a big Wandi fan, assuming as are you, and theres nothing i'd love more to be able to say with confidence that he would bust his way through most top 10/15 UFC fighters on a way to a title shot ...but I just cant see it anymore mate.

What has happened since he's beat Bisping? Well first of all Bisping has significantly improved without a doubt, and Wandi has hardly got better since then, especially considering he was brutally knocked out by Leben. Bisping would beat Wandi if they fought now, I think 99% of people would agree on this, even Bisping haters and Wandi fans can surely agree on this?

As for Franklin and Cung Le... First of all is Franklin even top 10/15 anymore in the MW division?...he hasnt fought as a middleweight in the UFC since his title fight vs Silva at UFC 77 like 5 years ago..Hes a good fighter, but I dont think he's top 10 material at all anymore to be honest. As for Cung Le, well hes not even close, never was to be fair, and he still came close to knocking Wandi out!

Unfortunately, I think anyone with a bit of power would finish Wandi, and lets face it his chin isnt gonna get better. Plus his style hardly protects his chin does it. Can you say with confidence that theres any top 15s he would beat?

Munoz and Weidman would both beat him. He hung with Arona on the ground? What 7 years ago? Wandi isnt even close to the fighter now as he was then. You mentioned Maia, who I actually think he would be able to stand with as Maias stand up is pretty atrocious..but unfortunately for Wand hes now a welterweight. Munoz would have far too much power for Wandi to handle.

Boetsch and Okami would get beat down? These are lower tier in terms of top echelon fighters, but I still think they would be too powerful for him. These guys are better fighters than Chris Leben remember.

Okay Ben mate..If Wandi wins his next fight (pending of course that it is a top 10/15 match up) then I will publicly apologize on here

Ben, Wandi is done mate. Done and finished.

Cung Le destroyed him until he got tired and sloppy. Leben KO'd him in double quick time.

Wandi's not walking through anyone anymore. He's done. Belfort was going to kill him and unless the UFC hand him a can or someone that only has 1 good round in the gastank, he's going to lose in Brazil.

p4pnumber_1 wrote:

rudeboyben84 wrote:

p4pnumber_1 wrote:

Cowboys From Hell wrote:I think God has done Wand a huge favor with Vitor being injured, Belcher is the obvious candidate but to be honest I think like Vitor he will smash Wand.

As much as it pains me to say, I dont think there's many top 10/15 mw's that Wandi would beat these days ..but Vitor was a lot more likely to end Wandi's career via vicious knockout than Bisping is in my opinion.

At the risk of argueing with you and looking stupid... again.

He cant beat top 10/15 Mw's? He beat Bisping, what has changed so much since then? Bisping isnt likely to KO him is he?

His fight with Franklin was razor thin and he was just adjusting to cutting weight. He beat Cung Le who a lot though would beat Belfort...

Being a close fight for Bisping/Franklin and people dont rate him? Surely if he can hang with these guys he still is top 10/15 good?

What about all the wrestlers? Is it a given Weidman or Munoz would outwrestle him for 15mins? In Pride he hung with Arona on the ground and were yet to see a wrestler controll him in the UFC, I think most just accept they would without putting too much thought into his grappling abilities.

Lets not forget Munoz has got his ass handed to him and KO'd by lesser men than Wand. Look how he struggled with Maia's standup... you think Wand wouldnt just walk through Maia, or Munoz for that matter.... because he would.

Boetsch would get beat down. Okami could see a repeat of the Franklin fight...

Wands chin isnt what it use to be (it was never really his strong point) but he has beat top 10/15 guys recently and nothing has changed to suggest he cant do it again. Sure Stann, Lombard and Belfort might not be good matches for him but why all of a sudden can he not hang with the others despite being better than Bisping?

I think if Wand wins his next one you have to put him on the Underrated list!

Now now mate, no hard feelings lad

Before I say anything else, let me make it clear, Im a big Wandi fan, assuming as are you, and theres nothing i'd love more to be able to say with confidence that he would bust his way through most top 10/15 UFC fighters on a way to a title shot ...but I just cant see it anymore mate.

What has happened since he's beat Bisping? Well first of all Bisping has significantly improved without a doubt, and Wandi has hardly got better since then, especially considering he was brutally knocked out by Leben. Bisping would beat Wandi if they fought now, I think 99% of people would agree on this, even Bisping haters and Wandi fans can surely agree on this?

As for Franklin and Cung Le... First of all is Franklin even top 10/15 anymore in the MW division?...he hasnt fought as a middleweight in the UFC since his title fight vs Silva at UFC 77 like 5 years ago..Hes a good fighter, but I dont think he's top 10 material at all anymore to be honest. As for Cung Le, well hes not even close, never was to be fair, and he still came close to knocking Wandi out!

Unfortunately, I think anyone with a bit of power would finish Wandi, and lets face it his chin isnt gonna get better. Plus his style hardly protects his chin does it. Can you say with confidence that theres any top 15s he would beat?

Munoz and Weidman would both beat him. He hung with Arona on the ground? What 7 years ago? Wandi isnt even close to the fighter now as he was then. You mentioned Maia, who I actually think he would be able to stand with as Maias stand up is pretty atrocious..but unfortunately for Wand hes now a welterweight. Munoz would have far too much power for Wandi to handle.

Boetsch and Okami would get beat down? These are lower tier in terms of top echelon fighters, but I still think they would be too powerful for him. These guys are better fighters than Chris Leben remember.

Okay Ben mate..If Wandi wins his next fight (pending of course that it is a top 10/15 match up) then I will publicly apologize on here

Look forward to your public Apology Im really hoping it isnt Shields next though!

I dont think Bisping is a changed man, His game has always been the same. People think his wrestling is a strong point now but Wand still took him down. The Arona fight may have been years ago but if you can grapple at that level I dont see why your grappling abailites would massivley change over time seeing as BJJ isnt as reliant on physical atributes than say striking...


I agree about the Chin, if he runs head first into a powerfull striker he will get his lights turned out but against Cung and Bisping he fought a totally differnt fight that we are used to seeing. He was far more cautious and it worked in both fights.

I didnt mean Wandy could beat Maia. I was ment Maia isnt a good striker at all, he is a student of Wand and Wand would beat him from pillar to post on the feet. Something Munoz didnt and couldnt do... grapplers like Munoz who are top of the pile may be great wrestlers but Wand would murder him standing.

---------

Anfield, I think Le destroying him is a bit off the mark. At the end of the day Wand KO'd him and rearranged his face... literally, that nose was on the other side of his face. He outstruck Cung Le (who half of the people on here though would outstrike Belforty) and no credit?

Shields could be a decent fight for Wand someone who shouldn't pose a threat on the feet Is Wand's TDD defense good enough to stop Shields I'm not so sure, Here is one for you lot Imagine If Jake Shields knocked out Wand on the feet In Brazil......I'm leaving out there.

Cowboys From Hell wrote:Shields could be a decent fight for Wand someone who shouldn't pose a threat on the feet Is Wand's TDD defense good enough to stop Shields I'm not so sure, Here is one for you lot Imagine If Jake Shields knocked out Wand on the feet In Brazil......I'm leaving out there.

Imagine if Jake Shields hurt someone with a punch. Id throw my 3 year old son in for a 5min round of striking with Shields confident that he would be ok... and his 1-2 punch might get the better of shields on the feet.

Its a total clash of sytles, Wand would play with Shields standing but I cant help but think Shields would do the same on the ground... Suppose all Wand has to be is be 100% focures on the TDD.

The more I think about it the more I see this fight happening. Im sure Shields will jump at the chance and for Wand its the type of win that would catipult him into being relevant in the devison.

Wand is listed as a 63% TDD which isnt bad, Hendo's for comparison is listed at 58%

rudeboyben84 wrote:

p4pnumber_1 wrote:

rudeboyben84 wrote:

p4pnumber_1 wrote:

Cowboys From Hell wrote:I think God has done Wand a huge favor with Vitor being injured, Belcher is the obvious candidate but to be honest I think like Vitor he will smash Wand.

As much as it pains me to say, I dont think there's many top 10/15 mw's that Wandi would beat these days ..but Vitor was a lot more likely to end Wandi's career via vicious knockout than Bisping is in my opinion.

At the risk of argueing with you and looking stupid... again.

He cant beat top 10/15 Mw's? He beat Bisping, what has changed so much since then? Bisping isnt likely to KO him is he?

His fight with Franklin was razor thin and he was just adjusting to cutting weight. He beat Cung Le who a lot though would beat Belfort...

Being a close fight for Bisping/Franklin and people dont rate him? Surely if he can hang with these guys he still is top 10/15 good?

What about all the wrestlers? Is it a given Weidman or Munoz would outwrestle him for 15mins? In Pride he hung with Arona on the ground and were yet to see a wrestler controll him in the UFC, I think most just accept they would without putting too much thought into his grappling abilities.

Lets not forget Munoz has got his ass handed to him and KO'd by lesser men than Wand. Look how he struggled with Maia's standup... you think Wand wouldnt just walk through Maia, or Munoz for that matter.... because he would.

Boetsch would get beat down. Okami could see a repeat of the Franklin fight...

Wands chin isnt what it use to be (it was never really his strong point) but he has beat top 10/15 guys recently and nothing has changed to suggest he cant do it again. Sure Stann, Lombard and Belfort might not be good matches for him but why all of a sudden can he not hang with the others despite being better than Bisping?

I think if Wand wins his next one you have to put him on the Underrated list!

Now now mate, no hard feelings lad

Before I say anything else, let me make it clear, Im a big Wandi fan, assuming as are you, and theres nothing i'd love more to be able to say with confidence that he would bust his way through most top 10/15 UFC fighters on a way to a title shot ...but I just cant see it anymore mate.

What has happened since he's beat Bisping? Well first of all Bisping has significantly improved without a doubt, and Wandi has hardly got better since then, especially considering he was brutally knocked out by Leben. Bisping would beat Wandi if they fought now, I think 99% of people would agree on this, even Bisping haters and Wandi fans can surely agree on this?

As for Franklin and Cung Le... First of all is Franklin even top 10/15 anymore in the MW division?...he hasnt fought as a middleweight in the UFC since his title fight vs Silva at UFC 77 like 5 years ago..Hes a good fighter, but I dont think he's top 10 material at all anymore to be honest. As for Cung Le, well hes not even close, never was to be fair, and he still came close to knocking Wandi out!

Unfortunately, I think anyone with a bit of power would finish Wandi, and lets face it his chin isnt gonna get better. Plus his style hardly protects his chin does it. Can you say with confidence that theres any top 15s he would beat?

Munoz and Weidman would both beat him. He hung with Arona on the ground? What 7 years ago? Wandi isnt even close to the fighter now as he was then. You mentioned Maia, who I actually think he would be able to stand with as Maias stand up is pretty atrocious..but unfortunately for Wand hes now a welterweight. Munoz would have far too much power for Wandi to handle.

Boetsch and Okami would get beat down? These are lower tier in terms of top echelon fighters, but I still think they would be too powerful for him. These guys are better fighters than Chris Leben remember.

Okay Ben mate..If Wandi wins his next fight (pending of course that it is a top 10/15 match up) then I will publicly apologize on here

Look forward to your public Apology Im really hoping it isnt Shields next though!

I dont think Bisping is a changed man, His game has always been the same. People think his wrestling is a strong point now but Wand still took him down. The Arona fight may have been years ago but if you can grapple at that level I dont see why your grappling abailites would massivley change over time seeing as BJJ isnt as reliant on physical atributes than say striking...


I agree about the Chin, if he runs head first into a powerfull striker he will get his lights turned out but against Cung and Bisping he fought a totally differnt fight that we are used to seeing. He was far more cautious and it worked in both fights.

I didnt mean Wandy could beat Maia. I was ment Maia isnt a good striker at all, he is a student of Wand and Wand would beat him from pillar to post on the feet. Something Munoz didnt and couldnt do... grapplers like Munoz who are top of the pile may be great wrestlers but Wand would murder him standing.

---------

Anfield, I think Le destroying him is a bit off the mark. At the end of the day Wand KO'd him and rearranged his face... literally, that nose was on the other side of his face. He outstruck Cung Le (who half of the people on here though would outstrike Belforty) and no credit?

Did you not watch the Cung-Wandi fight?? Cung destroyed him, then gassed, then Wandi won the fight. He didn't outstrike Cung at all.