The PRIDE FC talent hemorrhage continues.
Undefeated PRIDE FC welterweight (185 pounds) standout Paulo Filho is close to signing a contract with World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC), which is of course owned by Zuffa LLC — the parent company of the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) — according to Tatame.com.
Speculation swirled recently that the Brazilian Top Team (BTT) jiu-jitsu specialist was headed for the Octagon. In fact, unsubstantiated reports indicated that he was the first choice to replace the injured Martin Kampmann on the UFC 72: “Victory” card on June 16 to face former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin.
However, Franklin’s camp allegedly spurned the offer in favor of Yushin Okami.
Here’s a snip from Filho:
“I am making the deal with the WEC organization. I will close three or four bouts with the event, a parallel one of the UFC. I am pretty glad.”
Filho was on the verge of becoming the PRIDE FC Welterweight Grand Prix champion in November 2006, submitting eventual tournament winner Kazuo Misaki late in round one.
However, Filho had to withdraw from the final match against Denis Kang because of a knee injury.
This is a curious move on the part of Zuffa — Filho is far and away one of the best 185 pound fighters in the sport.
Perhaps the goal is for him to get some wins, exposure and cage experience on American soil before he steps inside the Octagon.
If that’s the case it should not take long at all … he’s that good.
55 Comments »
They don’t want to see Franklin get Anderson Silva’d again.
They’ll probably keep Filho down for a while.
I hope they bring him, it would mix up a weight class that seems to be diminishing as of recent (at least in my eye).
Later
Chris Valentine
“Hmmm, you want me to fight Paulo Filho while I’m trying to get a title shot? Is Okami available?”
[quote comment=”70066″]”Hmmm, you want me to fight Paulo Filho while I’m trying to get a title shot? Is Okami available?”[/quote]
hahaha… no kiddin. guy is an animal. ace wanted no part of this dude… at least til silva beats him up again
I agree with you Chris, the division really needs someone to come in and spice it up. You have TUF and the lightweight division that is becoming big once again, the Light HeavyWeight division has grown to epic proportions, The Heavyweight division has become a huge name with all the upsets and AA/Tim Slyvia free lackluster fights (for the most part =p)
But with the Middleweight you have either Silva, Franklin, Nate the Great,Jason McDonald and Yushin Okami.
Evan tanner could be coming back, but I think Evan is dealing with depression or something so I dunno if Evan will ever step foot inside an Octagon ever again.
I just pray that since Kalib Starnes defeated Chris Leben he does not get mentioned in a “contendor” type of thing. I would throw up if I heard that.
Maybe Babalu could move down weight and take the belt from Silva. That would be nice.
Would it happen?
I would rather take my chances with Tito Ortiz beating Rashad Evans.
jason macdonald is terrible.
tired of hearing his name.
HE LOOKS LIKE HE IS FIGHTING UNDERWATER WHEN HE STRIKES.
his grappling is ok, but really… he beats herman and leben. who cares?
throw macdonald in with tanner and see what happens.
depressed or not, tanner would beat him worse than he beat terrell.
Has he ever knocked someone out, ever?
[quote comment=”70086″]Has he ever knocked someone out, ever?[/quote]
dont think so, but who cares
[quote comment=”70086″]Has he ever knocked someone out, ever?[/quote]
Once, years ago. He’s a BJJ guy, but he’s one of the BEST bjj guys alive. His only knock is that he isnt very aggressive. He has had quite a few fights that if he decided to strike, it woulda been over, but instead he kept looking for the sub. But I’m telling ya, no one without the belt wants to fight this guy. But, I can also guarentee ASilva IS dying to fight him.
Chute Boxe and BTT warring in the UFC now instead of Pride. What is this world coming to…..
–And I can smell the smoke from all of our new reader’s heads… who’s Paulo Filho?
stuck out work bored as hell… wish more people were posting
hey more than…
how can you call filho at the top of the game? an animal for sure, but who has he beat? Kas….. uh….. nobody else i can think of.
stukc at work. i promise i will learn to type someday
oh well
anyone have any links to any of fihlo’s fights?
http://youtube.com/watch?v=9qtwgy_eMm8
not many
[quote comment=”70093″]
–And I can smell the smoke from all of our new reader’s heads… who’s Paulo Filho?[/quote]
I agree, I have seen him, but never really fallowed him. Guess I should have.
Later
Chris Valentine
THis is really good. This division needs to join the others in having like 5 or 6 guys that are capable of taking the belt.
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/filho/video/xe9gc_gregory-bouchelaghem-vs-paulo-filho
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/filho/video/x10swg_ryo-chonan-vs-paulo-filho
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/filho/video/x10t93_paulo-filho-vs-amar-suloev
how come your daily motion is better than mine?
GP semi finals, should have been in the finals but of course, got injured in this bout.
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/filho/video/x111bf_kazuo-misaki-vs-paulo-filho
[quote comment=”70126″]GP semi finals, should have been in the finals but of course, got injured in this bout.
http://www.dailymotion.com/relevance/search/filho/video/x111bf_kazuo-misaki-vs-paulo-filho/quote
What is crazy is I seen these fights, but just did not remember them until I watched them.
Later
Chris Valentine
[quote post=”2289″]how can you call filho at the top of the game?[/quote]
Hmm, 14-0, he’s beat the Punk, Kas, Kondo, Suloev, the other Sakurai, Ninja, and Ryo. In the UFC, that gets you a title shot and a date with Dana White.
[quote comment=”70130″][quote post=”2289″]how can you call filho at the top of the game?[/quote]
Hmm, 14-0, he’s beat the Punk, Kas, Kondo, Suloev, the other Sakurai, Ninja, and Ryo. In the UFC, that gets you a title shot and a date with Dana White.[/quote]
maybe the date with dana, but no title shot…
kaz is good
chonan ok
im wondering what sakurai weighed… 160?
ninja is no shogun
getting there… but not yet
bet they throw him in tuf sometime just to get his name out
[quote comment=”70125″]how come your daily motion is better than mine?[/quote]
I use a backdoor to get into the international database instead of dailymotion.com/us. I’ve uploaded so many fights onto DM and some of the admins are HUGE fight fans, so they like me…
[quote post=”2289″]im wondering what sakurai weighed… 160?[/quote]
Not Mach, Ryuto or Ryuta or whatever. He’s a gatekeeper, sure, but dangerous nonetheless.
Filho is a machine. The best description of him is a better, more polished and stronger version of Ricardo Arona, a Arona: Version 2.0. May not be the most exciting fighter, but like a Nate Mardquardt, for some strange reason I enjoy watching him fight. Maybe because he is just so damn good.
And everyone talks about how amazing the “CHUTE-BOXE” style is, but how great is Brazilian Top Team jiu-jitsu. We are talking about Arona, Filho, and Big Nog, 3 greats of the mma world.
[quote comment=”70157″]Filho is a machine. The best description of him is a better, more polished and stronger version of Ricardo Arona, a Arona: Version 2.0. May not be the most exciting fighter, but like a Nate Mardquardt, for some strange reason I enjoy watching him fight. Maybe because he is just so damn good.
And everyone talks about how amazing the “CHUTE-BOXE” style is, but how great is Brazilian Top Team jiu-jitsu. We are talking about Arona, Filho, and Big Nog, 3 greats of the mma world.[/quote]
aronas stand up is much better though
[quote post=”2289″]aronas stand up is much better though[/quote]
Worlds better, no doubt about that. But seriously GMS, I dont know how you dont consider him top 3 at 185.
[quote comment=”70165″][quote post=”2289″]aronas stand up is much better though[/quote]
Worlds better, no doubt about that. But seriously GMS, I dont know how you dont consider him top 3 at 185.[/quote]
oh… i think we are at a small misunderstanding here.
somebody asked you who has never lost and is at the top of their game (this was a question to you after you, as usual, bagged on chuck)…. your reply was filho. while i dont like chuck at all either, i think you have to fight some of the top fighters in your division and win to be at the “top of the game.” i agreed with the comment that there really hasnt been anyone that has never lost and has been at the top of the game. i dont think filho will do that. as far as considering him top 3… i guess thats a maybe. i think thats how id rank ‘em
1. hendo (no way hes a top 205′er in the ufc. babalu would rip a limb off… so im ranking him in the 185s)
2. anderson silva
3. franklin
4. tie… nate marquardt and filho
i hate being so long winded sorry
probably like 163 typing errors above
Whats the point, its like having Wandy go to WEC.
Filho should fight Asap..once his healthy in the UFC..the 185 er’s need more comp..The next TUF should include the 185 division..in my eyes is the division that needs more dept.
[quote comment=”70184″][quote comment=”70165″][quote post=”2289″]aronas stand up is much better though[/quote]
Worlds better, no doubt about that. But seriously GMS, I dont know how you dont consider him top 3 at 185.[/quote]
oh… i think we are at a small misunderstanding here.
somebody asked you who has never lost and is at the top of their game (this was a question to you after you, as usual, bagged on chuck)…. your reply was filho. while i dont like chuck at all either, i think you have to fight some of the top fighters in your division and win to be at the “top of the game.” i agreed with the comment that there really hasnt been anyone that has never lost and has been at the top of the game. i dont think filho will do that. as far as considering him top 3… i guess thats a maybe. i think thats how id rank ‘em
1. hendo (no way hes a top 205′er in the ufc. babalu would rip a limb off… so im ranking him in the 185s)
2. anderson silva
3. franklin
4. tie… nate marquardt and filho
i hate being so long winded sorry
probably like 163 typing errors above[/quote]
WOW, GMS going all spida with the long post. Just kidding. I can see your point about Filho, but either way, the dude is gonna due just fine here. Too many of the 185ers are starting to act like they’re 205ers and wanna forget the ground game. The rest of the 185ers better start spending more time on their ground training real quick or PF is gonna go all Royce-Gracie-UFC-1 on em and sub em all on the way to a title.
Lastly, to put this to rest, I dont hate Chuck Liddell at all. I just got done defending him against the whole “he shouldnt have been out partying” bullshit. The Iceman was and is VERY marketable. The UFC at the time needed that. So, he was spoon fed guys who posed a lower risk to him so he could be marketed as the face of the UFC. When the game got bigger and Chuck’s head even bigger, it was time to stop coddling him and put him up against the best. If he wanted to be considered the greastest ever ( Dana started that lobbying campaign on ESPN ), then he had to beat Page and then one of the 2 Chute Boxe guys. Well, it didnt happen.
My problems with Chuck: he never evolved with the game because he had a misperception of his own abilities. He didnt bring in more trainers. His out of Octagon behavior is legendary, and I’ll leave that at that. And his work ethic has gone to dogshit. When Randy got to 37, he started training harder and longer. When Chuck hit 37, he started chillaxing, to quote his nemesis.
Someone said that Randy should train him, like Apollo Creed did to Rocky. No, Rampage should. In his Apollo Creed shorts.
[quote comment=”70165″][quote post=”2289″]aronas stand up is much better though[/quote]
Worlds better, no doubt about that. But seriously GMS, I dont know how you dont consider him top 3 at 185.[/quote]
arona’s stand up is better of course, but the bread and butter of both, ground game, Filho is the best at.
I put Filho in the top 3 just because he is a horrible style match-up for so many fighters. I see him taking Da Spida to the ground and winning their (Travis Lutter had some success, so Filho should have a lot of success) and he is a fighter that is just to big and strong for Franklin to outmuscle. Hendo might stand a chance with his brawler style, but it will be a good war.
in fairness to Rich, if youre training for Martin Kampman, a striker, then a month and a half later youre supposed to fight either Okami or Filho, both strong gnp, only one of them is world class bjj, you have to pick okami on account of it being easier to train for on short notice, im positive Rich vs Filho will happen sometime, and Rich can hold his own….Do you think that Filho is going to the WEC now, becuase his teamate is the UFC champ…i think if Silva loses his belt, thats when youll see Filho in the UFC…or unless theyre trying to get the WEC more recognition, and turni9ng it into “PRIDE”
[quote post=”2289″]Do you think that Filho is going to the WEC now, becuase his teamate is the UFC champ[/quote]
!!!!!!!!!SACRELIDGE!!!!!!!!!
Spider is a ex-Chute Boxe, then left in 03 to form Muay Thai Dream Team with Assuerio Silva. Filho is BTT, born and raised.
!!!!!!!!!SACRELIDGE!!!!!!!!!
Dam, you shoulda just said that Serra was a member of Miletich.
Is this Chuckland, because my friend MMA Dude would never make this mistake.
It’s someone posting under his name, we need logins.
Franklin is probably the biggest and strongest 185 in the UFC and probably the best striker as well. I think he would pose some serious problems for a BJJ guy with sub-par striking abilities.
[quote comment=”70302″]Franklin is probably the biggest and strongest 185 in the UFC and probably the best striker as well. I think he would pose some serious problems for a BJJ guy with sub-par striking abilities.[/quote]
Is Anderson Silva in this division?
haha…Silva trains with BTT aswell doesnt he…i know hes not full on..he goes back and forth with black house and btt now, unless im mistaken, and hes only friends with NOg…if so MTU i apologize, and if you let the MMA gods here about this i will never forgive you
[quote post=”2289″]if you let the MMA gods here about this i will never forgive you [/quote]
I have Pele’s number somewhere….
haha….what does Soccer have to do with this????(now that was a joke)
if you look at the ufc website, they have a video for the WEC, im thinking they are trying to build it up with top competition
[quote comment=”70331″]haha….what does Soccer have to do with this????(now that was a joke)[/quote]
LOL, good one.
In filho’s interview, he said at least one fight on the contract would be in the UFC. It seemed to me, just my op, that Paulo wanted it this way, not a “You’re going to the WEC cause GasManShad said so”, kinda thing…
awsome dude cowabunga
tubular!!!!
[quote comment=”70300″][quote post=”2289″]Do you think that Filho is going to the WEC now, becuase his teamate is the UFC champ[/quote]
!!!!!!!!!SACRELIDGE!!!!!!!!!
Spider is a ex-Chute Boxe, then left in 03 to form Muay Thai Dream Team with Assuerio Silva. Filho is BTT, born and raised.
!!!!!!!!!SACRELIDGE!!!!!!!!!
Dam, you shoulda just said that Serra was a member of Miletich.
Is this Chuckland, because my friend MMA Dude would never make this mistake.
It’s someone posting under his name, we need logins.[/quote]
amen
[quote comment=”70302″]Franklin is probably the biggest and strongest 185 in the UFC and probably the best striker as well. I think he would pose some serious problems for a BJJ guy with sub-par striking abilities.[/quote]
frankin–
out loud “i was surprized how strong he was in the clinch. i thought that would be MY bread and butter”
to himself “have i hit this guys yet?… dont think so. i still hope people think im the better striker”
[quote comment=”70488″]In filho’s interview, he said at least one fight on the contract would be in the UFC. It seemed to me, just my op, that Paulo wanted it this way, not a “You’re going to the WEC cause GasManShad said so”, kinda thing…
awsome dude cowabunga[/quote]
lol dude…
i just want him in the wec cuz i want to see hendo/the spider 1, hendo/the spider 2, and hendo/the spider 3
[quote comment=”70517″][quote comment=”70488″]In filho’s interview, he said at least one fight on the contract would be in the UFC. It seemed to me, just my op, that Paulo wanted it this way, not a “You’re going to the WEC cause GasManShad said so”, kinda thing…
awsome dude cowabunga[/quote]
lol dude…
i just want him in the wec cuz i want to see hendo/the spider 1, hendo/the spider 2, and hendo/the spider 3[/quote]
I’ve been waiting all day for you to see that!
[quote comment=”70348″]if you look at the ufc website, they have a video for the WEC, im thinking they are trying to build it up with top competition[/quote]
or maybe a developmental league
[quote comment=”70522″]
lol dude…
i just want him in the wec cuz i want to see hendo/the spider 1, hendo/the spider 2, and hendo/the spider 3[/quote]
I’ve been waiting all day for you to see that! :D[/quote]
you know filho would eff that up by beating one or even both of them
[quote post=”2289″]or maybe a developmental league [/quote]
I think developmental league and maybe a deck shuffle. It may be like sending some guys to the minors and bringing other guys up. WEC would have smaller contracts, but fighters wouldn’t get bounced after a couple of losses (ie: Karalexis, Mayhem, Joe Riggs), just demoted till they get back to their winning ways.
Plus, with the FW (and BW) division, the WEC offers something a little different, and a home for guys on the weight bubble like Hominick.
Can not wait to see him fight Twinkle Toes.