Former top middleweight contender Matt Lindland recently approached UFC President Dana White about a possible return to the Octagon, according to Yahoo!Sports.com.
White seemed underwhelmed with the prospect:
“Not sure [if Lindland will return]. He told me he wants to come back and I haven’t thought about it at all.”
“The Law” last competed inside the Octagon at UFC 54: “Boiling Point” in 2005, outpointing Joe Doerksen on all three judges scorecards en route to a unanimous decision. He was cut loose quickly thereafter and has maintained a rocky relationship with the organization ever since.
For more on the possible reasons behind the release of the 2000 Olympic wrestling silver medal winner click here.
Since his departure the Team Quest founder (along with Randy Couture and Dan Henderson) has gone on to coach the Oregon Wolfpack in the International Fight League (IFL). Lindland has also mixed it up with Fedor Emelianenko (loss), Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (loss) Jermey Horn (win), Carlos Newton (win) and more inside the ring/cage under other promotions.
Lindland has been adamant in the past that he does not need the UFC. Perhaps, however, he’s having a change of heart now that teammates Henderson, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and others are now on the Zuffa payroll.
It is bizarre timing — if Henderson defeats current 185-pound division champion, Anderson Silva, at UFC 82 on March 1, 2008, it would more than likely create a situation in which he would not challenge for the belt without pause.
That’s putting the cart way before the horse. For now the weight class could use someone with the experience and skill of Lindland.
Stay tuned.
37 Comments »
I hope The Law is back! I hope he showered before the meeting with Dana.
He is the only one right now that can beat Anderson Silva, he will ground and pound him and Dana knows this. Anderson is more exciting and the Law probably wont get a shot.
Lindland had said many times that he will fight Hendo for the right money.
But it doesn’t matter cuz decision Dan is gonna gas and get TKOd by Silva anyway.
[quote comment="238063"]Lindland had said many times that he will fight Hendo for the right money.
But it doesn’t matter cuz decision Dan is gonna gas and get TKOd by Silva anyway.[/quote]
Since when does Hendo have bad conditioning? He might have been a little gassed against Rampage in the last round but Rampage is a lot bigger and than Silva. Also, with Rampage, they practically grappled the whole fight, and that won’t be the case with Silva. This fight won’t last long enough for Henderson to get gassed anyway. Henderson is going to drop him in the 3rd round.
Is anybody really thinking about Lindland? I don’t know who is going to win the Silva/Hendo fight, but nobody will be able to beat either one of them. It wil be interesting to see what Bisping can do in MW.
This is good, this is REAL good. Him and Hendo, the two strongest MW guys, and best MW grapplers/wrestlers in the sport. I personally would like to see a ground war, crazy greco match between Hendo and Linland, a toss up if you ask me.
I think a match however between Linland and Anderson, would go very similarly to Hendo and Anderson, and we will soon get that answered, again, a toss up in my mind.
GOD i’m so pumped for 82, the whole card, adn the main event!!
MW division could use any names. Lindland is a big name and Dana hasn’t thought about it?? Please…
I’m not a big fan of lindland and can’t see him ever being marketable but he is a serious threat to anderson silva like henderson is. To be honest silva isn’t super marketable himself but he’s much better than old stinky. I love watching silva fight can’t say the same for lindland, I could see him smothering silva and forcing him to tapout due to lindlands stench. If the ufc signs him they need to add showering before his fights into his contract.
[quote comment="238127"]This is good, this is REAL good. Him and Hendo, the two strongest MW guys, and best MW grapplers/wrestlers in the sport. I personally would like to see a ground war, crazy greco match between Hendo and Linland, a toss up if you ask me.
I think a match however between Linland and Anderson, would go very similarly to Hendo and Anderson, and we will soon get that answered, again, a toss up in my mind.
GOD i’m so pumped for 82, the whole card, adn the main event!![/quote]
It would not be a toss up IMO, Hendo is much better with his hands and would likely knock lindland out.
DANA WHITE doesn’t like LINDLAND and doesnt want to pay him significant $$$… Dana doesn’t want that guy to hold the belt, bad marketing
my gran has a better chin than big stinky wot a prat!
“… I haven’t thought about it at all.”
BS. Dana just likes to talk trash. I don’t know how someone with such bad people skills has gotten so far.
USURP DANA
Sweet. I just dont want to smell him when I go to events.
Dana hasn’t thought sbout it?? His weakest division? Dana just tskes things too personnal on any level..Josh Barnett/Matt Lindland are kind of in the same boat cuz they ticked off Da Prez.
[quote comment="238307"]DANA WHITE doesn’t like LINDLAND and doesnt want to pay him significant $$$… Dana doesn’t want that guy to hold the belt, bad marketing[/quote]
Thorazine your 0 correct. Dana is scared of him holding the title and with the ultra exciting Anderson Silva as our champion, Dana may have a point. But Lindland is a top 10 fighter in his division and he shouldnt be denied because we think he is boring…..Let him in the UFC and pray someone knocks him out before he gets close to a title shot…..Hey, he may knock himself out again.
If Matt Lindland is willing to lower his asking price then maybe we will see him fight in the UFC or Paulo Fihlo in the WEC. I’m not complaining at all are you?
[quote comment="238559"]Dana hasn’t thought sbout it?? His weakest division? Dana just tskes things too personnal on any level..Josh Barnett/Matt Lindland are kind of in the same boat cuz they ticked off Da Prez.[/quote]
Dana’s personal beefs are getting ridiculous…..I say BRING back Barnett…why not? Sherks comming back isnt he? Josh Barnett is 10 times the fighter Sherk is….but good ol’ sherk”the companny man” will defend his title for like $149.99 a fight, and Dana aint getting a better deal then that.
matt linland,wasnt his last fight against bum ass fedor?i would like him to come to the ufc,heck i believe he almost beat bum ass fedor,but i give him credit at least hes trying to come to fight competition in the ufc and not running away from competition….good for you matt i would like to see you get your ass handed to you by the spider or dan
Dana makes me laugh… bit of trash talk prep there i recon for any $$$ negotiations, he definately would have him back…especially right now, but i’ll bet he just doesn’t want to pay any kind of decent money to him… Nothing changing there then!
The MW division is weak and needs all the top talent it can get.
Another wrestler? Where are all the Sherk haters? Lindland is just as “boring” as Sherk is. I want to hear the lay n’ pray complaints.
To Lindland’s credit, he has been knocked out in spectacular fashion.
Why not match Matt lindand up with Dave Terrell again??
What about Matt Lindland/ Rich Franlin?
[quote comment="238038"]I hope The Law is back! I hope he showered before the meeting with Dana.[/quote]
That’s funny because I had the chance to meet Lindland at the ILF Grand Prix in Chicago and he did have a Bit of BO stink to him. Nice guy though, took the time to take pictures.
I meant IFL
[quote post="4254"]I love watching silva fight can’t say the same for lindland, I could see him smothering silva and forcing him to tapout due to lindlands stench. If the ufc signs him they need to add showering before his fights into his contract. [/quote]
lmao… Dana would only take him back if he matched him with a fighter that he felt would thrash him that way it would make Fedor look like he needed the extra 40 lbs. that his (Dana’s) MW didn’t need.
[quote comment="238574"][quote comment="238559"]Dana hasn’t thought sbout it?? His weakest division? Dana just tskes things too personnal on any level..Josh Barnett/Matt Lindland are kind of in the same boat cuz they ticked off Da Prez.[/quote]
Dana’s personal beefs are getting ridiculous…..I say BRING back Barnett…why not? Sherks comming back isnt he? Josh Barnett is 10 times the fighter Sherk is….but good ol’ sherk”the companny man” will defend his title for like $149.99 a fight, and Dana aint getting a better deal then that.[/quote]
exactly right bring back lindland and barnett it could only help the ufc having two top fighter in there divisions.
Lindland is boring. Silva would KO him just as fast as David Terrell did.
Lindland would be a legitimate contendor at 185lbs, which the UFC desperately needs. Wresting is a part of MMA – get over it. If you want to watch boxing, watch boxing. If you want to watch kickboxing, watch kickboxing. I agree that the matches that go the way of wrestling are usually more boring than those that don’t, but you could say the same for most other techniques. Think about Diego & Kos sparring for 3 rounds. MMA means you can win by any means necessary. If you guys are only interested in 100% entertainment, there’s always the WWE.
[quote comment="238671"][quote comment="238038"]I hope The Law is back! I hope he showered before the meeting with Dana.[/quote]
That’s funny because I had the chance to meet Lindland at the ILF Grand Prix in Chicago and he did have a Bit of BO stink to him. Nice guy though, took the time to take pictures.[/quote]
That would be because it is a commonly known fact that Lindland isn’t much on bathing. Fighters have complained about how bad the guy smells when he is all pressed up against them…much like a Mickey Rourke love scene…he is hydrophobic. Maybe that condition leads to Lindland’s funk as well. It’s nasty just thinking about it.
Dana has never thought of bringing Lindland back to the UFC? wow, if i was Matt Lindland i would be very pissed off at him for saying that feeling disrespected. Lindland is a great fighter and how the hell Dana forget about him? what an idiot. yea that’s very professional of you dumbass Dana.
Lindland is not in the UFC because he can beat many of the MW fighters that the UFC is trying to market. For example, Matt Lindland would destroy Michael Bisping. I would LOVE to see Lindland signed back with the UFC and fight Bisping in his first MW fight. That way, everyone can see where each of these two fighters currently stand.
Not too many MW fighters want to fight Matt Lindland, and that’s a fact. His clinch game, superior grecco roman wrestling, and ever improving stand up game make him VERY difficult to contend with. He is a MW and went the distance with Rampage. That’s more than anyone but Dan Henderson can say so far in the UFC. Plus, the guy just flat out smells, so people don’t want to by rolling around with him…
Sure Lindland does not have a bright and bubbly personality, but the dude can fight, and he is 185lbs wich is the UFC’s weakest divsion. If Evan Tanner can come back to the UFC, Lindland should have never been gone!!!!!
u guys are, talkin all this shit about lindland. For one the dude is not boring, watch his last fights with newton,horn,rampage,fedor….
He imo beat rampage, first to ko horn, first to utterly dominate newton, looked great against the suposed top p4p fighter of all time!! Who cares if the guy stinks, you guys thinkin about dating him or somthin?
[quote comment="239015"]u guys are, talkin all this shit about lindland. For one the dude is not boring, watch his last fights with newton,horn,rampage,fedor….
He imo beat rampage, first to ko horn, first to utterly dominate newton, looked great against the suposed top p4p fighter of all time!! Who cares if the guy stinks, you guys thinkin about dating him or somthin?[/quote]
anyone who thinks this guy sucks does not know mma,he is a badass i would put him up against any top m.w.
they need to put differences aside and sign him, the ufc needs matt right now it would boost the middleweights ranks but also would fulfill the championship that lindland always wanted but never got
[quote comment="238305"][quote comment="238127"]This is good, this is REAL good. Him and Hendo, the two strongest MW guys, and best MW grapplers/wrestlers in the sport. I personally would like to see a ground war, crazy greco match between Hendo and Linland, a toss up if you ask me.
I think a match however between Linland and Anderson, would go very similarly to Hendo and Anderson, and we will soon get that answered, again, a toss up in my mind.
GOD i’m so pumped for 82, the whole card, adn the main event!![/quote]
It would not be a toss up IMO, Hendo is much better with his hands and would likely knock lindland out.[/quote]
This is true, Hendo’s hands are better, but I think Linland is capapble of avoiding Hendo’s hands or lasting enough to make it grappling. I agree though, if he tried to stand Hendo would beat him. I really im just curious who is the strongest best MW grappler, and that what I think it would turn into if they fought.
I have never really had a problem with Lindalnd. Those Phil Baroni fights are classics. He is lot more exciting to watch than Sherk. Sherk puts me to sleep. When he fought Diaz, Florian, Franca it was exactly the same, him taking them down using his roid strength, it was his opponets that really made any of those fights worth watching. Some guys here may like Muscle Sherks man on man action, maybe for other reasons, but it really does nothing for me. I do have an appreciation for the ground game and in fact the Matt Serra / Ivan Menjivar fight is one of my favourites, even though most of the crowd booed the fight and also the Sanchez / Diaz fight.
When Lindland was in the UFC,I remember seeing him stand in the octagan just after beating someone (not sure who) but he basically said he will fight and beat anyone in that weight division, but he said they were all to scared to fight him. It was a chalenge to anyone. The guy ducks no one. Big deal he got knocked out by Tyrell, it was a good solid punch that caught him by surprise. There are not that many top fighters that haven’t been knocked out. The guy may not look the part, but he would have been Champion ages ago if he was still in the UFC and he could still probably be if Dana let him come back. It will never happen because Dana does not see dollar signs when he looks at Lindalnd. I would love to see him in the UFC, because bottom line is he is one of the best fighters in the world in that division, and he really would take out most of the guys in the UFC smell or no smell. I have said this many times before and true MMA fans will agree, Lindland and Barnett really do need to be brought back to the UFC. If a fighter claims to be the best, then they should be fighting the best, and these are definately two of the best.
[quote comment="240103"]I have never really had a problem with Lindalnd. Those Phil Baroni fights are classics. He is lot more exciting to watch than Sherk. Sherk puts me to sleep. When he fought Diaz, Florian, Franca it was exactly the same, him taking them down using his roid strength, it was his opponets that really made any of those fights worth watching. Some guys here may like Muscle Sherks man on man action, maybe for other reasons, but it really does nothing for me. I do have an appreciation for the ground game and in fact the Matt Serra / Ivan Menjivar fight is one of my favourites, even though most of the crowd booed the fight and also the Sanchez / Diaz fight.
When Lindland was in the UFC,I remember seeing him stand in the octagan just after beating someone (not sure who) but he basically said he will fight and beat anyone in that weight division, but he said they were all to scared to fight him. It was a chalenge to anyone. The guy ducks no one. Big deal he got knocked out by Tyrell, it was a good solid punch that caught him by surprise. There are not that many top fighters that haven’t been knocked out. The guy may not look the part, but he would have been Champion ages ago if he was still in the UFC and he could still probably be if Dana let him come back. It will never happen because Dana does not see dollar signs when he looks at Lindalnd. I would love to see him in the UFC, because bottom line is he is one of the best fighters in the world in that division, and he really would take out most of the guys in the UFC smell or no smell. I have said this many times before and true MMA fans will agree, Lindland and Barnett really do need to be brought back to the UFC. If a fighter claims to be the best, then they should be fighting the best, and these are definately two of the best.[/quote]
could not have said it better.