Props: Tatame.com
Quoteworthy:
“… I think UFC is the dream of every fighter. I fought in Pride and now I wanna be at UFC so that I could say one day that I fought at the best MMA events of the world…. I think Anderson is doing the right thing. He always praises me, wants the best for me, and said we wouldn’t fight me, he’s the best, and I don’t wanna fight him too. I think he’ll go up (to light-heavyweight) and until then I’ll go there and when I get closer to the title, he’d be already retired. He already done a lot for the sport, and we they have a lot of great athletes there and I can’t let this opportunity go away, it’ll be a better motivation, show the Paulão from the Pride GP. The problem in this depression moment was motivation, it was a very complicated moment, but now things are better and I can show my best game.”
WEC Middleweight Champion Paulo Filho looks forward to returning to top form and making some waves inside the Octagon once his responsibilities with the “other” Zuffa-owned promotion are satisfied. The Brazilian has one last fight against Chael Sonnen slated for next week before the organization dissolves its middleweight and light heavyweight divisions. As one of the top 185-pound fighters in the world, Filho will likely soon be competing under the UFC banner. And it will not be against good friend Anderson Silva, the reigning division champion. The good news is that Filho predicts that by the time he is ready to challenge for the title that “The Spider” will already be out to pasture, getting fat and living large off his exploits inside the cage. Sounds like perfect timing for a changing of the guard if indeed accurate.
38 Comments »
I’ve not been too impressed with Paulo in the WEC… I would still consider him to be top 5 if he moved to the UFC MW division.
I think he would struggle with a wrestler like Dan Henderson though…
Yeah..that’s why he has an unbeaten record. I don’t know the age gap between the two of them but he does have a shot at it..Obviously Franklin has to retire too.
Hopefully Filho can wait for Silva, Franklin, and Hendo to retire. Then he can take the belt! I’d be impressed that he managed to duck the top guys of his weight class and some how still managed to get a the belt.
Well then - it is time for GSP to step upto middle weight
GSP would bulk up as time goes by, so he’ll definitely end up in MW.
When he rips off Sonnen’s arm, he’ll be back to form. Also Henderson always struggles against excellent BJJ. Nog, small nog, Bustamante, Arona, A Silva. If Palhares was looking for subs besides leglocks when he would have caught him. Paulo would have a much better chance than most would expect.
Agreed. Paulo is no joke. I expect nothing less then a submission against Cheal then everyone will jump right back on his cock!
john-
LMAO.
This is a fair comment… But Hendo did not struggle with Bustamante!
With the MW coming from WEC.. that would add some more intresting match ups.. at this time in BJJ type of senario.. I would like to see how Rousimar Palhares vs Paulo Filho would turn out??
a good ground war. I think Palhares beard would be too much for filho’s moustache though.
He struggled in stand up in the fight that aired on Verses last night.
WEC event where Jen Pulver fought for the first time in WEC.
It adds some much needed depth to a struggling division..
good job Filho YOU ARE WELCOME INTO THE UFC
OBAMA 08
Its a shame these two won’t fight. I can understand not wanting to fight someone but work is work. Paulo will never be able to claim being the best MW if he takes the belt after Silva leaves instead of taking the belt from Silva. The belt rightfully belongs to the man who beat down the man who was holding it last. Beside I think Franklin or Hendo would be more likely to take that belt after Silva leaves. Hendo is still trying to get a rematch against Silva while Franklin has taken a step up in competition instead of knocking off MW’s while waiting for Silva to leave. I just can’t respect waiting for the current champ to leave so you can get the belt. I like Filho and I’m also a Sherk fan but these guys should want to be the proven best at their weight class, not the guys who took a vacant belt.
Well put.
Cogito-
Truth.
Cognito: Agreed! I am happy they share such mutual respect for each other but to continually go on record and advertise what they won’t do inside the cage makes me question my respect for them let alone waiting for a vacant belt or lesser competition to vie for it.
I guess “fight anybody anytime” will be historic footnote of good ol’ UFC days soon
Well, along the same line, what if a clearly way better fighter than Silva comes after he retires. Supposing that Silva retires at his peak, can this new guy claim to be the best even though they never fought? Ex. If hughes retired before the 2nd GSP fight, would that make GSP who is clearly better? But I understand your point and it would be great fight.
He would be able to claim he is the number one fighter because he would have won the belt. Now I get what your saying but this is a question of whether or not they had the chance to fight. In GSP’s case if Hughes had retired before GSP fought him again then Hughes would be on record as the best WW ever no questions asked (none of his last losses would exist). However GSP did fight him and stole that spark. Now if Silva retires and someone comes around who is better than him (not that it’ll happen) then it’ll be hard for that fighter to ever get out of Silva’s shadow. I get your point but it only helps to strengthen my point that if you don’t beat the current belt holder then you can’t call yourself the champ. If they let Silva retire on top then he’ll always be considered the best or at least disputed as the best. Hope that makes sense but I was rambling a bit.
Filho has to look at Sonnen first…
Damn right. Feel-ho got pounded on for about 9:52 of their last fight, and you know Sonnen won’t make the mistake of getting on the ground with him again.
Totally agree I see Chael Sonnen winning this one and Filho getting knocked out
I’m not confident he will climb the UFC MW ladder w/o a loss. Someone like Marquardt should easily take him out IMO.
He would armbar Nate.
I think Nate would beat him pretty decisively as well. Nate has much better standup than Filho, and will basically do to him what Sonnen was doing to him before taking him down and getting armbared (worst… gameplan… ever)
For Filho to get the belt, Hendo, Franklin, Silva, and Nate will have to be gone.
they both need to suck it up and fight for the sake of the fans
This I won’t fight my friend crap is BS Dana needs to tell these guys you fight who ever I tell you to fight or you can stay in these other lesser organizations.
Im waiting for Tonys Bisping related comment on this middleweight thread.
Tony is busy today, but he wanted me to let you know that Bisping would KO Silva, Filho, Henderson and Franklin, all in the same night.
lol…….. u miss nate the great
Ur friend must be huffing paint
I like Paulo, hes one of my favorite fighters. But however i dont think he will become champ after Anderson retires. The ufc has better fighters than Filho. I think Travis Lutter VS Paulo Filho would be an interesting fight.
Lutter would just glamorously gas out!
No doubt. Just pull a Starnes for round 1, then go after him.
Yes i agree… Lutter has all the talent and all the potential in the world.. if he would just work on him damn cardio, He could be one of the best.
If Chael sticks to the gameplan, he’ll win this fight. That being said, Chael’s going to lose this fight. He won’t stick to the gameplan: use his superior wrestling skills to keep it standing and use his superior boxing skills to pick Filho apart. At one point, he’ll take Filho down and get submitted. Henderson would beat Filho. Anderson would destroy Filho if they weren’t friends. Franklin would be interesting. Filho will never be the UFC champ for more than two fights. GSP would beat Filho. So would BJ, Alves, even Sherk. He matches up badly against a lot of fighters. He’s great at BJJ, but he’s a one-dimensional fighter.