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Welcome to the Monday Miyama! This week we again have Joao "9 Seconds" Pedro, Robert "22 Seconds" Menn and David "Championship Rounds" Snipes

1) Tim Sylvia got knocked out in 9 seconds by Ray Mercer. What does this mean in terms of the "Boxing versus MMA", "Boxers are tougher than MMA fighters" discussion?

João: Did you see the way Sylvia went down? It looked like he had been electrocuted!

Anyways, this is an embarrassment to Tim Sylvia, a huge embarrassment. First it was Arlovski, now this.

Take a peek at Sylvia’s photos from that fight. He was completely out of shape; I mean, he has never had a good physique but this time around he was just plain fat.

I do not think that this will do anything in terms of such an MMA vs Boxing debate. I mean, Mercer lost to Kimbo. Still, a huge embarrassment for Sylvia and, why not say it, for the entire MMA community.

David: Timmy has a weak chin- but you know who this REALLY hurts? Fedor- he whupped up on 2 UFC heavyweight champions- made them both look bad, now he turns around and they both lost again in 31 seconds to no name talent- COMBINED TIME for BOTH FIGHTS. 

This is kind of like being considered the baddest man on the planet at 170 talking major smack to the UFC and anyone that would listen and beating Carlos Newton and Matt Serra. 

Both Tim and AA were considered 2nd tier Heavies when they left and their decline is going down faster than ever. Would you put money on either of them vs Mir or Brock? Nog or Randy? (Tier 1) I wouldn't put rent money on them vs Cain right now.

How about Gabe vs either of them? 

Both of these "Former UFC Champions" just made defending Fedor a LOT harder this month. 

Robert: Haha! Karma is a bitch. Sylvia was very happy that Arlovski got KOed. Even made a few comments about it. Not so funny now, huh? As to the boxers over mma fighters...this means nothing. Tim is done and has been. He came in at 311lbs so he obviously didn't take this fight seriously. Plus, Mercer lost to Kimbo Slice. Now what? MMA haters got nothing for that.

2) Cro Cop has reportedly signed with DREAM, following his UFC 99 victory. People are already calling this a massive screwjob on Dana White. Thoughts?

João: I am still trying to figure this one out, because there have been different reports. Dana White says they agreed verbally to 1 fight and that Cro Cop assured him he was trying to make a run at the title. He is selling this as a sort of screwjob.

We haven’t heard much from Cro Cop, but today he reportedly said he wants to fight again in the UFC, but that he cannot wait “months” until his next fight.

This was messy, on top of an already extremely controversial fight (Eye Poke of Doom!).

I am waiting for this to unravel a little further before making up my mind about it. One thing is for sure: this fight and its ramifications have just gone down in MMA history.

David: Dana may have cost himself a fighter- if Cro-Cop is not signed. But again- this comes back to FEDOR- this is why Dana will NEVER do a one-shot deal! Al-Turk is done in the UFC- and no one got built- no way Cro-Cop could beat any of the top 4 guys in the UFC right now- and he already turned down Cain once- who was he waiting for? Tank Abbott? 

Robert: This is why Dana doesn't do 1 fight deals. CroCop used the UFC to get his Dream deal. I guess the UFC used him to get people in the seats as well. Call it a wash. But you can bet you'll never see a 1 fight deal again from Zuffa. Sorry, Fedor.

3) Which country should the UFC "attack" next?

João: Officially, the UFC seems to be going after Australia and the Philippines. They signed Akiyama, so they’ll probably also try to make a run at the Japanese market.

But my personal choice for a country they should “attack” next? France.

French fans love their K-1 (Jerome LeBanner, for example) and there was always a huge following of PRIDE in France. With the UFC already in the UK and in Germany, and with a positive response in both countries, the UFC should go to Paris, Marseille or Bordeaux next.

If Kongo had beaten Velasquez they could have set up a Heavyweight title fight with Cheick in the main event. As it stands, they will have to come up with a plan B, but I still think it is feasible.

David: Come back to Louisiana Dana! Bossier City! - oh wait. How about Brazil? Silva vs Silva in Rio? Gives you two things- Gets the name out there, you have been there before- but gives you the added bonus of the SAME TIME CODE- I knew the winners of UFC 99 before the PPV even aired! Keep the Euro UFC's to Spike Nights in the future ok? and Why isn't TUF finale in London? That would have been awesome! 

Robert: Australia? I heard that's where they are going anyway. Dana and crew obviously have done the research so I'll just follow their lead.

4) After his TKO win over Ben Saunders, is Mike Swick a real threat in the Welterweight division?

João: Swick has the necessary tools to be successful. He has great heart, an intelligent fighter and is also well-rounded. He is a big win away from a title shot, and the UFC brass would be wise to try to push him as much as possible because he’s well-known for his TUF 1 membership, also being a good ambassador for the sport.

I see a title shot for him before the end of 2009.

David: Swick is the forgotten man from TUF 1- and he might be the next to get a title shot- let him take out Serra next, maybe Karo- then see what happens with GSP. His length might give GSP some problems. Saunders had NOTHING to show here. I don't know if it moves him up the ladder too much, but he should get a headline fight on Spike and SOON

Robert: Yes. Can he take the title now? Probably not. But he has great quickness in his hands and will only improve. I mean, the guy has only lost once in the UFC. Another quality win and I don't see how he doesn't get a shot at the belt.

5) Shaquille O'Neal has been calling out Hong Man Choi. Excited to see Shaq possibly fighting MMA?

João: Not… excited. But intrigued? Yes, surely. I would certainly watch that fight. Besides, this time around Choi wouldn’t dwarf his opponent like he did against Canseco, and basically as happens in each and every fight of his.

Nowadays I believe anything can happen in MMA, so I wouldn’t dismiss this fight from actually taking place in Japan.

David: I CALLED THIS- I CALLED THIS !!! 

Never happen though- Shaq didn't want to fight BRAD MILLER for crying out loud. Even if it did- the NBAPA would have his hide more than if he tried to film Kazaam II&III in 3:D

Shaq would have to retire before this happened. Even then, he's not THAT stupid. 

Robert: No. Will I watch? Yea. But win or lose, I could care less.

Submitted 6/15/2009

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