Tim Sylvia-UFC 65

[rar1015]

Im basically posting this so you guys can see what he says about the Emelianenko brothers. I dont think he would stand a chance with Fedor.



After successfully retaining his UFC heavyweight championship title against Andrei Arlovski, Tim Sylvia returns to the octagon this Saturday to face American Top Team’s Jeff “The Snowman” Monson. Going into this fight, Tim will benefit from eleven inches in height and a substantial reach advantage over his shorter opponent. Sylvia recently spoke with MMAWeekly to discuss his upcoming fight and his desire to someday face Pride’s heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko.

Jeff Monson is a world class grappler with an obvious advantage on the ground. So how does Sylvia deal with a fighter like Monson? The champ explains.

“I have the best heavyweight takedown defense in the UFC. All through my career, people were trying to take me down,” stated Sylvia. “Everybody tries but when I drop my hips on them, they get discouraged.” In his nine UFC fights, no opponent has been able to take Sylvia down.

“I don’t think I’m going have any problems with him on the ground at all,” added Sylvia confidently. “He’s big and strong but he’s compact. I’m working a lot on getting back up. If I don’t get back up, then I’ll stay there and play the Jiu-Jitsu game with him.”

At UFC 48, Tim suffered a broken arm when he was submitted by Frank Mir via armbar. Mir won the vacant UFC heavyweight belt while Sylvia was kept out of competition for almost six months. Since then, the Miletich fighter regained his heavyweight title and is coming off two consecutive wins over the much heralded Andrei Arlovski. Although Sylvia isn’t looking past his opponent this Saturday, he anticipates an opportunity to rematch with Mir in the future.

“Everybody in the world knows I want to fight Frank Mir again. If it so happens that he doesn’t win [against Brandon Vera], I got no problem beating up Brandon Vera either,” said Sylvia.

“The only way it’s going to happen is if he and I both win on Saturday…or I lose two or three in a row and face him. Let’s just hope he wins,” added Tim. “I don’t want to lose two or three in a row just to fight him [laughs].”

Jeff Monson is an ADCC submission wrestling world champion and a UFC veteran. He currently enjoys a 16-fight winning streak and will be a formidable threat on the ground for Sylvia. Known for his sometimes brash political views, Monson is a self-proclaimed anarchist and is openly against the war in Iraq. The UFC champ commented on his opponent’s beliefs.

“As a fighter, I like Jeff. He’s been nothing but respectful to me and I’ve been respectful to him. I do not like the fact that he doesn’t support the troops and he says s*** about the president. That stuff irritates me,” said Sylvia. “He gets to live a dream and be a professional fighter because the troops are over dying for us and supporting us…yet he can’t show those troops a little respect?”

Current Pride heavyweight champion Fedor Emelianenko is easily considered the best heavyweight and pound-for-pound fighter in the world. Sylvia expressed his desire to someday face the Russian fighter. “When I found out they [UFC] were trying to get Wanderlei [Silva], I called up Dana and said if you can get Wanderlei, can you get Fedor [Emelianenko] because I’ll fight Fedor,” said the Miletich fighter.

Unfortunately for fight fans, the chances of this fight coming to fruition is highly unlikely. “The UFC aren’t going to let me go over to Pride and fight Fedor because they want the Pay-Per-View buys and Pride is not going to let Fedor come over here and fight me because they also want the Pay-Per-View buys. Each organization has too much to lose.”

Recently, there have been speculation that Aleksander Emelianenko, the younger brother of Fedor, was in negotiations to fight in the UFC. Known for his quick hands and punching power, a potential match between Aleksander and the current UFC heavyweight champion is something that fans have dreamed about. “Maybe if I knock him out, Fedor will leave Pride and say I want to fight him for beating up my brother.”

“My goal is to become the best heavyweight fighter in the UFC. Right now I have accomplished that and I just want to keep it going. I want to be known as the best heavyweight of all time.”

[Sepsis]

although he has proved me wrong a couple of times, i still think that timmay is a joke. i dont think he can beat any of the top ten pride HW. hell, he may even loose to monson this weekend!

[godkilla]

ufc heavyweight division is a joke.

[Hunter]

I like tim, he has a big mouth which I dont like but he seems like an ok guy. Every fighter in the states needs to market themselves. People should look at how he fights instead of how he looks.

[rar1015]

I'll give him some credit because he does have some talent but i dont think he would last to long against prides HWD.

[THE_DOME]

damn

silvia in round one ko
gsp by decision

[xpijeonx]

I think Silva is out of his mind.

I think Vera would beat him if that happens.

I also think Aleksander would beat him, and no question about Fedor.

Tomorrow I am pullin for Monson!

[MuscleScience]

I think munson has it tomorrow, What do you think he is on?

[NOREGRETS]

Not a fan of Munson or Sylvia, but it should be an interesting fight. Sylvia's crazy if he thinks he wound have a chance against Fedor.

[rar1015]

I think Silva is out of his mind.

I think Vera would beat him if that happens.

I also think Aleksander would beat him, and no question about Fedor.

Tomorrow I am pullin for Monson!

Ok guys first of all its sylvia. Second i think Tim would beat the piss out of Vera. People are starting to think this guy is soooo good because he's 5-0 in the UFC. He really hasnt fought any big time fighters so we'll see how good he really is.

[MuscleScience]

Ok guys first of all its sylvia. Second i think Tim would beat the piss out of Vera. People are starting to think this guy is soooo good because he's 5-0 in the UFC. He really hasnt fought any big time fighters so we'll see how good he really is.

I agree he would beat Vera, Vera is not that good and has got lucky in some of his fights. I dont get what people see in him.

[Hunter]

every new guy like vera who wins gets his nuts hugged. Riggs people where all over his nuts after like two wins. Vera beat Silva which was nice but he was not doing spectacular in the stand up against him silva shot in and got guillotined. Vera could not deal with Silva's strength. Now alexander is good but not great people ride his nuts but oh yeah his gas problem. Could silva beat Nog? no Barnett? No Fedor? well dumb question Crocop? no. Could he beat alexander yes and most heavy weights he sits right around number 5. He knocked out a prime ricco which is his best win. Simply tim is not great fighter he is a above average fighter who sits around number 5 in the rankings. Will he be a legend probably not does that make him any less of a fighter? No

[Sepsis]

tim wil get ko'ed by sergei, hunt, igor, and i think you are underesimating aleks. he only looses to subs and mirko, tim cant sub him so there you go!

[Sepsis]

i go 2 bed now

[sonar1234]

PFFFFF i cant wait to see Sylvia against Alexender E.

Alexender is getting better and better each fight and he is a complete fighter not just a brawler like Timmy is

[BG]

I'de love to see it though, be some slug fest.