Place your bets!

Drake Tungsten · December 16, 2003, 08:47

As I'm sure you all know, the greatest battle in the history of human combat will take place this New Year's Eve when Bob Sapp takes on Akebono in Japan's K1 mixed martial arts tournament. The king of washed up football players takes on one of the most skilled yokozuna of all time. We are truly blessed to live to see a fight like this.

Nothing can compare to this struggle of titans. Ali vs. Frazier? Those chumps wouldn't last two seconds in the ring with these behemoths. Hamilton vs. Burr? Those poncy Founding Fathers would've shat in their pantaloons if they had to fight hulks like Sapp or Akebono. Hector vs. Achilles? Those guys probably weren't even real, and, even if they were, they were probably too busy commiting pederasty to actually fight.

No, this is the fight to end all fights and I want your opinion on the ultimate outcome. Who will it be? Place your bets; this question is too important for you to not weigh in...

Space05us · December 16, 2003, 08:57

fat man who eats rice and pushes people out of a ring for a living vs. fat man who lifts weights and bashes peoples heads in for a living

like thats a tuff one.

Space05us · December 16, 2003, 08:59

is this going to be on ppv here in the US? I would love to watch it.

aaglo · December 16, 2003, 11:07

Ban-ZAI!

SlowwHand · December 16, 2003, 11:12

"As I'm sure you all know, the greatest battle in the history of human combat will take place this New Year's Eve"

You must mean greatest AFTER Ali vs. Frazier.

Theben · December 16, 2003, 11:31

Since this is obviously the shiznit of all arena combats and I am a lowly ignoramus for not having a clue wtf you're talking about, I'll take option #4. It makes me sad that I will never know how greatly my life will have been improved by this godly festival of fisticuffs.

Stuie · December 16, 2003, 12:18

Banana - 3
Everything else - 2.

Drake Tungsten · December 16, 2003, 20:57

Quote:

It makes me sad that I will never know how greatly my life will have been improved by this godly festival of fisticuffs.

As it should...

BTW, option 5 was a hell of a lot funnier before someone changed it to yet another played-out "banana" answer.

Spiffor · December 16, 2003, 21:18

I say Akebono.
Nothing can beat this huge pile of muscle and fat

.

(I must admit I secretly prefer Musashimaru, but one can only be awed when Akebono enters the ring)

Spiffor · December 16, 2003, 21:20

BTW, Drake, could you pleae encode it and put it on WinMX?
I bet I won't be able to see the match on Eurosport

Pekka · December 16, 2003, 21:21

I say this is not the greatest battle of recent history, but a good one. THere are some folks interested in K-1, I'm happy to hear it! ALSO NO SPOILERS YOU BUTTHOLES, K-1 finals will be on Eurosport dec 18..

The greatest battle was when Sapp took on Nogueira on Pride rules (MMA). And lost by armbar. I'd go with Sapp on this one though. Not a skilled striker under K-1 rules especially, but he'll take this one.

Pekka · December 16, 2003, 21:21

Spiffor, Eurosport shows whole lots of K-1!

Drake Tungsten · December 16, 2003, 21:22

I'd love to see Konishiki in K1. That man makes Akebono look small...

Drake Tungsten · December 16, 2003, 21:23

Japan is a really ****ed up place, BTW. Here's some proof...

Drake Tungsten · December 16, 2003, 21:25

Quote:

BTW, Drake, could you pleae encode it and put it on WinMX?

I wouldn't have the first clue about how to do that. I'd be about as effective as the sumo wrestler on the bottom in this picture...

Pekka · December 16, 2003, 21:27

Those Sumo fatties are not very good fighters though. It's been tested few times with a 200 pounds guy with MMA skills and Sumo. Sumo gets beaten every time, and badly.

Drake Tungsten · December 16, 2003, 21:31

Quote:

Sumo gets beaten every time, and badly.

Very true. All the sumo guys they've ever had in UFC have gotten their asses kicked.

This might be different, though. Akebono is a world-class sumo wrestler, not a mediocre one like many of the previous sumo to MMA competitors. Should be interesting.

Here's a good article on why Akebono decided to leave sumo for K1, by the way...

http://www.time.com/time/asia/arts/d...544736,00.html

Pekka · December 16, 2003, 21:34

Yeah I know Akebono is better than the average Sumo guy. Also Bob Sapp is not very skilled so.. it can go either way really, I'm just betting on Sapp. I think he will get some sloppy but heavy punches in, have Akebono against the ropes and corner after he makes few sprints to maul Sapp, failing to do so. And once he gets there, his cardio is gone and he will only try to cover himself and bust out from the corner without using takedowns.

Sapp is relatively moveable and has relatively(!) good cardio for a guy of his size. Akebono will run out of gas, and I don't see him KOing Sapp. So that's why my perdicions goes to Sapp by referee stoppage (TKO).

Pekka · December 16, 2003, 21:35

Oh Yeah I forgot, there are no takedowns in k-1

Even worse!

Drake Tungsten · December 16, 2003, 21:37

I voted for Sapp too. I don't think Akebono can take a punch and this match is going to favor strikers if I'm understanding the K1 rules properly. Akebono would have a better chance if it was a grappling contest. That's where his expertise lies.

Pekka · December 16, 2003, 21:43

Yes K-1 is striking only. I also feel Akebono would have better chances if the rules were more free. Sapp would have more weapons to use also, but as of now, I feel that Akebono doesn't have any weapons at all.

Look at the guy. He can't throw good punches with that body! He might throw HEAVY punches, but I feel he's not tehnical enough yet to capitalize on it. Sapp is slow too, but not that slow. Also I feel like Sapp can't take too much strikes on the head. But it's tough to say, he was dropped to the ground by world class strikers like Ernesto Hoost and Mirko CroCop...those guys can take anyone down with the strikes.. but also I feel like that Sapp gets fazed rather easily, and after that he seems to lose his game every time. Not a glass chin, but not the best strike sublimator.

Drake Tungsten · December 16, 2003, 21:45

It'll be a sloppy fight, no doubt about it. These guys were paired because of their celebrity status within Japan, not because of their overwhelming skill, particularly in the striking department.

Drogue · December 16, 2003, 21:47

Sapp. In a striking match, bet on the boxer

Drake Tungsten · December 16, 2003, 21:48

He's not a real boxer, though. He's just a washed up ex-football player.

Pekka · December 16, 2003, 21:49

true. Sapp is still kind of a freak show in K-1 and Pride. He's become HUGE celeb in Japan. Like a superstar. But Japanese will definitely be in extacy.

It'll be sloppy like you said. What I'm wondering is, if Akebono can take a punch and deliver back. Will it be a slugfest? I kind of see this ending in a corner or against the ropes, I don't think Akebono is able to move.

Skilledwise.. I think it would be better for these two to have 100% pure grappling match. But this sells. Also, naturally I don't count Akebono out, based on my gut feeling.

Space05us · December 17, 2003, 00:50

Quote:

BTW, option 5 was a hell of a lot funnier before someone changed it to yet another played-out "banana" answer

yeah it was

I still dont think that a man like Akebono can compare to a guy like Sapp. Akebono, even though he is large, is all fat. While Sapp, is large, and has a lot of muscle. Im not saying I would be able to take one on the chin if Akebono hit me, but I just dont think he'll be able to get a good enough punch on Sapp to really hurt him, he just wont be nimble enough.