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MMA > General MMA > Sakuraba vs Zaromskis

Addison , PA

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December 19, 2010, 01:11 AM

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It is on for the New Years Eve Card (Dynamite!!) , and the Dream Welterweight Title is on the line.

Sakuraba will have to make 168 (76 kilos) for the fight, and this may just light the fire under his belly that he needs. I think he will be outmatched standing but Zaromskis is probably the only top 25 WW that can easily fall prey to a Saku single leg and get tapped from the top.

Let us all pray that Saku trains hard to get down to 168, and can give us one more great show in what is almost certainly his last shot at a world title, and could put him into the top 25 if he looks good.

This will on one of the greatest cards of the last several years, in my opinion, featuring bouts like:

Bibiano Fernandez vs Hiryoku Takaya (For the 135 pound belt.)

Kazayuki Miyata vs Caol Uno (at 145, where I think Uno could be top ten in a few fights)

Aoki vs Nagashima, a K-1 Max Champion under bizarre rules that can only happen in Japan

Tatsuya Kawajiri vs Josh Thompson, in a fight with Major Dream vs Strikeforce implications

Minowa vs Izumi, a former World Champion and Olympic Silver Medalist in Judo

Le Banner vs Ishii (in MMA)

Mizuno vs Kharitonov

What are your thoughts on the card in general, and more specifically on the Saku fight? There are very few matchups out there for Saku that I think Saku has a real chance of winning that can redefine this era of his career (the way the Galesic fight did before.) I see it as a toss up, but if forced to lean one way, I would vote 39.

Am I picking only with my heart, or does this seem like a winnable fight for him to you guys as well?

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December 19, 2010 09:15 AM ET

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I am a BIG Sakuraba fan.

That having been said, I think Zaromskis will win.

And I hope Saku doesn't get hit in the face too much... it's starting to getting disturbing to watch him getting pounded.

Hyped78

Lisbon, Portugal, EU

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December 19, 2010 09:16 AM ET

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But you forgot to mention some already officially announced bouts...?

Hyped78

Lisbon, Portugal, EU

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December 19, 2010 12:38 PM ET

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QUOTE(#2):

Originally posted 09:16 AM ET 12.19 by Hyped78

But you forgot to mention some already officially announced bouts...?

How many?

I know I forgot Sakurai vs High and I excluded Lashley vs Overeem as it wasn't official yet, although now it appears to be on.

Do your Portuguese sites have some matchups I don't?

Clouis_39

Addison , PA

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December 19, 2010 02:21 PM ET

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Not the Portuguese sites. Here:

http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/event/2010/1231_dynamite/index.html

Hyped78

Lisbon, Portugal, EU

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December 19, 2010 05:09 PM ET

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QUOTE(#4):

Originally posted 02:21 PM ET 12.19 by Hyped78

Not the Portuguese sites. Here:http://www.k-1.co.jp/en/event/2010/1231_dynamite/index.html

Oh, wow.

Apearently Mousasi vs Kyotaro is also on the card, as well as Tokoro vs Watanabe.

Clouis_39

Addison , PA

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December 20, 2010 03:21 PM ET

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Boy, no interest from anyone other than Joao on this one?

Clouis_39

Addison , PA

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December 20, 2010 03:57 PM ET

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I Love Saku... but I don't think he can pull this off....
I think it is a great card, but unfortunately I won't be able to vote... I will have 12 people on my house... not that i am complaining, but the timing sucks. :)

PLEASE put here some of your thoughts during & results so i can follow up the next day. I rather read what you guys thought of it than reading biased sites... :)

Roni

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Comment #8 has been removed

December 21, 2010 04:28 AM ET

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QUOTE(#8):

Originally posted 04:20 PM ET 12.20 by JimJ77 Best in the World!

Whitemare should take the fight. C, where will this be broadcast? Online?

It is a K-1/ Dream (FEG) event, so I can't imagine it won't be airing live and free on HDNet. I'm sure there will be streams online too.

Clouis_39

Addison , PA

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December 21, 2010 02:38 PM ET

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Am I off-base here, or does Saku have a serious size advantage here? I don't believe Zaromskis possesses the KO power of a Wanderlei or a Manhoef that has spelled doom for Saku in the past. Even old and broken down, I think Saku man-handles the overrated Lithuanian.

Dallas_W

Cincinnati, OH

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December 21, 2010 04:16 PM ET

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QUOTE(#11):

Originally posted 02:38 PM ET 12.21 by Dallas_W

Am I off-base here, or does Saku have a serious size advantage here? I don't believe Zaromskis possesses the KO power of a Wanderlei or a Manhoef that has spelled doom for Saku in the past. Even old and broken down, I think Saku man-handles the overrated Lithuanian.

Big size, and overall strength advantage.

And don't let the Mayhem sub fool you, he still has a much better ground game than Marius.

The question is can he survive standing and get the takedown he needs. Another advantage to Saku is that he is a southpaw, so it will be a lot harder for Marius to use his straight left and high kicks than it is when he is open sides.

Clouis_39

Addison , PA

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December 21, 2010 04:36 PM ET

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QUOTE(#12):

Originally posted 02:59 PM ET 12.21 by JimJ77 Best in the World!

But the question is, can Saku make the weight, and if he does how much of a toll will the cut take on him? Also, I cannot see Saku keeping up with the speed of Zaromskis. Whitemare by KO.

When he fought Royce, I believe he weighed in at something like 178, so he should be able to. Plus, he is Japanese and they are generally more inclined to get there there by losing fat and doing a ton of cardio than American fighters who just cut more, so I think that he will show up in the best shape we've seen him in a long time, and that is bad new for Zaromskis.