Ricardo Almeida: 'I dont see this fight going three rounds' against Patrick Cote at UFC 86

by MMAmania.com on Jun 18, 2008 9:27 AM EDT Comment 27 comments

ricardo almeida

Quoteworthy:

"It is a classic grappler versus striker matchup. I think it is no secret I want to get [Patrick Cote] down and he wants to keep it on the feet. Cote is very aggressive as I also try to be. His way or my way I don’t see this fight going three rounds.... I have been working on my boxing for a while now. Don't expect me to all of a sudden start knocking people out but I have been sparring with some pro boxers and actually feel even more comfortable on my feet. To me the stand up game is like playing roulette but I can always rely on my Jiu Jitsu. You will see me looking to take the fight to the ground almost one hundred of the time."

Ricardo Almeida talks about his game plan and thoughts heading into his middleweight tilt with Patrick Cote at UFC 86: "Jackson vs. Griffin" at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada, on July 5. It's a fight that will catapult the winner very close to a title shot against UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva.

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I am thrilled to have almeida back in the UFC. I do believe he will get Cote to the ground, and once the fight gets to the ground, it will be over! Cote cant last 2 minutes on the ground against Almeida (my favorite gracie fighter)

by john on Jun 18, 2008 9:37 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

" Big Dog " …is the cream of the Gracie JJ crop. His return to the UFC is a blessing for us " MMAfans "..we get treated to a BJJ artist that is like michaelangelo on the mat. " Peotry in motion "…For the casual, or the " I don’t like all that ground stuff in MMA type fan "..watch Almeida fight..and you’ll get to see why BJJ is without a doubt, the most important component in the MMA fighter’s arsenal..if it be just for defense and/or offense. Just peep Big dog’s return to the octagon..and his submission victory.. that G-choke was one you have to see the replay on..Oh my God. Cote is tough. heavy hands. heart..will for sure put in his part in making this match up real good for us to watch. Styles make fights. I agree with Ricardo 140%..I can’t see it going 3rounds..jus can’t.

by PhilQNY on Jun 18, 2008 9:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Absolutely. Big fan of Almeida.

Demian Maia’s BJJ might actually rival Almeida’s though as the best BJJ in the division.

I’m a fan of Cote, but a bigger fan of Big Dog. I will be rooting for, and betting on Almeida on this one.

by ViolentMike on Jun 18, 2008 9:56 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

My money will be on Almeida as well! This is a very interesting fight that can go many different ways, not that predictable crap of a title fight between my boy SLAMPAGE vs. the UFC Gump!

by john on Jun 18, 2008 10:55 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I know that Almeida has a long ways to go before being a stand up fighter, but I always thought he had 1 of the better stand ups out of the whole Gracie Clan (THats not saying much) but atleast he has tried to become well rounded, not like that P*ssy Royler, who let Sakuraba chump him and kick him in his ass all night long, dragging him around the ring by his ankles! lol..in 1 of my favorite mma fights of all time!

God I loved that fighht….Pride 5, if I am not mistaken. Actually I think Sakuraba fought Vitor at Pride 5 (where he blasted Vitor with the spinning back kick)

tHe Royler/Sakuraba fight took place between Pride 3-7, not sure w hich event

by john on Jun 18, 2008 11:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

LInx or PhilQny: 1 of you 2 should be able to answer this question for me….Ralek Gracie, who is his father? Rickson?

by john on Jun 18, 2008 11:42 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

he’s the son of Rorion Gracie (the guy that started the UFC). I didn’t know this either until I saw his match in Dream and they mentioned it.

by linx on Jun 18, 2008 1:24 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thanks, I guessed Rickson, because they he kind of resembles Rickson a little.

Thanks Linx, I knew that you would know!

by john on Jun 18, 2008 2:56 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I am sure his jits is top of the line, but the kid needs to tuck his chin while he is fighting. His head was straigh up in the air, a better fighter would have knocked his head into the noise bleed seats! lol

by john on Jun 18, 2008 2:57 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

and watz up with those front kicks that Royce used to do? I understand that it helps set up the take down but still, it’s just weird seeing that with today’s level of MMA. I hope Ralek works on his stand up, he needs to do that real bad.

by linx on Jun 18, 2008 3:01 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cote has improved his JJ defence, but Almeida is a very slick dude..Cote will have to train hard, and try to keep it standing…Cote has dynimite in his hands and if he plays it right, and defends the take-down, he should be quick about it and take Almeida’s head off..If he is slow? Cote will be on the mat tapping sooner then later..

imo- Cote has to train jj defence, take-down defence and reversal’s to get a quick ground and pound…

Cote HAS to make a fast pace fight’ right off the bat’, He cant be too conserned on the take-down and fight slow..It will only let Almeida imply his statagy…

I am routing for Cote, but I think Almeida has the slight edge.

by Stagger-Lee on Jun 18, 2008 9:53 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’d like to see Cote win as well, but I have a feeling that Almeida has the edge. I have to believe that Cote has trained jj defence after his last submission loss, but will it be enough?

by Shadyone33 on Jun 18, 2008 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Love this guy man, he is all class. I loved that comment at the end of interview about training too.

by Ballam on Jun 18, 2008 10:03 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I really like Cote, but he will be totally out-classed on the ground. He got worked by lazy ass Lutter. I am sure he has been training BJJ defense constantly and he will need it. With that said, Cote has been a man on a mission lately so I have to take Cote by early KO.

by bnf on Jun 18, 2008 11:07 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m hoping Almeida wins this in impressive fashion. Do we really want to see Cote vs Sliva?

by Robert on Jun 18, 2008 11:20 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I don’t. I think Cote has been in fights that suit his stand up style. He hasn’t fought a BJJ guy since Lutter and now he’s fighting the cream of the crop. The cinderella story called Cote is over and he is about to be brought back down to reality.

by getrawbc on Jun 18, 2008 12:30 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

YES, that’s exactly what I want to see.

by Gord on Jun 23, 2008 10:49 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Cote is a warrior for sure, but he could be training ground game 100% of the time and it wouldn’t matter. Almeida’s ground game is at a different level. It’s always worth it to mention when a fighter has a BJJ blackbelt because that is a guaranteed sign of nasty submission prowess. Well, that said, Almeida received his THIRD stripe bjj blackbelt in March. I love skilled bjj and attend a gracie school and Almeida is one of those guys I could get a bucket of popcorn and a 12 pack and just sit down and watch and learn. On that note, is anyone else excited to see submission phenom-beast Robert Drysdale transition to MMA?!

by MMAsubb on Jun 18, 2008 12:35 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Cote will be superior and get that title shot!

by Toad on Jun 18, 2008 1:45 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i love cote, and i was curious if anyone knows if he’ll be training with GSP soon (or if he is right now) cause if he can train take-down defense with gsp then i think cote can take this one, cause gsp can take down rashad “at will” and ortiz couldn’t and ortiz could take down cote at will so, it’ll be interesting if gsp can up his take-down defense to a new level to stop almeida

by mmeh on Jun 18, 2008 1:54 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Oooh, MMA Math, wrestling version . Let’s see, GSP > Rashad > Tito > Cote. Did I get it right? lol

by Pat on Jun 18, 2008 3:11 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

no i was merely saying that gsp’s wrestling is phenominal, he takes down rashad at will (thats a quote by the way) and well if tito had no problem with cote, but had problems with rashad, then working with gsp would give cote a better chance at keeping it on the feet. also i never said rashad > tito, i said tito had troubles, i scored the fight for tito, and due to the point it was a draw therefore = and if you’ve seen the tito cote fight then it should be obvious that tito has better wrestling than cote, (yes i know that was a while ago),

all in all everyone knows that cote needs to keep it on the feet, and almeida needs to get it to the ground therefore, to better his chance of winning cote must work his sub defense and his takedown defense. gsp is a great wrestler, they’re friends, logical analysis says gsp should help cote with his wrestling…..

by mmeh on Jun 18, 2008 4:28 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

He does still train with GSP, but the key word is STILL. He has trained with GSP since even before they were in the UFC. If any of that takedown defence hasn’t rubbed off yet,I don’t think it will. Cote has to KO Almeida before he gets taken down or it could be a long night, or should I say short night.

by Gord on Jun 23, 2008 10:58 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I hope Cote win this fight because i love to see him against Anderson in a 45 seconds fight, one of two will going to get knockdown early in the first. In a short fight Cote will have chances to bet Anderson but if the fight pass the first round i don’t know what Cote can do it.
Patrick have a good takedown defense and this is very dangerous for Ricardo, in a standing fight Cote have 95% to win, in the ground is 95% to almeida. The fight begin stand up, conclussion, Cote via brutal KO. And i love to se Almeida vs. Leites later in the year

by emiliano on Jun 18, 2008 6:30 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Big Dog’s gonna take him down and snap his arm in half. I hope Cote thinks that his “purple belt” in jits is gonna help him against a 3rd degree black belt. Can’t stand him and I can’t wait Ricardo to take him down n make him pay. He’ll set up his takedown with his leg kicks, and they are legit. Start the winning streak this weekend for RABJJ when Ricardo corners Dante Rivera to a win at the TUF Finale

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