UFC 97: Thales Leites submitting Anderson Silva is 'completely wrong'

by MMAmania.com on Apr 1, 2009 9:07 AM EDT Comment 26 comments

Quoteworthy:

"Anderson is training well and is strong in all MMA fundaments. Anderson is a phenomenon standing, but if anyone thinks that will take Anderson down and submit, is completely wrong. He’s a talent on the ground, has black belt level. Anderson is intelligent and good on MMA, he can surprise any opponent. But, for this fight, I think he will make a game that he is better."

Ronald "Jacare" Souza -- a two-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu world champion who is perhaps the most dynamic specialist of his kind on the planet -- talks about the ground skills of UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva in a recent interview. Silva is getting ready to once again defend his 185-pound strap, taking on number one division contender Thales Leites in the main event at UFC 97: "Redemption" from the Bell Centre in Montreal, Canada, on April 17. Leites is a decorated jiu-jitsu player himself, which most fans feel is his best chance of derailing the lethal knockout artist once and for all. Not so fast, according to the "Alligator" (Jacare translated).

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UFC97 a lil more then two weeks away.. Anderson Silva!!!

by PhilQNY on Apr 1, 2009 9:13 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I’m not even sure this will get to the ground. I see Silva defending the takedown well and picking Leites apart on his feet. But if it does go to the ground, I think Silva can defend well enough. I’ll give Leites’ BJJ the advantage over Silva’s but don’t think this will be the deciding factor in this.

by Dugout on Apr 1, 2009 9:15 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The question is can Leites last into later rounds, wear Anderson down, then pull off a sub. The law of averages says not, so I’m saying Anderson, 2nd RD TKO strikes.

by DJ on Apr 1, 2009 9:35 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thales will be Anderson’s stiffest test since joining the UFC. It drives me crazy the lack of respect that THales gets on this site. The dude is a stud and has a very good chance of being a UFC champion someday…Do I think he will beat Anderson? Probably not, but he has a better chance than most! The kid is as tough as they come. Not many fighters would have been able to make it to a decision after the legal and illegal BOMBS that Marquardt hit him with. Thales could have chose not to continue and would have been awarded the win. Nut he kept pressing forward, Terminator style. people forget that he was whooping Marquardt’s ass prior to the illegal knee. Thales’s stand up has improved dramatically. Do I think he will out strike Silva? Hell no, but neither will anyone else. Anderson does have very under rated jits, and is on the black belt level for sure but people are kidding themselves if they dont acknowledge the FACT that THales is better on the ground. Is Anderson’s jits good enough to nullify THales’s jits attack? Probably, but one thing is for sure…. I know that Anderson does not want to be on the ground with Leites!

I really look forward to this fight, and finally getting the chance to see Anderson fight someone who wont just roll over like Hendo, Marquardt, and everyone else that Anderson has fought have done!

by john on Apr 1, 2009 9:36 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Who said Leites is getting no respect?

by Dugout on Apr 1, 2009 10:08 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I picked GSP by ownage over BJ… no disrespect against BJ, but when you pick a fighter, you pick a fighter. Most here pick Anderson… nothing against Leites but the odds are against him leaving the octagon wearing the belt.

by DJ on Apr 1, 2009 10:32 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Oast two weeks I here a lot of people questioning why he is getting a title shot! Is he the real #1? There is no number 1 contender because joe silva has done a poor job of matching up fighters in the middleweight division to come out with a clear cut contender…but THales is undoubtedly top 5 for sure. IMo he will put up a much better fight than Hendo, Franklin, or Marquadrt ever did against Anderson. Problem for thales is that Anderson is very motiovated after the fans bitched about his fight against Cote.

If anyone can pull off the upset against Anderson at this point in time, its Thales! Will it happen? I doubt it, but he has a better chance then most!

by john on Apr 1, 2009 11:20 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I’ve been predicting for a long time, Thales Leites win by 2nd round ArmTriangle. Sticking to it, and looking forward to the fight.

by Synyster on Apr 1, 2009 6:07 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I don’t think he’ll win but silva will definitely be in procarious positions.

by NameNotRequired on Apr 1, 2009 7:17 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

Thales is going to be dominated do to the superior striking ability of Silva. he just doesn’t stand a chance the only one that will is going to Patrick cote when he gets his next title shot!!!!!!!!!

by TJ on Apr 18, 2009 2:02 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I would love to see this go to the ground though…as we all know the stand up is Andersons world and it would be really interesting to see if this statement would actually stand up to the test.

Im actually really interested in seeing Jacare’s return in Dream as he has been training with Anderson for some time now and should have a much improved stand-up himself.

by Ca$z on Apr 1, 2009 9:41 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

I agree with your entire post. TO me seeing them on the ground is much more interesting than them fighting on their feet.

I am so PUMPPED THhat Jacre will be back at DREAM 9. I hope they match him up against someone good so that he can CRUSH them and make an even bigger name for himself! I cant wait til he eventually signs with the UFC. I would love to see him matched up in mma against guys like: Maia, almeida, Palhares!

I want to see just how good Andersons ground game is, thales will be a great measuring stick

by john on Apr 1, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

What else are we supposed to think? It is the only possible way anyone can imagine Thales winning. If we all thought that Thales has a good chance winning in the stand-up that would be “Completely Wrong”.

by Vulcano on Apr 1, 2009 9:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Spyder vs rashad or rampage would be a good test. Thales is goin for a nap at 97

by markg on Apr 1, 2009 9:28 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

i appreciate The Spider, but i was “not impressed with his performance”. the whole boxing talk eats at me i reckon, im “jealous” that he wants to try other thing. i would like to see silva against some LHW’s like most ppl here.. and Wand.

by josh on Apr 1, 2009 9:38 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I dunno about anyone else but I really want to see Maia vs Jacare in a MMA fight. Just imagine the Jits display these two would put on. Back on topic, I think Silva will dispatch of Leites in the first round via TKO.

by rydinlow on Apr 1, 2009 9:47 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Anderson by TKO in R1. Leites = no chance.

by William A on Apr 1, 2009 10:00 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Silva is Legend. He will destroy all his opponents and we all should be gratefull that God allowed us to live thru this great error in mma where we get to see him fight.

by kenpofist on Apr 1, 2009 10:23 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

I regret to inform you that the spelling Gestapo have informed me to tell you that it is actually “era” and you unfortunately made the fundamental error (pun intended) of using a word that could have given the readers a completely different meaning to your post.

regards
Adolf

by Ca$z on Apr 1, 2009 10:51 AM EDT up reply actions 0 recs

AS CLOSE AS ONE CAN BE TO BEING UNBEATABLE!!!

by horny for gina on Apr 1, 2009 10:24 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

The spider is in search of perfection even when he knows its not possible and leites is in his way and is gonna get taken out. the plan agaist siva doesn’t matter. ground or stand up silva is the shit.
WAR THE SPIDER!

by TRIKZ on Apr 1, 2009 11:19 AM EDT reply actions 0 recs

Maybe Leites already started to accept the fact that he will be brutally knocked out in 17 days. Anderson will not let himself do something else than a high voltage KO.

by Daddy Lupo on Apr 1, 2009 12:17 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

We’ve seen the Spider get submitted before, but I think he will be able to keep his distance and keep the fight standing.

by shitleTOT.com on Apr 1, 2009 12:31 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

This is what i have been saying for a long time. Everyone thinks a BJJ guy will take him out but im not so sure.

by subwayy2sallyy on Apr 1, 2009 12:34 PM EDT reply actions 0 recs

marquardt is the best fighter to beat him but his chin is very suspect. but still i want leites to win but dont care if he does or not, just aslong as he puts up a fight.

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