Ricardo Arona teases UFC debut in late 2010
by Jesse Holland on Jan 18, 2010 12:53 PM EST
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Props: Tatame.com
Quoteworthy:
"I stopped (the original negotiations) because of the (knee) injury, but some things happened, some managers called me with some projects I’ll release soon, but I’m sure I’ll be back in an international event. I can’t talk about this project right now, but there’s a connection between me and the UFC now, something concrete that I didn’t have before. My return will be in the end of the year and will be in the UFC. I’ll be worried about my performance, my knee and my body. I wanna do my best in every fight. I’m used to big competition like the UFC, I wanna be ready."
Former PRIDE light heavyweight standout Ricardo Arona (14-5) teases a late 2010 return under the Zuffa banner after healing a knee injury suffered in his unanimous decision win over Marvin Eastman at Bitetti Combat 4 in September 2009. The win over "Beastman" was his only fight since the dissolution of PRIDE, which came shortly after his last appearance for the now-defunct Japanese promotion in April 2007. "The Brazilian Tiger" has wins over Wanderlei Silva, Dan Henderson and Alistair Overeem and would make a fine addition to the UFC 205-pound roster. Perhaps a rematch with Quinton "Rampage" Jackson -- who owns one of the sport's most popular highlights courtesy of his atomic slam on Arona at Critical Countdown 2004?
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1st Opponent
I’m calling Forrest Griffin as 1st to welcome him even though its not till the end of the year
Hope so...
I always wanted to see that fight
Not bad
I’d also like to see him rematch Rampage (easy to market), Bader, Vera, Jardine, even Couture… then if he wins, give him a top level fighter like Rashad, Shogun, Franklin
by PHISH NATION on Jan 18, 2010 2:24 PM EST up reply actions
I used to be a HUGE arona fan in the Pride days but
ring rust is an understatement for what he’s gonna be feeling
"He is gonna find out who Ken Shamrock is, was, and is now!"
-Ken Shamrock
Arona is guna give any1 at 205 problems
i always wanted to see him fight chuck lidell. I want to see how he wud do against machida also just see if he cud actually get machida down
locc, did you watch Pride Unleashed on Friday?
"He is gonna find out who Ken Shamrock is, was, and is now!"
-Ken Shamrock
I don't have the DVD's so it was cool to rewatch some of those fights
and one I had never seen before A Silva/Carlos Newton…
"He is gonna find out who Ken Shamrock is, was, and is now!"
-Ken Shamrock
they have a DVD Pride Hard core knockouts
u shud check it out it has all those fights!Probly the best DVD ever made
I know...its one of those things I have always meant to buy but always forget...dam weed!!!
"He is gonna find out who Ken Shamrock is, was, and is now!"
-Ken Shamrock
Yeah it will take two or three fights before he's 100% back
So I think they need to ease his way in with a Bonnar first fight. At the same time it sounds like he’s training to be in shape and ready to go when he does come back. His skills will take no time to shake off the rust it will be more about getting use the pace and feel of fighting again. If he’s training hard I give hi two figths to be back in top ten form.
"He broke tim sylvia’s arm…...So what?" – Brock Lesnar
Arona will be a decent addition but people are building him up too much. Sure his grappling is great but the striking has evolved alot since his hiatus. I think elite strikers like Rua, Machida, even Anderson would make things hard for him. I even give Rashad a pretty damn good chance.
Agree
but at the same time I believe guys like NOG and Arona have realized their ground game alone won’t take them as far in todays MMA as it did in Pride. Having a one dimensional ground game is bad now days not only because the fight starts standing but the stand up fighters now are well trained in defending JJ and have less issues getting out of a JJ attempt than in the past, were in the past a striker would be tapped with little struggle once in the cluth of a JJ artist. I believe Arona has the ability to have a decent stand up and heart to get to the top 5 fighters thats just my opinion.
"He broke tim sylvia’s arm…...So what?" – Brock Lesnar
Thats not a good first fight
He needs a couple warm up fights Thiago is a top five LHW. I’m thinking more of a Bonnar first Type match and go from there.
"He broke tim sylvia’s arm…...So what?" – Brock Lesnar
Thiago needs a win to remain marketable. The UFC should give Arona a tune up as well
by AintNoSunshine on Jan 18, 2010 1:51 PM EST up reply actions
Good!
Arona will be a great addition!
by Dana's a Crossdresser on Jan 18, 2010 1:51 PM EST reply actions
Shouldn't Dana be fighting him?
Remember this quote from Dana? "I don’t think I have been worried about Arona beating everybody. Didn’t Arona just loose? I think Arona just lost recently. There’s no reason I have been like: "Oh God Arona could beat everybody", or… You know, if I thought Arona was gonna beat everybody he would be here right now………I’d fight Arona first because I think he sucks! (Laughs)…..".
LOL
Dana and Tito vs Arona. 2 on 1 Handicap Match
by AintNoSunshine on Jan 18, 2010 1:53 PM EST up reply actions
That has to be the most ridiculous thing that I've ever read
I can’t believe that I’ve never seen that quote before, Dana showing why he can be a dick at times. Arona may be past his prime and aside from beating Eastman hasn’t done anything since he got KO’d by Soko but in his day he was a great fighter who has faced the best LHWs in the world and even gave Fedor his toughest ever fight (arguably winning). Dana couldn’t beat up Kyle Maynard nevermind a top fighter like Arona.
I hope that he can come into the UFC in top shape and do well, he’ll struggle at first like Shogun did because of the inactivity but it’d be great if Arona could get close to his best and prove Dana wrong.
"Wanderlei is focused and well trained...he will easily win this fight, by a large margin and with much better technique."
Anderson Silva on why Wand is going to smash Bisping. Get ready to lose your dignity frosnt.
thats where Mania and jesse go watch the fights...
"He is gonna find out who Ken Shamrock is, was, and is now!"
-Ken Shamrock
Arona
All the hardcore MMA fans have been waiting patiently for Arona to step foot in the Octagon since the buyout of Pride. But we have been hearing this same crap for damn near two and a half years already. So until UFC signs the contract I’m not even gonna think about all the match-ups Arona VS.
i like it anytime a guy’s name in the UFC makes for some interesting match-ups that could shake things up. and esp. a guy that’s a proven commodity.
don’t sleep on Arona, he beat Alistair, split fights with Vanderlei, beat Hendo, Mezger, and took Fedor to a decision in rings (anyone know if that was a worked fight or no?)
Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.
by theworldsoldestsport on Jan 18, 2010 11:56 PM EST reply actions
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