Wonderful! Phil Davis vs Rodney Wallace official for UFC 117 in Oakland
by Jesse Holland on Jul 28, 2010 12:57 PM EDT
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Watch out Chandella Powell, Mr. Wonderful is back in town.
Phil Davis will officially replace the injured Stanislav Nedkov in a light heavyweight tilt against Rodney Wallace at the upcoming UFC 117: "Silva vs. Sonnen" pay-per-view on Aug. 7 from the Oracle Arena in Oakland, California.
The UFC made the pending match-up official earlier today.
Davis (6-0) is coming off a "Wonderful" performance against Alexander Gustafsson at UFC 112: "Invincible" earlier this year, giving the "Mauler" all he could handle before choking him out at the end of the first round.
The Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu blue belt is an absolute beast on the mat, winning the NCAA Division I at 197 pounds in 2008. He made the transition to mixed martial arts shortly after graduation, winning his first four bouts in impressive fashion before getting the invitation to join the deep UFC 205-pound roster.
Opposing him is Wallace, who is in dire need of a win to keep himself inside the Octagon.
"Sho'Nuff the Master" sailed into the UFC with lofty expectations after a torrid 9-0 run on the independent circuit, including a submission win (armbar) over Strikeforce light heavyweight prospect Antwain Britt.
Unfortunately Brian Stann wasn't impressed, outpointing Wallace en route to a unanimous decision win at last year's Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 10 Finale. The Salisbury native would drop his second straight decision, albeit in exciting fashion, to Jared Hamman at UFC 111: "St. Pierre vs. Hardy" last March.
Getting back into the win column over a highly-touted prospect like Davis would go along way in securing future UFC appearances.
UFC 117: "Silva vs. Sonnen" is set to be headlined by the middleweight title bout between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. Also featured will be perennial top welterweight contenders Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves along with another 170-pound showdown between Matt Hughes and Ricardo Almeida.
For more on UFC 117 click here.
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While everyone is watching Jonny Bones
This guy is gaining experience and working his way to being The Next big Thing.
One day we will see Jon “Bones” Jones vs Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis fighting for the strap!
I'm Not Afraid of Dying, I'm a Little Bit Scared of What Comes After...
by SouthCaliStunNa on Jul 28, 2010 1:01 PM EDT reply actions
I was a Phil Davis fan.....
But then he started crying about being called “explosive”.
Should change his name to “Mr Sensitive”.
I hate that word too
Ever since Melvin Guillard “He’s so explosive…”
It is not enough to succeed. Others must fail.
by Jesse Holland on Jul 28, 2010 1:06 PM EDT up reply actions
ha! true, Guillard made the term relevant
I'm Not Afraid of Dying, I'm a Little Bit Scared of What Comes After...
by SouthCaliStunNa on Jul 28, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Blame Goldberg
when in doubt.
"I heard a loud crackle sound. He did not tap so I thought 'Ok, this match just became a death-fight' and I was going to destroy his leg."
Shinya Aoki on his fight with Kawajiri at Dream 15
Explosive is a nice generic adjective that can be slapped on any black fighter when the announcer knows nothing else about him.
Our lives change like the weather, but a legend never dies.
Can't use that with PW. He ain't a brother.
"Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty. Only enemies speak the truth.
-Stephen King
According to PW - that part shows up when he drops his pants (no homo). Bazinga!
"Friends and lovers lie endlessly, caught in the web of duty. Only enemies speak the truth.
-Stephen King
LOL you might need to double up the NHs on that one
I'm Not Afraid of Dying, I'm a Little Bit Scared of What Comes After...
by SouthCaliStunNa on Jul 28, 2010 5:39 PM EDT up reply actions
+1
especially since Brandon V and Phil are close friends now. I like Phil, he’s a cool dude – i played xbox with him.
That single tap from Fedor was telling Werdum "OK let me go or I'll break both your fucking legs"
you played xbox with him?
I'm Not Afraid of Dying, I'm a Little Bit Scared of What Comes After...
by SouthCaliStunNa on Jul 28, 2010 1:09 PM EDT up reply actions
Not happenin
Bones Jones is the real deal, he can do it all; the second Phil runs into a really good striker that he can’t take down he’s done.
Mongol General: What is best in life?
Conan: To crush your enemies, to see them driven before you, and to hear the lamentations of their women.
by O damn he got caught on Jul 28, 2010 1:11 PM EDT up reply actions
now, maybe, hell be gaining experience. Mark the words, mark the words…..
I'm Not Afraid of Dying, I'm a Little Bit Scared of What Comes After...
by SouthCaliStunNa on Jul 28, 2010 1:12 PM EDT up reply actions
a really good striker that he can’t take down
How about an example? He has the wreslting chops to be considered the best wrestler in MMA, right now. I can’t think of ONE LHW that has not been taken down, ever. Chuck comes to mind, but he is too old, now. Page got taken down repeatedly by Shad. Shogun…taken down by Forrest, whose wrestling is ok, not superior like Davis. Lil Nog…Brilz, repeatedly. T. Silva…Shad again. These are the top few strikers at 205 and all are susceptible to takedowns from ok wrestlers, not DI champion level wrestlers. I could easily see Davis and Bones as the #1/#1a at 205 in 3 years. It is not a hard reach to think that based upon pedigree, work ethic and athleticism.
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning." - Albert Einstein
good post Ulf
I'm Not Afraid of Dying, I'm a Little Bit Scared of What Comes After...
by SouthCaliStunNa on Jul 28, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
The guys that will give Davis the most trouble
are good strikers with great guards. Guys like Shogun, Anderson, Little Nog (if he isn’t as bad as he looked against Brilz). But Phil will definatley make waves at 205 but its too early for me to say if he’ll fight for the title.
"I like being punched... I like... punchin'" ~Gray Maynard
"A black belt only covers two inches of your ass, you have to cover the rest" ~Royce Gracie
Chael Sonnen shocks the world at UFC 117
somehow i think if King Mo were in the UFC he would be getting a lot more recognition. Just as athletic as either of those guys and the best wrestler hands down.
Goldberg on Leben: One thing's for sure--he really did break that door on the Ultimate Fighter.
Rogan: uh...yeah.
IDK if he is better than Davis. Mo always seemed to lose the big match when amateur wrestling.
Mo had the most hype, Davis has the hardware. Which would you rather have?
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning." - Albert Einstein
But I really like Mo. He still has tremendous potential, which says something for a title holder.
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning." - Albert Einstein
King Mo is definatley a better wrestler
Davis had more collegiate accomplishments, but Lawal has so much international success. A lot of people considered him the best wrestler in the country before he went to MMA.
"I like being punched... I like... punchin'" ~Gray Maynard
"A black belt only covers two inches of your ass, you have to cover the rest" ~Royce Gracie
Chael Sonnen shocks the world at UFC 117
international sucess? missing the Olympic team? losing in the World Champs trials?
Not sure where your coming from. Mo was a hugely hyped wrestler that consistently couldn’t win when he needed to. Why would I think he can do that in MMA?
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning." - Albert Einstein
when he lost in the world champ trials
Wasn’t it controversial? I’ve read a few articles saying the judges didn’t like him or his personality and things of that nature. Any input?
by fightfan51 on Jul 28, 2010 2:49 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
There is always bias/politics in amateur sports, wrestling is no different.
Mo was steamrolling guys and, again, didn’t win in a big match. A dominatign performance would have alleviated the judges possibly stealing it from him, which they MAY have done.
Don’t get me wrong, he is a phenomenal wrestler. I just have a hard time believeing in a guy that consistently loses the big match.
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning." - Albert Einstein
very nice post ulf.
hes definitely flying in under the radar.
Im curious to see what kind of path the ufc sends him down, opponents wise, more so if he beats shonuff. However i strongly believe wallace’s days in the ufc are numbered
"its either going to be genius or its going to f***ing suck. Until I see the first cut I have no idea. But you know what? Neither does anybody else"
Wallace is not even a test for him. Davis - RD 1 RNC.
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning." - Albert Einstein
i dont know where i got it from, but i thought there was a fair bit of hype surrounding shonuff when he first came in to the ufc.
maybe i was dreamin.
so it just seemed a bit surprising how his tenure with them has been thus far
"its either going to be genius or its going to f***ing suck. Until I see the first cut I have no idea. But you know what? Neither does anybody else"
There was,
but hype from the outlying shows holds less and less water these days as guys are being scooped up early into the big shows.
If I remember correctly, Wallaca was a finisher before the UFC, and now can’t finish. That leads me to believe inferior competition was at hand.
"Learn from yesterday, live for today, hope for tomorrow. The important thing is to not stop questioning." - Albert Einstein
yep
both Phil and Brandon over xbox live. they where training up in big bear for UFC Live 1. All they wanted to do was talk shit to the other players. lol
That single tap from Fedor was telling Werdum "OK let me go or I'll break both your fucking legs"
@socal
That single tap from Fedor was telling Werdum "OK let me go or I'll break both your fucking legs"
lol cool stuff!
I'm Not Afraid of Dying, I'm a Little Bit Scared of What Comes After...
by SouthCaliStunNa on Jul 28, 2010 1:16 PM EDT up reply actions
good stuff
but what the hell is up with your av? Fishnets?
"We fight, get beat, rise, and fight again."
thats oscar delahoya. dont you remember those pics? they were all over the internet.
That single tap from Fedor was telling Werdum "OK let me go or I'll break both your fucking legs"
by Nokimono on Jul 28, 2010 1:35 PM EDT via mobile up reply actions
funny i was gonna say you look like him hahahah
I'm Not Afraid of Dying, I'm a Little Bit Scared of What Comes After...
by SouthCaliStunNa on Jul 28, 2010 1:45 PM EDT up reply actions
i said if before and i say it again
Phil davis doesnt get the hype he deserves, i think he is just as talented as bones pure raw talent.
What bones got in the striking department phil davis has that in the submissions. And both are very athletic. Cant with until these too will fight eachother for the belt.
Both have great mentors, bones has a great camp under the strict guidance of greg jackson and phil has brandon vera (because he knows as no other the dangers of coming up to fast)
Leg kicks are the most underrated weapon in MMA
by robinhorobson on Jul 28, 2010 5:41 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
I gotta agree with the majority of these posts
Phil Davis is a beast that many people don’t know about yet… but they will. The guy is a great wrestler. Great work ethic. He has all the tools. I do believe he’s going to be a top LHW in the next couple years. I think the UFC is actually being smart with a lot of their top talent and not throwing them into huge fights immediately. They know guys like Davis need experience before they get the big fights. They’re bringing him along slowly, which I believe is the right play.
As far as Bones Jones goes, I honestly believe this guy may be the best fighter on the planet. He has everything. He’s a freak of nature in the LHW division. Who can stand with him? Who can get him to the ground? Who is gonna beat that guy up? I haven’t seen anyone yet. Bones hasn’t faced the toughest of competition so far, but the way he straight dominate Vera (who is a very good fighter), I have to believe Bones may just be on another level all together. However, there are probably styles that could make for a bad matchup. Time will tell. But, Jon Jones is going to hold the LHW title. I have no doubts about that. But, nobody is invincible.
Davis vs Jones, not quite yet. But, I think Jones has a slight lead on him when they do meet down the road. Neither of these guys has reached his potential yet, which is exciting. They’re both going to get better. Shogun, Machida, Rashad. Those guys are having their time right now. Jones and Davis are gonna surpass those guys, IMO.
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