Tag: Tim Sylvia

Why Signing Tim Sylvia to Fight Daniel Cormier Is the Best Move Zuffa Can Make

The world of MMA media recently blew up with rumors that former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia had signed with Strikeforce and would face heavyweight grand prix champion Daniel Cormier.  It didn’t take long for Dana White to shoot …

The world of MMA media recently blew up with rumors that former UFC heavyweight champion Tim Sylvia had signed with Strikeforce and would face heavyweight grand prix champion Daniel Cormier.  

It didn’t take long for Dana White to shoot that rumor down by confirming with The Underground that Sylvia was not in fact signed to a Strikeforce contract.  

This may seem like a strange sentiment, but that was highly disappointing.  

Sylvia has become a favorite whipping boy of MMA fans for his post-UFC antics.

After the bizarre move of requesting a release from an organization that every fighter strives for, he went off and suffered consecutive knockouts to Fedor Emelianenko and Ray Mercer in a combined time of just 45 seconds.  

Since then, he’s posted a 7-1 record on the regional circuit against unheralded opposition, including a 32-second knockout loss to Abe Wagner.  

Suffice it to say, since being granted a release by the UFC, Sylvia has not exactly set the world on fire. He often shows up for his fights in awful condition, several times weighting in over 300 pounds.  

However, MMA fans still know his name, and whether it’s positive or negative—and let’s be honest here, it’s all negative—he gets attention. The fact that just about every major MMA media outlet jumped on the rumor is a testament to that. 

Daniel Cormier needs an opponent—that much is clear. After winning a dominant unanimous decision over Josh Barnett in May, and with the UFC poaching the remainder of Strikeforce’s quality heavyweights, there is no opponent left for him that sparks any interest.  

Let’s sincerely hope that legitimacy is not the concern here, because that would be a joke. Silvia may have done a marvelous job of turning himself into a punch line, but he’s still a decent heavyweight and has some name value.  

Cormier is just marking time until the Strikeforce heavyweight division is dissolved and he’s brought to the UFC where he belongs. Anyone Strikeforce can sign to fight him isn’t going to be top-of-the-food-chain material, so they may as well be able to spark enough interest to put some eyeballs on the screen.  

Tim Sylvia can provide that. 

Cormier is scheduled to fight again on September 9th. I’m not Tim Sylvia’s personal assistant or anything, but I’d wager that he’s free on that date.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

No, Tim Sylvia Did Not Sign to Fight Daniel Cormier in Strikeforce


(Eh, it was funnier when Roy Nelson did it. / Photo via Pro Elite)

Last night, news of a former UFC star’s long-awaited return began circulating on the Internet. Of course, I’m talking about Logan Stanton’s surprise appearance at the UFC 149 weigh-ins. In a far-less-important related story, there were also reports about ex-UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia being signed to fight Daniel Cormier in Strikeforce. Since being humiliated by pudgy boxer Ray Mercer in June 2009, Sylvia has gone 7-1 in eight different regional promotions (with six wins by stoppage due to strikes), and maybe the time was right for a high-profile comeback. If you’ll recall, Cormier himself wasn’t against the idea.

Unfortunately, those reports were bullshit, as UFC president Dana White confirmed with the UG. “Long story, but yes, Tim is not with Zuffa,” White said. Sources indicate that negotiations were in fact going on, but for some reason Sylvia and Zuffa couldn’t come to terms. We’ll update you if more details come out. Cormier is still without an opponent for his September 29th Strikeforce swan song.


(Eh, it was funnier when Roy Nelson did it. / Photo via Pro Elite)

Last night, news of a former UFC star’s long-awaited return began circulating on the Internet. Of course, I’m talking about Logan Stanton’s surprise appearance at the UFC 149 weigh-ins. In a far-less-important related story, there were also reports about ex-UFC heavyweight champ Tim Sylvia being signed to fight Daniel Cormier in Strikeforce. Since being humiliated by pudgy boxer Ray Mercer in June 2009, Sylvia has gone 7-1 in eight different regional promotions (with six wins by stoppage due to strikes), and maybe the time was right for a high-profile comeback. If you’ll recall, Cormier himself wasn’t against the idea.

Unfortunately, those reports were bullshit, as UFC president Dana White confirmed with the UG. “Long story, but yes, Tim is not with Zuffa,” White said. Sources indicate that negotiations were in fact going on, but for some reason Sylvia and Zuffa couldn’t come to terms. We’ll update you if more details come out. Cormier is still without an opponent for his September 29th Strikeforce swan song.

Dana White Reportedly Denies That Tim Sylvia Has Already Signed Again with Zuffa

Dana White, according to Chris Palmquist of The Undergound and as tweeted by popular MMA journalist Ariel Helwani (see below), says that the hotly-rumored and widely-reported Tim Sylvia vs. Daniel Cormier fight is just that—a rumor.
 
Dana…

Dana White, according to Chris Palmquist of The Undergound and as tweeted by popular MMA journalist Ariel Helwani (see below), says that the hotly-rumored and widely-reported Tim Sylvia vs. Daniel Cormier fight is just that—a rumor.

“Never a fact unless I say it,” the UFC president was quoted stating the denial in the report.

Fans eager to see the former UFC champion Sylvia tangle with rising Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix winner Cormier have to hold their horses for the time being. For the meantime, it will be prudent to suspend their belief in the widely-reported four-fight contract that Sylvia has allegedly inked with Zuffa, and that he will be facing Cormier later this September.

Hopes ran high when White allegedly decided to give Sylvia another chance, after the latter’s highly-publicized campaign for him to be given another shot at the world’s leading MMA promotion—that he still deserves to be in its heavyweight roster.

Sylvia won the UFC heavyweight belt against Ricco Rodriguez via TKO in UFC 41 way back in 2003, then successfully defended it, also by TKO, versus Gan McGee. However, he was stripped off the title when he tested positive for stanozolol after his defense.

In 2006, he was finally allowed to reenter the UFC, and reclaimed the heavyweight title from Andrei Arlovski by TKO in the first round of UFC 59. Subsequently, he defended the title against challenger Jeff Monson by unanimous decision, but later lost it to Randy Couture.

Currently, Sylvia is on a tear, with three consecutive wins, the most recent being a 12-second, first round TKO (punches) of Randy Smith at NEF Fight Night 3 only last June.

This winning streak must have further spurred him, with the support of his fans, to book a return date with the Zuffa organization, and try his luck against the former elite Olympic wrestler in Cormier.

Well, fans now have the option of waiting for an official, or at least more categorical, statement on the matter—unless the MMA public should already accept White’s reported denial on The Underground as the final word on the now seemingly derailed hype train.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Daniel Cormier vs. Tim Sylvia: Head-to-Toe Breakdown

Well, it appears that Tim Sylvia will get what he asked for, in a return to a major MMA organization. Sylvia has been tapped to face Daniel Cormier in the final heavyweight fight in Strikeforce.Cormier last fought Josh Barnett, over whom he earned a un…

Well, it appears that Tim Sylvia will get what he asked for, in a return to a major MMA organization. Sylvia has been tapped to face Daniel Cormier in the final heavyweight fight in Strikeforce.

Cormier last fought Josh Barnett, over whom he earned a unanimous decision, winning all five rounds on two of the judges’ scorecards. Overall, he is 10-0 with seven finishes.

Sylvia has been around MMA significantly longer than Cormier, as he has a 31-7 record, and has won seven of his last eight fights, with six finishes.

This seemed to be one of the only viable fights for Cormier, and it looks like Sylvia could be in over his head, but let’s take a look at the matchup in a head-to-toe breakdown of the fight.

Begin Slideshow

Tim Sylvia Signs with Strikeforce, Will Meet Daniel Cormier

It seems Tim Sylvia’s campaign to re-enter the UFC’s heavyweight division has made it to phase two.MMAjunkie reports that the former UFC heavyweight champion has signed on with Zuffa’s other MMA promotion, Strikeforce, and will debut with the prom…

It seems Tim Sylvia’s campaign to re-enter the UFC’s heavyweight division has made it to phase two.

MMAjunkie reports that the former UFC heavyweight champion has signed on with Zuffa’s other MMA promotion, Strikeforce, and will debut with the promotion this fall.

It may not be the UFC, but that’s about as close as you can get without making it all the way back.

But just because Sylvia is still on the outs with the UFC, it doesn’t mean he will lack for competition. On the contrary, the Maine-iac will face off against Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix champion Daniel Cormier this September.

In February, Sylvia released a video in which he stated that he is “doing this big push, trying to get back into the UFC,” and expresses his belief that he “could beat 80 percent of the guys in the UFC.” 

Apparently Dana White has taken notice of Sylvia’s campaign, along with his recent string of success. Over his last eight contests, Sylvia has compiled a 7-1 record, including six stoppages.

Sylvia previously fought in the UFC from September 2002 to February 2008. During that time he amassed a 9-4 record with the promotion and held its heavyweight title on two occasions.

Sylvia rides a three-fight win streak into his showdown with Cormier, which is set for Sacramento on September 29.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

Can-Crushing Roundup: Tim Sylvia and Jong Dae Kim Win with Little Opposition


Hope you jerks are having a better Father’s Day than some of us.

Yesterday didn’t just provide us with depressing fights from former contenders. We also got to witness a fight from former champion Tim Sylvia and Jong Dae Kim attempt to win The Bob Sapp Challenge™. Okay, so it was still somewhat depressing. But at least you won’t feel guilty for pointing and laughing at anyone involved, so what else can you ask for?

Tim Sylvia has been making a valiant effort to win fights and get back to the UFC as of late- although the overwhelming majority of his battles have taken place on Twitter and YouTube. Fresh off of back-to-back TKO losses to Patrick Cote and dignity, Tim Sylvia decided to do his fighting inside the cage last night against Randy Smith, a thirty-eight year old journeyman who entered the bout with a 13-10-1 professional record. A can of his caliber shouldn’t last ten seconds in the cage with a former UFC champion, yet Smith defied the odds by being knocked twelve seconds into the first round.

Impressive victory over a game opponent? Not so much. Will it take our minds off of his last effort, a forgettable decision over Andreas Kraniotakes at the abysmal Pro Elite 2: Big Guns? Trick question- we’ve blocked that fight from our memories a long time ago. Low-Quality to the point of being virtually unwatchable video after the jump? You betcha.


Hope you jerks are having a better Father’s Day than some of us.

Yesterday didn’t just provide us with depressing fights from former contenders. We also got to witness a fight from former champion Tim Sylvia and Jong Dae Kim attempt to win The Bob Sapp Challenge™. Okay, so it was still somewhat depressing. But at least you won’t feel guilty for pointing and laughing at anyone involved, so what else can you ask for?

Tim Sylvia has been making a valiant effort to win fights and get back to the UFC as of late- although the overwhelming majority of his battles have taken place on Twitter and YouTube. Fresh off of back-to-back TKO losses to Patrick Cote and dignity, Tim Sylvia decided to do his fighting inside the cage last night against Randy Smith, a thirty-eight year old journeyman who entered the bout with a 13-10-1 professional record. A can of his caliber shouldn’t last ten seconds in the cage with a former UFC champion, yet Smith defied the odds by being knocked out twelve seconds into the first round.

Impressive victory over a game opponent? Not so much. Will it take our minds off of his last effort, a forgettable decision over Andreas Kraniotakes at the abysmal Pro Elite 2: Big Guns? Trick question- we’ve blocked that fight from our memories a long time ago. Low-Quality to the point of being virtually unwatchable video after the jump? You betcha.

As for Jong Dae Kim? He fought Bob Sapp at last night’s Road FC 8 in Seoul, South Korea. And believe it or not, Bob Sapp actually fought back. For a few moments, it even looked like Bob Sapp would win. We’re only one week removed from Tölegen Akylbekov setting the bar for The Bob Sapp Challenge™ at one minute, twenty four seconds, yet the bar has already been raised to three minutes, fourteen seconds of round two. That’s not a typo. Enjoy.