each division's dark horse

ALLROY1420 · 07-04-2009, 05:15 AM

dark horse~~~~ a candidate who is not well known but could win unexpectedly.
~~~~~competitor, etc., about whom little is known or who unexpectedly wins.

Each division has a few. Here's my list of those fighters that may be somewhat overlooked at first, but has potential to be a champion someday....broken down by divisions in the two major orgs.

BW: Dominick Cruz (if it wasn't for the accident I would say Will Ribeiro as well)
FW: Raphael Assuncao, Wagnney Fabiano
LW: Spencer Fisher, Joe Lauzon
WW: Dong Hyun Kim, Yoshiyuki Yoshida
MW: Alan Belcher, Rousimar Palhares
LHW: Luiz Cane, Krzysztof Soszynski
HW: Junior Dos Santos, Pat Barry

These are just my opinions. What are yours?

aali14 · 07-04-2009, 05:25 AM

Man I really hope Pat Barry wins his next fight, dude has good stand up and awesome personality

zombiejitsu · 07-04-2009, 05:37 AM

Clay Guida is taylor made to beat BJ if he stays active enough to avoid sub attempts. (which he can).

yekmurat · 07-04-2009, 05:46 AM

theres no can in ufc everybody can beat everybody

Mochan · 07-04-2009, 05:46 AM

I definitely agree with Cane at 205 and Dos Santos at HW.

Paul Harris at MW yeah I guess, but he's been shown to be ineffective against the Hendo types, fortunately there aren't that many of them at MW but judging from that performance he is not getting past Okami and possibly Marqaurdt.

Not sure about the Asians at WW the Donger doesn't look like he has what it takes and neither does Yoshida.

I dunno what to say about LW and lower those divisions are too messy or too unknown for me.

WBC Rezen · 07-04-2009, 06:13 AM

BW = Marcos "Louro" Galvao - Has proven to have trouble with guys with KO power but don't sleep don't Marcos. A BJJ wizard that would match up quite well with Torres on the ground. His stand u need a lot of work but training with Aldo should help.

FW = Rafael Assuncao - If you don't have him top ten, you should. His submission game is very good, not the best at FW but definetly a threat to anyone willing to play on the ground. Good stand up that still needs some work but has gotten better and better. Behind Wagney and Aldo, this should be your next title contender.

LW = Clay Guida - Just does not stop, if could get past the first round with BJ, I could see him wearing him down and out in a five rounder.

WW = Dustin Hazelett - Slick enough to scare anyone on the ground. Lots of heart and ever improving stand up. Can't wait for him to come back.

MW = Michael Bisping - Seriously underrrated on forums and the MMA internet community. A very well rounded fighter and comfortable anywhere he gets taken or takes the fight. I wouldn't pick him against Anderson but he's way better than given credit for.

LHW = Steve Cantwell - Greatly impressive against Luis Cain in only his 8th fight and it was his first that went the distance. His footwork is good and he was throwing some very nice kicks. He's the first one to make Cain look human as Cantwell actually had him tired and wobbly at one point.

HW = Junior Dos Santos - Doesn't get nearly enough press. Overshadowed by Cain and Carwin, Junior actually has the most impressive win out of the three and it was over the highly ranked and regarded Fabricio Werdum. Already claiming a win over a top ten and annihilating Stephan Struve (another dark horse), Santos is on his way to a title shot and I wouldn't pick against him.

ALLROY1420 · 07-04-2009, 06:45 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by WBC Rezen

BW = Marcos "Louro" Galvao - Has proven to have trouble with guys with KO power but don't sleep don't Marcos. A BJJ wizard that would match up quite well with Torres on the ground. His stand u need a lot of work but training with Aldo should help.

FW = Rafael Assuncao - If you don't have him top ten, you should. His submission game is very good, not the best at FW but definetly a threat to anyone willing to play on the ground. Good stand up that still needs some work but has gotten better and better. Behind Wagney and Aldo, this should be your next title contender.

LW = Clay Guida - Just does not stop, if could get past the first round with BJ, I could see him wearing him down and out in a five rounder.

WW = Dustin Hazelett - Slick enough to scare anyone on the ground. Lots of heart and ever improving stand up. Can't wait for him to come back.

MW = Michael Bisping - Seriously underrrated on forums and the MMA internet community. A very well rounded fighter and comfortable anywhere he gets taken or takes the fight. I wouldn't pick him against Anderson but he's way better than given credit for.

LHW = Steve Cantwell - Greatly impressive against Luis Cain in only his 8th fight and it was his first that went the distance. His footwork is good and he was throwing some very nice kicks. He's the first one to make Cain look human as Cantwell actually had him tired and wobbly at one point.

HW = Junior Dos Santos - Doesn't get nearly enough press. Overshadowed by Cain and Carwin, Junior actually has the most impressive win out of the three and it was over the highly ranked and regarded Fabricio Werdum. Already claiming a win over a top ten and annihilating Stephan Struve (another dark horse), Santos is on his way to a title shot and I wouldn't pick against him.

Like the Hazelett/Cantwell picks.

boyoboyoboy · 07-04-2009, 06:54 AM

LW: Andy Wang

Mochan · 07-04-2009, 06:58 AM

Good call on Hazelett, I rather him over Donger or Yoshida. The Donger has just shown he lacks in cardio and his judo is great but his finishing power is not. He has so many holes left to plug.

By contrast Hazelett's submission game is already well-proven and he can go the rounds.

Yoshida is a much better pick than Dong, but I would just like to see him do better against more well-known UFC WWs. That KO against Kos was just brutal.

ALLROY1420 · 07-04-2009, 07:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Mochan

Good call on Hazelett, I rather him over Donger or Yoshida. The Donger has just shown he lacks in cardio and his judo is great but his finishing power is not. He has so many holes left to plug.

By contrast Hazelett's submission game is already well-proven and he can go the rounds.

Yoshida is a much better pick than Dong, but I would just like to see him do better against more well-known UFC WWs. That KO against Kos was just brutal.

You guys shouldn't sleep on "stun gun." He arguably beat Karo in their fight. Also had a war with Matt Brown....who could also be catagorized in this thread.