Gilbert Melendez vs. Shinya Aoki!

knee2face · 10-08-2006, 11:10 PM

wow I cant believe Pride put this match together already

two really good fighters who havent had a bad loss yet. I wouldve like to have seen PRIDE give these guys a few more tune up fights before this though. i'm kind of pissed that one of these guys will have to get a Loss, but at the same time how can you complain about them putting on such a great match! It's likely to set up a #1 contenders match with Ishida. this division is really stacked in Pride (gomi, hansen, aurelio, ishida, kawajiri, aoki, melendez)

I got Aoki winning this.

KrazyKanadian · 10-08-2006, 11:11 PM

This fight is excellent. I say Akoi subs him late.

Wrestler189 · 10-08-2006, 11:13 PM

i dont understand how aoki can win. aoki has incredible subs form guard, but melendez is a far superior boxer and wrestler. aoki will never be able to get a takedown on him. also, dont forget that as a blue belt, melendez competed in ADCC. he has great grappling of his own and he will stay away from the ground as much as possible using his pwoer and technique. bad matchup for Aoki...styles make fights

tdub · 10-08-2006, 11:23 PM

who needs tune up fights? pride is where the best fighters are. we will see which one deserves to be there!

JJ86 · 10-08-2006, 11:27 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Wrestler189

i dont understand how aoki can win. aoki has incredible subs form guard, but melendez is a far superior boxer and wrestler. aoki will never be able to get a takedown on him. also, dont forget that as a blue belt, melendez competed in ADCC. he has great grappling of his own and he will stay away from the ground as much as possible using his pwoer and technique. bad matchup for Aoki...styles make fights

Aoki has good takedowns, but I still think Melendaz takes this one.

hypocalking · 10-08-2006, 11:29 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by knee2face

wow I cant believe Pride put this match together already

two really good fighters who havent had a bad loss yet. I wouldve like to have seen PRIDE give these guys a few more tune up fights before this though. i'm kind of pissed that one of these guys will have to get a Loss, but at the same time how can you complain about them putting on such a great match! It's likely to set up a #1 contenders match with Ishida. this division is really stacked in Pride (gomi, hansen, aurelio, ishida, kawajiri, aoki, melendez)

I got Aoki winning this.

You forgot to mention Sakurai & Azeredo.

Hohenheim · 10-08-2006, 11:33 PM

Great fight, I like Aoki, I think he is very talented and truly a bjj wizard, but I think he is going to have a very tough time against Melendez, I think he will have big trouble trying to take him down. Melendez is a well rounded fighter, he is better in standup than Aoki, and he has very explosive moves, ans of course his wrestling is incredible. This fight will be a true test for Aoki´s skills. I think the winner of this match will be up there, with Pride contenders like Ishida or Kawajiri, maybe the winner of this match will get to fight with Ishida and decide the num. 1 contender for Gomi´s title, that is if he defends succesfully his belt against Aurelio.
I´m taking Melendez by Decision

Wrestler189 · 10-08-2006, 11:33 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by JJ86

Aoki has good takedowns, but I still think Melendaz takes this one.

if guida had trouble taking down melendez, no way Aoki can. Melendez wont be taken down unless he chooses to go to the ground. and seeing as he would much rather go for the KO than the sub, i say it doesnt go to the ground (Cept when aoki pulls guard and melendez stands up). becasue melendez will be careful nto to get taken down, i see him winning a dec instead of goign for the KO