The Precise moment when Tim Sylvia hate really started ...

Zero_Sen · 01-14-2007, 02:33 PM

Alot of MMA fans hate (and hate on) Tim Sylvia. That's not a huge secret.

But where did it all begin?

I rewatched Sylvia-Gan MgGee last night on DVD, and I think part of the answer might lie there.

Tim went into that fight as a 5-1 underdog, and dispatched MgGee in fairly convincing fashion. This is the stuff that bandwagons and increases in respect are made of.

But after the win, Rogan and Sylvia both may have gone too far (at least in terms of making statements that would incur the wrath of sherdoggers and UG posters) ...

Immediately following the win, Rogan says "Yeah. Emelianenko Fedor, the Pride HW champ, what's up now? Bring Fedor on now. Because with that win, Tim Sylvia has become the #1 HW in the world."

And in the post-fight, Sylvia asks for the mic back from Eddie Bravo and says "I just want to say that there has been alot of talk about Pride HWs being the best in the world. I say bring them on. I say bring them on and I'll deal with them."

While a general trend of Tim hate amongst MMA fans is definitely no secret, neither is the almost universal love (and in some cases, serious worship) of Fedor.

In fact, I might go as far as to say that Tim and Fedor are exact opposites in terms of fan love/hate.

Its also no secret that a preference for Pride (and love of their HWs) is the general trend amongst MMA fans (see: Sherdog preference polls and recent threads re: demoting CC in the rankings).

Could it be that Fedor is so beloved, and that Pride is so fiercely defended and preferred, that the exact moment where Rogan and Tim placed Tim in relation to Fedor and the Pride HWs was the exact moment when Tim hate and Tim bashing really took off?

Just a thought. Let me know what you all think.

NaglfarCommando · 01-14-2007, 02:35 PM

His birth.

Flexwave2003 · 01-14-2007, 02:38 PM

Nobody likes Sylvia because hes huge, hes ugly and his personality sucks. He needs to keep his mouth shut, and just start knocking people out badly. Thats when his rep will improve, until then.......he will still look sloopy, and will say shit that makes you want to cringe and thats why Sylvia gets little respect.

Fedor, is definitely worshipped bye some...........and for good reason too. The man, is simply unbelievable.

mysexisartsy · 01-14-2007, 02:40 PM

No one hated Sylvia then. In fact ,when Sylvia was KO'ing people and was undefeated, there was a large contingent of Sylvia fans, even around these parts. Sylvia simply became hated when it became convenient for people to dismiss him as garbage after he tested positive for steroids and was stripped, and it only escalated with his two ensuing losses. While ardent PRIDE fans at the time obviously weren't fond of Sylvia calling out Fedor and what have you, the hate train didn't start until Sylvia was busted.

JamesArk · 01-14-2007, 02:40 PM

I'm gonna go with either a) Taking Steroids, or b) Beating Arlovski followed by a slow ass shit decision with Arlovski. Or c) All of the above.

MethadoneMan · 01-14-2007, 02:42 PM

Where did the hate start for me?

I'm a big AA fan and when Timmy beat my boy 2 times in a row I swore eternal hate for the man. After that he just keeps digging himself deeper and deeper with his loud mouth and boring fights.

7Severn7 · 01-14-2007, 02:45 PM

The roid thing.

thegunney · 01-14-2007, 02:45 PM

I dislike him for the fact that he defends the HW belt, instead of fighting for it!!

Now that may sound retarded, but what I mean is he never pushes a fight. I mean he had the Snowman in trouble a few times, and didnt push for the finish. Ditto the bore-fest 5 round decision over Arlovski.

And the fact that he thinks he is the greatest HW in the World, when right now (well till Cro Cop appeared) the UFC HW division was a bit weak.

Piaggio · 01-14-2007, 02:45 PM

I don't really dislike Sylvia, even tough I know he's far from being the best HW in the world I think he would do just fine against some of the top. Let's watch his fight against Mirko and then you can talk all the smack you want. Know something? not always the better fighter wins

Shaydawg · 01-14-2007, 02:46 PM

When I saw him on Blind Date.

I think your post is well thought out, but I am sure some people just jumped on the I Hate Tim band wagon and others started to dislike him at different points in his career. Probably not having fought any of the top HW's in the world yet still acting like he is the best in the world because he is the UFC champion did it for most at some point.

Tim would have been better off saying things like, "I cant wait for my next fight, I know the UFC will bring me the best competition out there so I can prove my worth to the world" I know lame but humility after defeat would have served him better.