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PRIDE 28 After Thought
October 31, 2004 Saitama Super Arena Saitama, Japan
Well, after watching the PRIDE 28 Pay-Per-View, the Wanderlei Silva vs. Quentin Jackson left me wanting more. This is easily one of the best fights I have ever seen and my nomination for fight of the year.
The Silva \ Jackson fight had it all. Jackson pressing the action and Silva not backing off. In a fight of this stature, you knew neither fighter would let it go to the judges and it showed in the first round. Silva trying to knockout Jackson with the punches, kicks, and knees that he is known for while Jackson did an incredible job of blocking. As the fight went to the ground, Jackson took advantage and was able to hold Silva down and started executing some ground-n-pound (GnP). Now, Silva did a good job from his back in the beginning, but Jackson started to find openings and for a few moments, as the first round came to an end, it looked like Jackson was going to be able to finish Silva off but then the bell sounded. During the first round, Jackson sustained a cut and at the end of the round, his eye started to look swollen.
As the next round was about to start, Jackson looked a little tired while Silva looked pissed (and why not, he almost got finished off which hasn't happened to him a quite a while). The second round started and Silva came at Jackson hard, landing a good punch that would have taken down most fighters but Jackson just pushed forward. Jackson then gets caught with a knee that takes him out.
Silva took a lot of punishment and still came back to pull out the victory - much credit to him. Jackson put up one heck of a fight. I would love to see a third match between these two. Both times they have battled, each one has stunned the other. Silva may have the two w's, but Jackson has made his presence felt and then some. Now, this isn't like Silva vs. Sakuraba - Saku fought Silva three times and lost each time but Saku never had Silva in any trouble that I can remember. No disrespect to Saku, he's a great fighter, it's just that Saku doesn't match-up well with Silva - Jackson does and has proven it.
I have no doubt Jackson will be a champion and Silva has proven time and time again that he deserves to be champion. I can't begin to explain how much respect I have for both of these fighters. I hope everyone out there appreciates what these two men put out there at PRIDE 28.
To both fighters - You guys put on a great fight and should be extremely proud of your performances. The respect the fighters gave each other at the end of the fight says it all.
This is why I love MMA. Al
(11/1/04)
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