The Odds: Can Stephan Bonnar win at UFC 153?
Posted on September 15, 2012, 09:56 AM by Bryan FontezIf you’re an MMA fan who’s been alive and on the internet these past few weeks, you’d have been witness to the ever changing landscape that is the UFC, which continues to provide us with enough drama to make Desperate House Wives look like a poetry reading. Dana White hit the nail on the head and said it best when he stated that life itself is exciting enough, and that he couldn’t possibly write a better script to make this business more interesting.
With that said, after a two week period of rollercoaster headlines in the MMA universe, we are yet again provided with controversial yet entertaining changes. Stephan Bonnar, the proverbial ying to the yang of the first ever TUF Finale and the ultimate launching point for the UFC’s popularity, has been given… No utterly BLESSED with an opportunity to lose to fight Anderson Silva.
Now you may be asking two questions “Why should I watch a Light-heavyweight not even remotely ranked in the top 10, fight the number one p4p fighter on the planet earth?” And “Why is this fight even happening?” Well the answers are simple… #1 Cause it’ll be fun (At this point I think I’d enjoy watching Anderson Silva fight a giraffe) and #2 because it can.
As most of these articles usually go, I’ll now semi-pointlessly proceed to breakdown the elements of this fight, and hopefully we can find a reason to give Bonnar something better than a punchers chance to win this fight…
Striking
Silva by a (insert catastrophic natural disaster here). No shot in hell Bonnar is successful on the feet, he’s got loads of Kickboxing experience, a black belt in Taekwondo and he’s constantly training in Muay Thai, but at the end of the day, his rhythm is jerky, his timing is mediocre, he’s semi-lethargic in his movements and he telegraphs everything he throws. He’s basically a slightly slower and less skilled Forrest Griffin. Yet in a strange way, he seems to be mentally/psychologically tougher. Hmmmmm.
Wrestling
Bonnar by the leg of a centipede. Only because I have yet to see Anderson Silva attempt to take any of his opponents down. But does it really make any difference?
Submissions
Silva, but Bonnar is a surprisingly good Jiu-Jitsu practitioner. I’d never put him in the “elite” category, but I will say that his submission skills are proficient and underrated, just nowhere near those of Silva.
Toughness
Bonnar. Silva is the best in the world, a UFC Champion, and is no doubt very tough. But something tells me Bonnar has enough screws loose and a tolerance for pain high enough to take a bigger beating than Silva could. Just picture zapping them both with electric gum, I envision Silva flinching, fleeing like a little girl and then moon-walking all the way home, while I picture Bonnar gripping the gum tighter, staring past my eyes and deep into my soul, while shrieking in psychotically evil laughter. Now THAT scares me.
Conclusion
In all fairness, I don’t even give Bonnar a punchers chance at this one. He’s basically going into a gun fight, with the equivalent of the flower you can find on the Joker’s lapel in the very first Batman film, only instead of squirting acid, it shoots formal invitations to punch him in the face repeatedly. Yet, in all seriousness, his toughness and durability lead me to believe that he has a better chance at lasting five rounds than any of Silva’s previous opponents. Luckily for Bonnar, this one is only three rounds. But I seriously think he can and most likely will make it the distance. Why? Because he’s never been finished. Don’t believe me? Look it up, I’ll give you a second…
See?? I almost couldn’t believe it myself. But aside from a few Doctor’s stoppages, Bonnar has NEVER been finished in his career, which leads me to believe that this will be an entertaining fight regardless of the outcome. Besides, it’s not about the destination, it’s about the journey. And hell, how crazy would it be if Bonnar pulled off the upset in Brazil? Now THAT would be interesting.
Let me know what you think in the comments!
Comments
Bonnar has got this haha I cant wait to see the hype videos for this one trying to convince me this is a legitimate matchup. Although I am always one for the underdog, Bonnar does not even begin to qualify as an underdog this is like rocky vs apollo and mr.t at the same time and instead of gloves Mr.T just has huge rings on
I like Bonnar. Win or lose, he'll bring it to the champ. Can't wait for this war...
I think Bonnar will put up a much better fight that Forrest Griffin did. Bonnar is a warrior and can take a beating. I am looking forward to this matchup. Silva will probably win but Bonnar in the end will make Silva know that he was in a fight.
Bring what to the Champ?
he has nothing to lose, war bonner!
It's going to be kind of hard to watch my favorite active fighter, Anderson Silva, pick apart one of my favorite fighters. It should be a good fight nonetheless.The G.O.A.T via TKO - round 3.
Thumbs down. Bonnar has 0.1% chance. Only a madman would buy this card.
Why only a madman? I for one being a huge Silva fan can't wait to watch the striking performance he's going to put on. Moreless whoever silva fights I don't give them almost any chance so it's no different for me. I just buy the cards to watch how bad he outclasses them
Electric Gum ?
You've made Bonnar into a cartoon Character - And Silva is a little girl?
I can picture the kid from Toy story - playing this with his UfC action figures ( I have kids but don't act like you didn't watch it - it was good stuff)
Bonnar has a chance yes without a doubt - but we don't need to go upstairs to your room - to watch you play with your toys so that you can show us how you think it would go down - Wow... I'm a prick! - sorry about that... but it's true.
i hope the planets align this night and bonner wins.
would be awesome so many counting him out...go on steph x
No, he cant
I've got more chance of ****ing arianny celeste!
I wouldn't last 1 min with her - but I would take her on short notice.
Best quote on lowkick ever ...lol
"He’s basically going into a gun fight, with the equivalent of the flower you can find on the Joker’s lapel in the very first Batman film, only instead of squirting acid, it shoots formal invitations to punch him in the face repeatedly"
Thanks!
yea, beat me to it, was gonna say something about the flower sending ivitations...definatly hillarious.
Bob Sapp has more chance to win a fight.
This would be a bigger upset than GSP Serra, Fedor Werdum, Fitch Hendricks, BJ Edgar combined!!!
I found this write up entertaining.
Mission Accomplished!
genuinely the most intentionally funny thing i've read on lowkick. Well done sir, more of the same please.
LMAO "Intentionally". I'll do my best man!
Silava no KO power Bonnar can take punches.On the ground Silva,s wrestling sucks i dont think Silva gona submit Bonnar i think this is dengerus fight for Silva if Bonnar gets on top posotion
lol silva doesnt have power. ah man that just brought tears to my eyes. but boner will have atleast have a 15 pound advantage. i do agree boners best chance is getting top position and magically pulling off a sub. we know silva doesnt take significant damage from the bottom. i see silva winning via stoppage from cuts. silva will probably end up in guard then making sushi out of boners face with elbows
2 "n"'s in " Bonner". 15 pound advantage eh ! hell a 15 pound boner is huge on its own, but to have 15 pounds advantage over something else, well that is pre-historic to say the least.
huh? i knew theres two Ns in bonnar but i didnt know theres two Ns in Boner.
if i put two Ns in boner people will probably think i just mispelled his name
rofl wow this comment made my day now on a serious note bonnar as NO CHANCE AT ALL
No KO power? What an odd thing to say.
Anderson's won knock out of the night like 5 times and one punch KOd James Irvin who will be about Bonnar's size.
Actually, aside from using his kicks, he's right. Anderson's never really KO'd anyone in his entire career with his hands.
He doesn't load up, he just peppers you with extremely frustrating and damaging pin point accuracy. Enough to put you down, but not enough to leave you limp and parting with your consciousness.
Exactly, Silva is far from being a power puncher. It is more his nearly perfect timing that knocks people down.
...Did he kick forrest?
I think forrest kinda ran into his hand...
With 4 oz. gloves anybody has a chance. Me thinks Silva will pick him apart.
No
Damn! You beat me to it. That said, No.
no
I don't think Bonnar has a chance in hell.
However, he has nothing to lose except consciousness and what is left of his rugged good looks.
When Forest Griffin entered the cage against Silva--I knew the fight was lost by the look on his face. The Silva Psyche Effect had him.
Psychology is huge in fighting--and Bonnar must be thinking--WTF--I'm going for broke--no one expects me to win.
Bonnar was beaten up by Jon Jones--but he survived the fight when many others such as Shogun, Rampage, Machida, Bader, Matsyushenko, Vera, Hamill etc did not.
Bonnar has improved his ground game in the last few years--and if he can survive Silva's striking--and get it to the ground--he might have a ghost of a chance.
One thing for sure---Bonnar brings it, and he knows is name will be immortalized if he defeats the consensus P4P best in the world.
That's a lot of motivation--nothing to lose and everything to gain.
No. He cannot.
never say never...
tito ALWAYS said he could beat chuck, and eventually he di...oh
bonnar to win !!!
What an end to the year IF Vitor gets Jones and Bonnar gets Silva...
I think he has a good chance as long as the fight is not fixed like the Forest fight. That fight was a WWE smackdown episode. Forest get hit and falls to the ground with legs flying up in the air and everything. Acting like he was so hurt, and everyone who know how tough Forest is know he can take a punch. Then after he goes running out of the stadium. If he was really that hurt would he be doing that. That fight was rigged really bad.
rigged?? lol hes what forrest said lol
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=V1R50LpFh_M
OMFG I almost puked laughing!
Just because someone jokes about how they got hit doesn't mean it wasn't a fixed fight. Forest always jokes about shit, but if you notice when he gets serious he get serious in his interviews. Also actions speak louder than words. I'm just saying it looks faked to me. I've never seen a guy in a UFC fight get knocked down and there legs go flying up in the air and after go running out. Especially someone who is know for his chin and toughness.
How bout him fighting the greatest ever!???
I understand why you say Bonnar has a chance at lasting the distance, I just don't think it is going to happen. He is way to easy to hit, and Silva is way to accurate and powerful for Bonnar to last 3 rounds.
What I really like about this math-up and the fact that the fight will happen in Brazil is that I think Bonnar is not the kind of guy that will be impressed by the crowd. I think he's gonna be hungry and will fight with even more heart than we've seen before. I think he's gonna eat everything Silva will serve him and turn the fight into a crazy brawl in the second round.
I think this is one of the best fight they cound have make for Silva and realy look forward to this one.
If he eats everything Silva serves him he will get way too full and have to take a nap. Silva wins this thanksgiving style.