Evan Tanner – MMA’s Maverick is Back
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Evan Tanner – MMA’s Maverick is Back
CornishMMA
2/25/08 1:48:29PM
Evan Tanner’s boat had sunk – literally. A former UFC middleweight champion and one of the organization’s most popular fighters ever since he made his debut in the Octagon at UFC 18 back in 1999, Tanner had been out of action since an April 2006 win over Justin Levens, and by late 2007, his life was careening out of control, a journey he documented on the internet.
In September of last year though, he got the sign he needed that the way he was living wasn’t productive and that he needed to make a change. It was a painful sign, as the 1939 sailboat he owned proved to be far from seaworthy, and it sunk in Mission Bay in California.
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In September of last year though, he got the sign he needed that the way he was living wasn’t productive and that he needed to make a change. It was a painful sign, as the 1939 sailboat he owned proved to be far from seaworthy, and it sunk in Mission Bay in California.
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Kpro
2/25/08 3:02:36PM
silverbullet
2/25/08 4:01:16PM
Tanner is one of my all-time favorite fighters. I hope that he comes back with a vengeance.
gartface
2/25/08 4:25:42PM
Really hope he beats Okami.
BlazinSaddle
2/25/08 6:28:28PM
tanner will win, hes got too much for okami, too strong and will use that to get him down and GnP him, okami has a chin too if anyone saw how badly amar suloev wooped on him or even when anderson KO'd him, go tanner, no more boring decision wins for okami
ToeZup
2/25/08 6:52:23PM
If Tanner comes back as the Tanner we remember then this fight is his.
Otherwise Okami will squeak out a decision. Tanner has too much heart to be stopped it would be a decision at best for Okami.
Otherwise Okami will squeak out a decision. Tanner has too much heart to be stopped it would be a decision at best for Okami.
kasual
2/25/08 7:23:17PM
I would really like to see Tanner win this fight but I think he has a lot going against him. Okami has been on a tear lately, aside from dropping the decision to Franklin he has been unstoppable. Plus he is a very physically strong, well rounded and mentally focused fighter. Meanwhile Tanner has been battling personal problems and hasn't been training with a consistent camp for sometime, plus the camps he has been with are not tier 1 camps. Okami might have lost to Franklin but in a decision, Franklin beat Tanner very very badly. The last credible guy Tanner fought was David Terrell and that was almost 3 years ago. Ring rust is one of the toughest things for a fighter to overcome and I think it will get the best of Tanner, the game has changed since he last fought top 10 opposition and it's going to get him badly.
As a fan I think the UFC really needs to beef up that division. If Silva makes it through Henderson there will be no one to challenge him in the division. Silva beat Franklin so badly, twice, that they will never meet again and Franklin would pretty much (and almost has) beat all other opposition. If you can't beat the guy the champ made look foolish what chance to do you have?
As a fan I think the UFC really needs to beef up that division. If Silva makes it through Henderson there will be no one to challenge him in the division. Silva beat Franklin so badly, twice, that they will never meet again and Franklin would pretty much (and almost has) beat all other opposition. If you can't beat the guy the champ made look foolish what chance to do you have?
jrmmaclassics
2/25/08 7:47:47PM
Wondered what happened to Tanner, love his attitude, he is one guy who fights to fight not about the money or fame just the competition. Hope he comes back strong. War Tanner
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gartface
2/25/08 8:39:48PM
Posted by jrmmaclassics
Wondered what happened to Tanner, love his attitude, he is one guy who fights to fight not about the money or fame just the competition. Hope he comes back strong. War Tanner
Because he used to take his pay check and gamble it away. Still love the guy, he's a real stand up guy, no BS.
bullettdodger
2/25/08 10:48:34PM
Posted by kasual
I would really like to see Tanner win this fight but I think he has a lot going against him. Okami has been on a tear lately, aside from dropping the decision to Franklin he has been unstoppable. Plus he is a very physically strong, well rounded and mentally focused fighter. Meanwhile Tanner has been battling personal problems and hasn't been training with a consistent camp for sometime, plus the camps he has been with are not tier 1 camps. Okami might have lost to Franklin but in a decision, Franklin beat Tanner very very badly. The last credible guy Tanner fought was David Terrell and that was almost 3 years ago. Ring rust is one of the toughest things for a fighter to overcome and I think it will get the best of Tanner, the game has changed since he last fought top 10 opposition and it's going to get him badly.
As a fan I think the UFC really needs to beef up that division. If Silva makes it through Henderson there will be no one to challenge him in the division. Silva beat Franklin so badly, twice, that they will never meet again and Franklin would pretty much (and almost has) beat all other opposition. If you can't beat the guy the champ made look foolish what chance to do you have?
Styles make fights and as we've said many times mmath isn't as concrete as some of us like to think. Basically what i'm saying is just because you beat someone doesn't mean that they won't be able to beat someone that beat you (and vice-versa). I hope Tanner wipes the floor with Okami, but thats cause im a Tanner fan :D
WAR TANNER!
kasual
2/25/08 11:32:17PM
Yep, I whole heartedly agree with styles making fights, and mmath not always adding up. Like I said I would like to see Tanner win this fight I just feel that he has more going against him than for him. While the odds may not bear it out I feel Tanner beating Okami after such a long layoff would be an upset.
What I was also getting at was the lack of any real ranking at 185 with the champion being so dominant and the former champ being very strong as well. In some divisions it can at least be considered that there is a contendership for the belt, but I would be hard pressed to even think of a match-up to decide #1 contender for Silva (if he beats Hendo). Situations where they don't have a #1 contender just leads to title matches that kinda don't make sense. Prime example is Jardine, he beats Chuck, the former champ and he makes Griffin cry but he's still way off from a shot. Meanwhile Griffin beats Shogun, a great fighter but no where in the contender list at 205 and is put in for a shot against Jackson. Meanwhile Jardine has to fight Silva, a guy coming off a loss to someone he beat and risk injury, and his title shot if he loses. Who does a guy have to beat to get their title shot. I gotta say champions coaching TUF is the worst thing for the division, contenders have to fight amongst themselves and wait almost a year to see a title shot and risk injury in the meantime
Also, can someone explain WAR (FIGHTERS NAME), maybe I missed that.
What I was also getting at was the lack of any real ranking at 185 with the champion being so dominant and the former champ being very strong as well. In some divisions it can at least be considered that there is a contendership for the belt, but I would be hard pressed to even think of a match-up to decide #1 contender for Silva (if he beats Hendo). Situations where they don't have a #1 contender just leads to title matches that kinda don't make sense. Prime example is Jardine, he beats Chuck, the former champ and he makes Griffin cry but he's still way off from a shot. Meanwhile Griffin beats Shogun, a great fighter but no where in the contender list at 205 and is put in for a shot against Jackson. Meanwhile Jardine has to fight Silva, a guy coming off a loss to someone he beat and risk injury, and his title shot if he loses. Who does a guy have to beat to get their title shot. I gotta say champions coaching TUF is the worst thing for the division, contenders have to fight amongst themselves and wait almost a year to see a title shot and risk injury in the meantime
Also, can someone explain WAR (FIGHTERS NAME), maybe I missed that.
RMFG_187
2/26/08 12:01:01AM
IMO Tanner has no chance on winning in this fight. Okami is up there in top 5 MW. VERY Powerful, great wrestling and GnP. Tanner really has his hands full . He hasn't been in The Octagon for almost 2 years! A very long time, also considering that his comeback fight is against Yushin.
Good Luck Tanner
Okami UD
PS. im a little tipsy now, so my opinion might change by 2morro.
Good Luck Tanner
Okami UD
PS. im a little tipsy now, so my opinion might change by 2morro.
LayinFrame
2/26/08 2:02:09AM
Posted by RMFG_187
IMO Tanner has no chance on winning in this fight. Okami is up there in top 5 MW. VERY Powerful, great wrestling and GnP. Tanner really has his hands full . He hasn't been in The Octagon for almost 2 years! A very long time, also considering that his comeback fight is against Yushin.
Good Luck Tanner
Okami UD
PS. im a little tipsy now, so my opinion might change by 2morro.
i truelly do hope so. all of okami's fights are boring imo. tanner has always been a great fighter to watch, and shit right now he has nothing to lose. his sail boat is gone, his money is gone. hes still got his hippy ass heart tho.
telnights
2/26/08 3:56:41AM
I love to watch Tanner fight because the guys got so much heart. I just wish he would have taken a different fight for his comeback.
jakeiceman
2/29/08 6:26:23PM
Come on people!! Tanner has one of the biggest hearts in the game...and he sure as hell does not suck. I know Okami is powerful but Tanner has pretty good himself as well as fairly strong submissions. I am picking him to take this...WAR TANNER