Gabriel Gonzaga will earn title shot with win over Shane Carwin UFC 96

From Team Link Lead Trainer, Marco Alvan, via BrasilCombate.com.br:

“Gabriel is in Brazil training a lot of Brazilian Jiu Jitsu where we believe will be the key to win this match…. It’s going to be a tough fight and [if he wins] Napao (Gonzaga) will have [earned the right] to face the winner of Mir vs. Lesnar. But we’re not thinking about that because we have to respect Carwin and we’re
focused on this fight.”










LINK

Then Gonzaga is the next HW champ wheather he fights Mir or Brock.

Does Carwin get a title shot if he beats Gonzaga. Because the fight is still a toss up for me.

I think Gonzaga vs Mir would be good, I have gonzaga winning that.

Gonzaga vs Lesnar, I'd prolly take lesnar.

This fight is not easy to call, Carwin is a beast and he train with Greg Jackson, not sure if it is full time but ..

We never really saw Carwin's sub defence but maybe we will have a surprise.

i think this has been mentioned somewhere, that winner gets a tittle shot....i'd see it, if gonzaga beats carwin desively, then he deserves it...the opposite being for carwin.....carwin vs lesnar maybe? that would be a lot athleticisim.....carwin weight at a cut 260 his last fight, better boxing with literally bigger hands than brock...plus two division II national wrestling championships, more experience.....i like his chances agaisnt lesnar....but im getting ahead of myself here

nice, his fight with carwin is no gimmy but he is definitely the favorite. and i think he matches up well with both mir and lesnar, i don't know if he would beat either one but he has the fighting style that will give them trouble.

if he can beat Carwin... he'll deserve another shot at holding the Heavyweight championship. I think Gonzaga vs. Kongo, with the winner getting a title shot would have made much more sense though.

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Posted by coldchillin

if he can beat Carwin... he'll deserve another shot at holding the Heavyweight championship. I think Gonzaga vs. Kongo, with the winner getting a title shot would have made much more sense though.

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Gonzaga would school Kongo. Not sure why Kongo thinks he is in the title mix, I haven't seen him beat anyone worthwhile except Cro Cop who wasn't himself anyways, lost to Herring and then beat Evensen and Al-Turk, who are they?

Gonzaga will gas in round 2.
Proboably a 2nd round KO for Carwin

Don't expect a small gas tank this time around. Gabriel has spent a lot of time expanding Team Link and instructing, and it has taken its toll at times, because he hasn't had the time to train like he should.

This time around he's taking his training seriously, and will be back in Massachusetts after a seminar at the Team Link Uberlandia. Gabriel has been training his BJJ like crazy not only in anticipation of Carwin but also for his superfight at Naga against, ATT member and 2008 Pan American winner Luigi Mondelli.

He's also planning on entering the Pan Am and Worlds in 2009. Rest assured boys it's going to be a huge year for Napao!

if gonzaga can get by the wrestling of carwin then old franky or brock are going to be in some serious trouble.

IMO Gonzaga is a very very tough guy very talanted and he's got some very impressive wins I'm just not totally convinced he's all some think he is IMO he's got no heart and when someone gets him into trouble he folds pretty easily

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Posted by Gipper

if gonzaga can get by the wrestling of carwin then old franky or brock are going to be in some serious trouble.

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I think Gonzaga is going to run through Carwin. I see him just hurtung him really fast.

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Posted by imanidiot777
Gonzaga would school Kongo. Not sure why Kongo thinks he is in the title mix, I haven't seen him beat anyone worthwhile except Cro Cop who wasn't himself anyways, lost to Herring and then beat Evensen and Al-Turk, who are they?

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People might be able to make the same argument for Gonzaga. Who else has he defeated besides Cro Cop? (but I will say that Gonzaga definitely received plenty of style points for finishing him instead of taking him to a decision like Kongo)


Gonzaga lost to Couture and Werdum, and then beat McCully and Hendricks. After losses to Couture and Werdum, a lot of people now think that Gonzaga is an amazing fighter until his opponents start to fight back.

Granted, I do think that Gonzaga would win in a fight against Kongo.

Anyway, I don't hate the decision the UFC is making, but rather it is unfortunate that there is not as much depth in the HW division to make a clear cut #1 contender. (Ex. Fitch winning 8 in a row, Alves 7 in a row, Florian 5+ in a row, etc...).

Gonzaga kicks like a mule, and probably punches like one too. The guy is beastly strong for his size.

That being said- Carwin is a game competitor who will definitely bring it to Gonzaga. Carwin will have size advantage, as well. Unless Gonzaga adapts the mindset of finishing Carwin with his superior skillset instead of his superior physicality it could be a big upset for Carwin, because Gonzaga will not be physically superior to Carwin.

I think that Carwin will knock him out in the second. I have major respect for GG, but Carwin is a freak.

winner should face kongo, then title shot

I think Randy should fight Antonio for the #1 contender in April, and If Gonzaga wins his next fight, he should get the title shot in the summer. As for kongo if he keeps winning his shot should be around this time of year next year or earlier in the fall.

Gonzaga is the man. I'm mad excited for the fight with Carwin, and any match up they could put him in I'd like to see. Vs. Mir, Lesnar, Nog, Kongo...I'd like to see Gonzaga against any one of those guys.

carwin is no push over he could knock him out with one punch

Here's how it could play out.


A) Gonzaga beats Carwin

1. Mir beats Lesnar: Gonzaga has a good chance against Mir
with his power and submission defense.

2. Lesnar beats Mir: Gonzaga has little chance against Lesnar
because Mir couldn't submit Lesnar, and that would be Gonzaga's
only chance of victory.


B) Carwin beats Gonzaga

3. Mir beats Lesnar: Carwin has a legit shot at the title after
showing he has submission defense in his win against
Gonzaga.

4. Lesnar beats Mir: We get a battle of the beasts for the HW title.



I'm hoping we get #4.

Hoping GG can pull this off but I have a bad feeling the size of Shane's fists will come into play!

This is such a tough one to call.