Mariusz Pudzianowski - World's Strongest Man going in to MMA

[Gabe Rinaldi]

check it out...

http://www.mmatko.com/mariusz-pudzianowski-vs-marcin-najman-fight-video-ksw-12-mma/

I want to see him get a bit more fighting skill, then take on Brock. It would be nice to see Brock be the little weak guy in a fight :)

[Shaun Conness]

Damn! He would give Brock a run for his money.

[Gabe Rinaldi]

Damn! He would give Brock a run for his money.

I'm not sure he would give Brock a run for his money just yet. Brock has much better fighting skill. It would still make for an interesting fight as Mariusz is tons stronger than Brock. At this point the betting man would likely pick Brock. Give Mariusz 3-5 years or so to train mma and things could get very interesting.

[Aaron Ryan]

Oh my goodness. I think that was 0% skill yet he completely dominated. If he continues training he will definitely be a force.

[Greg Nagaye]

I don't know, he's 32...3-5 years of training puts him real close to 40. He should stick to the "carnival" act in smaller companies and stay as far from Strikeforce and the UFC as possible. Guys like Fedor, Brock, Lashley, etc. would not consider him a threat. He left himself completely open when he threw those leg kicks.

[Gabe Rinaldi]

He's 32 so in 3-5 years he'll be 35-37.....Randy Couture first entered the Octagon in his mid 30's. Granted Randy had an excellent wrestling base and a bit of boxing too. It looks like Mariusz has some karate and boxing background. However, the dude is 6'1", 313lbs and lean. Oh yeah, and 5 times World Strongest Man. I think if he keeps training he could do something interesting in organizations like Strikeforce or the UFC. He does need quite a bit of mma training though. Anyone with his sporting background has discipline if he puts his mind to it. Do you think he would be harder to knock out with a 21" neck?....oh yeah, he also deadlifts 869 lbs. Do you think he would be harder to submit with his crazy strength?

[Aaron Ryan]

Definitely Harder to knock out, definitely harder to submit. Normally, if you are fighting someone that is above and beyond your strength level I think attacking the neck with chokes or cranks would do. I am not so sure that this method would work on him.

Training someone to keep their hands up doesn't take too long. I think it will be interesting to see him fight more experienced competition.

Also, I bet if Brock tried to armbar him that he could bicep curl his way out of it.

[Greg Nagaye]

I don't know, but the basic definition of a submission hold is using your entire body to overpower one joint. There have been plenty of "crazy strong" men in MMA (granted, not his level), but it doesn't matter how strong you are, you can't train your arteries in your neck, you can't bicep curl out of a deep arm-bar, etc.

Randy was a freak, and came in during the late 90's...not exactly the booming times of the UFC. Now kids are coming into the MMA seen having only trained in MMA...too little, too late for Mariusz.

Who knows, though, his freakish strength might prove to be enough to overcome a skill deficit. But you have to look at "big v. small" matchups of the past. Spider (a true middle) beat Rich Franklin (a true LH) and Sakuraba v. any number of guys 40+lbs heavier.

I will always bet on skill and experience.

[Gabe Rinaldi]

If you bet on skill vs experience in the Frank Mir vs Brock Lesnar 2 fight, then you would have lost. The biggest difference in that fight was Brock dominated Frank physically. As such we now see Frank Mir training with Mark Philippi to bring up his lacking strength levels:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2oPRunkqc7I

I think we basically agree, but I give a bit more credit to extreme strength and power than you do.

Greg, you have more fighting experience than Mariusz Pudzianowski. Do you think you could beat him in a fight? Aaron, you also have more fighting experience than the 5 time WSM...do you think you could take him in a fight? I don't have any fighting experience so I'm just a sofa fighter :)

[Greg Nagaye]

Greg, you have more fighting experience than Mariusz Pudzianowski. Do you think you could beat him in a fight? Aaron, you also have more fighting experience than the 5 time WSM...do you think you could take him in a fight? I don't have any fighting experience so I'm just a sofa fighter :)

I could take him...:p

Lesnar is a freak of nature, with years of wrestling experience, and great coaching in Minneapolis. I also think Mir is a bit overrated...just a bit. Sapp had a sham of a career in MMA. Anyone remember Paul Varelans, Hong Man Choi, etc.? Bob Sapp (6'4"/340 lbs) just got beat by Ikuhisa Minowa (5'9"/198).

I guess I'm just not a fan of the spectacle fighter. If they have time and put in the effort (i.e. Kimbo lately), then I'll give them a chance and buy the PPV. Until then, if Brock gets better, he will also have 3-5 years to improve, get stronger, etc.

The sport needs legitimacy with the mainstream...still. You have boxing guys, not just the fighters, like Lampley putting the sports down. Spectacle fights don't help things out.

[Greg Nagaye]

Thanks for that vid, Gabe...very cool. I still think Mir has had his shot and it's time for some other names to get in the mix. It's too bad Dana White and Scott Coker couldn't come together and set up the Lesnar v. Fedor superfight...imagine the buy rates on that PPV. But, I've worked for Coker, so I know he won't budge...I don't think Dana would either. Or the Lesnar v. Lashley fight...too bad.

[Greg Nagaye]

We might see our first test of Mariusz's abilities, it's being reported by the Boston Herald that Tim Sylvia, former UFC HW champ, will be fighting Pudzianowski on April 23rd in Worcester, MA.

REportedly, this card will also feature Rich Clementi, Yves Edwards, and Houston Alexander.

[Gabe Rinaldi]

Hmmm....a logical betting man should pick Silvia, but I would rather Marisz win. It will be interesting.