Fighters Only

Issue 041

September 2005

The next 31 days are crammed full of MMA goodness – we asked four very different people their thoughts on what is to come.

1) The Fighter

Paul ‘Metabolic’ McVeigh, Cage Warriors champion.

2) The Writer

Mick Bower, long-time writer on combat sports.

3) The Fan

Richard Ditchfield, a 37-year-old store manager from Kent.

4) The Insider

Ian Dean, Cage Warriors matchmaker.

Should Anderson Silva stay at middleweight or continue to bounce between 185lb and 205lb?

Paul McVeigh

He should stay at middleweight, people up a weight hit you much harder. I’ve competed above my weight and it sucks balls. Bigger guys make your job a lot harder.

Mick Bower

I think he should stay at middleweight because that seems to be his natural weight, but if there are big fights for him at 205, then there is no reason he can’t take them as well.

Richard Ditchfield

He’s a fighter’s fighter. He’s the type of guy who could go up to 205 and give them a run for their money. There’s no one about at 185lb to challenge him. He would definitely be able to.

Ian Dean

Stick at middle, unless he really wants to make a go at the title. What’s the point in taking on random challengers at 205?

Is Fedor really human?

Paul McVeigh

I’m not entirely sure! He looks like a big, scary dude. He does things to people he just shouldn’t be able to do. I reckon he’s some sort of Soviet genetic experiment.

Mick Bower

He is, and that’s why he’s so great, because he’s obviously not this Adonis. People can relate to him because he’s a normal guy.

Richard Ditchfield

He’s a special athlete. It’ll be interesting if and when he fights Randy. I think if it had been five years ago, we’d have a great fight. Randy will still give him a run for his money.

Ian Dean

No, superhuman maybe! He’s fantastic, there’s nothing more you can say.

Ring or cage?

Paul McVeigh

I’ve fought in both. The cage really hurts, but you saw on the Affliction show guys falling out. A ring is better for strikers, but from a Spectators point of view it’s pretty cool.

Mick Bower

Ring, you can stack someone on the fence. With the head movement you can get on the floor in a ring, it’s still a fight when it’s on the deck.