Abe Wagner upsets former UFC champ Tim Sylvia via KO

[Rappy Veteran]

Following a four-fight win streak with a notable win over former title challenger Paul Buentello during this stretch, ?The Maine-iac? was poised to make a big return to the big show in the immediate future.

I guess Abe Wagner didn?t get the memo, as he took the opportunity last night to pull off the biggest win of his career and instantly put his name on the map amongst the heavyweight field.

Abe could probably be most recognized from his stint on the tenth season of ?The Ultimate Fighter? when he was eliminated early by Jon Madsen in the preliminary round. A noted striker, Madsen implemented his wrestling background to work Wagner to the mat before opening a large cut which eventually led to a TKO victory.

Wagner still gets flack from his shotty performance on the show, and with the biggest opportunity of his career before him, Abe showed up and needed only 32 seconds to dispatch of a former world champion.

It all took place at Titan Fighting Championship 16 in the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas where the two goliaths met in the main-event of the evening last night, where the main-card was aired live on HDnet.

Sylvia, who came in at a flubbery 311-pounds against Wagner?s 256, opened up the bout early working from the outside with jabs and straights in succession. Abe remained patient, changing levels and eventually clipped Tim with a strong right-cross. Wagner never let the UFC veteran off the hook as he followed up with a flurry of punches, eventually crippling Sylvia face first on the mat where the referee called the match early inside of the first round.

The win now extends Wagner to two-in-a-row and will likely be giving him some buzz in the community, while Sylvia will once again be questioned for his effectiveness in the world of mixed martial arts where he has only looked a shell of the former champion he was. Plus, competing as a super heavyweight rather then putting in the work to fight as a normal 265-pound heavyweight fighter is certainly NOT the way to go.

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[TheElite]

What a crappy ref.

Early stoppage.

[Anibal P]

Nah Sylvia was out, he was still stumbling around while trying to act like he was ok, and did you see his eyes after he got his shirt back on? He looked like he still didn't know where he was

[D. S. Veteran]

Abe Wagner is now known for something else other than "the guy that bled a couple of pints in TUF 10". He still is a very crappy HW, most of the punches didn't even connect and Sylvia was wobbly has hell. Sylvia looked ridiculous. He went in at 141kg, probably didn't even train for the fight. Even if the stoppage was early, what was he going to do? Lay on Wagner? Probably get smashed in the face some more.

[Zoom7000]

"Sylvia, who came in at a flubbery 311-pounds against Wagner?s 256..."

311lbs? :huh: I thought the athletic commission had an upper heavyweight limit of 265? Or is that just the UFC?

Still, as Frank Mir said, it's silly the heavyweight division has an upper limit. If a fighter wants to come in at over 300lbs and thinks he can get anywhere then sure let him... :laugh:

[D. S. Veteran]

311lbs? :huh: I thought the athletic commission had an upper heavyweight limit of 265? Or is that just the UFC?

Still, as Frank Mir said, it's silly the heavyweight division has an upper limit. If a fighter wants to come in at over 300lbs and thinks he can get anywhere then sure let him... :laugh:

Although Wagner came in under the 265 common limit, the fight was called a Super Heavyweight fight so that Timmy could do it without cutting weight. The weight classes are defined by the organizations, most of them just follow the UFC model.

The upper weight limit is a good thing. It separates the fighters that train to be competitive at HW from the guys/freakshows that are just huge punching bags like Bob Sapp and it makes for more competitive fights. Would you really pay for a PPV between Bob Sapp and Butterbean?