UFC Predictions (100-102, 104-105): 20-35 - last card: 6-5
Preliminary Card Bouts
Brock Larson def. Brian Foster
3rd Round Submission
Caol Uno def. Fabricio Camoes
2nd Round TKO
George Sotiropoulos def. Jason Dent
1st Round KO
Spike TV Preliminary Bouts
Ben Saunders def. Marcus Davis
2nd Round Referee Stoppage (strikes)
Kendall Grove def. Jake Rosholt
2nd Round Submission
Main Card Card Bouts
Amir Sadollah (170) vs. Phil Baroni (170)
-Baroni needs to prove why he should still be doing this for a living and Amir needs simply to shake off his loss at UFC 101. The stoppage was more than questionable and I don't think the UFC's resident funny man needs to prove anything at this point. If his mind frame is in the right place and not back in the summer, then Sadollah should be too young and spry for Baroni to handle. Sadly, that is a big 'if' at this point in Amir's career.
Sadollah by Unanimous Decision
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (205) vs. Luis Cane (205)
-The long awaited debut of 'Little Nog' won't be so eventful and with all respects to Luis Cane, it shouldn't take long. This is almost going to be the worst fight on the main card.
Nogueira by 3rd Round TKO
Paulo Thiago (169) vs. Jacob Volkmann (170)
-There is a reason this wasn't on the main card until 24 hours prior to the event. Also a reason that Da Spyder/Rosholt or Hand Grenade/Saunders should have been moved up to the main card. Might be a blood bath.
Thiago by 1st Round KO
Josh Koscheck (171) vs. Anthony Johnson (170)
-I am impressed by Johnson's ability to get down to 170 after missing weight for his VERY recent last fight. That shows that he was invested in this match, where the winner can also lay some claim to the next shot at GSP. In fact, the winner facing Dan Hardy and the loser facing Mike Swick should be in the works no matter what in my opinion. Let me say, I dislike no fighter much more than Koscheck, but he is always much improved over his previous match. But he also fights too often out of emotion and can't afford to get caught. If he does, recent off a win or not, Johnson will knock him out with one punch (damn I want to see that). Koscheck's best bet is to go old school, boring, wrestler Josh Koscheck. If he stands and exchanges, it may become my favorite moment in UFC in 2009 with him out staring up at the lights.
Johnson by 2nd Rounds KO
Forrest Griffin (205) vs. Tito Ortiz (204)
-If the Vera/Couture match last week had question marks, then this fight is the definition of the form of punctuation. Nobody knows if Forrest will ever be the same again, but like last week with Bisping, until he shows otherwise, there is no reason to believe that his loss to Anderson Silva has ruined the former light heavyweight champ. And Tito, is he the same? Is he better? Has it been too long? The only thing I really know is that when you fight with emotion, you might get caught....so what happens when they both do? This is going to be a slugfest of (hopefully) epic, history making moments. Neither will leave a damn thing in the cage. So what wins out: Revenge or Retribution? Love both of these guys, but I think the fans will always love one as he continues a solid career and the other will make another legit run at the division's shiny gold belt...
Ortiz by Unanimous Decision
Friday, November 20, 2009
Friday, November 13, 2009
>UFC 105 Predictions
Let me start with two things. First off, I see Brits winning seven bouts on this card because they are just that energized usually by the home crowd. And second, it is a shame the Demarques Johnson fight got pulled because I really wanted to see him get boo'd from the building.
UFC Predictions (100-102, 104): 14-30 - last card: 6-5
PRELIMS
Andre Winner def. Rolando Delgado
2nd Round TKO
Alexander Gustafsson def. Jared Hamman
Unanimous Decision
Paul Kelly def. Dennis Silver
Unanimous Decision
Nick Osipczak def. Matthew Riddle
2nd Round TKO
Shannon Gugerty def. Terry Etim
Split Decision
Paul Taylor def. John Hathaway
3rd Round Submission
MAIN CARD
Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley
Riley has finally gotten over the Shane Nelson hump, but will find a much better Ultimate Fighter alum in Pearson, one of the winners of the the dominating UK team...not that Riley himself is a pushover. What will make all the difference here are two things: 1. Riley overcame Nelson to avenge an earlier loss, so he is currently in a moderately satisfied state while Pearson is one of the most hungry current UFC young guns...and 2. Just like all these Prelim matches beforehand, there is never a bigger home crowd than the Brits and this could pull them to 5-1.
-Pearson by 3rd Round TKO
James Wilks vs. Matt Brown
If the last match was not enough of a grind, these two are going to have one. While yes, Wilks won TUF with a rear naked choke, I expect this to be ONE OF the best slugfests since Griffin/Bonner. Not as good of a match, but these are just two work horses who are going to slug it out for a win.
-Wilks by Unanimous Decision
Denis Kang vs. Michael Bisping
If a loss to Dan Henderson qualifies someone to be "on the verge of losing his contract with another loss," then we should start asking Zuffa to can some people now. I am not sure why people are allowing ONE punch in ONE fight to sway them from Michael Bisping. The man has lost just two fights IN HIS CAREER. And both of those have come to former UFC champions in Henderson and Rashad Evans. He went from being the next possible contender to the Middleweight crown to a guy on the verge of getting cut? Give me a break. Let's not forget who the real Michael Bisping is. Before that last to Henderson, he was a gritty, smart, full of wit, agile fighter who always took his opponents out of their game plan to play into his hands. There is NO legit reason to believe that has changed. They say his chin will never be the same? Well to know that, someone would have to get close enough to test it, not something he has allowed a lot of in his career. Bottom line is this, that yes with a loss maybe the UFC should cut Michael Bisping, but only because Denis Kang, skilled as he may be, is not in The Count's league. There is a reason the UFC didn't let Bisping headline in the UK...because they gave him one of the most powder opponents he has had since TUF3. I love the Bisping head game decision wins, but I hope he makes a statement here just to shut people up.
-Bisping by 2nd Round KO
Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy
I don't have as much to say here but this: Mike Swick is right. He has worked harder, longer, and fought more people. Dan Hardy doesn't deserve this spot or a potential shot at GSP. That said, I have never liked Swick since his original TUF days and I do enjoy Hardy; I just think he is in over his head here with a more intelligent fighter.
-Mike Swick by 2nd Round Submission
Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera
Any idea what to think heading into this one? Anybody?.....Hello?....yeah, me too. Fact is that the loser here takes a HUGE step backward and it is unlikely either could ever come back from that big of a drop off. The Natural's career is winding down and every loss makes it look shorter and shorter. He looked ok against Lesnar and manageable against Big Nog. But he hasn't, in those fights, looked like the Hall of Famer that he is. So why keep embarrassing yourself? Vera, he is damn lucky he gets to fight someone the calibar of Captain America. So a loss will possibly just throw him back into semi-retirement. It's a hell of a tossup, but Couture is so hard to go against with his back against the wall. Hope he comes out swinging.
-Couture by 3rd Round TKO
UFC Predictions (100-102, 104): 14-30 - last card: 6-5
PRELIMS
Andre Winner def. Rolando Delgado
2nd Round TKO
Alexander Gustafsson def. Jared Hamman
Unanimous Decision
Paul Kelly def. Dennis Silver
Unanimous Decision
Nick Osipczak def. Matthew Riddle
2nd Round TKO
Shannon Gugerty def. Terry Etim
Split Decision
Paul Taylor def. John Hathaway
3rd Round Submission
MAIN CARD
Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley
Riley has finally gotten over the Shane Nelson hump, but will find a much better Ultimate Fighter alum in Pearson, one of the winners of the the dominating UK team...not that Riley himself is a pushover. What will make all the difference here are two things: 1. Riley overcame Nelson to avenge an earlier loss, so he is currently in a moderately satisfied state while Pearson is one of the most hungry current UFC young guns...and 2. Just like all these Prelim matches beforehand, there is never a bigger home crowd than the Brits and this could pull them to 5-1.
-Pearson by 3rd Round TKO
James Wilks vs. Matt Brown
If the last match was not enough of a grind, these two are going to have one. While yes, Wilks won TUF with a rear naked choke, I expect this to be ONE OF the best slugfests since Griffin/Bonner. Not as good of a match, but these are just two work horses who are going to slug it out for a win.
-Wilks by Unanimous Decision
Denis Kang vs. Michael Bisping
If a loss to Dan Henderson qualifies someone to be "on the verge of losing his contract with another loss," then we should start asking Zuffa to can some people now. I am not sure why people are allowing ONE punch in ONE fight to sway them from Michael Bisping. The man has lost just two fights IN HIS CAREER. And both of those have come to former UFC champions in Henderson and Rashad Evans. He went from being the next possible contender to the Middleweight crown to a guy on the verge of getting cut? Give me a break. Let's not forget who the real Michael Bisping is. Before that last to Henderson, he was a gritty, smart, full of wit, agile fighter who always took his opponents out of their game plan to play into his hands. There is NO legit reason to believe that has changed. They say his chin will never be the same? Well to know that, someone would have to get close enough to test it, not something he has allowed a lot of in his career. Bottom line is this, that yes with a loss maybe the UFC should cut Michael Bisping, but only because Denis Kang, skilled as he may be, is not in The Count's league. There is a reason the UFC didn't let Bisping headline in the UK...because they gave him one of the most powder opponents he has had since TUF3. I love the Bisping head game decision wins, but I hope he makes a statement here just to shut people up.
-Bisping by 2nd Round KO
Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy
I don't have as much to say here but this: Mike Swick is right. He has worked harder, longer, and fought more people. Dan Hardy doesn't deserve this spot or a potential shot at GSP. That said, I have never liked Swick since his original TUF days and I do enjoy Hardy; I just think he is in over his head here with a more intelligent fighter.
-Mike Swick by 2nd Round Submission
Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera
Any idea what to think heading into this one? Anybody?.....Hello?....yeah, me too. Fact is that the loser here takes a HUGE step backward and it is unlikely either could ever come back from that big of a drop off. The Natural's career is winding down and every loss makes it look shorter and shorter. He looked ok against Lesnar and manageable against Big Nog. But he hasn't, in those fights, looked like the Hall of Famer that he is. So why keep embarrassing yourself? Vera, he is damn lucky he gets to fight someone the calibar of Captain America. So a loss will possibly just throw him back into semi-retirement. It's a hell of a tossup, but Couture is so hard to go against with his back against the wall. Hope he comes out swinging.
-Couture by 3rd Round TKO
Friday, October 23, 2009
> UFC 104 Predictions
So yeah, I skipped 103 and that was probably for the best considering how terrible my prognostication was for UFC's 100, 101 and 102! But, today as I am actually pretty excited that a new Gracie (Rolles) will be stepping into the UFC cage, I decided to give a brief prediction list for UFC 104 that takes place tomorrow night.
UFC Predictions (100-102): 8-25 - last card: 2-9
UFC 104 PreLims
Razak Al-Hassan def. Kyle Kingsbury
Second Round TKO
Chase Gormley def. Stefan Struve
Unanimous Decision
Jorge Rivera def. Rob Kimmons
Split Decision
Chael Sonnen def. Yushin Okami
Unanimous Decision
Spike TV Televised
Antoni Hardonk def. Pat Barry
First Round KO
Ryan Bader def. Eric Schafer
Third Round TKO
MAIN CARD
Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida
This has all the potential to be the fight of the night by far. Yoshida has some impressive wins and devestating losses, but can be a beast. The fact that 'Rumble' is cutting up to 50 pounds to fight Yoshida could be bad or good. If he cut right, he's going to a beastly welterweight, if he cut wrong he will be fatigued. Either way, his knockout power of highlight reel proportions is not questioned.
-Anthony Johnson by Second Round KnockOut
Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher
It is a must win for them both to not backslide at all. And as much as I like Fisher's heart and determination overall, it can't outweigh Stevenson's current drive.
-Joe 'Daddy' Stevenson by Unanimous Decision
Gleison Tibau vs. Josh Neer
Least interesting main card fight to be and I'd honestly rather see the Ryan Bader fight on the show. I don't think it is as close as most people are saying.
-Josh Neer by by Third Round Submssion
Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell
This is the ultimate test for Cain, who is on the fringe of a title fight, possibly against the winner of Lesnar/Carwin. If he wins, he has to get that shot. But he has yet to face off against someone with the skill level of Rothwell, who is pretty technical in heavyweight standards. If they stand and slug, this is Velasquez' match, but Rothwell was undefeated in the IFL for a reason and thats because he will not play to his opponents' strengths. That said, I like to go against the grain of most other predictors and honestly, Cain has that cocky swagger for a reason.
-Cain Velasquez by First Round KO
Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
(UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout)
I was dead wrong about Lyoto Machida when he found Rashad Evans. My thoughts then were if it goes the distance, Machida wins and if it ends early it will be by KO and it's the heavy handed Evans. So imagine my surprise when Machida knocked Rashad out. So how will the fight with Shogun go? If it goes the distance...it's Machida's fight and if not, Rua will look to upset. Why stick with this same formula I was wrong with before? Rua hasn't had to go deep lately and I don't know if he can sustain for five full rounds. His best bet to win the title is to go hard early to look and catch Lyoto. Easier said that done, right? Well if there is a current Light Heavyweight that can do it, it's not Rashad Evans, it's not Forrest Griffin, it's not....Rampage Jackson....it IS Shogun Rua. Conventional wisdom aside:
-Mauricio Shogun Rua by 3rd Round TKO to become the NEW UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
UFC Predictions (100-102): 8-25 - last card: 2-9
UFC 104 PreLims
Razak Al-Hassan def. Kyle Kingsbury
Second Round TKO
Chase Gormley def. Stefan Struve
Unanimous Decision
Jorge Rivera def. Rob Kimmons
Split Decision
Chael Sonnen def. Yushin Okami
Unanimous Decision
Spike TV Televised
Antoni Hardonk def. Pat Barry
First Round KO
Ryan Bader def. Eric Schafer
Third Round TKO
MAIN CARD
Anthony Johnson vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida
This has all the potential to be the fight of the night by far. Yoshida has some impressive wins and devestating losses, but can be a beast. The fact that 'Rumble' is cutting up to 50 pounds to fight Yoshida could be bad or good. If he cut right, he's going to a beastly welterweight, if he cut wrong he will be fatigued. Either way, his knockout power of highlight reel proportions is not questioned.
-Anthony Johnson by Second Round KnockOut
Joe Stevenson vs. Spencer Fisher
It is a must win for them both to not backslide at all. And as much as I like Fisher's heart and determination overall, it can't outweigh Stevenson's current drive.
-Joe 'Daddy' Stevenson by Unanimous Decision
Gleison Tibau vs. Josh Neer
Least interesting main card fight to be and I'd honestly rather see the Ryan Bader fight on the show. I don't think it is as close as most people are saying.
-Josh Neer by by Third Round Submssion
Cain Velasquez vs. Ben Rothwell
This is the ultimate test for Cain, who is on the fringe of a title fight, possibly against the winner of Lesnar/Carwin. If he wins, he has to get that shot. But he has yet to face off against someone with the skill level of Rothwell, who is pretty technical in heavyweight standards. If they stand and slug, this is Velasquez' match, but Rothwell was undefeated in the IFL for a reason and thats because he will not play to his opponents' strengths. That said, I like to go against the grain of most other predictors and honestly, Cain has that cocky swagger for a reason.
-Cain Velasquez by First Round KO
Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
(UFC Light Heavyweight Championship bout)
I was dead wrong about Lyoto Machida when he found Rashad Evans. My thoughts then were if it goes the distance, Machida wins and if it ends early it will be by KO and it's the heavy handed Evans. So imagine my surprise when Machida knocked Rashad out. So how will the fight with Shogun go? If it goes the distance...it's Machida's fight and if not, Rua will look to upset. Why stick with this same formula I was wrong with before? Rua hasn't had to go deep lately and I don't know if he can sustain for five full rounds. His best bet to win the title is to go hard early to look and catch Lyoto. Easier said that done, right? Well if there is a current Light Heavyweight that can do it, it's not Rashad Evans, it's not Forrest Griffin, it's not....Rampage Jackson....it IS Shogun Rua. Conventional wisdom aside:
-Mauricio Shogun Rua by 3rd Round TKO to become the NEW UFC LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPION
Friday, August 28, 2009
> UFC 102 Predictions
Prediction record (UFC 100 and on): 6-16
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Randy Couture
This will probably be one of the historically most boring UFC main events ever, though it will remain close for the same reason: they are too old. Unless something was randomly and crucially wrong with Nogueira in his last fight, a loss to Frank Mir, then he's done long before he ever steps in the cage with Couture. Randy is out of heavyweight title contention in my mind and this should be his last fight in the division. The big guys are just too big for The Natural at this point and he can still draw in some never before seen fights at 205. Couture/Griffin? Couture/Rampage? A loss could end Big Nog's UFC career officially, but I for one think it is already long over.
-Couture by split decision
Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva
One of the most tempramental fighters in terms of his consistency, Jardine needs another highlight reel finish in order to possibly ever get a 205 title fight. Silva can climb several rungs on the ladder with a win while Jardine could establish himself as one of the next contenders in the Division behind Rampage and Rashad Evans. Silva's danger comes in the fact that he really does not have as much to lose as Jardine, but just as much to gain.
-Jardine by Round 2 KO
Jake Rosholt vs. Chris Leben
If Leben wants to remain relevant, he needs this win. He will always be a name because of his Ultimate Fighter time and a bigger name because of those outrageous TUF exploites. But as a UFC fighter, he has been super inconsistent. Leben runs the risk of getting frustrated and caught or frustrated and decisioned if Rosholt wants to just lay around in guard. Leben's best hope is to take the relative UFC newcomer out of his game plan and have Rosholt stand and slug. With Leben's iron chin, this would be Rosholt's worst idea ever.
-Leben by Round 2 TKO
Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia
Snorefest potential here if Maia is too worried about getting to the ground and won't stand with Nate at all. However, he can't stand long or he will get knocked out. I think Maia is just too versed, best BJJ fighter in UFC or not. My hope is that Maia wouldn't go straight to Anderson Silva with a win and would instead face Dan Henderson in a contender fight. Maybe then we'll see Marquardt/Bisping?
-Maia by Round 2 Submission
Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brandon Vera
The only time Soszynski has not been underrated is when he was on The Ultimate Fighter and was considered a favorite before an upset loss. Being an underdog suits him so much better and he's stronger when fighting for something, not expected to succeed. And Vera packs a much bigger talk than punch. Forget what we all may think, Vera believes he has this wrapped and that is what will get him caught. Vera stronger throughout but not in the crunch.
-Soszynski by Round 3 Submission
Gabe Gonzaga vs. Chris Tuchscherer
Chris is another debuting heavyweight who is no joke. He is 17-1 and trains with Brock Lesnar. But really, let's not forget that Gonzaga is a legit former world champ. This isn't exactly a crapshoot, but it will be a barn burner.
-Tuchscherer by Round 2 TKO
Mike Russow vs. Justin McCully
The heavywight division is getting thick quick, as seen with the debuting Russow, a winner of his last seven, and veteran McCully. Another crapshoot that will end up showing what experience against the biggest and best can do.
-McCully in Round 3 by TKO
Tim Hague vs. Todd Duffee
I admitedly know little about Hague but Duffee, making his UFC debut, is a beast. In a semi-recent Fight! Magazine article, he was highly praised by one of his trainers Rory Singer and has never dissapointed in his four fights. Quick and painful end to Hague's night ahead.
-Duffee by Round 1 KO
Nick Catone vs. Mark Munoz
This contest could be very boring or highly intense. These two former Division I wrestlers will get boo'd out of Portland if they go to the ground. But in this scenerio, some wrestlers by trade will swing for the fences just for a change of expectation. This is one of the most evenly matched fights on the card.
-Catone by Unanimous decision
Marcus Aurelio vs. Evan Dunham
Is Aurelio going to be on his game? That is the deciding factor here because he is more experienced and plain better than Dunham. If he's not on, I still doubt that Dunham, a finisher by trade, will actually finish him.
-Aurelio by 2nd Round TKO
Ed Herman vs. Aaron Simpson
Quick and easy for me here. I was never THAT impressed with Ed Herman and he is far from even the same fighter he was during his Ultimate Fighter days.
-Simpson by unanimous decision
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Randy Couture
This will probably be one of the historically most boring UFC main events ever, though it will remain close for the same reason: they are too old. Unless something was randomly and crucially wrong with Nogueira in his last fight, a loss to Frank Mir, then he's done long before he ever steps in the cage with Couture. Randy is out of heavyweight title contention in my mind and this should be his last fight in the division. The big guys are just too big for The Natural at this point and he can still draw in some never before seen fights at 205. Couture/Griffin? Couture/Rampage? A loss could end Big Nog's UFC career officially, but I for one think it is already long over.
-Couture by split decision
Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva
One of the most tempramental fighters in terms of his consistency, Jardine needs another highlight reel finish in order to possibly ever get a 205 title fight. Silva can climb several rungs on the ladder with a win while Jardine could establish himself as one of the next contenders in the Division behind Rampage and Rashad Evans. Silva's danger comes in the fact that he really does not have as much to lose as Jardine, but just as much to gain.
-Jardine by Round 2 KO
Jake Rosholt vs. Chris Leben
If Leben wants to remain relevant, he needs this win. He will always be a name because of his Ultimate Fighter time and a bigger name because of those outrageous TUF exploites. But as a UFC fighter, he has been super inconsistent. Leben runs the risk of getting frustrated and caught or frustrated and decisioned if Rosholt wants to just lay around in guard. Leben's best hope is to take the relative UFC newcomer out of his game plan and have Rosholt stand and slug. With Leben's iron chin, this would be Rosholt's worst idea ever.
-Leben by Round 2 TKO
Nate Marquardt vs. Demian Maia
Snorefest potential here if Maia is too worried about getting to the ground and won't stand with Nate at all. However, he can't stand long or he will get knocked out. I think Maia is just too versed, best BJJ fighter in UFC or not. My hope is that Maia wouldn't go straight to Anderson Silva with a win and would instead face Dan Henderson in a contender fight. Maybe then we'll see Marquardt/Bisping?
-Maia by Round 2 Submission
Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brandon Vera
The only time Soszynski has not been underrated is when he was on The Ultimate Fighter and was considered a favorite before an upset loss. Being an underdog suits him so much better and he's stronger when fighting for something, not expected to succeed. And Vera packs a much bigger talk than punch. Forget what we all may think, Vera believes he has this wrapped and that is what will get him caught. Vera stronger throughout but not in the crunch.
-Soszynski by Round 3 Submission
Gabe Gonzaga vs. Chris Tuchscherer
Chris is another debuting heavyweight who is no joke. He is 17-1 and trains with Brock Lesnar. But really, let's not forget that Gonzaga is a legit former world champ. This isn't exactly a crapshoot, but it will be a barn burner.
-Tuchscherer by Round 2 TKO
Mike Russow vs. Justin McCully
The heavywight division is getting thick quick, as seen with the debuting Russow, a winner of his last seven, and veteran McCully. Another crapshoot that will end up showing what experience against the biggest and best can do.
-McCully in Round 3 by TKO
Tim Hague vs. Todd Duffee
I admitedly know little about Hague but Duffee, making his UFC debut, is a beast. In a semi-recent Fight! Magazine article, he was highly praised by one of his trainers Rory Singer and has never dissapointed in his four fights. Quick and painful end to Hague's night ahead.
-Duffee by Round 1 KO
Nick Catone vs. Mark Munoz
This contest could be very boring or highly intense. These two former Division I wrestlers will get boo'd out of Portland if they go to the ground. But in this scenerio, some wrestlers by trade will swing for the fences just for a change of expectation. This is one of the most evenly matched fights on the card.
-Catone by Unanimous decision
Marcus Aurelio vs. Evan Dunham
Is Aurelio going to be on his game? That is the deciding factor here because he is more experienced and plain better than Dunham. If he's not on, I still doubt that Dunham, a finisher by trade, will actually finish him.
-Aurelio by 2nd Round TKO
Ed Herman vs. Aaron Simpson
Quick and easy for me here. I was never THAT impressed with Ed Herman and he is far from even the same fighter he was during his Ultimate Fighter days.
-Simpson by unanimous decision
Saturday, August 8, 2009
> UFC 101 Predictions
How does the UFC follow up "the greatest card in the company's history"? Well, they have set the bar pretty high with UFC 101: Declaration. My UFC 100 predictions weren't so spot on (sorry, Michael Bisping) and even if these are equally as wrong...at least I am pretty sure this will be one hell of an event. Last time out I was 4-7 with my picks with two being spot on (unanimous decisions for Jim Miller and Georges St. Pierre).
>PRELIM FIGHTS
Jesse Lennox Vs. Danillo Villefort
Should be a strong welterweight fight with WEC guys making their UFC debuts. Considering the pace that is natural in WEC, I (like most people) expect a slugfest here.
-Villefort by TKO in Round 1
George Sotiropoulos Vs. George Roop
A lot of former TUF competitors on the card tonight, including three winners on the main card. In this match of of TUF 6 and TUF 8 fighters, I'm going to take the old Team Serra favorite just because he has so many more tools than Roop at this point even though I think Roop will enjoy more longterm success.
-Sotiropoulos by TKO in Round 2
Matthew Riddle Vs. Dan Cramer
These two guys both need the win and will want it since the loss will be a first for either of them in their short careers. Experience has most giving the edge to Riddle, but for some reason I just have never been able to see him as a serious fight. Cramer WILL make the most of this chance while Riddle only 'might.'
-Cramer by Unanimous Decision
Thales Leites Vs. Alessio Sakara
Quick and to the point: Sakara is boring.
-Leites by KO in Round 1
Tamdan McCrory Vs. John Howard
Howard must be six shades of stupid to accept a fight with a guy who is NINE inches taller and likely in his last welterweight fight before moving up to middleweight. No slugfest, just a smashfest. With the reach advantage huge here, it's hard to not expect a KO, McCrory likes his ground game and I don't think it will take him long to stop Howard.
-McCrory by submission in Round 1
Shane Nelson Vs. Aaron Riley
Because of the ending of their previous fight, I would assume there is no lack of dislike between these two here and that may be the difference. At the end of the day, Nelson seems like the more poised person and fighter who can't put all other things aside and just fight.
-Nelson by submission in Round 3
>MAIN CARD
Josh Neer Vs. Kurt Pellegrino
This is an interesting fight in the fact that both men have so much to win and also so much to lose in this fight. Neer however is just more talented on the ground and if this one goes there, he's top dog. But Kurt won't be so easy to be taken down, even if Neer is a bit bigger.
-Neer by submission in Round 2
Kendall Grove Vs. Ricardo Almeida
No secret to anyone I talk MMA with, I am a huge Kendall Grove fan. That said, this opinion (kind of unlike my UFC 100 predict of Michael Bisping) has nothing to do with that fandom. Many people have analyzed this fight as what Grove has to do either on the ground or to avoid getting hit hard in his sometimes questionable chin. But nobody is analyzing it how it should be: what is Almeida going to do to outwork Kendall Grove? Grove is an amazing striker who uses his intense reach to his advantage especially with high kicks and cutting knees out of his clinch. On the ground, he's long and flexible and hard to submit. All of that aside, Grove is right up there as one of the best workers in the fight game period. Alemeida just does not have enough for the old Kendall Grove (c. 2006) and he sure as hell doesn't have anything for the guy who's last fight ended in a highlight reel knockout. It may not be dominant for Kendall like his last two fights, but he doesn't need to be.
-Grove by Unanimous Decision
Amir Sadollah Vs. Johny Hendricks
Sadallah has a habit of facing guys calmly even though that guy talks way too much...and then submitting them (see CB Dollaway and...well, CB Dollaway again). Amir has been waiting a long time for a true, non-TUF, UFC debut and I'm going against the grain in the thought that Hendricks will frustrate and finish Amir. Mostly because I just don't see Sadollah getting frustrated ever. Hendricks is underestimating him.
-Sadollah by submission in Round 2
Anderson Silva Vs. Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin likes getting hit and hitting back...Anderson Silva will hit him. It's widely believed that it will take a miracle upset for anyone in the UFC to beat Anderson Silva...Forrest Griffin loves being a miracle upset. What does this mean? Hell if I know because this is a toss up. If Silva needs a highly contested wake up fight, he's got the right guy. No matter what, this won't go anywhere near a decision.
-Silva by TKO in Round 2
BJ Penn Vs. Kenny Florian
We might as well call this Penn/Florian I because I see this becoming a staple over the next several years. Fact is with the recent influx of Affliction heavyweight fighters, the lightweight division may be the UFC's weakest. So, other than Diego Sanchez, I don't see any other real possible challengers arise for the winner of this fight for a while. While that's nice and I see the third fight being the rubber match in the long run if it goes that route, nothing changes that Kenny Florian has worked too hard to get here. I believe that BJ Penn woke up after the GSP fight and isn't just resting on his laurels now, but I still think that KenFlo has put more effort, more passion and more drive into this run. This is so so so far from the Season One TUF runner-up Kenny Florian, it's unbelievable. You want BJ's belt? You get BJ's belt.
-Florian by submission in Round 4 to become the new UFC Lightweight Champion
>PRELIM FIGHTS
Jesse Lennox Vs. Danillo Villefort
Should be a strong welterweight fight with WEC guys making their UFC debuts. Considering the pace that is natural in WEC, I (like most people) expect a slugfest here.
-Villefort by TKO in Round 1
George Sotiropoulos Vs. George Roop
A lot of former TUF competitors on the card tonight, including three winners on the main card. In this match of of TUF 6 and TUF 8 fighters, I'm going to take the old Team Serra favorite just because he has so many more tools than Roop at this point even though I think Roop will enjoy more longterm success.
-Sotiropoulos by TKO in Round 2
Matthew Riddle Vs. Dan Cramer
These two guys both need the win and will want it since the loss will be a first for either of them in their short careers. Experience has most giving the edge to Riddle, but for some reason I just have never been able to see him as a serious fight. Cramer WILL make the most of this chance while Riddle only 'might.'
-Cramer by Unanimous Decision
Thales Leites Vs. Alessio Sakara
Quick and to the point: Sakara is boring.
-Leites by KO in Round 1
Tamdan McCrory Vs. John Howard
Howard must be six shades of stupid to accept a fight with a guy who is NINE inches taller and likely in his last welterweight fight before moving up to middleweight. No slugfest, just a smashfest. With the reach advantage huge here, it's hard to not expect a KO, McCrory likes his ground game and I don't think it will take him long to stop Howard.
-McCrory by submission in Round 1
Shane Nelson Vs. Aaron Riley
Because of the ending of their previous fight, I would assume there is no lack of dislike between these two here and that may be the difference. At the end of the day, Nelson seems like the more poised person and fighter who can't put all other things aside and just fight.
-Nelson by submission in Round 3
>MAIN CARD
Josh Neer Vs. Kurt Pellegrino
This is an interesting fight in the fact that both men have so much to win and also so much to lose in this fight. Neer however is just more talented on the ground and if this one goes there, he's top dog. But Kurt won't be so easy to be taken down, even if Neer is a bit bigger.
-Neer by submission in Round 2
Kendall Grove Vs. Ricardo Almeida
No secret to anyone I talk MMA with, I am a huge Kendall Grove fan. That said, this opinion (kind of unlike my UFC 100 predict of Michael Bisping) has nothing to do with that fandom. Many people have analyzed this fight as what Grove has to do either on the ground or to avoid getting hit hard in his sometimes questionable chin. But nobody is analyzing it how it should be: what is Almeida going to do to outwork Kendall Grove? Grove is an amazing striker who uses his intense reach to his advantage especially with high kicks and cutting knees out of his clinch. On the ground, he's long and flexible and hard to submit. All of that aside, Grove is right up there as one of the best workers in the fight game period. Alemeida just does not have enough for the old Kendall Grove (c. 2006) and he sure as hell doesn't have anything for the guy who's last fight ended in a highlight reel knockout. It may not be dominant for Kendall like his last two fights, but he doesn't need to be.
-Grove by Unanimous Decision
Amir Sadollah Vs. Johny Hendricks
Sadallah has a habit of facing guys calmly even though that guy talks way too much...and then submitting them (see CB Dollaway and...well, CB Dollaway again). Amir has been waiting a long time for a true, non-TUF, UFC debut and I'm going against the grain in the thought that Hendricks will frustrate and finish Amir. Mostly because I just don't see Sadollah getting frustrated ever. Hendricks is underestimating him.
-Sadollah by submission in Round 2
Anderson Silva Vs. Forrest Griffin
Forrest Griffin likes getting hit and hitting back...Anderson Silva will hit him. It's widely believed that it will take a miracle upset for anyone in the UFC to beat Anderson Silva...Forrest Griffin loves being a miracle upset. What does this mean? Hell if I know because this is a toss up. If Silva needs a highly contested wake up fight, he's got the right guy. No matter what, this won't go anywhere near a decision.
-Silva by TKO in Round 2
BJ Penn Vs. Kenny Florian
We might as well call this Penn/Florian I because I see this becoming a staple over the next several years. Fact is with the recent influx of Affliction heavyweight fighters, the lightweight division may be the UFC's weakest. So, other than Diego Sanchez, I don't see any other real possible challengers arise for the winner of this fight for a while. While that's nice and I see the third fight being the rubber match in the long run if it goes that route, nothing changes that Kenny Florian has worked too hard to get here. I believe that BJ Penn woke up after the GSP fight and isn't just resting on his laurels now, but I still think that KenFlo has put more effort, more passion and more drive into this run. This is so so so far from the Season One TUF runner-up Kenny Florian, it's unbelievable. You want BJ's belt? You get BJ's belt.
-Florian by submission in Round 4 to become the new UFC Lightweight Champion
Friday, July 10, 2009
> UFC 100 Predictions
>PRELIM FIGHTS
Matt Grice vs. Shannon Gugerty
Who cares? Its a pretty irrelevant fight that hopefully sets a good tone for the evening. -Grice by TKO in Round 2
CB Dollaway vs. Tom Lawlor
Very different styles collide and CB is just too much more disciplined.
-Dollaway by submission in Round 3
TJ Grant vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Grant steps in for Jonathan Goulet, who was originally scheduled for this fight. A fighter change always makes things interesting and in this case, I think that Grant is smart enough to avoid Kim's sharp elbows.
-Grant by unanimous submission
Jon Jones vs. Jake O'Brien
Jones is way stronger than O'Brien, that's all that matters.
-Jones by TKO in Round 1
Mac Danzig vs. Jim Miller
There have been no Ultimate Fighter winners more dissapointing than Danzig, who is boring and subpar at best. He'll be lucky if Miller gives him any room. Miller's loss to Gray Maynard will be offset as he dominates Danzig.
-Miller by unanimous decision
Mark Coleman vs. Stephan Bonnar
At the Ultimate Finale of the Griffin/Rampage season, Kendall Grove (a (TUF alum) fought the late Evan Tanner (a former world champion) in a match Grove labeled as "loser leaves town." This is the sequel. Fortunatly for Bonnar, who TWICE stood toe to toe with Forrest Griffin, Coleman is too old and not going to have the conditioning he needs.
-Bonnar by TKO in Round 2
>MAIN CARD
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher
This could become a slugfest with fight of the night potential even with the four other blockbuster main card fights. If Akiyama is smart, he won't let it become so because he can submit so much better than Belcher, a man who is much closer to one dimensional. Ground fight goes to Akiyama but I don't think he's smart enough to take it there.
-Belcher by unanimous decision
Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago
Thiago is 11-0 in his career, but only 1-0 in the UFC. And while he may be strong, very strong, knocking out Josh Koscheck isn't the most rare thing in the world. Fitch on the other hand doesn't care and I can all but guarantee that. He has the best chin in MMA and he'll take all that Thiago has to offer and give it back ten fold. My money is on my hometown boy.
-Fitch by split decision
Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson
Bisping's a striker, Henderson's a wrestler. The difference? Henderson can't defend striking as well as Bisping can defend wrestling. If the swing, eventually Bisping will catch Henderson but I don't know if Hendo can catch "The Count." On the ground, Bisping has improved his scrambling so well that Henderson may keep him down, but can he do anything with him while they are down there? It doesn't matter who Hendo has beaten, all that matters is this fight. It will be a classic but Henderson will go all out and that's comendable. I'd rather be a winner than commeded. Hendo stays close and fights, Bisping sticks and runs out of the line of fire. Call it what you will, I'll call it smart. Henderson will take Mike down, so the Brit was wrong. But he was right somewhere, he's gonna be the first to kncok Hendo out. The last time a fighter who has won The Ultimate Fighter, then gone on to coach the show later in their career, fought the guy they coached against, he won. Bisping is the new Griffin and fittingly he gets the next fight with Anderson Silva after Griffin fights him at 101.
-Bisping by TKO in Round 3
Georges St. Pierre vs. Thiago Alves
Haven't I already said that hammering on Josh Koscheck isn't that big of a deal? Ok, so Alves is much better than Paulo Thiago but still Koscheck isn't a high placed reference point. Alves is a heavy hitter and if he lands a couple good, quick shots then GSP could be in trouble as we learned in the first Matt Serra fight. But its a lot easier to get surprised by Serra than Alves, who is well, well known for his heavy hands and power. GSP has seen every side of ever style and lived to talk about it and even laugh down at it after he beat it's ass.
-GSP retains by unanimous decision
Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir
Let's throw out that Lesnar doesn't even deserve to be in this spot and he got fast tracked because of his name. I am not sure how Lesnar thinks it is ok to talk that match trash when what he's done in the UFC is get dismantled by Mir, take 3 full rounds to beat Heath Herring (and who hasn't beat Heath Herring) and stop a very aged Randy Couture coming off an extended leave. If Lesnar wins, I will give him credit but there will still need to be a rubber match down the line. Until he wins, he's just a slightly more talented Kimbo Slice, ready to be exposed yet again. While most count Lesnar as the favorite- and yes he does have heavy, heavy hands- I see the fight as a lose/lose for him. If he goes to wrestler mode, we've seen what can and likely will happen. Frank Mir is just too good at BJJ no matter how much Brock has worked on his BJJ defense. Any position he wrestles Mir into, Frank can submit him. So how about just kick boxing? Well, Brock can't kick and Frank can. And no matter how much damage Brock's fists did in the first fight, Mir just...and let me make sure this is stressed...TKO'D NOGUEIRA!! Brock's too cocky, too angry and will make mistakes.
-Mir by submission in Round 2 to become the Undisputed champion
Matt Grice vs. Shannon Gugerty
Who cares? Its a pretty irrelevant fight that hopefully sets a good tone for the evening. -Grice by TKO in Round 2
CB Dollaway vs. Tom Lawlor
Very different styles collide and CB is just too much more disciplined.
-Dollaway by submission in Round 3
TJ Grant vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Grant steps in for Jonathan Goulet, who was originally scheduled for this fight. A fighter change always makes things interesting and in this case, I think that Grant is smart enough to avoid Kim's sharp elbows.
-Grant by unanimous submission
Jon Jones vs. Jake O'Brien
Jones is way stronger than O'Brien, that's all that matters.
-Jones by TKO in Round 1
Mac Danzig vs. Jim Miller
There have been no Ultimate Fighter winners more dissapointing than Danzig, who is boring and subpar at best. He'll be lucky if Miller gives him any room. Miller's loss to Gray Maynard will be offset as he dominates Danzig.
-Miller by unanimous decision
Mark Coleman vs. Stephan Bonnar
At the Ultimate Finale of the Griffin/Rampage season, Kendall Grove (a (TUF alum) fought the late Evan Tanner (a former world champion) in a match Grove labeled as "loser leaves town." This is the sequel. Fortunatly for Bonnar, who TWICE stood toe to toe with Forrest Griffin, Coleman is too old and not going to have the conditioning he needs.
-Bonnar by TKO in Round 2
>MAIN CARD
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher
This could become a slugfest with fight of the night potential even with the four other blockbuster main card fights. If Akiyama is smart, he won't let it become so because he can submit so much better than Belcher, a man who is much closer to one dimensional. Ground fight goes to Akiyama but I don't think he's smart enough to take it there.
-Belcher by unanimous decision
Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago
Thiago is 11-0 in his career, but only 1-0 in the UFC. And while he may be strong, very strong, knocking out Josh Koscheck isn't the most rare thing in the world. Fitch on the other hand doesn't care and I can all but guarantee that. He has the best chin in MMA and he'll take all that Thiago has to offer and give it back ten fold. My money is on my hometown boy.
-Fitch by split decision
Michael Bisping vs. Dan Henderson
Bisping's a striker, Henderson's a wrestler. The difference? Henderson can't defend striking as well as Bisping can defend wrestling. If the swing, eventually Bisping will catch Henderson but I don't know if Hendo can catch "The Count." On the ground, Bisping has improved his scrambling so well that Henderson may keep him down, but can he do anything with him while they are down there? It doesn't matter who Hendo has beaten, all that matters is this fight. It will be a classic but Henderson will go all out and that's comendable. I'd rather be a winner than commeded. Hendo stays close and fights, Bisping sticks and runs out of the line of fire. Call it what you will, I'll call it smart. Henderson will take Mike down, so the Brit was wrong. But he was right somewhere, he's gonna be the first to kncok Hendo out. The last time a fighter who has won The Ultimate Fighter, then gone on to coach the show later in their career, fought the guy they coached against, he won. Bisping is the new Griffin and fittingly he gets the next fight with Anderson Silva after Griffin fights him at 101.
-Bisping by TKO in Round 3
Georges St. Pierre vs. Thiago Alves
Haven't I already said that hammering on Josh Koscheck isn't that big of a deal? Ok, so Alves is much better than Paulo Thiago but still Koscheck isn't a high placed reference point. Alves is a heavy hitter and if he lands a couple good, quick shots then GSP could be in trouble as we learned in the first Matt Serra fight. But its a lot easier to get surprised by Serra than Alves, who is well, well known for his heavy hands and power. GSP has seen every side of ever style and lived to talk about it and even laugh down at it after he beat it's ass.
-GSP retains by unanimous decision
Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir
Let's throw out that Lesnar doesn't even deserve to be in this spot and he got fast tracked because of his name. I am not sure how Lesnar thinks it is ok to talk that match trash when what he's done in the UFC is get dismantled by Mir, take 3 full rounds to beat Heath Herring (and who hasn't beat Heath Herring) and stop a very aged Randy Couture coming off an extended leave. If Lesnar wins, I will give him credit but there will still need to be a rubber match down the line. Until he wins, he's just a slightly more talented Kimbo Slice, ready to be exposed yet again. While most count Lesnar as the favorite- and yes he does have heavy, heavy hands- I see the fight as a lose/lose for him. If he goes to wrestler mode, we've seen what can and likely will happen. Frank Mir is just too good at BJJ no matter how much Brock has worked on his BJJ defense. Any position he wrestles Mir into, Frank can submit him. So how about just kick boxing? Well, Brock can't kick and Frank can. And no matter how much damage Brock's fists did in the first fight, Mir just...and let me make sure this is stressed...TKO'D NOGUEIRA!! Brock's too cocky, too angry and will make mistakes.
-Mir by submission in Round 2 to become the Undisputed champion
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
> UFC Top Ten Fights
Tomorrow night, the UFC will finalize their 'Ultimate 100 Greatest Fights' countdown on Spike with the top 10 all time. I, for one, am currently baffled by Mike Goldberg's continuous question of what will be number one because in my mind it's a clear cut choice. But already in the countdown, there have been some I have questioned, which has motivated me to write this column on my personal favorite ten fights that I have ever seen in the UFC.
First note, these are strictly UFC fights so don't count any of the other fights I have seen in other organizations. Sorry, Urijah Faber/Mike Brown II, you would have been high on my list.
Second note, I like many started getting into the UFC with and because of The Ultimate Fighter. So, any fights that I have seen (and there are many) from pre-Ultimate Fighter days have only been seen in retrospect and not when they originally happened. The exception to that are fights from UFC 1-3, which I saw at a friend's house on VHS as a teenager. So without furthur delay, these are the Top 10 UFC fights I have ever seen:
10. Clay Guida vs. Roger Huerta
- Guida and Huerta put on an all-out war, which is usual of both men's fights. Guida has done it countless times, Huerta did it with Leonard Garcia and others. An even fight is usually one that will be decided not by who catches who first, but by who makes the first mistake. That's how Huerta finished this one.
9. Sam Stout vs. Spencer Fisher I
- I know their second fight is universally regarded as the better because Fisher was seen more on his game. Yes, he cut a lot of weight quick in taking this fight late, but that makes it even more impressive in my mind. Stout/Fisher II was good and it was neccesary because
8. Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida
- This was the last fight the UFC had and it still even made the top 15 on the UFC Ultimate 100 countdown. That's for good reason because the pace rarely let up and neither man quit even bloody and/or battered. In my opinion, heart makes good fights and few, if any, have bigger hearts than these two.
7. Kendall Grove vs. Ed Herman
- UFC Magazine recently referred to this Ultimate Fighter 3 middleweight title fight at "Griffin/Bonnar on the ground." And they were right. These guys went to battle for three rounds as the best two fighters on the seasons. It doesn't matter than Herman went on to flop and Grove's career has been up and down. When two guys roll around and you never know who's going to catch who in a possible fight closing submission, it's almost equally exciting as a slugfest.
6. Tito Ortiz vs. Frank Shamrock
- This was one of the first fights for both fighters to really showcase a barrage of the different techniques of MMA. It really launched Tito Ortiz as a superstar and while striking was getting more important in the sport, it was Frank Shamrock's submissions that helped keep BJJ and old school shoot fighting in the forefront too.
5. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia
- Fact is that Couture dominated this match, but that didn't make it less great. What makes it great is that, no matter his age, he didn't let up for the entire fight and didn't let five rounds faze him. This fight was one of the most important in the transition period of the UFC to mainstream.
4. Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch
- Another fight where one guy (GSP) was just dominant and really showed that Fitch wasn't on his level. But in this one, unlike with Sylvia, Fitch proved that he was still a beast. When you can pretty much get your ass handed to you and still come out looking like a monster, then the fight was a classic. GSP went to town, Fitch didn't back down.
3. Forrest Griffin vs. Rampage Jackson
- The best five rounder I have ever witnessed by far. The fact that you could make an argument for Griffin, Rampage or even a draw in the decision makes that clear. Both men had scouted eachother well, no matter what excuses Rampage makes now. What stood out was who was willing to go outside of their normal gameplan the most and that was Forrest with his leg kicks. Rampage didn't adjust and Forrest took advantage and Jackson's title.
2. Jared Rollins vs. Jon 'War Machine' Koppenhaver
- Ok, so here is where I rant a little. How the hell is this #81 on the Ultimate 100 countdown? I'm sure part of it is the UFC's biased (you know that entire thing can't be fully by fan vote) because they don't exactly have a good relationship with Koppenhaver. You saw how bad they've talked about Ortiz, who they likewise aren't buddies with, even though he's one of the UFC greats. The rest of it may be the fact that fans are gonna vote for big names and be more inclined to forget about two guys who don't fight in the UFC anymore who were on the undercard of an Ultimate Fighter Finale.
These two guys were not the best fighters on the Team Hughes/Team Serra season and there is a reason that they weren't fighting for the contract. But never in a million years would you have thought that watching them. If you had watched the season's first episode to see who was competing then not tuned in again until the finale, you would have thought this was the title fight. I don't know if I have ever seen two guys who wanted to lose less. There was no way that either guy was going to tap in this one and going to the judges would have been heartbreaking if it wasn't ruled a draw. Luckily War Machine took care of that for them, but only seconds of being on the verge of losing by TKO himself. It will forever stand as one of the greatest slug fests in UFC history. And it doesn't hurt that it was a bloody, bloody affair.
1. Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar I
- Here's your answer Mike Goldberg...the ONLY fight that can be number one. Fight! Magazine named it such, UFC Magazine named it such, I'm naming it such and if the Ultimate 100 Countdown doesn't name it as such, then the voting UFC fans should all be stoned.
Forget that it was for the second contract ever awarded by the UFC to an Ultimate Fighter winner (most people refer to Griffin as the original Ultimate Fighter, when Diego Sanchez took home his title first that night). Forget that this show and this fight launched the UFC and MMA into the mainstream and made it acceptable by many people worldwide who had written the sport off years and years ago. Even forget that this show was the first live UFC event to ever appear on cable television.
All of that aside, take what Griffin and Bonnar did on April 9, 2005 as what it was- it was a fight. There is a line in the movie Rocky Balboa where Rocky asks "what's so crazy about standing toe to toe with someone saying 'I am'?" That is what these two did. They didn't roll around, they didn't get technical, there was Muay Thai, there was no BJJ. There was Griffin, Bonnar and flurry of fists. It was a fight in the purist, most glorious form. It changed the face of the sport and made MMA what it is that we all see today. But even without that, even if it didn't do anything to help the UFC really establish itself, the fight stands alone as THE best ever.
(honorable mention: Griffin/Bonnar II, Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva, St. Pierre vs. BJ Penn II and Nate Quarry vs. Pete Sell)
First note, these are strictly UFC fights so don't count any of the other fights I have seen in other organizations. Sorry, Urijah Faber/Mike Brown II, you would have been high on my list.
Second note, I like many started getting into the UFC with and because of The Ultimate Fighter. So, any fights that I have seen (and there are many) from pre-Ultimate Fighter days have only been seen in retrospect and not when they originally happened. The exception to that are fights from UFC 1-3, which I saw at a friend's house on VHS as a teenager. So without furthur delay, these are the Top 10 UFC fights I have ever seen:
10. Clay Guida vs. Roger Huerta
- Guida and Huerta put on an all-out war, which is usual of both men's fights. Guida has done it countless times, Huerta did it with Leonard Garcia and others. An even fight is usually one that will be decided not by who catches who first, but by who makes the first mistake. That's how Huerta finished this one.
9. Sam Stout vs. Spencer Fisher I
- I know their second fight is universally regarded as the better because Fisher was seen more on his game. Yes, he cut a lot of weight quick in taking this fight late, but that makes it even more impressive in my mind. Stout/Fisher II was good and it was neccesary because
8. Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida
- This was the last fight the UFC had and it still even made the top 15 on the UFC Ultimate 100 countdown. That's for good reason because the pace rarely let up and neither man quit even bloody and/or battered. In my opinion, heart makes good fights and few, if any, have bigger hearts than these two.
7. Kendall Grove vs. Ed Herman
- UFC Magazine recently referred to this Ultimate Fighter 3 middleweight title fight at "Griffin/Bonnar on the ground." And they were right. These guys went to battle for three rounds as the best two fighters on the seasons. It doesn't matter than Herman went on to flop and Grove's career has been up and down. When two guys roll around and you never know who's going to catch who in a possible fight closing submission, it's almost equally exciting as a slugfest.
6. Tito Ortiz vs. Frank Shamrock
- This was one of the first fights for both fighters to really showcase a barrage of the different techniques of MMA. It really launched Tito Ortiz as a superstar and while striking was getting more important in the sport, it was Frank Shamrock's submissions that helped keep BJJ and old school shoot fighting in the forefront too.
5. Randy Couture vs. Tim Sylvia
- Fact is that Couture dominated this match, but that didn't make it less great. What makes it great is that, no matter his age, he didn't let up for the entire fight and didn't let five rounds faze him. This fight was one of the most important in the transition period of the UFC to mainstream.
4. Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch
- Another fight where one guy (GSP) was just dominant and really showed that Fitch wasn't on his level. But in this one, unlike with Sylvia, Fitch proved that he was still a beast. When you can pretty much get your ass handed to you and still come out looking like a monster, then the fight was a classic. GSP went to town, Fitch didn't back down.
3. Forrest Griffin vs. Rampage Jackson
- The best five rounder I have ever witnessed by far. The fact that you could make an argument for Griffin, Rampage or even a draw in the decision makes that clear. Both men had scouted eachother well, no matter what excuses Rampage makes now. What stood out was who was willing to go outside of their normal gameplan the most and that was Forrest with his leg kicks. Rampage didn't adjust and Forrest took advantage and Jackson's title.
2. Jared Rollins vs. Jon 'War Machine' Koppenhaver
- Ok, so here is where I rant a little. How the hell is this #81 on the Ultimate 100 countdown? I'm sure part of it is the UFC's biased (you know that entire thing can't be fully by fan vote) because they don't exactly have a good relationship with Koppenhaver. You saw how bad they've talked about Ortiz, who they likewise aren't buddies with, even though he's one of the UFC greats. The rest of it may be the fact that fans are gonna vote for big names and be more inclined to forget about two guys who don't fight in the UFC anymore who were on the undercard of an Ultimate Fighter Finale.
These two guys were not the best fighters on the Team Hughes/Team Serra season and there is a reason that they weren't fighting for the contract. But never in a million years would you have thought that watching them. If you had watched the season's first episode to see who was competing then not tuned in again until the finale, you would have thought this was the title fight. I don't know if I have ever seen two guys who wanted to lose less. There was no way that either guy was going to tap in this one and going to the judges would have been heartbreaking if it wasn't ruled a draw. Luckily War Machine took care of that for them, but only seconds of being on the verge of losing by TKO himself. It will forever stand as one of the greatest slug fests in UFC history. And it doesn't hurt that it was a bloody, bloody affair.
1. Forrest Griffin vs. Stephan Bonnar I
- Here's your answer Mike Goldberg...the ONLY fight that can be number one. Fight! Magazine named it such, UFC Magazine named it such, I'm naming it such and if the Ultimate 100 Countdown doesn't name it as such, then the voting UFC fans should all be stoned.
Forget that it was for the second contract ever awarded by the UFC to an Ultimate Fighter winner (most people refer to Griffin as the original Ultimate Fighter, when Diego Sanchez took home his title first that night). Forget that this show and this fight launched the UFC and MMA into the mainstream and made it acceptable by many people worldwide who had written the sport off years and years ago. Even forget that this show was the first live UFC event to ever appear on cable television.
All of that aside, take what Griffin and Bonnar did on April 9, 2005 as what it was- it was a fight. There is a line in the movie Rocky Balboa where Rocky asks "what's so crazy about standing toe to toe with someone saying 'I am'?" That is what these two did. They didn't roll around, they didn't get technical, there was Muay Thai, there was no BJJ. There was Griffin, Bonnar and flurry of fists. It was a fight in the purist, most glorious form. It changed the face of the sport and made MMA what it is that we all see today. But even without that, even if it didn't do anything to help the UFC really establish itself, the fight stands alone as THE best ever.
(honorable mention: Griffin/Bonnar II, Chuck Liddell vs. Wanderlei Silva, St. Pierre vs. BJ Penn II and Nate Quarry vs. Pete Sell)
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