UFC Predictions (100-102, 104-109) 45-51-1 - last card: 7-4
The UFC 110 card is stacked! Very intriguing matches from top to bottom of the main card and still, there is not much slack, lack of name recognition or interest on the undercard with the exception of the opener.
(Edited on 2/19 due to injuries and replacements)
James Te Huna vs. Igor Pokrajac
~I know little about these guys, but what I do know tells me that Te Huna will get the kind of reaction in this country that Bisping gets in England.
Te Huna by 3rd Round TKO
C.B. Dollaway vs. Goran Reljic
~We all know I dislike Dollaway, but this pick is based more on Reljic's submission game compared to CB's lack of a submission defense. It's a clear one to me and boy hasn't CB been a dissapointment from all his hype on The Ultimate Fighter?
Reljic by 2nd Round Submission (armbar maybe?)
Chris Lytle vs. Brian Foster
~This could be a slug fest or a very methodically paced one. If Lytle pushes the pace, he's in the drivers seat, but will he hold back in fear of getting caught by the sneakier Foster? Nah.
Lytle by 1st Round KO
Stephan Bonnar vs. Krzysztof Soszynski
~It is not "loser leaves town" but both of these guys have had a ton of potential, decent momentum and were considered a couple of the best fighters to not win their seasons on TUF. Now, they both need a win to stay relevant. While Forrest Griffin is main eventing (he beat Bonnar in the TUF1 finale) and Ryan Bader (the winner of K-Sos' division on TUF) is on the main card of this show, these two are headlining the prelims. If they aren't careful here, they won't even be doing that. It will be a close one no matter if they push the pace or not.
Soszynski by Unanimous Decision
MAIN CARD
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Ben Rothwell (make that Anthony Perosh)
~If Rothwell lost, he was likely Strikeforce bound because he's been a dissapointment so far. Well, he's out so who cares. And instead of Cro Cop just getting Sinosic's opponent, we get a new guy...two days out from a fight and someone who wasn't on the card or training to fight Saturday is stepping up to take on Cro Cop? Moron. New opponent but the end results doesn't change in my mind, thought for entirely different reasons.
Cro Cop by 1st Round KO (kick in the head!)
Keith Jardine vs. Ryan Bader
~This is what I have been waiting for since his TUF win...Ryan Bader is going to have to throw. Leaving nothing behind and just swing because Jardine is NO joke. I like Bader, he's one of my top 15 favorite fighters period, but I don't know if he's on the right level yet, sadly.
Jardine by 3rd Round TKO
Joe Stevenson vs. George Sotiropolous
~So much momentum in this fight, it is a shame to see some of it slowed down. But really, if you are Joe Daddy, why would you ever take THIS fight in THIS location?
Sotiropolous by 2nd Round Submission
Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping
~While I would love to say that Bisping is going to knock Silva out (like I said about Dan Henderson), it just isn't going to happen. Note to Bisping: don't circle into his strong hand! Bisping showed tremendous heart and work against Denis Kang in a much needed rebound. If this goes the distance, Silva will get the nod...if this ends in a one punch knockout, Silva will get the nod...this won't end in submission so it doesn't really matter here...but if this ends because one guy catches another with hit, jars him, knocks him down and then pounces on him causing the ref to step in..well.....
Bisping by 2nd Round TKO (ref stoppage)
Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
~This is where we learn if Cain really is ready. A win here should put him first in line for the Winner of the Mir/Carwin/Lesnar fight-off that is coming this spring/summer. Though in reality, Big Nog will be in the same position if he wins. Velasquez CAN afford this loss, Nog can't and that should make all the difference in the world and make Nog charge forward like a bulldozer...too bad Cain's a tank that will just blow your ass up.
Velasquez by 2nd Round KO
Thursday, February 18, 2010
Friday, February 5, 2010
>UFC 109 Quick Pics
UFC Predictions (100-102, 104-108) 38-47-1 - last card: 5-5
Rolles Gracie vs. Joey Beltran
~Gracie by 1st Round Submission
Tim Hague vs. Chris Tuchscherer
~Tuchscherer by 2nd Round TKO
Brian Stann vs. Phil Davis
~Stann by 2nd Round TKO
Rob Emerson vs. Phillipe Nover
~Emerson by Split Decision
Melvin Guillard vs. Ronnys Torres
~Guillard by 2nd Round KO
Mac Danzig vs. Justin Bucholz
~Bucholz by Unanimous Decision
Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg
~Serra by 2nd Round Submission
Demian Maia vs. Dan Miller
~Maia by 1st Round TKO
Paulo Thiago vs. Mike Swick
~Mike Swick by 2nd Round TKO
Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen
~UPSET SPECIAL: Sonnen by 2nd Round Submission
Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman
~Randy Couture by 2nd Round KO
Rolles Gracie vs. Joey Beltran
~Gracie by 1st Round Submission
Tim Hague vs. Chris Tuchscherer
~Tuchscherer by 2nd Round TKO
Brian Stann vs. Phil Davis
~Stann by 2nd Round TKO
Rob Emerson vs. Phillipe Nover
~Emerson by Split Decision
Melvin Guillard vs. Ronnys Torres
~Guillard by 2nd Round KO
Mac Danzig vs. Justin Bucholz
~Bucholz by Unanimous Decision
Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg
~Serra by 2nd Round Submission
Demian Maia vs. Dan Miller
~Maia by 1st Round TKO
Paulo Thiago vs. Mike Swick
~Mike Swick by 2nd Round TKO
Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen
~UPSET SPECIAL: Sonnen by 2nd Round Submission
Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman
~Randy Couture by 2nd Round KO
Saturday, January 2, 2010
> UFC 108 Quick Picks
UFC Predictions (100-102, 104-107)33-42-1 - last card: 7-4
John Gunderson def. Rafaello Oliveira
2nd Round TKO
Mike Pyle def. Jake Ellenberger
1st Round Stoppage
Ryan Jensen def. Mark Munoz
2nd Round Submission
Cole Miller def. Dan Lauzon
Unanimous Decision
Jacob Volkmann def. Martin Kampmann
3rd Round TKO.....mann
Junior Dos Santos def. Gilbert Yvel
1st Round KO
Jim Miller def. Duane Ludwig
2nd Round Submission
Sam Stout def. Joe Lauzon
3rd Round TKO
Paul Daley def. Dustin Hazelett
Split Decision
Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva
-Plain and simple, I suck on main event choices usually. So, I am going go against my gut because my guy has been all too wrong in these predictions.
Silva by Unanimous Decision (in a slug fest)
John Gunderson def. Rafaello Oliveira
2nd Round TKO
Mike Pyle def. Jake Ellenberger
1st Round Stoppage
Ryan Jensen def. Mark Munoz
2nd Round Submission
Cole Miller def. Dan Lauzon
Unanimous Decision
Jacob Volkmann def. Martin Kampmann
3rd Round TKO.....mann
Junior Dos Santos def. Gilbert Yvel
1st Round KO
Jim Miller def. Duane Ludwig
2nd Round Submission
Sam Stout def. Joe Lauzon
3rd Round TKO
Paul Daley def. Dustin Hazelett
Split Decision
Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva
-Plain and simple, I suck on main event choices usually. So, I am going go against my gut because my guy has been all too wrong in these predictions.
Silva by Unanimous Decision (in a slug fest)
Thursday, December 17, 2009
>RIP Chris Henry
It is always sad to see someone go at such a young age. Today, the NFL lost Bengals wide receiver Chris Henry at age 26. They lost a man who was working to redeem himself after a troubled early life, they lost a father of three and they lost one of the best pass catchers in the game (a fact that was often overshadowed by that afforementioned trouble).
Don't have much to say other than I just had that urge to write something. It is a shame that he was never able to fully redeem himself on and off the field in the eyes of the public. It is truly sad that Chris Henry's legacy will be of a troublemaker and of a man who died young; because he was so much more.
Don't have much to say other than I just had that urge to write something. It is a shame that he was never able to fully redeem himself on and off the field in the eyes of the public. It is truly sad that Chris Henry's legacy will be of a troublemaker and of a man who died young; because he was so much more.
Thursday, December 10, 2009
>UFC 107 Predictions
UFC Predictions (100-102, 104-106): 26-38-1 - last card: 6-3-1
It is that time again, yes another UFC event. This one, like so many lately, is not what was originally broadcast to be. Instead of Rampage/Rashad, it is headlined by an equally heavy handed potential slugfest and for a world title even.
PreLims
Kevin Burns def. TJ Grant
2nd Round Submission
Edgar Garcia def. Marques Johnson
3rd Round TKO
Rousimar Palhares def. Lucio Linhares
1st Round TKO
Johny Hendricks def. Ricardo Funch
2nd Round Submission
Matt Winman def. Shane Nelson
Unanimous Decision
Wilson Gouveia def. Alan Belcher
2nd Round KO
MAIN CARD
Stefan Struve vs. Paul Buentello
I won't pretend to be an expert on either of these guys. But I do know this: it is never a good day to face a 6'11'' guy in any athletic competition when you are 6'2''
-Struve by 1st Round TKO
Kenny 'KenFlo' Florian vs. Clay 'The Carpenter' Guida
It's a tough life to live for Guida, who is always right on the cusp at 155, but will never be top tier. He fought Diego Sanchez, which was a good match up because they both swing for the fences, but Diego is just better at that which is why Clay fell to this fight and isn't challenging BJ Penn. Neither is going to be rendered irrelevant in a loss here, but the loser will get pushed significantly back down the 155 ladder. Guida is a swinger, but Florian is just plain smarter than almost everyone in the UFC, so what he lacks in aggression, he makes up for in mentality. Someone steps closer to a title shot, someone has to put it on the back burner.
-Florian by 2nd Round Submission
Jon Fitch vs. Mike Pierce
Pierce is a scrappy guy, but has the unfortunate reality of running into THE scrappy guy in the UFC. Fitch will take a beating and keep on ticking, as he showed in his most unfortunate loss at the hands of Georges St. Pierre. And Pierce is no GSP when it comes to putting the hurt or the pressure on. The welterweight division is packed full of contenders, but the question is who is the top draw (even with Dan Hardy getting the next crack at GSP). Koscheck, Rumble, Paulo Thiago...they all may have to stay 2nd string because a dominant win for Fitch here could catapult him back to top contendership for the GSP/Hardy winner.
-Fitch by 1st Round KO
Frank Mir vs. Cheick Kongo
I personally don't think that this fight will be as close as some. Kongo, while likeable, just does not have the world's most killer instinct. And while Mir does not often show his on TV or outside of the cage, he sure knows when to turn it up. And knowing that Mir's primary focus in all of life is Brock Lesnar, he knows that he has to dominate every fight until the UFC matches him back up with Brock. I don't see this fight as the pure 'Strike vs. Submitter' that the UFC is trying to bill it as. Instead, it's a striker, with no other significant abilities against THE BEST submitter in the division, who can just as well knock you out. I think Frank will do both just to prove he can...knock him down, then tap him out.
-Mir by 2nd Round Submission
UFC World Lightweight Title
'The Prodigy' BJ Penn vs. Diego 'The Nightmare' Sanchez
I am 1-3 in predicting title fights since UFC 100. Is that because I don't have faith in the old guard? Possibly. Two of those misses came in the last two fights, predicting that Penn and Machida would fall in their last defenses. I also have a problem picking fighters I like based purely on that fact. I need to change my mentality on both of these things because of this: BJ Penn is one of the best smaller MMA fighters ever. He proved me wrong last time in SOME ways. He outlasted Kenny Florian and killed the strategy of testing BJ's gas tank over five rounds. I said earlier in this post that Kenny Florian is one of the smartest fighters in the UFC and he is...but BJ Penn outsmarted him. If BJ can outsmart Diego, then this will be a very long, methodical fight where BJ will retain again and maybe end up with the Nate Diaz/Gray Maynard winner. But, there are some holes that need to be pointed out. Number one, BJ was exhausted after five rounds with Kenny Florian, so he would be really exhausted after five rounds with a worker like Diego Sanchez, no matter what Diego's tank may look like (and who knows...we've never seen Diego go five). With that said, BJ knows and has said that his mentality in this fight when Diego runs at him is to run right back at Diego. This would be the dumbest thing that I have ever seen because Penn just can't let 'em fly like Nightmare can. I would love to say this will be an epic, five round war that will redefine this division. And if it does go that far, there is a much greater chance that BJ Penn will be retaining and Diego will fall. But BJ has told us his gameplan and when he does that, he usually sticks to it. I, sadly for BJ, believe what he says, so that really only means one thing to me.....
-Diego Sanchez by Second Round TKO to become the NEW UFC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD
That's right, i'm throwing out the conventional wisdom to go against what I normally do. Instead of playing it "safe," I am going with a new champion and a fighter that I just plain like a lot better. But it's not for the same reasons as usual. This time it's educated and it's because BJ's making me do it. Sorry champ, you never run at the rhino that's about to gore you. Time for a change.
It is that time again, yes another UFC event. This one, like so many lately, is not what was originally broadcast to be. Instead of Rampage/Rashad, it is headlined by an equally heavy handed potential slugfest and for a world title even.
PreLims
Kevin Burns def. TJ Grant
2nd Round Submission
Edgar Garcia def. Marques Johnson
3rd Round TKO
Rousimar Palhares def. Lucio Linhares
1st Round TKO
Johny Hendricks def. Ricardo Funch
2nd Round Submission
Matt Winman def. Shane Nelson
Unanimous Decision
Wilson Gouveia def. Alan Belcher
2nd Round KO
MAIN CARD
Stefan Struve vs. Paul Buentello
I won't pretend to be an expert on either of these guys. But I do know this: it is never a good day to face a 6'11'' guy in any athletic competition when you are 6'2''
-Struve by 1st Round TKO
Kenny 'KenFlo' Florian vs. Clay 'The Carpenter' Guida
It's a tough life to live for Guida, who is always right on the cusp at 155, but will never be top tier. He fought Diego Sanchez, which was a good match up because they both swing for the fences, but Diego is just better at that which is why Clay fell to this fight and isn't challenging BJ Penn. Neither is going to be rendered irrelevant in a loss here, but the loser will get pushed significantly back down the 155 ladder. Guida is a swinger, but Florian is just plain smarter than almost everyone in the UFC, so what he lacks in aggression, he makes up for in mentality. Someone steps closer to a title shot, someone has to put it on the back burner.
-Florian by 2nd Round Submission
Jon Fitch vs. Mike Pierce
Pierce is a scrappy guy, but has the unfortunate reality of running into THE scrappy guy in the UFC. Fitch will take a beating and keep on ticking, as he showed in his most unfortunate loss at the hands of Georges St. Pierre. And Pierce is no GSP when it comes to putting the hurt or the pressure on. The welterweight division is packed full of contenders, but the question is who is the top draw (even with Dan Hardy getting the next crack at GSP). Koscheck, Rumble, Paulo Thiago...they all may have to stay 2nd string because a dominant win for Fitch here could catapult him back to top contendership for the GSP/Hardy winner.
-Fitch by 1st Round KO
Frank Mir vs. Cheick Kongo
I personally don't think that this fight will be as close as some. Kongo, while likeable, just does not have the world's most killer instinct. And while Mir does not often show his on TV or outside of the cage, he sure knows when to turn it up. And knowing that Mir's primary focus in all of life is Brock Lesnar, he knows that he has to dominate every fight until the UFC matches him back up with Brock. I don't see this fight as the pure 'Strike vs. Submitter' that the UFC is trying to bill it as. Instead, it's a striker, with no other significant abilities against THE BEST submitter in the division, who can just as well knock you out. I think Frank will do both just to prove he can...knock him down, then tap him out.
-Mir by 2nd Round Submission
UFC World Lightweight Title
'The Prodigy' BJ Penn vs. Diego 'The Nightmare' Sanchez
I am 1-3 in predicting title fights since UFC 100. Is that because I don't have faith in the old guard? Possibly. Two of those misses came in the last two fights, predicting that Penn and Machida would fall in their last defenses. I also have a problem picking fighters I like based purely on that fact. I need to change my mentality on both of these things because of this: BJ Penn is one of the best smaller MMA fighters ever. He proved me wrong last time in SOME ways. He outlasted Kenny Florian and killed the strategy of testing BJ's gas tank over five rounds. I said earlier in this post that Kenny Florian is one of the smartest fighters in the UFC and he is...but BJ Penn outsmarted him. If BJ can outsmart Diego, then this will be a very long, methodical fight where BJ will retain again and maybe end up with the Nate Diaz/Gray Maynard winner. But, there are some holes that need to be pointed out. Number one, BJ was exhausted after five rounds with Kenny Florian, so he would be really exhausted after five rounds with a worker like Diego Sanchez, no matter what Diego's tank may look like (and who knows...we've never seen Diego go five). With that said, BJ knows and has said that his mentality in this fight when Diego runs at him is to run right back at Diego. This would be the dumbest thing that I have ever seen because Penn just can't let 'em fly like Nightmare can. I would love to say this will be an epic, five round war that will redefine this division. And if it does go that far, there is a much greater chance that BJ Penn will be retaining and Diego will fall. But BJ has told us his gameplan and when he does that, he usually sticks to it. I, sadly for BJ, believe what he says, so that really only means one thing to me.....
-Diego Sanchez by Second Round TKO to become the NEW UFC LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPION OF THE WORLD
That's right, i'm throwing out the conventional wisdom to go against what I normally do. Instead of playing it "safe," I am going with a new champion and a fighter that I just plain like a lot better. But it's not for the same reasons as usual. This time it's educated and it's because BJ's making me do it. Sorry champ, you never run at the rhino that's about to gore you. Time for a change.
Friday, November 20, 2009
>UFC 106 Predictions
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
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 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
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