UFC 102 preview

So I am attending UFC 102 this weekend, and am extremely excited. I usually do some sort of preview, but this time, I am previewing, and then will take notes, then will REVIEW!!! IT'S JUST CRAZY ENOUGH TO WORK! Let's get to work.

UNDERCARD

Marcus "Maximus" Aurellio vs. Evan Dunham 155

The evening begins between a seasoned veteran, and a young up and comer. Aurellio has been there and done that. He has a strong submission game, and in 25 career fights, has never been stopped. Dunham, is younger, less experienced, but possibly more motivated. He only has eight fights, but has won them all, and gone to decision only once. Aurellios experience and submission savvy will provide too much though, as he works a second round round armbar.

Aurellio, submission (armbar) Rd. 2

Nick Catone vs. Mark "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" Munoz 185

Two highly decorated wrestlers highlight the second match. Catone was a two time division winner and national qualifier at Rider University. Munoz was a two time Big 12 champion, two time All-American, and won the national championship as a senior in 2001. So where are the advantages? Catone has a well rounded game, with strong submissions, and holds a purple belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu. Munoz has heavy hands, and a smothering ground game. Expect Catone to try and get this fight to the ground, and work some submissions from the top position. Munoz is going to want to get Catone on his back, push him against the cage, and mush his face into paste. It will more than likely end in the judges hands, with Catone getting his hand raised.

Catone, Unanimous Decision.


Tim "The Thrashing Machine" Hague vs. Todd Duffee HWT

Silly nickname aside, Hague is a big, tough dude. He withstood a beating from Pat Barry before submitting him with a guillotine choke. Duffee is young, hungry, and huge! With four wins in four fights via KO or TKO, he poses many problems for Hague. Hague is a blue belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu, but before submitting Barry, was getting badly beat up by the much smaller fighter. Duffee doesn't possess the striking prowess of Barry, but his reach and strength could make up and then some for his relative inexperience. Hague will probably try to get the fight to the ground, Duffee wants to make his size work for him, and if the fight goes to the ground, stay on top, and force Hague to exert himself. Duffee will impose his will on the feet, and the only way "The Thrashing Machine" gets to the ground is after he is knocked out in the first round.

Duffee, KO, Rd. 1


Justin "The Nsane 1" McCully vs. Mike Russow HWT

Second fight with a silly nickname, and second fight with disparaging skills. McCully has good leg kicks, and has been fighting professionally for twelve years. Russow has a slight size advantage, and great ground skills. McCully definitely wants to stay standing, as in his only UFC fight that went to the ground, he was completely outclassed and submitted by Gabriel Gonzaga. Russow is going to try and avoid the buzz cutter leg kicks, drag McCully to the ground, and find a way to conduct the Three Tap Symphony. Russow will win, as unfortunately, "The Nsane 1" doesn't have the skills to keep this fight standing.

Russow, submission (kimura) Rd. 2


Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga vs. Chris "The Crowbar" Tuchscherer HWT

Gonzaga looks to bounce back from the loss he recieved at the hands of number one heavyweight contender, Shane Carwin. Tuchscherer is a great big honking, John Heidenreich looking, beast of a human being. "The Crowbar" has size, strength, and not much else on his size. Gonzaga has strong striking, world class bjj, and is looking to get back on track in the heavyweight division. Tuchscherer's best bet is to wear gonzaga out with a sprawl and brawl tactic that will definitely not work. "Napao" takes this fight via sub, as soon as Tuchscherer's gas tank runs out, in the second round.

Gonzaga, submission (rear naked choke), Rd. 2


Ed "Short Fuse" Herman vs. Aaron"A-Train" Simpson 185

Herman is starting to find his place as a gatekeeper for the middleweight division. Simpson is looking to kick down those gates and announce his presence as a viable 185 pounder. Herman has fought some fo best the UFC has to offer, and has amassed some solid victories. Simpson on the other hand, hasn't lost in five professional fights, and has won all via KO or TKO. "Short Fuse" will provide a much sterner test, and will try to expose Simpsons lack of experience on the ground, and either ground and pound, or submit Simpson. Simpson will try to get a rhythm going on the feet, but Herman will withstand the onslaught, get it to the ground, and choke him out in the second round.

Herman, submmission (rear naked choke), Rd. 2

MAIN CARD

Brandon "The Truth" Vera vs. Krzystof "The Polish Experiment" Soszynski 205

Soszynski is a late replacement for Matt Hamill, and in my opinion, a much tougher opponent for Vera. After a couple of uninspiring fights following his drop to the lightheavyweight division, Vera finally showed what he is capable of by utterly destroying Michael Patt with leg kicks on his way to a TKO. "The Truth" looks to finally have accomodated to the weight cut, and is looking to get a good roll going and work towards a title shot. Soszynski is fighting his second straight fight as an injury replacement, and is on a three fight win streak. This is a very close fight, with Vera having more precise strikes and a very underrated bjj game. Whereas Soszynski is much more well rounded, with extremely heavy hands. Expect this to be a back and forth battle with both fighters putting it all on the line only to have the ref raising Veras hand as the judges hand him the decision win.

Vera, Unanimous Decision


Nate "The Great" Marquardt vs. Demian Maia 185

An easy candidate for fight of the night, pits the seven time King of Pancrase Marquardt, against the undefeated bjj wrecking machine Maia whos m.o. is obvious, get oppopnent to the ground, make them tap out, have hand raised, wash, rinse, repeat. Marquardt is no grappling slouch himself, with a bjj black belt, and a plethora of submission and wrestling accolades on his resume. "The Great" will more than likely use his bjj and wrestling in reverse to keep the fight standing, and avoid submissions, while trying tu turn it into more of a striking match to expose the weakness that has been Maia's striking. Marquardt must try to get this fight into the later rounds and attempt to tax Maias cardio, while the brazilian submission master could easily put this one away early with a sub, but I don't see Marquardt falling into his game plan, and getting a referee stoppage early in the third round.

Marquardt, TKO, Rd. 3


Chris "The Crippler" Leben vs. Jake Rosholt 185

In Leben's first fight back after getting suspended for testing positive for steroids, he has a lot going in his favor. He gets to fight in his own backyard, and gets a very green fighter in Rosholt, who is mostly known for his excellent wrestling and not much else. Leben has a chin like granite, can take tons of abuse, and is no shabby wrestler in his own right. Rosholt is tough, with heart, but that wont be enough to overcome "The Crippler. This will more than likely going to be a VERY onesided affair, with Leben wearing Rosholt out, and dropping him to the canvas with the sledgehammer he calls a left hand early in the second round.

Leben, KO, Rd. 2


"The Dean of Mean" Keith Jardine vs. Thiago Silva 205

Two very tough, game fighters coming off losses, looking to get back on track? Yes please. Silva was absolutley demolished by current lightheavyweight champion, Lyoto Machida, and at the same time handed his first loss. Jardine just went three very impressive rounds with former champ Quinton Jackson, and was very close to winning the fight. This fight is probably going to go one of two ways; Silva likes to push the pace, and bully his opponents in a less than technical execution, while very effective; Jardine needs to work his unorthodox, yet very effective striking, crack Silva with leg kicks, and more than likely weather an early onslaught. Jardine has been caught early in fights by such bruisers as Houston Alexander, and Wanderlei Silva (no relation), and if he hasn't learned from those beatings, he's on an early train to the wrong end of a highlight reel stomping. If the Rampage fight is any indicator, he has, and Silva is in for a long fight, with his lead leg looking like hamburger, and "The Dean of Mean" getting the judges nod.

Jardine, Unanimous Decision


Randy "The Natural Couture" vs Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira HWT

Hall of Fame. That's where these two fighters are headed. The only question is, how soon? Couture is on the wrong side of 45 for a professional fighter, even though Father Time is one more professional scrapper that hasn't learned how to put him away, and Nogueira is only 33, but he's had a number of knock down, drag out brawls that have certainly taken their toll on him. That being said, this will be a hell of a rumble. Couture is the king of not only drawing up an effective gameplan, but sticking to it. He is going to want to maintain his distance, utilize head movement, and his infamous dirty boxing in the clinch. Nogueira just had his first career loss by stoppage, even though he was rumored to have been overcoming a staph infection, and knee injury. "Minotauro" has heart in full supply. Just look back to his wins over Heath Herring and Tim Sylvia, where he overcame early scares to rebound and win. He has got to find a way to get Couture on his back, and neutralize the clinch game "The Natural" uses so effectively. Nogueira also has a very strong submission game, that Couture is going to have to be able to avoid, but has shown every indication that he can. This comes down to which Nogueira shows up. If the guy who snuck by Herring, pulled one out of his bag of tricks against Sylvia, and was stopped by Mir shows up, he's in trouble. If the "Minotauro" that was the number one heavyweight on the planet not named Fedor Emelianenko, makes an arrival, well, Couture is in trouble.

This fight has the added bonus of the winner getting a shot at the winner of Brock Lesnar-Shane Carwin. I think the motivation is there for both fighters to regain championship gold, but have no clue who wants it more. Couture, and one more shot at the title, or Nogueira, and the chance to prove to every fan in the U.S. what every fan outside of the U.S. already knows, he cannot be counted out, and is the best, non russian sambo master, fighter out there. Couture will try and work his clinch and dirty boxing, but will make a small mistake that probably wont even seem like one, Nogueira will capitalize, and cause Couture to tap out to a submission for the first time in seven years.

Nogueira, submission (guillotine choke), Rd. 2