It's hard to believe that there have already been 20 FREE Fight Nights on Spike. Man I love this sport! This Wednesday marks the third fight card the UFC has put up in the last ten days. It's a good time to be a fight fan.
Ross "The Real Deal" Pearson vs. Dennis Siver
lightweight (155)
Pearson looked great in dispatching the very game Aaron Riley in his first UFC fight since winning The Ultimate Fighter, and is riding a three fight win streak. The german striking specialist Siver, is in his second tour of duty with the UFC. Garnering a decidely poor record of 1-3 in his first run, Siver has rattled off three straight wins of his own, since returning to the Octagon.
Pearson is becoming a much more complete fighter since his stint on the reality show, as is Siver. Both fighters had a very one dimensional style, Pearson with his wrestling, and Siver with his kickboxing, but have evolved into very well rounded fighters.
Can Pearson match the striking acumen of the german? Siver has shown that he can hang with solid grapplers, and has some very nasty striking. Pearson will have to really step up his game, especially his standup, and it will just not be enough. "The Real Deal" will put forth a valiant effort, but Siver will get the nod from the judges after three rounds.
Siver via Unanimous Decision.
Nate "Rock" Quarry vs Jorge "El Conquistador" Rivera
middleweight (185)
Two veteran fighters who like to bang, and have very strong chins? Yes please! Don't let the age of these guys decieve you, despite creeping up on 40, they not only like to go toe to toe, they are quite good at it.
Rivera is coming off a nasty third round KO of Rob Kimmons last October. Quarry fought a month earlier against Tim Credeur in an extremely memorable fight that saw Quarry absorb a lot of punches, only to drop Credeur several times with brutal power en route to a unanimous decision.
So who has the edge? Quarry has the power, and a bit of an edge on the ground should this fight make it there. Expect Rivera to land some early shots, but like he always does. "Rock" will weather the storm, and plant "El Conquistador" on the mat with precision and power for the knockout win.
Quarry via KO, Rd. 2
Roy "Big Country" Nelson vs Stefan "Skyscraper" Struve
heavyweight (265)
Nelson makes his first fight since winning The Ultimate Fighter, which included his decisive, if not spectacular win over the much hyped Kimbo Slice. Struve is coming off an exciting fight with the always tough Paul Buentello, where he squeaked out a majority decision. Can Nelson overcome the massive disparity in reach? Can Struve get off the mat if Nelson gets top position? Struve is giving up about 20+ pounds, but is nearly a foot taller than "Big Country". Roy has deceptive power, and very strong grappling skills, Struve is in for a tough fight.
"Skyscraper" is only 22 years old, but has been fighting as a pro since he was 18. That being said, Nelson has a big experience edge, and isn't likely to be fazed by the stature of his opponent. Struve may work some striking early, but Nelson will get this fight to the ground, and neutralize the massive reach of Struve, and at that point, it's nearly academic. "Big Country" will get another win the way he usually does, utilizing his weight, and making the referee call for a stoppage.
Nelson via TKO, Rd. 3
Takanori "The Fireball Kid" vs. Kenny "Ken-Flo" Florian
lightweight (155)
The UFC debut of Gomi is finally going to happen, and everyone is eagerly awaiting to see what the fuss is all about. Unfortunately, it's about four years past the Japanese standouts prime. Owning a stellar record of 31-5 with one No Contest, where he took a savage beating before being submitted by Nick Diaz, which was overturned when Diaz tested positive for marijuana, he is 2-2 in his last four fights. Florian has shown he is almost unbeatable by any lightweight not named BJ Penn or Sean Sherk, and in his career as a lightweight, has failed to finish only one of his ten fights he's won.
Two years Gomis senior, Florian is also the more well rounded fighter. Possessing ginsus for elbows, knees like chin seeking missles, and above all, a killer instinct, Gomi is in for the biggest challenge of his career.
A solid wrestler with an overhand right capable of putting anybody to sleep, Gomi had better improved his conditioning, and clinch defense because it's going to be a bumpy ride if he hasn't. Gomi is at his best when he can counter punch, and work ground and pound from top control, which is just not going to happen, it's either going to be a long night, or a short night, but Florian is going to have his hand raised at the end, and will put himself right back in line for another title shot.
Florian via submission, Rear naked choke.
Wednesday, March 31, 2010
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Changes made to UFC 111, updated previews
So Thiago Alves wasn't cleared to fight due to a "brain irregularity", and a replacement wasn't going to be found in the 24 hours before weigh ins are scheduled. So Ben Saunders, originally set to fight Jake Ellenberger, has opted to replace Alves, and fight Jon Fitch. Also, the fight between Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino and Fabricio "Morango" Camoes has been moved from the undercard, to the televised portion of the fights.
Ben "Killa B" Saunders vs. Jon Fitch
welterweight (170)
Fighting on short notice is not something any fighter looks forward to. Impressing the boss, and getting a reputation as someone willing to fight anyone, anywhere, can definitely get you more big fights down the road. This fight however, is not a good match up for Saunders.
The striking acumen Saunders possesses, is the one edge he holds over Fitch. He is a tall, rangy fighter, with nasty knees and kicks. He lacks solid takedown defense, and his submissions aren't developed enough to submit a world class fighter like Fitch yet. He will likely be fighting this entire match staving off takedowns, and struggling to avoid the crushing ground and pound of the former Purdue wrestling captain.
It's no secret what Fitch is going to want to do; takedowns, takedowns, takedowns. With a thoroughly stifling top game, and a penchant for not knowing when to quit, Fitch is simply too much for Saunders. "Killa B" may put up a good fight, but expect a bruised and bloodied Saunders to watch Fitch's hand raised at the end of three rounds of getting pummeled and pulverized.
Fitch via Unanimous Decision
Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino vs Fabricio "Morango" Camoes
lightweight (155)
Getting a chance to fight on the main card, look for the two lightweights to make the most of the opportunity. Pellegrino is a very strong wrestler, with black belt in bjj, and an improving stand up game. That being said, he is going to want to use his wrestling and ground and pound to soften up Camoes for either a submission, or a stoppage win. The first may be tougher than it sounds against 2nd degree black belt Camoes.
With a strong background in submission fighting, but lacking when it comes to the mental aspect, and physical conditioning points of mma. Camoes is simple not used to fighting on this high a level of competition, and Pellegrino will exploit that.
"Batman" is going to be just that to Camoes on Saturday. He will out think, out maneuver, and most importantly, out fight Camoes. Look for Pellegrino to be a step ahead every minute of the fight, and have his hand raised after a one sided, if not particularly entertaining fight.
Pellegrino via Unanimous Decision
Ben "Killa B" Saunders vs. Jon Fitch
welterweight (170)
Fighting on short notice is not something any fighter looks forward to. Impressing the boss, and getting a reputation as someone willing to fight anyone, anywhere, can definitely get you more big fights down the road. This fight however, is not a good match up for Saunders.
The striking acumen Saunders possesses, is the one edge he holds over Fitch. He is a tall, rangy fighter, with nasty knees and kicks. He lacks solid takedown defense, and his submissions aren't developed enough to submit a world class fighter like Fitch yet. He will likely be fighting this entire match staving off takedowns, and struggling to avoid the crushing ground and pound of the former Purdue wrestling captain.
It's no secret what Fitch is going to want to do; takedowns, takedowns, takedowns. With a thoroughly stifling top game, and a penchant for not knowing when to quit, Fitch is simply too much for Saunders. "Killa B" may put up a good fight, but expect a bruised and bloodied Saunders to watch Fitch's hand raised at the end of three rounds of getting pummeled and pulverized.
Fitch via Unanimous Decision
Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino vs Fabricio "Morango" Camoes
lightweight (155)
Getting a chance to fight on the main card, look for the two lightweights to make the most of the opportunity. Pellegrino is a very strong wrestler, with black belt in bjj, and an improving stand up game. That being said, he is going to want to use his wrestling and ground and pound to soften up Camoes for either a submission, or a stoppage win. The first may be tougher than it sounds against 2nd degree black belt Camoes.
With a strong background in submission fighting, but lacking when it comes to the mental aspect, and physical conditioning points of mma. Camoes is simple not used to fighting on this high a level of competition, and Pellegrino will exploit that.
"Batman" is going to be just that to Camoes on Saturday. He will out think, out maneuver, and most importantly, out fight Camoes. Look for Pellegrino to be a step ahead every minute of the fight, and have his hand raised after a one sided, if not particularly entertaining fight.
Pellegrino via Unanimous Decision
Tuesday, March 23, 2010
UFC 111
Okay, no more going with sentimental picks, no more picking the underdog, no more sucking at these damned previews. It's going to be a fight card full of big fights, and sure to be some explosive outcomes. Hopefully I can get back to not being terrilb at this, but don't hold your breath.
Alright, let's do this.
Jim Miller vs. Mark Bocek
lightweight (155)
Miller has been on a tear as of late. With wins over Mac Danzig and Duane "Bang" Ludwig under his belt, Miller is looking to prove he is worthy of a step up in competition with his fight against Canadian grappler Bocek. With a very strong wrestling base, and an improving striking arsenal, Miller will definitely try to end Bocek's evening in spectacular fashion.
With three straight wins, and all of them coming via submission, it's easy to see why you cannot sleep on on Bocek. He has an extensive submission background, having studied under Rickson and Renzo Gracie. He also has a black belt in bjj, and is most at home when the fight hits the ground. His striking is sneaky in that he can lull you into lowering your hands, and crack you, but don't think he'll be engaging in a standup battle with the far superior striker that Miller is.
This fight will be determined by the ability of Bocek to withstand the pressure of Miller, and how much submission defense Miller has learned. Miller may even use his wrestling in reverse, to prevent the fight from going to the ground, and expose the average striking of Bocek. This fight ends with Boeck getting dropped, and Miller pounding on him until the refs mercifully stops the fight.
Miller via TKO, Rd. 2.
Ben "Killa B" Saunders vs. Jake Ellenberger
welterweight (170)
Both fighters recently rebounded from losses with wins in spectacular fashion. Saunders with an impressive TKO victory over the extremely tough Marcus Davis, and Ellenberger with a nasty TKO victory of his own over Mike Pyle. This will be a very action packed fight, with both fighters looking to throw some leather, and separate the other from their senses.
Saunders is quite tall for the division, standing six foot two. He also has some of the nastiest muy thai at 170, which he displayed in his wins over Brandon Wolf (google it, trust me) and the aforementioned Davis. "Killa B" brings devastating knees, and surprising submission skills as well, and is a handful for almost anybody at welterweight.
Ellenberger is a bit more compact fighter, but brings heavy hands, and a willingness to absorb punishment just to deal out some of his own. Only 1-1 in the UFC, but with nearly 30 fights under his belt, Ellenberger has a wealth of experience to draw on. Where he will need to succeed in this fight, is in closing the distance, and getting the fight to the ground, where he can ground and pound Saunders into goo.
It's no surprise what both of these fighters want to do, but there is quite a bit of disparity betwen what they want, and what will happen. Saunders will keep his distance, using kicks and a rangy jab, until he can secure a muy thai plum, and knee Ellenberger into unconsciousness. Ellenberger will try to close the distance quickly, and get Saunders to the mat where he can implement said goo production. Ellenberger doesn't have the ability to get inside the condor like reach of Saunders, and it'll just be a matter of time before "Killa B" turns his lights out, and gets the victory well in advance of the judges having anything to do with it.
Saunders via TKO, Rd. 1
Jon Fitch vs. Thiago "Pitbull" Alves
welterweight (170)
An extremely exciting fight that also happens to be a rematch. When these two last tussled, Fitch was starting his then record setting run in the UFC, and Alves was another young, promising, but yet to realize his potential newcomer. In fact, both men debuted for the UFC on the same fight card, albeit against other opponents. Fitch walked away the victor after dropping Alves with an upkick, and finishing him with ground and pound. Both fighters have come quite a long way since.
Alves has been a beastly wrecking machine since losing to Fitch. Rattling off seven straight victories including wins over Karo Parisyan, Matt Hughes, and Josh Koscheck, before losing to Georges St. Pierre last July in a title bout. Alves is a massive fighter for the welterweight division, and possesess some of the meanest leg kicks, and brutal striking overall, along with greatly improved takedown defense. "The Pitbull" is going to pose an all new host of problems for Fitch, and it's going to be interesting to see how he solves them.
At one time owning the UFC record for consecutive wins, Fitch also had his winning streak derailed by St. Pierre, but has rebounded with a new streak of three straight. As a freshman, he walked on to the Purdue wrestling team, and by his senior year was the captain. Not by being the best wrestler, not by being a freak athlete, but by being the hardest worker, simply not wearing out. He brings that drive to the octagon, along with a rangy reach, and gas tank that just doesn't seem to run out. Against Alves though, the second go around may prove to be much different.
While Fitch has improved his striking somewhat, he still relies on his wrestling, and heavy top game to wear opponents out until they make a mistake. His standup is average, and if he tries to go toe to toe with Fitch, it'll be a quick evening for the former Boilermaker. Alves, on the other hand, is a much different fighter since they last fought. His striking is on an entirely different level than Fitch, along with his footwork, and head movement. Alves' takedown defense is much better as well. With how shaky Fitch looked towards the end of his last fight against Mike Pierce, the edge has to go to Alves, and despite a game performance from Fitch, Alves will get the stoppage win.
Alves via TKO, Rd. 3
Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin
heavyweight (265)
Interim Heavyweight Championship Bout
Carwin was originally set to fight Brock Lesnar for the title, but an intestinal illness sidelined the champ, and then Carwin opted for elbow surgery which put him on the shelf for a few months. Mir, after the savage beating he took at the hands of Lesnar, took Cheick Kongo out in short order, and is looking to fast track a rematch with Lesnar by beating Carwin. With two gigantic men trying to do grievous injury to each other in search of a title shot, this should be an extremely exciting fight.
Carwin has only been competing since 2005, but what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in every other aspect of the game. A former NCAA DIvision II wrestling champion, he has developed a nasty ground and pound to accompany his ever improving stand up. Carwin also is right near the top of the limit for the division, having weighed in between 255 and 265 for all three of his UFC fights. The one question facing Carwin, is his cardio. Having never gone farther than the 90 second mark in any of his fights, he may have to prove that he can hang out in the deep waters of a champioship fight, as Mir is likely to want to test the big mans gas tank.
It's been quite the journey for Mir. A former heavyweight champion, and interim heavyweight champion, he's been around the block. A bjj black belt, who has really started to develop into a well rounded fighter, Mir is a huge step up in competition for Carwin, and looks to test the Colorado native in many ways. Mir has improved his striking greatly in the years since he was tapping fighters left and right, using only his vast array of submissions. He has also started to work his cardio more diligently, and since his loss to Lesnar, has added 20+ pounds of muscle to his frame. Perhaps not to try and match the strength of the larger opponents in the division, but to make the size and strength of fighters like Carwin or Lesnar, less of a factor. Mir himself is not known as an endurance machine, with only two of his career fights having gone to the judges.
An interim title, and a chance to fight the big dog are at stake, and both men very much want that shot. Carwin has less polish on his striking, but has one punch knockout power, and surprising durability. He will probably try to get the better of the fight standing up, and if that doesn't work, use his wrestling base to get a stoppage via ground and pound. Mir needs to avoid the power on the feet, and use his footwork to create angles and see how good Carwins chin really is. If the fight does go to the mat, he cannot let Carwin get dominant position, as his size and strength make that a losing proposition. Mir will try to get guard against Carwin, and he will definitely tax the submission, and look to finish from there, while avoiding the cinderblocks Carwin calls hands.
Carwin is a stud, but this is a bad matchup for him. Mir is a much better striker, and overall much more polished than Carwin. This fight will make it into the second round, but not much further than that, as Mir drops Carwin midway through the second, and finishes him up much like he did Minotauro in 2008, with the ref stopping his ground and pound.
Mir via TKO, Rd. 2
Georges "Rush" St. Pierre vs Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy
welterweight (170)
Welterweight Championship Bout
After thoroughly dominating Thiago Alves last July at UFC 100, St. Pierre was forced to take the remainder of the year off recovering from a pulled groin. Hardy spent last year amassing an impressive array of victories. Defeating Rory Markham, Marcus Davis, and Mike Swick, he was selected to be next in line to challenge for St. Pierre's championship belt. With GSP eager to get back into the octagon, and Hardy looking to prove he deserves the title shot, this fight is going to be two fighters trying to put their own stamp on UFC 111.
St. Pierre is one of the most dominant, well rounded fighters in the UFC today. Improving after every fight, and rapidly becoming one the pound for pound best fighters in the world, there is little that can be said about GSP that hasn't been said before. With perhaps the best wrestling and takedowns the UFC has in any division, St. Pierre also has been steadily improving his submission, and striking skills. His record since losing the title to Matt Serra in his first title defense has been flawless, and GSP is trying to do his best to clean out the division.
While not as big a name as some of St. Pierre's other victims, "The Outlaw" is hardly one to back away froma a scrap. Possessing an extremely technical striking game, and a surprisingly durable chin, Hardy could possibly be the one to topple GSP for the first time in almost three years. AA rough and tumble british brawler, Hardy has actually been studying martial arts for most of his life, and is a much more complete fighter than he gets credit for. That being said, if he expects to get this fight into the later rounds, and perhaps get a massive upset, he will certainly want to keep the fight on the feet, and avoid the soul crushing top game of GSP. Unfortunately, that is much easier said than done.
Hardy has all the swagger, ability, and confidence to knock off almost any 170 pound fighter in the world, just not GSP. St. Pierre will dictate where this fight will be at every point, except the very beginning. His takedowns are phenomenal, and his striking is much better than perhaps even Hardy gives him credit for. "The Outlaw" has a punchers chance, make no mistake about it, but "Rush" learned his lesson against Serra, and will not put himself in the position to get dropped again. St. Pierre will push the pace, wreck some nasty ground and pound, until he gets the TKO victory early in the 4th round.
St. Pierre via TKO, Rd. 4
Alright, let's do this.
Jim Miller vs. Mark Bocek
lightweight (155)
Miller has been on a tear as of late. With wins over Mac Danzig and Duane "Bang" Ludwig under his belt, Miller is looking to prove he is worthy of a step up in competition with his fight against Canadian grappler Bocek. With a very strong wrestling base, and an improving striking arsenal, Miller will definitely try to end Bocek's evening in spectacular fashion.
With three straight wins, and all of them coming via submission, it's easy to see why you cannot sleep on on Bocek. He has an extensive submission background, having studied under Rickson and Renzo Gracie. He also has a black belt in bjj, and is most at home when the fight hits the ground. His striking is sneaky in that he can lull you into lowering your hands, and crack you, but don't think he'll be engaging in a standup battle with the far superior striker that Miller is.
This fight will be determined by the ability of Bocek to withstand the pressure of Miller, and how much submission defense Miller has learned. Miller may even use his wrestling in reverse, to prevent the fight from going to the ground, and expose the average striking of Bocek. This fight ends with Boeck getting dropped, and Miller pounding on him until the refs mercifully stops the fight.
Miller via TKO, Rd. 2.
Ben "Killa B" Saunders vs. Jake Ellenberger
welterweight (170)
Both fighters recently rebounded from losses with wins in spectacular fashion. Saunders with an impressive TKO victory over the extremely tough Marcus Davis, and Ellenberger with a nasty TKO victory of his own over Mike Pyle. This will be a very action packed fight, with both fighters looking to throw some leather, and separate the other from their senses.
Saunders is quite tall for the division, standing six foot two. He also has some of the nastiest muy thai at 170, which he displayed in his wins over Brandon Wolf (google it, trust me) and the aforementioned Davis. "Killa B" brings devastating knees, and surprising submission skills as well, and is a handful for almost anybody at welterweight.
Ellenberger is a bit more compact fighter, but brings heavy hands, and a willingness to absorb punishment just to deal out some of his own. Only 1-1 in the UFC, but with nearly 30 fights under his belt, Ellenberger has a wealth of experience to draw on. Where he will need to succeed in this fight, is in closing the distance, and getting the fight to the ground, where he can ground and pound Saunders into goo.
It's no surprise what both of these fighters want to do, but there is quite a bit of disparity betwen what they want, and what will happen. Saunders will keep his distance, using kicks and a rangy jab, until he can secure a muy thai plum, and knee Ellenberger into unconsciousness. Ellenberger will try to close the distance quickly, and get Saunders to the mat where he can implement said goo production. Ellenberger doesn't have the ability to get inside the condor like reach of Saunders, and it'll just be a matter of time before "Killa B" turns his lights out, and gets the victory well in advance of the judges having anything to do with it.
Saunders via TKO, Rd. 1
Jon Fitch vs. Thiago "Pitbull" Alves
welterweight (170)
An extremely exciting fight that also happens to be a rematch. When these two last tussled, Fitch was starting his then record setting run in the UFC, and Alves was another young, promising, but yet to realize his potential newcomer. In fact, both men debuted for the UFC on the same fight card, albeit against other opponents. Fitch walked away the victor after dropping Alves with an upkick, and finishing him with ground and pound. Both fighters have come quite a long way since.
Alves has been a beastly wrecking machine since losing to Fitch. Rattling off seven straight victories including wins over Karo Parisyan, Matt Hughes, and Josh Koscheck, before losing to Georges St. Pierre last July in a title bout. Alves is a massive fighter for the welterweight division, and possesess some of the meanest leg kicks, and brutal striking overall, along with greatly improved takedown defense. "The Pitbull" is going to pose an all new host of problems for Fitch, and it's going to be interesting to see how he solves them.
At one time owning the UFC record for consecutive wins, Fitch also had his winning streak derailed by St. Pierre, but has rebounded with a new streak of three straight. As a freshman, he walked on to the Purdue wrestling team, and by his senior year was the captain. Not by being the best wrestler, not by being a freak athlete, but by being the hardest worker, simply not wearing out. He brings that drive to the octagon, along with a rangy reach, and gas tank that just doesn't seem to run out. Against Alves though, the second go around may prove to be much different.
While Fitch has improved his striking somewhat, he still relies on his wrestling, and heavy top game to wear opponents out until they make a mistake. His standup is average, and if he tries to go toe to toe with Fitch, it'll be a quick evening for the former Boilermaker. Alves, on the other hand, is a much different fighter since they last fought. His striking is on an entirely different level than Fitch, along with his footwork, and head movement. Alves' takedown defense is much better as well. With how shaky Fitch looked towards the end of his last fight against Mike Pierce, the edge has to go to Alves, and despite a game performance from Fitch, Alves will get the stoppage win.
Alves via TKO, Rd. 3
Frank Mir vs. Shane Carwin
heavyweight (265)
Interim Heavyweight Championship Bout
Carwin was originally set to fight Brock Lesnar for the title, but an intestinal illness sidelined the champ, and then Carwin opted for elbow surgery which put him on the shelf for a few months. Mir, after the savage beating he took at the hands of Lesnar, took Cheick Kongo out in short order, and is looking to fast track a rematch with Lesnar by beating Carwin. With two gigantic men trying to do grievous injury to each other in search of a title shot, this should be an extremely exciting fight.
Carwin has only been competing since 2005, but what he lacks in experience, he makes up for in every other aspect of the game. A former NCAA DIvision II wrestling champion, he has developed a nasty ground and pound to accompany his ever improving stand up. Carwin also is right near the top of the limit for the division, having weighed in between 255 and 265 for all three of his UFC fights. The one question facing Carwin, is his cardio. Having never gone farther than the 90 second mark in any of his fights, he may have to prove that he can hang out in the deep waters of a champioship fight, as Mir is likely to want to test the big mans gas tank.
It's been quite the journey for Mir. A former heavyweight champion, and interim heavyweight champion, he's been around the block. A bjj black belt, who has really started to develop into a well rounded fighter, Mir is a huge step up in competition for Carwin, and looks to test the Colorado native in many ways. Mir has improved his striking greatly in the years since he was tapping fighters left and right, using only his vast array of submissions. He has also started to work his cardio more diligently, and since his loss to Lesnar, has added 20+ pounds of muscle to his frame. Perhaps not to try and match the strength of the larger opponents in the division, but to make the size and strength of fighters like Carwin or Lesnar, less of a factor. Mir himself is not known as an endurance machine, with only two of his career fights having gone to the judges.
An interim title, and a chance to fight the big dog are at stake, and both men very much want that shot. Carwin has less polish on his striking, but has one punch knockout power, and surprising durability. He will probably try to get the better of the fight standing up, and if that doesn't work, use his wrestling base to get a stoppage via ground and pound. Mir needs to avoid the power on the feet, and use his footwork to create angles and see how good Carwins chin really is. If the fight does go to the mat, he cannot let Carwin get dominant position, as his size and strength make that a losing proposition. Mir will try to get guard against Carwin, and he will definitely tax the submission, and look to finish from there, while avoiding the cinderblocks Carwin calls hands.
Carwin is a stud, but this is a bad matchup for him. Mir is a much better striker, and overall much more polished than Carwin. This fight will make it into the second round, but not much further than that, as Mir drops Carwin midway through the second, and finishes him up much like he did Minotauro in 2008, with the ref stopping his ground and pound.
Mir via TKO, Rd. 2
Georges "Rush" St. Pierre vs Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy
welterweight (170)
Welterweight Championship Bout
After thoroughly dominating Thiago Alves last July at UFC 100, St. Pierre was forced to take the remainder of the year off recovering from a pulled groin. Hardy spent last year amassing an impressive array of victories. Defeating Rory Markham, Marcus Davis, and Mike Swick, he was selected to be next in line to challenge for St. Pierre's championship belt. With GSP eager to get back into the octagon, and Hardy looking to prove he deserves the title shot, this fight is going to be two fighters trying to put their own stamp on UFC 111.
St. Pierre is one of the most dominant, well rounded fighters in the UFC today. Improving after every fight, and rapidly becoming one the pound for pound best fighters in the world, there is little that can be said about GSP that hasn't been said before. With perhaps the best wrestling and takedowns the UFC has in any division, St. Pierre also has been steadily improving his submission, and striking skills. His record since losing the title to Matt Serra in his first title defense has been flawless, and GSP is trying to do his best to clean out the division.
While not as big a name as some of St. Pierre's other victims, "The Outlaw" is hardly one to back away froma a scrap. Possessing an extremely technical striking game, and a surprisingly durable chin, Hardy could possibly be the one to topple GSP for the first time in almost three years. AA rough and tumble british brawler, Hardy has actually been studying martial arts for most of his life, and is a much more complete fighter than he gets credit for. That being said, if he expects to get this fight into the later rounds, and perhaps get a massive upset, he will certainly want to keep the fight on the feet, and avoid the soul crushing top game of GSP. Unfortunately, that is much easier said than done.
Hardy has all the swagger, ability, and confidence to knock off almost any 170 pound fighter in the world, just not GSP. St. Pierre will dictate where this fight will be at every point, except the very beginning. His takedowns are phenomenal, and his striking is much better than perhaps even Hardy gives him credit for. "The Outlaw" has a punchers chance, make no mistake about it, but "Rush" learned his lesson against Serra, and will not put himself in the position to get dropped again. St. Pierre will push the pace, wreck some nasty ground and pound, until he gets the TKO victory early in the 4th round.
St. Pierre via TKO, Rd. 4
Sunday, March 21, 2010
UFC on Versus 1
Some good fights, hope we get to see some of the ones on the undercard. Here we go,
Alessio "Legionarius" Sakara vs. James "The Sandman" Irvin
middleweight (185)
Irvin finally makes his return to the UFC after nearly two years off due to suspension and injury. He was last seen on the wrong end of an Anderson Silva fight, and is finally making his debut at 185, after fighting his entire UFC career at 205. Sakara hasn't fought since August of last year, when he edged out former title contender Thales Leites by split decision.
Sakara is a superb boxer, with outstanding head movement, and footwork. His overall striking game has evolved out of pure boxing to include solid kicks and knees. Where "Legionarius" suffers the most is in the grappling and ground aspect of the game. He is mediocre at best, and has sub par submission defense. That being said, don't expect Irvin to to try and take this fight to the mat.
For better or for worse, "The Sandman" likes to slug it out, and let his natural speed an athleticism carry his solid, if not technically proficient striking game. With several UFC highlight reel KOs on his record, Irvin likes to explode with flashy, dynamic striking, that USUALLY ends fights in his favor.
With both fighters likely to keep this fight standing, it will come down to whether or not the dynamic pugilisticology of Irvin, can overcome the technical, and precise striking of Sakara. Irvin is dropping down to 185, when he had a hard time making weight at 205 for his last fight. It's also been almost two years since he last fought, so ring rust may be an issue. Sakara is very crisp and exact, but lacks true KO power, which Irvin had in spades, last time we saw him. If Sakara can frustrate the Sacramento native with good footwork, and an active jab, Irvin is in trouble. Expect Irvin to try and expose the suspect chin of Sakara early, and plant the italian on the canvas to stay with another highlight reel KO.
Irvin via KO, Rd. 2
Cheick Kongo vs Paul "The Headhunter" Buentello
heavyweight (205-265)
With both fighters coming off losses, and both with the ability and desire to put opponents to the canvas with extreme violence, this should be a very interesting fight.
After winning three straight, Kongo has lost two straight. He lost to two heavyweight title contenders, but losing three in a row is a good way to give Dana White reason to give you the boot. Buentello, on the other hand, has only lost once in the UFC recently, but to remain relevent in an increasingly deep heavyweight division, he can ill afford another loss.
Although he was dropped with a punch, then subsequently choked out in his last fight, Kongo remains one of the elite strikers in the UFCs heavyweight division. While his gargantuan reach, sniper like precision, and KO power, make him a nightmare in the stand-up aspect of fighting., the inverse is true of his ground game. With adequate takedown defense, and almost no submission defense, it's almost academic when he gets taken down. He has improved his offense on the ground, and has some nasty ground and pound. Kongo will do his best to stay on his feet, and put Buentello to sleep via sick kickboxing skills.
Buentello has been in nearly 40 professional fights, which is awesome experience, but it's also a ton of mileage. He's earned the moniker "The Headhunter" with a littany of brutal KOs to his resume, and will look to add Kongo to that list. Buentello comes to this fight, looking to prove he still has fights left in him, but Kongo is a tall order for the vet. With heavy hands, and almost robotic durability, Buentello is a tough nut to crack. Unfortunately, he also doesn't go out of he way to avoid damage, and his striking is very one dimensional. He likes to wade through attacks to implement his gameplan, and against Kongo, that usually leads to an early naptime. This is Kongos fight to lose, and it's going to end with his hand raised at the end of the fight.
Kongo via TKO, Rd. 2
Junior "Cigano" Dos Santos vs Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga
heavyweight (205-265)
A young fighter tearing up the ranks of the heavyweight division. A former contender trying to get back on top. This fight is a compelling one without the background, but because of the potential title implications, it becomes truly compelling.
Dos Santos has been ripping opponents to shreds since he decimated Fabricio Werdum in his UFC debut. With wins over Werdum, Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop, and Gilbert Yvel, Dos Santos is no longer under the radar, and has put the whole heavyweight division on notice. With blazing speed, and vicious power, "Cigano" is a nightmare on his feet. He creates angles well, and has an uppercut he throws with murderous intentions. He still hasn't had to fight off his back yet, and it has yet to be seen how strong his ground game is. A purple belt in BJJ under the Nogueira brothers, he clearly has some skill in that aspect, but something tells me he will want to stay standing and avoid the ground.
With perhaps the most impressive grappling credentials in the heavyweight division, Gonzaga is world class when it comes to BJJ. He also has devastating power in his legs, and hands, if not as much technique. A big strong fighter who has all the physical tools to be a champion, where he lacks most as a fighter is in the mental aspect of the game. In his wins he has looked very impressive, but in many of his losses, he has looked timid and pedestrian. If "Napao" can bring the killer instinct necessary to finish a fight, he may finally break into the upper echelons of the UFC heavyweight division.
Expect Dos Santos to come out fast, and push the pace. He get the better of the exchanges on the feet, but Gonzaga will manage to get this fight to the canvas, and there, the disparity between their skillsets in that arena will become obvious. Gonzaga will have his hand raised in victory, and possibly have a fight with Cain Velasquez on the horizon.
Gonzaga via submission (armbar), Rd. 2
Brandon "The Truth" Vera vs Jon "Bones" Jones
lightheavyweight (205)
Jones is the hottest prospect/fighter on the verge of making the leap to stardom in the lightheavyweight division. Despite the unfortunate circumstances of losing his last fight, he remains one of the most dynamic and exciting fighters in the UFC. Jones is what Vera once was, and is trying to supplant the filipino fighter as the nect big thing.
Vera is at a crossroads. After enjoying early success as a heavyweight, he struggled with top tier competition, before dropping down to lightheavyweight, and has encountered mixed results. Much like Jones, Vera lost his last fight, but is not worse for it. Now looking to rebound, Vera is going to try and show that Jones is stepping into a much deeper part of the weight class.
As likely to throw spinning back elbows and sidekicks as a lead jab or leg kick, and possesing some of the most electrifying throws the UFC has ever seen, Jones poses problems with no immediate solutions. Explosive speed, and surprisingly poised despite his 22 years, you can bet he will pressure Vera, keep him off balance with unorthodox strikes and throws from out of nowhere. Vera, however, will not be surprised so easily.
Still struggling to find his place at 205, Vera has impressive skills to bring to a fight. A very well rounded fighter, with KO power in feet and hands, nasty Muy Thai knees, and an extremely underrated ground game, Vera has the tools to solve the Jones dilemma. "The Truth" will need to keep his distance, made difficult by the pteranadon like reach of Jones. Where he will really look to make things happen, will be off his back after the takedowns which will inevitably come. Vera has a very active guard, and looks for subs and sweeps constantly.
This fight has all the hallmarks of a Fight of the Year candidate, and expect it to go all three rounds. It will be a hard fought, and razor close decision, but Vera will eke it out with better technical striking, solid guard work, and a more reliable gas tank. Jones has shown that his cardio is not quite at an elite level yet, and this fight will expose that particular weakness.
Vera via Unanimous Decision
Alessio "Legionarius" Sakara vs. James "The Sandman" Irvin
middleweight (185)
Irvin finally makes his return to the UFC after nearly two years off due to suspension and injury. He was last seen on the wrong end of an Anderson Silva fight, and is finally making his debut at 185, after fighting his entire UFC career at 205. Sakara hasn't fought since August of last year, when he edged out former title contender Thales Leites by split decision.
Sakara is a superb boxer, with outstanding head movement, and footwork. His overall striking game has evolved out of pure boxing to include solid kicks and knees. Where "Legionarius" suffers the most is in the grappling and ground aspect of the game. He is mediocre at best, and has sub par submission defense. That being said, don't expect Irvin to to try and take this fight to the mat.
For better or for worse, "The Sandman" likes to slug it out, and let his natural speed an athleticism carry his solid, if not technically proficient striking game. With several UFC highlight reel KOs on his record, Irvin likes to explode with flashy, dynamic striking, that USUALLY ends fights in his favor.
With both fighters likely to keep this fight standing, it will come down to whether or not the dynamic pugilisticology of Irvin, can overcome the technical, and precise striking of Sakara. Irvin is dropping down to 185, when he had a hard time making weight at 205 for his last fight. It's also been almost two years since he last fought, so ring rust may be an issue. Sakara is very crisp and exact, but lacks true KO power, which Irvin had in spades, last time we saw him. If Sakara can frustrate the Sacramento native with good footwork, and an active jab, Irvin is in trouble. Expect Irvin to try and expose the suspect chin of Sakara early, and plant the italian on the canvas to stay with another highlight reel KO.
Irvin via KO, Rd. 2
Cheick Kongo vs Paul "The Headhunter" Buentello
heavyweight (205-265)
With both fighters coming off losses, and both with the ability and desire to put opponents to the canvas with extreme violence, this should be a very interesting fight.
After winning three straight, Kongo has lost two straight. He lost to two heavyweight title contenders, but losing three in a row is a good way to give Dana White reason to give you the boot. Buentello, on the other hand, has only lost once in the UFC recently, but to remain relevent in an increasingly deep heavyweight division, he can ill afford another loss.
Although he was dropped with a punch, then subsequently choked out in his last fight, Kongo remains one of the elite strikers in the UFCs heavyweight division. While his gargantuan reach, sniper like precision, and KO power, make him a nightmare in the stand-up aspect of fighting., the inverse is true of his ground game. With adequate takedown defense, and almost no submission defense, it's almost academic when he gets taken down. He has improved his offense on the ground, and has some nasty ground and pound. Kongo will do his best to stay on his feet, and put Buentello to sleep via sick kickboxing skills.
Buentello has been in nearly 40 professional fights, which is awesome experience, but it's also a ton of mileage. He's earned the moniker "The Headhunter" with a littany of brutal KOs to his resume, and will look to add Kongo to that list. Buentello comes to this fight, looking to prove he still has fights left in him, but Kongo is a tall order for the vet. With heavy hands, and almost robotic durability, Buentello is a tough nut to crack. Unfortunately, he also doesn't go out of he way to avoid damage, and his striking is very one dimensional. He likes to wade through attacks to implement his gameplan, and against Kongo, that usually leads to an early naptime. This is Kongos fight to lose, and it's going to end with his hand raised at the end of the fight.
Kongo via TKO, Rd. 2
Junior "Cigano" Dos Santos vs Gabriel "Napao" Gonzaga
heavyweight (205-265)
A young fighter tearing up the ranks of the heavyweight division. A former contender trying to get back on top. This fight is a compelling one without the background, but because of the potential title implications, it becomes truly compelling.
Dos Santos has been ripping opponents to shreds since he decimated Fabricio Werdum in his UFC debut. With wins over Werdum, Stefan Struve, Mirko Cro Cop, and Gilbert Yvel, Dos Santos is no longer under the radar, and has put the whole heavyweight division on notice. With blazing speed, and vicious power, "Cigano" is a nightmare on his feet. He creates angles well, and has an uppercut he throws with murderous intentions. He still hasn't had to fight off his back yet, and it has yet to be seen how strong his ground game is. A purple belt in BJJ under the Nogueira brothers, he clearly has some skill in that aspect, but something tells me he will want to stay standing and avoid the ground.
With perhaps the most impressive grappling credentials in the heavyweight division, Gonzaga is world class when it comes to BJJ. He also has devastating power in his legs, and hands, if not as much technique. A big strong fighter who has all the physical tools to be a champion, where he lacks most as a fighter is in the mental aspect of the game. In his wins he has looked very impressive, but in many of his losses, he has looked timid and pedestrian. If "Napao" can bring the killer instinct necessary to finish a fight, he may finally break into the upper echelons of the UFC heavyweight division.
Expect Dos Santos to come out fast, and push the pace. He get the better of the exchanges on the feet, but Gonzaga will manage to get this fight to the canvas, and there, the disparity between their skillsets in that arena will become obvious. Gonzaga will have his hand raised in victory, and possibly have a fight with Cain Velasquez on the horizon.
Gonzaga via submission (armbar), Rd. 2
Brandon "The Truth" Vera vs Jon "Bones" Jones
lightheavyweight (205)
Jones is the hottest prospect/fighter on the verge of making the leap to stardom in the lightheavyweight division. Despite the unfortunate circumstances of losing his last fight, he remains one of the most dynamic and exciting fighters in the UFC. Jones is what Vera once was, and is trying to supplant the filipino fighter as the nect big thing.
Vera is at a crossroads. After enjoying early success as a heavyweight, he struggled with top tier competition, before dropping down to lightheavyweight, and has encountered mixed results. Much like Jones, Vera lost his last fight, but is not worse for it. Now looking to rebound, Vera is going to try and show that Jones is stepping into a much deeper part of the weight class.
As likely to throw spinning back elbows and sidekicks as a lead jab or leg kick, and possesing some of the most electrifying throws the UFC has ever seen, Jones poses problems with no immediate solutions. Explosive speed, and surprisingly poised despite his 22 years, you can bet he will pressure Vera, keep him off balance with unorthodox strikes and throws from out of nowhere. Vera, however, will not be surprised so easily.
Still struggling to find his place at 205, Vera has impressive skills to bring to a fight. A very well rounded fighter, with KO power in feet and hands, nasty Muy Thai knees, and an extremely underrated ground game, Vera has the tools to solve the Jones dilemma. "The Truth" will need to keep his distance, made difficult by the pteranadon like reach of Jones. Where he will really look to make things happen, will be off his back after the takedowns which will inevitably come. Vera has a very active guard, and looks for subs and sweeps constantly.
This fight has all the hallmarks of a Fight of the Year candidate, and expect it to go all three rounds. It will be a hard fought, and razor close decision, but Vera will eke it out with better technical striking, solid guard work, and a more reliable gas tank. Jones has shown that his cardio is not quite at an elite level yet, and this fight will expose that particular weakness.
Vera via Unanimous Decision
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)