UFC 141

Quick and to the point today, I got places to be. Good card to finish off the year tomorrow, lets see how it shakes down.

Nam Phan vs. Jim "The Kid" Hettes
featherweight

Hettes is a solid up and comer, but Phan is way too well rounded. He'll pick Hettes apart on the feet and prevent him from getting the fight were he wants it, on the ground. By the third, Hettes will be beaten up, exhausted, and in need of a finish. Phan gets it instead, by a late stoppage or decision, and I think it's the latter.

Phan via Unanimous Decision

Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko vs. Alexander "The Mauler" Gustafsson
light heavyweight

The grizzled vet against the promising up and comer, but don't count out the old dog in Matyushenko, because taking him lightly is what got Jason Brilz knocked out. Gustafsson is not likely to be done in so easily, and is more than capable of dictating where this fight takes place. A long, lanky 205 pounder, he has power and speed in his hands, and a sneaky good ground game, if Matyushenko manages to get the fight to the ground. It's far from a done deal, but "The Janitor" has a tough road to hoe in this fight, and I see Gustafsson getting the stoppage late in the second.

Gustafsson via TKO, Rd. 2

Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks
welterweight

The perennial second best fighter in the 170 pound division in Fitch makes his return to the Octagon after nearly a year out of it due to injury. He faces a rising star in Hendricks, but with GSP out for the next year, and the welterweight title in his sights, this one is all but academic. Fitch is a massive welterweight, and uses a stifling top game with superb wrestling to grind his opponents out. Hendricks may actually be the better wrestler, and has devastating power in his hands, but he may not have the cardio to outlast Fitch, who has a chin like granite, and loves taking fights into the later rounds. After weathering an early flurry from Hendricks, he will pick his spots and wear him out on his way to another unanimous decision.

Fitch via Unanimous Decision

Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz
lightweight

Nearly a shoe in for Fight of the Night, this 155 pound battle is further excited by the fact that these two simply do not like each other. A former title contender in the WEC, Cerrone looks to put a stamp on his debut year in the UFC by winning his fifth straight...this year! Diaz returned to the lightweight division in style by submitting Takanori Gomi after pummeling him on the feet. Cerrone has the better stand up, but Diaz's boxing has improved by leaps and bounds. Diaz is the better grappler, but Cerrone is far from lost on the ground. Cerrone is going to want to stand and bang, and he also has a tendency to get a little wild. He's also shown in the past that he can be submitted, which can be a problem for opponents of the Diaz clan. The stand up war will be tight, but slightly edged by Cerrone, and the real question is how things go if they make it to the mat. Cerrone does just enough to edge out the barest of split decisions, and poises himself for a shot at the lightweight title in 2012.

Cerrone via Split Decision

Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair "Demolition Man" Overeem
heavyweight

The winner of this fight is the number one contender, and gets the first shot at newly crowned champion, Junior dos Santos. Lesnar hasn't fought in over a year, and Overeem is making his UFC debut. All that aside, this should be one hell of a fight. Both men top six foot three (Overeem is 6' 5") and weigh in around the top of the 265 pound weight limit, so we have a couple of big boys in the ring. Overeem is a K-1 kickboxing champion, and has brutal knockout power in addition to his striking prowess. He also has surprising submission skills, which usually get dismissed due to his ability on the feet. Lesnar is a genetic beast, with power and speed that simply should not exist in nature. While still improving on the feet, his real strength is on the mat, where he can flex his NCAA National champion wrestling skills, and unleash truly terrifying ground and pound. When Lesnar gets this fight to the ground, it may be all but over. Overeem is going to want to do anything he can to prevent this, and however strong his own ground game may be, fighting off your back with a 290 pound gorilla smashing your face is simply no fun. There will be a lot of feeling out by Overeem, but Lesnar likes to mix things up right away, and may go for the take down right off the bat. If Overeem can fend it off, and start putting the leather on Lesnar, it's going to be a short night for the Minnesotan. I think Brock just can't handle the firepower "Demolition Man" brings, and ends up getting TKO'd in the first. I hope I'm wrong though.....


Overeem via TKO, Rd. 1