UFC 143

Very tired, as I've had a long week. I'll still make my customary stab at my picks, and I definitely need to redeem myself after last week. *shudder*

Ed "Short Fuse" Herman vs. Clifford Starks
middleweight

Starks sports an undefeated record, but he's hardly fought any fighters of note. Where Herman has fought a lot of very tough guys, and has come out on top with a bit of regularity. Starks is a very good wrestler, but has yet to round out his skill set, and against Herman, that is a decided weakness. The Team Quest product has solid ability in every aspect of mma, and this fight is his to lose. Starks may put Hermans take down defense early, but when he finds himself stuffed there, he will likely resort to wild power punches, and get picked apart on the feet. Even if Starks does get the fight to the ground, Herman is more than capable of working off his back for subs or sweeps. I don't know if Herman will be able to stop Starks, but if he does, it will likely come via strikes late in the fight, though I expect this to go the distance, and see Herman get his hand raised after a thorough one sided beating.

Herman, via Unanimous Decision

Renan "Barao" Pegado vs. Scott "Young Guns" Jorgensen
bantamweight

Two surging bantamweights collide as Pegado looks to leap closer to a title shot with a win over Jorgensen, as Jorgensen tries to get another chance to prove he can beat division champion, Dominic Cruz. Pegado looked fantastic as he demolished Brad Pickett in the first round, and employs crisp, stinging stand up, with lethal killer instinct on the ground. Jorgensen is definitely the less dynamic of the two, possessing a more grinding style, intent on using his superior wrestling and top control to ground and pound opponents. Jorgensen will look to close the distance, and work from the clinch with knees and dirty boxing, while Pegado is definitely going to try and stay to the outside and chop away with leg kicks and punching combinations. Jorgensen has never been knocked out, and has only been subbed once, but he simply will not have the speed, or striking acumen to hang with Pegado on the feet. Unless the Brazilian has a less than stellar gas tank, expect "Barao" to win an exciting, if not decisive fight.

Pegado via Unanimous Decision.

Okay, so I started this last night with the intentions of finishing it this morning, but between then and now, I got sick as hell. So no more analysis, just picks

Josh "Kos" Koscheck vs. Mike Pierce
welterweight

Koscheck via Unanimous Decision

Roy "Big Country" Nelson vs Fabrico "Vai Cavalo" Werdum
heavyweight

Nelson via TKO, Rd. 2

Welterweight interim Championship
Nick Diaz vs. Carlos "The Natural Born Killer" Condit

Condit via Unanimous Decision