UFC 105 Picks & Predictions
Posted by Drew Ellis (11/14/2009 @ 10:01 am)
The Ultimate Fighting Championship presents UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera on Saturday from the M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, England. The event will air on tape delay on Spike TV beginning at 8 p.m. and feature five bouts. Here are my picks for the five featured fights:
Light Heavyweight (205 lbs) – Randy Couture (16-10) vs. Brandon Vera (11-3) – This fight features two former heavyweights that have dropped down to light heavyweight after struggling in the larger weight class. Couture is a Hall of Fame fighter that has won multiple titles in both divisions, but has lost his last two matches. The key in this fight will be whether the fight remains standing or if it goes to the ground. Couture has the edge on the ground while Vera has the edge standing. I expect Vera to come out highly motivated and on top of his game, using his speed and extensive strikes to get the best of Couture, who seems to be lacking in the ability to control fights right now. Look for Vera to win a second or third round TKO.
Welterweight (170 lbs) – Mike Swick (14-2) vs. Dan Hardy (22-6) – This match is a No. 1 contenders match, with the winner getting to fight UFC champion Georges St. Pierre in their next match. Both fighters will look to strike as each thinks they have faster and stronger hands than their opponent. The key for this fight will be which fighter has the ability to win the battle on the ground as that is likely where it will end up in the later rounds. I like Swick’s quickness and takedown ability to earn him a decision win over the game Hardy.
Middleweight (185 lbs) – Michael Bisping (18-2) vs. Denis Kang (32-11-1) – Bisping is coming off his first knockout loss at UFC 100 and how he handles that loss will be the key in this fight. Sometimes after losing by knockout, fighters come back tentative and unwilling to mix it up for fear of getting knocked out again. Bisping has to trust his abilities in order to beat Kang, who is an experienced and well-rounded fighter. Bisping was becoming a tentative fighter prior to his KO loss, and I expect him to be the same in this fight, which will allow Kang to control the fight and earn a decision win.
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Posted in: Mixed Martial Arts
Tags: Aaron Riley, Brandon Vera, Dan Hardy, Denis Kang, James Wilks, James Wilks vs. Matt Brown, Matt Brown, Michael Bisping, Michael Bisping vs. Denis Kang, Mike Swick, Mike Swick vs. Dan Hardy, Randy Couture, Randy Couture vs. Brandon Vera, Ross Pearson, Ross Pearson vs. Aaron Riley, UFC 105, UFC 105 picks, UFC 105 predictions, Ultimate Fighting Championship

Saturday MMA Review: 7/25
Posted by Anthony Stalter (07/25/2009 @ 10:50 am)

Here’s a weekly rundown of MMA content from Ben Goldstein of CagePotato.com:
In a week that left every MMA fan with a massive hangover…
- Affliction heavyweight Josh Barnett pissed dirty in a random drug test, and was yanked from next Saturday’s “Trilogy” Card. After a futile search for a replacement opponent, Affliction decided it would be easier for everybody if they just went back to selling t-shirts.
- Lithuanian underdog Marius Zaromskis won DREAM’s welterweight grand prix by knocking out Hayato Sakurai and Jason High on the same night.
- Strikeforce’s formerly-epic “Carano vs. Cyborg” card lost two title fights, one due to an infected hand and the other due to an unfortunate drug reaction.
- Instead of the title shot he was promised, UFC middleweight star Dan Henderson has to fight Rich Franklin again, just eight months after he beat him the first time.
- UFC old-schooler Kimo Leopoldo was discovered not dead of a heart attack. He was, and still is, 41.
- We wondered what the future holds for the UFC’s fallen U.K. poster boy Michael Bisping.
- In a sport full of turmoil and constant surprises, we can always count on Gina Carano to look hot in public.
Posted in: Mixed Martial Arts
Tags: Carano v. Cyborg, Dan Henderson, Gina Carano, Hayato Sakurai, Jason High, Josh Barnett, Josh Barnett failed drug test, Kimo Leopoldo, Marius Zaromskis, Michael Bisping, MMA News, MMA rumors, Rich Franklin, UFC News, UFC rumors

Saturday MMA Review: 7/11
Posted by Anthony Stalter (07/11/2009 @ 2:00 pm)

Here’s a weekly rundown of MMA content from Ben Goldstein of CagePotato.com:
- Quinton “Rampage” Jackson’s dry-humping of a female reporter became the year’s most uncomfortable MMA viral video.
- Saturday’s monumental UFC 100 show will feature “Girl Next Door” Holly Madison as a celebrity Octagon Girl, and two very worthy additions to the UFC Hall of Fame.
- With the bookings of Alistair Overeem vs. Fabricio Werdum and Nick Diaz vs. Joe Riggs, Strikeforce’s “Carano vs. Cyborg” mega-card will now feature four title fights.
- In other Diaz Brother news, Nate Diaz is headlining the next UFC Fight Night event, despite having lost his last two matches, and plans on getting knocked dead this time.
- The UFC’s new stance on sponsorships is taking money out of the pockets of their fighters.
- After screwing the UFC by defecting to DREAM, MMA legend Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic has decided to screw DREAM and return to the UFC.
- The full cast of “The Ultimate Fighter: Heavyweights” was revealed. Does Kimbo Slice have a chance?
- Swing by CagePotato tonight (Saturday) beginning at 7 p.m. PT/10 p.m. ET for our liveblog of UFC 100, in which Brock Lesnar clashes with Frank Mir for the second time, Georges St. Pierre defends his belt against Thiago Alves, and Michael Bisping and Dan Henderson battle for a middleweight title shot. Get hyped for the historic event by watching this unofficial tribute, and this official one.
Posted in: Mixed Martial Arts
Tags: Alistair Ovreem vs. Fabricio Werdum, Brock Lesnar, Carano vs. Cyborg, Dan Henderson, Frank Mir, Georges St. Pierre, Holly Madison, Kimbo Slice, Michael Bisping, Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic, MMA Octago Girls, Nate Diaz, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, Ramage Jackson dry-humping video, Strikeforce, Thiago Alves, UFC 100

UFC 100 Preview & Predictions
Posted by Administrator (07/11/2009 @ 11:15 am)

The Ultimate Fighting Championship celebrates a monumental landmark tonight with UFC 100. To celebrate the 100th Pay Per View show for the Mixed-Martial Arts company, the UFC has put together a stacked feature card headlined by three main-event caliber fights. Overall the main card has five fights, including two championship bouts. The show takes places from the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas at 10 p.m. ET. Here are my predictions for the main card bouts.
Heavyweight Championship (265 pounds): Champion Brock Lesnar (3-1) vs. Frank Mir (12-3) – This fight is tough to call. Mir one the previous meeting at UFC 81 in February of 2008, but since, both fighters have vastly improved. Lesnar has been over-powering and shown solid boxing in his wins over Heath Herring and Randy Couture. Mir has been on a tear in his last three fights, picking up quick wins over Antoni Hardonk, Lesnar, and Minotaro Nogueira. Mir became the first to stop Nogueria back at UFC 92, which set up the rematch with Lesnar. In this fight, I think Mir’s improved boxing will play a big factor. In the first meeting, Lesnar landed big punches early and pounced on Mir, nearly stopping the fight before Mir pulled of a knee-bar submission. In this fight I think Mir will be able to dictate where the fight goes more than he did in the first meeting. With Mir’s composure and elite level submission ability, I see Mir surviving Lesnar’s early onslaught and then successfully pulling off a submission. I take Mir by submission in round three.
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Posted in: Mixed Martial Arts
Tags: Alan Belcher, Brock Lesnar, Brock Lesnar vs. Frank Mir, Dan Henderson, Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping, Frank Mir, Georges St. Pierre, Georges St. Pierre vs. Thiago Alves, Jon Fitch, Jon Fitch vs. Paulo Thiago, Michael Bisping, Paulo Thiago, Thiago Alves, UFC 100, UFC 100 Free Picks, UFC 100 Predictions, UFC 100 Preview, Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Alan Belcher, Yoshiro Akiyama

Saturday MMA Review: 7/4
Posted by Anthony Stalter (07/04/2009 @ 8:00 am)

Here’s a weekly rundown of MMA content from Ben Goldstein of CagePotato.com:
- Bobby Lashley made Bob Sapp tap twice and Gilbert Yvel KO’d Pedro Rizzo at last week’s ‘Ultimate Chaos’ event.
- Nick Diaz and Joe Riggs may be settling an old rivalry next month. But will anybody see it?
- With UFC 100 coming up next Saturday, we counted down the 10 greatest UFC events of all time.
- Nobody seems to think Michael Bisping has a chance against Dan Henderson in their UFC 100 fight. Though if he really plans on out-wrestling Hendo, maybe he really is doomed.
- Indiana became the 39th U.S. state to begin regulating MMA. Last state to legalize the sport is a rotten egg!
- Rampage Jackson says he’ll be knocking out Rashad Evans in his hometown of Memphis in December.
- Tito Ortiz fooled us for the last time.
- We chatted with Jon Fitch about the stupidity of trash-talk and the challenges of fighting a man in a dress.
Posted in: Mixed Martial Arts
Tags: Bob Sapp, Bobby Lashley, Dan Henderson, Gilbert Yvel, Joe Riggs, Jon Fitch, Kimbo Slice, Michael Bisping, MMA, MMA rumors, Nick Diaz, Pedro Rizzo, Rampage Jackson, Rashad Evans, Regulating MMA, Tito Ortiz, UFC, UFC 100, UFC rumors, Ultimate Chaos

Friday MMA Review 5/1
Posted by Anthony Stalter (05/01/2009 @ 12:45 pm)

Here’s a weekly rundown of MMA content from Ben Goldstein of CagePotato.com:
- Congenital amputee Kyle Maynard’s MMA debut went about as well as we thought it would.
- Clearly bored with the garbage-ass challengers he’s been getting in the UFC’s middleweight division, 185-pound king Anderson Silva will go up to light-heavyweight again to face Forrest Griffin at UFC 101 in August. Meanwhile, Nate Marquardt and Demian Maia will be facing off to determine who really deserves the next middleweight title shot.
- Gina Carano looked hot at Kevin Randleman’s wedding.
- Despite some intense infighting, Team U.S. was able to put its first victory on the board on the last episode of The Ultimate Fighter, while coach Michael Bisping vanished into thin air.
- Japanese promotion DREAM is putting together the greatest MMA freak show in history with their “World Superman Championship,” which will feature steroid-snitch Jose Canseco, pituitary case Hong Man Choi, Bob Sapp, and five more warriors, hopefully fighting to the death.
- Speaking of freak shows, Fedor Emelianenko used his 70-pound weight advantage to toss around Shinya Aoki in a grappling exhibition at the last M-1 Challenge event.
- Less than two months after Nick Diaz and Scott Smith scored victories at “Strikeforce: Shamrock vs. Diaz,” the two will be fighting each other at “Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields.”
- Sign of the apocalypse #783: Kung Fu Football.
- Kim Couture’s wife pulled out of her upcoming fight against Miesha Tate, and Tate responded by telling everyone that Kim and The Natural are getting a divorce. Real classy.
- By forcibly retiring Chuck Liddell, is Dana White looking out for his friend’s health or his company’s wallet? Little from column A, little from column B?
Posted in: Mixed Martial Arts
Tags: Anderson Silva, Bob Sapp, Chuck Liddell, Chuck Liddell retiring, Dana White, Demian Maia, Fedor Emelianenko, Forrest Griffin, Gina Carano, Hong Man Choi, Jose Canseco, Kevin Randleman, Kim Couture, Klye Maynard, Kung Fu Football, Kyle Mynard MMA debut, Lawler vs. Shields, Michael Bisping, Miesha Tate, MMA freak show, MMA News, MMA rumors, Nate Marquardt, Nick Diaz, Scott Smith, Shinya Aoki, Silva vs. Griffin, Superman Championship Jose Canseco, The Ultimate Fighter, UFC News, UFC rumors, World Superman Championship

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