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: 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, Ultimate Fighting Championship
Saturday MMA Review: 6/20
Posted by Anthony Stalter (06/20/2009 @ 1:00 pm)
Here’s a weekly rundown of MMA content from Ben Goldstein of CagePotato.com:
– Rich Franklin edged out Wanderlei Silva and Cain Velasquez dominated Cheick Kongo at UFC 99 last Saturday. Also, Mirko Cro Cop defeated Mostapha Al Turk via illegal eye-pokes, then told the UFC to kiss his ass.
– We saw some crazy knockouts this week, including Tim Sylvia getting wrecked by a 50-year old boxer, a brilliant flying knee KO at a Bellator show [http://www.cagepotato.com/knockout-day-nick-pace-wrecks-collin-tebo-bellator-xi], and a 9-second head-kick finish followed by a flying referee tackle.
– Brock Lesnar is built like a black man, still not a fan of the gays.
– Team U.K.’s James Wilks cruised to the welterweight finals on Wednesday’s episode of The Ultimate Fighter, ending a season that didn’t really live up to the hype.
– MMA model Penny Mathis’s breasts may not be real, but they’re still fabulous.
– Shaquille O’Neal is seriously considering a switch to MMA after finishing his basketball career, and wants to start off by beating up the giant Korean who smashed Jose Canseco.
– When Cris Cyborg chokes out a reporter, that’s just her polite way of saying she’s finished with the interview.
– Come back tonight [Saturday] at 9 p.m. ET/PT for our liveblog of the Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale show, which will feature Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida, Nate Diaz vs. Joe Stevenson, and the lightweight and welterweight TUF finals. And check out our exclusive interviews with Sanchez, Stevenson, and Chris Lytle.
Posted in: Mixed Martial Arts
Tags: Brock Lesnar, Cain Velasquez, Cheick Kongo, Clay Guida, Cris Cyborg, Diego Sanchez, James Wilks, Joe Stevenson, MMA rumors, Nate Diaz, Penny Mathis, Rich Franklin, Shaquille O'Neal MMA, Tim Sylvia, TUF 9, UFC rumors, Wanderlei Silva
Ultimate Fighter Live Finale Preview
Posted by Administrator (06/20/2009 @ 10:49 am)
The Ultimate Fighter Nine Finals take place tonight with the live Ultimate Fighter Finale on Spike TV at 9 p.m. ET. The main card will feature five fights including the two championship bouts for the Ultimate Fighter reality show. Overall, it is a nice card featuring the lighter weights in the UFC, which tend to provide stronger fights and better pacing. Here is a breakdown of the card and my predictions (I was 5-for-6 last weekend!!) for tonight’s show.
Lightweight bout (155 lbs) – Diego Sanchez (23-2) vs. Clay Guida (25-9): This fight should be a war as both fighters have great motors and even better stamina. Sanchez has lost just two times in his career, both by decision, but is in just his second fight at lightweight in the UFC. His previous fight was a lackluster decision win over Joe Stevenson where Sanchez picked Stevenson apart on their feet. Guida won’t be quite that easy. The rocker has a fighting style and energy that makes it hard for you to not cheer for him and I think he will be the first fighter to really push Sanchez around in terms of pacing and octagon control. The key in this fight will be if Guida has the size to control the bigger Sanchez on the ground and if he can fight off his back. I would like to say I see Guida winning this fight, but I think Sanchez’ size and speed will ultimately earn him another decision win.
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Posted in: Mixed Martial Arts
Tags: Andrew Winner, Chris Lytle, Clay Guida, Damarques Johnson, Damarques Johnson vs. James Wilks, Diego Sanchez, Diego Sanchez vs. Clay Guida, James Wilks, Joe Stenvenson vs. Nate Diaz, Joe Stevenson, Kevin Burns, Kevin Burns vs. Chris Lytle, MMA, Nate Diaz, Ross Pearson, Ross Person vs. Andrew Winner, The Ultimate Fighter, The Ultimate Fighter Nine, TUF, TUF 9, TUF 9 Predictions, TUF 9 Preview
