Fans of the UFC are hoping that the second UFC on Fox event will last a little longer than the first one. The first match, the Heavyweight Championship bout ended in a whopping 64 seconds, meaning there was about 45 times [...]]]>

UFC on Fox is live tonight, and guess what? It's free.

Fans of the UFC are hoping that the second UFC on Fox event will last a little longer than the first one. The first match, the Heavyweight Championship bout ended in a whopping 64 seconds, meaning there was about 45 times the pre-fight coverage than there was the actual fight. Well, UFC organizers are hoping for two full tilt fights at the event in Chicago on January 28^th.

There are no championship bouts here, but some very high profile contender matches at UFC on Fox 2. In the Light Heavyweight division, Rashad Evans will be fighting someone not named Jon Jones, as he bides his time fighting up and comer Phil Davis. Meanwhile, arguably the two biggest villains in the UFC fight in the Middleweight division as Chael Sonnen fights Michael Bisping. There are major implications on the line for both fights and we will break those down a bit in the predictions
So, instead of doing more hype, let’s just get to the breakdown of the major fights on UFC on Fox 2:

Light Heavyweight Match: Rashad Evans (16-1) vs. Phil Davis (9-0): It has seemed like an eternity for Rashad Evans to get his next title shot against his one time trainer partner Jon Jones, which has caused a lot of tension between the two fighters that is beyond well documented. Evans missed out on another chance late last year due to injury, and watching Jones dispatch fighters left and right. Evans will most likely get his title shot if he defeats the undefeated Davis, but that’s a pretty big if.

Davis has been making his way up the Light Heavyweight ladder, and last taking out Little Nog (Antonio Rogerio Nogueria) last March. Almost a year is a long time to wait your turn, but Davis should be ready to fight. But fighting Evans is a big step up from the Brian Stanns and Alexander Gustaffons of the fight and this should prove to be the biggest test of his career.

As much as I think Davis has a long career ahead of him in the UFC, I think Evans wants and needs this fight more. At 32, Evans is getting any younger in fighter years and sees this fight as one of his last chances to get a crack at fighting his new mortal enemy in Jones. I don’t see this ending by submission or by a decision. For some strange reason, I see a highlight worthy one punch knockout for Evans reminiscent of his fight with Chuck Liddell years ago. It’s a longshot to call that, but I’m doing it.
Pick: Rashad Evans wins via knockout in the 2^nd Round.

Middleweight Match: Chael Sonnen (26-11) vs. Michael Bisping (22-3): To fight fans, this is like North Korea and China fighting each other. After Middleweight contender Mark Munoz bowed out of this fight, originally with Sonnen, this match of villains was made possible. Both men come with lots of hatred from fans, but let’s be honest, both guys are entertaining as hell and my only wish is that the fighters had more time to trash talk about this fight.

For Sonnen, we all know what this is about: win and you get your long awaited rematch with Anderson Silva, most likely in a Brazilian soccer stadium in the summer. For Michael Bisping, this is a shot for him to get back into the title picture and fight Silva for the first time.

After his little Silva rant after his win over Brian Stann last year, Sonnen eats, breathes and sleeps thinking about Silva (and probably what wild statement he can make next about anything). Bisping is coming off demolishing “Mayhem” Miller in December and spitting his way to victory over Jorge Rivera last March. In this match, it’s hard to actual call who has the advantage here, because I think this match is so even matched. Bisping can try for the crushing knockout; or Sonnen can take him to the mat and wearing the Brit down.

But in the end, I think Sonnen’s mat skills will wear down Bisping and submit him, setting up one of the biggest pay per views in UFC history against Silva.
Pick: Chael Sonnen wins via submission in 3^rd Round.

UFC on Fox 2 is set for Saturday, January 28^th at 8pm EST. For the full fight card, check out www.ufc.com.

It’s gonna be hard to top the grind out slugfest that was the Shogun Rua/Dan Henderson fight last month that will likely go down as the Fight of 2011, if not one of the best in the UFC’s history. [...]]]>

Will the Bones train keep rolling? Look at my picks to find out.

It’s gonna be hard to top the grind out slugfest that was the Shogun Rua/Dan Henderson fight last month that will likely go down as the Fight of 2011, if not one of the best in the UFC’s history. But the last couple events of the year plan to be big ones for the UFC. The first of which is this weekend’s UFC 140, where Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones tries to cap off a monster year against always dangerous Lyoto Machida. Also, the Nogueria brothers both see action as the older Nogueria takes on Frank Mir in a heavyweight bout and the younger Nogueria takes on Tito Ortiz in what could be either one more step in a comeback, or the beginning of the end for Ortiz. We’ll know more Saturday.

UFC 140 makes it’s return to Toronto, after an awe-inspiring 65,000 people packed the Rogers Centre (yes, I spelled that right- it’s Canada) back in April. This time around, the UFC takes over the Air Canada Centre as the UFC starts to wind down a huge year for the company.
But let’s take a look at the fights that people will be talking about at UFC 140:

Light Heavyweight Championship: Jon Jones (14-1) vs. Lyoto Machida (17-2)- Beyond Donald Cerrone, who’s went 4-0 this year already, no one has had a better year in the UFC than Jones. At the beginning of the year, he was still an up and comer when he fought Ryan Bader. But you know the rest of the story: beats Bader, gets title shot, destroys Shogun for the title, destroys Rampage in September and now he faces Machida in what could cap off his breakout year. But unlike Rampage, Machida may be one of the hardest men to figure out stylistically in the UFC.

Machida lost a razor thin decision to Rampage last year, but Machida front kicked Randy Couture into retirement last April and into title contention once again. He received the title fight after Rashad Evans suffered another injury- probably from running his mouth against Jones too much (again). Machida likes to go for the knockout most of the time, but could handle Jones on the ground as well. But with this fight, it’s gonna be tough to keep Jones on the ground for long. I think Machida will give Jones more trouble than any other fighter this year, even though I see Jones pulling it out. I don’t think there will be a knockout or submission here, as Jones grinds out a decision and caps off a great year.
Pick: Jon Jones wins via unanimous decision.

Heavyweight Fight: Frank Mir (15-5) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria (33-6)- This will be a fight to prove whether these guys are broken down old warhorses, or ready to make one last run at the heavyweight title. Mir took down Nogueria with the ol’ ground and pound back in their first match at the end of 2008, but has been 3-2 after that fight, but has beaten Roy Nelson and Mirko Cro Cop recently. It’s not the toughest talent in the world, but it’s a win streak, nonetheless.

Like Mir, the older Nogueria has traded off wins and losses, beating Couture and a surprise win over Brendan Schaub in the summer. But does he have enough in the tank to get that last shot. I hate to say it, I don’t see how Nogueria has changed since their first fight and he may not get knocked out like last time, but I see Mir handling this one again.
Pick: Frank Mir wins via unanimous decision.

Light Heavyweight Fight: Tito Ortiz (16-9) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueria (19-5)- Couldn’t the Nogueria family give their kids different first names? Sheesh, it’s confusing. Anyways, Ortiz is trying to prove he’s the UFC’s new renaissance man. After his defeat of Ryan Bader earlier this year and changed his fortune, Ortiz’s big step up in competition ended in a 2^nd Round defeat at the hands of Evans. Meanwhile, the younger Nogueria has lost his last two fights and almost lost a decision before that. Obviously, the younger Nogueria doesn’t have quite the track record of his older brother and needs decisions to grind out those wins.

So, with that said…..call me crazy, call me stupid- but I like the former UFC problem case Ortiz to pull off a victory here. Will it be enough for him to take on Jon Jones down the line for the title? No. But it will continue the feel good story that is starting to happen for Ortiz.
Pick: Tito Ortiz wins via submission in 3^rd Round.

For a full fight card and places to watch, check out www.ufc.com.

The first UFC on Fox had a monumental buildup and huge hype surrounded it- only to see the main event last a whopping 64 seconds. Yep, we’ve got a new heavyweight champ as Junior Dos Santos [...]]]>

Shogun vs. Hendo will be a match to clear up the Light Heavyweight title race a bit.

The first UFC on Fox had a monumental buildup and huge hype surrounded it- only to see the main event last a whopping 64 seconds. Yep, we’ve got a new heavyweight champ as Junior Dos Santos pummeled Cain Velasquez with an ear shot and some ground and pound. But with all the hype surrounding that fight, people kinda forgot about one of the better fight cards coming up this weekend as UFC 139.

There are no title fights on tap this weekend, but there are plenty of intriguing matchups at UFC 139. After his demolition job of Forrest Griffin back in August, “Shogun” Rua looks to work his way back to a Light Heavyweight title shot as he takes on the resurgent Dan Henderson, who is making his return to the UFC after a 2 year absence, pummeling all of the second tier talent in Strikeforce. Also, Wanderlei Silva tries to stay relevant as he fights Strikeforce convert Cung Le in his UFC debut. And yes, “Shirtoff” (as Kenny Powers calls him) Urijah Faber tries to bounce back from a heartbreaking decision against Dominick Cruz as he fights Bantamweight contender Brian Bowels.

Usually, a fight like Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz would be on the main fight card- but UFC 139 is such a strong bill that that fight is pushed to one of the preliminary fights on Spike. So, I’ll shut up and here are my picks for UFC 139:

Light Heavyweight Match: “Shogun” Rua (20-5) vs. Dan Henderson (28-8):
I truly think if it weren’t for the phenom known as Jon Jones, that Shogun will be the Light Heavyweight Champ. His quick dispatch of Forrest Griffin goes to prove that the Brazilian MMA legend is still way relevant and a contender in the quest for the title in the most competitive division in the UFC. But Shogun will get a big test as Henderson comes back to the UFC after fighting for Strikeforce the past couple of years. Shogun’s track record recently is still pretty strong, even with losses to Jones and Lyoto Machida (which that loss is disputable in itself). But Henderson’s tenure in Strikeforce is the puzzling thing: is he really experience a late-career renaissance, or did he just strike scrubs in Strikeforce? His only Strikeforce loss was to now-UFC fighter Jake Shields, but Hendo has won three in a row, with a beatdown of Fedor Emelianeko this past summer.

Shogun is an entirely different beast than an aging Fedor and I think this is where I think Henderson runs into a problem. I will admit, Henderson is fighting at a much higher level than most fighters his age, but I think he’s gonna run into the same problem he did last time in the UFC- he can’t be dominant against a better quality of fighters. I think Shogun ground and pounds Hendo into the ground, but probably not until the second round.
Pick: Shogun Rua wins via TKO in the 2^nd Round.

Middleweight Fight: Wanderlei Silva (33-11) vs. Cung Le (7-1):
Silva’s nickname is the “Axe Murderer”, but let’s face it, he’s been the one getting murdered most of the time lately. Except for a surprising win over Michael Bisping, Silva’s 2-6 in his last 8 fights- which is worthy of being cut. But for some reason, he keeps sticking around. I don’t see him having much luck against Le, in his UFC debut. Sure, fighting in Strikeforce always brings up questions about the level of fighters a fighter faces, but I think Silva will be a good measuring stick for Le and his continuation in the UFC. This could get ugly quickly and Le wins with an early knockout.
Pick: Cung Le wins via knockout in the 1^st Round.

Bantamweight Fight: Urijah Faber (25-5) vs. Brian Bowles (10-1):
I think if Dominick Cruz wasn’t in the Bantamweight division, I think these guys might be fighting for that division title this weekend. Bowles and Faber have both lost the now-defunct WEC title to Cruz at some point in their career and these guys are just fighting to perhaps get another shot somewhere down the road. Faber’s fights have gone the distance most of the time, and Bowles has been alternating knockouts and submission wins for a while now. This is a tough one to predict, but I think Faber can spread this fight out and tire Bowles out for the narrow victory.

Pick: Urijah Faber wins via unanimous decision.

For a full UFC 139 fight card, check out www.ufc.com for more details.

The events leading up to the UFC 137 event have been pretty typical of UFC events this year, usually meaning a main event or two is lost in the process. Last week, Welterweight champion and juggernaut Georges St. [...]]]>

Even with GSP out, this still shouldn't be a bad card at UFC 137.

The events leading up to the UFC 137 event have been pretty typical of UFC events this year, usually meaning a main event or two is lost in the process. Last week, Welterweight champion and juggernaut Georges St. Pierre had to bow out of his championship match with Carlos Condit, due to a leg injury. So, that meant St. Pierre’s original opponent for the match, Nick Diaz, became the main event with his fight with B.J. Penn. Diaz’s indifference to pre-fight press conferences and flights cost him the title shot against St. Pierre, but he gets main event status in a weird twist of fate.

UFC 137 still promises to be a solid, but perhaps not elite card. It’s easy to say that the St. Pierre cancellation has hurt the excitement level of this event a bit, but a lot of questions should be answered after the event, which will be addressed during the picks. In the co-main event, French heavyweight Cheick Kongo takes on the “Meathead” Matt Mitrone, while Mirko Cro-Cop tries to fight off retirement by fighting the always rotund Roy Nelson. UFC 137 will be live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center this Saturday.
So, instead of doing the usual analysis, I’ll be giving my picks through the questions that should be answered after UFC 137 is all said and done:

Welterweight Match: B.J. Penn (16-7-2) vs. Nick Diaz (25-7)
Q) Was Nick Diaz that good in Strikeforce, or was he just fighting stiffs?
A) A little bit of both in this case. Yes, Diaz has won 10 in a row, but when Paul Daley and K.J. Noons are the best you beat- that throws up a red flag for some people. Diaz has the talent and the moody behavior that a fighter needs to keep his head straight- but blowing off conferences and his aloof behavior really cost him this time.

Q) Is B.J. Penn all but done related to title shots?
A) As much as I like B.J., I think the answer is yes. He lost two in a row to Frankie Edgar, lost to GSP the first time around and had a draw recently against Jon Fitch. His knockout of Matt Hughes was impressive, but every fighter against Hughes has been doing that lately. Penn will be one of those guys that sticks around as a gate-keeper of sorts, to measure the up and comers talent.

My Take: I don’t see a violent knockout here or anything. If it turns into a boxing match, it will be a long night for Penn. But I don’t see Penn turning it into that- I think Penn will get Diaz on the ground and control the match that way. I may be crazy, but I smell an upset for the old man Penn here. Pick: B.J. Penn wins via unanimous decision.

Heavyweight Fight: Cheick Kongo (16-6) vs. Matt Mitrone (5-0)
Q) Is there a title run in Mitrone’s future?
A) Personally, I don’t think the fight with Kongo will prove that either way. The former NFL lineman may be entertaining and the everyguy type, but even if he gets through Kongo, I think a fight with a Nogueria brother or Brock Lesnar will give us a better indication of that.

Q) Is Kongo on a roll after the Pat Barry fight?
A) The fight against Barry far exceeded expectations, but I think that Kongo is good enough to be a mid-level fighter in the division, but losses to Frank Mir and champion Cain Velasquez prove that he’s no contender.

My Take: This is a tough one to call. Mitrone could win this one, but I think Kongo still has some brut power left in him to knockout the still inexperienced Mitrone. Pick: Cheick Kongo wins via knockout in 2^nd Round.

Heavyweight Fight: Mirko Cro Cop (16-7) vs. Roy Nelson (15-6)
Q) Which fighter is in more danger of being cut if they lose?
A) Even though Dana White may start to re-evaluate Nelson if he loses, the pressure is squarely on Cro Cop. Cro Cop hasn’t really impressed in losses to Brendan Schaub and Frank Mir and gets by with wins against Pat Barry and other mid-level fighters in the division. Even though Cro Cop had his moments in Pride, a loss here means he’s done.

Q) Is Nelson an enigma in this division?
A) For the most part. Ok big man, you can beat Schaub and Stefan Struve, but can’t beat Mir and Junior Dos Santos? That track record puts him in a puzzling position: good enough to beat the mid-level guys and gatekeepers, but not quite good enough to fight for a title. What do you do with this guy if he wins? Do you keep promoting him up the ladder? Or do you let him toil against the mid-level guys and wait for him to get cut. We’ll know more after Saturday.

My Take: This is another tough one. Cro Cop can still kick, but Nelson can hit hard. No matter what happens, this won’t go to a decision. But I see Nelson finding a way to send Cro Cop into his long delayed retirement. Pick: Roy Nelson wins via knockout in the 3^rd Round.

Check out www.ufc.com for a full fight card, pay per view information and places to watch the event.

After the barrage of hype and trash talk about the Jon Jones vs. Rampage Jackson main event at UFC 135, things have been relatively peaceful leading into the UFC 136 main event. The main event is the [...]]]>

UFC 136 will bring an end to the Edgar vs. Maynard rivalry, or maybe not...

After the barrage of hype and trash talk about the Jon Jones vs. Rampage Jackson main event at UFC 135, things have been relatively peaceful leading into the UFC 136 main event. The main event is the rubber match between UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar and #1 contender Gray Maynard. It has seemed like this rivalry has went on forever and after two fights and a cancellation, the final battle between the two is about to take place. Edgar kept the belt in a shocking draw on New Years Night over Maynard in what is still considered one of the most fiercely contested decisions in recent memory.

No matter what happens, the score will be settled once and for all at UFC 136.
UFC 136 features not only one, but two title fights as UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo fights longtime UFC stalwart Kenny Florian for the title and what is likely Florian’s last title shot. But when you thought I was done talking about the fights, the biggest trash talker in all of MMA and maybe in all of sports- Chael Sonnen fights Brian Stann, in what should be a hotly contested middleweight fight.

Here are my picks for the big fights at UFC 136:

UFC Lightweight Championship: Frankie Edgar (13-1-1) vs. Gray Maynard (10-0-1): Really, it’s nothing personal between these two guys, but this matchup excites me as about as much as a “Real Housewives of New Jersey” marathon. I am not particularly a fan of the exhausting, grind it out nature of these two fighters. Maynard took the first fight before Edgar had his huge breakthrough against B.J. Penn, and Edgar kept the belt in the draw that angered a lot of fans that thought Maynard should have won.
Call me crazy, but I think that Maynard is actually due instead of Edgar. To me, Edgar has proven to me he can beat one guy- Penn- in that division. Maynard seems hungrier and has the better track record overall. If you can sit through it, I think this will once again go to a decision, but Maynard will have the more decisive fight this time around.
PICK: Gray Maynard wins via unanimous decision.

UFC Featherweight Championship: Jose Aldo (19-1) vs. Kenny Florian (15-5): Florian continues to bounce around divisions and cutting weight, just for one last title shot. Well, he’s got it and he’s in for a tough night. Aldo may not have looked all that impressive versus Mark Hominick back in April, but he has steamrolled through most of the division. Florian looked good against Diego Nunes, but has suffered some pretty bad title fight losses in the past. Aldo is just too quick with his fists and feet to give Florian much of a chance. This ends quickly and not so pretty.
PICK: Aldo wins via second round TKO.

Middleweight Fight: Chael Sonnen (25-11) vs. Brian Stann (11-3): If there is no one that can talk crap and hype a fight better, it’s Sonnen. The claims and boasting made prior to his shocking near-win against Anderson Silva in August 2010 were humorous, tasteless and bold all at the same time. Sonnen had the fight of his life against Silva, only to reveal that he had failed a drug test for growth hormones after the fight and was suspended for six months. The division is boring without the tirades of Sonnen and in a weird way- it’s good to see him back. But in the ring against Stann, he’s got his work cut out for him. Stann is on a three fight winning streak and is in the title mix now as well. Sonnen wants a rematch with Silva as bad as I want Michigan to beat Ohio State in November, but will he get it. He probably will; but by the slimmest of margins in a decision.
PICK: Chael Sonnen wins via split decision.

For the rest of the UFC 136 fight card and more info, check out www.ufc.com.

The drama leading up to Jon Jones’ first title defense has been nothing short of laughable and intriguing at the same time. Since the fight with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rampage Jackson was announced, [...]]]>

I pity the fool who tries to beat Jon Jones. Sorry Rampage, it ain't gonna be your night.

The drama leading up to Jon Jones’ first title defense has been nothing short of laughable and intriguing at the same time. Since the fight with former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rampage Jackson was announced, Jackson has done nothing but hurl insults and insinuate that Jones had placed a spy into Jackson’s camp, to figure out his moves. During a recent interview during UFC Fight Night, Jones looked very stunned and flabbergasted at the comments that Jackson had made. Now, whether or not those comments and accusations are true is not known, but the claims seem a bit far fetched.

Trash talk aside, UFC 135 should have a few of the more salivating matches all year, with Jones versus Jackson for the Light Heavyweight title, as well as Matt Hughes fighting Josh Koscheck in what could be one of Hughes’ last fights (win or lose). After UFC 135, the picture in the UFC’s most competitive division should be decided and that trash talk should quiet down (at least between Jones and Jackson).
Here are my predictions for UFC 135:

UFC Light Heavyweight Championship: Jon Jones (12-1) vs. Rampage Jackson (32-8): I’m done discussing the trash talk between these guys and let’s just focus on the match. Jones is pretty much undefeated (I’m sorry, he was killing Matt Hamill before those illegal elbows caused the disqualification) and really hasn’t been challenged all that much since making his ascension to the Light Heavyweight Title. Meanwhile, after his May 2010 loss to Rashad Evans, Rampage has limped through victorious decisions against Hamill and Lyoto Machida.

Beyond a stray lucky punch that could save him from losing, I don’t think Rampage has much of a chance to regain his title. Jones is just way too hard to figure out and unorthodox, and I don’t think Rampage has that killer instinct in him like during his Pride days and early UFC days. Granted, Jackson will be the toughest opponent that Jones has faced, but I think this would have been far more even if Rampage were at his peak. Now, it’s not a matter on if Jones wins, but how quickly will he win and move onto fighting his true bitter rival, Rashad Evans.
Pick: Jon Jones wins via knockout in 2^nd Round.

Welterweight Bout: Matt Hughes (45-8) vs. Josh Koscheck (15-5): Hughes is fighting to keep his career going, and took a break after getting knocked out by BJ Penn in his last fight. Nobody is doubting Hughes’ legacy at this point and the great moments he’s brought to the UFC. However, I just don’t think he’s gonna pull a Tito Ortiz over Ryan Bader style upset out this time around. The always surly and opinionated Koscheck is most likely better trained and rested after his December loss to champ Georges St. Pierre. Whether it’s a submission or a knock out, Koscheck gets back on track during this fight.
Pick: Josh Koscheck wins via submission in 2^nd Round.

For a full UFC 135 fight card and places to watch the event, check out www.ufc.com.

With all of the Brazilian fighters in the UFC, you think that the promotion would have been to somewhere in Brazil before now. That’s not to say the UFC has never been in [...]]]>

UFC 134 is live from Brazil for a big time hometown show for many of the fighters on Sunday.

With all of the Brazilian fighters in the UFC, you think that the promotion would have been to somewhere in Brazil before now. That’s not to say the UFC has never been in Brazil, but let’s just say that Limp Bizkit was an “up and coming” band the last time the UFC headed to Brazil (1998 that is). But with the sport emerging big time, and with the brand spanking new TV deal with Fox validating that, the UFC is continuing their global reach by bringing the UFC back to Brazil.

UFC 134 in Rio sold out 16,000 plus tickets in the HSBC Arena in Rio in under an hour of going on sale and this card proves to be a damn fine one, for Brazilian fans and the rest of the MMA viewing public. In the main event, Anderson Silva will defend his Middleweight Title for what feels like the 100^th time versus the last guy to beat him, Yushin Okami. Also, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua hopes to get back on the right track after the pummeling he took to Jon Jones against Forrest Griffin.

UFC 134 looks to be an exciting card and let’s not wait- let’s give you my picks for the biggest fights at UFC 134:

Middleweight Title Fight: Anderson Silva (30-4) vs. Yushin Okami (19-6): Back in 2006, Okami squeaked by Silva in a disqualification by Silva. What has Anderson done since then: let’s see- 14 straight wins in the cage, and numerous title defenses that have ranged from downright boring (Damien Maia) to exhilarating (Chael Sonnen). So, the big question is- will Silva looked bored or ready to pounce on something? Okami is no joke either, winning his last three fights over guys like Mark Munoz and Nate Marquardt by decisions.

But I think with the home country advantage and the huge win streak that Silva is on, I don’t expect to see a complacent version of Anderson here. Except Silva to be firing on all cylinders and expect a knockout in the mid-rounds.
PICK: Anderson Silva wins via knockout in the 3^rd Round.

Light Heavyweight Fight: Shogun Rua (19-5) vs. Forrest Griffin (18-6): This ought to be one of the most intriguing matchups in this division in a while. I personally think that Shogun would be the Light Heavyweight Champion if it weren’t for someone named Jon Jones. Jones completely dominated Shogun in their March fight and should be the champion for a very long time. But Shogun is still one of the best and most dangerous fighters in the division and will continue to be a contender.

Back in 2007, when these two fighters entered the ring, Forrest pulled off a huge upset via submission. But Griffin has been mostly good in his fights since: even though he lost to guys like Rashad Evans and the previously mentioned Anderson Silva, Griffin has beaten Rich Franklin and Tito Ortiz. So with Griffin these days, you get a mixed bag.

Personally, I just think that Griffin may be on the downside of his run in the Light Heavyweight division and would be very, very surprised to see him beat Shogun a second time. In front of his home crowd, Shogun should take the fight to Forrest early and take him down and keep him there.
PICK: Shogun Rua wins via submission in the 2^nd Round.

For a full UFC 134 fight card, check out www.ufc.com.

Like many of it’s predecessors this year, UFC 133 is another injury ravaged card that was supposed to be a stacked bill, but is falling short of those expectations. Originally, UFC 133 [...]]]>

Rashad Evans or Tito Ortiz should get a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Title with a win on Saturday.

Like many of it’s predecessors this year, UFC 133 is another injury ravaged card that was supposed to be a stacked bill, but is falling short of those expectations. Originally, UFC 133 was geared up to be the big Light Heavyweight Championship between Jon Jones and Rashad Evans. When Jones dropped out, it became Evans versus upstart Phil Davis. Then, Davis was injured and probably for the first time in his life, Tito Ortiz became a team player and stepped in to fight Evans. The Evans versus Ortiz main event isn’t a bad one, but it took a lot of wrangling to get to this point.

This fight will headline UFC 133, live from the Sports Complex in Philadelphia at the Wells Fargo Center. The other major fight pits two middleweights looking to get back into the win column as Vitor Beltfort fights Yoshihiro Akiyama in a fight for their UFC lives more than likely.
Here are my picks for the big fights going on at UFC 133:

Light Heavyweight Match: Rashad Evans (15-1) vs. Tito Ortiz (16-8): A lot has changed for Tito Ortiz in the past few months. Tito has gone from on the cusp of being handed a pink slip to being considered a title contender if he beats Evans. Obviously, UFC President will not give Ortiz the same “win or be fired” ultimatum he gave Ortiz before the shocking win over Ryan Bader, and Ortiz may actually be trying to cement his legacy as one of MMA’s true greats and stand up people- but years of issues may derail that.
Evans has not fought since his fight with Rampage Jackson in May 2010, and has been waiting patiently, but also may have cost himself a title shot by waiting for opponents. Evans does deserve a title shot, but he’ll have to beat Ortiz first. Ring rust could be an issue with Evans, and Ortiz may be riding a wave of momentum after his last fight.
Ortiz and Evans fought to a wild draw in their first fight, but I don’t see that happening here. I don’t see a crazy knockout or anything, but I can see Evans doing enough to hold on, but not much more.
PICK: Rashad Evans wins via unanimous decision.

Middleweight Fight: Vitor Belfort (19-9) vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-3): Belfort was the recepitent of the Steven Seagal front kick from any one of his crappy movies back in the day courtesy of Anderson Silva back in February. Meanwhile, Akiyama lost to Michael Bisping last October and has kept a low profile since then. There’s no shame losing to one of the most dominant champions in UFC history, and Akiyama is most likely just holding on at this point. Except Belfort to attack early and end this thing well before it will go to the cards.
PICK: Vitor Belfort wins via knockout in the 2^nd Round.

For a full fight card, check out www.ufc.com.

Finally- a UFC event where the main event is not postponed or altered at the last minute. There has been a huge anticipation for the July 2nd event in Las Vegas for the past few months, due to the [...]]]>

Urijah Faber is headlining UFC 132, but will Kenny Powers be there with some K-Swiss?

Finally- a UFC event where the main event is not postponed or altered at the last minute. There has been a huge anticipation for the July 2^nd event in Las Vegas for the past few months, due to the first ever UFC Bantamweight Championship between former WEC Champion Dominic Cruz and fan favorite Urijah Faber. Only the UFC could make a fight between two small guys (whose name isn’t Manny Paciquao) seem compelling. Cruz will try and defend his title, while Faber looks for one last big title run.

UFC 132 also marks the long awaited return of Wanderlei Silva, who has been away for 16 months, as he will fight always dangerous Chris Leben, fresh out of a DUI charge he got earlier this year.

In a page out of Vince McMahon’s WWE playbook, Tito Ortiz is essentially given a “win or be fired” match by Dana White as he will fight the up and comer light heavyweight Ryan Bader. White has said that Ortiz will have to retire if he cannot win this fight.
So, there are plenty of intriguing storylines here at UFC 132, so I’ll be quiet about the preview and get down to the predictions for UFC 132:

UFC Bantamweight Championship: Dominick Cruz (17-1) vs. Urijah Faber (25-4): After losing to Faber at WEC 25 in 2007, Cruz has rattled off eight straight victories, which included many submissions and a few TKO’s. Faber has been on a tear since his loss to Jose Aldo, as he got past Eddie Wineland in his last fight. At this point in his career, Faber needs this fight to keep his chances for a long and fruitful career in mixed martial arts. Cruz is definitely dangerous and can take an opponent out many different ways. Call me absolutely crazy (don’t worry, it wouldn’t be the first time), but I think this fight may go down how the first fight went. I think luck and a few submission moves may be on Faber’s side and will pull off the improbable upset.
PICK: Faber wins via submission in 3^rd round.

Middleweight Match: Wanderlei Silva (33-10) vs. Chris Leben (25-7): The “Axe Murderer” Silva went in for surgery after his victory against Michael Bisping back in February 2010 and watched as several middleweights got cracks at big fights that Silva had beaten in the past. Being gone for 16 months has made Silva hungry, but he that be enough to beat Chris Leben, who was last seen beat by Brian Stann. Ring rust is always an issue with a guy who’s been away for as long as Silva has, but I think Leben may be a good opponent to come back to. I don’t see any spectacular knockout or submission, but I think Silva has enough to grind out a decision here.
PICK: Silva wins via unanimous decision.

Light Heavyweight Match: Tito Ortiz (15-8) vs. Ryan Bader (12-1): It’s been over 4 years since Ortiz has won a fight, and that was to ancient MMA legend Ken Shamrock. His last real win was against Forrest Griffin earlier in 2006. Now- what makes you think Ortiz can save his job and beat wrestler extraordinare Bader, who would still be undefeated if he didn’t fight a guy named Jon Jones? Come on, let’s be realistic, Ortiz doesn’t have much of a chance in this fight. Save the Jones fight, Bader is still a real talent and a new force in the division. I see this being the no-brainer pick of the night.
PICK: Bader wins via submission in 2^nd round.

Check out www.ufc.com for a full fight card and places to watch the event.

It’s starting to sound like a broken record when I say that the main event for an upcoming UFC event doesn’t include the original fighters. UFC 130 seemed to have a plethora of fighters that dropped off the card, [...]]]>

UFC 131: One of these guys is gonna get knocked the f--- out!

It’s starting to sound like a broken record when I say that the main event for an upcoming UFC event doesn’t include the original fighters. UFC 130 seemed to have a plethora of fighters that dropped off the card, only to be replaced. But for UFC 131, a big name dropped off the main event bill as Brock Lesnar was sidelined with another bout with diverticulitis, which has sidelined Lesnar indefinitely. Originally billed as a match between the most recent season of “The Ultimate Fighter” coaches Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos, was altered with Lesnar’s aliment. Coming to the rescue is always dangerous heavyweight challenger Shane Carwin and Carwin vs. Dos Santos may actually be a better fight than the initial matchup.

Also on the bill is lightweight contender Kenny Florian versus Diego Nunez and a middleweight battle between Damien Maia and Mark Munoz to jockey for position at a title shot with Anderson Silva. UFC 131 will be live from Vancouver this Saturday (June 11^th) and as always, here are my predictions for the top two fights of the evening:

Heavyweight Match: Shane Carwin (12-1) vs. Junior Dos Santos (12-1): If you take champion Cain Velasquez out of the equations, Carwin vs. Dos Santos may be the most intriguing match in the heavyweight division. Both are heavy strikes and to watch this turn into a wrestling match most likely won’t be happening here. Both have not fought in a while: Carwin has dealt with performing enhancing drug allegations and surgery after his loss to Lesnar last year, while Dos Santos has been on the shelf since a decision with Roy Nelson last summer. Needless to say, both are eager to get back in the ring. Let me just say this- this is a tough match to predict. I really feel like either of these guys could win and give them a title shot. But I think time is on Dos Santos’ side and if this goes past the first round, Carwin’s stamina issues will come into effect and Dos Santos will get his title shot after all.
PICK: Junior Dos Santos wins via knockout in the 2^nd Round.

Lightweight Match: Kenny Florian (14-5) vs. Diego Nunes (15-1): If there is a journeyman in the lightweight division, it’s Kenny Florian. Bouncing around the division for years, seeming to beat the guys he should beat and losing to the ones he should lose to, Florian is more or less a gatekeeper for the up and comers in the division. Enter Nunes, who has won his last three fights, including his UFC debut against Mike Brown in January. Florian is a strong ambassador for MMA and does a good job on the ESPN “MMA Live” show, but can he still hack it as a legit contender in the division. Eh- not so much. I think Nunes will take him the distance, but I don’t think Florian can keep up his pace much longer.
PICK: Diego Nunes wins via unanimous decision.

For a full fight card and locations to watch UFC 131, check out www.ufc.com for more info.