My record at UFC 85 was less than stellar, but I think all us "experts" had the same problem with that card. Here's how I envision Saturday night going:
Ben Saunders vs Jared Rollins
Kind of your classic striker versus BJJ expert here, but both guys have shown that they're not all that bad out of their natural element too. Rollins showed his toughness in his loss to Jon Koppenhaver...but it was a loss to Jon Koppenhaver. Saunders hasn't been tested like that yet, but that's mostly because he's a pretty good fighter. He trains with the better team, has better power, a better record....he's just plain better at this point. He'll keep it on his feet long enough to do damage to Rollins, and should have enough ground game to avoid any submission Rollins throws at him.
Winner:Ben Saunders, TKO, Round 2
Corey Hill vs Justin Buchholz
Corey Hill has a chance - a chance- to be something really special in the lightweight division. His freakish size for the division creates interesting visuals and interesting match ups. He's greener than Eddie Bravo's stash though, so you never know exactly what you're going to get out of him. Training with MFS helps a lot though, and he should be able to handle the step up in competition that Bucholz represents here. Bucholz will want to take the fight down where he can utilize his submissions, but look for Hill to make him pay for trying to close the distance, and to have a good sprawl for when he does.
Winner:Corey Hill, TKO, Round 2
Melvin Guillard vs Dennis Siver
Guillard has all the physical advantages in this fight, but he better have worked on his submission defense. Siver may not have had the most impressive showings in his UFC career, but he does have strong submission game, which is apparently Guillard's krypotonite. If—and this is a big if—Guillard has grown up since getting schooled by Rich Clementi, he should know this is probably his last chance in the UFC, and that he needs to make the most of it. He'll put Siver on his back early, but will he be able to defend submissions inside the guard?
Winner:Melvin Guillard, TKO, Round 1
Jorge Gurgel vs Cole Miller
This could be a fun fight. Neither guy is anywhere title contention in the division, but they're both tough with good ground games, so I'll enjoy this one. So will my wife, since Jorge is in it. That being said, his ground game should be enough to outclass Miller, but he'll have to get the fight to the ground and be on top to really work it. Miller will keep the fight up as long as possible, and try to get top control if it does goes down. Gurgel's stand up is less than stellar, but I think he'll get the fight down early.
Winner:Jorge Gurgel, Submission, Round 2
Gabe Gonzaga vs Justin McCully
Hard to believe it's been a year since McCully stepped in on short notice and dismantled Antoni Hardonk, but here we are. This will not be a good fight for him. He will be destroyed. Gonzaga needs a win after a very lackluster showing against Fabricio Werdum, and even though he won handedly, McCully was nearly submitted by Hardonk several times. Gonzaga will hurt him on their feet, take him down, and submit him when McCully gives up his back.
Winner:
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6 months ago
all of a sudden everybody seems to believe Forrest is gonna beat Rampage. I guess that preview show is doing its job. Its cool to root for the underdog, I just don't see anything in Rampage's resume that says he will lose to a guy like Forrest.
6 months ago
It's got nothing to do with Rampage's resume, but rather Forrest's. He's the kind of guy who's shown the ability to surprise and frustrate seemingly more skille opponents.
Even still, like I said, my head says Rampage but there's a little nagging doubt.
6 months ago
I am just wondering how Chuck Liddell stood in front of Rampage??? Right before Rampage put Chuck on his back he threw his arms out like dude are you here to fight or what? Chuck still was trying to do the whole illusive fighter approach when he got caught. They were in no means standing there banging.
from 6 months ago
Chuck said that he made the mistake of throwing a body shot at rampage and Rampage caught him with his hand down. Chuck was told countless times by his corner not to and he did it anyway, he got a great view of the lights for his trouble. It was a great counter punch by Rampage.
from 6 months ago
Yeah, he made a mistake, he got caught. He wasn't exactly standing in front of him though ya know.
from 6 months ago
Perhaps bad wording on my part, but Liddell had no intention of doing anything other than punch and kick at Rampage. Griffin is diverse enough in his offense that if he's getting the worst of it one way, that he can try another.
from 6 months ago
OK so Chuck stood in front of Rampage with his hands down like a jerk off and forrest won't whatever...I get your point because Liddell was circling and being illusive doesn't mean he wasn't standing there with his chin out. Yeah you put it right there just because he wanted to punch Rampage he was STANDING there in front of him. I am getting tired of giving a valid point and some jackass comes along and gives a tardsplaination of why I'm wrong
from 6 months ago
Well....that was a bit of an over-reaction. I just said I worded it badly, then explained it they way I should have in the first place. Just chill there, sparky.
I never said anything about Liddell standing there with his hands down....just pointing out that his usual strategy of keeping a fight standing and counter punching wasn't effective with Jackson.
from 6 months ago
I just like to get reactions so most of the time I am just trash talking to get a reaction.
6 months ago
I can't wait for Koscheck to get knocked out by someone...I am not saying it will happen this fight, but I am getting tired of hearing how impressive he is on his feet...I am not really impressed, he's just kinda catching people a little off guard since he actually throws punches like a man now instead of a 3 year old girl.
from 6 months ago
totally agree with you jason. i have been a kos fan since he took dirty sanchez three rounds and won. in his last fight, not only did he poke hazlett in the eye 3 or 4 times, but the slap to the head followed by head kick, looked like a joke. yeah it easy to knock out people with a glass jaw, but lytle is a bit of a veteren.
from 6 months ago
exactly everyone was talking about how impressed they were with his standup game against Hazelett, but Hazelett wasn't exactly known for his standup now was he? That's like being impressed by someone that out struck Royce Gracie...Not that they are bad fighters, but they are very much lacking a standup game.
from 6 months ago
speaking of koscheck he's getting the shaft with diego fighting alves at ufc 89. Diego is 2-2 in his last four including a unanimous decision loss to koscheck that they must have forgot about ...
from 6 months ago
It's not like it's a title shot...It might be for a title shot, but oh well he might be next in line after that...besides Koscheck just lost to GSP. The only way Diego gets into serious contention is by beating Alves...good luck Diego, because he hasn't fought anyone of that caliber yet.
from 6 months ago
Except for Fitch sorry mental lapse, but that didn't work out too well for him anyway
from 6 months ago
Alves will walk through Sanchez, who is too small to deal with the bigger welterweights. Even if he gets through Alves, he'll be eaten alive by GSP in a title fight.
Though the storyline of Sanchez leaving Greg Jackson because they brought in GSP would be pretty interesting.
6 months ago
Somebody needs to be screaming "body kicks" and "knees in the clinch" to forrest throughout the entire match. He has to be successful with both to have a chance. He needs the kicks to combat rampage's strength in close.
If hendo was overwhelmed by rampage's strength and he couldn't even control the clinch game in their fight I don't have any reason to believe forrest will be successful doing so.
6 months ago
I'd imagine that Forrest's legs won't be leaving the ground too much. If they do, Jackson gets the opprotunity to slam him down. Not good.
And while Henderson is definitely a better wrestler than Griffin, he's a VERY small 205lber while Griffin is a very BIG 205lber. Whether or not that makes a difference, we'll have to see.
6 months ago
I have a feeling that Forrest is going to take a beating from Rampage but then submit Rampage in the 4th or 5th round. Forrest is one of those fighters who seems to fight better as the fight goes on and the more of a beating he takes.
from 6 months ago
True, but he has to last that long, and I don't think he will. Rampage has solid uppercuts from the clinch, and can outstrike Forrest from the inside or outside. Look for Rampage to catch the challenger with a hook that stuns him, followed by a combo that drops Forrest for the tko. That is, unless the champ ko's Forrest with a single punch off of a fatal mistake.
I don't see this fight going to the ground for a prolonged period of time, and Rampage should get the finish within two rounds. When it comes to striking, Rampage is not Stephan Bonnar, and everybody seems to be forgetting that.
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