The UFC just keeps on truckin! After a stellar card and its first FOX presentation we get back to normal for a bit.
Bernard Oliver – The 5 Star General
Michael McDonald vs Alex Soto
Unfortunately I haven’t had the pleasure of seeing these two guys fight. I have had to do quite a bit of research to take on this one. McDonald has just one loss in his 13-1 record that loss was to Cole Escovedo who is winless in his UFC career. Soto is undefeated in his MMA career with a draw that may or may not tarnish his record in his eyes. Both guys have pretty even range between where they take fights with McDonald leaning more toward KOs although he has only gotten decisions in his only two UFC bouts. McDonald has earned Fight of the Night once and is a kickboxer with a brown belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu, Soto is a mixed martial artist. I have to lean toward McDonald because of his experience in the UFC but as always with MMA anything could happen on any given Saturday.
Michael McDonald: Unanimous Decision
Ryan Bader vs Jason Brilz
This fight may fall under your radar a bit as I have dubbed it the “Fight to Save My Career”. Okay so it’s not really that bad for Bader but Brilz may be on his way out with three losses in his six UFC bouts.. Brilz who has shown a bit of promise in his early UFC days has declined with losses to legends Lil’ Nog and Vladimir Matyushenko. Bader has also had some recent setbacks losing to current champion Jon Jones and a once declining Tito Ortiz. Both fighters have excellent wrestling (Bader a Division I contender and Brilz in Division II) and KO power in those ham-hocks they have for hands. I don’t see this fight standing and if is a stand up battle Bader wins ALL DAY. If it goes to the ground I also see Bader winning.
Bader: Submission second round.
Stephan Bonnar vs. Kyle Kingsbury
Stephan Bonnar a seasoned vet in the UFC versus the brawling Kyle Kingsbury. Bonnar has rebounded since his string of losses after his destruction at the hands of current LHW Champion Jon Jones. Like a pheonix he seems to have been reborn and has his fiery vision set on Kingsbury. “Kingsbu” on the other hand has seen nothing but success since his losses in the TUF house. Twice he’s won fight of the night in fights that were nothing short of spectacular, the last one against Maldonado was one of the best brawls of the year. Bonnar can’t seem to beat the big names in the sport but he has a way of entertaining and finishing others. This fight will be a brawl and I see Kingsbury coming out and putting on another Fight of the Night with the capable Bonnar.
Kingsbury: Decision
Martin Kampmann vs Rick Story
Here’s one for the books. You have the brawling Dane, the Hitman Martin Kampmann in one corner. In the other you have the scrappy elusive and lightning quick Rick “The Horror” Story. This fight for me is the hardest on the card to predict. These are two very similar and yet different fighters. Similar on the feet, similar on the ground, in different universes with execution. Story got caught slipping against Charlie Brenneman who he had little time to gameplan for in his defense (one day!). Kampmann on the other hand has lost two fights the MMA community was torn on. I would say most saw him defeat Diego Sanchez where the judges did not. Both have a lot to prove and both are incredible fighters. If Story stands with Kampmann I believe he wins, Kampmann’s takedown defense is too strong so I believe that’s where this fight will stay. A shoe in for fight of the night.
Story: KO second round
Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles*
Bowles gets a shot at the high life here and no alcoholic beverages and a large, awkward, stereotypical speaking black guy are not involved. Faber obviously has world’s more experience over Bowles at 25-5-o. Faber is not a knockout striker although we have seen KOs surface. He uses his hands very well but they are not his foundation stone, that would be his wrestling and submission game. Bowles has EXCELLENT submissions. He has earned submission of the night three times between UFC and his WEC days. Faber counters that with three of his own. Both have been crowned champion at one point although Faber held the belt longer and defended it the most times in WEC history. Neither has ever been submitted. Truly this is a match between champions if I’ve ever seen one. It’ll be interesting to see who wins on the ground here. Also could easily win fight of the night. I don’t see this fight going to a decision although I have no idea how it will end otherwise.
Faber by submission round 3
Cung Le vs Wanderlei Silva
Really I like Silva he’s a legend but man his lights are just getting turned off left and right. Let’s keep this short and sweet. Cung Le is “The Human Highlight Reel” for a reason, and it’s not his explosive martial arts movies. Le has seven wins all by KO. He has one loss he avenged in highlight fashion in his second meeting with Scott Smith. He’s undefeated in his kickboxing career 17-0 (12 KOs). Catch my drift?
Le by KO Round 1
Shogun Rua vs Dan Henderson*
Love Dand Henderson also another legend in the sport. But let’s face it he very well almost lost to Fedor earlier this year. He’s not going to stand and trade with the number two Light Heavyweight in the world. Shogun’s career was literally derailed by Jon Jones but who else in the world is effin with Rua? No one. This fight is for a No. 1 Contender spot and Rua wants another shot at the champ. Although I still don’t think he would win. Let’s say Hendo wins he most likely faces Jon Jones next…I’m not going to go there. Hendo<Shogun<Bones Jones. The only person touching Rua is Jones, the only being touching Jones for now is Jesus. When Jesus comes back I don’t see him competing in MMA, I see the world as we know it ending. That’s just the way the cookie crumbles. I’ll say Hendo makes it to round two before Rua turns on the juice, though I don’t believe that.
Shogun: Devastating KO round 1
Sub. of the night: Urijah Faber
KO of the night Shogun Rua
Brett Rorie – The Charismatic Youngblood
Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz
Bader at one time was thought to be a legit contender in the Light Heavyweight division, but now is trying to rebound off of two hard loses. Brilz will be an good test to see if Bader can be a real contender., due to his good wrestling and decent striking ability. Bader should have the advantage in every aspect of the fight, but one mistake, which is Bader’s biggest problem, is all Jason Brilz might need.
Prediction: Bader via, 1st round KO
Michael McDonald vs. Ales Soto
MARK MY WORDS, Micheal McDonald has everything it take in a fighter to take down Dominick Cruz. Good size at 5’8, a great kickboxer, and a phenomenal ground game. The pace McDonald pushes is exhausting to watch, and he has a record 13-1 and he is only 20 years old. In this fight though, do not count out Alex Soto, who is undefeated in seven fights with a good set of all around skills , and a dolphin trainer, not kidding a dolphin trainer. I expect McDonald to be the guy to dethrone Dominick Cruz, and like Charles Barkley says,”I may be wrong, but I doubt it.”
Prediction: McDonald via, 2nd round Submission
In this Light Heavyweight bout you have an up-and-comer in Kingsbury, going up against the well-rounded vet in Bonner. This will really be a great test to see where Kingsbury is at when it comes to the Light Heavyweight division. Kingsbury’s standup has shown improvement, but Bonner’s standup is by far the most advanced Kingsbury has ever faced. In this fight it wouldn’t surprise me to see Kingsbury take this fight to the ground in hopes of winning by decision, but even there Bonner is a dangerous threat due to his great jiu-jitsu game. Stephan Bonner in this fight should have the advantage in most areas, as long as Bonner isn’t outwrestled, he should be okay.
Prediction: Stephan Bonner via, 2nd round Submission
Martin Kampmann vs. Rick Story
This is an important fight for both men, but with Kampmann losing his past two fights, his UFC career might be on the line. Story is a hard fighter for me to predict because he goes out and defeats to extremely talented Thiago Alves, but then gets outwrestled by an average Charlie Brenneman. In this fight, Kampmann will have the striking and jiu-jitsu advantage, while Story will have the advantage in the wrestling department. The key in this fight is can Kampmann keep the fight standing, Kampann has shown the ability to stuff a good wrestlers shot, but he can never do this consistently throughout a fight. Kampmann always gets lazy once or twice during a fight and gives up an easy shot, and trust me Story has one of the most aggressive wrestling games in the UFC.
Prediction: Kampann via, Split-Decision
The new #1 contender in the Bantamweight division might come from the winner of this fight. It will be very interesting to see how Bowles approaches this fight because he is very use to being the better wrestler in most fights, but the wrestling advantage has to go to Faber. Faber however, shows a lack of sticking to a gameplan sometimes. In his fight against Dominick Cruz he wanted to trade strikes with Dominick, when he should have tried to outwrestle the champ. Or even his 1st fight against Mike Brown when he got to cute with his striking. Faber needs to be very, very careful against Bowels for the simple fact that if Faber decides to trade with Bowles, he might get knocked out. Bowles might very well have the best hands in the UFC bantamweight division. Sadly, the key in this fight is can Bowles go a fight without seriously hurting his hand. Bowles has always seems to break his hand in a fight, and is always scared to throw it when this happens, and if he wants a win, he needs to be aggressive with his striking.
Prediction: Bowles via, 1st round KO
Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le
Hate to say this, but this is a meaningless fight between a non-contender in Le, and a fighter whose wars before has took way too much out of him. Silva really needs to try to take this fight to the ground and use his Black Belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu to submit Cung Le, because he cannot take any more punches. Le is a phenomenal Kickboxer, who should have a major advantage in the striking game, but is unproven when on the ground.
Prediction: Henderson, via 2nd round KO
Jeremy Hurtt – The Guru Sage
Michael McDonald vs. Alex Soto
I’ll be honest – I know very little about Alex Soto. What I do know about this fight is that Michael McDonald, the youngest fighter in the UFC today, is considered by the folks who oughta know as a top up-and-coming prospect at Bantamweight, with dazzling and devastating kickboxing, and relentlees submissions. Soto is relatively inexperienced, though the older fighter, and I’m going to go out on a limb and say that he is unprepared to win this fight, and will serve as a stepping stone for the prodigy McDonald ably and admirably – Soto is an Infantryman, and this Cavalryman will tell you, he ain’t rollin over for no one.
Prediction: McDonald by 2nd round Sub
Ryan Bader vs. Jason Brilz
Otherwise known as “Who Wants To Keep Their Paycheck?”, this fight features two guys who not so long ago appeared on their way to big things. Bader looked like some sort of killing machine prior to being Jon Jones’d, and Brilz impressed in relief duty before a bout with Vladimir Matyushenko derailed his early momentum. I don’t see how this is that much of a fight. Sure, Bader got dominated by Bones – put him in the “Everyone on Earth” category, as far as that is concerned. He also lost a stunning (and heartbreaking for the fans) battle against Tito Ortiz in which he was rocked and choked with a quickness. I am, however, totally of the opinion that the Ortiz fight was a fluke, and Jones a freak. Bader is still ridiculously strong, with excellent wrestling and a monstrously powerful set of hands. Brilz is in trouble here, and I do mean trouble, as Bader will look to maim with his hands and finish with ground and pound (or ton).
Prediction: Bader by 1st round TKO
Stehpan Bonnar vs. Kyle Kingsbury
Kyle Kingsbury in 2011 is very much a fighter on the way up. Staphan Bonnar in 2008 is very much a fighter on his way down (think about it). Kingsbury is stronger, faster, younger and meaner than Bonnar – and in a better camp, with AKA – but Bonnar was in the finale of TUF 1, so we get fights like this. I’m sure Bonnar is a wonderul human being, but I don’t really think he’s much of a fighter. He is a guy who will come out game and get into a slugfest, though, and I expect that he won’t care for the results of that decision in this one.
Prediction: Kingsbury by 1st round TKO
Martin Kampmann vs. Rick Story
Styles make fights, and styles make this fight very difficult to call. Kampann has vicious kickboxing on his feet, and an accomplished jiu-jitsu game if the need arises. Story has the less refined (but still very dangerous), big-shot stand up combined with the wrestling pedigree to potentially nullify Kampmann’s grappling prowess. The question of this fight, plain and simple, is what will prove to be the more elite skill – Kampann’s takedown defense, or Story’s takedowns. Story could end the fight with one big punch, but is much more likely to be outpointed standing. I think he will spend a good deal of time fruitlessly trying to take Kampmann down, being battered with punches for his effort, and will be tired enough if the fight ever gets there that Kampmann will finish it on the ground.
Prediction: Kampmann by 3rd round Sub
Urijah Faber vs. Brian Bowles*
I’m calling the shot: FIGHT OF THE NIGHT. All caps. Two energetic and athletic Bantamweights facing off for a shot at current UFC BW Champion Dominicik Cruz? Yes, please. Faber is the bigger, and perhaps better, fighter, but Bowles is no slouch. Both fighters have wrestling backgrounds, so taking top control is vital toward the outcome of this match. I expect this fight to be all over the place, as Faber is renowned for his scrambles, while Bowles will be in “Just win, baby” mode. The difference in this fight is the full toolbox that Faber brings with him to the cage. While I think Bowles could win with a well placed shot or twelve, he’ll have his hands full with the never-yielding motor and rounded game of the pretty boy of pain.
Prediction: Faber by Decision
Wanderlei Silva vs. Cung Le
Look, I picked Faber vs. Bowles for Fight of the Night, but that’s only because I don’t see any way this fight lasts long enough to earn the honor. Some fights look good on paper, and some, you don’t need no stinkin paper. Wanderlei Silva is a legend of the sport, and he got there by overwhelming people with a ferocious chutebox style, roundhouses followed by roundhouses, and everything close-quarters, where it’s gritty and real. Le is more of a traditional striker, and I mean “traditional” as in “traditional martial arts”. Reminiscent of old overdubbed kung-fu movies, Le is a technician with his hands and feet and, unlike Silva, will prefer to do his damage from distance. As such, finding the range will be of utmost importance in this fight. All things being equal, I would probably shade toward Le in this fight, just because I feel his style and athleticism will play well against the fury and recklessness of Wandy. But all things are not equal, specifically Wandy’s chin, and I see that causing him serious trouble once Le starts going body-face-body-body-face, and stacking up the damage on an already tired old body.
Prediction: Le by 2nd round KO
Maurício Rua vs. Dan Henderson*
Two legends of the sport collide, with their place in the UFC Light Heavyweight Division pecking order at stake. Hendo has a huge chin, and even huger right hand. Shogun has a smooth striking game that includes potent kicks and precise counters. This fight will, like many fights, be decided by the pace at which it is fought. Hendo won’t win a protracted kickboxing match with Shogun, so he needs to set up his Greco-based wrestling with the threat of the big hand if he’s going to win this fight. There is also the question of which Shogun we’ll be treated to; the one who looks rusty and unsure of himself, or the one who comes in and creates distance with his kicks to set up flurries of strikes with his hands. I think it will be the latter, and I think he will frustrate Hendo’s attempts to drag this thing into his domain.
Prediction: Shogun by Decicion
Fight of the night: Faber vs. Bowles
Sub of the night: Martin Kampmann
KO of the night: Cung Le
*= Number one contender match