Our season finale is almost here! The monumental event UFC 140 promises to be is not at all exaggerated. This could be the most explosive main event of the year and that’s saying something with the astounding success the UFC has seen this year.
Bernard Oliver – The 5 Star General
Mark Hominick vs Chan Sung Jung
Hominick is coming off of a pretty good fight with Jose Aldo, a fight in which he earned his new nickname from me Frankenhominick and won them both Fight of the Night. By good I mean he survived and managed to win one round at the end. That said Hominick is an excellent fighter his muay thai and kickboxing make him a lethal striker but he’s been know to have a submission or two under his sleeve. Will all that striking help against the diamond chinned Jung? Jung went to war a second time with Leonard Garcia and ended up using a high level Jiu Jitsu spincrank, the Eddie Bravo Twister, to finish the fight. It was the first time in UFC history the move was used to finish a fight. He loves his submissions and loves to experiment with a wide range of submissions especially chokes. Hominick’s striking will be the factor for him in his fight. If he does not get in a slugfest and keeps it technical he could pull off the decision. on the ground it’s the Korean Zombie all day, and standing I don’t think he can be KO’ed.
Prediction: Chan Sung Jung Round 2 submission (choke)
Claude Patrick vs. Brian Ebersole
Claude Patrick gets promoted to the main card to face an enigma in Brian Ebersole. Patrick will be replacing Rory Mcdonald, oh how I would have loved to see Rory McDonald in this fight. The over the top Ebersole has a hefty amount of fights under his belt at 48-14-1. He may fly under your radar but he’s gaining recognition in the UFC after his wins over Chris “Lights Out” Lytle and Dennis Hallman. Claude Patrick, a brown belt in BJJ, is nothing short amazing when it comes to submissions and he loves the guillotine choke. I can almost guarantee this fight goes to the ground, I give the edge there to Ebersole. With a freestyle wrestling background and the sheer volume of fights he’s had gotta go with the vet. Standing I would have to go with the unorthodox style of Ebersole which includes a few Capoeira strikes I haven’t seen anyone else even trying this day and age.
Prediction: Ebersole Round 2 submission
Tito Ortiz vs Lil Nog
Tito Ortiz seems to have found his third wind as he steps into this match. He submitted Ryan Bader after what could be called upset of the year at least in the light heavyweight division. He then went on to lose to Rashad Evans. This fight will prove if Tito is truly “back”, though even if he wins he couldn’t dream of beating Jon Jones anytime soon. He faces BJJ legend Antonio Rogerio Nogueira better known as Lil Nog. Seeing as how he trains with winner of the MMA award for best gym (Black House) believe he will come to this fight prepared and ready to take out Ortiz. Who’s to say what Ortiz will do he could KO Lil Nog but on the ground he’ll get submitted…quickly.
Prediction: Lil Nog Decision
Frank Mir vs Big Nog II
Big Nog said he did not fight Mir smart the last time they met for the UFC Interim Heavyweight Championship in 2008. While Nogueira was making his name in Pride destroying competition, Mir was coming up through the UFC ranks. If Nogueira is to win this fight: 1. He can’t take punches as he did against Schaub. 2. Be technical against the hamhocks for hands Mir, don’t take shots. 3. Use that clinch and dirty boxing he’s so good atI do believe Nogueira can out box Mir but on the ground Mir is a huge man and he knows how to use his weight. This has everything you need in a fight of the night performance. Both fighters come out conditioned and ready to bang somebody is getting knocked out.
Prediction: Big Nog Round 2 KO
Jon Jones vs Lyoto Machida: UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Martial Arts Comes Alive – that’s what the UFC is marketing for this fight. In a way I agree this will be a show of Machida’s very successful Karate vs the unorthodox and unstoppable fighting style of Jon Jones. I could be called a Jones fan boy just because I have been keeping up with him before he got huge. Let’s be real here Jones’ reach and how he uses it will erase Machida’s usual tactics of countering with his KO power. His hit and run style will give Jones way to much room to work and when Jones has room to work it’s game over. I really feel like PRESSURE is the only way to beat Jon Jones. If you can get around his 84.5″ reach pressure would really get to him. Jones said “I am destined to be champion for years to come” whether you say it’s cocky or just I say who can stop him?
Prediction: Jon Jones Round 2 KO
Fight of the Night: Mark Hominick vs Chan Sung Jung
Sub of Night: Brian Ebersole
KO of the Night: Jon Jones
Brett Rorie – The Charismatic Youngblood
Mark Hominick vs. Chang Sung Jung
In this 145 pound affair, you have a former title contender with heavy hands in Hominick, and an exciting well-rounded brawler in “The Korean Zombie.” Throughout this fight we will truly see if Jung’s nickname is factual, because if he goes and brawls like he normally does against Hominick, then he will get tagged more than once. Hominick is too well rounded to lose this fight, but never count out the heart of “The Korean Zombie.”
Prediction: Hominick via, 2nd round KO
Claude Patrick vs. Brian Ebersole
With the 170 title picture already locked up with some big names, expect the winner to only get a light raise in the rankings with a win. Patrick has looked really talented in wins against Ricardo Funch, James Wilks, and an extremely underrated Daniel Roberts. However, since arriving into the UFC , Ebersole has won big fights against tough vets such as, Chris Lytle and Dennis Hallmann. Ebersole is an interesting character, calling himself the TWAS (the White Anderson Silva), but he has great skills and should be a scary fight for anyone in the welterweight division.
Prediction: Ebersole via, Unanimous Decision
Tito Ortiz vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Has anyone else wondered if “Little Nog” and “Big Nog” have switched places for a fight? I do, because how can “Little Nog” go out and lose to Phil Davis and Ryan Bader, but defeat Dan Henderson. There is no denying that “Little Nog” has tremendous hands, but he shows such a hole in his wrestling game. While Tito is getting up there in age, he is still a well-rounded fighter, and should fare well against the mid-level UFC talent (Ryan Bader), but not against the high level fighters (Rashad Evans).
Prediction: Ortiz via, 3rd round TKO
Frank Mir vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
In this rematch between former UFC Heavyweight Champions we will see if the first bout was just a fluke for Frank Mir. Mir in my opinion, has improved even more since his first fight against “Big Nog,” while Rodrigo has really seemed to fade in talent since the loss to Frank Mir. Do not get me wrong, I love Rodrigo for what he has done for the sport, but I hope this is his last fight in MMA, because he has made his money and does not need to risk his health. With Mir adding on about 20 pounds of muscle since the last fight, expect his punches and kicks to wear down Rodrigo even more. Mir’s submission defense is also too good to have Rodrigo catch him in some slick submission out of nowhere.
Prediction: Frank Mir via, 2nd round KO
UFC Light-Heavyweight Championship: Jon Jones vs. Lyoto Machida
If I am Machida I would be happy to have a chance to reclaim my Title, but scared to face Jon Jones. Seriously, tell me a weakness in Jones’s game, I really do not see anyone stopping this man anytime soon. The very last two men Jones has defeated (Shogun Rua and Rampage Jackson), were the last two men to defeat Machida. Let’s be honest, all Machida has done lately has knocked out a fighter who was great 5 years ago. Jones has the advantage everywhere in this fight, but you cannot count Machida out, because Jones’s chin has never been tested and one punch might be all it takes.
Prediction: Jones via, 3rd round TKO
Fight of the Night: Yves Jabouin vs. Walel Watson (Please if you have ION Televison, watch this fight!)
Submission of the Night: Mark Bocek
Knockout of the Night: Mark Hominick