UFC 93 rundown
The beginning of a Huge month of MMA for most. It starts with a bang in a likely FOY in Lytle Davis, And will end even bigger with the rematch of the year when Penn meets GSP in a champion vs champion showdown. So lets get to my rundown
FRANKLIN vs HENDERSON
this is a fight i think alot of hardcore MMA fans have been looking forward to for some time. Niether fighter really gives up a huge advantage to the other in any key category. The biggest question is whether or not Henderson’s wrestling will be better than Ace’s by enough to negate the size and striking advantage of Franklin. I don’t think it will. I perceive the Hammill fight as a nice tune up for a fight with henderson and Franklin passed with flying colors. As long as Franklin can enact a similar game plan and keep the fight at a distance and not engage in the slug fest that Henderson wants than in all likely hood he will win a UD.
RUA vs COLEMAN
Coleman is long removed from his top form. The 2000 pride grand prix, where Coleman proved that he was a hall of famer in mma, was 9 years ago. And since then he has proven to be extremely susceptible to good ground fighters. Shogun since the Coleman fight hasn’t looked like an amazing striker and against Forrest looked extremely 1 dimensional and that dimension wasn’t that impressive but against Coleman he is fighting a 1 dimensional fighter. There is alot of question marks in this fight. How will Coleman make the cut to 205 for the first time? Is Shogun in top condition, was he ever as good as he looked to be in PRIDE? I think one thing is for sure. Shogun is the better fighter in regards to submissions and he will prove that in this fight, Shogun by submission.
KANG vs BELCHER
In Denis Kang we have one of the most inconsistent and talented guys at 185 in the world. He was seen by many as the front runner to win the Welterweight PRIDE tournament in 06′. After losses to Akiyama and Mousasi many question whether or not he ever was a top fighter. Wins over Murilo Rua have been matched by the likes of Benji Radach. Win over Gono has been matched by Dan Hardy. His submission game has improved but his submission loss to Mousasi raises questions about a ground game that was once his achilles heel. That will not be tested in his fight with Belcher. Both fighters are known for exciting explosive striking prowess, they are roughly the same size though Belcher might have a slight reach advantage. It shouldn’t matter. I think either way likely this fight end in a KO. And it is pretty even as to who will drop first, though the odds favor Kang heavily which means that you if you bet on MMA should put some on Belcher in this fight. His combination of striking anddecent ground game make him a tough fight for anyone and Kang will be dipping his foot in the UFC pool for the first time. I really can’t pick this fight its too close but i will go out on a limb and pick the Underdog in Alan Belcher by KO in the 2nd round.
HORN vsPALHARES
Horn’s best days are behind him, this fight seems like a gimme on paper though Horn will not give up and will fight hard i think the much stronger fighter in Toquinho will come out on top. I have Toquinho by submission.
DAVIS vs LYTLE
Davis might be the most underrated fighter in the UFC welter weight division. he has great hands and great cardio, his wrestlign is underated and his BJJ has proven to be atleast competent. His winning streak which was extremely impressive came to an end in a fight with Swick where both fighters were injured and i think both fighters would love for a rematch. Lytle is a great striker but has proven incapable of dispatching top wrestlers. He was given a really controversial decision in his last fight. In Davis he has found his huckleberry. A great top tier fighter that will stand in the pocket and throw. Against the same competition in Paul Taylor, Lytle took a ton of punishment but dealt it out and foundcreative ways to hurt his smaller but more versatile opponent. Davis against Taylor was dropped in the first round. I think Lytlecould very well find that same button on Davis. I have Lytle by KO in the 3rd after a barn burner of a fight.
BARROS vs KAMPMANN
This is a great fight for both fighters and will show very quickly how Kampmann will be able to hand a wrestling heavy division. Barros is a BJJ expert that has been fighting in MMA for about 10 years, in that time though he has only had 18 fights and his sole top fight was against Matt Hughes in 2000. Barros brazilian Jiujitsu is very good and hes basically a smaller Paulo Filho. He is riding a 9 fight and 5 year win streak. Kampmann is coming off a loss by brutality to the much larger stronger Nate the Great. Kampann will have a 4 inch height advantage and likely more of a reach advantage, with Barrosobviously wanting the fight on the ground this will limit Kampmann’s use of kicks. I expect Kampann’s training with Extreme Couture to come in handy as he will keep the fight standing anduse the vaunted stand up that we rarely got to see from the usually undersized kampann at 185. I have Kampmann getting the KO or the UD but i wouldn’t be shocked by a Barros submission so if you are betting go with this underdog as well.
MENDES vs SCHAFER
Mendeslooked to have an even worse ground game than Houston Alexander did. This fight will be a good one to see if it was Thiago Silva that was so great or if his competition so far has been below par. Schafer has provento have a pretty good ground game and little else. against Alexander he fought and fought andfought to get the fight to the ground andonce he did the fight was all but over. against Mendeshe fights another striker that has looked lost on the ground. I will go with Ravishing red who so far has only lost to TUF vets in the UFC.
SERATI vs DRWAL
Serati is most notable for his loss to Vitor Belfort in Cage Rage but has a pretty decent resume with 10 wins and only 2 losses. Drwal has a similar record his 1st loss coming in his 2nd MMA fight and his 2nd coming in his first UFC fight. The one knock on Drwal might be that he is too agressive and possibly alittle small for 205. Against Seratihe will be fighting a big aggressive fighter that will stand toe to toe. I have Drwal by KO in the first, a highlight win for a reel that is just getting started.
EGAN vs HATHAWAY
Both fighters in their first fights in the UFC, i think Hathaway has fought only slightly better competition and has more experience. Egan has never gone to the bell, does that mean he has great power, not necessarily his opposition may have been really overmatched. In a fight like this where both fighters are unknowns its best to go with the guy with the most experience. I won’t though. I’ll say Egan by highlight reel KO in his hometown.
SIVER vs MOHR
Could be a loser leaves town match. both fighters have provento be very limited on the ground which begs the question why invite them back at all. Easy to fill a fight card, and niether fighter will disappoint in a slugfest in which the better all arond striker Nate Mohr will get his hand raised.
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