ILL WILL is more than a ridiculous name, it’s irritating grammar. All my English courses aside, UFC 84 looks awesome. Every fight on the main card brings some sort of intrigue and has made me more giddy than Jenna Jameson at the plastic surgeons office. Let’s face it, all this “fighting” stuff is simply a sideshow, everyone knows what the real show is: the domination of the FightStalker. Pick. Game. Set.
Champion: BJ Penn (12-5) (8-3) vs. #1 Sean Sherk (32-2-1) (6-2)
Conqueror: Penn by TKO in 3. Sean Sherk is pissed and no one cares. While it isn’t hard to imagine Sherk laying on BJ Penn for 25 minutes, an in-shape Penn won’t let that happen and should destroy the schmuck-like Sherk. Still, Sherk is nowhere close to a push over. The only men to get the better of Sherk have worn welterweight gold at some point in their career; just like BJ Penn.
Stalker: Penn by Submission. I have to agree, an in-shape Penn will absolutely destroy Sherk, or anyone else for that matter. Although a pissed off animal like Sherk can take most, if not all lightweights out there, in the word of BJ Penn himself, “Sean Sherk, you’re dead!”
#5 Wanderlei Silva (31-8-1) (1-3) vs. #3 Keith Jardine (13-2-1) (5-1)
Conqueror: Jardine by unanimous. Wanderlei Silva was one hell of a fighter. Keith Jardine is one hell of a fighter. Silva hasn’t shown much over his last four efforts and this should be no different. The Dean of Mean should pick apart Pride’s former golden boy and inch himself closer to UFC gold.
Stalker: Silva by TKO. Jardine is a bad ass no doubt, but I think Silva is going to connect with some bombs and knees that will bring the very capable Jardine to the convass. Conqueror is right, Silva has not been imporessive as of late, but I think there is still something left for the former Pride star, and Jardine is going to be on the recieving end of it.
Wilson Gouveia (10-4) (4-1) vs. Goran Reljic (7-0) (0-0)
Conqueror: Gouvei by TKO in 2. I don’t usually put much stock in Gouveia, but Reljic hasn’t beaten anyone that should have been in the ring in the first place. Shocker aside, Gouveia should be too much for the green Reljic.
Stalker: Gouvei by TKO in 1. This one is going to be rather quick. Gouvei has the wrestling skills to to avoid Reljic’s formidable ground game. And Gouvei has the power to pummel Reljic into last week.
#8 Tito Ortiz (15-5-1) vs. #4 Lyota Machida (12-0) (4-0)
Conqueror: Machida by TKO in 2. The future of the light heavyweight division goes through Lyota Machida. While Tito is always dangerous, especially with his back against the wall, his inability to take a punch will be his downfall. Machida shouldn’t have much trouble dodging Ortiz’s takedown attempts and thus, will eventually catch the former champion.
Stalker: Ortiz by unanimous decision. business. I see Ortiz taking I disagree with the Conqueror’s assessment on the takedown Machida down and showing the crowd some classic Ortiz ground and pound. I think an in-shape, uninjured Ortiz is a royal bad ass, and we are going to see him punish Machida to show the UFC (Dana White) what they will be missing when Ortiz leaves.
Thiago Silva (12-0) (3-0) vs. Antonio Mendes (14-2) (0-0)
Conqueror: Silva by submission in 1. The only thing about this fight I know is that Thiago Silva is a badass. Antonio Mendes is a very talented fighter who hasn’t tasted defeat in four years, but I can barely pronounce his opponents, let alone know anything about them. Mendes appears to be a hell of a fighter, but Silva is the real deal.
Stalker:Silva by submission. This is an easy one, Thiago Silva is a rising star in the UFC, and I don’t see him slowing down anytime soon. I see an significant win for him tonight. Look for a title fight in Silva’s very near future.
Ivan Salaverry (12-5) (3-3) vs. Rousimar Palhares (7-1) (0-0)
Conqueror: Salaverry by decision. Once again, it’s hard to get a feel for someone you’ve never even heard of. Rousimar Palhares seems to be a good fighter, but Ivan Salavarry is far from a question. The fight should come down to the ground game, a place it’s hard to see Salivarry losing.
Stalker:Salaverry by submission. I used to like watching Salaverry fight, he is a well-rounded fighter, with solid ground skills. Palhares is in a bad position here, Salaverry is no doubt fighting for his continued presence in the UFC, and I see Palhares as a mere speed bump for Salaverry to re-jump start his career.
#9 Rameau Sokoudjou (4-2) (0-1) vs. Kazuhiro Nakamura (11-7) (0-1)
Conqueror: Sokoudjou by TKO in 1. Kazuhiro Nakamura is a tough guy, but he’s going to need more than that. Rameau Sokoudjou shouldn’t have any trouble hitting the bullseye planted securely to Nakamura head. This is just the fight that Sokoudjou needs to get back in the mix at 205lbs, and Nakamura is simply in the wrong place at the wrong time.
Stalker: Sokoudjou by KO in 1. Although I do not believe that Sokudjou has the skills to make it to the top level of the UFC, there is no denying his brute power and knockout ability. The guy s a beast. Nakamura has some sweet judo skills, but I don’t see them having any effect on the beast.
Rich Clementi (31-12-1) (4-3) vs. Terry Etim (9-1) (1-1)
Conqueror: Clementi by unanimous. The resurgence of “No Love” has been amazing. Clementi looked more done than Tiki Ghosn after his loss to Shonie Carter on “The Comeback,” but another chance is just what the veteran needed. This fight may not be the most exciting on the card, but it should be a display of dominant groundwork with the veteran coming out on top
Stalker: Clementi by submission. I see a lot of submissions tonight, and Etim will definitely be on the receiving end of one from Clementi. Although Etim is no punk, I don’t see anyone from the lower to mid ranks of the UFC ranks stopping Clementi anytime soon.
Jon Koppenhaver (5-1) (1-0) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (9-2) (0-0)
Conqueror: Yoshida by TKO in 2. If there’s one thing I’m not impressed with, it’s the War Machine. Koppenhaver deserves credit for his battle with Jared Rollins, but he has yet cash in the on his full ability. Then we have Yoshida; the Cage Force veteran has been making quick work of anyone who steps in his way and should be too much for the inexperienced Koppenhaver.
Stalker: Yoshida by TKO in 1. Koppenhaver is in trouble here. Yoshida is going to explode late in the first round and feed Koppenhaver some tasty elbows via ground and pound. I do think that Koppenhaver has some potential, but he lacks experience, and this fight is a bad match up for him. This is not the kind of experience the young fighter needs.
Jason Tan (4-2) (0-1) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (9-1-1) (0-0)
Conqueror: Kim by TKO in 2. The only thing you need to know is that Kim has heavy hands and Tan has a glass jaw. The results should be fun to watch.
Stalker: Kim by TKO in 2. Conqueror is dead on, there is not much to say for this one, it is an easy call. Tan needs some work if he is going to compete with the big boys. With a 4-2 record, it seems as if Tan is being feed to the lions here, sorry buddy.
Christian Wellisch (8-3) (2-1) vs. Shane Carwin (8-0) (0-0)
Conqueror: Carwin by TKO in 2. Hype or no hype, Shane Carwin is a beast. Christian Wellisch is a well-rounded fighter, but shouldn’t be much of an obstacle for the man being touted as the future of the heavyweight division.
Stalker: Wellisch by decision. Call me crazy, but I am not convinced of the hype just yet. It just seems that the bodybuilder types always get the hype until they make it to the middle ranks of the UFC where they are put in their place.
Brett “The Conqueror” Beverly
Overall: (44-27)
VS: (3-2-2)
Last Card: UFC 83: (10-1)
Jason “Fight Stalker” Taylor
Overall: (40-31)
VS: (2-3-2)
Last Card: UFC 83: (7-4)
