Affliction: Banned Picks and Preview UPDATED 7/19

After all the hype and promotion, Affliction will finally make its MMA debut. This card should be legendary. While you can never predict how a card will work out, the check books of Donald Trump mixed with MMA’s hottest clothing company have insured that this card will be intriguing at worst. The only drawbacks will be the typical new promotion glitches that always happen when a new organization hits the airwaves, and the fact that all of these fights will be in a ring.

As far as the picks go, I’ll be flying solo on this P&P. Not to worry, a little brotherly battle will ensue over the UFC Fight Night pick and preview that will be posted tomorrow morning.

-Brett “The Conqueror” Beverly

Fedor Emelianenko (27-1) vs. Tim Sylvia (26-5)
Emelianenko by submission in 2. Finally we get a chance to see what Fedor can do. It’s about time. His bout with Sylvia is a dream come true for fight fans as former heavyweight champions collide. It should be nice. It should also be Fedor’s day for two reasons: the fight is in a ring and he’s Fedor. Sylvia could shock the world and pick up the victory, but that means he’d have to knockout or last five rounds with Fedor. Not going to happen.

Matt Lindland (20-5) vs. Fabio Negoa (8-3)
Lindland by TKO in 2. Pay close attention, this is how ground-and-pound is done. Fabio Negoa is good, he’s just not that good. Every time he’s been asked to step up in competition, he hasn’t. That’s not good for someone stepping in with “The Law.”

Josh Barnett (25-5) vs. Pedro Rizzo (16-7)
Barnett by submission in 2. Let’s face it, Rizzo is washed up. I know he’s coming off of a victory over Jeff Monson, but “The Snowman” had a striking complex and virtually threw the fight. Barnett won’t do that. His ability to get the takedown and finish the fight should means curtains for the heavy-handed Rizzo.

Andrei Arlovski (12-5) vs. Ben Rothwell (33-5)
Arlovski by unanimous. I’m not sold on Andrei Arlovski. He’s looked good as of late, but he hasn’t looked like “The Pitbull” of old. We could see the “fight not to lose” Arlovski with him eeking out a victory over Rothwell. Big Ben has a lot of talent, but he’s never beaten anyone the caliber of Andrei for a reason.

Renato Sobral (29-7) vs. Mike Whitehead (23-6)
Whitehead by unanimous. Since losing on the Ultimate Fighter finale, Mike Whitehead has been on an epic run by winning twelve fights in a row. Even better, 11 of his 12 victories haven’t made it to the judges score cards. His opponent, Babalu is simply trying to stay relevant in an ever-changing MMA climate. Riding a two-fight win streak, Sobral is always dangerous. He may not be the best in MMA, but if his opponent is any less than perfect, Babalu will strike and submit in a moments notice. Still, overwhelming is the key and it puts the advantage in Whitehead’s corner.

Mark Hominik (15-8) vs. Savant Young (9-7)
Hominek by unanimous. The little engine that couldn’t will do just that when he steps in the ring with Mark Hominek. Savant Young is energetic, exciting and most of all, mediocre. Not to say that his opponent is perfect. Mark Hominik has always had issues with his strategy. Outside of the spotlight, Hominik looks for the kill, but under the lights he tends to bore the living crap out of anyone within eye shot. It seems as if Mr.Hominek becomes afraid to lose, and tries to simply out-point his opponent. Someone should tell Mark that this isn’t a basketball game. Still, he’s simply a better fighter than Young.

UPDATE: Gary Goodridge (23-17-1) vs. Paul Buentello (25-10)
Buentello by TKO in 2. Enter Gary Goodridge. The cancellation of Aleksander is disappointing, but Affliction rebounded well. A Goodridge-Buentello clash is nearly as entertaining. These two should slug it out with Buentello landing more damaging blows. I see Buentello taking this one home in 2.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (13-3) vs. Edwin Dewees (35-12)
Nogueira by TKO in 2. I’m not going to lie, I know next to nothing about the younger Nogueira. What I do know is this: there is no way in hell that he’s going to lose to Edwin Dewees. Nogueira has beaten the likes of Dan Henderson, so Dewees shouldn’t be much of a roadblock.

Terry Martin (16-4) vs. Vitor Belfort (16-8)
Belfort by TKO in 2. Terry Martin is a slugger, Vitor Belfort is a striker. The difference will become apparent when the new and improved Belfort uses his dynamic hands to put away Martin in dominating fashion. No, I don’t think Belfort’s back, I simply believe he’s here and better than Martin. Look for fireworks as these two know how to throw leather.

JJ Ambrose (9-1) vs. Mike Pyle (16-5-1)
Pyle by unanimous. There’s one thing about JJ Ambrose’s stellar career that bothers me, he’s yet to face anyone of Pyle’s caliber. Now, I know that Mike Pyle isn’t Georges St.Pierre and that’s exactly my point. Ambrose has a lot of potential and would really benefit by defeating the tough veteran, but it looks to be Pyle’s day. I see a lot of Ambrose on his back and with Pyle picking up the win.

Ray Lizama (5-5) vs. Justin Levens (9-8)
Levens by TKO in 2. I think Affliction management asked, ” How do we make Justin Levens look good?” Unfortunately the response was, ” I know, we’ll put him up against the first guy we see in Home Depot.” Enter Ray Lizama. Then again, Levens has lost eight of his last 10 fights. Take a second and think about that. Maybe the Home Depot strategy is going to work against Levens. I’ll stick to my pick, but with a little less confidence.

UFC 86 Picks and Preview

UFC 86 is going to be something else. What that something is, I’m not entirely sure. The card is strong, but it’s either going to be one of the most entertaining of the year, or a borefest that makes me wonder about by investment. Ah, but isn’t that the nature of the sweet sport of MMA?

I’ve been beating Jason “FightStalker” Taylor so bad in picks that he went out and got my very own brother to compete. It won’t work, The Conqueror will prevail!

UFC Light Heavyweight Championship

CH Quinton Jackson (28-6) (3-0) vs. #1 Forrest Griffin (15-4) (6-2)
Brett “The Conqueror” Beverly: Jackson by TKO in 3. Forrest is one tough dude, but that’s not going to help him against Rampage. Jackson’s been nothing short of dominate and it’s going to take more than Griffin to take him out.
Chris “PsyD” Beverly: Jackson by unaimous. A lot of UFC fans are ITCHING for an upset here, but it’s not in the cards. Forrest has evolved into a very durable, high skilled mixed martial artist, and will make this fight “interesting” while being overwhelmed - but not finished - by the stronger, more experienced Jackson.

Patrick Cote (12-4) (3-4) vs. Ricardo Almeida (9-2) (2-2)
Conqueror: Almeida by submission in 1. Lately, Patrick Cote has shown the killer instinct that once made him a legitimate prospect. Outside of the UFC, not only has Cote never lost, he’s never been pushed to the limit. As great as that is, Almeida is going to kill him. Cote’s stand up game may have improved, but his ground game still stinks. That’s not a good weakness to have when facing a third degree black belt in Brazilian jujitsu (under Renzo Gracie). While there’s a chance that Almeida is a shadow of the man he used to be, it’s not likely that Cote the man for the job.
PsyD: Almeida by submission in 2. Cote has better striking skills than Almeida, while Almeida’s exceptional ground skills are well documented. What looks like an even match on paper degenerates into a mismatch in the Octagon when you consider that Almeida has a submission victory over Nate Marquardt. Almeida’s ground skills > Cote’s striking skills = Almeida Victory.

#3 Joe Stevenson (28-8) (5-2) vs. Gleison Tibau (14-5) (3-2)
Conqueror: Stevenson by unanimous. How soon we forget about Joe Daddy? After being demolished by B.J. Penn, reading or hearing anything about Stevenson in last six months has been more legend than reality. Still, Stevenson is a very tough fighter and deadly when focused. He should have some trouble with Tibau, but will ultimately be the victor for one reason: he’s better. Tibau’s a tough fighter with solid wrestling and jujitsu and while he should survive the Stevenson experience, he won’t benefit from it.
PsyD: Stevenson by submission in 3. This fight will allow Stevenson to fully recover from his loss to B.J. Penn. Stevenson is the more well rounded fighter. This is an intriguing match up that doesn’t end well for Tibau.

#4 Josh Koscheck (10-2) (7-2) vs. Chris Lytle (25-15-5) (4-7)
Conqueror: Koscheck by unanimous. Kos has more in common with a wet blanket than most people give him credit for. His opponent has been shockingly mediocre in his career and has been absolutely dreadful in the UFC. Credit where credit is due, Lytle has been aggressive and impressive in his four times out, but he’s has trouble throwing strikes when he’s trying to defend the takedown. Looks like a long 15 minutes for Lytle and the fans.
PsyD: Koscheck by unanimous. Because he is so difficult to finish, Chris Lytle has a way of losing AND making his opponent look bad. As a fighter with well developed wrestling skills that occasionally poses as a striker, Koscheck’s potential is limited, but he will handle Lytle for 3 rounds.

#7 Tyson Griffin (11-1) (4-1) vs. Marcus Aurelio (16-5) (2-1)
Conqueror: Griffin by unanimous. This fight is proof that the UFC lightweight division is stacked. As a pure wrestler, Tyson Griffin has had trouble when his main form of attack is stifled. His opponent, Marcus Aurelio won’t stifle it. As a pure grappler, Aurelio will look to take advantage of a lazy takedown and submit the young stud. I don’t think he’ll be able to. This fight could go either way. Let me put this fight into perspective, Tyson Griffin is the lone blemish on Urijah Faber’s record and Marcus Aurelio owns a submission victory of Takanori Gomi.
PsyD: Aurelio by unanimous. Tyson Griffin is very good, but something tells me he will not rise to the upper-tier of the UFC’s lightweight division where Sean Sherk and B.J. Penn reside. This isn’t Tyson’s fault - it’s a reflection of the depth of the division. Aurelio’s style matches up well against Griffin’s, and he should be able to secure a close decision victory.

Gabriel Gonzaga (8-3) (3-2) vs. Justin McCully (8-3-2) (1-0)
Conqueror: Gonzaga by TKO in 1. Will the real Gabriel Gonzaga please stand up? It isn’t really clear just how good Gonzaga is. His dismantling of Cro Cop was impressive, but it’s looking more and more like Cro Cop was already in pieces. After being stopped by Fabricio Werdum, it’s unclear if Napoa is simply a flash in the pan or a man on a slight detour. His opponent is something different all together. Justin McCully is a wrestler, while he has submitted more than a few of his opponents in the past, his game looks only slightly more exciting than a spelling bee. If he takes home the victory, Napoa is done.
PsyD: Gonzaga by unanimous. Gonzaga is a monster, but he keeps the monster hidden inside most of the time. McCully is a tough fighter, and could be a threat to Napoa’s often-lumbering style. Expect Gonzaga to go for the win rather than the thrash, with the outcome being a unanimous decision victory for “Napoa”.

Jorge Gurgel (12-3) (3-2) vs. Cole Miller (13-3) (2-1)
Conqueror: Miller by unanimous. If Jorge Gurgel is involved, the fight will go the distance. As a grappler with a striking complex, he will attempt to stand toe-to-toe with the much larger Cole Miller. I don’t know why he does it, but this blac belt in Brazilain Jujitsu always makes it his priority to throw hands. Miller is more of a wrestler, but his hands are good enough to pull off the victory. Hell, he may even finish Gurgel.
PsyD: Miller by unanimous. Jorge - please don’t strike in this fight. We all know that my pleas are useless, and Miller will outpoint Gurgel over 3 rounds.

Melvin Guillard (20-7-2) (3-3) vs. Denis Siver (11-5) (1-2)
Conqueror: Guillard by TKO in 2. Love him or hate him, the guy’s interesting. That’s exactly why he’s facing Denis Siver. Fighting out of Germany, Siver’s an interesting guy as well. A self-proclaimed striker, the majority of victories - and defeats- have come by submission. Siver’s one problem is that, while he’s very well rounded, he’s simply not that good. Look for this to be one-sided, but you never know when Melvin is involved.
PsyD: Melvin by unanimous. Guillard is back! But is he good? Not really. But he IS entertaining, and he’ll win by unanimous decision.

Corey Hill (2-0) (1-0) vs. Justin Buchholz (7-2) (0-1)
Conqueror: Hill by TKO in 2. Flip a coin. That’s the best way to predict who will win this fight. Hill’s got the skills, but he’s only beaten 7-11 clerks in the past. The same goes for Buchholz, so it’s anyone’s guess.
Stalker: Hill by unanimous. Because I was wondering where Corey Hill went! Last time I saw him, he was on the Ultimate Fighter Reality show, and while he was very raw, he had potential. Who knows, but I hope he wins.

UFC 83 Picks and Preview

At last, UFC 83 is upon us. This should be a solid PPV that hopefully will end the Terra in the welterweight division. More importantly, it should allow to return to my rightful spot atop the FightStalker fight picks. Each UFC Fight card means me and the Stalker go head-to-head; currently we are all evened up at 2-2-2. So, in effect, we’re both losers. That ends today.       - Brett “The Conqueror” Beverly

Welterweight Championship

CH: Matt Serra (8-4) (6-4) vs. Interim CH:Georges St.Pierre (15-2) (9-2)
Conqueror: GSP by TKO in 2. God help us all if this doesn’t happen. Georges St.Pierre is a much better fighter than “The Nanny” and anything less than domination would be absurd. Serra’s reign of “Terra” needs to come to an end. Holding the title for nearly a year with out defending it, regardless of the reasons, is too damn long.
Stalker: GSP by  TKO in 3.Trust me, I wish this fight would end in round one, but I have a feeling Serra is going to make GSP work hard for his win. Do I think GSP will win? Let me just put it to you this way, if GSP doesn’t win this fight, my entire understanding of this world will come into question. I cannot fathom an existence where GSP looses twice to Serra.  

#3 Rich Franklin (22-3) (8-2) vs. Travis Lutter (9-4) (2-2)
Conqueror: Franklin by TKO in 2.I hate to say this, but I have my doubts about Rich pulling this one out. I’m simply having a hard time facing the facts, the Rich Franklin we knew and loved is dead. If he fights like he can, this will be a walk in the park; sadly, this may be Lutter’s night. Either way, I’m going down with the ship.
Stalker: Lutter by submission. That sentence was hard for me to write. Here’s a little insight into my madness: The “Pre-Anderson Silva knees to the nose” Franklin would destroy Lutter, but the new, “Slightly off with a crooked nose” Franklin has lost a step. Don’t get me wrong, this should be a great fight. Whenever it’s a must win for both fighters, anything can happen, but I don’t think Franklin is the same fighter he was when he was the champion. I hope I’m wrong, I like Franklin, he’s a good poster boy for the sport, I just think this may be Lutter’s night.

Kalib Starnes (8-2-1) (2-2)  vs. Nate Quarry (9-2) (4-1)
Conqueror: Quarry by TKO in 2. The man known for being a part of Rich Franklin’s highlight real will be taking on a very forgettable Kalib Starnes. Quarry has something to prove after his last fight. Even though he beat Pete Sell, he needed a virtual Hail Mary of a overhand right to do so. Still, his last fight was his first since a spinal injury nearly ended his career, so I see a sharper Quarry in this one.
Stalker: Quarry by TKO in 2. I actually think Starnes is the more technical fighter here. He has better BJJ & better technical striking skills than Quarry. But when it comes to heart, conditioning, and determination, I have to give the edge to Quarry. It think this fight comes down to whether or not Quarry can keep this fight standing up, if he can avoid the ground game he should be able to pull off the win.

Michael Bisping (14-1) (4-1) vs. Charles McCarthy (10-4) (1-1)
Conqueror: Bisping by TKO in 1. Wow, could the UFC have handed Bisping a more cake opponent? McCarthy is far from a challenge. Odds are, Bisping will put McCarthy out of his misery early and celebrate like he just defeated Anderson Silva for the middleweight title. We may even see a tear or two. I’d like to see Captain Miserable win this one, but I’m not basing my picks on a Magic 8-Ball.
Stalker: McCarthy by submission. I’m going to go out on a limb here and predict an upset. I know most people can’t fathom Bisping losing in his lower weight class debut, but I think McCarthy has a better ground game than the Count. Don’t get me wrong, Bisping is no slouch on the ground, I just think McCarthy is a little better with submissions and wrestling, and I also think Bisping, like everyone else, may be underestimating his opponent. 

Mac Danzig (17-4-1) (1-0) vs. Mark Bocek (5-1) (1-1)
Conqueror: Danzig by unanimous.This is a much closer fight than meets the eye. Bocek is a very talented ground technician who has a habit of submitting his opponents. While it’s unlikely that his ground skills are better than Danzig’s, it should still be an interesting fight. In the end, it comes down to the stand up and takedown defense and Danzig gets them both.
Stalker: Danzig by TKO in 3. Not much to say for this one. If Danzig can keep this fight standing up, he should be able to KO Bocek or pull of a decisive decision. However, if Danzig fails to stay on his feet, Bocek could pull off a submission, or at least keep a dominant position long enough to get the judges nod.

#8 Jason MacDonald (19-9) (3-2) vs. Joe Doerksen (39-11) (1-4)
Conqueror: MacDonald by decision. What do you say about these two fighters. Honestly, I have no idea. All I know is, Jason MacDonald is a better fighter because he has a more solid stand up to go with his ground game.
Stalker: MacDonald by submission.Not sure when, but I see MacDonald submitting Doerksen with a triangle. MacDonald started strong in the UFC with submission wins over Ed Herman and Chris Leben. I think the fight against Rich Franklin came a little too soon for the Canadian. A couple more fights in the big show would have let him develop a little more into a complete machine. I see this fight as the beginning of his comeback leading to an eventual rematch with Franklin.

Alan Belcher (11-3) (3-2) vs. Jason Day (16-5) (0-0)
Conqueror: Day by TKO in 1.Yes, Alan Belcher is talented (as his nickname eludes), but he’s got an issue with not bringing his “A game” to the cage with him. That’s exactly what he’s going to need too, as he steps into the cage with Jason Day. You may remember the name as Day recently defeated former middleweight contender David Loisieau in his last fight. I envision Day bring it, and Belcher leaving it.
Stalker: Day by submission. My money would be on Day in this one. Although this is his first appearance in the UFC, he has a lot of experience, and a lot of wins by submission. Belcher is no punk, that’s for sure, but Day should be up for this one, as it’s his big shot in the major leagues. Look for Day to make a statement, and show the UFC executives that he belongs here.

Sam Stout (13-3-1) (2-2) vs. Rich Clementi (30-12-1) (3-3)
Conqueror: Clementi by submission in 2.No, I didn’t mistype. I got Rich “No Love” Clementi for one simple reason; Sam Stout’s ground game is crustier than Ms.Smith’s apple pie.
Stalker: Clementi by submission in 1. Call me crazy, I never in a million years thought I would say this about a guy who plucks his eyebrows more than the designers on HGTV, but I think Clementi has developed into a complete bad ass. Stout is no pushover, he’s got some powerful hands, but I just think Celemnti’s submission skills are far too superior for the less experienced Stout. If Clementi keeps his head on straight he will win this battle and eventually be a force to reckon with in the division.

Jonathon Goulet (21-9) (3-3) vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka (11-4) (1-2)
Conqueror: Hironaka by TKO in 1.I don’t need to know anything about Kuniyoshi Hironaka to pick this fight. Until he’s out of the UFC, I’m going to pick against him. I keep dreaming that after the fight, while Goulet is unconscious, Hironaka shaves his head ala Brutus Beefcake.
Stalker: Hironaka by submission. This could be an interesting matchup, but I am not holding my breath. If Hironaka can avoid the TKO, then this one should be quite a ground battle. Both fighters have submission skills, but I see a slight edge in Hironaka.

Brad Morris (9-2) (0-0) vs. Cain Velasquez (2-0) (0-0)
Conqueror: Valasquez by TKO in 2. A lot has been made about Velasquez’s debut. Part of me wants Velasquez to get laid out in record time, but the prospect status seems well deserved and the heavyweight should roll over Brad Morris. Who’s Brad Morris? It doesn’t matter.
Stalker: Morris by Submission. I have never watched either of these fighters fight, and I don’t have much information about them, so I have to revert back to simple 3rd grade math. Morris has a majority of his 9 wins by submission, and Valasquez only has 2 fights, this equals Morris by submission.

Ed Herman (13-5) (3-2) vs. Damian Maia (6-0) (1-0)
Conqueror: Maia by submission in 2.Ed Herman is a head case. Even after losing his first two UFC fights, the red headed step child thinks he’s the man to beat in the middleweight division. Problem is, Herman can’t avoid submission and don’t think Maia doesn’t know that. Something tells me that Herman will be in control for the first 5 to 10 minutes until he’s caught, by triangle or arm bar. God speed Damian Maia, God speed!
Stalker: Maia by submission in 1. Herman is out of his league here. Maia is a beast. The guy is a true old-school Brazilian MMA guy with solid BJJ skills. Maia is officially 6 and 0 with 4 wins by submission. I say official because this guy, like most Brazilian fighters, has a lot of unofficial backroom NHB fights under his belt. Sorry “Short Fuse” fans, but this is a terrible match up for Herman.

Brett “The Conqueror” Beverly
Overall: (34-26)
VS: (2-2-2)
Last Card: UFC Fight Night 13: (5-7)

Jason “Fight Stalker” Taylor
Overall: (33-27)
VS: (2-2-2)
Last Card: UFC Fight Night 13: (5-7)

Carano Rising

Nearly one year and seven fight cards later and the one of the most popular fighters in Elite XC is a girl. Sounds like an insult, but it’s not.

After only five MMA fights, Gina Carano has captured the attention of the largely male sport with her girl next-door looks and Muay Thai strikes. All of these attributes have made her easily one the most popular fighters in Elite XC and all of MMA.

The result has been a virtual obsession from MMA fans. Every picture, article and interview is madly read, downloaded and obsessed on by casual and hardcore MMA fans who dream of getting on the good side of the dominant striker.

Look no further than this website. When an article, photo shoot or interview gets posted that features Gina Carano, the hits nearly double.

Capitalizing on this fame and notoriety, Carano has gone on the do photo shoots, pick up sponsors and even star in the new American Gladiators as “Crush.”

But why her?  While most point to her good looks and charming personality, it’s much more than that.

While she’s relatively inexperienced in the world of MMA (5-0), Carano spent a considerable amount of time training in the art of Muay Thai and amassed an 11-1 professional record.

This striking ability only made her a more appealing candidate to help Elite XC get their women’s division off the ground.

Another aspect of the Carano craze is her development. Training at the infamous Extreme Couture camp has expanded the formally one-dimensional game of Elite XC star. Each time she steps into the cage, most fans believe they are going to see a more well rounded and dominant fighter than they previously saw.

Still, truth be told, there are many other female fighters who are more proven and more dominating. Fighters like Amanda Buckner, Vanessa Porto, Tara LaRosa, Roxanne Modafferi and Jennifer Howe would have gone further in legitimizing the division for Elite XC.

What these girls lack is more than looks; they lack “it.”

In order for Elite XC to start a women’s division, the organization needed to give the fans a reason to watch. Having an attractive fighter who throws hands like Richard Simmons would have been an insult. Likewise, someone makes Rosie O’Donnell look hot would also have repealed the attention of the fans.

So to Gary Shaw and Elite XC, Carano is “it:” a perfect blend of talent and marketability.  Choosing her as the forefront for their female MMA movement has been marketing decision that has driven the division.

Whether Carano becomes the women’s version of Chuck Liddell or Pedro Rizzo, the impact of this attractive brunette has had on the all of women’s MMA will be long standing.

As for Elite XC, Gina Carano has become synonymous with the brand. Using Carano for brand recognition has paid off more than Google stock and given the company an advantage on other organizations.

Carano’s development will continue to be front-page news in the world of MMA, and few would complain. After all, Carano and women’s MMA is bringing the sport more of what it needs: legitimacy.

UFC FIGHT NIGHT 12 PREVIEW

If this Fight Night had a theme, it would be “interesting.” Of course, that would be dumb and boring so they didn’t use it. Still, this card pits a lot of interesting match ups with none of the “amateur night” fights that usually drown Fight Night undercards. Here’s a brief preview:
#6* Mike Swick (10-2) (5-1) vs. #8 Josh Burkman (9-4) (5-2)
This is an excellent match-up for both fighters. Swick needs to make his presence at 170lbs known with a dominant victory over a very game Josh Burkman. A win would virtually transfer all of Swick middleweight victories over to his new division and immediately make “Quick” a contender. For Burkman, a win over the Swick would push his back in contention. A word that few would have mentioned in his presence after losing to Parisyan and inching out a win over Forrest Petz. Both fighters wil try to assert their game plans early with the first five minutes setting the tone for the final 10.

Drew McFedries (6-2) (2-1) vs. Patrick Cote (10-4) (2-4)
In theory, this fight shouldn’t take too long. While McFedries doesn’t waste any time in throwing leather, a cautious “fight to not lose” Patrick Cote could make this fight a little less interesting. The Canadian looked good dropping Grove, but was that a case of a weak jaw (see Jorge Rivera vs. Kendall Grove) or a new Cote? Neither of these fighters can afford a loss at this point in their UFC careers and that alone should bring the haymakers back into the equation.

Alvin Robinson (9-2) (1-1) vs. #9 Nate Diaz (7-2) (2-0)
Do’t get too excited by this fight. The fact that Robinson is a wrestler and Diaz is a submission specialist may make for a long night for fans. Diaz seems more than willing to fight off of his back, and Robinson will probably oblige by putting his there as much as possible. So, unless Diaz pulls off a sick submission (which he is more than capable of), this fight should go the duration and earn the “encouragement” of the crowd.

Michihiro Omigawa (4-5) (0-1) vs. Thiago Taveres (13-1) (2-1)
Thiago Taveres is still a prospect and the UFC wants you to know that. After a disappointing loss to Tyson Griffin, Taveres is being thrown a bigger gimme fight than Knoxville-Butterbean. Watch this fight for the same reason.

Alberto Crane (8-1) (0-1) vs. Kurt Pellegrino (10-3) (2-2)
Few remember that Pellegrino loss to Joe Stevenson got the later a shot at the lightweight title. While Pellegrino looked overmatched in that fight, Alberto Crane is no Joe “Daddy.” This fight has all the makings of s 15-minute lay-and-prey due to Crane’s outstanding Juijitsu and Pellegrino’s great wrestling skills. Barring a fantastic submission, this should be a one-sided affair.

Denis Siver (11-4) (1-1) vs. Gray Maynard (3-0) (1-0)
This fight will remind the viewers of just how important a ground game is. Gray Maynard will be doing what he does best and Denis Siver will be paying the price. Maynard is a spectacular wrestler who brings a vicious ground-and-pound game to every fight. That aspect will keep the preferably striking Siver, on the ground and out of the fight. Unless Maynard’s stoppage of Joe Veres gets to his head and he starts throwing leather, he should have this fight in the bag.

Jeremy Stephens (9-2) (2-1) vs. Cole Miller (13-2) (2-0)
Here we are again, striker vs. grappler. Since UFC 1 we’ve been asking this question and, since UFC 1 we’ve come up with the same answer (think Royce Gracie). While Stephens stand up is spectacular, he’s got the ground game of a Bam Bam Bigelow and should be dismantled by the well-rounded Cole Miller.

Joe Veres (4-2) (0-1) vs. Cory Hill (1-0) (0-0)
Maybe you didn’t read his record; Cory Hill is 1-0 … IN HIS CAREER! Few fighters have fought on a stage this large in their first fight for a reason. If Jeremy Horn (see TUF) is to be trusted, this should be a short, yet impressive fight. Hill is considered a future stud in need of experience and “Glass Jaw” Joe Veres is the perfect fighter. This could either be a car crash or a career starter and is yet another match of striker (Hill) vs. grappler (Veres).

Justin Buchholz (7-1) (0-0) vs. Matt Wiman (8-3) (2-1)
After winning four fights in a row for organizations that now make up Elite XC, Buchholz comes to the UFC with exciting hands. That said, hands only go so far. Standing opposite Buchholz will be the ever “Handsome,” Matt Wiman. In an attempt not to get hit, Wiman should take this fight to the ground sooner-than-later and grind it out from there. Still, Buchholz is no push over and Spencer Fisher showed us how well Wiman can take a punch.