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David Snipes: Welcome to the Geriatric
Bowl! UFC 109 has got to be one of the most underwhelming cards since -
well 108, there are a few fights on here I'm waiting for and of course the
next MW champion is here as well.
Robert Menn: I'm excited for this card. It's pretty
solid overall.
Preliminary Card
Heavyweight bout:
Joey Beltran vs. Rolles Gracie
David: Rolles (3-0 overall, UFC debut) makes his UFC Debut at the ripe age of 31, hard to
believe I know- but Gracie is a BJJ black belt. Shocking I know. Beltran (10-3,UFC debut) is a last minute replacement for Mostapha Al-Turk, who had problems getting in the
country. Joey has some HEAVY hands, judging by the fact he knocked out Houston Alexander less than a month ago. I have to think the UFC is trying to give Gracie an easy win here to set him up for
their new partners who are friends with the family.
Robert: This is easy to pick. Gracie. Duh. No way Dana lets that name come into his Octagon and get beat his first fight. No. Freakin'. Way. Beltran is a game opponent, but Gracie is superior on the ground. Tell you something you don't know? I once backflipped off the roof of my house onto a trampoline and bounced back onto the roof. Impressed? I know you are.
Winner:
David: Joey KO r1
Robert: Gracie Sub R1
Heavyweight bout:
Tim Hague vs. Chris Tuchscherer
David: Tim (10-2,1-1) comes into this fight trying to remove the memory of a 7 second KO- his first time ever knocked out by the way- I'm sure Maia and Hague have compared some notes as well. Tim is a good striker but a bit of a slow starter. Tuchscherer(17-2,0-1) has a TON of
experience, and trains with Brock- but is also coming in off a loss (a theme for this card). Tim is going to have to trust his chin here and press Chris, but I think Chris is going to want to be the Brock to Tim's Mir.
Robert: This fight is irrelevant. I hate to say it that way because I love all fights. But come on, except for either of these guys remaining employed with the company, what does it matter in the grand scheme of things? Not much. Unless one of these guys KOs the other in 6sec. Then we'll talk. (flips a coin...)
Winner
David: Chris TKO (strikes) R1
Robert: Hague, Rd 1, KO (6sec) You love it!
Light Heavyweight bout:
Brian Stann vs. Phil Davis
David: Stann (8-2,2-1) is a WEC holdover that is having a pretty good rebound to his career and is a DANGEROUS striker if and when he finds his range. Davis (4-0,debut) is an AKA fighter who has a wrestling base. I look to Stann to work his sprawl and find his range quickly.
NOTE: I want to see Stann vs Jardine if he wins.
Robert: Stann was the WEC Light Heavyweight Champion at one time. And he won his last fight inside the Octagon rather impressively. He has power and decent takedown defense. Davis is a newcomer, and little is known about him. I'm thinking this is a momentum push for Stann to start climbing the ranks. However, anyone remember Koscheck v. Thiago? You never know.
Winner:
David: Stann R2 KO
Robert: Stann, Rd 1, TKO
Lightweight bout:
Phillipe Nover vs. Rob Emerson
David: What the heck is up with Nover (5-2,0-2) ? He drops the TUF belt to EE,
despite being the favorite- shows the chin of a 6 year old to Kyle Bradley! Nover needs this win - Problem is Rob Emerson (8-8 [1], 2-2[1]) who REALLY needs this one as well- to me this is by FAR more interesting than the Guillard/Torres contest. Emerson has plenty of tools- but has a hard time making a comeback- its like when he gets behind or gets beat for round 1, he just cannot recover. Nover needs to take advantage of a fast start- get Rob on the ground and take him out or make him gas. I think Rob uses his decent sprawl to get enough shots in to take the win
Robert: Dana loves Nover. Called him the "Anderson Silva of 155" back when he was on The Ultimate Fighter. And I was being swayed in that direction when I watched him on the show. Calm and decisive and it seemed like he was out of everyone's league in that house. I can still see that same skill level. He just makes slight mistakes. However, I do think his last fight was called too soon. They really need to look into Big John reffing some UFC events. Let's go NSAC, get YOUR act together. If you have to cut a ref, *cough*Mazzagatti*cough to hire John then do it already. I think Philipe gets back on track by displaying some of that skill.
Winner:
David: Rob Des
Robert: Nover, Rd 2, Submission
Preliminary Card (Spike TV)
Lightweight bout:
Melvin Guillard vs. Ronnys Torres
David: Torres (14-1,debut) is brand new to the UFC, but being Brazillian - you can bet he has a solid ground game. Guillard (22-8-2(1), 6-4) is a solid fighter with a great chin, and I'm getting tired of hearing about his potential. Thankfully the Diaz fight cooled his jets or else
we'd would be wanting Penn next. Melvin is a SOLID fighter who should bulk up to 170 in my opinion, I don't think he has the ground game or the cardio to play with the big guns at 155. Torres needs to wear Melvin out - or get in his head and burn him out that way and make him tap. Since Torres trains with Jose Aldo- I think he's got the mental chops.
Robert: Another guy who needs to get his stuff together...Melvin Guillard. So much potential, so little effort. Sad really. I like Melvin. I want him to succeed. But Torres is no slouch. I think this has potential to be Fight of the Night and I think someone gets KOed in spectacular fashion. Come on Melvin don't let me down this time!
Winner:
David: Torres Sub 3
Robert: Guillard, Rd 2, KO
Lightweight bout:
Mac Danzig vs. Justin Buchholz
David: Danzig (18-7-1,2-3) is on a BAD roll right now- 2-5 since 2007, his only wins over Bocek and Speer- neither a name to keep BJ Penn up at night. Mac is solid on the ground and better striker than he shows but not really a stopper in either case. Buchholz (8-4,1-3) came in a budding star from Elite XC and procedded to go 1-3. Justin does have some HEAVY hands- perfect for Danzig's chin. I think Danzig does have some good stamina on the ground- he went 15 minutes with Clay Guida- so he can push the pace on the ground. i think this ends one of two ways- Justin with a highlight KO and a KO of the night check, or he gets rolled for 15 minutes and goes to
Bellator.
Robert:
Danzig needs to get it together and start stringing together some wins.
He has/had so much promise. If he ever realizes it he could be quite
dangerous. I think he surprises everyone with an impressive victory.
And if not, I'll never pick him again.
Winner:
David: Justin KO R2
Robert: Danzig,
Rd 2, TKO.
PPV Card
Welterweight bout:
Matt Serra vs. Frank Trigg
Serra (9-6,6-6) is still living off that GSP win and Trigg (19-7,2-4) is living off . . . what exactly? Both guys can talk, but neither is a credible treat to win 3 straight in the WW division. This is another wrestler vs ju-ju fight and I think Serra is better at his disipline than Trigg is in his. I also like Matt's standup better. I simply don't see Trigg winning in any way other than Serra goofing around and getting pimpslapped. please let the winner face Hughes and get smacked around. I'd rather see Serra/Hughes II then Trigg get RNC'ed again.
Robert: I am actually looking forward to this fight. Both guys are pretty much on the way out of their fighting careers. Trigg has pretty much said that if he can't win he'll retire. I can't remember exactly, but I'm pretty sure Serra is done either way. I hope Trigg comes out better than he did his previous fight or Serra will run away with this one. Serra always comes to fight.
Winner:
David: Serra via Sub R1 (anything but a RNC)
Robert: Serra, Rd 3, Decision
Middleweight bout:
Demian Maia vs. Dan Miller
I loves me some Maia! (11-1,5-1) The only man at 185 I'd put money on vs Anderson makes his comeback after a CRUSHING loss to Nate Marquardt- what to me is the most intersting fight on the card. Miller (11-2,3-1) had a nine fight win streak stopped by Sonnen also makes his return (in a fine matchup job by Joe Silva). Dan does not have huge power in his hands but is improving by the fight, The huge question mark here is Maia's chin- I have no doubt that if Maia's chin is dented permanently- Miller will find a winner check in his pocket- If Maia can take a punch when not kicking, Miller is going to tap. I'll go with Maia.
Robert: Demian just woke up from Marquardt's punch just yesterday and now he has to fight Dan Miller on Saturday? Joe Silva is ruthless. All kidding aside, this should be an interesting match up. Miller is a wrestler and Maia is a submission specialists. If Maia decides to mess around, Dan has the power to KO him. And I'm sure Dan wants no part of Maia on the ground. I think, eventually, this fight ends up on the ground. Question is, can Dan keep from getting choked? Methinks not.
Winner:
David: Maia Sub 2
Robert: Maia, Rd 2, Submission
Welterweight bout:
Mike Swick vs. Paulo Thiago
Love me some Swick (14-3, 9-2) who is 4-2 on the scorecards in his career. Swick is going to want to finish the fight quickly with Thiago (12-1,2-1) who is very good at working off his back. if I'm Thiago- I'd take the first good shot- drop and when Swick pounces- triangle his ass. Over half of his submissions have come from there. Swick's plan is going to be easy. Throw fists and knock him down and out. Problem is Thiago went 3 rounds with Fitch. Swick might have a problem if he's pressed for 3 rounds and if he makes a mistake- his air supply might be in danger.
Robert: This would've been a lot better if Koscheck wouldn't have gotten hurt. I don't like him at all, but I love rematches. Especially the fights where there was a bit of controversy. Sorta. I think Kos was out for a second. The ref should've let him try to recover, but he was in fact out. So whatever. But it's not gonna happen. Kos got hurt and in steps his teammate Mike Swick. I think Swick needs to win this. He was utterly dominated by Hardy. He needs to win and impressively to remain near the top. He's faster with better hands, but Thiago is good on the ground. I think this fight is close to a toss up.
Winner
David: I gotta go Thiago- only time I've ever picked against swick. R3 SUB
Robert: Swick, Decision
Middleweight bout:
Number 1 contenders bout
Nate Marquardt vs. Chael Sonnen
David: Nate the Great (29-8-2,8-2) is one hotheaded fighter and Chael (24-10-1,3-3) talks too much. I really don't see either of these two beating Silva- but Nate v Belfort could be awesome.
This is another wrestler vs BJJ guy- but I give a HUGE advantage to Nate on the feet. I think Chael has to get to the ground and avoid a triangle to win, but I think Nate is going to find his chin enough to put him down.
Robert: Nate the Great! Nate the Great! Come on, you know you want to join in. Since his defeat to Anderson Silva, Nate has improved vastly. No where near the same fighter he once was. The winner of this fight most likely will get to face Anderson next. And given his recent comments about the champ, you could easily want Chael to win this. I know I do, just to see the train wreck that will be Anderson's knees connecting to Sonnen's face. Will it be the better fight? No. Nate is better than Chael, and probably will win this fight. But who doesn't want to see Anderson show Chael just how stupid wearing pink t-shirts is? I know I do.
Winner:
David: Nate by KO R2
Robert: Marquardt, Rd 3, Decision (Come on Sonnen!)
Light Heavyweight bout:
Randy Couture vs. Mark Coleman.
David: Randy (17-10,14-7) is a legend, lets all get that straight- I personally don't think his opponent is- but lets be honest, the UFC Hall of Fame is about as credible as the WWE Hall of Fame right now. Thats not a knock on MMA in general- but to me, Frank Shamrock is a better fighter than Ken ever was. But that is another discussion.
Coleman (17-9,7-4)- now don't laugh at that W/L record, here are his losses this decade: Nog, Fedor,Cro-Cop,Shogun - there are a TON of fighters that would to have Shogun as the weakest fighter on the list. That being said- his best true win might just be Don Frye (who was 15-2 at the time)
Here is how I see the matchup going.
Coleman is not going to stand with Randy- he is going to want to use his larger frame and bully him around.
Randy is not really going to want to go to the ground with him- Watch UFC 44, that is going to be his plan if at all possible, ever since the Silvia fight, Randy has been trusting his standup.
I do not expect this one to be a classic, and Randy will do enough to outpoint Coleman in 2 of the 3 rounds. Just like the Vera fight, Randy will win- but will do more to move Coleman down the card than himself up the card.
Robert: Who's not excited for this fight? Who I ask you? If they say no they are lying or aren't fight fans. This fight should've happened a long time ago, but alas, it did not. Well now it's on! Two legends, Hall of Famers, going at it. Both wrestlers, albeit different style of wrestling, going to slug it out. Make no mistake, that's what I predict. Coleman and Couture will try to stand and fight rather than use their wrestling. Both are too good at it and their skill levels will negate the use. And in this department, striking, I give the edge to Randy. And you can bet Dana is chomping at the bit to see this happen. A decisive, impressive, KO could, and probably will, give Randy the next shot at the 205lb belt. If by some chance he doesn't, he's one more win away.
Winner
David: Randy by Des.
Robert: Couture, Rd 2, KO
David: Thanks for reading- if you want to get in on some of the MMA
Madness around here- drop me a line below. Don't forget the Miyama returns
Monday!
Robert: Now
I'm done. WAR ARLOVSKI!!
Submitted 2/5/2010
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