This is such a great card, especially for a non-PPV show. It's cards like these that remind us of the depth of quality of the UFC. Here are my picks, each one made after careful consideration of each fighter's attributes and abilities, no bullshitting.
PRELIMS
Andre Winner v Roli Delgado
Delgado is a great guy and obviously holds the advantage on the ground, but I don't see the fight ending up there. Winner is predominantly a striker but has enough of a grappling game to nullify the takedowns and keep the fight standing, or at least make it a battle of clinchwork. His defensive grappling will be sufficient to allow him to score an impressive TKO, he has far too much power in his hands for Roli to handle.
Winner: Winner
Alexander Gustaffsson v Jared Hammann
Gustaffsson seems to have raw talent but it's questionable whether he's had enough development before getting to the UFC. He was due to be fighting in Norwich, England on the first Bushido Challenge show before getting the call up, too much too soon, he likely loses to the heavy handed Hammann.
Winner: Hammann
Paul Kelly v Dennis Siver
Fighting out of the Kaobon gym for this fight, Kelly likely smashes through Siver. Even good wrestlers will struggle with Kelly's power in the LW division, I don't see Siver offering too much resistance. GnP clinic from Kelly. Expect Kelly to be in the upper tier of the LW division within 18 months.
Winner: Kelly
Matt Riddle v Nick Osipczak
Riddle has already made a big mistake by pissing off the entire UK MMA scene with his douchebag comments, see this thread for more info:
http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&thread=1548380&page=1
That was his first mistake, and one he will pay for when Nick O puts some leather on him. This is possibly the hardest fight to call but expect Nick O to keep Riddle at bay making the most of his tremendous reach advantage. Expect lots of volume and variation in order to avoid the takedowns, expect a high pace and expect Nick O to look to finish whilst Riddle tries to LnP. Nick O quietens this cocky goofball's preppy mouth.
Winner: Osipczak
Paul Taylor v John Hathaway
A battle of two of Britain's finest welterweights, one savvy veteran versus and up and coming undefeated prospect. Potential for fight of the night, but expect Hathaway to win the fight with his takedowns and positional control. No real losers in a fight like this, just lots of winners, especially the fans.
Winner: Hathaway
Terry Etim v Shannon Gugerty
Etim is probably the most exciting prospect on any UFC undercard anywhere, the only question is whether his victory will be as spectacular as some of his others, or if it will be more of grinding close call. Most likely the latter, but still a fight that should see him move out of the prelims and into the spotlight, possibly with the fastest rise of any up and comer in the UFC.
Winner: Etim
MAIN CARD
Ross Pearson v Aaron Riley
Another stiff test but Pearson has been unfairly discounted in this fight. He packs power and endurance, combined with good takedown defence and solid clinchwork. Riley might be experienced, but he's starting to show for it. Expect Pearson to impose his will and break Riley after an initially difficult opening period
Winner:Pearson
James Wilks v Matt Brown
This is the fight with probably the most absurd betting lines of them all. Everyone is high on Brown but why? Because he blew through his last couple of fights? Not this time, he's up against one of the more technical and refined fighters in the division. Ask Frankie Lester what happens when you try to brawl with James Wilks. Expect Wilks to cut through Brown like a knife through butter, show him up on the feet, drag him to the ground and submit him. Wilks is one of the most intelligent fighters in the UFC. Enjoy the masterclass.
Winner:Wilks
Michael Bisping v Denis Kang
Bisping via being better at every facet of the game. Expect him to bully early, wear out Kang and pick him apart. Tough fight though, Kang is a risky opponent. Good stepping stone back up the MW ranks though.
More thoughts here:
http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&thread=1550553&page=1
Any Bisping fans, please join the Comeback Trail here:
http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&thread=1511143&page=1
Winner: Bisping
Mike Swick v Dan Hardy
This is the most important fight on the card, with the most at stake, and is a perfect opportunity for Hardy to announce himself to the world once and for all. He takes out Swick, more varied and technical on the feet, throws in volume, will counter off Swick like you wouldn't believe, slicker on the ground, adequate wrestling to keep the fight where he wants it, extremely durable, won't gas, keeps cool in difficult situations. Will be a nerve-wracking fight, Swick is no doubt the toughest fight of his career and Hardy has never faced anyone with his hand speed, but all the more reason to count this win as a legitimate claim to the title shot that will follow. After the disappointment of UFC 100, this becomes the biggest fight in UK MMA history. Oh, and the crowd will have Swick crying before he even gets to the Octagon.
Winner: Hardy
Randy Couture v Brandon Vera
The crowd will likely be on a comedown after the Hardy win, so expect this fight to be fought infront of a euphoric audience. Vera wins, too rangey and precise a striker, can avoid Couture's takedowns with his own wrestling pedigree, won't fall into the dirty boxing trap. Close fight, shame to see Couture lose again, he will probably have the support of the crowd. Vera steps it up though.
Winner: Vera
Will be a great night of fights, infront of probably one of the best crowds in UFC history:
http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&thread=1543696&page=1
I'm surprised you didn't score "incredible well-fought draws" for the fights where both were from the uk and "who cares?" for bouts where both fighters are from the US.
seriously. there's no point to giving input on anything if your ability to be objective parallels a 5 year old and your delusion resembles one of those teabagger protesters. what's the point? nobody takes anything you say seriously.
lame.
edit: nevermind, this..."Potential for fight of the night...No real losers in a fight like this, just lots of winners, especially the fans."...pretty much translates to "incredible well-fought draw (cause they're both from the UK)"...I somehow managed to give you too much credit. wow.
The Notorious OMG - I'm surprised you didn't score "incredible well-fought draws" for the fights where both were from the uk and "who cares?" for bouts where both fighters are from the US.
seriously. there's no point to giving input on anything if your ability to be objective parallels a 5 year old and your delusion resembles one of those teabagger protesters. what's the point? nobody takes anything you say seriously.
lame.
LOL, I see you conveniently forgot to go back to that thread where you were getting owned from all angles. Oh well, move along then, moran.
how shocking, you chose every single English fighter
Riley
Brown
Kang
Hardy
Vera
explodingboy -The Notorious OMG - I'm surprised you didn't score "incredible well-fought draws" for the fights where both were from the uk and "who cares?" for bouts where both fighters are from the US.
seriously. there's no point to giving input on anything if your ability to be objective parallels a 5 year old and your delusion resembles one of those teabagger protesters. what's the point? nobody takes anything you say seriously.
lame.
LOL, I see you conveniently forgot to go back to that thread where you were getting owned from all angles. Oh well, move along then, moran.
no, lol @ your douchebag ass avoiding the topic at hand and spelling "moran" incorrectly while trying to insult my intelligence. this is one of those "oh, the ironing" moments, no?
conveniently forgot to go back to what thread? I have no clue what subject or which thread you're talking about. sorry mr 3,500 posts, I don't check back 25 times to every single thread I post in.
I see how you conveniently managed to change the subject to something else because you had no response for anything I said here, it's pretty obvious you're a delusional clown. just to hear you say I was "getting owned from all angles" is hilarious, I laugh at the thought of all those bisping/henderson pre-fight essay posts you made. I guess you would know exactly how that looks, huh?
Delgado by Sub
Hamman by KO
Siver by KO
Riddle by KO
Taylor and Hathaway both lose by disqualification for having horrendous teeth
Gugerty submits Etim by speaking intelligibly
Riley by writing on me boots
Matt Brown KO's Wilks (who abandoned his homeland to get better training).
Dennis Kang repeats Henderson's vicious prison rape of Bisping who then cries about something/anything
Swick by domination
Vera by KO (Couture is closer to being British of the two)
gangsta101 -The Notorious OMG -explodingboy -The Notorious OMG - I'm surprised you didn't score "incredible well-fought draws" for the fights where both were from the uk and "who cares?" for bouts where both fighters are from the US.
seriously. there's no point to giving input on anything if your ability to be objective parallels a 5 year old and your delusion resembles one of those teabagger protesters. what's the point? nobody takes anything you say seriously.
lame.
LOL, I see you conveniently forgot to go back to that thread where you were getting owned from all angles. Oh well, move along then, moran.
no, lol @ your douchebag ass avoiding the topic at hand and spelling "moran" incorrectly while trying to insult my intelligence. this is one of those "oh, the ironing" moments, no?
conveniently forgot to go back to what thread? I have no clue what subject or which thread you're talking about. sorry mr 3,500 posts, I don't check back 25 times to every single thread I post in.
I see how you conveniently managed to change the subject to something else because you had no response for anything I said here, it's pretty obvious you're a delusional clown. just to hear you say I was "getting owned from all angles" is hilarious when I laugh at the thought of all those bisping/henderson pre-fight essay posts you made every time I see you post somewhere. I guess you would know exactly how that looks, huh?
^you seem obsessed with everyone's post count, it's obvious you're a troll who does nothing but flame others. voted down
lol, coming from the biggest reject troll on the UG that means a lot. still hard at work on that ever-expanding waistline? why don't tell us about how Shamrock's ribs were injured some more, I don't think you got enough attention out of that one yet.
inserting yourself into a conversation you're not involved because I call you and squared circle out for making careers out of trolling the UG.
yes, I'm obsessed with everyone's post count. it's all I think about. it's so fascinating. but on the other hand, it's truly IS fascinating how you can have 8,000 posts, and every single post is a troll post. explodingboy might be an assclown but at least he makes serious posts 50% of the time.
The Notorious OMG -explodingboy -The Notorious OMG - I'm surprised you didn't score "incredible well-fought draws" for the fights where both were from the uk and "who cares?" for bouts where both fighters are from the US.
seriously. there's no point to giving input on anything if your ability to be objective parallels a 5 year old and your delusion resembles one of those teabagger protesters. what's the point? nobody takes anything you say seriously.
lame.
LOL, I see you conveniently forgot to go back to that thread where you were getting owned from all angles. Oh well, move along then, moran.
no, lol @ your douchebag ass avoiding the topic at hand and spelling "moran" incorrectly while trying to insult my intelligence. this is one of those "oh, the ironing" moments, no?
conveniently forgot to go back to what thread? I have no clue what subject or which thread you're talking about. sorry mr 3,500 posts, I don't check back 25 times to every single thread I post in.
I see how you conveniently managed to change the subject to something else because you had no response for anything I said here, it's pretty obvious you're a delusional clown. just to hear you say I was "getting owned from all angles" is hilarious, I laugh at the thought of all those bisping/henderson pre-fight essay posts you made. I guess you would know exactly how that looks, huh?
Here you go, moran:
http://www.mixedmartialarts.com/mma.cfm?go=forum.posts&forum=1&thread=1546760&page=1
Have a nice read. And if you're talking about post counts, I'd say we're about equal considering in the three and half years I've been on here I have approx 3,500 and in the 8 months or so you've been here you already have 1000. So you're hardly Mr Cool Dude, pal. Not only do you post at the same rate as me, but you're a noob too. Just getting into the sport eh?
Also, my picks were all made with reasonable, rational and logical reasoning. You're welcome to try and give your opinion but I suspect you'd do anything to shy away from talking about actual MMA.
Mad Xyientist - Delgado by Sub
Hamman by KO
Siver by KO
Riddle by KO
Taylor and Hathaway both lose by disqualification for having horrendous teeth
Gugerty submits Etim by speaking intelligibly
Riley by writing on me boots
Matt Brown KO's Wilks (who abandoned his homeland to get better training).
Dennis Kang repeats Henderson's vicious prison rape of Bisping who then cries about something/anything
Swick by domination
Vera by KO (Couture is closer to being British of the two)
I don't think you're taking this very seriously.
I pretty much knew all your picks with a Brit in them would be a Brit, wow! World breaking from you.
Mad Xyientist - Delgado by Sub
Hamman by KO
Siver by KO
Riddle by KO
Taylor and Hathaway both lose by disqualification for having horrendous teeth
Gugerty submits Etim by speaking intelligibly
Riley by writing on me boots
Matt Brown KO's Wilks (who abandoned his homeland to get better training).
Dennis Kang repeats Henderson's vicious prison rape of Bisping who then cries about something/anything
Swick by domination
Couture by KO (God given American Power)
lol oh, wow, the war machine ass waxing/porn thread. yeah I wonder why I didn't check back on that? did you make sure to bookmark the youtube videos and rewatch occasionally?
oh I get it! he spelled moron incorrectly because it's some exceptional high-grade ironic humor thing going on here at the out-of-shape players ball! a instead of o, brilliant. beautiful minds hard at work parroting the same empty banter for years.
like one of those occasions when someone accidentally triple posts and you have 7 pages of drones copying & pasting and re-posting it cause the comedy never stops! it's not that any of it is lame, it's that the "noobs" just don't get it. that's all, right? lol.
and you did the same here, awesome. keep the moran hilarity going, it's clever as fuck.
I was totally "owned from all angles" regarding a forum joke in the context of a thread discussing war machine's body waxing, porn career and incorrect mathematical calculations. great, I'm distraught.
you registering on the UG when Bisping was on TUF 3 makes you some sort of old school fight professor? or is that your black belt status on sherdog? lol. whereas other people might have been following since '96-'97 and just weren't aware of certain websites or didn't care to post on message boards at the time.
agree with the Hardy/Swick and Wilks/Brown predictions though.
The Notorious OMG - lol oh, wow, the war machine ass waxing/porn thread. yeah I wonder why I didn't check back on that? did you make sure to bookmark the youtube videos and rewatch occasionally?
oh I get it! he spelled moron incorrectly because it's some exceptional high-grade ironic humor thing going on here at the out-of-shape players ball! a instead of o, brilliant. beautiful minds hard at work parroting the same empty banter for years.
like one of those occasions when someone accidentally triple posts and you have 7 pages of drones copying & pasting and re-posting it cause the comedy never stops! it's not that any of it is lame, it's that the "noobs" just don't get it. that's all, right? lol.
and you did the same here, awesome. keep the moran hilarity going, it's clever as fuck.
I was totally "owned from all angles" regarding a forum joke in the context of a thread discussing war machine's body waxing, porn career and incorrect mathematical calculations. great, I'm distraught.
you registering on the UG when Bisping was on TUF 3 makes you some sort of old school fight professor? or is that your black belt status on sherdog? lol. whereas other people might have been following since '96-'97 and just weren't aware of certain websites or didn't care to post on message boards at the time.
agree with the Hardy/Swick and Wilks/Brown predictions though.
Okay, whatevs, I'm certainly not a TUF 3 noob and perhaps you're not new to the sport, I care not. Back to the matter at hand, in reference to Herring, I have provided picks based on thoughtful analysis. If you want to infer prejudice and bias in my reasoning then that's your perogative.
Not the exact order but:
Randy
Swick
Bisping
Brown
Pearson
Riddle
Kelly
Hathaway
Etim
Hamman
Winner
Vera
Swick
Kang
Brown
Riley
Riddle
Kelly
Hathaway
Etim
Gustaffsson
Winner
EB, all of your picks for the main card are wrong.
Your bias is beyond sickening.
Main card -
Couture
Swick
Kang
Brown
Pearson
how shocking, you chose every single English fighter
Riley
Brown
Kang
Hardy
Vera
This
LOL at those picks.
Delgado sub.
I don't know Gustaffson or Hamman but I'm picking Gustaffson. Odd that you say he's no ready for the big show when he has twice as much experience as Hamman.
Kelly decision.
Riddle decision.
Taylor via TKO. I love Taylor, I really hope they show this fight and that he can keep it on the feet.
Etim by sub.
Pearson by decision.
Matt Brown TKO.
Kang TKO.
Swick over Hardy by decision in a close battle. Hardy fans will say he was robbed.
Randy by decision.