Sunday, May 27, 2012

Fights to make after UFC 146

JDS vs Velasquez II-
This fight is an obvious choice and one that will happen. I can see the rematch of this fight going either way. Velasquez looked like a total beast last night and will be hungry to make up for his loss in their prior fight whereas JDS has the mental advantage of beating Velasquez in their first contest. Either way it is a fight MMA fans will be excited for.

Struve vs Frank Mir-
Struve is on a 3 fight winning streak and is looking to break into the top group of heavyweights. Mir is trying to keep his spot in that group. This fight has the making to be a really good fight with both men good grapplers and both ok on their feet. I would really like to see this fight and the impact on the title picture after it.

Paul Sass vs Jamie Varner-
Sass is a legit talent and will be making waves in the 155 division for years to come. Varner looked really good in his return fight in a fight nobody expected him to win. This could be an interesting contest and would either prop Varner into the top of the division or establish Sass as the real deal.

UFC 146 main card recap

Last night was a truly exciting night of fights and probably one of the fastest events in the history of the UFC.

Dos Santos vs Mir-
It became evident in the first couple seconds of this fight that Mir was going to be in for a long night. Dos Santos thwarted Mir's takedown with ease and there was no looking back from there. JDS picked Mir apart with his far superior stand up as Mir barely survived round 1. The second round seen more of the same and as a rusult JDS earned a TKO victory in the second round.

Velasquez vs Silva-
All I can say about this fight is WOW. Cain is back and in a big way. This was by far his best performance and I expect Cain vs JDS II to be in the near future. Cain took Silva to the ground from the start and a blood bath soon followed until the fight was stopped in the 1st round.

Nelson vs Herman-
I was in total shock in this fight because I pictured this fight being a good close contest but Nelson fired a bomb early on that landed right on the button. After and awkward fall after the hit the fight was quickly broken up and rightly so since Herman couldn't walk straight after the fight.

Del Rosario vs Miocic-
I was let down by this fight because I figured Del Rosario would have a better showing. Del Rosario landed the better stand up and some vicious kicks to the body but Miocic found a major hole in Del Rosario's game when he took him to the ground. Del Rosario seemed to have no clue what he was doing on the ground and Miocic finished the fight in the second round.

Johnson vs Struve-
This fight was disappointing for Johnson. He really needs to develop so sort of understanding of grappling if he plans to have a successful future within the UFC. This fight seen the two me clinch early on and Struve quickly took the fight to the ground. From there it was a matter of time before Struve ended it, he locked in an arm bar and Johnson quickly tapped.

Saturday, May 26, 2012

UFC 146 breakdown

MAIN CARD (pay-per-view)
Champ Junior Dos Santos vs. Frank Mir (for heavyweight title)-
Ever since Mir knocked out Big Nog in their first meeting he seems to have fell in love with his hands and is more than happy to engage in brawling type exchanges too often. If he chooses to do that in this fight it will be a short night. I see this fight starting bad on the feet for Mir, he will eventually get rocked and search for the takedown. Dos Santos will be able to stuff the takedown and finish Mir in round 1.

Dos Santos via KO round 1

Antonio Silva vs. Cain Velasquez-
Cain will look to get back on the path to get his title back here. Silva poses a threat both standing and on the ground but Cain is skilled enough to hurt Silva on his feet before finishing the fight with ground and pound midway through round 1.

Velasquez via TKO round 1

Dave Herman vs. Roy Nelson-
This is an interesting fight an can truly go either way. If this fight goes to the ground Nelson holds the advantage and if it stays on the feet Herman can take control here. I look for Nelson to rush Herman and try to engage in clinches but Herman will be able to keep his distance in most exchanges en route to a decision victory.

Herman via UD

Shane Del Rosario vs. Stipe Miocic-
The battle of the undefeated. Both prospects have a skill set that is very dangerous for the opposition but I believe that Del Rosario is the more polished of the two. Miocic is typically the benefactor of his opposition getting into slugfests with him, I do not see Del Rosario doing this. Instead Del Rosario will use his striking to set up a takedown and submit Miocic in the 2nd round.

Del Rosario via sub round 2

Lavar Johnson vs. Stefan Struve-
Struve holds a big advantage on the ground but typically he doesn't try to take the fight to the ground at the beginning of the fight. I see these men getting into a slugfest right from the opening bell and Lavar leaving Struve unconscious within the first 2 minutes of the fight.

Johnson via round 1 KO

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)
Diego Brandao vs. Darren Elkins-
This is an interesting fight because Elkins has a skill set that if he can get the fight to the ground it could be a long night from Brandao. That being said Brandao's last fight showed that he has good submission defense in case the fight goes to the ground. I look for Brandao to keep the fight standing and pick apart Elkins in route to a decision victory.

Brandao via UD

Edson Barboza vs. Jamie Varner-
Barboza is a far superior striker and should be able to fend off the takedown attempts from Varner and knock him out in the second round.

Barboza via KO round 2

C.B. Dollaway vs. Jason "Mayhem" Miller-
I have not been impressed with Dollaway since his days on The Ultimate Fighter. In this match his is far outclassed by mayhem and will get dominated in this fight. Mayhem should wear Dollaway down and submit him in round 2.

Mayhem via sub round 2

Dan Hardy vs. Duane "Bang" Ludwig-
This fight has the making of being an all out slugfest. This fight has hardly no chance of hitting the ground and it's pretty much the last man standing will be the victor. I think the Hardy will get the best of the exchanges and be able to put Ludwig away in the 2nd round.

Hardy via KO round 2

PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Paul Sass vs. Jacob Volkmann-
Volkmann will undoubtedly take this fight to the ground and look to control Sass. However Sass will threaten submission after submission and he will eventually sink one in that will force Volkmann to tap.

Sass via sub round 2

Kyle Kingsbury vs. Glover Teixeira-
This fight will be a showcase for Glover and will see him score a quick knockout against the far less superior striker in Kingsbury.

Teixeira via KO round 1

Mike Brown vs. Daniel Pineda-
This should be a close fight but I look to Brown to get his career back on track and edge out a very close decision.

Brown via close decision