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UFC 107 Preview: A Glance At The Preliminary Fights

I think UFC 107 is a pretty solid card from top to bottom.  Of course, we've already hit you with some quick breakdowns of all the fights on the main card.  What I'd like to do now is give a quick synopsis of each preliminary fight at UFC 107.  There should be some pretty good fights that come from the under card, so hopefully some of them will make the live broadcast since we won't be treated to some of them on Spike TV like in events past.

  • Alan Belcher vs. Wilson Gouveia-This should be a good fight here in that both fighters are well rounded.  Belcher is a striker at heart and put on a great performance at Akiyama at UFC 100.  Gouveia has some devastating leg kicks, and is also good on the ground when he decides to use that avenue.  Gouveia tends to gas in some of his fights though, so that may be something that Belcher will be able to capitalize on.  This fight could make the live broadcast.

 

Star-divide

  • Matt Wiman vs. Shane Nelson-Both fighters are TUF alum.  Wiman is pretty well rounded, but is coming off back to back losses for the first time in his career.  It could be a must win situation for him.  Nelson is a purple belt under BJ Penn, but he does have some striking ability as well.  Nelson got ran through by Aaron Riley in his last fight, as he couldn't keep up with the pressure Riley applied.  This could turn out to be a nice little scrap.
  • Johny Hendricks vs. Ricardo Funch-This is a battle of the undefeated fighters.  Hendricks is a very good wrestler with heavy hands.  Funch trains out of Team Link with Gabriel Gonzaga and is a purple belt in BJJ.  Funch hasn't faced anyone with the level of wrestling that Hendricks possesses though.  Hendricks does get kind of reckless standing though.  I expect Hendricks to take this one to the house coming off the TKO win over Amir Sadollah.
  • Rousimar Palhares vs. Lucio Linhares-We know that Palahares is a beast on the ground.  He's coming off a very long layoff due to injury.  However, Linhares is a 2nd degree blackbelt in BJJ as well.  So I definitely expect to see some ground action in this one.  Linhares is much taller than Palhares, so it'll be interesting to see the contrast and if Linhares can handle the power grappling game of Palhares. 
  • DeMarques Johnson vs. Edgar Garcia-I don't know much about Garcia other than he has a wrestling background, an Arizona HS champion.  He's coming off a decision loss against Brad Blackburn at the TUF 9 Finale.  Johnson was the favorite to win the TUF 9 show, but lost in the finals to James Wilks.  Johnson is versed in submissions, training under Jeremy Horn and Carlos Machado.  He also has some striking skills as well.  So he should be able to take care of business where ever this fight goes.
  • Kevin Burns vs. TJ Grant-These guys remind me of one another a lot.  Both guys are scrappy and do what it takes to win a fight.  Grant is a brown belt in BJJ of Jorge Gurgel, and Burns has a decent ground game as well.  Burns may have the edge striking, while Grant may be the better wrestler.  Sounds like a good fight to start the card with. 

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Kevin Burns vs. T.J. Grant

Both coming off losses this is probably a loser-leaves-town affair. Burns has good hands and decent everything else while Grant is a relentless BJJ-player. It could end via submission in favor of Grant but I’m more inclined to believe Kevin Burns has a good enough hustle on the ground to grab a decision.

Damarques Johnson vs. Edgar Garcia

Damarques has alot of talent but unfortunately a weak chin. Garcia is a bad match-up for him as he has some power in those hands and probably good enough takedown defense to keep this one standing. Garcia via TKO round 1.

Rousimar Palhares vs. Lucio Linhares

Don’t know much about Linhares, but I hear his forté is BJJ and that his striking is nothing to cheer about. Palhares is built like an outhouse with stifling top-control and solid chin, so I think he grinds this one out. Palhares via decision

Johny Hendricks vs. Ricardo Funch

I’ve only read scouting reports on Funch – I hear his BJJ is quite good, but that his hands are average and his takedown ability mediocre at best which would spell doom against a wrestler with a nasty uppercut from the clinch and the ability to dictate where this fight is going to take place. Hendricks via TKO round 1

Matt Wiman vs. Shane Nelson

Shane Nelson has a decent skillset but seems to be physically unable to impose his will on opponents. Wiman has pretty decent hands and decent wrestling and I think it will be enough to let him beat on Shane for 3 rounds. Wiman via decision

Wilson Gouveia vs. Alan Belcher

Gouveia might dominate early with the power in his hands and his BJJ, but Belcher is gritty as hell and known to be able to take quite a bit of punishment. Gouviea takes round 1 but tires and loses round 2 and 3. Belcher via decision

Bloody hell.

by 3PA on Dec 10, 2009 7:03 PM EST reply actions   0 recs

good stuff 3PA…hopefully we get to see 3 of these or so

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by Kelvin Hunt on Dec 10, 2009 9:45 PM EST via mobile up reply actions   0 recs

Still can’t believe Belcher/Gouveia isn’t on the main card – Belcher was given a main card spot at UFC 100 and lost a decision where many thought he got robbed with over a million people watching him and if you pair him up with Gouveia, who is at least somewhat recognizable, you KNOW the fight is going to be dopesauce stylistically.

Bloody hell.

by 3PA on Dec 10, 2009 10:26 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

lol

damn u…

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by Kelvin Hunt on Dec 10, 2009 10:52 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

:)

All in good fun

by Shaun32887 on Dec 11, 2009 1:21 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Nah

thanks for catching that..

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by Kelvin Hunt on Dec 10, 2009 10:53 PM EST up reply actions   0 recs

Shane Nelson is small for the weight and Wiman should smash him. Johny Hendricks vs. Ricardo Funch seems a lot like the Kos vs Thaigo fight. Rousimar Palhares vs. Lucio Linhares Is a GREAT fight. I like Linhares because he has a decent striking game. Edgar Garcia is going to run over DeMarques Johnson. TJ Grant is going to live up to his potential and beat Kevin Burns.

by EVeezy on Dec 11, 2009 10:17 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

hendricks by devastating stoppage. that guy has reaaaally impressed me going back to his WEC days

Gatti. Dekkers. Pele. Aoki. Kang. Vanderlei. Basillio. Harry Greb.

by theworldsoldestsport on Dec 11, 2009 11:21 AM EST reply actions   0 recs

He really needed the seasoning the WEC gave him. When he fought Serdyukov he really took a lot of punishment. So I want to see him shore up his defensive striking in this fight.

by EVeezy on Dec 11, 2009 11:49 AM EST up reply actions   0 recs

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