| Brock Larson Vs. Chris Wilson | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 "The Professor" |
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Kelvin Hunt-Wilson is tough as hell, but so is Larson. Plus Larson is the better wrestler. Ultimately this fight will end up on the ground where Larson will grind out a decision or submit Wilson late in the fight. Larson via Decision
Charles Walker- Larson via TKO in round 3
Rich Wyatt-Larson defeats Wilson by knockout in the 2nd
Matt Bishop-This is going to be a great battle. Against “mid-card” competition, Larson is a beast. I’d place Wilson above “mid-card” status, so Larson loses some of his edge. However, Wilson has been going through a tough time personally lately and being off your game against a guy like Larson is not a desirable place to be. I think Larson outworks Wilson for a unanimous decision win.
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| Pat Barry Vs. Tim Hague | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 "HD" |
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 "The Thrashing Machine" |
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Kelvin Hunt-Barry via TKO Rd 1
Charles Walker- Barry chops down Hague in Round 1 via TKO
Rich Wyatt-Barry defeats Hague by knockout in the 2nd
Matt Bishop-Patrick Barry is a rising heavyweight prospect. He made a great first impression in his Octagon debut, winning by leg kicks TKO. That’s a heckuva debut to make. Hague has some accolades outside the UFC, but the combination of Barry and the dreaded Octagon jitters mean Barry will take a first round TKO win.
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| Phillipe Nover Vs. Kyle Bradley | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 "The Filipino Assassin" |
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Kelvin Hunt-Nover via Submission in Rd. 2
Charles Walker- They do Bradley wrong, with that I'm taking Phillipe Nover via TKO in early round 2
Rich Wyatt-Nover defeats Bradley by submission in the 1st
*My boy Phillipe is one of my favorite young UFC fighters. I think Kyle has an ass beatin' coming.
Matt Bishop-Kyle Bradley is 0-2 in the UFC and is getting a third fight. Why, you ask? To be cannon fodder for TUF8 star Phillipe Nover. Bradley brings a decent stand-up game to the battle, but Nover will have no problem dispatching early in the first half of the fight.
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| Krzysztof Soszynski Vs. Andre Gusmao | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 "The Polish Experiment" |
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Kelvin Hunt-It's been a while since Gusmao last fought, and Soszynski is coming in on short notice after winning at UFC 97. Can he peak again? I'm go with Gusmao wins via Decision
Charles Walker- I'll go with the upset here and pick Soszynski via Decision
Rich Wyatt-Gusmao defeats Soszynski by decision
Matt Bishop-If Soszynski can get this to the ground, it’s his fight to lose. However, he’s had a propensity to be knocked out in the past. If Gusmao can keep it on the feet, he has a chance. But in the end, I think Soszynski will get it to the ground and win by submission in the first round.
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| Yoshiyuki Yoshida Vs. Brandon Wolff | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 "Zenko" |
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Kelvin Hunt-Yoshida is going to take Wolff down and GnP him out. TKO Rd. 2
Charles Walker- Yoshida slices up Wolff's forehead and gets a TKO win in Round 2
Rich Wyatt-Yoshida defeats Wolff by submission in the 2nd
Matt Bishop-Yoshida should have no trouble with Wolff, who will get his walking papers after Yoshida submits him in the second round.
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| Dave Kaplan Vs. George Roop | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 "Diamond" |
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Kelvin Hunt-Why is this fight on a PPV event? Roop Via Decision
Charles Walker- I got Kaplan via decision
Rich Wyatt-Roop defeats Kaplan by decision
Matt Bishop-This could possibly be the worst fight in UFC history. Kaplan is 2-2 in his career and these guys are a combined 0-2 inside the Octagon. This fight serves one purpose: the loser gets cut. Roop by decision.
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| Rashad Evans Vs. Lyoto Machida | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 "Suga" |
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 "The Dragon" |
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Kelvin Hunt-I think Rashad has more tools to win this fight. He performs well in the underdawg role and I don't see this one being any different. I think Rashad stops Machida in the 3rd round via TKO.
Charles Walker- Kenny Florian brought up a good point that I was thinking about when trying to decide how Rashad would even have a chance and that's that Machida holds his hands low and chin out. That being said, Rashad's very quick to the punch and throws in combinations, which means even if he misses a swing he could connect with the following, and we all know he hits hard. With that said, Machida's feints are going to something to watch, how far will they throw off Rashad or will they at all? That's the million dollar question and I think that Machida keeps the distance and accumulates points for a few rounds, but Rashad times a bomb and catches Lyoto flush, leaving him dreaming. I think it'll happen early 4th round.
Rich Wyatt-I'm personally going for Rashad here. I've believed in him since he fought in the finals of TUF season 2. I just see this fight being a close, strategic encounter that Machida takes by a razor-thin margin.
Machida defeats Evans by decision
Matt Bishop-I could write a thesis on how excited I am for this fight, but I’ll keep it condensed for here. This fight will come down to whether or not Greg Jackson has crafted a good gameplan for Evans or not. Rashad needs to get back to using his wrestling and absolutely cannot use the entire first round as a feeling-out process. He cannot afford to give up rounds in a fight that has a high probability of going to decision. Machida is going to do what he does. I don’t expect anything new from him. But Evans has always shown us something new in his fights. If pressed to pick a winner here, I’m going to have to go with my boy Rashad to win by decision. Since neither of these guys have been finished, I can’t envision a finish that way. Whatever the case, this will be a fight for the ages.
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| Matt Hughes Vs. Matt Serra | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 "The Terror" |
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Kelvin Hunt-Hughes via decision...Serra is pretty difficult to finish...and I don't see him stopping Hughes from taking him down. I don't see Serra subbing Hughes...personally I'm rooting for Serra though.
Charles Walker- Watching Countdown, I want Serra to win because I think he still has something for the welterweight division, but it ain't gonna happen, unless Hughes' knees just give out completely he'll take Serra down and keep him there for three rounds.
Rich Wyatt-Hughes defeats Serra by knockout in the 2nd
*Hughes is a shell of his former self. Like all great athletes he's seen his skills wane. I just still can't help but seeing him get this 'W'. In fact, I still think he has it in him to be 75% of the world's welterweights. It's a testament to how badass he was in his prime that he can still do his thing even after all the mileage he's got on him.
Matt Bishop-Call me old timey, but I want to see Hughes win this one for the old-times sake. Matt Serra never done anything impressive in the UFC outside of one series of punches. Outside of a fluke punch, he’s not going to win this fight. His jiu-jitsu has seemingly never translated to MMA and he could stop a takedown against GSP. Hughes will take Serra down at will en route to a late stoppage or easy decision win. I have no love for Serra in this one.
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| Drew McFedries Vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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 "The Massacre" |
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 "The Professor X" |
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Kelvin Hunt-Fopa-Pokam via Submission Rd. 2
Charles Walker- Foupa-Pokam via submission in Round 1, as soon as he gets hit, he'll take him down and it's a wrap!
Rich Wyatt-Xavier Foupa-Pokam defeats Drew McFedries by knockout in the 3rd
Matt Bishop-If this one stays on the feet, McFedries and his insane knockout power have a chance to do somethings. But I think “Professor X” is too smart to stay on the feet with McFedries too long. Once he tastes McFedries’ power, he’ll take it to the ground rather quickly and finish it there.
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| Dan Miller Vs. Chael Sonnen | ||||||||||||||||||||||
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Kelvin Hunt-Dan Miller via Submission in Rd. 2 Sonnen is a good wrestler, but that sub defense is very suspect. Miller is well versed there. This fight will goto the ground at some point.
Charles Walker- Miller via 3rd Round submission
Rich Wyatt-Dan Miller defeats Chael Sonnen by decision
Matt Bishop-This will be your typical mid-level Team Quest vs. submission fighter fight. Sonnen will get the takedown but will be foiled by his oldest enemy — the triangle choke — in the first round. Miller Bros. taking over.
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| Sean Sherk Vs. Frank Edgar | |||||||||||||||||||||
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 "Muscle Shark" |
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 "The Answer" |
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Kelvin Hunt-Sean Sherk via decision
Charles Walker- Sherk via decision
Rich Wyatt-Sean Sherk defeats Frankie Edgar by decision
Matt Bishop-Is anyone expecting anything other than a 30-27 win for Sherk? I like “The Answer”, but Sherk is a level above at this point. Edgar needs to put Sherk on his back to have any success in this fight.
Don't forget to join us here at MMA4Real tomorrow night during our Live Commentary thread. We'll be here beginning with the PPV portion of the event starting at 10PM EST. You still have time to join the MMA4Real UFC 98 Fantasy League...so go ahead and get your picks in!
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