UFC 102: MMA4Real Staff Predictions

Charles Walker-Something tells me Randy's going to win this.  Even though I'm pretty sure the lazy looking tired Big Nog we saw in December won't show up Saturday, I don't think he has enough in the gas tank to best Couture.  That's really crazy seeing as how Couture's closing in on 50!!!  Couture via decision.

Rich Wyatt-I'm in the minority that think that "Minotauro" is going to find a way to win on Saturday night. He looked terrible in his last fight, but I just think that somehow, some way, he's pulling this one out over his 46 year old opponent. We shall see. Nogueira over Couture by decision.

Kelvin Hunt-I see Couture winning a decision.  I think he'll take it to the ground if Nog is outboxing him, and I think he's savvy enough on the ground to avoid getting submitted.

Matt Bishop-Oh boy. The prospect of this fight just 18 months ago had me shaking in my boots. I love both of these guys and hate seeing the road their careers are going down, especially Nogueira, who could be MMA's first sad story if he keeps taking beatings. If Nogueira goes down in bad fashion again here, he needs to retire, plain and simple. I think Couture still has a lot in the tank, but he'd get overpowered by the new breed of UFC heavyweights. This is going to be a good baseline fight for these two to see where their careers stand. Five years ago, Nogueira probably wins this fight easy. These days, it's probably not going to happen. If Nogueira's chin is really as shot as the Mir fight suggests it was, then Couture possesses the skills to finish the job. If not, he can stay out of Nogueira's submissions and work his game and pick up a decision win. Nogueira cannot look bad here. If he does, his career has to be over and Dana White cannot give him another
fight, nor should any other promoter.

Charles Walker-Silva is a beast but I just think Jardine's been in there with better opponents and unless he totally just goes full brawl style and gets clipped, he's the more unique fighter and has the stamina to go a few rounds unlike Silva.  I think the first few minutes will be very telling though but I still see Jardine taking him out via TKO in early round 2.

Rich Wyatt-I see Jardine working his kicks effectively and wearing down Silva over the three rounds. Jardine by decision

Kelvin Hunt-i think Jardine is going to work Silva over.  Silva has shown that he can get rocked pretty easily and Jardine packs a punch and some devastating kicks.  I'm say Jardine via TKO in the 2nd.

Matt Bishop-Here you have two fighters who lost their last fight. This will come down to one thing: Can Jardine survive Silva's early onslaught? We've seen Jardine get blitzed on several occasions and Silva can certainly blitz. But Silva hasn't exhibited the would's best chin, either, so if Jardine can survive early, he can put some pressure on Silva standing, using his leg kicks and awkward strikes to do some damage. But if this one doesn't end early, it's probably going to decision. Jardine by decision.

Charles Walker-Rosholt should win, but for some reason I think he'll take a big shot from Leben and go down in a heap, if not, prepare for 3 very boring rounds of wrestling.

Rich Wyatt-Rosholt over Leben by decision

Kelvin Hunt-If Rosholt stands and bangs..he'll get KTFO.  However, I think he'll use his wrestling to put Leben down and win a decision.  Leben can't stop a take down for nothing.

Matt Bishop-If Rosholt shows the type of striking defense he did against Nissen Osterneck, he is going to be in for a long, hard night. If Rosholt can get Leben to the ground, he can certainly grind out a decision win. However, I cannot state how bad his striking defense was against Osterneck. If that hasn't come around, he's going down and he's going down hard. And probably in the first round.

Charles Walker-The real main event of the show, I'm really excited about this one.  I think, however, people are overlooking just how good Nate Marquardt is...I mean other than the Anderson Silva fight, he's basically been in very little danger in his time in UFC (even in the Leites fight, though he got dropped briefly).  Maia struggled a bit with Jason MacDonald but has pretty much been too much for all of his opponents.  I just don't think Marquardt is dumb enough to fall into any of Maia's traps and has a good enough offense to keep Maia off balance en route to a unanimous decision.

Rich Wyatt-Maia over Marquardt by Submission in the 3rd.

Kelvin Hunt-Call me crazy...but I don't see Maia winning this one.  I think Nate is too well rounded and too strong for Maia.  I think Marquardt takes a easy decision win.

Matt Bishop-While Jardine/Silva is the co-main event in terms of promotion, the real co-main event in this fight. This is very interesting. Marquardt has been an interesting case since losing to Anderson Silva. He's completely reinvented his game, becoming a much more aggressive fighter, which has led to impressive results. However, Maia is the type of fighter who can capitalize on a small mistake because his jiu-jitsu is so far ahead of everyone else. Marquardt needs to be paitent while Maia needs to get this fight to the ground. The ground game is Maia's bread and butter and if he, like Rosholt, decides to stand, it's going to be to his disadvantage. This will be a great, dynamic fight that I see Maia winning by decision.

Rich Wyatt-Duffee over Hague by TKO in the 2nd

Kelvin Hunt-Duffee via TKO Rd. 2

Matt Bishop-Duffee via TKO, round two.