Post by Thomas Volkert on Nov 19, 2010 21:59:03 GMT -5
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On Saturday, November 10th, UFC will kick off UFC 123 from The Palace at Auburn Hills, featuring a solid main card and great preliminary fights. The action will start at 9 pm EST as the UFC will give us two free prelims which will be featured on SpikeTV. Aaron "A-Train" Simpson, the former All-American wrestler at Arizona State University, will take on former NCAA National Champion at Oklahoma University, Mark "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" Munoz. The other SpikeTV bout will feature two Welterweights as Matt "The Immortal" Brown looks to get back in the win column against H.I.T Squad fighter Brian "The Foster Boy" Foster.
George Sotiripolous vs Joe Lauzon: George Sotiripolous(G-Sot) will look to continue his rise towards a title shot in the UFC Lightweight Division as he takes on BJJ specialist Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon. The John Will BJJ Black Belt, has won 6 straight times in the Octagon(7 Overall) and has impressed fans with his BJJ, not only in top control, but off his back as well. He showcased his improved striking against Joe Stevenson and out grappled the always solid Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino in his last two outings.
This is will mark Lauzon's ninth fight in the UFC, supporting a 6-2 record inside the Octagon. He came out with a fury in his last fight against the returning Gabe Ruediger in his hometown of Boston, submitting his former Ultimate Fighter housemate in impressive fashion with a 1st Round Armbar.
This fight has all the makings of a great ground battle if it should get there. Both fighters are widely known for their jiu-jitsu and tenacity when they are in a good position on the ground. I give the edge BJJ wise to G-Sot and a slight advantage to J-Lau on the feet. G-Sot is also not against pulling guard as he has a very offensive guard, utilizing good rubber guard to get sweeps set up submission attempts off his back. I think J-Lau will have to keep it standing, while I feel he is solid on the ground, George is very comfortable being on his back and can really work J-Lau and get to top control. Look for G-Sot to get this fight close and J-Lau to the ground to work his very impressive top game and come out on top with a Unanimous decision victory.
Phil Davis vs Tim Boetsch: Tim Boetsch will look to continue to make the most of his UFC return as he takes on rising prospect Phil Davis. The Barbarian, training out of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, is a hard hitting fighter, who is very solid in the wrestling department as well. In his first run in the UFC, Boetsch went 2-2, losing to Matt Hamill, a fight he took on short notice, and a unanimous decision loss to Jason Brilz. He won 3 straight fights outside of the UFC before being brought back and defeating Todd Brown by unanimous decision at UFC 117.
Phil "Mr. Wonderful" Davis has made the most of his time in the UFC, winning 3 straight fights since making his debut at UFC 109 against Brain Stann. The former NCAA National Champion at Penn State, he has transitioned his wrestling well to MMA, showcasing quick takedowns, and improving his submission game with solid guard passes. His striking might be the only question mark with the young Davis, which could come into play against Boetsch.
While The Barbarian is solid wrestler, Davis has the advantage there and the advantage in cardio. Davis is relentless while in top position, very quick and agile. If Davis can defend the takedowns, he can really test the young fighters striking, which I give the advantage to Boetsch. This fight could be close for the first round, with Boetsch shrugging off some takedowns and landing some shots, but Davis does not give up in the attack and will eventually overpower Boetsch and punish him on the ground. Davis will excel in the later rounds, getting the takedowns and working some GnP from inside the guard and passing to a more dominating position. I'll take Davis by 2nd Round TKO, giving him yet another win in his young career.
Gerald Harris vs Maiquel Falcao: Another highly touted prospect will look to continue to impress fans and writers alike as Gerald Harris will try to make it 11 in a row against the debuting Chute Boxer fighter, Falcao. Harris has impressed matchmakers and fans with his wrestling and his vicious Ground and Pound. While showing all around solid skills in his mma career, The Ultimate Fighter season 7 favorite pumped the fans up with a KO via slam in his last outing against BJJ Black Belt Dave Branch.
Falcao comes out to fight, plain and simple. The Chute Box product, "Big Rig" has not seen the 2nd Round in 2 years, with no fight going the distance in over 4 years. He hits with with big power and is always aggressive from the beginning of the fight.
Unless Falcao lands a big punch, look for Harris to get the takedown quickly and utilize his vicious Ground and Pound to earn himself a stoppage. I like Harris via 2nd Round TKO.
Matt Hughes vs BJ Penn: Let the trilogy commence. BJ Penn, after dropping two fights in a row to Frankie Edgar, Penn moves back up to welterweight to continue his war with UFC Hall of Fame member and one of the greatest welterweight champions in UFC History, Matt Hughes. In their last fight, Penn was dominating the fight until gassing, due to an apparent rib injury, but when Penn is on, he's tough to takedown, and his striking will give almost anyone problems. His guard still remains something legendary, tough to pass and tough to work in.
Hughes has sort of revitalized his career, utilizing stand-up to beat Renzo Gracie and knocking down Ricardo Almieda before submitting him. Matt Hughes will have to drag this fight into the later rounds and try and wear down Penn, whose cardio has almost always been a question mark in his career. If Hughes can utilize some jab work, instead of just looking immediately looking for a takedown, he might be able to get one and work from top position, something he has done his entire career.
I think Penn is till dangerous as a fighter and shouldn't be written off. Hughes will have a hard time getting Penn down unless Penn gasses again or Hughes can pull some trickery off. I think Penn's boxing will make the difference, utilizing the jab to keep Hughes off him and setting up everything else off of it. I'll take Penn via Unanimous Decison.
Quinton Jackson vs Lyoto Machida: The Main Event will feature two former Light Heavyweight Champions battling it out for a chance to get back in the title picture, as Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will take on Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida. Jackson hit a stepping stone in his grudge match against Rashad Evans, but will look to rebound from the decision loss. Jackson is a hard hitter, with tight hooks and KO power. His defense is solid and is wrestling is under utilized recently. If there is weakness to Rampage, it's his ability to defend against leg kicks, something both Forrest Griffin and Keith Jardine used to great effect. If you get into a brawling match with Rampage, more then likely you're going to come out on the end, as he can counter effectively and take very little if any damage.
While many have claimed that Machida is boring, his elusive style earned him a UFC championship, and kept him undefeated until running into Shogun. Machida's style is something of his own, taking all disciplines and rolling them into one. His takedown defense is outstanding, and his ability to move in and out of the pocket without taking too many shots is one of his best skills. He has shown solid leg kicks in his fights and will not fall into a brawling match, a style that would favor the hard hitting Rampage.
If Rampage wants to win this fight, he needs to get in close to Lyoto and not let him dance around and pick him apart. Rampage is dangerous in the clinch, utilizing uppercuts and hooks on the way out. If Lyoto can move around, he's dangerous, picking his shots and timing everything without taking damage. It will be interesting to see if Rampage can use his wrestling and put Lyoto on his back. Unless Lyoto makes a mistake and gets careless, he can move around, throw leg kicks to wear Jackson down and pick his shots off anything Rampage throws. I like Lyoto Machida in a unanimous decision victory.
George Sotiripolous vs Joe Lauzon: George Sotiripolous(G-Sot) will look to continue his rise towards a title shot in the UFC Lightweight Division as he takes on BJJ specialist Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon. The John Will BJJ Black Belt, has won 6 straight times in the Octagon(7 Overall) and has impressed fans with his BJJ, not only in top control, but off his back as well. He showcased his improved striking against Joe Stevenson and out grappled the always solid Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino in his last two outings.
This is will mark Lauzon's ninth fight in the UFC, supporting a 6-2 record inside the Octagon. He came out with a fury in his last fight against the returning Gabe Ruediger in his hometown of Boston, submitting his former Ultimate Fighter housemate in impressive fashion with a 1st Round Armbar.
This fight has all the makings of a great ground battle if it should get there. Both fighters are widely known for their jiu-jitsu and tenacity when they are in a good position on the ground. I give the edge BJJ wise to G-Sot and a slight advantage to J-Lau on the feet. G-Sot is also not against pulling guard as he has a very offensive guard, utilizing good rubber guard to get sweeps set up submission attempts off his back. I think J-Lau will have to keep it standing, while I feel he is solid on the ground, George is very comfortable being on his back and can really work J-Lau and get to top control. Look for G-Sot to get this fight close and J-Lau to the ground to work his very impressive top game and come out on top with a Unanimous decision victory.
Phil Davis vs Tim Boetsch: Tim Boetsch will look to continue to make the most of his UFC return as he takes on rising prospect Phil Davis. The Barbarian, training out of Sunbury, Pennsylvania, is a hard hitting fighter, who is very solid in the wrestling department as well. In his first run in the UFC, Boetsch went 2-2, losing to Matt Hamill, a fight he took on short notice, and a unanimous decision loss to Jason Brilz. He won 3 straight fights outside of the UFC before being brought back and defeating Todd Brown by unanimous decision at UFC 117.
Phil "Mr. Wonderful" Davis has made the most of his time in the UFC, winning 3 straight fights since making his debut at UFC 109 against Brain Stann. The former NCAA National Champion at Penn State, he has transitioned his wrestling well to MMA, showcasing quick takedowns, and improving his submission game with solid guard passes. His striking might be the only question mark with the young Davis, which could come into play against Boetsch.
While The Barbarian is solid wrestler, Davis has the advantage there and the advantage in cardio. Davis is relentless while in top position, very quick and agile. If Davis can defend the takedowns, he can really test the young fighters striking, which I give the advantage to Boetsch. This fight could be close for the first round, with Boetsch shrugging off some takedowns and landing some shots, but Davis does not give up in the attack and will eventually overpower Boetsch and punish him on the ground. Davis will excel in the later rounds, getting the takedowns and working some GnP from inside the guard and passing to a more dominating position. I'll take Davis by 2nd Round TKO, giving him yet another win in his young career.
Gerald Harris vs Maiquel Falcao: Another highly touted prospect will look to continue to impress fans and writers alike as Gerald Harris will try to make it 11 in a row against the debuting Chute Boxer fighter, Falcao. Harris has impressed matchmakers and fans with his wrestling and his vicious Ground and Pound. While showing all around solid skills in his mma career, The Ultimate Fighter season 7 favorite pumped the fans up with a KO via slam in his last outing against BJJ Black Belt Dave Branch.
Falcao comes out to fight, plain and simple. The Chute Box product, "Big Rig" has not seen the 2nd Round in 2 years, with no fight going the distance in over 4 years. He hits with with big power and is always aggressive from the beginning of the fight.
Unless Falcao lands a big punch, look for Harris to get the takedown quickly and utilize his vicious Ground and Pound to earn himself a stoppage. I like Harris via 2nd Round TKO.
Matt Hughes vs BJ Penn: Let the trilogy commence. BJ Penn, after dropping two fights in a row to Frankie Edgar, Penn moves back up to welterweight to continue his war with UFC Hall of Fame member and one of the greatest welterweight champions in UFC History, Matt Hughes. In their last fight, Penn was dominating the fight until gassing, due to an apparent rib injury, but when Penn is on, he's tough to takedown, and his striking will give almost anyone problems. His guard still remains something legendary, tough to pass and tough to work in.
Hughes has sort of revitalized his career, utilizing stand-up to beat Renzo Gracie and knocking down Ricardo Almieda before submitting him. Matt Hughes will have to drag this fight into the later rounds and try and wear down Penn, whose cardio has almost always been a question mark in his career. If Hughes can utilize some jab work, instead of just looking immediately looking for a takedown, he might be able to get one and work from top position, something he has done his entire career.
I think Penn is till dangerous as a fighter and shouldn't be written off. Hughes will have a hard time getting Penn down unless Penn gasses again or Hughes can pull some trickery off. I think Penn's boxing will make the difference, utilizing the jab to keep Hughes off him and setting up everything else off of it. I'll take Penn via Unanimous Decison.
Quinton Jackson vs Lyoto Machida: The Main Event will feature two former Light Heavyweight Champions battling it out for a chance to get back in the title picture, as Quinton "Rampage" Jackson will take on Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida. Jackson hit a stepping stone in his grudge match against Rashad Evans, but will look to rebound from the decision loss. Jackson is a hard hitter, with tight hooks and KO power. His defense is solid and is wrestling is under utilized recently. If there is weakness to Rampage, it's his ability to defend against leg kicks, something both Forrest Griffin and Keith Jardine used to great effect. If you get into a brawling match with Rampage, more then likely you're going to come out on the end, as he can counter effectively and take very little if any damage.
While many have claimed that Machida is boring, his elusive style earned him a UFC championship, and kept him undefeated until running into Shogun. Machida's style is something of his own, taking all disciplines and rolling them into one. His takedown defense is outstanding, and his ability to move in and out of the pocket without taking too many shots is one of his best skills. He has shown solid leg kicks in his fights and will not fall into a brawling match, a style that would favor the hard hitting Rampage.
If Rampage wants to win this fight, he needs to get in close to Lyoto and not let him dance around and pick him apart. Rampage is dangerous in the clinch, utilizing uppercuts and hooks on the way out. If Lyoto can move around, he's dangerous, picking his shots and timing everything without taking damage. It will be interesting to see if Rampage can use his wrestling and put Lyoto on his back. Unless Lyoto makes a mistake and gets careless, he can move around, throw leg kicks to wear Jackson down and pick his shots off anything Rampage throws. I like Lyoto Machida in a unanimous decision victory.