Blue will highlight Brits in action, while Red will rep the World.Mirko Cro Cop 22-4-2 vs Gabriel Gonzaga 7-1 Gabe is not a tomato can. This guy is a real ju jitsu specialist whose hands have improved with every fight. His one loss is to Werdum via shocking TKO. Since, he has won 5, and became an all around dangerous fighter. Cro Cop = deadly strikes, we know this. The ground is his weakness, but the aforementioned Werdum (ju jistsu blackbelt), is teaching Mirko and swears he is taking the fight seriously. If he can strike and sprawl, it will be a short and bad night for the slower Gonzaga. Cardio is also a concern for Cro Cop, but not for Gonzaga. In the end, I believe if Cro Cop can beat Josh Barnett 3 times, he can take Gabe. A slow takedown attempt spells death to Napao.
WINNER-Cro Cop by KO
Andrei Arlovski 12-5 vs Fabricio Werdum 9-2-1 Welcome to the UFC Mr. Werdum, I've been hyping you for a while. Werdum, as I said, is a ground master, but with Cro Cop, is improving his stand up skills. Arlovski can knock the shit out of anyone with one punch, but his ground game has never been tested, though he claims sambo experience. If you check their respective records, Werdum has fought far better talent, and has never been stopped in his losses. Really, Arlovski has never been tested, which seems odd since he was once the champ. His losses stem mainly from a soft chin, but it held up fine against the power punching Sylvia in their last meeting. Barring his injury, I think he would've won that fight. Still, with all his athletic ability and powerful hands, he has yet to respond with heart in a war. Werdum will be that test. If Werdum can get to him, he takes this fight, unless, unless, Arlovski's superior conditioning out paces Werdum to a decision win. Or a KO. Or Werdum gets the sub. Or not. I believe Arlovski has soooo many tools, but I want to stress, he hasn't really been tested by upper tier talent. Tough fight to call, and much bigger for Arlovksi's carreer than for Werdum's.
WINNER-Werdum??
Lyoto Machida 9-0 vs David Heath 9-0 Identical records (which will become a theme for this event) meet as these two men bang out a tough fight. Heath took the fight late after Griffin fell out, and nobody else wanted it. People fear the all around skill of Lyoto, who boasts wins over S. Bonnar, R. Franklin, and BJ Penn. A much higher level for Machida, but Heath is tough as nails. When the action stops, Lyoto just has too slick of a game, and out points Heath for the decision win. I'm betting this will be an exciting fight!
WINNER-Machida by decision
Michael Bisping 13-0 vs Elvis Sinosic 8-9-2 Elvis is the gatekeeper for the TUF champs. Here he repeats the role he played for Forrest Griffin when he won TUF and used Elvis as a punching bag. Now TUF winner Mike Bisping will do the same. Elvis is a great, loveable, skilled, tough guy, but look at his record. He's all flash and flavor, but just not that good. Bisping has harder, better strikes than Forrest, and a better ground game. Elvis comes to test, excite, and get laid out for the finale.
WINNER-Bisping by TKO
Cheick Kongo 19-3-1 vs Assuerio Silva 32-4 Silva returns to the UFC, after getting 2 wins outside the US. The formerly highly touted Cheick is coming off a sad loss to jobber Marrero, which exposed his ground game weakness. Silva is good on the ground which leads you to believe he'll win the day. Yet, looking closer at his record, he is susceptible to power strikers (A. Emelianenko, B. Vera, T. Sylvia) which Kongo definately is. Kongo is much faster, and must use his athleticism to stick and move his way to victory. People are already giving up on Cheick but I think he gets the upset win here, trying to erase his last embarrassing loss.
WINNER-Kongo by TKO
Matt Grice 9-0 vs Terry Etim 9-0 Matt is a well rounded wrestler. Etim is a sub master, winning all but 1 of his fights by submission (except the 1 win by KO). The Brit has to take it in his homeland with his uber-slick ground game.
WINNER-Etim by hmmmm, how about submission
Junior Assuncao 5-2 vs David Lee 5-2 Ass last lost to Batman, while Lee last lost to Griffin. Lee is the hometown boy and both like the floor game. David is funny and that earns the pick from me.
WINNER-Lee by decision
Alessio Sakara 14-4 vs Victor Valimaki 8-3 Alessio was much feared before coming to the UFC and going 1-2 & a NC. He's a strong striker, with zero ground game, and is here to draw the Italy fans and finish off his contract. Valimaki will agree to the stand up game but isn't exactly amazing either. As disappointing as Sakara has been as of late, he has to do something in the UFC, and the time is now or never. I can't believe I'm picking this guy again.
WINNER-Sakara by KO
Dennis Siver 10-3 vs Jess Liaudin 10-8 Siver the German is a kickboxer with some Judo. Liaudin is an unorthodox striker, with the hometown, and a puncher's chance.
WINNER-Siver by TKO
Ediberto Crocota 10-0-1 vs Paul Taylor 7-1-1 Paul Tayla is da Brit here mate. Crocota is the Nogueira trained Brazilian ju jitsu man who will be submitting you today.
WINNER-Crocota by submission
Aye, Brits like a good stand up fight, and they'll be gettin' some here (that sounded more pirate like in my head but I'm not deleting it). Damn good card that was originally a PPV until the time for securing a spot ran out. The fans win one and get sally for free! How about that? Expect a rabid crowd, & Bisping puts the final football (soccer) score Brits 3, World 2. The queen mum sheds a victory tear and we all have tea for one gray day.
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