UFC 75 Title Unification

UFC 75, "Champion vs Champion" is a truly an historic MMA event as the Pride Lightweight Champion will face the UFC Lightweight Champion for an undisputed Light Heavyweight Champion of the world! The live fights will be Saturday morning, so I'm doing my picks now before I catch the free replay Saturday night on Spike TV.

Quinton "Rampage" Jackson UFC Light Heavyweight Champion vs Dan "Hollywood" Henderson Pride FC Light Heavyweight Champion Oooh, this will be a goody. Dan is actually fighting out of his normal weight class as he is a natural Middleweight, but that has never stopped him before. He took the higher weight class title by KOing Wanderlei Silva in their rematch while already holding the Pride FC Middleweight title. If you check Dan's record, he has only lost once to a Middleweight (in a fight he didn't train for and cared little about losing the decision) and every other loss has come from Light Heavyweights or Heavyweights. Size does not matter to Henderson and his devastating right hand. Rampage only seems to lose to guys who come at him non-stop and force a high tempo pace, but he has improved so much over recent years he now has an all around game very similar to Dan's. So how do you pick a winner?

Henderson is the type of guy who will not stop coming and testing your cardio while striking and using his superb wrestling skills. Rampage is no slouch on the mat, and his hands are very heavy, ask Chuck. If Quinton cannot catch Hendo (who has a strong chin) with one of those KO blows, I think Dan can outwork him to win rounds. Though Jackson should be in amazing shape, he has had wind problems and Henderson never will. Jackson has admitted to getting nervous before big fights, while Dan has seen it all and nothing fazes him. I look for Dan to survive early, win some rounds, and frustrate Jackson into making mistakes into the later rounds where he begins to pull away for the victory.
WINNER-Dan Henderson by decision (upset pick)

Mirko Cro Cop vs Cheick Kongo We all saw Cro Cop get Cro Cop'd by Gonzaga, but Mirko has been living ever since and he is pissed. Sure he underestimated the cage, elbows, and Gabe, but he has rectified all those situations, and an angry Cro Cop, is the best Cro Cop. Kongo is a striking beast of a man, but he doesn't have the resume, and Mirko has dealt with bigger men before (i.e. KO of Aleksander). Its a striker's war and whomever lands first will probably win. Still, you just have to pick Cro Cop with all he has done against the inexperienced Kongo.
WINNER-Cro Cop by TKO

Michael "The Count" Bisping vs Matt "What?" Hamill The true TUF 3 finale, finally happens. It would've happened before if Matt had not gotten hurt and was unable to compete in the TUF finals. Now they meet in Mike's homeland after both have had 2 successful bouts in the UFC. The Count to me just has far too many weapons as long as the hometown pressure doesn't burn him out like it almost did last time against Elvis Sinosic (who is a great fighter and person by the way). Matt has wrestling skills for days, but doesn't like to get hit, a Bisping specialty, and can't strike worth a damn. Mike can also roll on the mat and get to his feet quickly Ala a Chuck Liddell. I hoope Matt tas is telf weady for war, tas Mik is doing to bwing it.
WINNNER-Bisping via TKO

Marcus "Irish Hand Grenade" Davis vs Paul Taylor Our 2nd striker's war. Both men love to throw and Taylor is the hometown England hero, but Marcus will have some Irish natives in the house as well. Davis has heavier hands and has developed on the ground where I really haven't seen Taylor go. I'll take the fellow Irishman on his heritage alone.
WINNER-Davis by TKO

Houston Alexander vs Alessio Sakara Striker war #3. Neither man does anything else so let the hands go. However, Jardine has just woken up from the beating Alex gave him which was one of the worst I have seen in years, and Sakara has been nothing but inconsistent in his UFC career. I smell another win for the hungry man from the planet Houston.
WINNER-Alexander by KO

Gleison Tibau vs Terry Etim England's own (I'm seeing a trend here) Etim survived an early scare in his last UFC fight to get an impressive sub win and continue his perfect record. Gleison doesn't take punches well, and Terry will be handing them out rapidly with his long, lanky, kickboxer frame. Tibau's only chance is on the ground but the guy really doesn't impress me much.
WINNER-Etim by TKO

Thiago Silva vs Tomasz Drwal Seriously, I spelled Drwal's name correctly, that's what it is. Z German iz very imprezzive but he iz fazing the Chute Boxe rizing star, z undefeated Thiago. This fight could go either way with both men being very good and evenly matched. I'm just picking my favorite.
WINNER-Silva by decision

Anthony Torres vs Jess Liaudin Jess is a gamer and fighting at home, but Torres is more well rounded and should get the win here. Either way I don't care.
WINNER-Torres by decision

This is a great card and its free people! This is much better than the next UFC offering so enjoy it now. England fans are insane, enjoy the buffet. I like italics today.