UFC 88: Chuck Liddell vs Rashad Evans

Main Card
Light Heavyweight Bout: Chuck Liddell vs. Rashad Evans "The Iceman" sours "Sugar" sooner rather than later. This is all about survival for Rashad. I don't buy into the "Evans has improved stand up and will war with Liddell." Even if it were true, and I doubt it, smart money is not scrapping at Chuck's strong suit. Sprawl and brawl all night as Rashad continually tries to takedown Liddell, which leads to frustration, possibly gassing out, and eventually a KO by the former Champ.

WINNER-Chuck by flying armbar

Light Heavyweight Bout: Rich Franklin vs. Matt Hamill "Ace" steps back in against the deaf blue chipper who has the same idea as Rashad. Rich will have the same game as Chuck. Same bout, possibly different result. Hamill has just relentlessly good takedowns and from there we know he can win the fight. The question to me, is how much damage can Rich do in the process of defending, and given the time, Matt is one to gas out something Franklin never does. This is going to be a close one but I'm rooting for Rich's smarts to keep him in the game until the right opportunity comes for some stellar striking from the outside. Scary fight to pick though and I'm a biased homer for Franklin. (*Also note, Franklin is back at Light Heavyweight!)

WINNER-Rich by Boston crab

Middleweight Bout: Dan Henderson vs. Rousimar Palhares Holy crap this has upset written all over it. The 37 year old future hall of famer comes in after 2 straight losses to Quinton Jackson and Anderson Silva respectively. No shame there but a win is definitely needed. Rousimar is a BTT member with sick/slick Jui-Jitsu and though a little fire hydrant of a guy, he is tank solid and can really takedown anyone and then they are screwed. However, this is a major jump up in talent he is facing and Hendo has seen it all. I see "Hollywood" surprised early, but then recovering to take care of business late.

WINNER-Hendo (but I have this weird feeling he is going to lose)

Middleweight Bout: Nate Marquardt vs. Martin Kampmann This is a great "Fight Of The Night" candidate. Kampmann has won 4 straight in the octagon and is a straight technician. Marquardt is also good everywhere and if he loses here he is out of the Middleweight title scene. Wicked luck to pick this but, Marquardt is much larger and talk says Martin may move down to Welterweight after this fight as he is very light for the division. Nate could fight 205 if he desired. Size is the only edge.

WINNER-Nate "The Great"

Welterweight Bout: Matt Brown vs. Dong Hyun Kim If you want to pimp up a TUF graduate this is not the way to do it. Matt Brown can box and has power, that's it. Kim can wrestle and G&P which is the huge flaw in Brown's game. South Korea represent as the Donger whips Matt butt good (get it).

WINNER-Kim by wind break

Preliminary Card
Middleweight Bout: Jason MacDonald vs. Jason Lambert Oooh, another sleeper/great fight. People aren't looking at this one but I am a fan of both men. Lambert is trying his hand at the 185 division for the 1st time after coming of Light Heavyweight losses to Gouveia and Cane. Lambert has power and can stomp you on the ground, but lacks the reach with the technically sound MacDonald who is also coming off a spirited loss to Demian Maia. MacDonald slick as they come on the ground, may want to use his length for once, striking and throwing those knobby elbows if he can avoid Lamberts KO power.

WINNER-MacDonald by points

Light Heavyweight Bout: Tim Boetsch vs. Mike Patt Patt comes in on short notice and looking well, not so good shape see I. The "Barbarian" impresses me though he lost his last bout, he came in on short notice and hung with Matt Hamill for a time. Rested and prepared, Mike is TKO'd.

WINNER-The Barbarian by clubbing

Welterweight Bout: Roan Carneiro vs. Ryo Chonan Rematch with bad intentions. These fellas don't like each other much after Chonan won the 1st meeting by cut in 2005 in Japans DEEP promotion. The loss didn't sit well with Roan and he's back to finish the fight he was winning 3 years ago. The ATT kid is better all around if his cardio holds up, he avenges the earlier loss by submission.

WINNER-"Jucao" by drop toe hold

Lightweight Bout: Thiago Tavares vs. Kurt Pellegrino How is this fight not on the main card over Brown/Kim?? Anywho, 2 great and exciting as hell Lightweights are going to war with some of the best all around skills in the division. Tavares had a date with the belt before letting his guard down and being KO'd by the suddenly overachieving Matt Wiman. Nathan Diaz pulled off an upset over Kurt in his last bout when he just seemingly gave Nate the triangle choke (it was odd). "Batman" can go everywhere but so can Tavares only a little stronger. The question is which Tavares shows up? The guy who took Tyson Griffin to the test and beat the pants off of Jason Black, or the guy who yawned through Omigawa and got caught by the lesser TUF alumni? Show up as the Brazilian Bad Ass you can be or don't come at all as people are already calling you Vitor Belfort in a not so flattering way.

WINNER-Tavares but if he loses I'm not picking him again

Karo Parisyan vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida is postponed as Karo has injured his back. This would have been a great judo vs judo match. Me has to wonder if this is perhaps a cover up. Parisyan recently revealed he is suffering from "panic attacks" and is now on medication for the ailment. Either way, here's hoping for a speedy recovery for the "Heat" who I always enjoy watching compete.

That's the pretty good card actually, and you can expect a heavy dose of the returned prodigal son Randy Couture tonight on the telecast as well. I like the pretty lights.