UFC 97 is a damn good card and by far the best event the UFC has put together in 2009. The "Spider" deals with a legit contender, the "Iceman" vs "Shogun" fan favorite match, a great bout between "Rock" and the "Athlete," Denis Kang tries again, a loser leaves town match, and the return of the "Crow" (much deserved I might add).
Main Card
Middleweight Championship bout: Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites The "Spider" is pissed about his last performance against Patrick Cote, and gets a ridiculous reach advantage. The 14-1 fellow Brazilian got here with a wrong Split-Decision win over Nate Marquardt and a RNC sub over journeyman Drew McFedries going 5-1 in the UFC. The ground is his only prayer but Anderson won't be denied, rising to his feet when grounded and putting away a good challenger early.
Middleweight Championship bout: Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites The "Spider" is pissed about his last performance against Patrick Cote, and gets a ridiculous reach advantage. The 14-1 fellow Brazilian got here with a wrong Split-Decision win over Nate Marquardt and a RNC sub over journeyman Drew McFedries going 5-1 in the UFC. The ground is his only prayer but Anderson won't be denied, rising to his feet when grounded and putting away a good challenger early.
WINNER-Anderson Silva by TKO Rd.1
Light Heavyweight bout: Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio Rua The Iceman is best when he faces aggressive fighters who chase him allowing for counter strikes from odd angles and trained mad for Jiu-Jitsu problems he may face. Rua is that aggressive fighter with questionable cardio and the always fragile surgically repaired knees. This is Chuck's last shot at going to the top and he won't let us down as Shogun finds him on the edge of UFC obscurity.
Light Heavyweight bout: Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio Rua The Iceman is best when he faces aggressive fighters who chase him allowing for counter strikes from odd angles and trained mad for Jiu-Jitsu problems he may face. Rua is that aggressive fighter with questionable cardio and the always fragile surgically repaired knees. This is Chuck's last shot at going to the top and he won't let us down as Shogun finds him on the edge of UFC obscurity.
WINNER-The Iceman by TKO Rd.3
Heavyweight bout: Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk Leg kicks be damned, Kongo is given a guy he should dominate on the feet.
Heavyweight bout: Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk Leg kicks be damned, Kongo is given a guy he should dominate on the feet.
WINNER-Cheick Kongo TKO Rd.2
Light Heavyweight bout: Steve Cantwell vs. Luiz Arthur Cane "Banha" is a Brazilian bomber and Cantwell is the arm breaking last WEC Light Heavyweight Champion. I don't think Steve wants to stand with Luiz but he probably will, thus getting himself out struck and hurt.
Light Heavyweight bout: Steve Cantwell vs. Luiz Arthur Cane "Banha" is a Brazilian bomber and Cantwell is the arm breaking last WEC Light Heavyweight Champion. I don't think Steve wants to stand with Luiz but he probably will, thus getting himself out struck and hurt.
WINNER-LAC by TKO Rd.2
Light Heavyweight bout: Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann The Pollack from Team Quest is a personal fav, but Stann is a heavy, heavy handed prospect learning at Xtreme Couture. The experience is all Sos but people don't usually survive more than a round with Bri guy. Whoever imposes their game wins.
Light Heavyweight bout: Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann The Pollack from Team Quest is a personal fav, but Stann is a heavy, heavy handed prospect learning at Xtreme Couture. The experience is all Sos but people don't usually survive more than a round with Bri guy. Whoever imposes their game wins.
WINNER-The Polish Experiment by submission Rd.1
Prelims
Light Heavyweight bout: Eliot Marshall vs. Vinicius Magalhães Eliot wanted this fight a while ago and gets his wish against last season's TUF runner-up. Vinny has a questionable chin and Marshall has some damn good Jiu-Jitsu of his own but not at Magal's level.
Prelims
Light Heavyweight bout: Eliot Marshall vs. Vinicius Magalhães Eliot wanted this fight a while ago and gets his wish against last season's TUF runner-up. Vinny has a questionable chin and Marshall has some damn good Jiu-Jitsu of his own but not at Magal's level.
WINNER-VinMag by submission Rd.1
Middleweight bout: Denis Kang vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam Kang who inexplicably floundered in his UFC debut last time, now faces "Professor X" a better and absolutely frightening fighter with explosive put em away stand up. The Frenchman matches up really well with Kang who has great game but glaring holes in his defense. Kang has to win and will not fuck around taking X to the floor for the G&P and eventual stoppage.
Middleweight bout: Denis Kang vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam Kang who inexplicably floundered in his UFC debut last time, now faces "Professor X" a better and absolutely frightening fighter with explosive put em away stand up. The Frenchman matches up really well with Kang who has great game but glaring holes in his defense. Kang has to win and will not fuck around taking X to the floor for the G&P and eventual stoppage.
WINNER-Denis Kang by submission Rd.2
Middleweight bout: Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry This has to be the "Fight Of The Night" with 2 fighters I really like. Hoping they both do well isn't an issue as they both fight with big hearts every time they step in the Octagon. Jason just has a much better all around game but knows he cannot stay standing with the heavy handed Quarry. On the floor Jason cuts up Nate and attempts many submissions en route to an exciting victory.
Middleweight bout: Jason MacDonald vs. Nate Quarry This has to be the "Fight Of The Night" with 2 fighters I really like. Hoping they both do well isn't an issue as they both fight with big hearts every time they step in the Octagon. Jason just has a much better all around game but knows he cannot stay standing with the heavy handed Quarry. On the floor Jason cuts up Nate and attempts many submissions en route to an exciting victory.
WINNER-Jason MacDonald by decision
Middleweight bout: David Loiseau vs. Ed Herman 3 years for "The Crow" to return to Zuffa's cage, and he's doing it in front of his Canadian comrades. Ed's cardio is questionable but his grappling and submission game are spades above Loiseau. A gritty fight looms but I actually am not going the popular way of the decision and believe Loiseau puts Ed away late with piercing elbows.
Middleweight bout: David Loiseau vs. Ed Herman 3 years for "The Crow" to return to Zuffa's cage, and he's doing it in front of his Canadian comrades. Ed's cardio is questionable but his grappling and submission game are spades above Loiseau. A gritty fight looms but I actually am not going the popular way of the decision and believe Loiseau puts Ed away late with piercing elbows.
WINNER-The Crow by TKO Rd.3
Lightweight bout: Mark Bocek vs. David Bielkheden The ATT ginger vs the Swede in what I see being a ground war. Bocek will out wrestle Dave who see's his UFC dreams slip away.
Lightweight bout: Mark Bocek vs. David Bielkheden The ATT ginger vs the Swede in what I see being a ground war. Bocek will out wrestle Dave who see's his UFC dreams slip away.
WINNER-Ginger Mark by decision
Welterweight bout: Ryo Chonan vs. TJ Grant The "Piranha" has been a dismal 1-2 since heading to America and consistently an inconsistent fighter for some time. Teej and his giant forehead are making their debut in the UFC bringing a rather impressive submission game. Ryo has fought the likes of Paulo Filho, Dan Henderson, "Mach" Sakurai, Carlos Newton, and tapped out Mr. Anderson Silva. If Chonan can get out of his slump early, watch him clinch his way to a decision as he has only been submitted 1 time in 24 fights. If not, there may be a changing of the guard and a pink slip for Ryo.
Welterweight bout: Ryo Chonan vs. TJ Grant The "Piranha" has been a dismal 1-2 since heading to America and consistently an inconsistent fighter for some time. Teej and his giant forehead are making their debut in the UFC bringing a rather impressive submission game. Ryo has fought the likes of Paulo Filho, Dan Henderson, "Mach" Sakurai, Carlos Newton, and tapped out Mr. Anderson Silva. If Chonan can get out of his slump early, watch him clinch his way to a decision as he has only been submitted 1 time in 24 fights. If not, there may be a changing of the guard and a pink slip for Ryo.
WINNER-Ryo Chonan by decision
Lightweight bout: Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman I wouldn't say I'm impressed by Wiman, but at least he has some semblance of a ground game which Sam has never learned, thus allowing Matt who knows better than to stand with an elite striker, to take things to the floor for some old fashioned G&P.
Lightweight bout: Sam Stout vs. Matt Wiman I wouldn't say I'm impressed by Wiman, but at least he has some semblance of a ground game which Sam has never learned, thus allowing Matt who knows better than to stand with an elite striker, to take things to the floor for some old fashioned G&P.
WINNER-Matt Wiman by decision
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