UFC 106 Ortiz & Griffin 2 Predictions

UFC 106: NOVEMBER 21, 2009
Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada

PPV Bouts:
Forrest Griffin (16-6) vs. Tito Ortiz (15-6-1) The Rematch to save a PPV is on! Since we last saw these two fellas brawl, Tito beat a shell of a man in Ken Shamrock (twice), went to a Draw with Rashad Evans, and lost to Chuck Liddell (again) and Lyoto Machida. Griffin has been embarrassed by Keith Jardine, Rashad Evans, and Anderson Silva, as well as getting quite good wins against "Shogun" Rua and "Rampage" Jackson, the latter of which earned him a cup of tea with the Light Heavyweight title. Consider the ring rust for Frito as he has been sidelined for 18 months with a back injury he swears is fixed and brought him into his prime. I'm not buying into the talk Ortiz is using to hype himself up and like Forrest in almost every aspect of the game. Griffin brings the energy, desire, and all around game that is vastly superior to Ortiz and his 1 trick pony take em down for the G&P. Get in the trenches and grind it out to a rough but consensus decision.
WINENR-Forrest Griffin by, oh, I already said.
Josh Koscheck (13-4) vs. Anthony Johnson (8-2) Now this is a tasty bout that puts one of these young guns in the running for the Welterweight title in the future. "Kos" has looked stellar in the UFC except for a TKO loss stumble to Paulo Thiago. Josh has also been topped by GSP and Thiago Alves via decision but I only believe those bouts served to make him better. "Rumble" is the hot prospect of the day after starching Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Tony has only lost to Rich Clementi by RNC and has gone 5-1 over all in the UFC (I'm not counting the 1st bout with Kevin Burns and the dreaded eye poke that the athletic commission should have overturned to at least a NC). Both have guns but Johnson's are stronger. Both have wrestling but Koscheck's is better. Granted everyone is in love with girlfriend beating Johnson and his highlight reel finishes, but he is not the technically better striker and a smart Josh could at the least blanket Tony long enough to get the decision. I like Koscheck to do better than that but he must stay focused and not make the cocky mistake that cost him so dearly against Paulo.
WINNER-Josh Koscheck by Decision
Dustin Hazelett (12-4) vs Karo Parisyan (18-5) What had the possibility of being a real interesting fight, has been replaced with the "Heat" pulling out of the fight just 1 day before the entire roster's press conference because he cannot stop abusing pain killers. Parisyan also had his last bout against Dong Hyun Kim overturned because of painkillers in his drug test. It would be Karo's 2nd, last second retreat from the UFC (the last being caused by "anxiety") but it will be his last. Dana White took no time in unceremoniously bouncing the fighter from the roster with no shortage of harsh words. The question now is whether Parisyan can rebound from this setback in another MMA company, or will he continue his fall from grace much like Drew Fickett. Hazelett will be paid his entire purse and will hopefully return soon on a future UFC show.
Paulo Thiago (11-1) vs. Jacob Volkmann (9-0) "Elephant Ears" comes in from the deep end of the Welterweight pool and a workman decision loss to perennial #2 guy Jon Fitch. Jacob whose nickname is "Christmas" (wtf??) looks like the most normal average ever day white guy you have ever seen. Yet, Jacob will go hold for hold with Thiago in the Jiu-Jitsu department and according to the hype and his grotesque ears, has insane division I wrestling. It may not be exciting, but watch out for the undefeated new guy to make his UFC debut a successful one.
WINNER-Volkmann by Decision
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (17-3) vs. Luis Arthur Cane (10-1) "Lil Nog" makes his debut with the UFC while "Banha" is looking for that "big name" win that would get him some deserved respect in the Light Heavyweight division. "Minotoro" has met some of the best in the world in his MMA career, but I have never been in love with his boxing which I think he will employ against ATT standout standup striking Arthur. Cane can toss elbows and knee's as well as the boxing skills and I think will have a higher gear in the fight. Sprawl and brawl is a must for Luis but expect a razor's edge decision either way.
WINNER-Luis Cane by Split-Decision
Amir Sadollah (1-1) vs. Phil Baroni (13-11) Really? Zuffa brought back the "NYBA?" Really!? Gee, how could this fight possibly go? Baroni comes out like a man possessed, gasses in a minute, and then gives up. Hmmm, we've only seen that a hundred times. Amir is going to use his length to keep Phil at bay before either subbing him or practicing a little boxing until the final bell.
WINNER-Amir Sadollah by Decision

Prelims:
*Free Bout On Spike TV* Ben Saunders (7-1-2) vs. Marcus Davis (16-5) "Killa-B" talked the talk, and then got bitch slapped against the cage by the recently fallen Mike Swick. "The Irish Hand Grenade" repeatedly ran into the elbows of #1 Welterweight contender Dan Hardy who turned his face into the character from the Cher debacle, Mask. I love both of these guys but Ben isn't going to have much success even with his ridiculous reach advantage. Davis has better hands, better wrestling, and stronger submissions. I don't expect this to be a good outing for Davis either as a victory here doesn't do a whole lot for his title hopes.
WINNER-The Celtic Warrior by Decision
*Free Bout On Spike TV* Kendall Grove (10-6) vs. Jake Rosholt (6-1) In the battle of the arrogant pricks, Grove brings his glass jaw and eye sore lanky limbs into the fray with Jake the wrestler smother from Xtreme Couture who wears the gaudy shark tooth necklace. If, and I say if, Jake has any sort of cardio which he has lacked in the past, he should steamroll "Da Spyder" into da mat. Obviously, if his awkward striking finds his way to "Da Spyder's" chin, da fight is ova!
WINNER-Rosholt by Decision
Brock Larson (29-3) vs. Brian Foster (12-4) Everyone included Mr. Larson was surprised when Mike Pierce was able to lay atop him for 3 rounds doing absolutely nothing, and lost a boring as hell decision. Me thinks he comes into this bout a bit angry and looking for an explosive finish. Brian is in for a world of hurt with average wrestling from Matt Hughes' HIT Squad, and is susceptible to the submission loss which has ended his evening 3 times before.
WINNER-"Brockasaurus" Larson by Rd.1 Submission
Caol Uno (25-12-4) vs. Fabricio Camoes (10-4) "Morango" is a Jiu-Jitsu expert from Brazil (if you can believe that) while Dos is trying to recover from a lackluster loss to Spencer Fisher, and a spirited loss to Shinya Aoki. This is the toughest fight to call but I lean toward Caol who has tested himself at the much higher level and can at least out wrestle Fabricio (hopefully).
WINNER-"Uno Shoten" by Decision
George Sotiropoulos (12-2) vs. Jason Dent (28-9) George has busted out 3 wins in a row in his UFC career and has yet to meet the final round. "Dynamite" is also on the winning tip but basically, anything Dent can do, Sotiropoulos can do better. I like George's all around talent a lot and am happy the Zuffa brass has nicely brought him along slowly against decent but not world beating talent. After this bout, I and George are ready to step up the competition level and see what this Lightweight prospect can really do.
WINNER-George Sotiropoulos by TKO Rd.2