[christopher13]

Main Card:

UFC Middleweight Title Bout
Anderson "Spider" Silva vs. Nate "The Great" Marquardt

This fight is for the UFC World Middleweight Championship in which Anderson Silva is pitted against former multiple time King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt. This Match is a very good test for Anderson Silva. Anderson Silva is a tall and long striker. His strikes a quick, strong, and insanely accurate. Anderson is a beast in the Thai clinch which he showed by using his devastating knees in the clinch against a very big Rich Franklin. Anderson was first introduced to the main stream by defeating Chris Leben in 45 seconds. Anderson has success in PRIDE TKOing Carlos Newton and Alex Steibling and hanging with Ryo Chonan until he was submitted by a flying heel hook. Anderson, a BJJ black belt has shown that he is very susceptible to takedowns which was shown in his fight against a very dehydrated and tired Travis Lutter. Lutter took him down at will and even mounted Anderson. Anderson showed good work from the guard though catching Travis in a Triangle Choke where Lutter stayed until he tapped from repeated elbows. Nate Marquardt is a 7 time King of Pancrase and a very good grappler with very underrated striking. Nate has very good BJJ. Nate holds multiple submission wins over good fighters. Nate may not be the most exciting fighter but is a very good technical fighter. Nate fought Dean Lister and just simply dominated Dean on the ground and on the feet to a unanimous decision earning him a title shot. Anderson needs to avoid the takedown in this fight and try to get Nate in the clinch and beat him there. Anderson could also use his reach and pick his shots from the outside if he realizes he has trouble keeping it on the feet. For Nate to win this fight he needs to take the fight to the floor and pound away or work for a submission. Anderson although does have a good guard and uses the body triangle effectively. I think this fight will be very tough for Anderson but he will walk away the winner.
MY PICK: Anderson Silva TKO round 4


UFC Lightweight Title Bout
Sean "Muscle Shark" Sherk vs. Hermes Franca

This fight has Sean Sherk facing number 1 contender Hermes Franca. Hermes earned this title shot by TKOing Spencer Fisher in the second round at UFN 10. This fight will be very tough for the heavy handed Franca. Sean Sherk has improved leaps and bounds since his early days in the UFC. Sherk is a great wrestler and there is nobody at 155 that can stop his takedowns. Sean is a also becoming a good striker and can now effectively set up his takedowns with strikes. Sean looked good on his feet with Kenny Florian where he dominated Kenny to a unanimous decision to become only the second ever UFC LW champion and Sean looks to keep it that way. Hermes Franca is a very good fighter who is on a tear with an eight fight winning streak. Hermes is a great and very active grappler. Hermes is not a great striker but have very heavy hands and throws constant haymakers from behind his knees. Hermes is a very dangerous fighter and could very well catch Sean with something. Hermes was a very big part of the lightweight picture after Jens Pulver left and now that it is back he wants to take that belt from Sean. Hermes is strong but not as strong as Sean. Sean should take this fight to the ground right away because i would not want to risk Hermes cracking Sean with one of his haymakers. Even when Sean gets the fight to the ground Sean needs to stay aware because Hermes is a great grappler and could very well submit Sean. Sean will have to mount Hermes to defeat him but getting past his guard will not be easy for Sean. For Hermes he will not be able to take Sean down so he should stand and bang and then try to work from his guard and look for a submission.
MY PICK: Sherk Unanimous decision


"Huntington Beach Bad Boy" Tito Ortiz vs. "Sugar" Rashad Evans

With a lot of trash talking going on this fight is a very big fight for both fighters. Tito needs this fight to keep his head above water in the UFC. If Rashad wins he will show he means business and is a serious contender in the 205 division. This fight will shake some things up. Tito Ortiz is coming off his disappointing loss to Chuck Liddell where he was the best he has been in a while. Tito is a good wrestler but its nothing special. Tito's hands are coming along but they are no threat to Rashad. Tito is a bully in the clinch and is more than likely stronger than Rashad. Tito also has some very relentless ground and pound. Tito's greatest strength is his conditioning, Tito could very well be the best conditioned athlete in MMA. The TUF 2 Heavyweight winner Rashad Evans is a rising star in the 205 division and a win against Tito could shoot him up that ladder. Rashad is a great Division 1 level wrestler and is was an All-American at Michigan State. Rashad is very very hard to take down and Tito will have trouble doing that. Rashad also has very good takedowns. Rashad does not have great hands but they are better than Tito's and his hands are improving. This fight is an enormous fight in the careers of both fighters. This fight will show what Rashad has and where Tito will be. Tito needs to bully Rashad in the clinch and try to take him down from the clinch and then impose his vicious ground and pound to defeat Rashad. Rashad would do fine if he stayed on the his feet and struck with him but he could also take Tito down and beat him there. If Rashad wins he will not finish Tito because Randy Couture couldnt finish Tito. When it comes down to it this fight will be a war and it will come down to Rashad and his wrestling abilities and Tito's strength.
MY PICK: Tito Ortiz Unanimous Decision


Antonio "Minotauro" Nogueira vs. "The Texas Crazy Horse" Heath Herring

This fight is the third fight between the two after two great battles. Their first bout was one of the best heavyweight fights in the history of the sport and Big Nog defeated Heath for the inaugural PRIDE Heavyweight Championship which Nog later lost to Fedor. Their second fight was good and Nog won by Anaconda Choke in the second round to move on to the Final round of the 2004 HW tournament. This fight is Antonio's first fight in the UFC. Antonio is seen by many as the best fighter in the world(minus Fedor). Antonio is one of the best if not the best submission fighter in the world of MMA. Antonio also has very good hands and got the better of Heath when they fought. Antonio has only lost to three fighters in his career; Fedor(2x) and Josh Barnett and Dan Henderson. Antonio trains with the Cuban boxing team and Brazilian Top Team. Heath Herring is only 29 and has a lot of experience in MMA and is coming off a decisive win against Brad Imes at UFC 69. Heath Herring is a very good striker and loves to push the pace. Heath is a very heavyweight at 250 and is very agile for a guy his size. Heath could not get the better of Antonio when they fought on the feet. Although Antonio is much better on the ground than Heath, Heath is no joke on the ground and knows his way around. The key to victory for Nog is to take the fight to the ground and submit Heath. Heath needs to find a way to get the better of Nog on the feet in order to win.
MY PICK: Minotauro Nogueira submission round 3 early