Originally Posted by Joe McPherson
So, I want to post my predictions for the 5 aired fights, and then I want to hear yours. Sunday night, I'll re-post who's predictions came the closest. Make them as detailed as possible - use mine as examples if you must. I don't know if there's another thread that actually does this, so here goes!
5. Soa Pelelei/Eddie Sanchez: Sanchez by unanimous decision, 29-28, 29-28, 30-27. A boring bout, with Sanchez playing another game of tag (as in his match with Cro Cop), but he does land more quality shots, outpointing Pelelei.
4. Rich Clementi/Melvin Guillard: Guillard by KO in roungd 1. Rich trades for a few initial moments with Melvin, before wisely taking it to the ground. He attempts a Kimura, but Guillard muscles out. Then it's a lay and pray affair, until the ref stands the fighters back up. Rich attempts a shoot but his effort is denied. Melvin then siezes his opportunity and catches Rich with a left jab, following it up with a fight-ending right hook at 4:27 of the 1st round.
3. Lyoto Machida/Rameau Sokoudjou: Sokoudjou delivers in his UFC debut with a KO, at the 45 second mark of round 1. Lyoto tries to keep Rameau to the outside, side-stepping him to keep him off balance. He then squares himself to Sokou, throws a right inside thigh kick, and that's when Rameau delivers a right cross - sending Lyoto to the mat.
2. Chuck Liddell/Wanderei Silva: The fight begins with a bang, when Chuck counters a rush of wide open hooks by Silva with a looping over-hand right that catches the Brazilian on the temple, causing him to stumble backward (ala his TKO loss to Vitor Belfort at UFC Brazil). Chuck seizes the opportunity, and attempts to end the fight with a viscious display of ground and pound. However, Liddell gets too close to Silva, which enables the Pride veteran to grab a leg and hold on - eventually tripping the former UFC LHW champ, and taking him to the canvas. After a mad scramble, Silva ends up on top of Liddell, and counters with his own ground assault. Unfortuneatly for Wanderlei, he's still a little stunned from the early knock-down, and none of his punches land cleanly. Liddell is able to get back to his feet (with the aid of the cage), and both fighters resume the match on their feet. The rest of round 1 is tentative, as both fighters show fatigue from the early adrenaline rush/action. Rounds 2 and 3 are lack-lustre, eliciting calls for action from Steve Mazzagatti and boos from the crowd. It appears that both fighters are anxious to capitalize on a crack in the opponents defence, but neither is giving an inch. Wanderlei does land some sporadic thigh kicks, but none appear to do any damage, and when the judges render a decision after 3 rounds, it's Chuck's hand that is raised to a smattering of boos in a rather quiet audience. The final judgements are: 29-28, 29-28, and 28-29, for the winner by split decision, Chuck Liddell.
1. Georges St. Pierre/Matt Hughes: Round 1 begins and it is clear from the outset that the Canadian is not interested in beating his opponent with strikes - as in their last bout. An early shot, 15 seconds into the opening frame, sends the message that GSP wants this fight on the ground. Securing the take-down, Rush methodically works to gain side-mount on Hughes - purposely, almost emphatically NOT engaging Hughes with a ground-and-pound attack, but rather issueing a sort of wrestling challenge to the ex-champ. After securing a side mount, it looks that GSP is going for a Kimura, as if to redeem his failed attempts against Josh Koscheck. Matt spins out of the position, leaving his right arm exposed for an arm-bar submission. St. Pierre immediately jumps on the opening, but the round ends before he can secure the hold. Round 2 goes similar to round 1, in that GSP is clearly attempting to end the match on the ground. The fight takes a sudden turn, when GSP takes Matt's back and looks like he's about the end the fight with a rear-naked choke - not unlike his victory over Frank Trigg. Suddenly Matt reverses his position and ends up on top of Georges. For a moment, with the crowd going wild, Matt gathers himself, then, with a sharp elbow planted against Georges thigh, he escapes GSP's guard and positions himself in a full mount position. From here Matt begins to pour on the pressure, landing clean punches to Georges face - Yves Lavigne watching closely, about to stop the match. With GSP vainly covering up, he uses his remaining strength to twist out from under the onslot, and surrenders his back to Hughes. Round 2 ends with GSP holding onto Matt's wrists, avoiding a RNC. In round 3, a bloodied GSP abandons his plan of the first 2 rounds, and comes with a stand-up attack, reminiscent of his 2nd fight with Matt. A leg-kick superman punch combo stuns hughes, sending him to his back. GSP stands up in Matt's guard, and ends the bout in the 3rd round with a ferocious combination of punches and elbows - Yves Lavigne stopping things at the 37 second mark of round 3. GSP is victorious, a TKO win at 37 seconds of round 3.
That's mine, now what are yours?
Okay, you don't need to be quite that specific (play by play), but at least try giving the time of the bout, and outcome - whether stoppage, or by decision.
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