My original prediction thread:
OWGP 1ST RND Predictions
Overeem vs Werdum
I pick Werdum, I would have gone with Overeem if this was later rounds when the fight is only 1 10 min round and a 5 min round, but being a full 3 round fight, I think Werdum will be able to sub Overeem late in the fight. Even though I don't think Werdum can pull off a decision win, I think a sub win over Overeem is the highest possibility IMO.
Afterthought: I think I was right on the money except it actually ended a little bit earlier than I thought, I thought it would've happened in the 3rd but I guess late 2nd is still pretty close to what I thought.
TK vs Hunt
I think TK is in the GP purely because he had a quality win over Sperry and Pride simply has him in it for Japanese sentimental reasons. Hunt's striking and take down defense will overwhelm TK. Hunt by KO round 1 or round 2.
Afterthought: Exactly like how I thought the fight would end except TK was a lot more competitive and tougher than I thought, props to him for lasting so long.
Barnett vs A. Emelianenko
Tough fight to call but I am gonna say Barnett. I think with the experience Barnett has, he will be able to make Alex fight his fight and put pressure on Alex with his knees in clinch. Alex is used to very short fights and Barnett has being proven to be an extremely difficult fighter to finish, so I think the match up plays into Barnett's favor, but I won't be suprised if Alex pulls out a decision win. Barnett by sub late 2nd round.
Afterthought: Alex was looking good but once the fight hit the ground with Barnett on top, it was time to end, I was pretty close with the time again.
Fujita vs Thompson
The possiblities for this fight is quite straight forward, if Fujita can take Thompson down, an easy win for Fujita, if he can't, then it will probably be a boring decision win for Thompson. That's all there is to this fight: take downs. I haven't seen enough Thompson fight to know definitively if Fujita can take him down, but I don't see how else the fight will unfold.
Afterthought: Probably my most off prediction, Fujita won a hard fought battle, it wasn't the takedown -> GnP that won, it was his chin owning Thompson's chin. I thought Thompson would have won a decision if Fujita can't take him down, but I think Thompson took Fujita to a brawl thinking his reach and striking will finish Fujita and Fujita just kind of went along with it and at the end, the biggest difference maker was the chins.
Minowa vs Filipovic
I really think DSE took advantage of Minowa's "I'll fight anybody" attitude and put this fight together. This may be DSE's attempt to give CC another highlight reel LHK KO that the fans have been waiting for in a while. Just a very lopsided fight, CC by T/KO whenever he wants.
Afterthought: ho-hum, expected.
Nogueira vs Zulu
The fight with Fedor pretty much exposed Zulu as both figuretive and literal, a very big can. So Nogueira, widely considered to be the #2 HW in the world, will not have any problem with Zulu. It doesn't matter who is on top, as long as they are both on the ground, Zulu will tap soon. Nog by sub of his liking 1st round.
Afterthought: see previous afterthought
Yoshida vs Nishijima
One of the least interesting fight of the GP, I will have to say this is another big mismatch, Yoshida is pretty much getting a by this round while draw some crowd and putting on a show for the fans. Yoshida by Gi choke when the fight hits the ground.
Afterthought: see previous previous afterthought
