I get a ton of disagreement on this, but I think this is one of the more interesting UFC cards of the year. Even without Big Nog-Mir, I still love the matchups and can't wait for Saturday night. Heavyweight bout: Frank Mir vs. Mirko Filipović Light Heavyweight bout: Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Ryan Bader Welterweight bout: Matt Serra vs. Chris Lytle Lightweight bout: Sean Sherk vs. Evan Dunham Lightweight bout: Melvin Guillard vs. Jeremy Stephens Cro Cop has really slid downhill quickly, but I still think his toughness versus Mir's weak heart and chin will carry the kickboxer to victory. This is the main event, but it's actually the least interesting of the 5 main card bouts to me. Lil Nog struggled against Jason Brilz in his last fight due to being unable to stop Brilz multiple takedowns. If the stud wrestler Bader decides to make this a takedown fest, he wins a boring and easy decision. If he chooses to stand, Nog has a solid shot. I think Bader is too smart for that and wins a UD. I don't think there is a welterweight on the planet that is more fun to watch than Lytle. Every punch is thrown to end the fight. Every sub attempt is dynamic and attempted without regard for losing postion. This is a completely different Lytle than lost to Serra in the TUF Finale. I think Lytle gets a spectacular KO win in the 'Fight of the Night' and it puts himself in line for a title eliminator down the road. The undefeated Dunham is looking for his 5th UFC win and they give him another stud wrestler after beating Tyson Griffin in his last fight. The veteran Sean Sherk has only lost to Edgar, Penn and Hughes so Dunham could put himself in good company with a win. Sherk has been pulling out of fights left and right. Hopefully he makes it to the arena for this one. If he does, Dunham chokes him out in 2. Melvin Guillard is a knockout win or a submission loss waiting to happen everytime he steps in the cage. Stephens is a tough guy and difficult to knockout. I think he submits a tiring Guillard in the 3rd.
Mir beats the shit out of Cro Cop. Rogerio subs Bader.....maybe Serra has no trouble decisioning Lytle. Dunham wins a 3 round grappling contest. Guillard although I said I never would pick him again, Stephens doesn't really have any grappling skills to speak of and Guillard really could go Greg Jackson mode if he wants.
I feel bad for Cro Cop. He is going to be fighting with a messed up eye not to mention his shotness. I can see him getting hurt here.
Mir, by way of not being shot. Bader I have a feeling Bader cracks little nogs chin here. The guy has power. If not his explosive wrestling will win him a UD. Serra UD Dunham UD Guillard TKO (fight of the night)
After the last UFC, I'm staying the fuck away from this abysmmal, homo-erotic dry-hump-a-thon of a sport.
Just saw the weigh ins. I think that both Cro Cop and Sherk are going to get destroyed. Mirko looks bad. You can see he just doesn't have it in his eyes. Almost like he didn't pull out because Dana begged him not to. His head is definately not like it used to be. He already tapped for this one. Sherk looked like shit too. He has total bitch tit now! Don't know what's going on but he looked much more frail than he usually does. Well see.
If by begged you mean allegedly coerced with a huge sum of money, then you'd be correct. And Sherk is old and has been inactive, and off the steroids of course. Dunham should take that one I agree.
