411’s MMA Roundtable Preview: UFC on Versus 1

Posted by Dan Plunkett on 03.20.2010

The UFC debuts on Versus as Jon Jones goes against Brandon "The Truth" Vera in the main event. Also, Junior dos Santos looks to keep his UFC record perfect as he goes up against Gabriel Gonzaga, Cheick Kongo battles Paul Buentello, James Irvin faces off with Alessio Sakara and much more! Check out the full roundtable preview for all the details and join 411 Sunday night for our live coverage of the show!



WELCOME:
The UFC makes their debut on Versus and brings two of its most promising fighters along with it. Young sensation Jon Jones takes on Brandon "The Truth" Vera in the main event. Junior dos Santos looks to move his UFC record to 5-0 when he takes on former title contender Gabriel Gonzaga. Plus two sure-to-be slugfests when Cheick Kongo takes on Paul Buentello and James Irvin battles Alessio Sakara. Let's meet the staff and get to the picks!

THE STAFF:

From The Good, The Bad, and The Ugly, Scott Kuczkowski!

From 411 Movies/TV, Games, and multiple MMA interviews, Jeffrey Harris!

From the MMA Legacy, Bill Wannop!

From the Juggernaut MMA News Report, Jonathan Solomon!

From the Cardio Freak MMA News Report, Jeremy Lambert!

You know him from TBerg's Top 10 and Tapping out with TBerg, Todd Bergman!

From the Takedown MMA News Report, Daniel Bonnizzio!

From The Rear Naked Column, Samer Kadi!

And from The Greatest MMA News Column, Dan Plunkett!



THE PRELIMINARY CARD:
Light Heavyweight Bout: Jason Brilz vs. Eric Schafer

Scott Kuczkowski: Schafer, Submission, Round 2.
Jeffrey Harris: Schafer, Decision.
Bill Wannop: Schafer, Submission, Rd 2
Jonathan Solomon: Eric Schafer, Submission, Round 2
Jeremy Lambert: Schafer, Submission, Round 2
Todd Bergman: Eric Shafer, Submission, 2nd Round
Daniel Bonnizzio: Eric Shafer, Submission, RD 3
Samer Kadi: Jason Brilz, Unanimous Decision.
Dan Plunkett: Brilz, Decision
The staff picks Eric Schafer, 7-2.

Welterweight Bout: Julio Paulino vs. Mike Pierce

Scott Kuczkowski: Pierce, Decision.
Jeffrey Harris: Pierce, Decision.
Bill Wannop: Pierce, TKO, Rd 3
Jonathan Solomon: Julio Paulino, TKO, Round 3
Jeremy Lambert: Pierce, TKO, Round 1
Todd Bergman: Mike Pierce, Decision
Daniel Bonnizzio: Mike Pierce, Decision
Samer Kadi: Mike Pierce, TKO, Round 1.
Dan Plunkett: Pierce, Decision.
The staff picks Mike Pierce, 8-1.

Heavyweight Bout: Chase Gormley vs. Brendan Schaub

Scott Kuczkowski: Schaub, TKO, Round 1.
Jeffrey Harris: Schaub, Submission, Round 1.
Bill Wannop: Schaub, TKO, Rd 2
Jonathan Solomon: Brendan Schaub, Decision
Jeremy Lambert: Schaub, Decision
Todd Bergman: Brendan Schaub, TKO, 1st Round
Daniel Bonnizzio: Brendan Schaub, TKO, RD 1
Samer Kadi: Brendan Schaub, TKO, Round 2.
Dan Plunkett: Gormley, Decision.
The staff picks Brendan Schaub, 8-1.

Welterweight Bout: John Howard vs. Daniel Roberts

Scott Kuczkowski: Howard, Decision.
Jeffrey Harris: Howard, Decision.
Bill Wannop: Howard, Unanimous Decision
Jonathan Solomon: John Howard, KO, Round 2
Jeremy Lambert: Howard, TKO, Round 2
Todd Bergman: John Howard, TKO, 2nd Round
Daniel Bonnizzio: Daniel Roberts, Submission, RD 2
Samer Kadi: John Howard, TKO, Round 2.
Dan Plunkett: Roberts, Decision.
The staff picks John Howard, 7-2.

Lightweight Bout: Darren Elkins vs. Duane "Bang" Ludwig

Scott Kuczkowski: Ludwig, TKO, Round 1.
Jeffrey Harris: Ludwig, TKO, Round 2.
Bill Wannop: Ludwig, TKO, Rd 2
Jonathan Solomon: Duane Ludwig, TKO, Round 1
Jeremy Lambert: Ludwig, TKO, Round 1
Todd Bergman: Darren Elkins, Submission, 2nd Round
Daniel Bonnizzio: Darren Elkins, Submission, RD 3
Samer Kadi: Duane Ludwig, TKO, Round 1.
Dan Plunkett: Elkins, Decision.
The staff picks Duane Ludwig, 6-3.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Eliot Marshall vs. Vladimir Matyushenko

Scott Kuczkowski: Matyushenko, Decision
Jeffrey Harris: Matyushenko, TKO, Round 3.
Bill Wannop: Marshall, Submission, Rd 3
Jonathan Solomon: Vladimir Matyushenko, Decision
Jeremy Lambert: Matyushenko, Decision
Todd Bergman Eliot Marshall, Decision
Daniel Bonnizzio Vladimir Matsyushenko, Decision
Samer Kadi: Vladimir Matyushenko, Unanimous Decision.
Dan Plunkett: Matyushenko, Decision.
The staff picks Vladimir Matyushenko, 6-3.

Lightweight Bout: Shannon Gugerty vs. Clay Guida

Scott Kuczkowski: Guida, Decision.
Jeffrey Harris: Guida, Decision.
Bill Wannop: Guida, Unanimous Decision
Jonathan Solomon: Clay Guida, Decision
Jeremy Lambert: Guida, TKO, Round 3
Todd Bergman: Clay Guida, Decision
Daniel Bonnizzio: Clay Guida, Decision
Samer Kadi: Clay Guida, Unanimous Decision.
Dan Plunkett: Guida, TKO, Round 2.
The staff picks Clay Guida, 9-0.

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THE MAIN CARD:
Middleweight Bout: James Irvin vs. Alessio Sakara

Scott Kuczkowski: This will be Irvin's middleweight debut, which means his success will probably have a lot to do with how easily he was able to cut down to 185. If he made the cut easily, then he should be HUGE at middleweight and do pretty well. Sakara's success has been hit and miss and overall I haven't been overly impressed with his punching power. He's lost just about any time he's fought a striker and his ground game appears non-existent too. Ultimately, I think he's going to find himself asleep on the canvas if he decides to bang with "The Sandman".

Winner: Irvin, TKO, Round 1.

Jeffrey Harris: Wow it's been a while since we last saw Irvin. Both guys got smashed at light heavyweight and moved down to middleweight. Sakara has won fights but overall failed to be relevant. Irvin has been serving a long suspension after a positive drug test. I'm going with Sakara by decision.

Winner: Sakara, Decision.

Bill Wannop: Irvin finally returns to the cage after more than a year and a half off due to injuries. He has had 2 previous fights cancelled due to a recurring knee injury and let's hope that he makes it to fight time. Irvin is making his debut at middleweight, which to me is crazy, as Irvin was a huge light heavyweight. Sakara is a solid fighter but tends to wild when faced with power punchers, and Irvin is a power puncher. I look for Irvin to end it early and make an impact in the middleweight division (if he can make weight)

Winner: Irvin, KO, Rd 1

Jonathan Solomon: Sakara is a former professional boxer while Irvin is making his middleweight debut following a knee injury and drug abuse. Irvin is finally healthy and ready to return to the cage, thankfully. This is on the main card of the Versus debut because both men swing and look for the knockout first and foremost. Irvin will be dealing with the weight cut and emotions of returning to fight for the first time since being knocked out by Anderson Silva. Sakara should be the better technical striker and be able to find holes in Irvin's defense to land a big punch or two to end the fight. One guarantee, this fight is not going the distance.

Winner: Alessio Sakara, TKO, Round 2

Jeremy Lambert: This should be a good fight for the two minutes or so it lasts. Both guys are good strikers with power. I think Sakara is the better technical striker and the power is probably equal. Two things that work against Irvin is that he's cutting down to Middleweight for the first time and he's coming off a Mir Layoff. Maybe two negatives will cancel each other out but I don't think that will be the case.

Winner: Alessio Sakara, TKO, Round 1

Todd Bergman: The question on everyone's mind coming into this fight is whether or not Sakara will be wearing the "King Leonides" beard. If Sakara is then he will win this fight, and if not, then it's going to be a long night. In his previous defeats, Irvin has looked slow and tired among other things. I'm a fan boy for American Top Team partly due to a quasi friendship with JZ Calvacante, so I'm taking Sakara via 2nd Round TKO. It's a long shot and not something that I would recommend to those of you betting on this fight, but at the end of the day it's SPARTA over the pretty boy with some awful tattoos.

Winner: Alessio Sakara, TKO, 2nd Round

Daniel Bonnizzio: James Irvin has always been a nice fighter to watch because he's exciting, whether he is getting punched in the face after ONE failed kick or reducing a former prospect to a puddle of Jello. Irvin is going to have the strength advantage and is probably going to be a better boxer than Sakara that night, so he's walking out the winner after a (hopefully) vicious KO.

Winner: James Irvin, KO, RD 1

Samer Kadi: James Irvin finally wakes up from his Anderson Silva-inflicted coma (Yeah, I know he was injured) and returns to take on Alessio Sakara, coming off a highly controversial decision over Thales Leites. Under normal circumstances, I would favor Irvin but the man hasn't fought in over a year and a half. We know what the Mir layoff (thanks Lambert) does to fighters and cage rust can play a big factor here. Overall, Sakara is the more technical and diverse striker. He uses a jab, has added kicks to his arsenal, and moves a bit better than Irvin. Irvin may have the edge in power, and should he land a big right early on, it will spell the end for "Legionarius". It's a coin flip really.

Winner: Alessio Sakara, Unanimous Decision.

Dan Plunkett: Irvin hasn't fought in a year-and-a-half. On top of that, this is his first cut to middleweight. I don't usually pick a fighter going into a fight with one of those things, let alone two. Sakara will win the slugfest over the ring rusted "Sandman."

Winner: Alessio Sakara, TKO, Round 1.

The staff picks Alessio Sakara, 6-3.

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Heavyweight Bout: Paul Buentello vs. Cheick Kongo

Scott Kuczkowski: I like Paul Buentello, but I don't think this is a good matchup for him. Kongo is bigger and stronger than Buentello, which could spell some serious trouble if they clinch. I also won't be surprised if Kongo goes for takedowns from the clinch. Paul has great hands, but Kongo has shown he can take a punch. On the feet, I think Kongo is going to throw a lot of kicks to try and slow Buentello down. Buentello is going to have to hurt Kongo and overwhelm him if he wants to finish, but I haven't seen many people outside of Frank Mir do that to Kongo. This fight will probably go to decision, I just hope it is exciting.

Winner: Kongo, Decision.

Jeffrey Harris: This is another interesting heavyweight fights against two longtime heavyweight journeyman. Both guys are coming off losses and really can't afford another one at this point. For this fight, I favor Kongo's power and standup over Buentello. Buentello's no slouch himself, but he had opportunities to step it up against Struve and didn't really exploit those opportunities when he was causing Struve damage. I think this will go to decision much like the Buentello/Struve fight and Kongo comes out on top.

Winner: Kongo, Decision.

Bill Wannop: Kongo is coming off two straight losses, and he was dominated in both matchups (being knocked down by Frank Mir, and ridden for 3 rounds by Cain Velasquez). Buentello had a less than stellar debut losing a decision to Stefan Struve. In this fight Kongo will be hungry for a victory, and Buentello will be more than happy to stand and trade with him. This strategy is dangerous for Buentello as Kongo has too much power. I look for Kongo to win in highlight reel fashion.

Winner: Kongo, TKO, Rd 2

Jonathan Solomon: This is a strange fight for me. I am picking Paul Buentello to win but most factors suggest I should not. While Kongo is coming off a fight in which he was knocked to the moon and then choked out, he usually can take a solid punch. Buentello is coming off a fight that went to the decision, and he lost. Buentello has not had that one punch knockout power since 2007. At 36-years old, can he muster up the power to knock out the 34-year old Frenchman? Kongo will be the taller fighter but Buentello will be heavier. Kongo was a professional kickboxer who can be dangerous in the clinch and has dangerous power of his own. However, I am picking Buentello for the upset because I know he will come straight forward and swing for the fences. I can only hope he wont gas like he did late in his last fight with Stefan Struve.

Winner: Paul Buentello, TKO, Round 2

Jeremy Lambert: Cheick Kongo is a lot like Gabriel Gonzaga. Really impressive against mediocre fighters and then loses to good competition, Heath Herring notwithstanding. Paul Buentello is a mediocre fighter. He's a decent striker who has power and that's about it. Kongo is the better striker but I really think he's afraid of getting hit while Buentello has no problem getting hit. If Buentello can tag Kongo and make him resort to going for terrible takedowns, he can win. But if Kongo tags Buentello first, or gets inside and clinches with him, or gets the takedown and unleashes his brutal ground and pound then Buentello is in for a short night.

Winner: Cheick Kongo, TKO, Round 1

Todd Bergman: This is a tricky fight to predict because both guys are hit or miss on any given day. I don't like the fact that Buentello is talking a great deal of shit about Kongo coming into this fight. Paul looked slow and weak in his last fight, minus the giant punch that nearly killed Struve. While Kongo's mind frame and strategy are anybody's guess coming into this fight, he does have conditioning on his side. Buentello thinks that Cheick will want to take him down and hold him there, and that might be the best thing to do. However, I envision Kongo using the leg kicks and knees to destroy Buentello throughout the fight. Kongo will never be confused with Overeem, but Buentello struggled to defend the knees and kicks. Watch for Kongo to get a surprise finish of Buentello late in the 3rd R\round. This is sad for the true Buentello fans who want to hear his killer post-fight catchphrase. Being the nice guy that I am, here's the phrase: "Don't fear me, fear the consequences."

Winner: Cheick Kongo, TKO, 3rd Round

Daniel Bonnizzio: This is the one fight I can think of where Kongo is going to have the advantage if the fight hits the ground, and that's going to be his Plan B if Paul starts to beat him to the punch. Kongo has the better all-around striking and, if Paul comes in looking aged and slow like he did at UFC 107 then Kongo is going to walk out the winner easily; however, the optimist I am, I think he shows up better than he did and gives Kongo a run for his money. However, like I said, Kongo is more well-rounded than Buentello and as such is going to have more options to win than just "move this body part quickly into his body." I think that Paul is going to be smart enough to avoid a KO, but he's going to lose the decision here.

Winner: Cheick Kongo, Decision


Samer Kadi: In a battle of quasi talented heavyweights which are unlikely to go anywhere in the division, Paul Buentello and Cheick Kongo attempt to bounce back from their losses at UFC 107. Both fighters are capable strikers. Buentello relies on his boxing ability highlighted by a very solid jab and a decent right hand. Kongo's boxing may not be as solid, but his overall striking is more diverse and he makes up for it with some serious power. The match up is a tough one for Buentello, as Kongo's reach will frustrate him and prevent him from utilizing his jab effectively. Moreover, Kongo possesses a pretty decent chin, while Buentello is unlikely to be able to absorb Kongo's shots. In addition, Kongo's clinch work is very solid and if he chooses to close the distance, he can put a beating on "The Headhunter" from the inside. Buentello certainly has what it takes to make it competitive, but I don't think it will be enough to win the fight.

Winner: Cheick Kongo, TKO, Round 2.

Dan Plunkett: Kongo has lost his last two fights and Buentello is coming off a loss as well. I believe Kongo is the superior striker as well as the stronger, bigger man. "The Headhunter" will have his moments if the fight lasts long enough, but I'm going with the Frenchman here.

Winner: Cheick Kongo, TKO, Round 2.

The staff picks Cheick Kongo, 8-1.

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Heavyweight Bout: Junior dos Santos vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

Scott Kuczkowski: Let me say this first off: I've always thought Gonzaga was very overrated. He got lucky against Mirko Cro Cop but has been exposed as a mediocre fighter against subsequent opponents since then. Having said that, I won't be surprised to see Dos Santos finish him in the first round. I think Dos Santo will have the faster hands and should be able to outstrike Gonzaga. The only potential advantage Gonzaga could have is if the fight goes to the ground, but I don't see much of a chance of that happening unless Dos Santos allows it.

Winner: Dos Santos, TKO, Round 1.

Jeffrey Harris: Gonzaga has shown a pattern for the most part in the UFC. He beats guys who are lower level or guys that he should beat, but he wilts against tougher competition like in the fights with Couture and Carwin. By every indication, dos Santos is the prototypical bad match-up that will destroy Gonzaga. dos Santos has a ton of power and he's been annihlating everyone put in front of him. This fight isn't getting out of the first round.

Winner: Dos Santos, KO, Round 1.

Bill Wannop: Time and time again I pick against Dos Santos and time and time again, he somehow gets a huge TKO or KO win. I just don't see how he continues to keep knocking guys out like he does, as I am usually not impressed with him until the huge knock out happens. I will stick to my guns and go with Gonzaga here, as he is trying to get back in the title hunt. Gonzaga has a great ground game and is a large heavyweight, so I hope he takes this fight to the ground at least to allow us to see Dos Santos ground game.

Winner: Gonzaga, Submission, Rd 2

Jonathan Solomon: Around the "interwebz," Napao Gonzaga has been receiving a lot of praise heading into this fight. I don't know why, but many people believe him to be the favorite. Sure, Gonzaga is a dangerous ground fighter and sure he has knockout power...but it is 2010. Gonzaga has not submitted anyone since the summer of 2008 and when he could not keep Shane Carwin on the mat, he ended up getting knocked out. Gonzaga has lost four times over his career and each one has been by form of knockout. Junior dos Santos is as dangerous a striker as any other heavyweight in the UFC right now, and that's just downright scary. Sure, dos Santos may not be a black belt in BJJ, but training with the likes of the Nogueira brothers, I would bet he has a more than healthy skill set to survive with just about any heavyweight today. The fact is, JDS is a quick and heavy striker with one punch knockout power. JDS' only career defeat was by arbmar in Brazil in 2007 but he's a different fighter than he was nearly three years ago.

Winner: Junior dos Santos, KO, Round 1

Jeremy Lambert: I'm on the Junior dos Santos bandwagon. It's tough to get a read on Santos because he's KO'd everyone he's faced rather quickly or he's faced strikers and he might be the best boxer in the Heavyweight division. Gonzaga is by far the most well rounded fighter Santos has faced but it's Gabriel Gonzaga. He looks impressive in beating mediocre fighters and then he gets blown out by good competition. He has the tools to be one of the best Heavyweight's in the world but he's mentally weak. Like Brandon Vera, I just can't pick Gonzaga against anyone good because I don't trust him to show up mentally. Win or lose, and I really hope he wins, I just want to learn more about Santos in this fight.

Winner: Junior dos Santos, TKO, Round 1

Todd Bergman: I'm still in the minority in thinking that Gonzaga could pull off the upset. It's a crazy thought, but Gonzaga does have great punching power and a stout ground game. His Achilles' heel of course is his chin, and when going against dos Santos, that's a weakness you just don't want. Junior is a grinder inside the Octagon and likes to take his time while making his opponents pay. Gonzaga's looping and almost wild style of striking will cost him dearly as he meets the sandman at some point in the 2nd round. Nighty, night manbearpig.

Winner: Junior dos Santos, KO, 2nd Round

Daniel Bonnizzio: Junior has the tools to win. He's been rumored to give both Rodrigo and Rogerio Nogueira fits on the ground, and is known for possessing some pretty decent boxing. He also has ridiculous KO power, something which is going to help him immensely in this fight. If Gonzaga can get the fight to the ground, though, he is going to be able to show he is the better grappler; I think that Junior is going to be able to keep it on the feet and, coupling Gonzaga's propensity to stand with JDS's knockout power, we have a finish in store for Junior.

Winner: Junior dos Santos, KO, RD2

Samer Kadi: Junior Dos Santos has been tearing through the heavyweight division to the point where he's recognized as one of the best strikers in that weight class. With that said, his takedown defense and ground game are still largely untested. In fact, I don't think any of Cigano's opponents in the UFC have attempted to shoot on him. Gabriel Gonzaga certainly has decent striking, but his kicks are his big strength rather than his actual boxing. Dos Santos, while having relatively very good boxing, has flaws in his defense. He generally keeps his hands low and drops his left hand when throwing a right hook or uppercut. However, Gonzaga isn't a particularly great counter striker and probably isn't the one to take advantage of the few holes in Dos Santos' striking game. On the other hand, should Gonzaga manage to take the fight to the ground, he will undoubtedly hold a significant edge. Gonzaga is one of the best BJJ practitioners in the world and it will be interesting to see how Dos Santos handles him on the ground. Gonzaga's main problem is that he doesn't respond well once he's hit and his chin is suspect (Randy Couture rocked him with a jab). If Dos Santos piles up the pressure on Napao -- as you'd expect him to – Gonzaga might crumble. Gonzaga is a well-rounded fighter, but his striking defense isn't up to flight and he's very hittable. Against someone with Dos Santos' hand speed, aggression, and boxing ability, this can't bode well for him. Plus, there's always the fact that once the fight gets past the first round, Gonzaga will likely gas.

Winner: Junior Dos Santos, TKO, Round 1.

Dan Plunkett: Gabriel Gonzaga will be in trouble if he follows up on his pre-fight talk and stands with dos Santos. JDS has very good hands and knockout power as well as a speed advantage over Gonzaga. If Gonzaga takes this fight to the ground, he has a great chance of winning, but I see him trying to stand and affirming his status as a gatekeeper.

Winner: Junior dos Santos, TKO, Round 2.

The staff picks Junior dos Santos, 8-1.

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Light Heavyweight Bout: Jon Jones vs. Brandon Vera

Scott Kuczkowski: The last time I ever thought Brandon Vera looked remotely impressive was against Frank Mir in 2006. Since that point he has been a shell of his former self and struggled in the cage. In fact, if a rematch was scheduled with Vera and Mir, I would have to pick Mir. Jon Jones on the other hand is a rising star and is looking to take a top spot in the Light Heavyweight Division. I think Jones will be faster than Vera and will outwork Vera in every facet of the fight. While Vera is supposed to have great wrestling and striking, I think he will pale in comparison to Jones. I look for Jones to outwork and then frustrate/dominate Vera with strikes and throws until he eventually breaks him.

Winner: Jones, TKO, Round 3.

Jeffrey Harris: This is an interesting test for Jon Jones. Jones could very well be the future of MMA and a future star and champion in the making. Jones had that kind of screwy DQ loss in his last fight. Based on Jones previous fights though, I definitely give him the edge. I like Brandon Vera. He's got good kickboxing, but he lacked the killer instinct in the fights with Krys and Couture that he had in the Patt fight. I think this could be an exciting fight, but I see Jones pulling it out by TKO in the second or third round with his crazy and fast striking and takedowns.

Winner: Jones, TKO, Round 2.

Bill Wannop: This is a dangerous fight for Jones, as he has never faced a striker the likes of Vera (at least what Vera used to be). In recent fights Vera has been putting people to sleep (mainly fans) with his hesitant style. Let's hope that the always exciting Jones can bring back the old Brandon Vera. In any event, I think that Jones is just too explosive for Vera, and even if Vera holds an advantage in the striking department, Jones can always go for a takedown and utilize his ground and pound. I think Vera will again try and be conservative, with Jones running right through him.

Winner: Jones, TKO, R1

Jonathan Solomon: The promotion for this fight has been all about being Bones Jones' next big test. Obviously Brandon Vera would love to spoil his party and he has as good a chance as any of his previous opponents did. Vera should have the superior striking from his years of Muay Thai experience. The question I have going into this fight revolves around the clinch game. Will Vera be able to control Jones with the clinch or against the cage? If he can, I like his chances. If Jones can power out of it or use technique to avoid it, then Vera may be in for a world of hurt. Jones is a strong wrestler who has been able to take fights to the ground when he wanted to and if he's able to this weekend, I do not see Vera being able to sweep him off and return to his feet. Jones' ground control is too good for that. If this is a straight-up kickboxing match, it's any man's fight. Vera has the knockout power in his knees or hands and feet. Despite the fact that Jones' probably should have defeated Hamill before throwing the illegal elbow, he has not won a fight by knockout since before his UFC debut. Jones has speed in his strikes and has worked to refine his style so I will assume the fighter we see on Sunday night will be MUCH MORE improved since seeing him in December.

Winner: Jonathan BONES Jones, TKO, Round 2

Jeremy Lambert: There's a lot of hype around Jon Jones because of his flashy striking and throws but on paper, Vera is the better fighter. He's a much better technical striker and his ground game is very good. Vera doesn't fight up to his potential though while I don't think Jones has even reached his potential. Vera is mentally weak and he lacks a killer instinct. Compared to Vera, Jones is very untested but he's still dominated the competition put in front of him, which is what I want to see from a young fighter with a lot of hype. Vera has been in there with tough guys and he hasn't been blown out but he always comes up on the short end. If Jon Jones is as good as the hype, he'll beat the Brandon Vera we've seen since UFC 77. If Brandon Vera is finally going to fight up to his potential, he'll beat a young and inexperienced Jon Jones. Despite all the talk, I don't trust that Vera will fight any different than he has for years now and until he proves me wrong, I can't pick him.

Winner: Jon Jones, Decision

Todd Bergman: While Jon Jones doesn't posses the grappling skills that Werdum does, he should have little to no resistance getting this fight down to the ground. Vera, who is a great Muay Thai and Greco Roman wrestler, appears to be a shell of his former self. This should be a lesson to young fighters to make sure that they are taking good advice from Agents and friends before making decisions involving their careers. Jones might be a little cautious in the first round because of his previous mistake, but it won't take long for "Bones" to finish this fight. I'm playing the odds a little here and saying that Bones will get the stoppage victory early in the 2nd round as Jones likes to take his time.

Winner: Jones, TKO, Round 2.

Daniel Bonnizzio: I'd like to think that in this fight, Vera is actually going to show up. I'd also like to think that money will magically fall from my ceiling as I get a phone call from Arianny Celeste asking me to take her out on the town, but we know that's not going to happen. Vera has all the skills he needs to win this fight: he can hold his own in the clinch (Couture had a relatively hard time doing anything but holding him against the fence) and he has very strong kicks which he can use to end fights. Jones, as good in the clinch as he may be to take people down, will be hard-pressed to have the ease at which he uses those flashy throws he's become known for. If he stays outside and manages to catch a kick then he can use that to unload on Vera but if Vera can keep from getting timed as well as be really offensive, both long-range and inside the clinch, then he will walk away the winner but that's only if he really shows up. Hopefully, he does or else I'm going to look an idiot.

Winner: Brandon Vera, Decision

Samer Kadi: This is a much tougher match up for Jones than most people expect. Jones' success against his opponents has mostly come from taking his opponents down from the clinch (in spectacular fashion), and landing some unorthodox (and very flashy) striking. Vera has the tools to nullify Jones' main weapons. Vera did very well to shut down Randy Couture's clinch work and showed a very good base by staying vertical. However, despite a similar Greco-Roman background, Jones' takedowns are different. While Couture chooses to methodically wear his opponents out from the clinch before securing the takedown, Jones relies on his speed and natural strength to explode and get the fight to the ground. It will be interesting to see if Vera can handle that. Striking wise, Vera holds a distinct advantage from a technical standpoint. His Muay Thai is one of the most technical in the division. He uses his kicks expertly from distance and his knees from the clinch are very dangerous. His most efficient weapon is the body kick, but with Jones' timing, he can just as easily catch a kick and turn it into a takedown. Vera has recently fallen in love with an ultra-passive approach where he's content to fight from distance and throw one shot at a time. The problem for him in this fight is that Jones possesses a gigantic reach and Brandon will have a hard time controlling the distance and fighting from the outside. Vera however, could turn Jones' lanky frame against him by punishing his long legs with kicks, which is something he excels at. Jones' isn't particularly notorious for his counter punching, so he's unlikely to catch him with a counter right cross as Vera goes for those leg kicks. With all that said, Vera hasn't showed up to fight in about 3 years, and I don't expect that to change now. Jones' flashy offense will leave a bigger impression in the judges' eyes, especially if Vera is reluctant to pull the trigger.

Winner: Jon Jones, Unanimous Decision.

Dan Plunkett: I've gone back and forth on this fight so many times. Jones is a great wrestler with flashy striking. Vera is a good wrestler with better striking and submissions than Jones. I really think Brandon Vera learned a lesson in his last fight by not being aggressive enough causing him to lose a decision he probably should have won. "Bones" can take down Vera, but once he gets to the ground he'll have to avoid Vera's submissions and will have a hard time finishing the fight. If Vera fights conservative at all he's going to lose simply because Jones is going to outwork him. Unlike Jones' past opponents, I don't think "The Truth" is too worried about being taken down here, unless it's late in the fight and he's behind. That means it will be harder for Jones to land his feared fake takedown spinning back elbow. I'm going with Vera by a very close decision.

Winner: Brandon Vera, Decision.

The staff picks Jon Jones, 7-2.

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The 411 staff decided to keep score on these roundtables. At the end of the year, we will finally find out who is the best fight-picker on staff. The number of fights picked perfectly will also be included, but will not count for anything. Here are the current standings:

Jeremy Lambert: 42-20, 13 perfect.
Dan Plunkett: 45-28, 15 perfect.
Larry Csonka: 21-11, 9 perfect.
Samer Kadi: 44-29, 10 perfect.
Jeffrey Harris: 38-34, 10 perfect.
Daniel Bonnizzio: 27-26, 6 perfect.
Scott Kuczkowski: 10-10, 2 perfect.
Jonathan Solomon: 36-37, 11 perfect.
Todd Bergman: 20-21, 4 perfect.
Bill Wannop: 16-23, 2 perfect.


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