411's MMA Roundtable Preview: WEC 31
Posted by Randy Harrison on 12.12.2007
A huge card from Las Vegas with three big title fights, and the return of Jens Pulver. Join the 411mania team of MMA experts as we breakdown the fights and pick who we think will come out on top Wednesday night on Versus at WEC 31.
It's time for another Roundtable Preview everyone, and this time the MMA zone turns its attention to the big card Wednesday night on Versus as the WEC presents WEC 31. There are title defenses scheduled for the Light Heavyweight, Middleweight, and Featherweight Championships and a grudge match between Jens Pulver and Cub Swanson. I'm Randy Harrison from Five Rounds Of News and The Sprawl And Brawl Video Review and I'll be moderating this crew of MMA know-it-alls as we break down the fights and make predictions and maybe even bake some Christmas cookies. Okay, there won't be any baking but I'm confident in our abilities to make the first two happen. Who will be analyzing the fights you ask? Well, I'm glad you asked because now I get to introduce them all!!
Dustin James: 411mania's resident Rankings expert and one of the Pacific Northwest's great treasures.
Leland Roling: The man behind the MMA Analytics, and as cerebral a writer as you'll find in a sport based on beating people up.
Jeremy Lambert:TUF Reviewer and possibly still riding the high of his perfect picks at UFC 78.
Larry Csonka: Mentor, friend, confidente, co-conspirator in the Lay and Pray Radio craze that's sweeping the MMA zone, and a semi-decent writer to boot.
Caleb Newby: The editor and the guy that would be signing my paychecks..I said WOULD. Though a Christmas card would be nice Caleb, I'm just going to throw that out there right now.
Randy Harrison: I have nothing interesting to add about myself except that I really dig Christmas. I realize that has nothing to do with MMA but eh..
Now that we've got our Murderer's Row of experts in place and the fight card in hand, let's get things run down for the HUGE show from Vegas!!
WEC 31 Roundtable Preview
John Alessio vs. Todd Moore
Dustin James: This fight doesn't do much for me. I've seen Alessio's three UFC fights (all losses against Diego Sanchez, Pat Miletech, and Thiago Alves) and he hasn't impressed me in the UFC. But he isn't fighting in the UFC this time around, he's fighting in the WEC. Now, minus the loss to Top 10 fighter Carlos Condit, Alessio hasn't been that bad in the WEC. He has been fighting forever and is a member of Xtreme Couture so THAT should say something. Todd Moore is an up and coming fighter who has been fighting since 2005 and is 9-0. However, he hasn't fought anybody note worthy and that could mean something this time around fighting a veteran such as Alessio. Winner: John Alessio, Decision
Leland Roling: John Alessio has more experience and a better jiu-jitsu ground game that should lock him in for another win. Most of his losses are from top ranked competition or at least upper-mid echelon talent. There is no reason he shouldn't defeat Moore and finish him in this bout. Amazingly, people continue to put Alessio down for being defeated by Condit. Condit beat Larson as a HEAVY underdog, give me a break. Do some research people, Condit is easily #11 or #10 in his weight class and possibly moving up. Alessio shows up and ends it quickly. Winner: John Alessio, submission, Rd 1
Jeremy Lambert: Alessio holds the experience advantage but Moore is undefeated. I've never thought much of Alessio other than a gate keeper type fighter. He's not a bad fighter, he just never wins the big fights. Moore will be a tough fight but I think Alessio's experience will lead him to a win. Winner: John Alessio, Submission
Larry Csonka: The Natural John Alessio is a very experienced fighter, sporting a 20-10 record in MMA, 4-1 in the WEC and coming off of two straight WEC wins. Todd Moore is a 9-0 fighter, but is making his WEC debut in what will be the biggest fight of his young career. I just thing that Alessio has too much experience for the young man, and keeps rolling here. Winner: John Alessio, SUB, RD1
Caleb Newby: I wish this one wasn't on the roundtable, as I have no idea who Todd Moore is. I thought about pretending, but honestly, what's the point? Alessio has been up and down in the UFC and WEC, but I gotta pick him. Why? Because I've seen him fight and he doesn't suck. That's enough for me. Winner: John Alessio - Decision
Randy Harrison: Alessio is a WEC veteran and a former UFC veteran as well who has a ton of fights and a ton of experience under his belt and he's hungry to move up in the welterweight division and perhaps gain a shot at the WEC title in the future. Moore is a young fighter getting his first taste of the big time and putting up his undefeated 9-0 record to boot. Alessio trains with Xtreme Couture in Vegas and you know that Randy is going to have him ready for anything and everything that Moore can throw at him. Alessio will get him on the mat and work towards the submission after wearing him down for a round or so. Winner: John Alessio, submission, Rd 2
WEC Light Heavyweight Championship
Doug Marshall (C) vs. Ariel Gandulla
Dustin James: I will admit that I don't know a whole lot about Ariel Gandulla. I have seen every single one of Doug Marshall's fights because hell, they have all taken place in the WEC. Gandulla is 4-0 with 1 no contest, while Marshall is 6-2 and has never had a fight go to a decision. This fight will be a swingfest and could come down to whoever strikes first. Winner: Ariel Gandulla, TKO, Rd 2
Leland Roling: For fans who haven't seen Gandulla fight, he's usually a very composed fighter with good striking and ground and pound skills. His main tactic is to wait out an attack and then pounce in a counter and overwhelm his opponent. In a few fights I've seen of him, he was fairly passive and was fairly elusive of being clipped. I think Marshall is one of the sloppiest punchers in the WEC, and I believe his brawling style won't help him against Gandulla. I'm tired of his WWE attitude as well. Ugh, please win Ariel. Winner: Ariel Gandulla, TKO, Rd 2
Jeremy Lambert: Doug Marshall is another guy I just can't get in to. He's never gone to a decision and I don't expect that to change with this fight. Gandulla is an undefeated fighter but I don't know much about him outside of his WEC decision victory. I expect Marshall to knock him out early. Winner: Doug Marshall, TKO
Larry Csonka: Marshall is 6-2, with all fights happening in the WEC. Gandulla is 4-0-1 and is coming off of a WEC win, which was his debut with the promotion. Marshall has done well as of late, but I feel that Gandulla has more explosiveness and can take the fight. Winner: Gandulla, STRIKES, RD2
Caleb Newby: I cheated and looked at the Sherdog profiles for these guys. I don't exactly see how much there is to break down. Both guys like to throw fisticuffs, so it should be short and fun. And in case of tie, let's go with the more experienced guy. Winner: Doug Marshall, TKO, Rd 1
Randy Harrison: Marshall is a guy that ends fights. He also acts like a bit of an ass so I can't say that I like him very much. Leland is right in characterizing Gandulla as a counter-puncher with some heavy hands and I think that he will be able to avoid the somewhat clumsy attack of Marshall and pick him apart with the counters. People are discounting Gandulla somewhat due to his lack of experience but I think he makes up for that with far more skill than Marshall has and that it will lead to a victory for Gandulla in a mild upset. Winner: Ariel Gandulla, TKO, Rd 1
WEC Middleweight Championship
Paulo Filho (C) vs. Chael Sonnen
Dustin James: I don't think Sonnen stands a chance in hell. Why? Because I'm tired of seeing his face all over commercials here selling real estate. How is a guy going to beat the undefeated PHENOM that is Paulo Filho when he's too concerned with if that house he has on the market in Portland, Oregon has sold or not? Maybe I'm reading too much into his real estate business, but when you are fighting against somebody with the talent of Filho......you had better bring your A-game and I don't think Sonnen has enough of an A-game to beat Anderson Silva's friend. Winner: Paulo Filho, Decision
Leland Roling: Paulo Filho comes in at 15-0, and Sonnen isn't the guy who is going to hand him his first lost. Although Sonnen has some power and good wrestling, Filho jiu-jitsu on the floor is legit and impressive at times. Fans continue to tell me that Filho's standup is "unbelievable" now after he defeated "El Dirte". Absurdity. Filho's ground game is where he should go and beat Sonnen. Winner: Paulo Filho, Submission, Rd 3
Jeremy Lambert: How many wins does Filho need to be moved up to the UFC? Sonnen is a tough guy with a lot of experience but Filho is a top 3 Middleweight in the world. He made quick work of Doerksen to win the title and I don't think he'll have much trouble with Sonnen. Winner: Paulo Filho, Submission
Larry Csonka: Filho is rocking with the championship and the 15-0 record right now and looks unstoppable. Sonnen is 19-8-1, riding a five fight win streak, four of them with BODOG FIGHT. While I feel he will be a threat, I just can't see him beating Filho. Winner: Filho, DEC
Caleb Newby: Well, I think we know who these guys are. Whew! Filho is top five in the world at middleweight, and top three by most. Filho surprised in his WEC debut with a knock out over Joe Doerksen, a nice wrinkle to his already crisp game. While Sonnen is on a nice run, I don't see him pulling this upset out and handing Filho his first loss. Winner: Paulo Filho, Sub, Rd1
Randy Harrison: Filho is an undefeated animal that is going to likely use the old "put the wrestler on his back" strategy to control Sonnen on the floor. Filho is too smart to fall into the trap of wanting to stand and bang after his KO victory over Joe Doerksen and Sonnen will have no answers for what Filho can do on the ground so it looks like the outcome of this one is fairly inevitable. Winner: Paulo Filho, Submission, Rd 2
Jens Pulver vs. Cub Swanson
Dustin James: Before we continue, I must admit that I can't stand Jens Pulver. I mean, I can't STAND HIM. Maybe it's my enormous BJ Penn-fandom that makes me dislike Pulver so much. Either way, I can't stand talking about the guy. MOVING ON. Winner: Cub Swanson, Decision
Leland Roling: I'm biased in this pick. I love Jens Pulver as a brawler, boxer, and a trainer. The guy is a class act, and I want to see him do will. Swanson presents a huge challenge, and in my eyes, could defeat Pulver easily on the ground if Pulver hasn't been focusing on it too much. Pulver's dynamite hands are always a factor however. Can he clip Swanson? I hope so because I'm jumping on the Pulver bandwagon. Winner: Jens Pulver, TKO, Rd 2
Jeremy Lambert: Jens Pulver makes his WEC debut at his natural fighting weight in this one. Jens obviously holds the experience edge but Cub is riding an 11 fight winning streak. I thought Jens did decently against Penn in his last fight but he was fighting a motivated BJ Penn, which is a scary sight. I think at 145, we'll see a motived Jens Pulver and you know he'll want to impress in his debut. Cub will be a tough fight but Jens will pull through. Winner: Jens Pulver, Decision
Larry Csonka: I love the move of Jens Pulver to the WEC. He is a more natural 145, and gives the promotion a name that people know. Jens has recorded a 21-8-1 career record, butis coming off of back to back losses to Penn and Lauzon. Swanson is 11-1, only losing his debut fight and then running off 11 wins. He has competed in KOTC and WEC, and is ready to make his name known with a win over Jens. I may be proven wrong, but Jens in on the way down and I see this like the Penn fight. Winner: Swanson, SUB, RD2
Caleb Newby: I would like to challenge Dustin James. I believe I am the much more biased BJ Penn fan. But my prejudice against Pulver has been washed away like a sand castle to the ocean tide after Penn's victory earlier this year. So with that out of the way, I can fully root for Pulver, especially since he is saying Penn is the best he's ever fought.
Wait, I forgot about Cub Swanson. He's fighting. And more than that, he has a great chance to win. But I'll take Jens to get back on the horse for a final hurrah of his career in the WEC. Winner: Jens Pulver, TKO, Rd3
Randy Harrison: I hate to say this, but I honestly think that Jens Pulver's time as a fighter is over. He's still got a ton of talent but to me TUF 5 showed that his future in this sport is as a coach and his fight with BJ Penn at the Finale showed that the time for him to be coaching is now. A lot has been made about his drop to 145 but I don't think that it's going to help him as much as everyone thinks it will against an angry and motivated Cub Swanson. Winner:Cub Swanson, Decision
WEC Featherweight Championship
Urijah Faber (C) vs. Jeff Curran
Dustin James: This fight should have no problem becoming fight of the night. These two or two of the top Featherweight's in the World and I love seeing Urijah Faber fight whenever I can. What more can I say about this fight besides that I'm JACKED for it? Winner: Urijah Faber, KO, Rd 3
Leland Roling: Faber is powerful, has the ability to avoid submissions, and is very strong in both his standup and ground game. Curran's jiu-jitsu abilities are world-renowned, but he will have to avoid the fists of fury from Faber. I see Faber crushing Curran on top and avoiding the submission game, Faber just has so many tools. Winner: Urijah Faber, TKO, Rd 2
Jeremy Lambert: Is Pulver wins and Faber wins, a fight between the two is likely. Faber is a monster at 145. He's basically like Sean Sherk only he has more talent and the ability to finish, which is amazing. Curran has the experience to go along with the skill but at this moment in time, I don't think he has what it takes to knock off Faber, who will continue his dominance of the division with this fight. Winner: Urijah Faber, TKO
Larry Csonka: Yeah, this is the shit, crazy little bastards beating the hell out of each other. Faber is 19-1 and is coming off of 11 straight wins. Jeff Curran is 28-8-1, coming off of 6 straight wins. This will be a battle of submission guys, and should be great, but I just can't see Faber losing as he has been dominant. Winner: Faber, SUB, RD3
Caleb Newby: This will be a good one. Whatever the outcome, I hope it get to the later rounds in an all out war. I think Faber will just be too much for Curran and finish the fight. I'm fine with being proven wrong though. Happens all the time lately on my picks… Winner: Urijah Faber, KO, Rd3
Randy Harrison: Faber has the advantage in almost every aspect of this fight and I can't see any way that he loses. Curran is a talent but Faber is THE talent at 145 pounds, and he's going to take this fight going away. His pace and his striking will be far too much for Curran to handle and will lead to a quick night's work for "The California Kid". Winner: Urijah Faber, TKO, Rd 1
Thanks for joining us everybody and remember to join 411mania for live coverage from the event as well as Lay and Pray Radio which will cover all of the happenings from WEC 31. Enjoy the fights!!
