411's UFC 79: Nemesis Roundtable Preview

Posted by Caleb Newby on 12.28.2007

MMA's huge weekend kicks off with UFC 79: Nemesis! Georges St. Pierre headlines against archrival Matt Hughes, while the long awaited bout between Chuck Liddell and Wanderlei Silva finally takes place! Fortunately 411's MMA team has you covered with complete breakdowns of the nights huge fights!

Wow, what a wild and crazy week of MMA we have here. UFC, IFL, Yarennoka... it's a lot to take in. But we have some excellent coverage for you at the ol' 411mania.

Starting with UFC 79, we'll have our usual play by play coverage, but in addition to that, we will once again be providing exclusive video content from Paul Buentello on each televised bout. Check out Michael Huckaby's play by play to find Paul's breakdown of the evenings fights. (And in case you missed our debut of Inside The Cage with Paul Buentello you can check it out here to see what to expect on Saturday.)

We will also be sending a team led by our very own Damian Sarcuni to cover the IFL Grand Prix Finals live. Expect a slew of content there as well.

And finally there is the crazy Yarennoka/PRIDE tribute show on HDNet. Sure it starts at 5am for me, but I am getting up early to watch it! That's for certain. If we can get a finalized card in time we'll have a roundtable for you there too.

Oh, I nearly forgot about K-1 Hero's with Bob Sapp, Kid Yamamoto, Sergei Kharitonov, Joachim Hansen, and Kazushi Sakuraba all competing. I can't wait.

Now for the business at hand, UFC 79: Nemesis!


Mark Bocek v. Doug Evans

Lotfi Sariahmed: I like this fight based on what it represents alone. In Mark Bocek you have a fighter who everyone wants to claim they've known about since he's come out of the womb. In Doug Evans you have a guy who really came out of nowhere in his fight against Roger Huerta. Both guys lost but Evans gave Huerta some trouble. Bocek lost to Edgar in the first round. I know Bocek's the big wrestler and he'll probably be the favorite, but I like Evans. If nothing else just to be different.
Winner: Doug Evans

Damian Sarcuni: Welcome to the broken record portion of our UFC roundtables, where all the undercard matchups are based off of styles/records VS experience. Bocek is the golden wrestler who can exploit the unified rule set, Evans has a couple extra matches under his belt. As always, we pick experience over all other factors, and with a previous UFC bout under his belt, the choice is clear.
Winner: Doug Evans via decision.

Jeremy Lambert: Evans has one more fight under his belt than Bocek and looked good in the first round against Huerta despite losing in the second. Boceck lost to Frankie Edgar late in the first in his last fight. I think Evans will show the same skill he showed against Huerta and win this one in the middle round.
Winner: Doug Evans, submission, 2nd round

Randy Harrison: Evans is Alaskan and Bocek is Canadian, so expect this fight to happen in parkas, touques and winter boots. As for the actual fighting Bocek looks to be a finisher as none of his fights, win or lose, has left the first round. Evans is coming in off of a great showing against Roger Huerta, winning the first round before getting taken out in the second. Bocek will more than likely end up using his wrestling and jiu-jitsu to finish this one early.
Winner: Mark Bocek, submission, Rd 1

Morgan Marx: My God, talk about evenly matched. Bocek has a more diverse background (wrestling and black belt BJJ) but Evans looked better in his UFC debut (pushing Roger Huerta into the second round). However, Huerta is known as a slow starter, and Bocek's loss to Frank Edgar is nothing to be ashamed of. Both are more capable fighters than their UFC records show. This is basically a push, but I think Bocek can win off his back, something Evans probably can't pull off.
Winner: Mark Bocek (Submission, Rd 2)

Bren Oliver: These two enter the Octagon needing a win if either hopes to continue fighting in the eight-sided cage. Each is 0-1 in the UFC for understandable reasons - Evans faced Roger Huerta in his debut and Bocek drew the unlucky task of buzzsaw Frank Edgar in his. Between the two, Doug Evans actually had Roger Huerta "on the ropes" in their first round before "El Matador" ended up pulling off one of his trademark comebacks, whereas the Canadian, Bocek, was pounded out with relative ease in the first round. I see both men having comperable skills that will likely cancel each other out meaning this will probably be a evenly matched snoozer. The bulk of it will undoubtedly take place on the ground. I see Evans on the winning end of split scorecard simply based on the little I've seen of both men.
Winner: Doug Evans - Judges' Decision


Roan Carneiro v. Tony DeSouza

Lotfi Sariahmed: Hey so these two guys do still fight! We haven't seen Carneiro since his loss to welterweight darling Jon Fitch by rear naked choke back in June. He put up a fight against Fitch in the first but was forced to submit in the 2nd. As for DeSouza, this will be his first fight this year. His last fight was back at UFC 66 losing to Thiago Alves. We saw him as one of BJ Penn's assistant coaches on TUF 5 but who knew he still fought? I like Carneiro in the fight if for no other reason than it's hard to pick a guy in DeSouza who hasn't fought in a year.
Winner: Roan Carneiro

Damian Sarcuni: We got us a passive submission matchup folks! It's anyone's game once this thing hits the ground, so let's look at the specifics. Carneiro has a pretty mixed record including a loss to RYO CHONAN which proves he's been in the ring with the best. DeSouza scares me. He looks like one of those bad guys in Stephen King's "The Stand". He'll likely be the aggressor here, having more experience on the wrestling front, but I'm hard pressed to pick as Carneiro legitimately does have the skills to catch DeSouza. It's a close on but the underdog is Carneiro and I need an underdog to round out my picks.
Winner: Roan Carneiro via submission round 2.

Jeremy Lambert: DeSouza hasn't fought in a year while Roan showed some skilled early this year against Fitch. This will go to the ground and someone will get caught in a submission. I'll go with Roan just because he's actually fought in 2007 and his skills should be sharper.
Winner: Roan Carneiro, submission, 1st round

Randy Harrison: DeSouza hasn't fought in a year, and Carneiro has beaten Rich Clementi and looked good in a loss to Jon Fitch, so that makes this one a bit of an easy pick for a winner right? Wrong. DeSousa is aggressive with the takedowns, great on the ground from top or bottom and is likely hungry to fight after such an extended layoff. Don't get me wrong Carneiro is talented, but DeSouza strikes me as just being a step ahead of him for the entire fight. When it comes to the method I'm going to go with the old standby when it comes to two guys who are great on the ground, the decision.
Winner: Tony DeSouza, Decision

Morgan Marx: One of my favorite parts of doing these Roundtables is the research we put in to determine a winner (as if we actually know). I love taking a look at the fighter bios on the UFC website. Every event someone's answers to typically mundane questions floor me. For UFC 79, the winner of best bio is Tony DeSouza. Not only does DeSouza sheepishly admit to having sold vacuums before transitioning to MMA full time, but also he overlooks wins and losses in favor of the knowledge that he "can hold his own with any human in the world." That's a pretty good description of a man who knows his own capabilities. As for the fight, DeSouza's 3 losses have all come via strikes. Carneiro doesn't have the KO power to put DeSouza away. DeSouza subbed Dustin Hazelett, and can sub Carneiro.
Winner: Tony DeSouza (Submission, Rd 1).

Bren Oliver: I was impressed by Carneiro in his June loss to Jon Fitch and I've always viewed Tony DeSouza as a skilled veteran. I actually like this pairing, though I'm surprised DeSouza didn't end up on the same card as his training mate, BJ Penn, at UFC 80. Both Carneiro and DeSouza are top notch jiujitsu practitioners with suspect chins so fans shouldn't expect much standing. The bout should unfold as a technical battle on the mat with a few nice submission attempts, escapes, and scrambles throughout. I'm not sure either has the ability to finish the other but it should still be fun to watch if you're into the science of MMA.
Winner: Roan Caneiro - Judges' Decision


Dean Lister v. Jordan Radev

Lotfi Sariahmed: The submission stylings of the Boogeyman against the Bulgarian Olympic wrestler. Radev's another guy who came in with some good hype for his debut against Drew McFedries back in June...then he lost in 33 seconds. This is going to be one of those bouts that only an MMA "purist" can really love. In other words, it could potentially be REALLY boring and it'll be on the ground for the majority of this fight. I like Lister's experience over Radev.
Winner: Dean Lister

Damian Sarcuni: Lister, Lister, Lister. It seems that just a few short years ago we were all completely assured of his submission skills, but now every time he comes out to the ring it's a toss up. He's been getting idle in the clinch and on his back, and Radev's wrestling will have a distinct advantage in that position. Radev by key lock? Nah, it won't come to that.
Winner: Jordan Radev via decision.

Jeremy Lambert: THE BOOGEYMAN~! Yes, I mark for Lister. His record his meh but he's still class on the ground and all of his losses came via decision. I figure Lister will make short work with a takedown, submission, go home.
Winner: Dean Lister, submission, 1st round

Randy Harrison: Lister has been very up-and-down, not only in his UFC career but his MMA career as a whole. He's an absolute master on the ground but he hasn't been able to round out his other skills well enough to be able to make a huge impact and it's frustrating at times to see him be so well-versed in one aspect and yet suck so hard at others. Radev got obliterated in his last fight with Drew McFedries and is looking to validate himself with a good performance here. It's hard to look good striking when you're on the ground being turned into a human pretzel, and if Radev falls back on wrestling and takes Lister down, he's still at a disadvantage against Lister's submission skills.
Winner: Dean Lister, submission, Rd 2

Morgan Marx: This is a nice battle between opposing styles. 8 of Lister's 9 wins have come via submission; Radev has never been submitted in his career. Both men are coming off of disappointing outings. The fight should take place primarily on the ground. The question will be whether Lister can lock up one of Radev's limbs. The Bulgarian is built powerfully, so grabbing one of his arms for a triangle may be difficult. But Radev is taking a big step up in competition, and Lister has only lost to talented opponents (Jeremy Horn, Ricardo Arona, Nathan Marquardt, etc.).
Winner: Dean Lister (Submission, Rd 1)

Bren Oliver: Joe Silva, UFC's matchmaker, certainly wasn't thinking of starting UFC 79 out on a hot note in terms of amping the crowd up for the later events. The first three bouts, this one included, feature men with similar ground-based styles. Lister vs. Radev will be high on jiujitsu/wrestling and low on striking (as should be Carneiro/DeSouza and Bocek/Evans). This will probably be a good bout for a bathroom break if fans in attendance are thirsting for some toe-to-toe action. I see this Radev taking Lister down at some point, attempting to move into a more dominant position, and then ending up in an armbar or Triangle Choke.
Winner: Dean Lister - Submission - RD 2


Nate Mohr v Manvel Gamburyan

Lotfi Sariahmed: It's Gamburyan's first fight since he lost to Nate Diaz via a shoulder injury in the TUF 5 Finale. It left a poor taste in everyone's mouth I think because even if you wanted Diaz to win, you didn't want him to win the way he did. But before we see that potential rematch between the TUF 5 Finalists, Gamburyan will take on Nate Mohr. Manvel presents problems for fighters that very few really do. He's so small and compact but so strong that right now he's really a lesser version of Sean Sherk. Nate Mohr's in this position to help build Gamburyan. I like Manvel to win here.
Winner: Manvel Gamburyan

Damian Sarcuni: We can talk about stats and styles forever but I guarantee you the question in the back of everyone's minds is really "Will Gamburyan's shoulder pop out again?" If it does, he's done as far as his fighting career is concerned, but he's so damn skilled I don't think anyone wants to that happen. Mohr is a dangerous opponent to test this against, but I don't see him doing that great against Manny's aggression. I'm going to be optimistic and say that Gamburyan takes this one quick and clean.
Winner: Manvel Gamburyan via TKO round 1.

Jeremy Lambert: Manny makes his return after losing in horrible fashion to Nate Diaz. I'm not a Manny fan but the kid is a little pitbull. If Nate is going to win, it will be by KO and I don't think he'll have too many chances to punch Manny. I expect Manny to take him down round after round and ride a decision. He's like a Mini-Sean Sherk without the steroids.
Winner: Manvel Gamburyan, decision

Randy Harrison: Gamburyan is pissed that a shoulder injury prevented him from continuing on and more than likely winning the Ultimate Fighter Season Five crown. Mohr is the guy that stepped onto the tracks as the train came rumbling through. The Armenian fireplug is going to come out motivated and ready for war and he will be pushing the pace HARD. There is no way that Mohr can be ready for what Gamburyan is going to come at him with in terms of raw, unmitigated fury. This one could degenerate into a brawl if Manny loses his wits when his temper comes out, which makes it a crapshoot in my eyes, but I think Gamburyan will want to show that he was worthy of being the TUF champ and come out strong and make a statement.
Winner: Manvel Gamburyan, TKO, Rd 1

Morgan Marx: There's one key theme to this fight, and it's up to Gamburyan to prove he can make it through a fight injury free. Mohr has talent, but plays right into Gamburyan's strengths. Gamburyan can take the fight down, smother Mohr, and lock in a submission or cruise to a decision. If Gamburyan can survive his first shoot, or the first time his shoulder is put under stress, it's his fight to win.
Winner: Manvel Gamburyan (Submission, Rd 1)

Bren Oliver: I don't think I'm alone when I say I'm happy to see Manny back from injury and ready to get his UFC career on track. He is damn near the uncrowned TUF V Champion based on his performance against Nate Diaz in the final. I love Gamburyan's never-say-die attitude and high-energy pace in the ring. He's definitely from the Roger Huerta / Clay Guida school of thought when it comes to fighting at 100 MPH. Mohr is a talented, young fighter with a bright future, but I don't believe he has the strength to contend with Manny. I see everyone's favorite Amenian-not-named-Karo-Parisyan more or less asserting his will by taking Mohr down, quickly passing his guard, and ultimately pounding him out for a victory. And sorry, but I must include Manny's "Fight Finder" picture. Time to update your bios, eh Sherdog?





Winner: Manny Gamburyan - TKO - RD 1


Luis Cane vs James Irvin

Lotfi Sariahmed: Ladies and Gentlemen step right up and lets try and figure out how this James Irvin fight will finish! After completely shredding up his knee in his fight against Thiago Silva, Irvin is back to try and climb back up the 205-lb. ranks. It's hard not to like Irvin if for no other reason then he's only been to a decision twice, which is probably why the UFC keeps bringing him back. He's taken on Luis Cane who's undefeated in seven fights with six KO's. Logic would state the winner of this bout would do so by knockout. But James Irvin is involved. So how about this?
Winner: Luis Cane by flying triangle choke

Damian Sarcuni: Lately the UFC has been pairing up strikers, and each time we find that one is smarter than the other and actually has the sense to use their ground game. As a writer, it's been nice to see. As a fan? I'm pissed. Still, both guys have a lot to lose here. Cane has his pride, Irvin has his knee. If the trend continues, it's going to be Irvin putting Cane on the ground and looking to finish there.
Winner: Irvin via TKO round 1.

Jeremy Lambert: Luis Cane is undefeated and judging by his way of victories, he packs a punch. James Irvin packs a punch and when he doesn't injure it, he packs a knee. Irvin is far more experience and unless some freak incident happens with Irvin like it always seems to do, I think he'll put Cane to sleep with a kick.
Winner: James Irvin, tko, 2nd round

Randy Harrison: Irvin is, and will forever be, known as "The Flying Knee Guy". There are worse things to be called but to focus strictly on that belittles the fact that he's a dangerous striker with knees, elbows, punches and kicks, and he's got a ton of heart and will trade with anyone. Cane is undefeated and has some serious striking skills as well but has to worry about the first time jitters of being in the Octagon. Striking looks to be even steven, but if Irvin decides to take things to the ground thinking he can drop elbows, he'll be in for a rude awakening with Cane's jiu-jitsu skills. Cane seems to have the weapons to negate anything that Irvin can bring to the table, but this is a tough fight to call because, with two great strikers, anything can happen. I just think Cane will be the stronger fighter of the two and come out on top.
Winner: Luis Cane, TKO, Rd 2

Morgan Marx: As anyone who drafted Donovan McNabb for their fantasy football team this year is aware of, it takes more than a year to fully recover from a severe knee injury. Having destroyed my own ACL and MCL, I think I can confidently say hat Irvin's knee injury was "severe." Only 7 months after going down, Irvin is returning to the cage to fight another unproven Brazilian with an unblemished record. Were it not for the injury I'd say that Irvin has every chance to emerge the winner. But until he tries to move laterally, he's in the same boat as Gamburyan.
Winner: Irvin (TKO, Rd 2)

Bren Oliver: Cane is making his debut at UFC 79, while Irvin has twice as many professional fights and five appearances in the Octagon, but I have to take into account the fact Irvin is coming off the grotesque knee injury he suffered seven months ago against Thiago Silva. Cane is undefeated and has finished all seven opponents he's stepped into combat against. He has six career TKO/KO stoppages and, being a Brazilian fighter, also is sharp on the ground and possesses the ability to submit his foes. I like Irvin as a fighter, and like so many others reading this, I will never forget his flying knee knockout of Terry Martin at UFC 54. However, I think Cane will overwhelm him based on strength and the high likelihood Irvin will suffer from some ring rust. There is no doubt in my mind Irvin will be questioning how his knee will hold up. It would be a completely natural reaction for an athlete coming off a major surgery. The mental aspect of fighting is important, even more than 50% of the game if you talk to some competitors, and MMA is not a sport where you have time to think about how your knee is doing. It's a sport where you need to be concerned with what your opponent's knee is doing.
Winner: Luis Cane - TKO - RD 1


Eddie Sanchez vs Soa Palelei

Lotfi Sariahmed:
UFC: Thanks for letting us feed you to Cro Cop back at UFC 67. Here's another bout against a guy you should beat in Soa Palelei.
Eddie: Thanks
Winner: Eddie Sanchez

Damian Sarcuni: Hey, he may have run from Crocop like a feeble woman, but locked in a cage with a world class kickboxer we'd all do the same. More importantly, Sanchez has shown that while he isn't top tier talent, he isn't stupid either. This is a feeder match, let's call it as such.
Winner: Eddie Sanchez via TKO round 2.

Jeremy Lambert: Eddie Sanchez is most famous for being Mirko Cro Cop's only UFC win in 3 tries so congrats to him. Soa's nickname is 'The Hulk' which makes him cool in my book since one of my good friend's nickname is 'The Hulk'. I'm not expecting much from this fight. both guys like to stand and bang but I'm getting the vibe that this will be more like Sylvia/Arlovski 3 than Griffin/Bonnar 1. I don't care who wins, I just hope someone goes to sleep before I do.
Winner: Eddie Sanchez, decision

Randy Harrison: Sanchez got fed to CroCop in the Croatian's UFC debut and then came back to handily defeat Colin Robertson at UFC 72. He's a talented striker with a ton of heart and a really solid chin that can take a tough punch. Palelei will gladly be the one to do the punching as he is also a striker with an iron chin and will throw with the best of them. Palelei seems to be just too raw a fighter however, as shown in his loss to Mu Bae Choi at Pride 28 and I can easily see Sanchez slipping away from most of the Australian's wild strikes while counter-punching and picking him apart. The first round will be Sanchez doing a fair bit of damage while the second will see him ultimately finishing off Palelei.
Winner: Eddie Sanchez, TKO, Rd 2

Morgan Marx: If the UFC has indeed chosen Palelei as the face of UFC: Australia, they must see something in the big man. Eddie Sanchez is certainly a capable heavyweight, and I'm sure there's a part of him that wishes he hadn't been so tentative versus Mirko Filipovic. But even in his victories, Sanchez hasn't demonstrated top 10 level skills. He'll be facing a bigger heavyweight who's faced top level competition before. I don't think Joe Silva would match-up someone expected to extend the brand with a guaranteed loss in his first UFC fight.
Winner: Soa Palelei (TKO, Rd 1

Bren Oliver: I'm not sure why the UFC hype-machine has gotten behind Eddie Sanchez. He has been lackluster at best though I commend him on his 7-1 record. Palelei boasts a similar mark in his W/L columns but will be under the bright UFC PPV lights for the first time in his career. It should be a heated affair with a high probability of ending up in one fighter taking a forced nap. I think Palelei has a slight edge on the canvas so it will be interesting to see if he attempts to take Sanchez down. Then again, he KO'd his last opponent five-seconds into the first round so perhaps he'll be better off keeping things vertical.
Winner: Soa Palelei - TKO - RD 2


Rich Clementi vs Melvin Guillard

Lotfi Sariahmed: There's a rivalry here. Something about Clementi making fun of Guillard's mama or something. I wasn't really paying attention. But they don't like each other. Guillard is part of some elite company. Everyone's getting caught using steroids these days so Guillard decided to one up everybody and test positive for coke after losing to Joe Stevenson in under 30 seconds. The UFC won't even hint at it on a broadcast but don't worry, I won't forget. As for the fight, I think Guillard is stronger and faster than Clementi and I don't know how the man they call "No Love" is going to compete.
Winner: Melvin Guillard

Damian Sarcuni: I demand to know why Guillard has a job. He snorted coke for god's sake! COOOKE!! You aren't supposed to have a job after it is publicly announced to the world that an appointment was made for you to send white powder granules from a mirror, through a dollar bill, up your nostrils, and directly into your brain. Clementi isn't nearly on Joe Stevenson's level, but he's experienced enough to counter Guillard's aggressive wrestling the same way. Will it happen? The smart money says no but then again smarts don't apply when coke heads get second chances from athletic commissions.
Winner: Rich Clementi via submission, round 2.

Jeremy Lambert: Is Melvin Guillard even going to show up for this fight? I mean doesn't he have better things to do like meet up with Lindsay Lohan and do a line (or ten)? If Melvin decides to show up, I think he'll handle Clementi. According to a bunch of reports, these guys hate each other, which means we should get rivalry fireworks not seen since Sanchez vs. Koscheck *cough* Melvin will make short work of Clementi because the more time wasted in the Octagon, the less time he has to buy some new diamonds or grams.
Winner: Melvin Guillard, tko, 1st round

Randy Harrison: Clementi and Guillard have what could be politely termed as "a history" together. They legitimately hate each other's guts with a passion and as such will settle it in the Octagon. Guillard is a bit of a loudmouth and a real hothead which I think could end up costing him here just as it cost him against Joe Stevenson. Guillard gets sloppy when he lets his emotions go unchecked and with this fight being just short of a blood feud, his emotions are going to be boiling over. Clementi stays calm, cool and collected, the most recent example being his UFC 76 win over Anthony Johnson, a fighter much like Guillard in style. He's also got a three-fight winning streak coming in and I expect him to make it four by the time the night is out. Guillard will get overaggressive and make a mistake and leave something hanging out and Clementi will make him pay by ripping it off.
Winner: Rich Clementi, submission, Rd 1

Morgan Marx: Even without his personal problems, Guillard would have a tough time against Clementi. Add in the battles with drugs and self-confidence, and Guillard has a lot to prove come Saturday night. I think Guillard will come out fast, but if he fails to finish Clementi early, expect another silly mistake that leads to a quick submission.
Winner: Rich Clementi (Submission, Rd 1)

Bren Oliver: Finally, the epic Guillard vs. Clementi showdown is upon us!!! These guys both suck as far as I'm concerned. Clementi apparently has the same manager as Sean Salmon given that this will be his fourth fight since September 1st, 2007. Guillard was last seen talking trash to Joe Stevenson, then promptly getting choked out in less than a minute and testing positive for booger sugar. In the words of Rick James, "Cocaine is a helluva drug!" In a perfect world, the Jumbotron would malfunction and come tumbling down on top of both fighters, but since that's unlikely I suppose I'll make a pick anyways. I think Guillard's mental game is weak and it will cost him against Clementi who has won all three of his Fall 2007 fights. He will go into the bout wanting to maim Rich based on bad blood between the two and it is going to make him vulnerable to Clementi's technical skills. Melvin Guillard has all the physical tools to be a great fighter in the sport. If he ever gets his head right he could be a genuine force.
Winner: Rich Clementi - Submission - RD 1


Lyoto Machida vs Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou

Lotfi Sariahmed: Despite Sokoudjou's quick knockouts of both Ricardo Arona and Minotoro Nogueira, he's still an underdog going into this fight and understandably so. He's facing a fight in Machida who has shown the ability to physically dissect all of his opponents and render any of their offense useless. He's a very smart fighter who hasn't gotten the publicity he deserves because of the way he fights. He doesn't care if he wins by a slow and prodding decision as long as he wins. That being said, the UFC is probably praying for another quick Sokoudjou knockout. I'd bet Sokoudjou at a +110 but for the sake of picking a winner in this roundtable I have to go Machida. I think he's just too smart.
Winner: Lyoto Machida

Damian Sarcuni: I'm going with Sokoudjou. Don't laugh yet, hear me out. Machida is considered invincible right now, and to be fair he has handled himself incredibly. But sometimes MMA is all about having a plan and following it. Team Quest has more than enough video of Machida to formulate a plan of attack against him. But Machida is going to be facing a number of X factors in Sokoudjou, not just in his size but in his unused Judo and unseen grappling game. For once, the longer this goes, the LESS it favors Machida, and that is a situation I just don't think he's prepared for yet. Ok, you can laugh now.
Winner: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou via TKO round 3.

Jeremy Lambert: Is RAMEAU THIERRY SOKOUDOOU FOR REAL~! or is he simply another Houston Alexander? I'm going to go with the former. Unlike Houston, Sokoudjou actually trains with a well respected camp and on top of his quick knockouts, I think he actually has some skill. Sokoudjou will probably press the action in order to pull a decent fight out of Machida and if he doesn't catch him early, he'll simply out grapple Machida throughout the 3 rounds. Machida's best chance to fight his game and not to get rattled by the mystery that is Sokoudjou but I don't see that happening.
Winner: Rameau Theirry Sokoudjou, tko, 2nd round

Randy Harrison: Sokoudjou makes his UFC debut after making about as big a splash in MMA as you could in the early part of 2007 with his lightning-quick KO's of both Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ricardo Arona, but now is the time to see if he's for real or not. Machida is the smartest, most talented, and most dangerous fighter Sokoudjou has faced up to this point in his career and I will not be surprised in the least to see Machida take this one. Soko trains with Team Quest so you know his wrestling is going to be on point and his judo background will lend itself to throws, but I can see him possibly getting frustrated if he doesn't get the quick knockout, and Machida LIVES for his opponent's frustration and feeds off of it. His style is to negate any offense that his opponent could present while picking them apart with precise counterstrikes and punishing takedowns. This style can be adapted to any opponent and any skillset and while Soko has judo and wrestling that we've barely seen, Machida will know how to defend against it.
Winner: Lyoto Machida, Decision

Morgan Marx Try and guess which fighter the UFC would prefer to win. Sokoudjou is definitely more marketable and entertaining. But why would the UFC risk damaging another Pride fighter by presenting him with a tough match-up? I'm not sure if the UFC has more confidence in Sokoudjou than I do, but I think Machida can ease to another decision victory despite his opponent's gaudy knockouts. Machida is coming off a win over a talented judo fighter so should be prepared for whatever throws Sokoudjou might possess. I think the pressure is on Sokoudjou in this fight. He's transitioning to a new audience, and we don't know how he'll respond if the fight lasts more than a few minutes.
Winner: Lyoto Machida (Unanimous Decision)

Bren Oliver: Now we get into the sizzle of the steak! I am extremely excited about all three headlining events. The only reason Machida vs. Sokoudjou isn't getting the same play as Liddell/Silva and Hughes/GSP is because neither man is as mainstream a name. Still, Machida and Soko are both accomplished fighters and either man could pose a real threat to Liddell, Silva, or any fighter in the Light Heavyweight division. Machida also has the ability to drop down to Middleweight and raise havoc if he ever decides to go that route. It's hard to find a flaw in Machida's game other than his apparent preference to grind out a decision win compared to taking the risks associated with finishing an opponent. It's hard to believe Sokoudjou will allow Lyoto to keep him on his back as has been the case against many of Machida's opponent. The Team Quest fighter is incredibly strong and a masterful judoka which will help cancel out some of Lyoto's attempts. I believe Soko will bull rush Machida and it's very possible he'll turn out the Brazilian's lights as was the case against fellow countrymen Ricardo Arona and Rogerio Nogueira. Regardless, I see him controlling the fight, and while I'm not 100% sure he can finish the slippery Machida, I'm relatively confident he can still deliver Lyoto his first career loss through grappling, pure strength, and crisp striking.
Winner: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou - Judges' Decision


Chuck Liddell vs Wanderlei Silva

Lotfi Sariahmed: Here's my biggest issue when trying to decide this fight. I liked Liddell's chances against Silva even after the Jackson loss because he just made a mistake. One of the first things Liddell said after that fight was that he was stupid throwing a punch to the body. It was got him clipped, took him down and put the light heavyweight strap around Jackson's waist. He knew he made a mistake. The problem is he lost his next fight to Keith Jardine by split decision. Jardine's another guy who will just stand up and brawl with you. Silva's another guy in that same mold and has already beaten Rampage on two occasions. It's become clear that Liddell made his name in the UFC on beating up ground fighters with suspect striking games. So Silva would seem to have an edge in this bout. With all that said though, Silva might just be favored because no one's had the chance to see him since his loss to Dan Henderson in February. I like "The Axe Murderer" to win because I think we've seen Liddell can't really handle really strong strikers.
Winner: Wanderlei Silva

Damian Sarcuni: Heh, it's funny. How many of us would have called this a toss up just one short year ago? Well, that time is now over. In the past months we have witnessed what can only be described as the fall of Chuck Liddell. He's lost his belt. He sounds like he doesn't know where he is. He's as thin as a twig. Retirement rumors float around him. Silva? Silva's relocated to Vegas, grateful for the opportunity he's been given. He's hungry to go after a champion he's beaten twice. He's in top shape. A year ago I would've said that one looping punch from Chuck would find its mark and stun Silva, after which the Ice man would smell blood and bring the Brazilian down for good. That year has passed, and everything is different now.
Winner: Wanderlei Silva via KO round 1.

Jeremy Lambert: I'm picking Chuck. He, along with Randy Couture, is my favorite fighter and I can't pick against him under any circumstances (unless a lot of cash is on the line and I'm not over 80% certain). I think Silva will come out aggressive, Chuck will counter, and he'll knock him out. Rampage is a guy that just may have Chuck's number and I don't think Chuck was all there against Jardine. This is a fight he's wanted for years, he's finally got it, and he'll knock out Silva en route to the after-party.
Winner: Chuck Liddell, tko, 1st round

Randy Harrison: The fight that people have salivated over for years is finally upon us, although not with as much luster and importance as I'm sure all of us would have liked. If you're reading this you likely know the backstory that has brought us to this point so I will just focus on my pick. Wanderlei has not fought since his loss to Dan Henderson at Pride 33 and is going to come into this fight VERY hungry. He's shaken up his training after his two losses and adopted Xtreme Couture as his new home. If anyone can get Wanderlei ready for the Octagon AND Chuck Liddell it's Randy Couture. Liddell is going to come in with the same camp and the same mentality he's had for the past five years and I think that the staleness is starting to show. Look for this one to start out slow, as both men will respect the other's striking and there is bound to be some jitters in a fight that both men have wanted so desperately for so long, but Silva will turn it on as the fight progresses, strike like a man possessed and physically impose his will on Liddell before finishing him with a flurry of punches.
Winner: Wanderlei Silva, TKO, Rd 2

Morgan Marx: I'm a little worried. Like a majority of commentators, I believe Silva will win the fight. But the reasons all seem to be in regards to Silva's mental/physical state: Silva is in a good place, he's rested and hungry, he's training with a group catered to his needs. No one is really pointing out how Silva will win in the cage. I can't picture Silva taking the fight down. I can't see Silva scoring points in the clinch. I can't really picture Silva staying outside and using leg kicks a la Keith Jardine. The more I visualize the fight, the more I see Liddell landing a flush counter punch to Silva's jaw. Oh well, too late to revise my pick now.
Winner: Wanderlei Silva (TKO, Rd 2)

Bren Oliver: I know I'm supposed to be tremendously excited about "The Iceman" finally facing "The Axe Murderer", but in truth I think this bout is a lose-lose situation for both fighters and Liddell vs. Silva is not nearly as adrenaline-inducing as it would have been at this time last year. No matter who stands conscious at the end of things, the victor will have defeated an individual who is 0-3 in his last trio of fights and will quickly be labeled as en route to being washed up. The loss is going to be a potential career killer for someone. And, the man who wins will still be 1-2 in his last three bouts. What will it genuinely prove about either fighter's standing on the LHW scene? No, I'm not talking about what the UFC spin machine would sell you, but what does it really say about the winner? Very little if anything. The UFC should have put Silva and Liddell in very winnable fights to at least build some momentum. To book this contest immediately shows me Dana White is a little worried about the future of either man in the Octagon. Perhaps he does not believe there is a guaranteed win in the UFC for Liddell or Silva.

Everyone knows this fight is going to be heavy on striking. Neither man is known for doing much on the ground. They have both earned their MMA keep by delivering highlight reels of opponents getting knocked the Filipovic out. So, of course, it is very likely one of them will be KTFO'd in this fight as well. I think Chuck is going to struggle with the diversity of Silva's striking. I also believe Wanderlei made a great career move by bringing his family to Las Vegas and training with XTreme Couture.
Winner: Wanderlei Silva - TKO - RD 2


Interim WW Title: Matt Hughes vs Georges St. Pierre

Lotfi Sariahmed: I'll leave the analysis to my colleagues for this one. This fight is simple to me. Matt Hughes needs to take St. Pierre down to win. He'll get eaten alive standing up. The problem is Hughes was only barely able to manage a takedown in their first bout and couldn't do it in the second one. So what's to make me think he can do it here? St. Pierre takes the interim belt.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre

Damian Sarcuni: I think the reality is that nobody cares about the styles involved in this fight anymore. Both fighters are of legendary caliber, and whoever has the psychological advantage brings home the belt. GSP has that advantage right now, so he gets the pick. Matt Hughes is at his best when he is at his cockiest, and we're seeing more of his attitude now than we did in his last fight against the French Canadian. Still, if Hughes believes he has any sort of advantage training, he's clutching at straws. Both in the interviews and in the octagon, it's time to stop the respect. Hughes must come forward and disrespect GSP's game to win. Whether or not he has it in him is for him to decide, not me.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre via TKO round 2.

Jeremy Lambert: Matt Hughes is a prick. I hope GSP gives him a Couture/Sylvia like humbling. Hughes will probably fight a better fight than he fought a year ago but how much is really going to change? Hughes will go for the takedown, GSP will block it, GSP will pick him apart on the feet, GSP will win. Thanks to the short training camp I think Hughes will be able to take GSP down at least once but he'll do nothing with it. GSP wins, botches the backflip, and fights Serra when he's done dealing with a bitch.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, tko, 3rd round

Randy Harrison: Main event time and actually the fight I'm most excited to see as Hughes/Serra, which was a fight based mostly on hype, gets replaced by Hughes/GSP III, a fight based mostly on the talents of its participants. I honestly don't see any way that Matt Hughes is going to be able to take this fight. His bread and butter for his entire career has been wrestling, slams, and ground and pound, and this fight will be no different. The problem with that is in the fact that GSP stuffed every takedown attempt in their second fight and stuffed nearly every Koscheck takedown attempt in their fight. Add to this the fact that GSP is a devastating striker while Hughes views his striking as merely a set-up to his takedown and ground game and it's adding up to be a long, long night for the country boy. The only thing going against GSP is the short notice on which he took the fight, but he's always in great shape and I think that five weeks will be plenty to get his cardio in order and ready for the potential of five rounds. I will go two-for-two in picking Canadians on this fight card, and go two-for-two in them being victorious. GSP takes the win and moves on for a shot at redemption against Matt Serra.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, TKO, Rd 3

Morgan Marx: I don't mean to argue with the Wednesday version of my picks, but I think I (and many other writers) might have overlooked one factor is ceding the fight to GSP. I think the only way Hughes walks out the proud owner of an interim title is if he completely scraps the stand-up game. In their last fight, Hughes attempted to set up his takedowns with his striking, a tactic that lead to him eating far too many leg kicks, jabs, and eventually, the deciding head kick. If he comes out and decides to score the takedown at the expense of everything else, maybe he has a chance. But GSP is still the runaway favorite.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre (Submission, Rd 2)

Bren Oliver: My dislike of Matt Hughes is no secret to those of you who have read my weekly column. He comes off as a condescending prick with an ego the size of the John Deere he plows his fields with. I was watching the "UFC Countdown" show on Wednesday night and Hughes discussed his training regiment which consists of the exact same stuff he's been doing his entire career!?! The UFC in 2007 is not the UFC in 1998. Mixed Martial Arts is a constantly evolving sport. St. Pierre trains with the world's best in multiple disciplines while Matt Hughes trains at a Gym next to the Hillsboro County Hospital with his college wrestling buddy. Remember, he's no longer with Miletich Fighting Systems. He couldn't finish Chris Lytle. I'm supposed to believe he's improved enough to avenge his loss to St. Pierre when he hasn't changed more than an iota of his game in almost ten years? I have no reason to believe the rubber match between St. Pierre and Hughes will unfold any differently than GSP's championship win at UFC 65. The only reason I see it going to the third round is because Hughes will likely limit his striking in comparison to his TKO loss and the change in approach will prolong the inevitable.

By the way, I hate the "interim title" tag on this bout. It's a slap in the face to Matt Serra.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre - TKO - RD 3