411's MMA Roundtable Preview: UFC Fight Night XIII

Posted by Bren Oliver on 04.02.2008

Can Matt Hamill build on his dominating performance against Michael Bisping? How will Houston Alexander rebound after suffering his first defeat in the Octagon? At the night's conclusion, will Nate Diaz or Kurt Pellegrino find himself one-step closer to title-contendership? Can Joe Lauzon handle the pressure of a Main Event against the likes of Kenny Florian? "UFC Fight Night XIII" is finally here and with it comes the 411 MMA crew's take on what should be an incredible evening of Mixed Martial Arts action!



Good morning, afternoon, evening, or whatever other in-between time you're setting your eyes on this article! It's your favorite slacker-who-is-picking-up-the-slack, Bren Oliver, and I'm proud to present 411Mania's traditional Roundtable Preview with a "UFC Fight Night XIII" spin. Not only is the card's depth historic, but it also is the first time the UFC has made its way to Colorado since Gracie graced the Octagon more than fifteen years ago, as well as a three-hour "Fight Night" broadcast - something fans haven't received since 2005.

Wednesday evening's affair appears to be a showcase of talent moreso than a regular MMA event, boasting twelve throwdowns where each bout contains a fighter you're likely to have seen, or heard of, at least once before. The event is peppered with talent such as Karo Parisyan, Frank Edgar, Clay Guida, Kenny Florian, Din Thomas, Josh Neer, Joe Lauzon, Kurt Pellegrino, Nate Diaz, Houston Alexander, Matt Hamill, Thiago Alves, Marcus Aurelio, Manny Gamburyan...whew...my fingers are getting sore! Joining me in discussing an event of such magnitude are fellow 411Mania MMA columnists Larry Csonka , Adam Tool , Dustin James, Randy Harrison, and Justin Thomas .

Readers, are you ready? Writers, are you ready? Then, in vein of "Big" John McCarthy and not Marvin Gaye...

...LET'S GET IT ON!!!


Anthony Johnson Vs. Tommy Speer

Bren Oliver: Matt Hughes Jr., also known as Tommy Speer, should have no problem handling Johnson at Fight Night XIII. I look for Speer to show the same raw talent he displayed on TUF VI. He may have looked like an amateur at the finale, but given Mac Danzig's vast experience coming into the Ultimate Fighter I'm pretty sure he would have made every other cast member look equally bad (and did during the qualifying rounds of the TUF tournament). The red-headed farmboy is strong, explosive, and gives maximum effort 100% of the time. With the polishing he's likely received since the loss to Danzig last December I have a hard time seeing anything other than a dominating performance over the lesser-experienced Johnson.

Winner: Tommy Speer, TKO, RD 1

Adam Tool: Tommy is one powerful mo-fo with some excellent wrestling ability. He's also shown he can take a lot of punishment. The only way Johnson can win this is to make Speer submit, and I don't see that happening here.

Winner: Speer via TKO in round 2

Justin Thomas: So UFC hopes to rebuild Tommy Speer. Tom lost to Mac Danzig in the finals, but looked good during TUF6 season. He has alot of strength and has great takedown skills. I think Speer will win this one as he certainly has more experience with the training he got while being in Hughes' team.

Winner: Speer via decision

Dustin James: The last time we saw Anthony Johnson he was being choked out by Rich Clementi at UFC 76. The last time we saw Tommy Speer he was being choked out by Mac Danzig at the Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale. So many places to go with this one. Tommy Speer is a tough little country boy and should pull out a decision victory here.

Winner: Tommy Speer, Decision

Larry Csonka: Both guys are coming off a loss, which will either mean balls to the wall action of them being very cautious. I am going with very cautious, with Speers sliding out with the decision victory.

Winner: Speer, DEC

Randy Harrison: I didn't think that Rich Clementi was going to be able to take Anthony Johnson when I picked that fight in my UFC 76 Roundtable (my first for 411mania.com), and I expected big things out of Johnson. To say I was disappointed would be an understatement, but it taught me not to pick Anthony Johnson ever again. That and there's the whole thing about how Tommy Speer is actually pretty good and is a reasonable facsimile of Matt Hughes. I expect a takedown followed by some grounding and pounding for a Speer win.

Winner: Tommy Speer, TKO, Rd 2


Roman Mitichyan Vs. George Sotiropoulos

Bren Oliver: When it comes to welcoming people from outside the United States, I say, "Bring me your tired, your sick, your poor, and your talented Mixed Martial Artists." In the cases of Roman Mitichyan and George Sotiropoulos, I'm not sure as to their health or financial situations, but they've definitely got some solid ability when it comes to MMA. While both are good standing and on the ground, I think Sotiropoulos is the more-rounded of the two and from what I've heard he's a maniac when it comes to training. I think the bout will be hotly contested in the opening frame, but eventually I see George finding an opening and finishing Mitichyan off.

Winner: George Sotiropoulos, Submission, RD 2

Adam Tool: George was one of the stand-outs during the last season of "The Ultimate Fighter," and training with Matt Serra can't hurt. I predict a quick ending to this one.

Winner: Sotiropoulos via submission in round 1

Justin Thomas: Just like with Tommy Speer, UFC is feeding Roman to George and perhaps that is a good thing. Sotiropolous is more experienced and I see this fight ending quickly.

Winner: Sotiropoulos via submission, round 1

Dustin James: Man, I how I disliked George Sotiropoulos when he was on the Ultimate Fighter 6. I can't explain it, just disliked the dude. Mitichyan is the guy who got injured right when Ultimate Fighter 6 started, so we didn't get to see what he was made of until he tapped Dorian Price out at the Ultimate Fighter 6 finale with an achilles lock. Mitichyan is currently 5-1 with 4 submission victories to his credit, so he's a dangerous guy on the ground. Sotiropoulos is currently 8-2 and is also skilled on the ground. His last loss was to Shinya Aoki, and THAT is not a bad opponent to lose too. This fight could be more exciting than some people think.

Winner: George Sotiropoulos, Submission, Rd 2


Larry Csonka: Sotiropoulos looks to be a dangerous dude, not top 10 by any means, but he has some serious skills. Roman did defeat Doran Price, but I feel that Sotiropoulos is the superior fighter and should win rather impressively.

Winner: Sotiropoulos, RD1, SUB

Randy Harrison: CRAZY ROMAN!!! It's just a shame that they had to put him against someone whose skills are SO beyond what he's capable of. George looked like he had the tools to win it all on the last TUF season. Crazy Roman kicked the shit out of a trash can. Nuff said.

Winner: George Sotiropoulos, Submission, Rd 1



Samy Schiavo Vs. Clay Guida

Bren Oliver: There's a rumor going around that French terrorists kidnapped the second "m" in Schiavo's first name and are holding it for ransom. Let's all pray the double-humped consonant sees a safe, speedy return home. I don't think this fight will be the cakewalk for Guida I imagine a number of people view it as. While Guida is one of the best twenty Lightweights in Mixed Martial Arts, Schiavo is a good striker who also has a very decent jiujitsu game. This will be his UFC debut, so I will not be surprised if he's a little overwhelmed by the atmosphere...that is, if he's not overwhelmed by Guida's boundless energy and willingness to push the fight's pace.

Winner: Clay Guida, Judges' Decision

Adam Tool: Schiavo is no joke, with all 10 of his victories coming in the first round. But Guida is still a scrappy powerhouse, and will be hungry for a win after his tough loss to Roger Huerta.

Winner: Guida via decision

Justin Thomas: Samy Schiavo has a career record of 10-4 and is on a 6 fight winning streak. Guida has lost 3 of his last 4 fights. However, this time, I see him winning and let's hope it'll be a 3 round war.

Winner: Guida via decision

Dustin James: Ohhhh, Clay Guida! This fight probably won't be televised, but wouldn't it own all sorts of ass if it was? Schiavo is set to make his UFC debut, and it couldn't have come against a scarier opponent. Guida is known for BRINGING IT in the UFC. Schiavo is riding a 6 fight win streak and hasn't lost since 2005. But is that enough to get past the UFC's King of Fight of the Night?

Winner: Samy Schiavo, Submission, Rd 3

Larry Csonka: Schiavo is riding a wave of six straight victories, but Clay Guida is a beast and I feel that this will be his time to get a victory, and hopefully it is wild and makes the show.

Winner: Guida, RD2, STRIKES

Randy Harrison: Schiavo makes both his UFC debut, and his debut in the United States in this fight, and he's got a hell of an opponent to face. Guida is THE guy that has the motor that can go all night, in a division that's full of guys with great gas tanks. He's got the wrestling, he showed against Roger Huerta that he can do some stand-up too, and he's got all the Octagon experience you can handle. Schiavo is making a huge jump up and basically this is going to be a fight where he can make an impression, not on if he wins, just on how good he looks while losing. All four of Schiavo's losses come via submission and I think that once Guida gets his hooks sunk in on Schiavo and takes the back, it'll be five for five. All Guida, all night long.

Winner: Clay Guida, Submission, Rd 2


Jeff Cox Vs. Manvel Gamburyan

Bren Oliver: There is absolutely no way Manny loses this fight, if not due to his tenacity and skill in the cage, then simply by willing himself to victory as a means to avoid losing in front of his beloved cousin Karo Parisyan (who fights Thiago Alves later in the night). I also believe Nate Diaz's presence on the card will give Manny even more inspiration to defeat Cox, as young Nathan Diaz is clearly the fight Gamburyan desires most given his injury-induced loss to the Gracie Fighter at the TUF V Finale. Cox is no chump, but I expect Manny to push him to the limit from the opening bell and eventually take home the victory. He's named the "Pitbull" for a reason and Jeff Cox is likely to end up a dog treat that Gamburyan devours, then dispenses rectally.

Winner: Manny Gamburyan, Submission, RD 2

Adam Tool: Oh, the irony. Manny beats Joe Lauzon in the "Ultimate Fighter" semifinals and now one of them is in the main event and the other is fighting in the pre-lims. I'm expecting "The Anvil" to throw Cox all around the octagon en route to a unanimous victory.

Winner: Gamburyan via decision

Justin Thomas: Jeff Cox is 0-2 with both of his losses coming in the first round. It's difficult to tell what he's doing in the UFC. Maybe it's because Dana loves Cox? Cause you know... Vince McMahon and Dana have alot in common and this could be one of those things. Manvel also has two losses in his record, however he has also won 7 fights, not counting TUF5 bouts, and is a huge favorite to win this one, in my eyes.

Winner: Gamburyan via submission, round 1

Dustin James: I don't know a lot about Jeff Cox. I have only seen him fight once, and he lost to Gleison Tibau in the first round via submission. But that was at Fight Night 10! This here is Fight Night 13! It's going to be a different story! Is it? IS IT? Unfortunately he draws MANVEL, the little pack of dynamite who's picture on Sherdog.com was taken when he was 12 years old. I'm taking Manvel here. Why? Because he's related to KARO!

Winner: Manvel Gamburyan, TKO, Rd 1

Larry Csonka: I love Gamburyan, and I feel that he should have defeated Diaz in the finals if it wasn't for the shoulder separation. He should roll on Cox, and hopefully Diaz wins so we can get a rematch of teh two.

Winner: Gamburyan, RD1, STRIKES

Randy Harrison: Manvel ANGRY!!! MANVEL....SMASH!!!

Winner: Manvel Gamburyan, TKO, Rd 1


Ryan Roberts Vs. Marcus Aurelio

Bren Oliver: This is a showcase match for Aurelio as far as I'm concerned. Roberts is a respectable fighter, but he's nowhere near the level of American Top Team's Aurelio and he's also making his UFC debut. If "Maximus" doesn't dispose of Roberts in a prompt fashion I believe his days in the Octagon are numbered. In a division as bottomless as Lightweight it's even more important to separate yourself from the pack. Fortunately, I don't see Aurelio struggling, as he has fought some of the best Lightweights in the world and kept it competitive every single time. It goes without saying, but Ryan Roberts is no Takanori Gomi.

Winner: Marcus Aurelio, TKO, RD 1

Adam Tool: I know next to nothing about Ryan Roberts, so I can't really predict good things from him here. Aurelio has all the tools to be a threat at lightweight, but he seems to lack consistency. That being said, I don't see this fight lasting very long.

Winner: Aurelio via submission in round 1

Justin Thomas: Ryan Roberts is 8-2 and he's making his UFC debut. Aurelio is, of course, a PRIDE Bushido veteran and holds a victory over highly ranked lightweight Takanori Gomi so he would be a logical choice. However, I predict that this one doesn't end that quickly.

Winner: Aurelio via decision

Dustin James: Ryan Roberts is making his UFC debut here, and I must be honest....I don't know a whole lot about the guy. I do know that people from Boston are struggling with the guy's name. And I do know that he draws an opponent who can be very dangerous. Aurelio holds a victory (and a loss) over Takanori Gomi. He is currently 1-1 in the UFC and I can see him improving upon that record here.

Winner: Marcus Aurelio, Decision

Larry Csonka: Roberts is an enigma, I know nothing about him. He could cause some problems for Aurelio, but I see Aurelio taking this via decision.

Winner: Aurelio, DEC

Randy Harrison: Even with the aformentioned Guida/Schiavo bout, Marcus Aurelio would also have to be pretty high on the list of guys you didn't want to see across the cage from you in you're UFC debut. Ryan Roberts is coming off of a win in a four-man, one night tournament in February, but there's a big difference between beating two guys who probably won't amount to much in MMA, and not getting killed by a guy that's beaten Takanori Gomi. Roberts is going to have too much trouble standing and on the mat from the American Top Team lightweight and Aurelio will continue his winning ways.

Winner: Marcus Aurelio, Submission, Rd 2



Josh Neer Vs. Din Thomas

Bren Oliver: I'm ecstatic to see Josh "The Dentist" Neer make his way back to the UFC, though I wish it was against someone I didn't like quite as much as Din Thomas. Neer was involved in one of my favorite bouts when he fought through a gaping wound in his forehead to eventually submit Melvin Guillard at "Fight Night III" a couple of years back. I think he and Thomas have comperable skills and I think there's a good chance each man's ability will cancel the other's out. Thomas and Neer are both seasoned veterans of the sport who train with some of the best camps in the world (Miletich/Neer and ATT/Thomas). I honestly don't see either having a significant advantage over the other. The only factor I see that could shift the scales relates to Thomas' knee and how confident he is in its strength. If "Dinyero" isn't 100% against Neer he's going to have an extremely difficult time beating him.

Winner: Din Thomas, Judges' Decision

Adam Tool: My first roundtable, and already I'm torn. I want to throw out some love for my hometown fighter Josh Neer (who sometimes trains at a gym that's about 5 minutes from my house), but I can't deny the awesomeness of Din Thomas. Look for Thomas to win this fight and get back in the hunt for a title shot.

Winner: Thomas via submission in round 3

Justin Thomas: Josh Neer is really experienced with 30 fights (23-6-1), but his UFC record is 2-3. Din has recently lost to Kenny Florian and really needs a win here so I imagine him winning by submission.

Winner: Thomas via submission, round 3

Dustin James: Woo hoo! A Din Thomas appearance! I personally like Din Thomas and the attitude that comes with him. Last time we saw Thomas he was being choked out by KenFLO in a fight where Thomas messed his knee up pretty bad. Thomas is currently 3-1 in the UFC, with that loss to Kenny Florian being the only one on his record. However, Thomas draws a pretty damn good opponent here in UFC veteran Josh Neer. It's been almost 2 years since we have seen Neer in the Octagon and it will be interesting to see if he has improved since his submission loss to Nick Diaz at UFC 62.

Winner: Din Thomas, Decision

Larry Csonka: Din is coming off of the knee injury he suffered during his loss to Kenny Florian. He was looking good there, and if he is healed up, should take the victory here.

Winner: Thomas, RD2, SUB

Randy Harrison: This is a really close fight, but Thomas is just that little bit better at everything. He's going to be hungry to get back into the title hunt after his unfortunate injury and will begin his comeback with a win in this fight. It will be tough for it to look impressive though, because Josh Neer is double tough and will fight you with every last breath he has. Thomas wins, which is good for him, but doesn't do it impressively, which is bad for his title aspirations.

Winner: Din Thomas, Unanimous Decision


Gray Maynard Vs. Frank Edgar

Bren Oliver: As exciting as it should be to see two undefeated fighters square off, knowing one will taste defeat for the first time in his professional career, I'm actually approaching Maynard vs. Edgar with mild trepidation. First of all, they're a combined 12-0 so it isn't as if either has sustained a remarkable streak. While Edgar deserves a great deal more credit than Maynard given his victories over Jim Miller, Tyson Griffin, and Spencer Fisher (plus the fact Maynard lost to Nate Diaz during the TUF V tournament), he still only had eight professional fights under his belt. The other thing worrying me about this particular bout is the fact both men are primarily wrestlers. Wrestling is far from the most exciting style in MMA, and while it's a very necessary tool in terms of finding success in the cage, there's a very good chance the combination of Edgar and Maynard will result in a "wet blanket" convention.

Winner: Frank Edgar, Submission, RD 3

Adam Tool: Please, please, PLEASE let this fight make it on the broadcast. Gray was one my favorites on "TUF" 5, and since the show he has been training at Xtreme Couture. However Frank has been on a tear since coming to the UFC, and should be in line for a title shot in the near future. This should be a great back and forth battle for ground supremacy.

Winner: Edgar via decision

Justin Thomas: Nice fight here and the first fight not to fall in the category "A star vs. a can". I'm with Tool here, I'd like to see this fight get some air time too. The Bully trains in Xtreme Couture and I think that's a big advantage. His only loss was to the eventual TUF5 winner Nate Diaz. Edgar is undefeated with 8 victories and looked good against Fisher. However, I think it'll be time for him to taste his first loss. So...

Winner: Maynard via decision

Dustin James: Frankie Edgar! The undefeated Frankie Edgar that is! I really hope that this fight is shown on TV as I feel it has the potential to be a great one. Both fighter's are currently undefeated and are looking to move up in the UFC. Maynard was the Team Quest guy who looked very impressive on the Ultimate Fighter Season 5. Edgar is currently 8-0 as a pro and 3-0 in the UFC and has beaten some pretty damn good competition. This fight is extremely hard to pick.

Winner: Frank Edgar, Decision

Larry Csonka: This one is hard to pick for me. I feel that it will end up going the distance and could be a sleeper for fight of the night.

Winner: Maynard, DEC

Randy Harrison: Maynard and Edgar both have a ton of wrestling in their backgrounds, but I don't think that Maynard has enough experience in MMA yet to take someone with the well-rounded skills of Edgar. This is technically a match-up of two undefeated fighters (Maynard has the one no-contest in the bout with Rob Emerson), but in actuality it's a fight where one guy is undefeated because he hasn't faced a tough test yet, while the other is undefeated because he's got a real shot at gaining a title shot by the end of this year or the beginning of next year. Edgar knows how to avoid the takedown and turn things around to his advantage, as he showed against Tyson Griffin, and Maynard is no Tyson Griffin, so I fully expect Edgar to come away with the win in this one.

Winner: Frank Edgar, Unanimous Decision



James Irvin Vs. Houston Alexander

Bren Oliver: This is a scary, scary fight for James Irvin. I will genuinely say a prayer for him Wednesday in hopes he does not end up drinking his meals through a straw for the foerseeable future starting with Thursday's breakfast. At "Fight Night", Houston Alexander will be the car travelling 120 MPH down the highway, his fists the windshield, and James Irvin the soon-to-be-splatted bug.

Winner: Houston Alexander, TKO, RD 1

Adam Tool: The Houston Alexander train was de-railed slightly at UFC 78, so I expect this fight to be the chance for him to get back on track. I'll stop with the train analogies now. One highlight reel knockout, coming right up.

Winner: Alexander via TKO in round 1

Justin Thomas: So this is the battle of Thiago Silva's bitches. UFC wants Houston to win badly, but I don't think it'll happen. James Irvin is more experienced and he'll try to take Houston down and submit him.

Winner: James Irvin via submission, round 2

Dustin James: Remember when people thought Houston Alexander was THE next big thing in the UFC Light Heavyweight division? Ya, then he ran into the train known as THIAGO SILVA. Now? Alexander has been demoted to some Fight Night duty! He really needs a win here against UFC veteran James Irvin in order to keep his name some what hot in the UFC Light Heavyweight division. Irvin is currently 3-3 in the UFC and 13-4 as a pro. This fight will be a stand-up brawl and should be pretty exciting.

Winner: Houston Alexander, TKO, Rd 1

Larry Csonka: Alexander is going to be angry and looking to kill a bitch, and should here.

Winner: Alexander, RD1, STRIKES

Randy Harrison: Fireworks beyond belief since both these guys LOVE to throw hands. It's going to be interesting to see if Irvin will try to gameplan to get this fight on the ground since Alexander has been somewhat exposed in his lack of mat skills. On the flip side, has Alexander had enough time to close up some holes in his game to where he might even try to surprise Irvin and get the fight to the ground so that he can ground and pound from the top position. I still think that despite his hit-or-miss UFC tenure that Irvin could be a serviceable gatekeeper for the division, while Alexander's bubble has seemingly burst with his one loss to Thiago Silva. I think that Irvin is going to get the win and that you'd better not get up to get a drink when this one is on or you might miss the entire damn fight.

Winner: James Irvin, TKO, Rd 1


Kurt Pellegrino Vs. Nathan Diaz

Bren Oliver: Interestingly enough, the only person to ever finish Nate Diaz in a professional fight happens to be Kurt Pellegrino's close friend and training partner, Hermes Franca (via submission in October 2006 at a WEC show). However, even without advice from Franca, "Batman" will still be Diaz's toughest opponent to date and this fight has serious implications in the UFC Lightweight Division. A win for either man, especially one achieved in a convincing manner, will boost the victor into the title-contendership picture while the loser will find himself at the end of a very long line of impressive 155-pounders. One thing working in Nate's favor is his mastery of jiujitsu . He's flexible and seems to find ways to lock on submissions from any position/angle. Seriously, Nate's "jits" is the shit(s)! Two out of Pellegrino's three losses came via tap-out so he may be vulnerable in that regard. Then again, Kurt has a damn fine skill-set himself, and both men who submitted him were Welterweights. I think this fight is the most difficult to pick on the card and has all the makings of an instant-classic. The UFC's Lightweight Division found a way to produce "Fight of the Year" candidates in 2007 and I expect Diaz vs. Pellegrino to continue that trend in 2008.

Winner: Nate Diaz, Submission, RD 3

Adam Tool: This will be Nate's biggest test yet since winning "The Ultimate Fighter," but "Batman" shouldn't give the younger Diaz too much trouble. Nate should be able to counter all of Kurt's submission attempts before getting his own. The fight itself is just the warm-up to another somewhat controversial Nate Diaz post-fight interview (I expect he'll have something to say about Nick being pulled off the Strikeforce card).

Winner: Diaz via submission in round 2

Justin Thomas: So Kurt Pellegrino is the guy, who has as many tattoos as CM Punk. He has a decent 11-3 record, but somehow, I see him as a stepping stone for Diaz. Both of these fighters are good at submissions, so I think we'll get a decision. This has all the makings to be an exciting fight.

Winner: Diaz via decision

Dustin James: Have I ever mentioned that I love the Diaz brothers? Nick Diaz is a fighter who I believe has SO MUCH untapped potential that if it wasn't for his personal demons, would be on top of the Lightweight rankings. His little brother? He seems to have almost the same amount of potential with a little bit less of an attitude problem. Don't get me wrong. Nate Diaz has the Diaz attitude....it's just not as bad as Nick's. As for the fight? It's a very difficult one to take. Pellegrino is no slouch by any means and Nate Diaz is looking to earn himself a shot at the UFC Lightweight title. Ya, I'm taking Diaz.

Winner: Nate Diaz, Submission, Rd 3

Larry Csonka: Nate Diaz won't have an easy time I feel with Pellegrino. Pellegrino has shown that he is a great fighter and could cause a lot of problems. I want Diaz to win, so that we can see the rematch with Manny.

Winner: Diaz, RD2, SUB

Randy Harrison: At least we get to see one of the Diaz brothers in a fight they were scheduled for, and I'm kind of glad that it's Nate because this fight is going to be a real test of his current skillset in the UFC and whether it's going to be enough to get him to the top. Pellegrino is double-tough and has a ton of experience, great wrestling and will be a real challenge for Diaz to submit if this fight goes down to the ground. If it stays standing Pellegrino has a great chin and can throw punches with a lot of force behind them. As much as I'm sure the UFC would love to see Diaz pick up the biggest win of his career up to this point, I think that Pellegrino is just too smart to get caught in a submission, and just too much better at the other aspects of the fight, allowing him to pick up the win and send the younger Diaz back to the drawing board.

Winner: Kurt Pellegrino, Submission, Rd 2



Matt Hamill Vs. Tim Boetsch

Bren Oliver: Like many of you, I also enjoyed Tim Boetsch throwing David Heath around the Octagon as if his name was "Ike" and Heath's was "Tina". However, Matt Hamill is no David Heath, and he'll be much more difficult to humble in such a fashion. At UFC 75, Hamill proved he was more than a PB&J-consuming, "WOOOOOOOO"-producing, gimmick-fighter even in decision-defeat to Michael Bisping (which was a travesty as anyone who saw the bout can clearly attest to). His striking was solid and Hamill's wrestling credentials speak for themselves. I believe he'll handle Boetsch with relative ease and find himself in the ring with a significant opponent when making his next appearance in the eight-sided cage.

Winner: Matt Hamill, TKO, RD 1

Adam Tool: Much like the aforementioned Houston Alexander, Tim Boetsch is riding a nice bit of momentum but his game still leaves a lot of questions. Will he be able to defend Hamill's relentless takedowns? If he can, then I see no reason why he can't score another upset.

Winner: Boetsch via TKO in round 3

Justin Thomas: It's really difficult to tell who's gonna win this one. Both fighters are pretty unexperienced. Boetch is a newcomer in UFC. Hamill looked good against Bisping and I think he's gonna win this time, although he won't be able to finish his opponent.

Winner: Matt Hamill via decision

Dustin James: Wow! What a great fight this could be. You have Hamill who is the deaf guy everybody was rooting for on the Ultimate Fighter season 3. Hamill is currently 3-1 as a pro with his only loss being a very controversial one to Michael Bisping. Hamill has a lot of potential and he will definetely be tested when he faces Tim Boetsch. Boetsch made his UFC debut at UFC 81 and might be best remembered as the dude who dropped David Heath on his head like he was a rag doll. This very well may be your fight of the night.

Winner: Matt Hamill, Decision

Larry Csonka: I am a big Matt Hamill fan and yes, I still feel that he beat Bisping. I figure he'll have his way with Boetsch, taking him down and avoiding getting dropped on his head. Hamill is a beast and should win.

Winner: Matt Hamill, DEC

Randy Harrison: Two big strong wrestlers will hit the cage when Hamill and Boetsch tangle. Boetsch however has shown the ability to take people down with his striking and not just his wrestling. Just ask poor David Heath, who I'm sure is still having trouble remembering where he is after Boetsch re-arranged his brain cells with some powerful fists. Hamill is going to look to bounce back from his disappointing loss at UFC 75 to Michael Bisping and unfortunately for him, I don't think he's going to be able to do it in this fight. He did well against Bisping because he was able to exploit his size advantage, but against Boetsch he may even come in as the smaller fighter. He's not going to be able to bully Boetsch around or take him down at will, and I just don't think he has the hands to match Boetsch when the fight is standing. Tim Boetsch puts down Matt Hamill and wins in a mild upset.

Winner: Tim Boetsch, TKO, Rd 2


Thiago Alves Vs. Karo Parisyan

Bren Oliver: While I think Karo is the superior fighter between the two, I question his ability to finish opponents and I don't see him submitting, or knocking out, Thiago Alves. Since 2003 he's 11-3 and only two of those wins haven't been due to the judges' scorecards. I believe Parisyan will impose his will on Alves, controlling the bulk of the fight and scoring a few nice judo throws, but he'll only do enough to win the fight. I know Alves is on a four-fight winning streak but none of the victories came against Mixed Martial Artists on Karo's level.

Winner: Karo Parisyan, Judges' Decision

Adam Tool: I enjoy watching all of the various Thiago's fighting in the UFC. Other than Silva, it's probably the best name to have if you‘re a professional fighter (witness the awesomeness of Thiago Silva). That being said, I don't think this Thiago can knock Karo out, and he'll have a hard time keeping "The Heat" off of him.

Winner: Parisyan via decision

Justin Thomas: Geez, another Karo fight against an opponent who he must beat. Thiago Alves is fun, but I just don't think he's gonna win. Please, UFC, Fitch vs. Parisyan. That's what everyone wants. Let's just hope this one will be more exciting than Karo vs. Chonan.

Winner: Parisyan via decision

Dustin James: Karo! Karo! Karo! I swear I'm not biased towards Karo....but this one is going to be a Karo victory by unanimous decision. Why? Because it's KARO!

Winner: Karo Parisyan, Decision

Larry Csonka: I figure Parisyan rides out a decision here, in a less than exciting bout.

Winner: Parisyan, DEC

Randy Harrison: Parisyan is going to look to make an impression after a somewhat lackluster performance against Ryo Chonan at UFC 78 and he's going to try to make people remember why he was thought to be next in line for a UFC Welterweight Championship shot before the Jon Fitch freight train came rolling through. This fight is a tough one though, because while Parisyan needs a finish to make a big impact, he's not going to be able to get it against the tough Brazilian. Parisyan is slick enough to avoid the submissions from the American Top Team-trained Alves, but he's also probably not going to be able to gain the submission himself. Look for more of Karo's patented throws, a little bit of exchanging on the feet, and a LOT of grappling on the mat. Karo Parisyan's decision chain rolls on in a fight that has the potential to be really entertaining or a total snoozefest.

Winner: Karo Parisyan, Unanimous Decision


Kenny Florian Vs. Joe Lauzon

Bren Oliver: This card should have been billed as "Fight Night XIII: Ken-Flo vs. J-Lau". Regardless, I will be semi-surprised if Kenny Florian doesn't dominate the bulk of this showdown. I believe he's a better striker, and perhaps an even more-diverse stand-up fighter than Lauzon in the sense he has a decent arsenal of kicks in his repertoire whereas I haven't necessarily seen that from the TUF V alumnus. Florian shouldn't have a problem fending off Lauzon's submission attempts and takedowns. Sorry folks, but training with BJ Penn (like Joe) doesn't actually make you BJ Penn. Lauzon has a bright future in MMA but he's not as good as advertised. Had he not debuted against Jens Pulver, and pulled off a huge upset by knocking "Little Evil" out, there's a good chance Lauzon would just be an "Average Joe". His 16-3 record is very nice, but fifteen of his wins came against guys I'd bet 99% of you readers have never heard of. Florian is a step-up in competition I'm not quite sure Lauzon is ready to take.

Winner: Kenny Florian, Submission, RD 2

Adam Tool: It‘s "Ken-Flo" vs. "J-Lau" in the battle of the worst nicknames! Anyways looking back over my picks, I've played it pretty safe. However if I can see an upset in the making, it's right here. Both fighters have explosive power and submission skills to boot. Joe just seems to be a bit hungrier at the moment and I think he will overwhelm Kenny much like he did Jens Pulver.

Winner: Lauzon via TKO in round 1

Justin Thomas: So, both of these fighters have never won by decision because they FINISH FIGHTS. Also, they are both good at submissions. Joe also has some KO/TKO victories, while Florian usually finishes his fights with submissions. Kenny Florian should be a favorite here and this could very well be just another step for him to get a second shot at UFC Lightweight title. I wouldn't be too surprised if Lauzon won , but in my eyes, that can only happen with a lucky punch. And oh yeah, KenFlo WILL NOT finish this fight.

Winner: Florian via decision

Dustin James: Remember all those previous times I mentioned possible fight of the night winners? Throw them away. This here will be your fight of the night! Two guys who just love to fight. I'm so excited for this fight....I can't possibly type anymore. Look for the winner of this fight to get a shot at the winner of BJ Penn/Sean Sherk coming up in May.

Winner: Kenny Florian, Submission, Rd 3

Larry Csonka: This should be a sweet ass fight. Kenny Florian is coming off of three straight submission victories, while Joe is coming off of three straight UFC wins, two by submission. I am going with Joe here, in what should be a damn exciting fight. I am really looking forward to this.

Winner: Lauzon, RD2, SUB

Randy Harrison: The main event is stacking up to be a great fight, and could go a long way towards deciding who's going to be next in line to face BJ Penn or Sean Sherk for the UFC Lightweight Championship down the road. Florian has a ton of experience in the UFC and if he wins this fight, he should definitely be the number-one contender for the belt. Lauzon is coming into probably the biggest fight of his career, including his win over Jens Pulver, but I don't think there's any way that he can win this as Florian is a quicker, crisper striker and a much more accomplished grappler and submission fighter. Florian feels like he deserves to be in the main event to fight for the Lightweight Title and this fight is going to only further cement that feeling in his own mind, while perhaps affirming it in the minds of the rest of the MMA community. Florian wins with a submission after catching Joe on the mat and moves on to his second try at the Lightweight strap.

Winner: Kenny Florian, Submission, Rd 1


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Thanks for reading and remember to check 411Mania for live play-by-play coverage of "UFC Fight Night XIII", plus opinions on the event and the debut of "The Ultimate Fighter VII"...