411's UFC 83 Roundtable Preview, Part One

Posted by Randy Harrison on 04.18.2008

Join the staff of 411mania.com as they breakdown and predict every fight from Saturday night's huge UFC 83 card, headlined by the rematch between Georges St. Pierre and Matt Serra for the Undisputed UFC Welterweight Championship!



Welcome to another edition of the 411mania.com MMA Roundtable Preview. The UFC is set for it's biggest card to date, in terms of attendance, and one of the biggest main events so far this year. UFC 83 is set to hit the airwaves Saturday night from the Bell Center in Montreal, Qubeec, Canada, and our great MMA staff is set to give you their thoughts on the entire card from the opening strike to the final bell.

And just who is this set of fearless prognosticators you ask? Let's meet them all now.


Rocking the UFC Wired and Unleashed Recaps, JB Lederman.

The architect of the 411mania.com Fighter Profile, and the author of The Fighting Stance News Report, Adam Tool.

The man behind the newest sensation to hit Tuesdays, The Tuesday Leg Lock Report, Justin Thomas.

411's resident MMA rankings guru, Dustin James.

Da boss, Larry Csonka.

Giving you the odds in the Weekly MMA CrapSHOOT, Frederick Peterson.

Taking us Beyond The Fight, Sergio Hernandez.

Author of the Ground and Pound, John Curry.

Brightening your Wednesdays with his catchily named MMA News Report, Morgan Marx.

Shining his Spotlight on the world of MMA, Reuel Mante.

Covering The History of the UFC from day one, Matt McEwen

Showing us the Eight Sides of Steel every Saturday, Wendell Mitchell.

Keeping our Hangovers Punch-Drunk and our Fact and Fictions separated, Bren Oliver.

Finally, the guy in charge of this here rodeo, moi, Randy Harrison.

We've met the participants, so let's get on with the show!!



UFC 83 Roundtable Preview: Undercard Fights




Jonathan Goulet vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka


JB Lederman: Goulet will be too long and too strong for Hironaka. His reach will protect his slightly suspect chin and he'll pound out the stoppage in front of his home crowd.
Winner: Jonathan Goulet, TKO, Rd. 2

Adam Tool: We have our first Canadian competitor of the night in Jonathan Goulet. He's got some great submissions but Hironaka is no chump either. I think Goulet will be feeling that Canuck love and will come out fully pumped.
Winner: Jonathan Goulet, SUB, Rd. 2

Justin Thomas: Both of these guys have a pretty bad UFC record. They both specialize in Jiu-Jitsu, which means we could have an exciting ground battle or a really boring one. I'll go with Hironaka here.
Winner: Kuniyoshi Hironaka, DEC

Dustin James: I have a feeling that Hironaka is getting a tad overlooked in this fight. His UFC record is 1-2, but his losses came against Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves. The two top contenders for the UFC welterweight title. Hironaka is a Shooto fighter with a win over Nick Diaz, so that's impressive enough for me. Just because you are fighting in your country doesn't mean you will win. You think hometown advantage matters in MMA? Ask Rich Franklin.
Winner: Kuniyoshi Hironaka, DEC

Larry Csonka: Truth be told I am not exactly fans of either guy, and this is one f those fights where I am glad it is on the non-televised card. Goulet can be fun, while I have never been wowed by Hironaka so I will go Goulet here.
Winner: Jonathan Goulet, STRIKES, RD2

Fredrick Peterson: The first of many fights that is on the card just to showcase a Canadian fighter. I have never been impressed with Goulet.
Winner: Kuniyoshi Hironaka, DEC

Sergio Hernandez: Goulet's nickname is The Road Warrior and it couldn't be more appropriate. This guy is the definition of journeyman. He seemed suited for the smaller shows (KOTC, TKO) but it seems UFC calls him up when they need someone to take a beating that won't seem TOO one-sided. Hironaka has had a bumpy UFC career but his losses came from the no. 2 and 3 welterweights. I see the Japanese native evening his UFC record at .500.
Winner: Kuniyoshi Hironaka, TKO, RD2

John Curry: Goulet is fighting in his home country. I find it hard to believe he won't be psyched up to win in front of his home. This could be either good or bad, too much psyching up and he could get sloppy. With that being said though Hironaka took Nick Diaz the distance and walked away with a win so I am going with...
Winner: Kuniyoshi Hironaka, DEC

Morgan Marx: Goulet is just good enough to get invited back to the UFC, but not talented enough to string together victories. Three of Hironaka's losses have come against top competition (Fitch, Alves, Aoki). I think the Canadian contingent may get off to a rough start.
Winner: Kuniyoshi Hironaka, SUB, Rd 1

Reuel Mante: Goulet has a chance to really get the Canadian crowd pumped up. Hironaka might be taken off guard by the crowd yelling stuff like, "What's that all aboot?" Goulet needs this win.
Winner: Jonathan Goulet, TKO, Rd 1

Matt McEwen: This will be the fight of the night! Just joking, though with Goulet in the ring the chances of a highlight reel KO goes up. Both guys are middle of the road in the UFC welterweight division and while they have talent, they're far too inconsistent to use that talent to full advantage. Goulet has the added pressure of being the hometown boy, but he should be able to get past that and pound out a stoppage on Hironaka.
Winner: Jonathan Goulet, TKO, Round 2

Wendell Mitchell: The wrestling fan in me says Goulet will lose because he's a hometown boy. The MMA fan in me is being distracted by the dulcet tones of Sweet Chin Music, so:
Winner: Kuniyoshi Hironaka, DEC

Bren Oliver: Though it's fairly safe to say neither Hironaka or Goulet will ever be UFC Champion, both men are solid, veteran fighters and I think this should turn out to be a fairly balanced match-up between the two. The crowd will obviously favor Goulet, their fellow Canuck, and I think it will be interesting to see how he handles the added adrenaline boost of opening up the first Canadian UFC PPV in front of his countrymen. I believe the first two rounds should be back and forth with Hironaka cleaning up the third with his ground game.
Winner: Kuniyoshi Hironaka, SUB, Rd 3

Randy Harrison: Hironaka and Goulet are both veterans, but Goulet is going to have the advantage of fighting in front of his fellow countrymen, which will probably be the X factor. If he can keep it as an advantage and have the crowd behind him, he stands to be in good shape. If he crumbles under the pressure, expect Hironaka to have things in hand rather quickly. As much as the rabidly pro-Canada crowd would love to see him win, I see the latter happening for Goulet.
Winner: Kuniyoshi Hironaka, SUB, Rd 2



Brad Morris vs. Cain Velasquez


JB Lederman: Morris has been KO'd before; Velasquez is an unknown quantity, though both of his wins have come by TKO. I smell a "predetermined" UFC outcome. For both their sakes, this better be quick.
Winner: Cain Velasquez, TKO, Rd. 1

Adam Tool: Anyone perusing the 411 Forums may have already heard me express my excitement over Cain Valesquez. If you've never heard of the guy I'll tell you this, his training partner Jon Fitch called him "the biggest and baddest heavyweight around." He's a wrestler with some brutal ground and pound, and in my opinion he has all the tools to be a major player in the heavyweight scene. Hopefully we'll get to see his UFC debut on the main broadcast.
Winner: Cain Valasquez, TKO, Rd 1

Justin Thomas: Not alot is known about these two fighters. Valesquez is only 2-0, but he finished both of his fights via TKO in round 1. Let's hope that he'll manage to continue that streak in the UFC and provide us an exciting finish.
Winner: Cain Velasquez, TKO, Rd. 1

Dustin James: This is the UFC debut for both men. Morris is definitely the more experienced MMA fighter in this fight seeing as Velasquez is only 2-0 in MMA, while Morris is 8-2. I'm basically going to flip a coin on this one.....
Winner: Cain Velasquez, TKO, Rd 1

Larry Csonka: Cain Velasquez is coming in to this fight in his young career at 2-0, with wins in Strikeforce and BODOG. Morris has the experience at 8-2, with a win in BODOG as well. I think this will be a test for the up and coming Velasquez, and will likely go to decision.
Winner: Cain Velasquez, DEC

Fredrick Peterson: Two first time UFC heavyweights. A lot of people have been talking up Velasquez but I saw some impressive video on Morris. Good conditioning and vicious ground and pound. Either way I expect someone to get pounded out.
Winner: Brad Morris, TKO, RD2

Sergio Hernandez:Two heavyweights make their UFC debut in this prelim. I haven't had a chance to see Morris fight but his Sherdog Fight Finder listing has him at 9-2 (which equates to a 12-2 record according to the UFC) with his two losses coming from (T)KO. Velasquez has heavy hands and doesn't like fighting outside the first. Except this one to end quickly.
Winner: Cain Velasquez, TKO, RD1

John Curry: This is the UFC debut for both fighters, so expect both of them to come out and try to make a name for themselves. I look for this fight to be done and over very, very quickly.
Winner: Brad Morris, TKO, Rd 1

Morgan Marx: This fight reminds me of the Jake O'Brien v. Josh Shockman fight from UFC 65. The UFC is bringing in two heavyweight prospects and pitting them against one another. Velasquez has the better wrestling pedigree and buzz; Morris has more experience. Velasquez is obviously being set up as a future UFC contender; he should get the victory. Hopefully, this doesn't end with Velasquez getting cut from the promotion with no warning after his first loss.
Winner: Cain Velasquez, DEC

Reuel Mante: I don't know much about Velazquez so I'm going with the more experienced one in Morris.
Winner: Brad Morris, DEC

Matt McEwen: If all the hype is true, the REAL future of the heavyweight division debuts in the Octagon in this one. And I'm not talking about Morris. Velasquez is a high level collegiate wrestler who is 2-0 in MMA and has that most fleeting of muscle for some fighters - a brain. How do I know he has a brain? Well, he trains at AKA which probably the best camp in the world right now for building an all around fighter out of a strong wrestling base. Just ask Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch. And if you ask them about Velasquez, be prepared for a lot of praise as they both say he is the baddest big man around. Morris is a big fish Down Under, but stepping into the big time against a beast like Velasquez is a whole different world.
Winner: Cain Velasquez, TKO, Rd 1

Wendell Mitchell: It's a battle between two guys making their debuts in the Octagon. Velasquez is probably thinking of calling it a night as early as possible, so I see him trying to add another KO loss to Morris's record.
Winner: Cain Velasquez, TKO, Rd. 1

Bren Oliver: From all accounts, and a 2-0 record with both wins in the first round, Cain is certainly appears to be able. Both he and and his opponent will be making their UFC debuts on Saturday night with the overall experience edge going to Morris who has eleven professional fights under his belt. I believe the match-up favors Velasquez in the sense he has good striking and his size, plus wrestling ability, should neutralize Morris' ground attack. I see a slam, then ground-and-pound finish, coming early in the fight. Given the hype surrounding Velasquez it will be interesting to see if he can deliver since the UFC is in desperate need of legitimate Heavyweight contenders.
Winner: Cain Velasquez, TKO, Rd.1

Randy Harrison: Hot heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez makes his UFC debut here against a tough opponent in Brad Morris. Morris has the experience on Velasquez, who has only had two previous MMA bouts, but that's about it. Velasquez is the better wrestler, stronger, has better striking, and that's not even mentioning his devastating ground and pound which I've seen in action before. This could be short and violent, but even if it isn't, Velasquez comes out on top.
Winner: Cain Velasquez, TKO, Rd 1



Rich Clementi vs. Sam Stout


JB Lederman: Because of Clementi's defeat of Melvin Guillard, he is currently my favorite fighter. "Go practice some jiu-jitsu, Melvin." Classic. I'm going with my heart (though not necessarily against my head) in this one. I like Stout, but:
Winner: Rich Clementi, SUB, Rd. 2

Adam Tool: Canadian alert number two: Sam Stout is best remembered for his two wars with Spencer Fisher and by now everyone knows that the power in his hands is very real. Clementi last got attention for his submission victory (and subsequent shenanigans) against Melvin Guillard. This matchup is tough to call because both fighters have shown flashes of brilliance. However I do have to pick a winner so I'll go with the Rich winning a close decision.
Winner: Rich Clementi, DEC

Justin Thomas: Sam Stout has provided us with two exciting fights against Spencher Fisher. But I have never been impressed with Sam. Clementi is yet another guy, who has been fighting in both UFC and other organizations. He got rid of Guillard quite easily and I expect the same performance against Stout.
Winner: Rich Clementi, SUB, Rd. 1

Dustin James: Clementi was recently able to get to get rid of a "problem" when he was able to submit hated rival Melvin Guillard. Clementi is riding a 4 fight win streak, which for a lot of people is impressive....however, Clementi fought 6 times in 2007! Since his arrival in the UFC in 2006 he's been one of the most active fighters in the organization. Will this help when he faces Sam Stout? I believe so. I believe Clementi's experience's will pay off here.
Winner: Rich Clementi, SUB, Rd 2

Larry Csonka: Rich Clementi has been a machine lately, and I do not see Stout stopping him here. No Love for you Sam Stout.
Winner: Rich Clementi, SUB, RD1

Fredrick Peterson: I see this being an extremely exciting fight. Hope this one makes the broadcast. I'm gonna go with the Canadian.
Winner: Sam Stout, DEC

Sergio Hernandez:Ah, No Love! He's going to have his hands full with Stout. Make no mistake, Stout is a stand-up fighter. No one, even Stout himself, would argue that. He will want to keep this standing against the grappler. Clementi, of course, will want to take this down. Stout is no coked-up Guillard, however, and will not leave his neck out hanging.
Winner: Sam Stout, TKO, RD3

John Curry: With Stout's last two losses coming from two highly talented fighters, Kenny Florian and Spencer Fisher and Clementi's only recognizable win coming against Guillard (which I loved) I am looking for Stout's hands to be the difference and hand Clementi his second TKO.
Winner: Sam Stout TKO, Rd. 2

Morgan Marx: Stout impressed against Per Eklund. In the past, Stout's superior striking was undercut by his lack of a ground game. The Canadian vastly improved his takedown defense and ground skills since working with Xtreme Couture. Clementi will test those skills. It's easy to discount Clementi as a lightweight title challenger, but a majority of his losses have come against talented foes. Clementi has a shot at taking this fight down, taking Stouts back, and taking the victory by choke. However, I think Stout's developing game and his hometown crowd boosts the Montreal native to victory.
Winner: Sam Stout, DEC

Reuel Mante: Rich Clementi is definitely on a roll, like beating Melvin Guillard was a big deal. However, Stout does train in Xtreme Couture so you could imagine there's a game plan to nullify Clementi's submission skills. Stout has proven to be tough and can take a hit or twenty.
Winner: Sam Stout, DEC

Matt McEwen: This is an easy one to dissect. If Clementi can get the fight to the ground, his superior jiu jitsu should be more than enough to finish of Stout. On the other hand, if Stout can avoid the mat and keep the fight standing, Clementi will be laying on his back sooner rather than later. With even more time working at Xtreme Couture, my money is on Stout.
Winner: Sam Stout, TKO, Rd 2

Wendell Mitchell: Despite "Hands of Stone" I'm looking for another Canadian to bite the dust. I expect the Louisiana native to remind us that 14 of his wins came by way of submission and he chokes out Stout.
Winner: Rich Clementi, SUB, Rd 2

Bren Oliver: As sad as I am to admit this, I'm actually looking forward to a fight involving Rich Clementi. He won four fights in four months between September 1st and December 29th of 2007 but hasn't competed since. Well-earned time off, no? Clementi has good stand-up and is decent on the ground as well. He certainly seems to have improved since his stint on the Ultimate Fighter Season IV. Stout, on the other hand, is younger with better hands but fewer skills when things hit the mat. Clementi would be wise to take him down and work for a submission. However, I have a sinking feeling "No Love" will instead exchange leather with Stout and come out on the worse end of things. I'm pretty sure they don't call him "Hands of Stone" due to an inability to catch a football...
Winner: Sam Stout, TKO, Rd.1

Randy Harrison: Rich Clementi surprised me with his victories over both Anthony Johnson and Melvin Guillard, but there will be no surprises for me in the cage Saturday night. He should be able to avoid Stout's devastating punches and get the fight down to the ground, where Clementi is king and has a wealth of submissions at his disposal. Stout will make Canada 0-2 on the evening when he's forced to tap in this one.
Winner: Rich Clementi, SUB, Rd 2



Ed Herman vs. Demian Maia


JB Lederman: The question here is who's going to SUB who? Herman needs this win much more than Maia does. Heart and certain level of comfort in the Octagon will lead to:
Winner: Ed Herman, SUB, Rd. 2

Adam Tool: Ed Herman's loss to Kendall Grove doesn't really look so bad now does it? I know Dustin will be talking up "Short Fuse" (if he hasn't enough already) so allow me to shine a light on Demian Maia. He's another tough Brazilian fighter with a black belt in BJJ and some serious ground and pound. I like Herman, but I don't think this night will be going well for him.
Winner: Demian Maia, SUB, Rd. 1

Justin Thomas: Herman is on a 3 fight winning streak and UFC certainly wants that to continue. But defending submissions seems to be Ed's weakest point, as most of his losses were via submission and in his last fight against Doerksen, Herman was saved by the bell. Maia is undefeated in his career (6-0) and made his UFC debut at UFC 77, quickly submitting Ryan Jensen. This is a tough one to call, but I think Ed will take this one, because he's more experienced and will probably try to avoid getting to the ground.
Winner: Ed Herman, TKO, Rd. 2

Dustin James: I PRAY that they show this fight on the main card. Ed is my boy, and that's not a secret. Maia is an undefeated fighter who may be able to cause some problems for "Short Fuse". However, I believe Ed's experience will pay off and he will continue to show the world that he can be a force in the UFC middleweight division.
Winner: Ed Herman, SUB, Rd 3

Larry Csonka: Herman is coming off of three straight wins, including a hard fought win over Joe Doerksen his last time out. Demian Maia is rolling in at 6-0 and looks to rock the boat. I think it will be a competitive bout, but I see Herman continuing to roll.
Winner: Ed Herman, SUB, RD2

Fredrick Peterson: The Short fuse has looked impressive in his last few fights. Still I remember him getting submitted by Jason McaDonald and I can see the same happening here.
Winner: Demian Maia, SUB, RD2

Sergio Hernandez: This is a fight where experience will win out. Maia is a young prospect but Herman has danced in the UFC far more times against far superior opponents.
Winner: Ed Herman, Sub, RD1

John Curry: If there is one thing about this fight that keeps me from making a rational decision it is Ed Herman's refusal to stop fighting. This and the UFC brass loves this guy. So with this said.
Winner:Ed Herman, SUB, Rd 2

Morgan Marx: Herman finally scored his KO, but he still hasn't fixed the one big flaw in his game. Too often, he finds himself caught in sudden submissions. Were it not for the timely ending of the second round, we'd be talking about Joe Doerksen's impressive victory at UFC 78. Against Maia, one of the top-level jiu jitsu fighters in the UFC, that flaw is going to be a huge problem. I love Maia's game and the way he secures dominant positions. Unlike Alberto Crane, Maia is comfortable raining strikes from the back as opposed to solely looking for submissions. Herman continues to develop, but he'll take another step back against Maia
Winner: Demian Maia, SUB, Rd 2

Reuel Mante: I'm not a huge fan of Maia but I don't see Herman faring any better than Ryan Jensen.
Winner: Demian Maia, SUB, Rd 2

Matt McEwen: If you're a fan of ground fighting and submissions like I do, you should be looking forward to this one. Two high level submission fighters going at it makes me drool, and as long as I get to see a good fight out of it, I'm happy. But who pulls out the win? I'm leaning towards the undefeated Maia as I think as a pure discipline BJJ is superior to submission grappling. There's a disclaimer to put on that though, as a lot of times that freakish wrestler strength comes into play and negates a lot of BJJ positions. That being said....
Winner: Demian Maia, SUB, Rd 3

Wendell Mitchell: I'm going with the BJJ guy here, just because.
Winner: Demian Maia, SUB, Rd 2

Bren Oliver: My heart wants to see Ed Herman win this fight, but my head tells me Demian Maia will emerge victorious at the end of things. Maia lacks Herman's experience and striking ability, but I think the crafty Brazilian is smart enough to keep things on the ground. Herman has put together a nice three-fight win streak but 3/4 of his career losses have come via submission. Unfortuantely for "Short Fuse", Maia is a jiujitsu savant and is considered one of the world's best when it comes to the discipline. This is a guy who has been training in it since childhood, is an ADCC Champion, Pan American champ, and who once tapped-out UFC Heavyweight Gabriel Gonzaga in a submission fighting tournament. His strength is Herman's weakness and I think that will ultimately make all the difference at UFC 83.
Winner: Demian Maia, SUB, Rd.2

Randy Harrison: Demian Maia has really impressed me with his showings in the UFC and I think that he's going to be able to keep things on the mat against Herman and avoid the heavy hands that "Short Fuse" brings to the table. Herman has a definite weakness on the mat and if anyone can exploit it, it's the jiu-jitsu master in Maia. This could be a long drawn out fight as Maia tries to wait out a mistake, and I think that the mistake will come once Herman tires in the last round.
Winner: Demian Maia, SUB, Rd 2



Jason Day vs. Alan Belcher


JB Lederman: Something about this fight tells me that this is all about Octagon shock. Belcher seems to have a good chin. Day will let his nerves give away the first two rounds, and by then it will be too late and the fight will have slipped away.
Winner: Alan Belcher, DEC

Adam Tool: We have our third Candian fighter on the card, making his octagon debut no less. Jason Day may have an extra bundle of nerves when he steps into the cage on Saturday, but he's an experienced fighter and if the pressure doesn't get to him I see no reason he can't take out the un-impressive Belcher.
Winner: Jason Day, SUB, Rd. 2

Justin Thomas: Day is making his UFC debut and he has won 9 out of his last 10 fights. Belcher has more UFC experience, but his record inside the octagon is 3-2, not too impressive. Day will upset Alan in the first round, by quickly applying a submission and hopefully earning a UFC contract.
Winner: Jason Day, SUB, Rd. 1

Dustin James: Welcome to the UFC Jason Day. Will it be lucky for you to make your UFC debut in your home country? Remember what I said earlier about hometown advantages? The last time we saw ol Alan Belcher he was giving former Ultimate Fighter contestant Kalib Starnes a nasty cut that made me want puke, remember that thing? Uggggghhh. Man, I really don't know where to go on this one.
Winner: Alan Belcher, DEC

Larry Csonka: Belcher is used to fighting better quality opponents, and I thin he will take "Dooms" Day out, rather easily.
Winner: Alan Belcher, STRIKES, RD1

Fredrick Peterson: Another fight with a UFC debut. This is also another fight with a Canadian being showcased for the crowd. Belcher's UFC experience should prove sufficent to defeat the debuting Day.
Winner: Alan Belcher, DEC

Sergio Hernandez: Just as in the case with Herman/Maia, experience will end up winning this bought for Belcher. The last time we saw Belcher, he opened up a canyon on Kalib Starnes' face and while I don't expect this fight to match that level of brutality, I don't expect it to last too long.
Winner: Alan Belcher, Sub, RD1

John Curry: Good Heaven's are these the best Canadians UFC could find other than St. Pierre? Look for Canada to be upset again.
Winner: Alan Belcher, TKO, Rd 2

Morgan Marx: I'm a sucker for Belcher. Maybe it's the fact that he visited the actual Fairtex camp to work his muay Thai. Maybe it's because he's the proverbial "athlete" with the impressive look. In any event, Belcher seems to have dodged a major bullet. I thought he could defeat a returning Ricardo Almeida, but the BJJ wizard would have given Belcher fits on the ground. Instead, Belcher finds himself in a winnable fight on the undercard. If Belcher stops Day quickly and decisively, we might catch this fight on the PPV broadcast.
Winner: Alan Belcher, KO, Rd 2

Reuel Mante: I'm going with Alan Belcher on this one. Any fighter that can make another guy's skull visible get my nod.
Winner: Alan Belcher, TKO, Rd 3

Matt McEwen: Here's the big Canuck debut for the card, as Jason Day is a big fish on the Canadian MMA circuit and gets a chance to show what he's made of in the Octagon. I would have rather seen Roger Hollet get this showcase, but a knee injury made that impossible. As for Day, he gets to take on the enigma that is Alan Belcher. He looks like he has all the talent in the world to make an impact in a week division but seems stuck in neutral despite winning his last two fights. This one is going to be a competitive slug fest at times, and I see it going the distance.
Winner: Jason Day, DEC

Wendell Mitchell: If only Day were from Calgary…oh well. I'm still picking him because nothing good ever came out of Biloxi.
Winner: Jason Day, SUB, Rd 2

Bren Oliver: I've heard a lot of criticism regarding the UFC's decision to stack this card with lesser-known Canadian fighters, like Jason Day, but I personally have no problem with it because I feel they've done so in an intelligent, entertaining way. Is every Canadian on the event as deserving of a PPV slot compared to some of the men who competed at UFC Fight Night XIII? Absolutely not. But, with the "hometown fighter" label being a good draw in terms of attracting fans (as the 21,000 sold for UFC 83 attest to), it makes perfect sense and the UFC has made similar accomodations for other events (Rich Franklin in Ohio, Tito Ortiz in California, Michael Bisping in the UK, Heath Herring in Texas, and Brock Lesnar and Roger Huerta at UFC 87 in Minnesota).

I think Jason Day is essentially a "jobber" for "The Talent" to beat in order to further his potential contendership in the Middleweight Division. Belcher's two UFC losses have come to Kendall Grove and Yushin Okami, but he's won two fights in a row so it seems like a good time for the UFC to try and allow him to build up some momentum. Day is a solid opponent, but he is making his Octagon debut at the event and went a tough three-rounds against David Louiseau less than three months ago. I think Belcher will dominate from start to finish but I'm not certain he can submit or hit the button and leave Day dreaming.

By the way, speaking of Louiseau, wouldn't it have been awesome to see "The Crow" make his UFC return in front of his fellow Canadians (and on the same card as close friend Georges St. Pierre)? Maybe next year...
Winner: Alan Belcher, DEC

Randy Harrison: Boy, this is looking like a bad night to be a Canadian not named Georges St. Pierre. They don't call Belcher the talent for nothing and he's going to prove it with another win here.
Winner: Alan Belcher, DEC



Joe Doerksen vs. Jason MacDonald


JB Lederman: Doerksen has a ton of experience but once again I smell a fix. He is supposed to help rebuild MacDonald, and MacDonald has beaten him before.
Winner: Jason MacDonald, SUB, Rd. 2

Adam Tool: I‘ve been keeping track of the Canadian fighters on the card, but now we come to the fight where both competitors hail from the Great White North. I just watched McDonald's fight with Chris Leben the other day and I had forgotten how good he can be sometimes. Meanwhile Doerkson is coming off back-to-back losses against Paulo Filho and Ed Herman. If McDonald tries to take it to the ground (which I think he will) then he's likely to get caught in a submission.
Winner: Joe Doerkson, SUB, Rd. 3

Justin Thomas: These two fighters have alot in common. Both Canadians, both submission experts, both have victories against Chris Leben and Ed Herman, both have lost their last fight, both - middleweight division gatekeepers. Last time these two met Jason won via submission in 4th round. However, tthis fight will only be 3 rounds, so Jason's going to win by decision. I seriously can't see a submission here, unless one of these fighters gasses.
Winner: Jason MacDonald, DEC

Larry Csonka: This is a fight of desperation. Both men are coming off of a loss, and Doerksen is actually coming off of two losses. The hard fought loss to Herman and then the loss in WEC to Fihlo. This should be a rather intense fight as both men really cannot afford the loss. If Doerksen loses, it is back to WEC at best at this point in his career. I think Doerksen is a damn good fighter, and if his gas tank is full, I think he can take it and I will go with him.
Winner: Joe Doerksen, DEC

Fredrick Peterson: Jason MacDonald is one of the best fighters Canada has to offer. He has impressive submission victories of Chris Leben and Ed Herman. His only two UFC losses come against top middleweight fighers Franklin and Okami. Doerksen has only one UFC victory to his name. My only question is how the fight ends. I'll go with...
Winner: Jason MacDonald, TKO, RD2

Sergio Hernandez: Doerksen is coming off of two losses, including a failed WEC Middleweight title bid. Fellow Canadian MacDonald recently snoozed me into a coma fighting Yushin Okami (although, it's Okami's fault more than MacDonald's). These two match up well together and should be a fun fight to watch.
Winner: Jason MacDonald, Unanimous Decision

John Curry: This is Doerksen's revenge fight against MacDonald. No matter how long ago a loss was you always want to make sure it isn't a repeat occurance. With that being said, MacDonald is an impressive fighter, while not a headliner he still makes for fun fights.
Winner: Jason MacDonald, SUB, Rd 3

Morgan Marx: Doerksen doesn't do much for me. Any positives that came from surviving Paulo Filho's takedown attempts have certainly been tempered by Filho's personal issues. And as great as the submission attempt was against Herman, Doerksen still found himself getting dominated for much of the fight. MacDonald seems to do best when he's confident (or when he's facing TUF talent). You could tell that MacDonald wasn't quite feeling it against Rich Franklin. Having already beaten Doerksen and fighting before a partisan crowd, MacDonald should get back to winning ways
Winner: Jason MacDonald, SUB, Rd 2

Reuel Mante: The Athlete versus El Dirte. Nickname alone I have to go with Doerksen because it sounds disgusting and I have that kind of humor to appreciate that. On paper, both men have a similar record when it comes to fighting top tier talent. MacDonald owns a previous win over Doerksen which makes me believe Joe is ready for revenge.
Winner: Joe Doerksen, SUB, Rd 2

Matt McEwen: These two fought a 5 rounder in 2005 that MacDonald won by submission, and I don't see how that outcome changes in this one. Since then, MacDonald has stepped up his level of competition and made a name for himself in the UFC with a 3-2 record. With the exception of the Rich Franklin fight, he hasn't been outclassed by anyone. Doerkson, on the other hand, has a 1-4 record in the big show, is coming in off of two straight losses and isn't getting any younger. Their most recent shared opponent is Ed Herman, who KO'd Doerkson in his last fight, but looked like an amateur in getting tapped out by MacDonald. Look for the transplanted Bluenoser to finish this one in style.
Winner: Jason MacDonald, SUB, Rd 2

Wendell Mitchell: CANADA EXPLODES~!!! I couldn't help myself. Two Canadians go at it in this contest. Doerkson coming off two straight losses and I don't think McDonald wants to be the win that gets him back on track. So McDonald would be wise to avoid trying to take it to the ground too early and getting caught with a submission.
Winner: Jason McDonald, DEC

Bren Oliver: Both Jason MacDonald and Joe Doerksen need this win as each is coming off a losing performance. I think their skills are evenly matched with MacDonald possessing a slight edge when it comes to stand-up. It's redundant to say, but I also like the athleticism of "The Athlete", MacDonald, and I believe he'll use his strength, speed, and technique to prevent Doerksen from avenging an earlier career loss to the red-headed fighter out of Edmonton.
Winner: Jason MacDonald, DEC

Randy Harrison: I may say it every time, but I just can't pick against the guy from Winnipeg. MacDonald may be the "Athlete", but Doerksen has a ton of experience and has submission skills aplenty. He's also going to be hungry to avoid being relegated back to the WEC, so expect some fire from him here, especially when he was so close to putting down Ed Herman before getting caught. Hey, at least a Canadian HAS to win here.
Winner: Joe Doerksen, SUB, Rd 2


Follow the staff over to Part Two of the UFC 83 Roundtable Preview to see everyone's thoughts on the Main Card fights!!