411's UFC 83 Roundtable Preview, Part Two

Posted by Randy Harrison on 04.18.2008

Part Two of the UFC 83 Roundtable Preview, looking at the five main card fights you're guaranteed to see Saturday night. Check inside for everyone's thoughts on the Main Event and more!!



The Roundtable Preview too big for one post rolls on as we look at all five of the main card bouts from UFC 83!

Part one is available here.

UFC 83 Roundtable Preview: Main Card Fights



Mark Bocek vs. Mac Danzig


JB Lederman: Danzig, as big of a douchebag as he is, actually (gasp) BACKS UP WHAT HE SAYS. He is too experienced and too good for Bocek. He'll beat Bocek in whichever fashion he chooses, but I'll say:
Winner: Mac Danzig, SUB, Rd. 1

Adam Tool: Anyone that watched the last season of "The Ultimate Fighter" will tell you that Mac Danzig didn't have much in the way of competition. Now he's officially in the ranks of the most exciting division in the UFC and he will have to prove he belongs. Mac needs to make a big statement for his PPV debut and I think he will do just that.
Winner: Mac Danzig, SUB, Rd. 1

Justin Thomas: Ah, here comes the main card. UFC wants Mac to gather some wins against not so strong competition and Bocek is a Canadian aka the local guy. Danzig is more experienced and Bocek is 1-1 in the UFC. So this should end quickly. I don't think Bocek would stand a chance against pre-TUF6 Mac Danzig and now that our beloved vegan has improved a lot in the TUF house (crashing the house made him stronger), he has all the chances to win, by... rear naked choke?
Winner: Mac Danzig, SUB, Rd. 1

Dustin James: I have a feeling ol Mark Bocek may be cannon fodder for Mac Danzig. Danzig SHOULD win this fight. Why? Because he has the coolest picture on Sherdog.com! Oh, you were looking for another reason? I'm betting Bocek could win the fight if he brought a bird to the ring with him, killed it, then ate it, and while Danzig was crying you just slip behind him and REAR NAKED CHOKE! There's your game plan Bocek.
Winner: Mac Danzig, KO, Rd 1

Larry Csonka: Bocek is 5-1 thanks to a win over Doug Evans at UFC 79, while Mac Danzig is the winner of TUF 6, and ready for action. He was very impressive on the show and in the finals, and I feel he'll show off his skills here in impressive fashion.
Winner: Mac Danzig, SUB, RD2

Fredrick Peterson: I am not very happy that this is a main card fight. I'm guessing the UFC is expecting a quick finish. Danzig should walk through this fight and hopefully step into a competitive fight against a top lightweight guy for his next one.
Winner: Mac Danzig, SUB, RD1

Sergio Hernandez: Standard post-TUF winner fight. Danzig beats the home...country boy.
Winner: Mac Danzig, TKO, RD1

John Curry: While I am not familiar with Bocek, I am familiar with Danzig from TUF fame, and the one thing that really stuck out to me about him was his desire and his calmness in the cage. I know that isn't much but to me that shows a fighter who doesn't make many mistakes.
Winner: Mac Danzig, SUB, Rd 1

Morgan Marx: Danzig has drawn a tough opponent in his first official UFC bout. Bocek is great on the ground, much better than the fighters Danzig downed on TUF 6. It will be interesting to see whether the Canadian fans support Bocek (the hometown fighter) or Danzig (the TV star). Danzig should fare well against a lightweight his own size, even one with good wrestling. Danzig's best chance will be to emulate Frankie Edgar and keep things standing.
Winner: Mac Danzig, DEC

Reuel Mante: Mac Danzig wins this hands down. Come on. Does anyone really believe that Joe Silva would put the TUF winner against someone who could destroy him so soon after the show?
Winner: Mac Danzig via decision

Matt McEwen: In his first post-TUF outing Danzig draws a young, relatively inexperienced submission fighter. If that's not tailor made for a Danzig win, then I don't know what is. All of Bocek's strengths are negated by Danzig, who is the kind of fighter who won't let his TUF success go to his head. If anything, being a "TV star" fighter will just motivate him to show how good he really is.
Winner:Danzig, SUB, Rd 1

Wendell Mitchell: As the winner of the last Ultimate Fighter, I'm picking him and expect him to make a statement in his PPV debut.
Winner: Mac Danzig, SUB, Rd 1

Bren Oliver: Stop the presses! We've got ourselves a rare battle of nickname-free Mixed Martial Artists! Bocek is a rounded fighter but I don't believe he has Danzig's polish or arsenal. The TUF VI Champion is as prone to knock an opponent out as he is to submit him, while I feel this bout's representative from North of the Border only has his wrestling and jiujitsu to rely on. I don't believe Bocek will produce any offense that Mac can't handle and I see Danzig taking him down repeatedly before eventually pounding out the win in his first TUF-free UFC bout.
Winner: Mac Danzig, TKO, Rd.2

Randy Harrison: One of these guys just won the Ultimate Fighter show and one of them will be headed back to the Alaska Fighting Championship shortly after this fight is over. I think you all know who is who.
Winner: Mac Danzig, TKO, Rd 1



Charles McCarthy vs. Michael Bisping


JB Lederman: Can you say overrated? Bisping is. His standup is archaic, and that's his strength. McCarthy, though he thinks a bit too highly of himself on the ground, can and will finish Bisping there.
Winner: Charles McCarthy, SUB, Rd. 3

Adam Tool: Michael Bisping may just be the most unpopular winner of "The Ultimate Fighter" in the show's brief history (although Mac Danzig could steal that title in time). Charles McCarthy has all the chance in the world to score a big victory here, but Bisping should be determined to get a big win and move up the (depleted) ladder toward a possible title shot at 185.
Winner: Michael Bisping, TKO, Rd. 2

Justin Thomas: I'm sick of Michael Bisping. He's always fighting cans and always has boring fights. However, this is another example of why Dana White is a smart man. Bisping is their biggest draw in the UK, so they want him to look dominant. His performances against Hamill and Evans were bad though. MAYBE he will not be so bland in the middleweight division... McCarthy is yet another TUF guy. Quite frankly, I don't care about this fight one bit, and it's difficult for me to hype it. While Bisping certainly isn't a top 10 fighter, in my opinion he's still a better fighter than McCarthy so Bisping should win. Right?
Winner: Michael Bisping, DEC

Dustin James: Ehhhh. This fight is as interesting to me as anything that airs on the Soap Net channel. Next!
Winner: Michael Bisping, DEC

Larry Csonka: McCarthy may be 10-4, but he is here to lose. Bisping should have lost to Hammil, and then he lost to Evans; he failed at Light Heavyweight. As much as I want Bisping to lose, I figure he'll take the win.
Winner: Michael Bisping, STRIKES, RD2

Fredrick Peterson: Another fight on the main card designed to showcase a fighter destined to go on to bigger and better things. I see it going the way the UFC hopes, only without a knockout.
Winner: Michael Bisping, DEC

Sergio Hernandez: Bisping makes his 185 debut after being bounced from the light heavyweight division against a very game McCarthy. McCarthy has been promising to spoil Bisping's MW debut but the Briton is competent enough on his feet and on the ground to weather any storm the ATT fighter brings.
Winner: Michael Bisping, DEC

John Curry: If there is ever a fighter I pray to all of the dieties in the known universe to get knocked the hell out it is Bisping. I just cannot stand his arrogant ass. This was solidified by his shit talking after the Hamill fight. Say what you want, I am a Hamill fan and therefore I hope for McCarthy to win but I will be unbiased in my decision. With Bisping coming off a loss (2 if you count Hamill) look for Bisping to re-establish himself.
Winner:Michael Bisping, TKO, Rd 2

Morgan Marx: I found it ironic that McCarthy has crowed about being the best BJJ player Bisping will have faced the same week that Eric Schaefer received his blackbelt. I think Bisping overpowers McCarthy the same way he finished Schaefer: surviving submission attempts while dropping strikes from the top. Bisping hasn't submitted anyone off his back in the UFC, but his jiu jitsu is good enough that he should be able to handle whatever McCarthy throws at him. I don't think McCarthy can mach the Brit's cardio and repertoire of strikes.
Winner: Michael Bisping TKO, Rd 1

Reuel Mante: Bisping's size advantage will give him the win.
Winner: Michael Bisping via TKO in round one

Matt McEwen: What were the knocks against Bisping at 205lbs? He didn't have KO power, didn't have the strength to effectively submit guys and was too small to deal with wrestlers. Wipe that board clean as dropping down 20lbs should give him plenty of power, strength and size. And let's not forget that - with the exception of the Hamill fighter, where he showed a lot of heart - no one beat Bisping up even with his disadvantages. If you're looking for someone who might light up a weak division, you may not need to look much further than Bisping. "Chainsaw" Charles is going to have his hands full, but is good enough on the ground that he has a chance, but to be honest his wins have come against less than impressive competition. Add in that this is his first fight in nearly 18 months, and you've got another handpicked TUF victim.
Winner: Bisping, TKO, Rd 1

Wendell Mitchell: Bisping is making his debut at 185 and has something to prove after his last UFC fight. McCarthy will put up a good fight I think, but Bisping should take this one.
Winner: Michael Bisping, TKO, Rd 3

Bren Oliver: I'm certain Michael Bisping would agree with me when I say this fight has involved some of the most unnecessary trash-talk in UFC history on the part of Charles McCarthy. "Captain Miserable" is a whopping 1-1 in the UFC and hasn't competed in a year and a half. His statements regarding Bisping's skill in comparison to his (4-1 in the Octagon by the way), as well as praising his own jiujitsu ability as being the best in the UFC, are as ridiculous as the nickname "Chainsaw" for a guy who has never KO/TKO'd an opponent in fourteen professional fights. I think Bisping's debut at Middleweight will be a successful one, though I doubt he'll have much impact on the 185-pound division as I have a hard time seeing him beating the likes of Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin, Yushin Okami, or Anderson Silva.
Winner: Michael Bisping, TKO, Rd.1

Randy Harrison: Michael Bisping's big debut at Middleweight and he draws an opponent that has absolutely no shot of beating him. I expect this fight to look a lot like Bisping's fight with Eric Schafer at UFC 66, where Bisping comes out a little nervous early on but then pours it on in the middle of the fight to take it over before finishing early in the third. I'd agree with my counterparts that Bisping will have trouble with anyone in the top half of the division, or even against someone like Evan Tanner, but I guess that's why he's got McCarthy in this fight.
Winner: Michael Bisping, TKO, Rd 3



Nate Quarry vs. Kalib Starnes


JB Lederman: As much as it's difficult to call any MMA fighter a pussy, can I just tell you how BIG of a pussy Starnes is? "Ooooh, my ribs are separated." Or not. Quarry is coming off of an emotional victory, and I hope there's no letdown here.
Winner: Nate Quarry, TKO, Rd. 3

Adam Tool: For those of you playing along Kalib Starnes is Canadian #6. I don't really care much for Starnes. He doesn't strike me as the type of guy that'll make any sort of impact in the division that needs it the most. Meanwhile Quarry is still bouncing back from a close-to 2 year layoff where had to have some serious back surgery. If "The Rock" can deliver the goods in this fight it would only help him stand out in the field of middleweight contenders.
Winner: Nate Quarry, TKO, Rd. 1

Justin Thomas: Yes, just another bunch of TUF guys. Quarry is on a comeback trail after losing to Franklin and then missing almost two years of competition due to various injuries. He is a good fighter, but has yet to prove himself against top competition. Kalib is a Canadian and achieved his biggest victory by winning against Chris Leben, but his record in the UFC is 2-2. This seems to be just another random fight in the middleweight division. Anyways, if Quarry wins here, he might be a fight or two away from a title shot. A possible rematch against Franklin would be interesting. Starnes isn't that impressive and in my opinion, Quarry should take this.
Winner: Nate Quarry, TKO, Rd. 2

Dustin James: Remember Nate Quarry? He's the guy who got KNOCKED THE FUCK OUT by Rich Franklin and then was gone for like 2 years, but then came back and beat a guy he's already beat before. I mean, c'mon! Thankfully, he is stepping it up a little bit. Kalib Starnes isn't a slouch by any means. He seems to always want to bring the action and that should wake Nate Quarry up real quick. However, Quarry loves knocking people out....and Starnes is prone to getting cut or KO'd.
Winner: Nate Quarry, KO, Rd 2

Larry Csonka: I believe that Kalib Starnes is going to feel the rock.
Winner: Nate Quarry, STRIKES, RD1

Fredrick Peterson: Another main card fight that doesn't really excite me. Nate "the Rock" Quarry's fists should spell an early night for Kalib.
Winner: Nate Quarry, KO, RD1

Sergio Hernandez: TUF alum collide! This is Quarry's second bout since his comeback and Starnes' first since the aforementioned canyon got carved into his skull. These two will look to bang and put on a show for the rabid Canuck crowd.
Winner: Nate Quarry, TKO, R2

John Curry: Nate Quarry is best known for getting his ass handed to him with a side salad by Rich Franklin, but don't let that discourage you as he is actually a pretty capable fighter. A much better fighter than Kalib Starnes, so much so that I would be shocked if he doesn't walk out of this with a win. This night isn't looking good for Canadians.
Winner: Nate Quarry, KO, Rd. 1

Morgan Marx: I'm not really sure why Quarry is seen as the prohibitive favorite in this fight. Physically, Starnes resembles Rich Franklin. Starnes showed he could take a beating in his fight with Alan Belcher, along with showing off his skull. Quarry didn't look in top condition against Pete Sell and once again fell into a slugfest. If Starnes can survive on his feet and take things to the ground, he can grind out the decision (if not the stoppage).
Winner: Kalib Starnes, DEC

Reuel Mante: Starnes skull was visible against Belcher. With how heavy handed Quarry is, we'll get to see Starnes jaw bone.
Winner: Nate Quarry, KO, Rd 1

Matt McEwen: I think Starnes has looked really good since coming off his loss to Okami, and his fight with Chris Leben answered any questions I had about his heart. He was getting his arse handed to him against Alan Belcher before the doctor stopped the fight for the gouge in his forehead though, and if anyone not named Silva at 185lbs can hurt you with their fists, it's Quarry. His brawl with Pete Sell should have answered any doubts he may have had after his layoff, and he just might start a little roll here.
Winner: Nate Quarry, DEC

Wendell Mitchell: After multiple surgeries and a 2 year lay off, Quarry roared back into the octagon with a knock out victory. I don't know much about Starnes, but what I've heard does not deter me from picking:
Winner: Nate Quarry, TKO, Rd 1

Bren Oliver: I'm very interested to see how Nate Quarry performs in his second UFC appearance since undergoing back surgery that nearly ended his career in 2005. His fight against Pete Sell at UFC Fight Night XI was inspirational and one of the year's best contests. Quarry is 5-1 in his last six fights with five finishes. I think Starnes is a good fighter, but I don't believe he can match the wrestling ability, or punching power, of "The Rock". If Quarry makes it into a dominant position, or Kalib decides to test Nate's striking, I think it will be lights-out for Starnes. If not, it should be a very close fight, and I won't be overly surprised if the judges eventually get involved.
Winner: Nate Quarry, TKO, Rd.3

Randy Harrison: Quarry has earned a fan in me, just by being able to come back from the injury he sustained to continue doing something he loves to do. Starnes has been coming together as a fighter as of late, but I don't think that he's going to be able to handle Quarry's power, and there's no questioning the heart of the man they call "Rock". Look for Quarry to get on top of Starnes and muscle him around before dropping some vicious punches and elbows to draw the stoppage.
Winner: Nate Quarry, TKO, Rd 2



Travis Lutter vs. Rich Franklin


JB Lederman: Franklin's only nemesis in the division is Silva. He'll beat Lutter's ass. ‘Nuff said.
Winner: Rich Franklin, TKO, Rd. 2

Adam Tool: You've got to feel for Rich Franklin. He couldn't compete with the bigger guys at light heavyweight so he drops down to middleweight and wins the title. Then he runs into the knees and fists of Anderson Silva on two occasions and now is stuck in a division were he can only go as high as #2. I respect Travis Lutter and his skills but Franklin is a top-level fighter with tremendous striking and some great submission defense.
Winner: Rich Franklin, TKO, Rd. 2

Justin Thomas: This is our co-main event. However, the fight isn't very important. Franklin was destroyed by Silva twice, Lutter once. I don't imagine Rich getting another title shot soon, certainly not in 2008. Same about Lutter, who looked like shit, when he failed to make weight and then got submitted by a striker, despite Travis himself specializing in BJJ. Franklin should be a big favorite here to win. He's a well rounded fighter and he defeated everyone in the middleweight division, not named Anderson Silva. Lutter won the TUF Middleweight tournament, but somehow, I don't see him winning against Franklin at all. Let's hope Rich wins and gets back on the winning track.
Winner: Rich Franklin, KO, Rd. 3

Dustin James: You know what? Travis Lutter pissed me off tremendously when he didn't make weight for his title fight against Anderson Silva. So you know what's going to happen? His name won't be mentioned by me again here on 411mania.com!
Winner: Rich Franklin (I can't say the other guy's name anymore anyways!), KO, Rd 1

Larry Csonka: Can Rich Franklin come back from two devastating losses to Anderson Silva? Can Travis Lutter actually make weight? I have no faith in the Cereal Eater, and see Franklin getting back on track in a big way.
Winner: Rich Franklin, SUB, RD2

Fredrick Peterson: Like every other UFC fan I have a very fair bias agaist Lutter for his failure to make weight in his BIG fight. While he does possess excellent submission skills I think he will have a problem getting Franklin to the ground and keeping him there.
Winner: Rich Franklin, TKO, RD2

Sergio Hernandez: Both are looking to work their way back to title contention (why? If I was a UFC middleweight fighter, I would want to stay as far away from Silva as I could!) and are looking to use each other as a stepping-stone. While this seems like the best fight on paper, I predict a snoozer.
Winner: Rich Franklin, Unanimous Decision

John Curry: Lutter is a lazy ass bastard. There I said it. I will not ever expect a guy to win a fight if his ass doesn't make weight on a Championship fight. UFC should have kicked his ass to the curb then, but no they continue to push his lazy ass. Make no mistake Rich Franklin is definately not a guy who comes unprepared. With Franklin's only two losses in the past four years coming from arguably the best pound for pound MMA fighter Anderson Silva look for Franklin to revive that respect we all gave him very quickly.
Winner: Rich Franklin, TKO, Rd 1

Morgan Marx: I hope Lutter wins back some fans with a strong performance against Rich Franklin. Unfortunately, I'm not sure the match up really favors "the Serial Killer" (is that a Ralph Fiennes in Red Dragon reference? Am I the only one that thinks the two look alike?). Franklin's round three struggles against Yushin Okami give a slight glimmer of hope that Lutter can somehow catch the former middleweight champ in a submission. But Lutter doesn't have the size to take Franklin down and hold him there. I think Franklin keeps it standing long enough to damage Lutter, before putting him away on the floor
Winner: Rich Franklin, TKO, Rd 2

Reuel Mante: I don't like Lutter. Simple as that. So it's my hope that Rich takes care of business quickly.
Winner: Rich Franklin, KO, Rd 2

Matt McEwen: The only reason there is any question about this fight is that Lutter had Anderson Silva in a little bit of trouble in their fight. If you remember that Silva was coming off of double knee surgery, that becomes less impressive. The middleweight division stacks up like this right now : Anderson Silva is on a level that only GSP comes close to, Rich Franklin is sitting by himself a few levels down and the rest of the division - including Lutter - is looking up at them. Before Silva destroyed him, we all used to ask "Who can possibly beat Franklin?" and unless he's in the ring with Silva, I still ask that. Yes, Lutter has incredible jiu jitsu, but just because he hasn't shown it a lot doesn't mean that Franklin doesn't have a decent ground game himself. It won't matter much though,as I look for Franklin to overpower Lutter and pound out a stoppage.
Winner: Rich Franklin, TKO, Rd 3

Wendell Mitchell:Recently Lutter had the audacity to say he would "beat Silva's ass" when last time I checked, Silva, one of the top STRIKERS in the world, made Lutter tap. Right now, Silva is the only person Franklin can't beat so I see him taking that out on Lutter.
Winner: Rich Franklin, TKO, Rd 2

Bren Oliver: It needs to be kept in mind that Lutter hasn't stepped into the cage in over a year. Franklin is 2-1 in that same timespan with wins over Yushin Okami and Jason MacDonald. It will be interesting to see if the TUF IV Middleweight Champion will exhibit any signs of ring-rust. The outcome in this fight hinges on a single thing - Lutter's ability to take Franklin down. If Lutter can't keep things on the ground he's in for a long, long night. Franklin's striking is far superior as is his punching power. However, Rich's jiujitsu defense rarely seems to come into play and the bulk of his fights have been against strikers. In fact he's never been submitted.
Winner: Rich Franklin, TKO, Rd.2

Randy Harrison: The only way that Travis Lutter wins this fight is if Rich Franklin drops dead in the middle of the Octagon. I loved Lutter's delusional trash talk about how he will beat Anderson Silva and that Franklin was faking his knee surgery and injury because he was afraid of him. Keep on dreaming Travis. Franklin is going to keep things standing and pick Lutter apart with strikes and probably make short work of him to boot. Lutter is a great BJJ fighter, but he's not in the same league as Franklin when it comes to all-around MMA.
Winner: Rich Franklin, TKO, Rd 1



Undisputed UFC Welterweight Championship
Georges St. Pierre vs. Matt Serra


JB Lederman: Emotionally, this is a difficult fight to predict for me. Intellectually, it definitely is not. Serra, like me, is a Long Island boy, and also hates Matt Hughes (who ran over my puppy when I was a child). Frenchie and His Red Wine, however, is arguably the second greatest PFP fighter in the world right now. St. Pierre will use his superior striking to secure the SUB victory in a hot minute. I like them both a lot, but I'm afraid this is the end of the dream for one Matt "the Terra" Serra
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, SUB, Rd. 1.

Adam Tool: This is what it's all about. The rematch that fans have waited 12 long months for. There's no need to recap the war of words that has sprang forth from the biggest upset in UFC history. On Saturday night the talking stops and it comes down to the two men in the cage. George St. Pierre is the seventh and final Canadian competitor, but he's also the one everyone will be there to see. It's St. Pierre's fight to lose, and if he isn't focused mentally then Serra will capitalize and score another upset. However GSP has always come back from a loss more focused than before, and his skills will outshine those of his opponent so he can prove that in fact he does belong at the top of the 170 lbs. food-chain.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, TKO, Rd. 1

Justin Thomas: This will be an interesting fight. In their first meeting Serra ran through GSP like he was nothing, but, hey, shit happens. GSP, before the fight, was considered #1 Welterweight and after two dominating victories he's back in #1 spot. I just hate the "GSP wasn't ready mentally" argument. Some say that he can win against anyone, if he's mentally ready. Perhaps, but mental state was and always will be a part of MMA and that's really not an excuse. Let's look at it this way, if Serra was once stronger mentally than GSP, than why can't he be again? Georges says he is ready now, but he said the same before UFC 69. However, on paper, Pierre is a better wrestler AND a better striker. Serra probably has an advantage in BJJ skills, but Georges holds a victory over BJ Penn, who, in my opinion, is better in BJJ than Serra. But Jon Fitch, after his recent victory, has made an interesting statement about GSP - the Canadian could be afraid to trade punches with Matt. GSP defeated Koscheck with his wrestling skills, same with Hughes. So Serra might have an advantage (at least psychologically) if the fight stays on the feet. Georges has more talent, more skills than Serra, but Matt is more mentally prepared, he uses wise game plans and already holds a victory over Georges. This is pretty much a 50/50. I probably won't be popular and pick Serra to pull off another upset. Lightning usually strikes twice... right?
Winner: Matt Serra, TKO, Rd. 2

Dustin James: This one is a no-brainer to me. Call me crazy, call me whatever you want. There's no reason St. Pierre should lose this fight. He's a better overall fighter than Serra, and has defeated better competition. You know that saying "Everybody has a puncher's chance?" Well, that "puncher's chance" was Serra's last outing. This time it will be ALL St. Pierre, ALL the time. If Serra wins, I will personally rank his whole family in the 411mania Welterweight rankings.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, SUB, Rd 2

Larry Csonka: And here we come to the main event of the evening. Going into the first fight, everyone said Serra had no chance. But he shocked GSP and the world and won the title. The match with Hughes never happened due to the injury, but t works out great as we get the rematch. If Serra is 100% recovered, the question is can he do it again? GSP has looked lie an unstoppable beast since the loss, but is Serra his Kryptonite, or did he just get lucky? We'll find out Sunday night, but I will go with Serra. That little bastard hasn't let me down yet.
Winner: Matt Serra, DEC

Fredrick Peterson: More than anything I would like to think that my boy Matt Serra actually stands a legitamate chance to Defeat St. Pierre again. I am going to cheer for Serra all the way but I think the fight is going to go the exact opposite way that it went last time.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, TKO, RD1

Sergio Hernandez: The question will finally be answered: fluke or destiny? St. Pierre seeks to win back the "true" 170 crown from the scrappy Long Islander. Serra hasn't fought SINCE he shocked the world over a year ago and is also coming off a back injury. That combined with the fact that GSP seems to have finally gotten his head in order and is now training with Greg Jackson equals one thing.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, TKO, R3

John Curry: Here's the reason we are all buying this fight. The greatest upset in UFC history versus the "Mental Midget". I think St. Pierre is going to prove that he is no "Mental Midget" and Serra was lucky. Even Serra knows that he was lucky. I always like to root for the underdog, hell I am a Cleveland Fan, Indians, Browns and Cavs, but I think Serra won't be ready for St. Pierre's fury.
Winner:Georges St. Pierre, KO, Rd 1

Morgan Marx: Is Matt Serra intentionally trying to carve out a role in the UFC as a heel? I don't really understand how insulting St-Pierre directly (take that, Frenchie!) or via one of your cronies (should Pete Sell really be calling anyone a "mental midget"?) will win you fans. St-Pierre has to win this fight to regain his place as one of the UFC's pound-for-pound best (along with Silva and Penn). I don't think he needs to walk through Serra in the first round, but any slip-ups will set off another round of questioning GSP's mental state. Can Serra duplicate his stunning upset? Sure, if he lands the exact same combination on an out-of-form Se-Pierre. But otherwise, it's GSP's chance to shut Serra up in front of a packed house. Hopefully, he gets to savor the occasion and restart his lengthy title reign.
Winner: Georges St-Pierre, TKO, Rd 3

Reuel Mante: It's pretty obvious that I'm the only one who actually believes that Matt Serra is capable of submitting GSP off his back. The biggest reason I'm going with submission instead of knockout is due to the fact that GSP has shown that he never makes the same mistake twice. Matt Serra's punch that started the end of GSP's title reign was not only lucky but also a mistake by St. Pierre. GSP will more than likely take this fight to the ground like he did against Hughes. But therein lies the problem. Serra's jiu jitsu is pretty solid. One mistake by GSP and it's tap out city. I really like GSP but I don't see him winning on Saturday.
Winner: Matt Serra, SUB, Rd 3

Matt McEwen: Let's get this out of the way early: Matt Serra DID NOT get lucky. He KO'd the champ in the middle of the ring and is the rightful welterweight champion. He trained hard, worked his stand up and became the first man to KO GSP. That being said, I don't think he's going to last very long in this one. After watching St. Pierre decimate the two strongest, best wrestlers in the division in Koscheck and Hughes, I don't see any way that Serra can get the better of him a second time. St. Pierre is coming into this fight on a mission and seems to have a new found maturity and "quite killer" thing going for him right now. And after throwing out the "F" word (Frenchy) at Georges, I have a feeling he's going to make Serra respect his poutine. In one way, I guess you could say GSP is like Rich Franklin: Unless your name is Anderson Silva, you're probably going to get your ass handed to you.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, TKO, Rd 1

Wendell Mitchell: And here we are, the rematch 12 months in the making. I like both of these guys for different reasons. Serra just entertains the hell out of me in his interviews and when he mocks his opponents. GSP is easily one of the top fighters in the world regardless of size. As much as I want to see Serra prove most of us wrong, GSP looks like he will absorb everything The Terror throws at him then secure a submission. I hope I'm wrong though and the dream continues.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, SUB, Rd 2

Bren Oliver: Even though UFC 69 took place a little more than a year ago it still feels like yesterday. It was the first UFC event I'd ever attended, the only one so far, and I was amongst the many St. Pierre supporters who felt GSP was going to flatten Serra like a piece of Veal Scallopini. Needless to say I was also amongst the wide-eyed onlookers who couldn't help but cheer in appreciation for Matt Serra's accomplishment in upsetting "Rush". To this day I still think it was a fluke finish. I'm not saying it was a lucky punch. I'm all for the train of thought questioning how lucky a punch can be when someone throws it with the intention to damage his/her opponent. That being said, there is such a thing as a perfectly-placed strike; a kick or punch timed or aimed in such a way that it connects but is not necessarily something an individual can do more than once. Serra's TKO remains the lone time he has finished an opponent by any other means than submission in thirteen professional fights. "Rush" has proved numerous times he's able to win whether standing or on the ground. The strike that set up GSP's downfall landed right behind St. Pierre's ear, somewhat of a rarity itself in combat sports, and I honestly don't believe Matt can repeat the feat. His jiujitsu is incredible and his wrestling is above-average, but I don't believe Serra can compete with Georges' strength, speed, or multitude of skills. Since losing to Serra, St. Pierre has defeated two of the ten best Welterweights in the world. "The Terror", on the other hand, is making his first title defense a year after winning the belt. I will be stunned if lightning strikes twice and Serra wins. My only real concern is that St. Pierre might try too hard to please his fellow Quebecers and fight more passionately than intelligently.
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, TKO, Rd.2

Randy Harrison: The fight that everyone has been waiting a year to see again. As much as people called UFC 77 "Hostile Territory" for Anderson Silva, at least the people in Cincinatti respected him. The people in Montreal are going to be hungry for Serra's blood, and I think that they're going to get it. Since the loss last April, St. Pierre has exhibited a new focus and even more skills than he had during the first fight. He's young and hadn't faced any real adversity before losing to Serra. After that loss he got his house in order personally and professionally, dealing with the illness of his father and getting that situation resolved, while moving to train with Greg Jackson and rededicating himself to MMA and all of the aspects that it entails. Serra didn't get a lucky punch, he was the better man on that night in Houston, but on THIS night in Montreal, no one will be able to stop the "Rush".
Winner: Georges St. Pierre, TKO, Rd 2


That does it for all of us here at 411mania.com. Be sure to join us on the site at 10pm EST/7pm PST for the live coverage of UFC 83 on Saturday night. Enjoy the fights everyone!!