WEC 50 on August 18th offers fans one of their best cards of the year and the main event for the Bantamweight title between champion Dominick Cruz and Joseph Benavidez that will surely offer fireworks. This is a rematch from WEC 42 in which Cruz was able to use his technical striking to work his way to a unanimous decision victory.
We are just hours away from the UFC first ever show in Australia and the fight card is pretty good. One thing I have noticed on this card is just how evenly match many of the fights are. The main event between Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira and Cain Velasquez is no different as the fight to me is very even. The matchup is the always interesting raising star (velasquez) versus the grizzled veteran (Nogueira) where either could win.
In just a few hours the rematch between Tito Ortiz (15-6-1) and Forrest Griffin (16-6) will take place. Their first fight was a classic back and forth battle that Ortiz barely won by split decision. This fight was originally set to be Ortiz vs. Mark Coleman but griffin stepped in when Coleman withdrew from the fight. It was then scheduled as the co-main event behindthe heavyweight title fight between Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin. Due to Lesnars illness that fight was moved back and later scrapped so we were left with Ortiz vs. Griffin.
Tito Ortiz has been out of action for 18 months due to a back injury and will be stepping into the cage a new fighter according to him. He claims that he hadn’t been able to train properly for several years until now. So I look to see the old Tito Ortiz back who will shoots for takedowns lighting fast. Ortiz key to this fight is just that get the takedown and pound out Griffin. Forrest Griffin has been knocked out a few times via ground and pound and that’s Tito’s bread and butter.
Forrest Griffin has been in several battles with the top fighters at light heavyweight. Griffen is on a two fight losing streak since he won the title by defeating Rampage Jackson. Though he lost to Rashad Evans and Anderson Silva and there is no shame in losing to those guys. Griffin will look to copy the stratagy he used to win the title against Ortiz, using kicks to keep the distance and wear him down.
I see this fight playing out very similar to their last fight. Neither have real knock out power on their fight but Forrest has power of an arsenal on his fight. Tito Will shoot but Forrest will keep he’s distance to try and limit the take downs. The unknown to me is what Tito Ortiz will we get, the one that fought before the back problem or the one after? This is a hard fight to call for that reason so we shall just have to wait and see.
The UFC will make it’s return to England tomorrow for UFC 105. As usual when they come to England the event will be free on Spike TV. The main event will be Randy Couture (16-10) making his return to light heavyweight facing Brandon Vera (11-3). It’s the first time the ageless wonder Randy Couture will be fighting live on on free TV.
Brandon Vera will be making his first ever UFC main event appearance when he steps into the cage Saturday. Vera has 7 TKO’s in his 11 wins and will look to keep the fight standing using his kicks to keep Couture from getting inside. If the fight does go to the clinch Vera will look to use his Muay Thai background and punish couture with some knees.
Randy Couture is no stranger to main events inside the octagon as his last 5 fights were the main event on the night. Couture will look to get inside Vera’s leg kicks and do some dirty boxing. He’ll then look for the takedown or slam to get the fight to the one spot couture should have the overwhelming advantage. Once on the ground he should be able to control Vera and inflict some damage by ground and pound.
I see this fight going the distance and in the hands of the judges. Neither one of these fighters are known for having knockout power or being submission experts either. Round one is going to be slow with Vera staying on the outside using his speed to jab and kick. Couture will also stay on the outside throwing his jab trying to find his range to get inside. Rounds two and three is when Couture will be more aggressive and get the takedowns on Vera. Couture has always had great cardio and will wear down Vera, who’s cardio has been questioned before in the second. If Vera does gas in the third round Couture will take advantage and score a TKO. Vera’s cardio a light heavy has been much better so I don’t see him gassing out but Couture will control him enough for the Unanimous Decision.
This is a new feature that I’ll be doing from now on where before every main event I’ll breakdown the fighters individually and the fight itself. Any feedback you can give and what you would like to see here would be a great help.
Tonight’s Strikeforce: Fedor vs. Rogers event will be their first held on network TV and will feature most of the stars in the Strikeforce. The main event will feature what many believe to be the greatest heavyweight and one of the pound for pound best fighters Fedor “The Last Emperor” Emelianenko (30-1). He’ll be facing a relatively unknown yet up and coming fighter Brett “The Grim” Rogers (10-0).
Fedor will be making his Strikeforce debut after fighting for Affliction until they closed they doors on promoting. Fedor is no stranger to fighting in the main event, not that he would show any jitters anyway. The guy shows no emotions except maybe the occasional smile and literally acts like a universal solider. Fedor hasn’t lost in nine years and even then the fight was stopped due to a cut he sustained and they gave him the lose. He has fought some of the greatest fighters while in pride and most recently defeated former UFC champs Tim Sylvia and Andrei Arlovski.
Rogers is a great story to market, going from working at Sam’s club installing tires to main event fighter on the verge of greatness. Rogers is a massive striker with 9 of his 10 wins coming by way of KO and the other coming by submission (strikes). His biggest fight to date was his last where he crushed Andrei Arlovski in 22 seconds by KO. With his quick hands and knock out power from both hands he’ll be deadly when the fight is standing. Question is what kind of ground game does he have since his fights have never gone there.
In tonight’s fight Rogers will be the major underdog and he should be. Fedor has 3 times the fights and has fought the better competition then Rogers. For the upset to happen Rogers will need to out box Fedor by using his jab to set up the big shot. He cannot get overly aggressive and be taken down or be sloppy and get caught on the chin. Fedor will look to weather the early storm that Rogers will bring to start the fight while looking for his opening. Fedor will be calm as always and when Rogers makes a mistake or try’s he’ll take advantage and end the fight.
Ultimate Fighter season 13 fighter Javier Torres is blogging exclusively on MMAValor.com weekly during the show. Check out his blog with info not seen on TV »
