The season finale of The Ultimate Fighter 9 will take place this Saturday in Las Vegas.  This finale will follow the standard format, with the two winners from the reality show getting a contract.  The 2 “Ultimate Fighter 9″ final bouts are Lightweights Andre Winner vs. Ross Pearson, and Welterweights DaMarques Johnson vs. James Wilks.  The main event of the card will be a battle for a future UFC Lightweight title shot between Diego Sanchez and Clay Guida.  Here are my predictions for the main card. (more…)

UFC 99 will be held on June 13th in Cologne, Germany.  Although there aren’t any titles on the line, there are more than a few intriguing match ups and story lines.  MMA fans finally get to see on one the UFC’s most successful Middleweights, Rich Franklin, against one of Pride’s most popular Middleweights, Wanderlei Silva.  In addition, Cain Velasquez will see if he can propel himself into the upper echelon of UFC Heavyweights by beating a very tough Cheick Kongo.  Mirko “Cro Crop” Filipovic also returns to the octagon to take on Mostapha al Turk.  To top it all off, 4 exciting welterweights in Mike Swick, Ben Saunders, Marcus Davis and Dan Hardy will be in action.  For a further break down of the UFC 99 main card, here are my predictions.  (more…)

WEC 41 is finally here!  Tonight, arguably one of the biggest Featherweight fights in American MMA history takes place between WEC Featherweight champion Mike Brown and ex-champ Urijah Faber.  WEC 41 is a showcase for the 145 lb. division, with highly regarded Feattherweight fighters like Mike Brown, Urijah Faber, Jose Aldo, Cub Swanson, Josh Grispi and Jens Pulver all in action.  There will be 4 fights on the main card, and here is how I think the night will unfold. (more…)

Strikeforce – Lawler VS. Shields takes place on Saturday June 6th, 2009 in St. Louis, Missouri.  This event showcases two of Strikeforce’s finest mixed martial artists in it’s main event:  hard hitting Middleweight, Robbie Lawler versus Welterweight grappling wizard, Jake Shields.  Also on the main card:  ex-UFC Heavyweight Champion Andrei Arlovski will give an up and coming Heavyweight in Brett Rogers his toughest test to date.  The red hot Nick Diaz will try to stay away from hard hitting Scott “Hands Of Steel” Smith‘s dangerous punches.  Popular MMA fighters Phil Baroni, Joe Riggs, Mike Whitehead, Kevin Randleman, Rafeal “Feijao” Cavalcante and Mike Kyle round out the card for Strikeforce – Lawler VS. Shields.  Here are my predictions for the main card plus the Cavalcante/Kyle bout.

(more…)

Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida (UFC Light Heavyweight Championship)

The UFC Light Heavyweight champion, Rashad Evans, is the underdog in yet another fight. This time it is against karate master, Lyoto Machida. This fight pretty much comes down to this: Rashad Evans’ “Team Jackson” game planning, unorthodox but powerful striking and wrestling prowess against Lyoto Machida’s elusiveness, flawless striking technique and ability to frustrate opponents.

(more…)