The UFC holds its first of two July events this Saturday night in Las Vegas with their UFC 88: Jackson vs Griffin event. The Pay-Per-View event packs a very solid fight card and is headlined by what should be an excellent UFC Light Heavyweight title fight. So, let’s get started…
Quinton Jackson vs Forrest Griffin - I’m really not sure where to start with this fight, other than to say that I’m very excited about this matchup. Quinton always puts on a good show and Forrest always puts on a good show; that combination and only mean good things for MMA fans.
The UFC is currently enthralled with hyping the fact that Forrest Griffin is coming off a victory over Mauricio Rua and the fact that Rua is the last person to defeat Jackson. In my mind, the two have nothing to do with each other and the UFC should hype Forrest on his own credentials directly. While Forrest is not superior at any one technical aspect of fighter he undeniably has the one thing a fighter cannot lear: heart. Heart is a term that is thrown around losing these days, but it is something that Forrest Griffin embodies. Now, I don’t want to down play Forrest’s striking power and skill as well as his ground skills, but to me thats not what is important to his game. What keeps Forrest in fights and what gives him a chance against people like Quinton Jackson is his heart.
All that being said, I’m picking Quinton Jackson to win this fight. Quinton’s striking skills, power, and timing are all better than Griffin’s thanks to his time training with Juanito Ibarra. Jackson has a better wrestling game as well, but I don’t expect much of this fight to take place on the mat. For all his flamboyant charades and one-liners, Jackson knows how to dial-in and get prepared for a fight and he’ll be ready to take on Griffin. If Jackson can avoid taking damage from Forrest’s knees and leg kicks and work his jab effectively I think he controls this fight from start to finish.
Winner: Quinton Jackson
Patrick Cote vs Ricardo Almeida - It would have been very interesting to see where Ricardo Almeida’s career would have gone had not walked away from the game for four years. That speculation can be put on hold once again as Almeida is back in MMA and his looking for his second victory of 2008. Patrick Cote possesses heavy hands and not much else. His power will keep him in the fight for all of about 5 seconds until Almeida takes him to the ground and works his truly world-class BJJ game. Cote will be lucky to escape the first round without being submitted in my opinion. Winner: Ricardo Almeida
Joe Stevenson vs Gleison Tibau - Joe Stevenson is coming off what is easily the toughest loss of his career at UFC 80 where he was submitted by BJ Penn in the second round. Prior to losing to Penn, Stevenson’s last loss at lightweight was all the way back in 2002, after which Joe reeled off 13 straight victories which earned him his title shot. I have a feeling, just judging by Joe’s reaction to his loss, that he is going to be back on the warpath and looking to cause some more damage in the division.
Gleison Tibau is a very skilled fighter who should not be overlooked in the division, but is someone Stevenson should not have any trouble defeating. Tibau is also coming off a loss himself against Tyson Griffin at UFC 81 after winning his previous four UFC bouts. Tibau’s strength is his submission game which he will have to work at utilizing against Stevenson’s strong, powerful wrestling style. I think Tibau may be in for a Yves Edwards style fight against “Joe Daddy” and hope he packs a few extra pints of blood in his gym bag. Winner: Joe Stevenson
Josh Koscheck vs Chris Lytle - I’m pretty excited to see this fight and see where Josh Koscheck currently stands. Most people complain about Koscheck’s career so far and call him a “wet blanket” fighter, but I don’t agree. We’ve seen an excellent fight from Kos against Dustin Hazelett and a technical masterpiece against Diego Sanchez at UFC 69, but I don’t think we’ve seen the full potential Koscheck has yet. Chris Lytle will be more than happy to stand and trade punches with Koscheck which will let Kos test out his hands a bit. If at any time he feels like that is going to be a losing battle, Koscheck won’t have to think twice about just driving in for a double-leg takedown and working Lytle from the mat. I hope both fighters skip the feeling out period and start to throw punches early in the first round and we get to see how far Koscheck has progressed in rounding out his MMA skill set. Winner: Josh Koscheck
Tyson Griffin vs Marcus Aurelio - The lightweight division in any promotion always seems to provide some of the most exciting fights at any event. This fight between Tyson Griffin and Marcus Aurelio should be fast-paced and exciting to watch. Griffin entered the UFC in 2006 with much hype and an undefeated record and his fights provided nothing but fireworks earning him three “Fight of the Night” bonuses in 2007. However, Griffin’s domination has definitely slowed in his last few fights, going to decision in his last 3 matchups including fights against Clay Guida and Thiago Tavares that I feel he should have lost. Marcus Aurelio is BJJ specialist who really burst into the public eye with his submission victory against Takanori Gomi at Pride’s Bushido 10. Aurelio’s recent history has been up-and-down as well, but has won his last two UFC fights. I think this will be an excellent fight, mostly taking place on the ground and that’s why I give Aurelio the advantage. Winner: Marcus Aurelio
Gabriel Gonzaga vs Justin McCully - Winner: Gabriel Gonzaga
Jorge Gurgel vs Cole Miller - Winner: Jorge Gurgel
Melvin Guillard vs Dennis Siver - Winner: Melvin Guillard
Corey Hill vs Justin Buchholz - Winner: Justin Buchholz
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morrning boys, it must be Thursday lol.
well lads here we go again, so let share….
Forrest vs. Rampage - im picking Forrest, hes a bit bigger, just as strong, and has heart for days and i figure he will do just enough to pull out the decision.
Koscheck vs. Lytle - i really dont like Koscheck but i picked him so he better win or im gonna go looking for him, Koscheck by unanimous decision because hes ready to beat a Chris Lytle level fighter.
Aurelio vs. Griffin - i got Aurelio, i think Tyson will get cough in something spending to much time rolling around with a BJJ guy like Aurelio
Almeida vs. Cote - Cote i think is going to spend the first round fighting off submissions, only to lull Almeida into walking into a big right early in the second.
Stevenson vs. Tibau - Stevenson needs people to forget that BJ worked him over so bad, so he will come out like a wild man and Tibau will crumble under the pressure for a round 2 TKO
Buchholz vs. Hill - Hill round 2 TKO, im not sure why i picked this so yeah.
Guillard vs. Siver - Siver round 2 submission, because Guillard needs at least 4 or 5 more beatings before he smartens up or quits.
Miller vs. Gurgel - Miller by UD, only because im hoping to see Miller beat those f*ckin creepy eyebrows off of Gurgels face for three. p.s. i think Koscheck and Gurgel would make a cute couple and hope they get together, quit MMA and get a cooking show or something.
McCully vs. Gonzaga - im picking McCully in this one because i feel that Gonzaga has just about no heart and with a wrestler laying on top of you whispering in your ear about how much he likes you its easy to lose what ever heart you do have. McCully with the decision and then its on to a double date with Kos and Gurgel lol.
I agree with most of your picks. I think Corey Hill will win though. From what I’ve read he really has improved alot especially on the ground. I’m taking Tyson also. I think he will be able to controll enough to win a decision. I don’t like Kos much so I hope Lytle is able to KO or sub him out. I think it will be a boring decision though.
Almeida vs Cote, if it were 4 years ago id say your right Doc, but we dont really know where Almeida is at right now, thats why im nervous about this fight. I also picked Almeida to win by submission, but it definately wont be easy, all it takes is one clean shot by Cote and its over, Almeida doesnt have that in his arsenal.. As weve seen world class BJJ doesnt always equal wins ex: Arona, Lutter, Aurelio, Lister, etc..
I hope Ricardo wins, but Cote is truly a guy to be feared in the div.
I’m not downplaying Cote, but as much as you think Cote is a guy to be feared I think Almeida is as well.
oh no doubt doc! i know about Almeida hes a BJJ force of nature hehe, its just that we have seen real salt dog veterans have sub par performances coming back to the sport and 4 years is a HELL of a long time. He looked great against Yundt, but we all know that was a tune up fight, now throwing him in with Cote is a big jump in level of competition.
I really hope Almeida wins, thats why i picked him, but ive been disappointed before in guys like Lister, thats why im apprehensive about this fight.
Griffin vs Aurelio, this is where i disagree, Tyson is a beast i think hes good enough on the ground to avoid being submitted and he will use his wrestling to get Aurelio tired. I doubt he will be able to finish Marcus but hes definately in better shape and he will out score him for a split decision win. Its true Tyson has gone to decision his last 4 fights, but he was also facing his toughest opponents in his career and i feel he did very well hes still growing as a fighter.
The common element here is Clay Guida, Marcus lost the decision to Clay, Tyson won the Decision against Clay. Ofcourset this doesnt automatically equal a win, but it shows the test of atrition, Tyson was able to outlast Guida who is an absolute freak when it comes to cardio and intensity, while it took everything Marcus had to stay alive inthat fight. When your dead tired its VERY hard to submit someone, especially when theyre not as tired as you. Sean Shek made a whole career based on that principle..