The UFC makes its way back to Texas for the first time since UFC 69 in Houston. The American Airlines Center in Dallas, TX will play host to one of the better fight cards in recent months.
Rich Franklin vs. Vitor Belfort – For some reason, I still feel like Rich Franklin is one of the most underrated fighters in the UFC.
Franklin has four losses on his record: a loss to Lyoto Machida in 2003, two losses to Anderson Silva, and a razor close split decision loss to Dan Henderson at UFC 93. While the two losses to Anderson Silva looked awful at the time, we know have seen how “awful” Anderson Silva can make all his opponents look.
While Vitor Belfort seems to have enjoyed a recent resurgence in his career, his four fight win streak really needs to be taken with a grain of salt. The first two victories were against mid-level fighters Ivan Serati and James Zikic. The most recent two victories were against Terry Martin and Matt Lindland respectively.
Not to take anything away from Belfort’s victories, but a KO win over doesn’t impress me because Scott Smith, Chris Leben and Jason Lambert have all done the same. The win over Lindlind is slightly more impressive becaues of Lindland’s past credentials, but “The Law” is definitely not even close to a top level fighter these days.
While I think this fight between Franklin and Belfort will be an excellent striking matchup, I think Franklin has too many tools and skills for Belfort to handle and should win this fight via decision.
Winner: Rich Franklin
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Junior Dos Santos – What will we see from Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic on Saturday night? Who really knows, but I don’t have any high hopes. Mirko has not shown anything in recent fights that leads me to believe he is even a shadow of his former self.
Gone are the days of Mirko’s vicious head kicks and here are the days of Mirko’s shaky striking game.
What kind of fighter Junior dos Santos is still remains to be seen. I think Dos Santos should be able to stand in the pocket and trade strikes with Mirko. A good move would be to take Mirko to the ground and work some ground-and-pound on the Croation who has shown himself uncomfortable against the cage in the UFC.
I think this fight goes to a decision with Junior dos Santos taking the victory.
Winner: Junior Dos Santos
Martin Kampmann vs. Paul Daley – While Kampmann was hoping for a title shot with a potential victory over Mike Swick, that will have to be postponed as Swick withdrew from the fight with an injury. Kampmann still does not have an easy task ahead of him as English welterweight Paul Daley stepped in to take Swick’s place.
While most consider both Kampmann and Daley to be standup fighters, I think Kampmann will look to take this fight to the ground. Daley has heavy hands but has proven himself susceptible to submission over the course of his career. Kampmann’s grappling game is very underrated and I think he may pick up a quick submission victory in this fight as Daley makes his UFC debut.
Winner: Martin Kampmann
Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg – While the return of Frank Trigg to the UFC might be a fun story for some, I don’t think his return fight against Josh Koscheck will be very fun for Trigg himself.
Trigg did seem to “reinvent” himself a bit away from the UFC while he was fighting at 185 lbs., but with a return to 170 lbs. Trigg will be in as much trouble as when he left the UFC in 2005.
Koscheck is just too fast and too powerful of a wrestler for Trigg as this late stage of his career. Trigg’s striking isn’t better than Koscheck’s and his ground game also isn’t up to par. While Trigg may be lucky and work his way to a decision, he loses this fight one way or another.
Winner: Josh Koscheck
Tyson Griffin vs. Hermes Franca – If you enjoy evenly matched fights, then you will definitely enjoy most of the fights at UFC 103, including this matchup between Hermes Franca and Tyson Griffin. Both fighters lost to Sean Sherk and Frank Egar by decision; both fighter defeated Marcus Aurelio by decision.
Both fighters are evenly matched on the feet, with Franca probably having a bit more power, but Griffin having better accuracy and footwork. On the ground, Griffin is the better pure wrestler, with Franca probably being the better grappler.
Franca needs to avoid his wide-open looping strikes as much as possible or he will allow the quicker Griffin to land some of his stiff jabs and may be in trouble. Again, a very even matchup and I’m going with Franca on a gut feeling.
Winner: Hermes Franca
Efrain Escudero vs. Cole Miller – Winner: Cole Miller
Drew McFedries vs. Tomasz Drwal – Winner: Tomasz Drwal
Jim Miller vs. Steve Lopez – Winner: Jim Miller
Rick Story vs. Brian Foster – Winner: Brian Foster
Eliot Marshall vs. Jason Brilz – Winner: Jason Brilz
Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Igor Pokrajac – Winner: Vladimir Matyushenko
Rob Emerson vs. Rafael Dos Anjos – Winner: Rafael Dos Anjos
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Amber
eric
capt.ADK'er
Yael Grauer
itzFORT
Singh is King
Fizzlesticks
WTFH
Studog
I have Vitor by ko early
Kos via decision.
cro cop by ko
Tyson g by split decision
kampmann by submission
I may be wrong but I think cro cop is working his way back toward a title shot.
and vitors hand speed and power will be to much for franklin and overwhelm him early
Trigg just sucks and Kos is a better version of the old Trigg.
Franca had trouble with sherks wrestling and I think Tyson would do the same hold him down for a lay and pray win.
I don’t know much about Daley so I’ll take your word on it and say kampmann has a better ground game.
I reserve the right to change my mind. LOL I usually do after seeing weigh inns.
Sherk beat both Franca and Tyson. Granted the Sherk vs. Tyson fight was basically a standup battle, but I don’t think Tyson is as dominating and controlling with his wrestling as Sherk is.
Just my opinion.
I think Rich is gonna sissy run his way to a decision by basically touch fighting and running.. thing is Vitor isn’t Wanderlei, he doesn’t have a fully crushed septim and inable to breathe, so Vitor’s cardio should be fine, he’s also better able to drop in weight, and much lighter on his feat than Wand.. that being said, Rich has a nack for surival and I agee with Doc that he has some viable “tools” that will earn him a decision… but all that could stop and drop with one or two Belfort combos, and I am rooting for Vitor Belfort in this fight all the way.. on paper though.. ehhh
Mirko…. he is not the same, and I don’t think he will win this fight.. at all.. he has been unplugged from the *** Juice too long and his body looks like he’s softening up quite a bit…
I think the main thing that hasnt been discussed yet is Francas conditioning, especially with regard to strong wrestlers who sap your strength from the top position. Im picking Tyson Griffin as i always do, except for in his fight with Sherk where they threw him to the wolves in my opinion. Round 1 will probably go to Hermes, Round 2 he slows down and loses a close round, round 3 will be all Tyson and he gets the judges nod.
Ofcourse im picking Franklin as always, he might not have the hands of Vitor in the boxing game, but hes got the footwork to work Vitor from the outside and capitalize on his reach advanage.
I hope Mirko can turn things around, but this isnt the right fight for that to happen in my opinion. Hes facing a 25 year old stud who has yet to go past the 1st round, i think Dos Santos is alot hungrier than Mirko and i believe that hes training much harder for this fight against a legend in crocop. 1st round KO for Dos Santos.
I think Kampman KOs Daley, but we will just have to wait and see how it plays out.
I think Trigg is savvy enough to avoid getting KOed by Kos, but that being said, i still think Kos outclasses him in wrestling and rides out a unanimous decision win.
Cole vs Efrain could be a good fight, this is a tough test for Efrain and hes definately the underdog here, but i like Efrain so im going for the upset here.
McFedries baby!!! no explaination necessary hehe
Wow! just noticed Matyushenko on this card, ill be cheering for the Belarussian wrestler to secure his first decision victory back in the UFC, but im not holding my breath….
Franklin – UD – Vitor needs a stronger mental game to beat someone like Rich.
CroCop – R1 TKO – because people have lost faith no one will be expecting the CroCop of old and i think this will be his moment… till his next fight anyways.
Kampmann – R2 sub – see Docs prediction for analysis
Koscheck – UD – can it go any other way?
Griffin – UD – im seeing Griffin working from the top and Franca being ok with trying to work his Jits the entire fight.
Miller – R2 sub – just cuz Cole is a better fighter.
McFedries – R1 KO – see BVs prediction.
The Playground has Cole Miller as the underdog against Efrain? wow! i didnt expect that, im gonna have to change my pick guys. Im picking Cole to win and betting heavily on him aswell. Cant let loyalty get in the way of picks man, gotta go with the better fighter AND hes the underdog, wow…
there has been a few times playground has made me scratch my head over who they put as the dog. its not that Cole does anything better the Efrain, its just the things he does do better sorta negate the things that Efrain does well and i just see him as the better fighter because of it.
i was like second to last in points last time and like 4 to last in money but WOW what a come back.paul daley is the pick that got me most my points and almost all my money