UFC 75 Champion vs Champion Picks from Keith

UFC 75 Preview and Predictions : By Keith Shillan

UFC vs. Pride is finally here! The hardcore fans have been calling for the unification bout for years. Finally, we will all know who the best 205 pound fighter in the world is. Well, maybe not. This fight isn’t what the hardcore fans expected. Fans expected the super hyped fight that never took place when Dana White announced a fight between the then UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Chuck Liddell and the then Pride FC Middleweight Champion Wanderlei Silva. Dan “Hollywood” Henderson and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson had other plans. First, Dan Henderson knocked out Wanderlei Silva to take the Pride title and then Quinton Jackson ended Liddell’s impressive run as champ quickly with a left hook in the first round of the match in May. Quinton, who spent most of his career fighting for Pride, really doesn’t represent the UFC. It almost feels like a Pride vs. Pride fight. Also is the winner of this fight the undisputed best 205 pound fighter? Most hardcore fans would choose Maurico “Shogun” Rua, who has a quick TKO win over Quinton Jackson in the 2005 Grand Prix. Anyways, this fight might not be the UFC vs. Pride fight or the best 2 fighters in the light heavyweight division locking horns, but it is a great main event. Both fighters are top 5 fighters and it should be a great war.

The card also has the return of Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Cheick Kongo, and the TUF 3 grudge match between Michael Bisping and Matt Hamill. Let’s take a look at the main fight cards and get to my predictions. Being that this fight will be on Spike TV and be full of commercials, I will only break down the four fights, which are promised to be shown.

Houston Alexander vs. Alessio “Legionarius” Sakara

Houston Alexander became an instant star when he surprised everybody with his spectacular KO over the highly favored Keith Jardine. Most people (myself included) had never heard of Alexander before his fight with Jardine, and took it as a cakewalk for Jardine. Alexander landed some extremely powerful blows on Jardine and made a highlight reel KO that would be shown in UFC Unleashed for years. Jardine seems to have instantly gained a huge fan base, and have been marked as a top contender in the UFC division.

Alessio Sakara is also known for his punches. He first hit the UFC scene at UFC 55 by smashing Ron Faircloth but the fight was ruled a no-contest when Faircloth hit Sakara with a low blow that Sakara couldn’t continue. Sakara then made a horror movie, with his pin-point striking over for three rounds over Elvis Sinosic, in which he hit Elvis with everything but the kitchen sink. Sakara then showed his weak ground game, when submission master Dean Lister triangle choked him in less than 3 minutes into the fight. He then took another step back when Drew McFedries outlasted Sakara in a slugfest eventually getting a TKO in the first round. He would then return with a first rd TKO over Victor Valimaki at UFC 70.

This fight is going to an absolute war on the feet. Both have shown KO power and great ability in their hands. Alexander will not have the element of surprise this time. I truly believe that Jardine toke Alexander lightly, and paid the price for them. Alexander seems to have the more striking power, but Sakara is probable the more technical striker. I see Sakara outlasting the early flurry by Alexander and Sakara eventually unloading a barrage of punches winning by TKO late in the first period.

Michael “the Count” Bisping vs. Matt “the Hammer” Hamill

I really loved season 3 of the Ultimate Fighter. I watched it when it first aired and then recently bought the season when it came out on DVD and watched it again. Yes, I need a life. These two fighters were training partners on the show and seemed to get under each others skin. It seemed like many times they were going to throw down. Many believe this would have been the finals of the show if Hamill didn’t get hurt. Bisping went on to win the contract and Hamill has kept reminding everybody that Bisping never beat him. With all due respect to finalist Josh Haynes, this was the fight everybody wanted to see.

Bisping has a huge following of fans, especially in England (where this fight is being held). Bisping is known for his standup. He has crisp hand striking but also has great high kicks and knees. His ground game is underrated and his wrestling has probable improved with training with Rampage. Since winning the contract, he has 2 TKO wins over Eric Schafer and Elvis Sinosic (though he was almost KO’d himself)

Matt Hamill is an amazing wrestler. He has won many gold medals during the deaf Olympics in wrestling. He is a little green, but is always trying to learn more. He is known for having a great work ethic, which made TUF coach Tito Ortiz really take an interest in him. Hamill’s striking is not good, though his striking from the clinch has shown signs of brilliance. Since the show, Hamill has looked impressive taking out Jesse Forbes, Seth Petruzelli and Rex Holman.

Both these fighters have undefeated records. Bisping has a lot more experience then Hamill has. A lot of so called experts have been taking Bisping, saying that the crowd will help Bisping. I do believe the crowd might influence the referee to stand the fight up, if Hamill takes down Bisping and is just holding him down, but I don’t take this to be a home town match for Bisping. The reason why: Hamill is deaf. He won’t even know that the crowd is booing him.

I expect Bisping to have some flurries on his feet that will hurt Hamill and many submission attempts, but I believe Hamill will take Bisping down easily and control him to a unanimous decision. If you remember on the show, Hamill was taking Bisping down, using no hands, imagine what he can do with both hands. Hamill in upset of the night.

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic vs. Cheick Kongo

Before I get to this fight, I need to get a pet peeve off my chest. Attention UFC! His last name is not Cro Cop, its Filipovic. You don’t call Randy Couture, Randy the Natural; please call him Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. Ok back to the article.

This was a hand picked fight for Cro Cop. The UFC wanted a fighter to stand up right in front of Cro Cop and just throw down. They might have found that guy in French Muay Thai fighter Cheick Kongo. Kongo is an athletic specimen. He is tall, ripped, and very explosive. He has precise striking. He has crisp hands, lightning fast kicks, and unloaded a barrage of knees when he has is opponent hurt. Kongo has TKO wins in the UFC over Gilbert Aldana (RIP), and Christian Wellisch. He would lose a decision to Carmelo Marrero in which Marrero wrestled Kongo to the ground and simply held him until it was over. Kongo would then rebound with a decision win over Assuerio Silva.

When Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic signed with the UFC, hardcore fans assumed he would steamroll all the Heavyweights in the division and would quickly become UFC Champion. Mirko’s resume is unbelievable. He has beaten a who’s who list of MMA fighters, with wins over the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Kazushi Sakuraba, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Josh Barnett, Igor Vovchanchyn, and many more top MMA fighters. Cro Cop is a K-1 level striker. He has smooth feet work, a string stiff left straight. His kicks to the legs and body is better then anybody in the business. Yet, it is his left high kick that gets all the talk. If you have never seen a Cro Cop left high kick KO, stop reading this right now and go on youtube and look up one of his many highlight videos. His high kick is probable the most feared strike in all combat sports. He usually peppers the body with his left leg, until his opponent drops his hands to defend it, and in an instant he snaps it up to their face. Next thing his opponent knows he is waking up with about a dozen doctors around his lifeless body. Yet Mirko is not just a striker. He is one of the toughest guys to take down in all of MMA and even has a submission victory over Kevin Randleman. Mirko made his presence in the UFC by beating Eddie Sanchez by TKO but was amazingly stopped by Gabriel Gonzaga. Gonzaga toke Cro Cop down and landed some devastating elbows. When the fight got back to the feet, Gonzaga did the unthinkable by knocking out Cro Cop by his own weapon, a high kick.

Kongo is a strong striker but he is not on Mirko’s level. I expect Kongo to want to get into a clinch and use his knees and strikes to try to stop Cro Cop. Cro Cop seems focused and ready to take his frustration out on Kongo. I expect Cro Cop to create the distance he needs to strike. Look for his straight left hand, and kicks to the legs and body to setup his left high kick to head for a first round KO.

Quinton “Rampage” Jackson vs Dan “Hollywood” Henderson

Though this fight isn’t the unification fight that many wanted, it is still a great fight. Quinton Jackson instantly became the celebrity in America by knocking out the UFC cover boy Chuck “the Iceman” Liddell to become the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. Though Rampage is now known, Dan Henderson is not known to the casual American fan. Many casual fans think Pride is a second rate organization, which means Henderson must be a second rate champion. Hardcore fans know that both these fighters are as good as they come.

Not to long ago Rampage looked like a fighter heading to the close of his career. In a short time he was knocked out by Wanderlei Silva, looked sluggish against Murilo “Ninja” Rua and lost by TKO to Maurico “Shogun” Rua. He has then seemed to have did an absolute 180 degree turn. He became a student of Juanito Ibarra. He seems focused and disciplined which he has been accused of not being in the past. He won a very close decision over Matt Lindland (which I thought Lindland won) in the main event of the WEC. He then signed a contract with the UFC. He first avenged his first loss of his career against Marvin Eastman. Rampage looked crisp in the striking. He landed a nice uppercut that led to a flurry of punches that caused the referee to stop the fight. Rampage then faced his rival Chuck “the Iceman” Liddell for the UFC Light Heavyweight title. The fight was super hyped but didn’t live up to it. In less than two minutes into the fight, Rampage landed a huge right hook that sent Liddell to the canvas. Rampage followed with some ground and pound and forced referee John McCarthy to step in and stop the fight. Rampage would instantly become a MMA superstar.

Dan Henderson has been around the sport for quite some time. He has fought just about everywhere including the UFC before. He has been a top 10 fighter for many years now but never quite made it to the top. He was always an undersized fighter for the 205 pound weight class and eventually moved down to 183 pounds. Henderson would enter and win the Pride Welterweight Grand Prix to crown to become their first welterweight champion. While being champion, he would move back up to 205 pounds and challenge Wanderlei Silva for the Pride Middleweight Belt. Henderson would shock the world by knocking out Wanderlei Silva to become the first ever two weight class champion.

This is going to be a war. Rampage is known for his amazing strength, breathtaking double leg takdown slams, and vicious ground and pound. He also has very good striking. He stays in tight, and doesn’t really leave himself open. Henderson is an Olympic caliber Greco Roman Wrestler. He has one of the best clinch games. He can take you down from the clinch, or use it to dirty box. He also has a great overhand straight left and a looping left. Henderson has been able to take a beating and dish one right back.

Both their resumes are awesome. Rampage has wins over the likes of: Chuck Liddell, Matt Lindland, Kevin Randleman, Murilo Bustamante, Ricardo Arona, Igor Vovchanchyn, and Murilo Rua. While Henderson has wins over the likes of: Wanderlei Silva, Vitor Belfort, Murlio Rua, Murilo Bustamante, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueria, Kazuhiro Nakamura, and Renzo Gracie. A win for either of these would just further strength their resume

The key for Rampage in this fight is to use his size and strength advantage over Henderson. The key for Henderson is to use the clinch and keep Rampage guessing if he is going to use dirty boxing or take Rampage to the ground. It is really tough to pick a winner here. I do believe that Henderson training with Matt Lindland, who had some success against Rampage in the past will help him create a better game plan then Rampage and will win a razor close split decision.

Prelims:

Marcus Davis vs Paul Taylor: Davis by 2rd TKO

Gleison Tibai vs Terry Etim: Tibau by UD

Tomasz Drwal vs Thiago Silva: Silva by 2rd TKO

Naoyuki Kotani vs Denis Siver: Kotani by UD

Anthony Torres vs Jess Liaudin: Torres by UD