UFC 73: Stacked

CorporalCardinal

Look! A Cards fan in Iraq
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2005
Posts
907
Reaction score
0
Location
Somewhere in the Desert.....Iraq
Well we are one week and 2 hours away from UFC 73 as I write this. I'm sure no one really cares what I have to say about the fights, but at least you'll know who's fighting.

Mark Bocek Vs. Frankie Edgar (Lightweight, 155)

Bocek comes in with a 4-0 record for his first fight in the UFC (previous fights were in KOTC, APEX, and TKO), while Frankie Edgar (6-0) enters the octagon for the second time. Edgar ground out a decision against Tyson Griffin in his octagon debut, but couldn't find a way to end the fight. Bocek has won all his fights, save for one by TKO, by submission, but I believe that Edgar has faced better competition in his time and will be able to grind out a victory to improve his place in the Lightweight division.

Chris Lytle Vs. Jason Gilliam (Welterweight, 170)

Lytle was originally booked to face Spencer Fisher, which would have been a very good fight, but instead Jason Gilliam is moving up in weight to face Chris Lytle. Gilliam had a rather dissapointing debut in the octagon, being submitted less then 2 minutes into his fight. Lytle is a lunch bucket kind of fighter, good at everything, great at nothing (that's not a knock, I happen to be a big Lytle fan). Lytle is hungry after losing a razor thin decision at TUF4 to Serra and going the distance with former champ Matt Hughes. I'm taking Lytle to win.

Diego Saraiva Vs. Jorge Gurgel (Lightweight, 155)

Saraiva is a nasty finishing machine when it comes to the ground (8 submission victories), but if you push him the distance he doesn't seem to win (all four loses by decisions). Gurgel didn't show much against Abbadi, but snuck a win out. The one thing Gurgel has going for him is his camp. He's in the same camp as Rich Franklin, which isn't bad company to have to spar with every day. If Saraiva can get it to the ground he has a good chance to win, but Gurgel is very slippery and I think he'll push it to the distance. Gurgel by decision.

Mike Nickels Vs. Stephan Bonner (Light Heavyweight, 205)

Nickels is a solid, smart fighter. He hasn't stepped foot in the octagon since the TUF3 finale (were he beat Wes Combs) but did fight in April at ROF 29-Aftershock. Bonnar is coming off his second loss to Forrest Griffin and a suspension handed down from the NSAC for a banned substance. The question comes down to whether Bonnar has ringrust or can go straight out of the gate. This fight hinges entirely on what Bonner shows up that day. If it's a Bonnar who hasn't fought in 9 months it'll be Nickels' night, but if it's the Bonnar who pushed Griffin so hard to razor thin decisions he'll have a triumphant return.

Heath Herring Vs. Minatauro Nogueira (Heavyweight, up to 265)

While this will be the first time they meet in the octagon, it will be the third time they've met. In their first meeting Nogueira pulled out a decision victory, but in the second Nogueira used an anaconda choke to win. Herring has heavy hands, but Nogueira can dominate him on the ground (Jake O'Brian used a similiar strategy in Herring's debut in the UFC). Look for Nogueira to take it to the ground, find a submission victory, and jump into the mix against the winner of Couture/Gonzaga.

Hermes Franca Vs. Sean Sherk (Lightweight Title Bout)

This should be a dandy. Sherk has weighted twelve years to get a belt and finally has one, Franca is one of the more colorful and entertaining fighters in the division. Sherk has a strength advantage, but Franca has an advantage on the ground and is just plain wild. This should be a very interesting fight, but I think Sherk wins in the end.

Rashad Evans Vs. Tito Ortiz (Light Heavyweight, 205)

Rashad is undefeated and looks to be in his prime, Ortiz seems to be nearing the end of his career. Ortiz used to be the most dominant man in the UFC and the poster boy for the organization, then he ran into real competition in Couture and Liddell. Evans is looking to take that next step up the ladder and push for a shot at the title. I think Evans will take that step, unless Ortiz finally figures out a way to win against someone that isn't on the verge of retiring.

Alvin Robinson Vs. Kenny Florian (Lightweight, 155)

This is an interesting fight. Robinson makes his debut in the octagon after driving through competition with submission skills. Florian comes off a disheartening 5 round war with Sherk for the belt. While getting a win over Mishima may have taken the nasty taste of lossing out of his mouth, you have to believe that Florian wants to prove he belonged in that fight with Sherk. I think Florian will find a way to gut out a win by decision, but it will be a very close fight.

Nate Marquardt Vs. Anderson Silva (Middleweight Title Bout)

The seven-time King of Pancras faces the Spider for belt. This should be a great fight. Marquardt has a wealth of experience and should push Silva hard for the belt. Anderson Silva is perhaps the strongest 185 pounder in the UFC in the clinch and is just plain vicious standing up. At UFC 67 he showed his ground skills. I think this will be a 5 round war with Silva walking out with his belt.

This has all the makings of an unreal fight card. Alright, there's my thoughts....discuss.
 

O

LD @ F.O.H.
LEGACY MEMBER
Joined
Aug 2, 2002
Posts
13,905
Reaction score
5
Location
The Vortex!
Thanks for the breakdown. :thumbup:
I'll probably be watching.
 

100%CardsFan

100% embarrassed
Joined
Nov 20, 2003
Posts
7,190
Reaction score
17
Location
THIS ONE IS FOR YOU KOC. TIM WE DID IT.
I was pissed that Heath didnt finish that fight after that head kick. he stepped off of Minaturo and wanted him to stand up ..I was screaming FINISH HIM kinda like the sensei of the Kobra Kai on Karate Kid
 
OP
OP
CorporalCardinal

CorporalCardinal

Look! A Cards fan in Iraq
Supporting Member
Joined
Mar 7, 2005
Posts
907
Reaction score
0
Location
Somewhere in the Desert.....Iraq
Tito didn't finish the fight, he was gassed in the third and I couldn't understand why Evans didn't jump all over him. Made no dang sense to me. That fight between Minatauro and Herring was a great way to kick the night off, though I thought the ref should have stopped the fight in the 1st because Minatauro wasn't defending.
 

100%CardsFan

100% embarrassed
Joined
Nov 20, 2003
Posts
7,190
Reaction score
17
Location
THIS ONE IS FOR YOU KOC. TIM WE DID IT.
Tito didn't finish the fight, he was gassed in the third and I couldn't understand why Evans didn't jump all over him. Made no dang sense to me. That fight between Minatauro and Herring was a great way to kick the night off, though I thought the ref should have stopped the fight in the 1st because Minatauro wasn't defending.

I couldnt agree more. I was saying the same thing to my pops
 
Top