Snail Shell
4th Level Violet Feather
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The undercard after the big three fights is a little thin, so I'll stick to those three.
Lyoto Machida vs. Tito Ortiz
This will either solidify Machida a a threat at 205 or be the return to the top contention spot for Ortiz. Like him or hate him, Tito Ortiz is a threat to just about anyone at 205 and was once the biggest, baddest man in that division. And yes, if it hadn't been for grabbing the cage, he would have beaten Rashad Evans. The GnP style has worked for years against lots of people and Tito has got to know that this might be the last hurrah for him. Win, he's back. Lose, he may never see a title shot again.
Machida has a lot of talent and is dangerous no matter where he is. Everyone says he has no weaknesses, which is a fallacy. I think his weakness is his killer instinct. Four fights in the UFC. Only one stoppage. He has to be able to jump on Ortiz and stay there given the opportunity.
I think it'll be a long night for these two. Ground I give to Ortiz. Stand up I give a slight edge to Machida. But if Ortiz can put Machida down and grind him like he has so many, it'll be over quickly.
MY CALL: Ortiz by Decision.
Keith Jardine vs. Wanderlei Silva
Another big fight at 205, this will be a stand up war. Jardine has never shown any inclination to take anyone down. He's also shown that he can take a punch, taking several before succumbing to Houston Alexander. He's knocked out Forrest Griffin, who's known for being tough as nails, and fought a perfect fight against Chuck Liddell. Jardine knows that there's no reason he can't win this fight and no reason he can't stop Silva.
Silva needs this win. A loss here puts him in the same boat as Ortiz, never seeing a title shot again. Silva lost to Liddell, but Jardine is smaller physically and not as technical a counterpuncher as Liddell. And as always, with Silva, you're only one knee away.
If Jardine can stay upright, he'll have a real shot and grinding down Silva slowly or even scoring a knockout. If Silva comes out blazing and Jardine isn't ready, it can be over very quickly. Still, Jardine's proven everyone wrong before.
MY CALL: Jardine by Decision.
BJ Penn vs. Sean Sherk
Easily the two best at 155, this will be a great fight to watch. I think it'll be over a lot quicker than it should though.
Sean Sherk is fired up, has unmatched cardio, is one of the best wrestlers to ever turn to MMA and is the strongest man at 155. He deserved the belt when he beat Florian for it and it was about time he won gold. BJ can't match him in strength or in cardio. The longer the fight goes on, the easier it will be for Sherk.
Here's the problem. BJ Penn has made a living off of beating wrestlers at MMA. Jens Pulver: Stopped. Joe Stevenson: Stopped. Matt Hughes: Stopped in the first fight, controlled until Penn got hurt in the second. All of these men are terrific wrestlers and physically huge compared to Penn, and Penn put them all away. Penn has better stand up, can take all kinds of punishment, is in better shape than he's ever been and has possibly the sickest ground game in MMA.
Sherk is a phenomenal athlete and a force at 155, but he offers nothign to BJ Penn that Penn hasn't seen and stopped before. Epic fight? Yes. Long fight? Not from where I'm sitting.
MY CALL: Penn by Submission in Round 3 or less.
See you on Saturday night!
Snail Shell
Lyoto Machida vs. Tito Ortiz
This will either solidify Machida a a threat at 205 or be the return to the top contention spot for Ortiz. Like him or hate him, Tito Ortiz is a threat to just about anyone at 205 and was once the biggest, baddest man in that division. And yes, if it hadn't been for grabbing the cage, he would have beaten Rashad Evans. The GnP style has worked for years against lots of people and Tito has got to know that this might be the last hurrah for him. Win, he's back. Lose, he may never see a title shot again.
Machida has a lot of talent and is dangerous no matter where he is. Everyone says he has no weaknesses, which is a fallacy. I think his weakness is his killer instinct. Four fights in the UFC. Only one stoppage. He has to be able to jump on Ortiz and stay there given the opportunity.
I think it'll be a long night for these two. Ground I give to Ortiz. Stand up I give a slight edge to Machida. But if Ortiz can put Machida down and grind him like he has so many, it'll be over quickly.
MY CALL: Ortiz by Decision.
Keith Jardine vs. Wanderlei Silva
Another big fight at 205, this will be a stand up war. Jardine has never shown any inclination to take anyone down. He's also shown that he can take a punch, taking several before succumbing to Houston Alexander. He's knocked out Forrest Griffin, who's known for being tough as nails, and fought a perfect fight against Chuck Liddell. Jardine knows that there's no reason he can't win this fight and no reason he can't stop Silva.
Silva needs this win. A loss here puts him in the same boat as Ortiz, never seeing a title shot again. Silva lost to Liddell, but Jardine is smaller physically and not as technical a counterpuncher as Liddell. And as always, with Silva, you're only one knee away.
If Jardine can stay upright, he'll have a real shot and grinding down Silva slowly or even scoring a knockout. If Silva comes out blazing and Jardine isn't ready, it can be over very quickly. Still, Jardine's proven everyone wrong before.
MY CALL: Jardine by Decision.
BJ Penn vs. Sean Sherk
Easily the two best at 155, this will be a great fight to watch. I think it'll be over a lot quicker than it should though.
Sean Sherk is fired up, has unmatched cardio, is one of the best wrestlers to ever turn to MMA and is the strongest man at 155. He deserved the belt when he beat Florian for it and it was about time he won gold. BJ can't match him in strength or in cardio. The longer the fight goes on, the easier it will be for Sherk.
Here's the problem. BJ Penn has made a living off of beating wrestlers at MMA. Jens Pulver: Stopped. Joe Stevenson: Stopped. Matt Hughes: Stopped in the first fight, controlled until Penn got hurt in the second. All of these men are terrific wrestlers and physically huge compared to Penn, and Penn put them all away. Penn has better stand up, can take all kinds of punishment, is in better shape than he's ever been and has possibly the sickest ground game in MMA.
Sherk is a phenomenal athlete and a force at 155, but he offers nothign to BJ Penn that Penn hasn't seen and stopped before. Epic fight? Yes. Long fight? Not from where I'm sitting.
MY CALL: Penn by Submission in Round 3 or less.
See you on Saturday night!
Snail Shell
