UFC 57 Picks

[Chris D]

I was reminded of the upcoming UFC while over checking out Crossfit.com and seeing Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell training what I can only assume is his upcoming fight with Couture. So I thought I'd get this started early. What's everyone's pick? I think this is the first time I've seen the event have so many LHW's and HW's on the card. WOW.

Fight Card is as follows:

Full Line-up:

Heavyweight Bout
Keith Jardine vs. Mike Whitehead

Heavyweight Bout
Jeff Monson vs. Branden Lee Hinkle

Heavyweight Bout
Paul Buentello vs. Gilbert Aldana

Heavyweight Bout
Brandon Vera vs. Justin Eilers

Light Heavyweight Bout
Alessio Sakara vs. Elvis Sinosic

Light Heavyweight Bout
Renato "Babalu" Sobral vs. Mike Van Arsdale

Heavyweight Bout
Frank Mir vs. Marcio "Pe De Pano" Cruz

Welterweight Bout
Nick Diaz vs. Joe Riggs

Light Heavyweight Title Bout
Champion Chuck Liddell vs. Randy Couture

[kuri]

I for one am VERY underwhelmed by the heavyweights on the card. I realize it's the UFC's weakest division & they need to bring more guys in but c'mon, can anyone possibly envision any of these guys lasting more than a round with Arlovski?

I didn't think so.

Anyway, my picks are

Jardine over Whitehead (better striker & more athletic)

Jeff Monson over Branden Lee Hinkle (Monson is more experienced and better at every aspect)

Paul Buentello over Gilbert Aldana (no idea who Aldana is, so Buentello by default)

Brandon Vera over Justin Eilers (Vera seems like a better MMA practitioner overall)

Alessio Sakara over Elvis Sinosic (Sakara looked to have really good striking and Elvis doesn't. Elvis could pull out a sub, but I doubt it)

Renato "Babalu" Sobral over Mike Van Arsdale (Babalu's wrestling can stop Arsdale's takedowns & Babalu has good subs & striking)

Frank Mir over Marcio "Pe De Pano" Cruz (hard to pick since Mir's been gone so long. Both great grapplers but Mir has more experience)

Nick Diaz over Joe Riggs (Diaz does good against strikers & Riggs is a bit wild, though stronger)

Light Heavyweight Title Bout
Chuck Liddell over Randy Couture - Gotta go with the Iceman here. He's on a tear and had an answer for Randy's wrestling last time. I don't see Randy suddenly developing a striking game to stop Chuck.

[Chris D]

Kuri,

I don't know most of these guys. Honestly I haven't been following the UFC that much these days. It will be interesting to see if Mir is up to his old form. If he is perhaps he can give Arvloski a run for his money.

As for the title bout (really the only one I know anything about), I think Liddell has this one. If Liddell does win I see Randy hanging it up. If by some fluke he does win, I think that would be the time to retire as well.

CD

[kuri]

Word 'round the campfire is Randy may retire, win or lose.

[Chris D]

I think it would be the best thing for him right now. He's lost a couple of steps the last couple of years. Now it's time to start training the next champ and keep building up Sportfight which seems to be doing pretty damn good. Perhaps a competitor to the UFC eventually?

CD