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.

[kuri]

Only a few more days until fight night and I'm beginning to think Randy may have a better shot at beating Chuck.

Apparently he's been training with Andrei Arlovski, who will also corner him this Saturday.

If Randy has been able to improve his striking defense/grappling offense with Arlovski than Chuck will have his work cut out for him.

[kuri]

Could this be the next fighter to defeat Chuck or Randy?

Cool training video: http://www.sherdog.com/videos/videos.asp?v_id=565

I think Babalu could do it. Tough as nails and he's a world class wrestler (Pan-Am champion) and good jiu-jitsu practitioner.

First he has to get through another Olympic wrestler this weekend, Mike Van Arsdale.

Maybe fight of the night.

[Kaiser]

I'm guessing Liddell too, but cheering for the Natural. Let me know how it goes because I only get to see the fights months later on INHD tv.

[kuri]

Kaiser, if you can convince your wife you should get down to the nearest Hooters Saturday night. They show all UFC PPVs for free!

We're going to a local sports bar (Yankee Doodles) that shows 'em free too. Wish Alwyn & Dos would drop by for some fun. I know Alwyn hits the Irish pubs in Santa Monica.

I don't care who wins between Chuck & Randy. They are both class acts & top notch athletes.

[dos]

I think Alwyn is heading down to a sports bar in Santa Monica to watch it after the perform better seminar in L.A. I'm having some people over to watch it at my place.

Go Randy - GO!
[ QUOTE ]
"I hope he sets his feet and tries to knock me out, I'll pick him up and drop him on his head"
-Randy-

[/ QUOTE ]

[ QUOTE ]
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.

[/ QUOTE ]

Well, I don't know if we actually got to see any of Randy's wrestling in #2 but you can bet he will be a little more concious of Chuck's power this time around. It was one of those shots in #2, you know, if you get someone just right....

Don't think that's going to happen tomorrow though. I see it looking more like #1 this time.

[Kaiser]

I read on Crossfit where Liddel KO'd Randy in round 2. Damn. If someone wants to let me know what exactly happened, I'd be obliged.

[kuri]

Check the "Captain America" thread Kaiser.

Full results there.

Chuck caught him with a clean shot halfway into the 2nd round.

Randy had him on his back for a moment in rd 1 but Chuck just stood up and kept it on the feet. Randy wasn't very aggressive and never really shot in (which might not have worked anyway).

btw, I posted something innocent at Crossfit about having Randy work with Crossfit now that he retired and got jumped on by Coach, who obviously took it the wrong way.

Damn, talk about testy. Tired of the cultishness over there.