In my opinion, Pat Barry played the friendship tip too much in this fight. There was loads of respect given prefight and high fives annd hugs ensued during the fight after good exchanges.
It started out with Pat Barry really crushing CroCop with a few leg kicks and an excellent right hook that knocked CroCop down […]
In my opinion, Pat Barry played the friendship tip too much in this fight. There was loads of respect given prefight and high fives annd hugs ensued during the fight after good exchanges.
It started out with Pat Barry really crushing CroCop with a few leg kicks and an excellent right hook that knocked CroCop down and Barry didn’t follow up.
Barry won this round.
In the second round, Barry danced more taking the round off, while CroCop landed an axe kick of all things, as well as throwing 2 of his “cemetery” leg kicks that were blocked. Mirko got a takedown.
Mirko probably won this round on activity alone as Barry didn’t do much.
In the third round, Mirko was swinging with punches mostly, while Barry was winded, threw a few really weak leg kicks. Other than that, he didn’t do anything else for the rest of the round. Mirko took him down, Barry got up. Mirko dropped a very nice combination on Barry’s head that backed him up and crumpled him a little bit. Mirko took him down from there and eventually cinched a rear naked choke that most fighters would have been able to defend.
Barry needs to work on his conditioning big time and I think this was a fight he could’ve won easily had he focused.
Paulo Thiago was pretty much dominated in every round on the feet and on the ground, where Kampmann was able to get mount several times, many choke attempts including his favorite head and arm/arm triangle choke as well as a plethora of guillotines.
Paulo Thiago was pretty much dominated in every round on the feet and on the ground, where Kampmann was able to get mount several times, many choke attempts including his favorite head and arm/arm triangle choke as well as a plethora of guillotines.
A great first round where both fighters landed their own personal damage. Midway in the first Chuck threw a body kick that Franklin blocked with his forearm and he broke it. However, Franklin being as tough as he is kept in the fight, but you can tell something was wrong.
Near the end of the round, […]
A great first round where both fighters landed their own personal damage. Midway in the first Chuck threw a body kick that Franklin blocked with his forearm and he broke it. However, Franklin being as tough as he is kept in the fight, but you can tell something was wrong.
Near the end of the round, Chuck had Franklin against the cage and was pressing after landing some looping punches. When Chuck over committed to his attack, he walked into Franklin’s right hook. Out cold. Franklin wins in the first with little time left on the clock.
Joe Rogan mentioned it might be the last time we see Chuck in the Octagon, but I gotta say, this is the best Chuck looked in quite awhile. He looked very good in his attacks, his takedowns, I didn’t expect him to fight as well as he did. Chuck really hasn’t thrown body kicks like that since his very early days in the UFC. I’m talking about when he wore shoes!
Chuck “The Iceman” Lidell vs Rich “Ace” Franklin
Lidell’s Strengths: KO Power. Has knocked out a lot of fighters. Takedown defense, footwork, very good at avoiding being hit over his career, while less so in his last few fights.
Lidell’s Weaknesses: Age, Pretty much a singular fighting strategy for quite awhile, jaw, lack of head movement (tends […]
Chuck “The Iceman” Lidell vs Rich “Ace” Franklin
Lidell’s Strengths: KO Power. Has knocked out a lot of fighters. Takedown defense, footwork, very good at avoiding being hit over his career, while less so in his last few fights.
Lidell’s Weaknesses: Age, Pretty much a singular fighting strategy for quite awhile, jaw, lack of head movement (tends to hold chin high and stands straight up).
Franklin’s strengths: Jiu-jitsu, Tends to throw combinations most times when striking, cardio, toughness. Franklin has always been more a multiple hit/tko type of fighter than a power puncher.
Franklin’s weaknesses: Not many weaknesses. Franklin had trouble defending strikes while in Anderson Silva’s Thai clinch. However, any fighter would’ve went down taking those type of knees to the body.
Chuck’s singular strategy I think is not enough to beat Rich Franklin on a good day. Now is Rich fighting on short notice? Yes. He is taking over for Tito Ortiz who has dropped out due to injury.
If Rich can get this fight to the ground I think, Franklin wins this one via TKO or submission. If it stays on the feet….I still think Franklin wins — via decision. Can Chuck win this fight of course. 1 punch and Rich will be tasting the canvas and Chuck can get that TKO very easily.
Mirko “Cro Cop” vs Pat Barry
The ultimate kick off between two excellent kickboxing fighting stylists. There is probably little chance this is going to the ground. CroCop is known for his left high kick which was so devastating against opponents in Pride. In the UFC he hasn’t really even thrown it much and has instead gone for constant punching. At the same time, his stand up has looked rather poor in the UFC cage as well. While Pat Barry’s standup has looked great. He has caused severe damage to several opponents legs due to his low kicks. Barry is probably one of if not the most powerful “leg kicker” in all of MMA right now.
Pat Barry is favored in this fight and I can see him winning. The one thing that Mirko has over Barry is height and reach. That could become an issue for Barry and would increase the odds for Mirko’s left high kick to connect.
Despite that I think Barry will win based on superior standup and conditioning.
Paulo Thiago vs Martin Kampmann
This is a fight Kampmann can win on his feet. If Paulo Thiago gets it to the ground though I think Thiago will win there. If stays up, Kampmann wins due to dynamic striking. Thiago is not the most amazing striker despite KO’ing Koscheck.
Ben Rothwell vs Gilbert Yvel
If Ben follows the Josh Barnett plan, this fight will be over real fast. If Ben follows the Cain Velasquez plan, then Yvel has a real good chance of winning.
Carlos Condit vs Rory MacDonald
Two good strikers, but one great ground specialist. I give the edge to Carlos Condit because he has shown he can take some serious standup punishment and that is what Rory MacDonald is best at. However, MacDonald does not have the same ground game that Condit possesses.
Condit wins.
UFC 115 Prelim Fights Shown on SpikeTV
Tyson Griffin vs Evan Dunham
The guaranteed good fight contender, Tyson Griffin, is taking on Evan Dunham. Someone who was new to the UFC and we called him to beat Efrain Escudero. Efrain Escudero is sort of like Tyson Griffin. Great cardio, great wrestling, good standup, and difficult to submit. Dunham will have his hands full trying to submit Griffin as many other fighters have not been able to do so.
Griffin wins most fights by decision. Dunham is actually more of a finisher than Griffin and has a tough chin and good standup. He is the taller fighter and will have reach on Griffin. Will Griffin submit Dunham who is a black belt in jiu jitsu? I don’t see it. I think this fight is going to the cards. Dunham is good with both hands and feet, while Griffin has some really good leg kicks.
That said I like Dunham in this fight.
Mac Danzig vs Matt Wiman
Too tough guys with similar skill sets. Danzig is slightly favored at some bookmakers, but this is closer to a pickem. Danzig probably has the better cardio. I lean towards Danzig here due to his aggressive nature will overcome the zombie style of Wiman.
Bellator Fighting Championships June 10th Hollywood, Florida
Toby Imada vs Pat Curran
The crafty veteran Toby Imada is taking on hard punching Pat Curran. Known for being on the Tapout show, Pat Curran brings a wrestling and jiu jitsu background to the table, but his footwork and boxing are well above average.
Toby Imada, is all around good, […]
Bellator Fighting Championships June 10th Hollywood, Florida
Toby Imada vs Pat Curran
The crafty veteran Toby Imada is taking on hard punching Pat Curran. Known for being on the Tapout show, Pat Curran brings a wrestling and jiu jitsu background to the table, but his footwork and boxing are well above average.
Toby Imada, is all around good, but probably less good in the standup. Well known for his reverse triangle choke on Jorge Masvidal, a fight he was losing and was the underdog in.
In this matchup I like the heavy handed Pat Curran to cause enough problems for Imada as well as utilize the wrestling to keep Imada off kilter the entire fight.
Ikuhisa Minowa vs Imani Lee
Minowa via ankle lock. Yet again.
Norifumi Yamamoto vs Federico Lopez
Kid Yamamoto gets back on the winning train here.
Kazushi Sakuraba vs Ralek Gracie
I don’t think Ralek brings enough to beat the “Gracie Hunter” despite being old at this point. Sakuraba wins.
Yoshiro Maeda vs Kenji Osawa
I like Maeda here.
Nick Diaz vs Hayato Sakurai
Sakurai […]
Ikuhisa Minowa vs Imani Lee
Minowa via ankle lock. Yet again.
Norifumi Yamamoto vs Federico Lopez
Kid Yamamoto gets back on the winning train here.
Kazushi Sakuraba vs Ralek Gracie
I don’t think Ralek brings enough to beat the “Gracie Hunter” despite being old at this point. Sakuraba wins.
Yoshiro Maeda vs Kenji Osawa
I like Maeda here.
Nick Diaz vs Hayato Sakurai
Sakurai doesn’t have the cardio, but has a punchers chance. Still like Nick Diaz to win this regardless too many tools and has age on his side. Plus oneof my favorite fighters, Nick has had a great run in getting great matchups. If he ever gets back to the UFC he will run into much stiffer competition.
Joachim Hansen vs Hiroyuki Takaya
Takaya has had trouble against hard punchers. That is what Hansen is, a really hard puncher. I like Hansen to win here.
