| Rage In The Cage 6 (11/13/07) Hit me with your best shot johnny "Wildfire" Rage |
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UFC 78 takes place this Saturday at Prudential Arena in New Jersey. While the Main Event lacks two proven fighters, the undercard is full
of great matchups. So let’s not waste any more time and find out who “Wildfire” is burning for.
Match Up: Spencer “The King” Fisher (20-3) vs. Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (7-0)
Consequences: For both men, a loss here would set them back in the UFC’s stacked Lightweight Division. A win for Fisher, however, is more
important because it could result in a future shot at Sean Sherk or the winner of the Stevenson/Penn fight coming up at UFC 80. If Edgar wins
though, he could be looking to face the winner of the Clay Guida/Roger Huerta that takes place in December at the Ultimate Fighter Finale.
Breakdown: This fight has already been hyped as the Fight Of The Night on this card. It sets up the classic striker vs. grappler battle that has
produced many epic showdowns in MMA history. The key for Fisher is to keep Edgar standing and let his great boxing skills take over and
control the fight. Edgar seems to get sloppy while throwing his hands, but if he can play on Fisher’s lack of ground skills he stands a chance to
ride out the victory by decision. It won’t be easy for either fighter, but I think Fisher’s boxing will outlast and outpoint Edgar in this fight.
Prediction: Spencer “The King” Fisher by Unanimous Decision (29-28 on all cards)
of great matchups. So let’s not waste any more time and find out who “Wildfire” is burning for.
Match Up: Spencer “The King” Fisher (20-3) vs. Frankie “The Answer” Edgar (7-0)
Consequences: For both men, a loss here would set them back in the UFC’s stacked Lightweight Division. A win for Fisher, however, is more
important because it could result in a future shot at Sean Sherk or the winner of the Stevenson/Penn fight coming up at UFC 80. If Edgar wins
though, he could be looking to face the winner of the Clay Guida/Roger Huerta that takes place in December at the Ultimate Fighter Finale.
Breakdown: This fight has already been hyped as the Fight Of The Night on this card. It sets up the classic striker vs. grappler battle that has
produced many epic showdowns in MMA history. The key for Fisher is to keep Edgar standing and let his great boxing skills take over and
control the fight. Edgar seems to get sloppy while throwing his hands, but if he can play on Fisher’s lack of ground skills he stands a chance to
ride out the victory by decision. It won’t be easy for either fighter, but I think Fisher’s boxing will outlast and outpoint Edgar in this fight.
Prediction: Spencer “The King” Fisher by Unanimous Decision (29-28 on all cards)
Match Up: Ryo “The Piranha” Chonnan (14-7) vs. Karo “The Heat” Parisyan (17-5)
Consequences: This is a showdown in the UFC’s Welterweight Division and, in my eyes, appears to
be a huge mismatch. A win for Chonnan would end some questions about that pesky PRIDE myth
and a win for Parisyan would set up a showdown with the loser of the Hughes/Serra match.
Breakdown: The Judo master Karo Parisyan appears to have been fed another easy victory as he
takes on former PRIDE veteran Ryo Chonnan. The key for Parisyan would be to use his Judo
abilities and take Chonnan down. He shouldn’t be concerned with Chonnan’s striking and when
he has Chonnan down, he needs to be alert and not get caught in submissions. Chonnan must try
his best to keep this fight standing and avoid the Judo throws. His striking won’t be enough, but he
stands a chance to land a crazy submission if Karo gets careless. Parisyan should be able to avoid
danger and score another victory by decision on his way to a rematch with Matt Serra (future
prediction so pay attention).
Consequences: This is a showdown in the UFC’s Welterweight Division and, in my eyes, appears to
be a huge mismatch. A win for Chonnan would end some questions about that pesky PRIDE myth
and a win for Parisyan would set up a showdown with the loser of the Hughes/Serra match.
Breakdown: The Judo master Karo Parisyan appears to have been fed another easy victory as he
takes on former PRIDE veteran Ryo Chonnan. The key for Parisyan would be to use his Judo
abilities and take Chonnan down. He shouldn’t be concerned with Chonnan’s striking and when
he has Chonnan down, he needs to be alert and not get caught in submissions. Chonnan must try
his best to keep this fight standing and avoid the Judo throws. His striking won’t be enough, but he
stands a chance to land a crazy submission if Karo gets careless. Parisyan should be able to avoid
danger and score another victory by decision on his way to a rematch with Matt Serra (future
prediction so pay attention).
Prediction: Karo “The Heat” Parisyan by Unanimous Decision (30-27 on all cards)
Match Up: Joe “El Dirte” Doerksen (39-10) vs. Ed “Short Fuse” Herman (13-5)
Consequences: This rematch with MMA Journeyman Joe Doerksen is Ed Herman’s chance to avenge a loss
on his record. Herman needs a win to stay afloat in the UFC’s Middleweight Division. Doerksen is a
replacement for David Terrell, who injured himself for the 123,000th time during training. Doerksen can
earn his way back into the UFC with a victory here.
Breakdown: Unless Herman wants this fight to turn out like their first showdown, he must keep Doerkson
away with great striking. If Herman wants to take this fight to the ground, he must stay active and not
allow Doerksen a chance to sink in a submission. Herman’s ability to land solid strikes while in Doerksen’
s guard could allow an opportunity for a submission victory. Doerksen needs to get the fight to the ground
and out-maneuver Herman in order to gain a submission. You have to think the first fight will still be on
Herman’s mind and this one will play out much like the original.
Consequences: This rematch with MMA Journeyman Joe Doerksen is Ed Herman’s chance to avenge a loss
on his record. Herman needs a win to stay afloat in the UFC’s Middleweight Division. Doerksen is a
replacement for David Terrell, who injured himself for the 123,000th time during training. Doerksen can
earn his way back into the UFC with a victory here.
Breakdown: Unless Herman wants this fight to turn out like their first showdown, he must keep Doerkson
away with great striking. If Herman wants to take this fight to the ground, he must stay active and not
allow Doerksen a chance to sink in a submission. Herman’s ability to land solid strikes while in Doerksen’
s guard could allow an opportunity for a submission victory. Doerksen needs to get the fight to the ground
and out-maneuver Herman in order to gain a submission. You have to think the first fight will still be on
Herman’s mind and this one will play out much like the original.
Prediction: Joe “El Dirte” Doerksen by 2nd Round Submission via Triangle Choke
Match Up: Thiago Silva (11-0) vs. Houston “The Assassin” Alexander( 8-1)
future Ultimate Fight Night.
future Ultimate Fight Night.
Breakdown: Obviously this fight won’t go the distance and that’s just the way both fighters
prefer it. Alexander will try to get into the clinch and land those devastating knees and
upper cuts. He must be careful not to get caught or taken to the ground, as he’s not proven
to have a ground game. Silva must avoid the clinch and get Alexander down and work his
ground game. Alexander’s only loss came via submission and Silva must do this to stand a
chance in this fight. Silva has a lot of pride in his stand-up and I think that will be his
downfall, as he becomes just another victim for Houston Alexander.
future Ultimate Fight Night.
future Ultimate Fight Night.
Breakdown: Obviously this fight won’t go the distance and that’s just the way both fighters
prefer it. Alexander will try to get into the clinch and land those devastating knees and
upper cuts. He must be careful not to get caught or taken to the ground, as he’s not proven
to have a ground game. Silva must avoid the clinch and get Alexander down and work his
ground game. Alexander’s only loss came via submission and Silva must do this to stand a
chance in this fight. Silva has a lot of pride in his stand-up and I think that will be his
downfall, as he becomes just another victim for Houston Alexander.
Prediction: Houston Alexander 1st Round TKO via Strikes
Match Up: Michael “The Count” Bisping (14-0) vs. Rashad “Sugar” Evans (10-0-1)
Consequences: This is the first time for both Ultimate Fighter Winners to be in the Main Event
of a Pay Per View and I expect them both to be nervous. Dana White announced that the
winner of this fight will face Rampage Jackson next for the LHW Title. The stakes are high for
the winner and the loser will more than likely headline a future Ultimate Fight Night Card.
Breakdown: Striker vs. Grappler is the name of this game. As for Bisping, he needs to take
advantage of Evans’s slow starts and come out of the gates on fire. He must avoid the
takedowns and land solid knees and elbows whenever he can. Bisping can’t afford to be timid
like he was against Matt Hamill. Rashad was out-struck by Tito Ortiz and Bisping must follow
that same game plan. If he can do this, he might score a KO or outpoint Evans in this match
up. Rashad Evans must take the fight to Bisping from the opening bell if he wants to win. I’m
not completely sold on Rashad’s striking abilities, as he’s only finished one fight in his UFC
career. He must take Bisping down much like Hamill did. From there, he can work his
smothering and lay and prey to another decision victory. I really hope that Bisping KO’s Evans
because I can’t stand Rashad. However, the logical side of me says that Rashad wins via
Unanimous Decision.
Consequences: This is the first time for both Ultimate Fighter Winners to be in the Main Event
of a Pay Per View and I expect them both to be nervous. Dana White announced that the
winner of this fight will face Rampage Jackson next for the LHW Title. The stakes are high for
the winner and the loser will more than likely headline a future Ultimate Fight Night Card.
Breakdown: Striker vs. Grappler is the name of this game. As for Bisping, he needs to take
advantage of Evans’s slow starts and come out of the gates on fire. He must avoid the
takedowns and land solid knees and elbows whenever he can. Bisping can’t afford to be timid
like he was against Matt Hamill. Rashad was out-struck by Tito Ortiz and Bisping must follow
that same game plan. If he can do this, he might score a KO or outpoint Evans in this match
up. Rashad Evans must take the fight to Bisping from the opening bell if he wants to win. I’m
not completely sold on Rashad’s striking abilities, as he’s only finished one fight in his UFC
career. He must take Bisping down much like Hamill did. From there, he can work his
smothering and lay and prey to another decision victory. I really hope that Bisping KO’s Evans
because I can’t stand Rashad. However, the logical side of me says that Rashad wins via
Unanimous Decision.
Prediction: Rashad “Sugar” Evans via Majority Decision (29-28,28-29,29-28)
| Undercard Predictions: Lauzon McCrory Auerlio Lytle |
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