RITC XVII
Johnny "Wildfire" Rage
UFC 82 Preview
This Saturday, the Ultimate Fighting Championship packs up the Octagon and heads to Columbus, Ohio for UFC 82:
Pride Of A Champion.  A total of ten fights will take place, with the Main Event being a Middleweight unification bout
between Dan Henderson and Anderson Silva. Let's get to the picks and find out who “Wildfire” is burning for.

Main Event
UFC World Middleweight Unification Bout

Match-Up:
Anderson “The Spider” Silva (20-4) vs. Dan “Hollywood” Henderson (22-6)

Consequences:
Being that this fight is for both titles, a loss here would be a huge setback for both. Dan Henderson really needs a
win after losing his PRIDE Light Heavyweight Title to Rampage back in September.  A win for Dan would mean that
he would likely fight Rich Franklin if Franklin can beat Lutter at UFC 83. Anderson Silva, on the other hand, has been
the most dominant Middleweight Champion ever. Critics always have questions about Silva and he has a chance to
silence them again with a win in this fight. If Silva gets by Henderson and if Okami gets by Tanner then it’s a
rematch between those two.

Breakdown:
This fight will be settled on the ground, as Henderson will become frustrated with Silva’s precise striking and will
look to take Anderson down. While on the ground, Henderson will look to use his ground-and-pound. I, for one, am
not totally impressed with Henderson’s G & P and I think some sloppy strikes will lead to the fight ending in an
armbar late in the 3rd Round.  What's that?  You don’t think Hendo will be tapped out? Check out the last two guys
to make him submit. That’s right: Silva’s current training partners.

Prediction:
Anderson Silva by 3rd Round Submission (Armbar)



Match-Up:
Cheick Kongo (11-3-1) vs. Heath “Texas Crazy Horse” Herring (27-13)

Consequences:
This is a match-up in the UFC Heavyweight Division and means a great deal for both fighter, but for different
reasons.  A win for Kongo more than likely gives him a title fight later in ‘08. A loss for Kongo more than likely earns
him a shot at a fighter like Gonzaga. Heath Herring had a strong 1st Round against Big Nog before blowing his
chance the last time he was in the Octagon. A win for Herring earns him a shot at the loser of Werdum/Vera and a
loss might mean the end of his run in the UFC.

Breakdown:
I’m not really sure how exciting this fight will be, as it will more than likely involve Kongo taking Herring down and
laying on him, much like he did against Cro Cop. I don’t buy that Herring’s wrestling is great because all you have to
do is look at the O’Brien fight, where Jake took him down at will. With that said, it’s going to be long and boring with
Kongo’s Muay Thai and takedowns dominating Herring.

Prediction:
Cheick Kongo by Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)



Match Up:
Alessio “Legionarius” Sakara (12-6) vs. Chris “Cat Smasher” Leben (17-4)

Consequences:
This is a critical match up in the UFC Middleweight Division. Both fighters have had ups and downs recently inside
the Octagon. This will be Sakara’s first fight at 185 and he is coming off a win at UFC 80 against an overweight and
unimpressive James Lee. Leben is coming off a surprising win against Terry Martin. A win for either fighter will likely
land them a shot at Patrick Cote or Ricardo Almeida during the summer. A loss for either would mean a move back
down to an Ultimate Fight Night against someone like Nate Quarry or Marvin Eastman.  

Breakdown:
I think this fight is way more one-sided than experts want to let on. Leben showed in his last fight that he has the
patience to throw punches when openings appear instead of just clubbing away. Sakara is known for having a
weak chin and, with Leben’s new style, this is just what the doctor ordered. Leben’s bombs will land and down
goes Sakara.

Prediction:
Chris Leben by 1st Round KO/TKO



Match Up:
Evan Tanner (32-6) vs. Yushin “Thunder” Okami (20-4)

Consequences:
One fighter is returning to the Octagon for the first time in about two years and one is trying to earn himself a title
shot.  Evan Tanner has been on a long strange road back to the Octagon and, with a win, could face the loser of
the Middleweight Title fight or the loser of Franklin/Lutter later this year. Yushin Okami, on the other hand, is looking
for a title shot. He’s a strong wrestler, has a sweet nickname, and has the ability to wreak havoc against any
opponent.

Breakdown:
Both fighters are known for having a decisive style. Tanner brings the clinch game and Okami wants to bring you
down and ground-and-pound you.  I believe this is where Evan Tanner can succeed, if in fact it’s the old Evan
Tanner going into this fight. Okami has been beating smaller Middleweights who don’t have much of a game outside
of striking. I’m not counting Rich Franklin, even though his ground game isn’t that strong. I look for Okami to tire
himself out trying to take down Tanner and then towards the middle of Round 3, Tanner will out-muscle and out-will
Okami with his strikes.  It won’t be an easy victory but I think Tanner can do.

Prediction:
Evan Tanner by 3rd Round KO/TKO (Ref Stoppage)



Match-Up:
Chris “Professor” Wilson (13-3) vs. Jon Fitch (15-2)

Consequences:
Jon Fitch has been on a roll inside the Octagon and has been considered the most likely to get a title shot if he is
successful in this fight. Originally, Fitch was scheduled to fight Akihiro Gono but Gono had to pull out due to a hand
injury.  So Team Quest fighter Chris Wilson took the fight and has a golden chance to make a huge impact in the
UFC.  I think the only way Fitch gets a title shot with a victory is if Karo Parisyan loses to Thiago Alves in April. If
Parisyan wins, then he will meet Fitch later in the Summer.

Breakdown:
I think that this fight is going to be closer than what most people think. Wilson is a huge underdog and you have to
believe it’s because he’s fairly unknown. Both are tremendous wrestlers but Wilson has shown a lack of Jiu-Jitsu in
his fights, which means that Fitch should be able to take him down and work his ground-and-pound most of the
night. Against other wrestlers, Fitch has shown the ability to get them down but not be able to finish them. I think
the same holds true here.  

Prediction:  
Jon Fitch by Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)


Other Predictions:
Andrei Arlovski over Jake O’Brien by 1st Round KO/TKO
Luigi Fioravanti over Luke Cummo by Unanimous Decision
Josh Koscheck over Dustin Hazellett by 2nd Round Submission
Diego Sanchez over David Bielkheden by Unanimous Decision
John Halverson over Jorge Gurgel by Split Decision

Add us to your myspace friends at www.myspace.com/scrubsportsdotcom


Drew Franklin, I hope you take the wheels off your home before crossing the Ohio River in it,
Oregon-Trail style.  See you in Columbus!
"Wit is educated insolence."