UFC 87, My First Post

Hey, dedicated (or sporadic) readers of MMAOpinion,

I’m a new writer for the site and, well, this is my first post. Hopefully you’ll find my stuff entertaining, informative, or both.

UFC 87: Seek and Destroy

Firstly, who thought of that name? These UFC names just get more and more generic, and eventually they’re going to have to start using names over again (or use the thesauraus.. UFC 104 : Find and Obliterate. It’s coming.. Be warned). When will the Bald Dictator come to his senses and just start using numbers?

Okay, on to the fights.

Jason Macdonald vs. Demian Maia

Demian Maia is a wizard on the ground, but is seriously lacking in the other facets of MMA. He’s 7-0, and although being undefeated is never a bad thing, seven fights (and only 2 in the ‘big leagues’) have probably not given him enough experience to take on the extremely tough veteran in Macdonald. Maia’s stamina is also questionable – in his last fight, Maia seemed to be tiring before he got the triangle on Herman (who also looked tired). Given all this, and add this to the fact that Macdonald is no slouch on the ground himself (with 16/20 wins coming by Sub), and it spells a long night for Maia.

Prediction: Macdonald, 3R Dec

Manny Gamburyan vs. Rob Emerson

I despise Gamburyan, but this is (pretty clearly) his fight to lose. His pitbull style and non-so-devastating GnP will keep Emerson frustrated the whole fight. If Manny pretends to touch gloves but instead does a surprise attack (again), he may score the KO – otherwise, go take a leak, get some food or something because it’s going to be a long and probably boring fight (minus the one or two Judo throws Manny pulls off).

Prediction: Manny Gamburyan 3R Dec

Roger Huerta vs. Kenny Florian

Some say this fight has fireworks written all over it. I’d have to disagree – it’ll be far from boring, but I doubt it’ll be the guns blazing, wild swinging affair that Dana White and some others have it hyped up to be. Kenny Florian is an extremely technical fighter, and Huerta, despite his never-say-die attitude, won’t be able to pull Florian out of his game. Although Huerta has more experience on paper, Florian’s tougher opposition counts for far more. Expect the first round to be close, and then Florian to take over in the second with crisper, more technical striking and an overall better ground game.

Prediction: KenFlo 2R Sub/TKO

Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring

In what I think is the closest fight of the night, veteran Heath Herring takes on powerhouse Brock Lesnar. Herring has tons of experience, and has been in there with the best – but often, he comes up short against top level opposition. Lesnar, having only 2 fights under his belt, can (at this point) hardly be called elite. However, he gave an impressive showing against Mir, and although he lost that fight by submission, it was obvious he was big, mean, and talented as hell. For me, this fight is virtually 50/50 – in the last month or so, I’ve changed my mind 3 or 4 times about who I think will win the fight. Right now, I’m leaning towards Lesnar and his superior wrestling, and if I haven’t changed my mind by tonight, I’m thinking Lesnar.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar, 3R TKO

Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch

I feel sorry for Jon Fitch. Don’t buy the countdown stuff – Fitch has got droves of talent. His wrestling is superb, his jujitsu is better than solid and his striking is decent. It’s just too bad for him that GSP’s better all round, with his pretty good striking and superb submissions, not to mention probably the best wrestling in the entire sport right now.

Fitch can’t win in any department except mentally – and GSP seems focused on getting that W. In an MMA fight, if you can’t win in any department, you’re pretty doomed. GSP will take this fight more easily than most people (probably including himself) think.

Prediction: GSP 2R TKO