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UFC Middleweight Division Fight
Ben “Berserk” Saunders (5-0-2) vs. Jared Rollins (6-4-0)
Prior to coming to the UFC via the Ultimate Fighter, Ben Saunders fought in the Absolute Fighting Championships and Combat Fighting Championships. Despite being undefeated, Ben Saunders did not actually gain his first victory until the third professional fight of his career because his first two fights were declared draws. Ben Saunders trains with American Top Team and has already fought a UFC veteran in Crafton Wallace. Ben Saunders has achieved four of five career victories by knockout and submission, so this could be a striking fight or ground war if Ben Saunders dictates it to go either way. At the UFC Ultimate Fighter 6 Finale, Jared Rollins was involved in one of the best fights the UFC put on in 2007, a third round loss to Jon Koppenhaver. Jared Rollins is a fighter who is known for having quick fights, as his first seven career fights ended in the first round. Jared Rollins has spent a good portion of his career in the King Of The Cage promotion, also competing in the Gladiator Challenge and Pit Fighting Championships promotions. Jared Rollins trains out of Team Oyama and has achieved half of his victories by submission, but has achieved all four losses by knockout.
My Prediction: Ben Saunders
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Corey Hill (2-0-0) vs. Justin Buchholz (7-2-0)
Corey Hill is an under experienced fighters, who despite winning his UFC debut at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 12, has only had one previous fight. For a lightweight fighter, Corey Hill is a very tall fighter coming in at a height of six feet, four inches tall, which is an advantage for Corey Hill in just about any fight. Corey Hill has achieved both of his victories thus far in his career by knockout, so he will want to keep the fight standing to keep his undefeated streak alive. Until entering the UFC at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 12, Justin Buchholz has been fighting mainly in Alaska and Hawaii. Besides competing in the UFC, Justin Buchholz has also competed in Elite XC, Icon Sport and Alaskan Fighting Championships. Justin Buchholz has gained three of seven career victories by submission, so Justin Buchholz may want to counter the striking skills of Corey Hill by using his ground skills to neutralize him.
My Prediction: Corey Hill
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
“The Young Assassin” Melvin Guillard (21-7-2) vs. Dennis Siver (11-5-0)
Melvin Guillard was one or two victories away from earning a UFC Lightweight Title fight until a thirty second loss to Joe Stevenson at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 9 and a drug suspension put an end to it. In his thirty fight career, Melvin Guillard has fought some of the top names in MMA like Kyle Bradley, Carlo Prater, Robert Emerson, Roger Huerta, Marcus Davis, Josh Neer, Joe Stevenson and Rich Clementi. Prior to suffering his first loss at Freestyle Fighting Championships 7 in December 2003, Melvin Guillard was on a ten fight undefeated streak. Melvin Guillard trains with Team Punishment and is known for his incredible knockout power, winning thirteen fights by knockout. Unlike Melvin Guillard, Dennis Siver is a fighter not known for his striking abilities, but for his submission skills. Oddly enough, with those aforementioned submission skills, Dennis Siver has also suffered four of five career losses by submission. This could become the career saving fight for Dennis Siver in the UFC, because he has lost twice thus far in the UFC, while only gaining one victory.
My Prediction: Melvin Guillard
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Jorge Gurgel (12-3-0) vs. Cole “Magrino” Miller (13-3-0)
Jorge Gurgel first gained notoriety in the UFC as a cast member on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 2, as part of longtime friend Rich Franklins team. Jorge Gurgel has had an interesting career in MMA, in which all of his fifteen career fights has ended by either submission or decision. All five of Jorge Gurgel’s UFC fights have gone to a decision, and he has won three of five UFC fights thus far. Jorge Gurgel is associated with Team Extreme and is quickly becoming known as a top submission fighter, with nine of twelve career victories coming by submission. Cole Miller is very compatible to his opponent Jorge Gurgel because Cole Miller has also gained nine career victories by submission. Before coming to the UFC via the UFC Ultimate Fighter 5, Cole Miller primarily competed in Full Throttle, Shooto and Absolute Fighting Championships. Cole Miller trains with the highly touted American Top Team and does have a striking advantage over Jorge Gurgel, with three career victories by knockout. Interestingly enough, with all of their combined submission fighting experience, Cole Miller has yet to be submitted in his professional career.
My Prediction: Jorge Gurgel
UFC Heavyweight Division Fight
Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga (8-3-0) vs. “The Insane 1” Justin McCully (8-3-2)
It is truly mind boggling to think that only a year ago, Gabriel Gonzaga knocked out Mirko Cro Cop and was challenging Randy Couture for the UFC Heavyweight Title. Gabriel Gonzaga has fought some of the top fighters in MMA like Fabricio Werdum, Brandon Lee Hinkle, Mirko Cro Cop and Randy Couture. Prior to entering the UFC at UFC 56, Gabriel Gonzaga never competed in the United States and it has been nearly six months since his last fight. Gabriel Gonzaga trains with Team Link and in his eleven professional fights, none of them have gone to decision. Gabriel Gonzaga is primarily a submission fighter who has secured five career victories by submission, but has suffered all three career losses by knockout. Despite not competing in over a year, Justin McCully is undefeated in UFC competition with a victory over Antoni Hardonk at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 9. As I mentioned earlier, Justin McCully hasn’t competed in over a year, so octagon rust could play a factor in this fight. Justin McCully trains with Team Punishment and like Gabriel Gonzaga, has achieved five career victories by submission.
My Prediction: Gabriel Gonzaga
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
