Want more wrestling news, rumors, and results? Be sure to visit PWInsider.com and PWInsiderXtra.com.
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
“The Hitman” Martin Kampmann (13-1-0) vs. Nate “The Great” Marquardt (26-8-2)
This fight between Martin Kampmann and Nate Marquardt could easily determine the number three contender for the UFC Middleweight Title, behind Patrick Cote and Yushin Okami. Martin Kampmann has been undefeated in UFC competition thus far with victories over Drew McFedries, Crafton Wallace, Thales Leitas and Jorge Rivera. Martin Kampmann was originally scheduled to face Rich Franklin at UFC 72 last year, but an injury forced him to pull out of the fight. The only loss thus far in Martin Kampmann’s career was to Andrei Semenov in October 2004 at M-1 MFC Middleweight Grand Prix. Martin Kampmann is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the ground or on the feet, with ten of thirteen career victories coming by knockout and submission. Nate Marquardt was on a roll in the UFC Middleweight Division when he defeated Ivan Salaverry, Joe Doerkson, Crafton Wallace and Dean Lister, before losing to UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva at UFC 73. In his long career, Nate Marquardt has taken on an elite list of MMA fighters like Yves Edwards, Genki Sudo, Shonie Carter, Ricardo Almeida and a host of others. In an interesting side note, Nate Marquardt was in the main event of the first ever UFC Ultimate Fight Night, where he defeated Ian Salaverry by decision. Nate Marquardt will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with fifteen of twenty six victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Nate Marquardt
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
Dan “Hollywood” Henderson (22-7-0) vs. Rousimar “Toquinho” Palhares (8-1-0)
Dan Henderson has been one of the most dominating fighters in PRIDE history, being the only fighter to hold the PRIDE Light Heavyweight and PRIDE Middleweight Titles simultaneously. Upon entering the UFC, Dan Henderson lost both titles in unification fights to then UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Quinton Jackson and UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva. Dan Henderson has spent the majority of his career competing overseas against the MMA elite like Carlos Newton, Allan Goes, Renato Sobral, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Gilbert Yvel, Wanderlei Silva, Renzo Gracie, Murilo Rua, Ricardo Arona, Murilo Bustamante, Yuki Kondo, Akihiro Gono, Ryo Chonnan and Vitor Belfort.. Despite the lack of success in the UFC, Dan Henderson will be looking to get his first UFC victory in years by utilizing his striking ability, which has garnered him ten knockout victories. Rousimar Palhares entered the UFC in dominating fashion by defeating Ivan Salaverry at UFC 84 in what turned out to be Ivan Salaverry’s retirement fight. Prior to debuting in the UFC, Rousimar Palhares primarily competed in the Fury Fighting Championships and has a victory over Fabio Negao. Rousimar Palhares is known for finishing his fights, with only two of his nine career fights going past the first round. Rousimar Palhares has finished his last five fights by submission, which is how he will be looking to end the fight with Dan Henderson.
My Prediction: Dan Henderson
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Karo “The Heat” Parisyan (18-5-0) vs. Yoshiyuki “Zenko” Yoshida (10-2-0)
Karo Parisyan was easily a victory away from earning a shot at the UFC Welterweight Title, but a loss to Thiago Alves at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 13 halted everything. Karo Parisyan has fought the best that MMA has to offer like Sean Sherk, Georges St. Pierre, Shonie Carter, Nick Diaz, Chris Lytle, Matt Serra, Nick Thompson, Diego Sanchez, Drew Fickett, Josh Burkman and Ryo Chonnan. Interestingly enough, Karo Parisyan was scheduled to face then UFC Welterweight Champion Matt Hughes for the title at UFC 56, but an injury forced him to pull out of the fight. A victory by Karo Parisyan could put him back in the UFC Welterweight Title picture, but this could be the biggest fight of his career. Although Karo Parisyan has never gained a victory by knockout, but has achieved nine of eighteen victories by submission. Yoshiyuki Yoshida blasted in the UFC at UFC 84 by defeated UFC Ultimate Fighter alumni Jon Koppenhaver by submission. Prior to entering the UFC, Yoshiyuki Yoshida fought primarily in Shooto and Greatest Common Multiple promotions. Yoshiyuki Yoshida has fought some top MMA names like Keita Nakamura and Dan Hardy, who recently signed with the UFC. Unlike Karo Parisyan, Yoshiyuki Yoshida will be looking to use his striking to gain the victory, with six victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Karo Parisyan
UFC Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Rich “Ace” Franklin (23-3-0) vs. Matt “The Hammer” Hamill (4-1-0)
Rich Franklin is easily considered to be one of the most dominant middleweight fighters in UFC history, but two straight losses to current UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva forced him to move to the UFC Light Heavyweight Division. There are a lot of potential dream fights for Rich Franklin in the division against foes like Chuck Liddell, Quinton Jackson, Rashad Evans, Forrest Griffin and others. In his career, Rich Franklin has fought top fighters like Marvin Eastman, Evan Tanner, Edwin Dewees, Lyoto Machida, Jorge Rivera, Ken Shamrock, Nate Quarry, Nate Marquardt, Jason MacDonald, Yushin Okami and Travis Lutter. Despite good submission skills, Rich Franklin will be looking to use his striking skills to defeat Matt Hamill. Matt Hamill is an alumni of the UFC Ultimate Fighter, where he was eliminated from the competition after suffering a serious injury after his first fight. All of Matt Hamill’s professional fight have occurred in the UFC, where he has fought Jesse Forbes, Seth Petruzelli, Rex Holman, Michael Bisping and Tim Boetsch. Matt Hamill will be looking to use his excellent ground and pound skills to gain a career making victory over Rich Franklin.
My Prediction: Rich Franklin
UFC Light Heavyweight Division Fight
“The Iceman” Chuck Liddell (21-5-0) vs. Rashad “Sugar” Evans (11-0-1)
It has already been confirmed that the winner of Chuck Liddell and Rashad Evans will be getting the next shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Title currently held by Forrest Griffin. Chuck Liddell is easily one of the most recognized fighters in MMA and was a coach on the first ever season of the UFC Ultimate Fighter, which was won by Forrest Griffin. Chuck Liddell has fought a who’s who list of top MMA names like Jeremy Horn, Jeff Monson, Kevin Randleman, Guy Metzger, Murilo Bustamante, Vitor Belfort, Renato Sobral, Randy Couture, Quinton Jackson, Tito Ortiz, Vernon White, Keith Jardine and Wanderlei Silva. It has been nearly nine months since the last time Chuck Liddell has fought, thanks to a series of injuries suffered during his career. Obviously, Chuck Liddell will be using his incredible striking abilities to gain a victory, with thirteen of twenty one career victories coming by knockout. This fight between Rashad Evans and Chuck Liddell was originally scheduled to take place at UFC 85, but the aforementioned injuries to Chuck Liddell postponed the fight. Rashad Evans has been a very dominant fighter in the UFC following his victory in the UFC Ultimate Fighter 2, having defeated the likes of Brad Imes, Stephan Bonnar, Jason Lambert, Sean Salmon and Michael Bisping in his UFC career. The lone draw in his MMA career came after a controversial fight with Tito Ortiz at UFC 73, Rashad Evans never got his rematch. It has also nearly been a year since Rashad Evans has last fought, so his conditioning could be questioned here. Rashad Evans will be looking to use his wrestling skills to ground the superior striker in Chuck Liddell, who has never been submitted in his MMA career.
My Prediction: Rashad Evans
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
