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UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Per Eklund (13-3-1) vs. Samy “The Dog” Schiavo (10-5-0)
This will be the second UFC appearance for Per Eklund, the first appearance was a loss to Sam Stout at UFC 80: Rapid Fire. Prior to the loss, Per Eklund was on a four fight winning streak that included a victory over Rafael Dias at Bodog Fight: Vancouver. Per Eklund started off his MMA career in impressive fashion by winning eight of his first nine professional fights.. Per Eklund will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with six career victories coming by way of submission. Samy Schiavo has also fought once before in the UFC, a loss to top lightweight fighter Clay Guida at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 13. Prior to coming to the UFC, Samy Schiavo was a mainstay of the Cage Rage and Cage Warrior Fighting Championships promotions. In fifteen career professional fights for Samy Schiavo, only one of the fifteen fights went past the opening round. Samy Schiavo is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight standing or on the ground, with nine of ten career victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Samy Schiavo
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
David Baron (16-2-0) vs. Jim Miller (11-1-0)
David Baron will be making his UFC debut in this fight, but has already fought top MMA fighters like Dan Hardy, Takanori Gomo and Per Eklund. David Baron is currently riding a five fight winning streak, with the last two victories coming out of the Shooto promotion. Speaking of winning streaks, David Baron started off his career in impressive fashion with a nine fight winning streak. David Baron will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with ten of sixteen career victories coming by submission. A few months ago, Jim Miller and his brother Dan Miller were signed by the UFC after the closure of the International Fight League. During his short stint in the International Fight League, Jim Miller defeated newly signed World Extreme Cagefighting star Bart Palezsweski. Before coming to the UFC, Jim Miller was a veteran of the Ring Of Combat and Reality Fighting promotions. Like David Baron, Jim Miller will be looking to put the fight on the ground with eight career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Jim Miller
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Sam “Hands Of Stone” Stout (13-4-1) vs. Terry Etim (10-2-0)
Sam Stout is a fighter who has been on the verge of UFC superstardom with victories over Spencer Fisher and Per Eklund in UFC competition, while losing to Rich Clementi, Spencer Fisher and Kenny Florian in UFC competition. This fight is a must win for Sam Stout, who needs the victory to remain a contender in any form for the UFC Lightweight Title. Sam Stout is called the “hands of stone” for a reason, with eight professional victories coming by knockout. Terry Etim was a fighter who found early success in the UFC with a victory over Matt Grice at UFC 70, but consecutive losses to Gleison Tibau and Rich Clementi has temporarily halted his run in the UFC Lightweight Division. Terry Etim is a fighter who began his career with a ten fight winning streak, but then suffered his only two career losses in the UFC.. Terry Etim will be looking to put this fight right on the ground, with nine career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Sam Stout
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
“The Joker” Jess Liaudin (12-10-0) vs. David Bielkheden (12-6-0)
Jess Liaudin started off his run in the UFC with victories over Dennis Siver and Anthony Torres, but then lost two fights to Marcus Davis and Paul Taylor. Those two losses forced Jess Liaudin to move from the UFC Welterweight Division down to the UFC Lightweight Division. Prior to his time in the UFC, Jess Liaudin took on top fighters like Ross Mason, Paul Daley and Shonie Carter. Jess Liaudin will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with eight career victories coming by submission. David Bielkheden made his UFC debut against stiff competition in Diego Sanchez, whom he lost to at UFC 82. The loss to Diego Sanchez forced David Bielkheden to move down weight classes from the UFC Welterweight Division to the UFC Lightweight Division. Prior to coming to the UFC, David Bielkheden fought in promotions like Shooto, PRIDE and Lords Of The Ring. David Bielkheden is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the feet or on the ground, with nine victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Jess Liaudin
UFC Heavyweight Division Fight
Shane Carwin (9-0-0) vs. Neil “Old Skool” Wain (4-0-0)
Shane Carwin is a fighter who burst into the UFC with a violent knockout victory over Cristian Wellisch at UFC 84: Ill Will. Before coming to the UFC, Shane Carwin scored impressive victories over MMA veterans Rex Richards and Sherman Pendergarst. In nine professional fights for Shane Carwin, none of them has gone past the opening round, with his longest fight going just over two minutes. Shane Carwin is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the feet or on the ground, with all nine of his victories coming by knockout and submission. Neil Wain is a very skilled fighter who has been a mainstay of the Goshin Ryu and Ultimate Force promotions. Like Shane Carwin, Neil Wain is a fighter who has had all of his fights end within the opening round, with his longest fight going a little over one minute. Neil Wain is a fighter known for his striking skills, with all four career victories coming by way of knockout.
My Prediction: Shane Carwin
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Dan “The Outlaw” Hardy (19-6-0) vs. “The Japanese Sensation” Akihiro Gono (28-12-7)
The UFC signed Dan Hardy this past Summer and this will be Dan Hardy’s UFC debut, who has already fought top MMA fighters like Forrest Petz, Chad Reiner and Yoshiyuki Yoshida. Prior to coming to the UFC, Dan Hardy was a veteran of the Cage Warriors Fighting Championships promotion, where he fought more than half of his career fights at. The UFC seemingly has big plans for Dan Hardy in the UFC Welterweight Division, so this fight will set the stage for his UFC run. Dan Hardy will be looking to keep the fight on the feet, with ten career victories coming by way of knockout. Akihiro Gono can become one of the best welterweight fighters in the UFC, having already fought top MMA fighters like Matt Hughes, Ivan Salaverry, Murilo Rua, Yuki Kondo, Chael Sonnen, Mauricio Rua, Dan Henderson, Hector Lombard, Dennis Kang and Tamdan McCrory. Akihiro Gono has also fought in top international MMA promotions like PRIDE, Shooto and Pancrase before entering the UFC. Akihiro Gono is known for taking his fights the distance, with fourteen career victories coming by way of decision.
My Prediction: Akihiro Gono
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
