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UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Paul “Telly’s” Kelly (7-0-0) vs. “The Irish Hand Grenade” Marcus Davis (14-4-0)
Paul Kelly is an undefeated fighter who burst on the UFC scene at UFC 80: Rapid Fire, with a decision victory over Paul Taylor. Prior to making his UFC debut, Paul Kelly had ended five of six fights before the second round, the other fight was finished in the second round. It has nearly been a year since Paul Kelly last competed, so conditioning could become a factor in the fight. Paul Kelly will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with four previous victories coming by knockout. Marcus Davis was easily a few victories away from a UFC Welterweight Title opportunity, but a loss to Mike Swick at UFC 85 temporarily halted those plans. Marcus Davis has defeated Shonie Carter, Forrest Petz, Pete Spratt, Jason Tan, Paul Taylor and Jess Liaudin thus far in his UFC career. A victory for Marcus Davis over Paul Kelly could put him right back in contention for the UFC Welterweight Title. Marcus Davis is a fighter who is comfortable with the fight on the feet or on the ground, with twelve career victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Marcus Davis
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
“Relentless” Paul Taylor (9-3-1) vs. Chris “Lights Out” Lytle (25-16-5)
Paul Taylor started off his UFC career with a victory over Edilberto de Oliveira, but then suffered two straight losses to Marcus Davis and Paul Kelly, before gaining a second UFC victory over Jess Liaudin. In an interesting side note in Paul Taylor’s MMA career, all of his fights ended in the first and third round, never in the second round. This fight is a must win for Paul Taylor, who could see himself with a losing record if he doesn’t defeat Chris Lytle. Chris Lytle made his biggest impact in the UFC thus far as a contestant on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback. Chris Lytle has been is the UFC for nearly five years now, but hasn’t seemingly broke through to the top level of the promotion. In recent fights, Chris Lytle has had opportunities to breakthrough the upper echelon of the UFC, but suffered losses to Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck. Chris Lytle will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with seventeen career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: Chris Lytle
UFC Light Heavyweight Division Fight
“The African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2-0) vs. Luis “Banha” Arthur Cane (8-1-0)
Rameau Sokoudjou is one of the most hyped fighters in MMA today, with only seven professional fights under his belt. After all the hype, Rameau Sokoudjou entered the UFC and lost to Lyoto Machida at UFC 79, but then gained his first UFC victory over Kazuhiro Nakamura at UFC 84. Rameau Sokoudjou got most of his hype after scoring two impressive victories in the now dead PRIDE promotion over Ricardo Arona and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. Rameau Sokoudjou will be looking to use his striking skills to gain a second UFC victory, with four career victories coming by knockout. Luis Cane is widely considered to be one of the best strikers in MMA, having already fought James Irvin and Jason Lambert in UFC competition. In nine professional fights thus far in his career, Luis Cane has yet to have any of his fights go past the opening round. Luis Cane started off his UFC career in auspicious fashion when he lost to James Irvin by disqualification after an illegal knee strike. Luis Cane will be looking to put his striking skills to good use in this fight, with seven career victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
UFC Light Heavyweight Division Fight
“The Dean Of Mean” Keith Jardine (13-4-1) vs. Brandon “The Truth” Vera (9-2-0)
Keith Jardine got into the UFC as a contestant on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 2, but then became a top light heavyweight fighter in the UFC after victories over Kerry Schall, Mike Whitehead, Wilson Gouveia, Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell. Most people in the UFC and MMA community have viewed Keith Jardine as an inconsistent fighter, which makes the fight even more important for Keith Jardine. Keith Jardine will be looking to keep the fight on the fight, with six career victories coming by knockout. Brandon Vera was seen as the next great heavyweight fighter in the UFC after defeating Fabiano Scherner, Justin Eilers, Frank Mir and Assuerio Silva in his first four UFC fights, but then issues with his former management team kept Brandon Vera out of the UFC for nearly an entire year. Brandon Vera would return to the UFC in late 2007, but the promise seemingly disappeared with losses to Tim Sylvia and Fabricio Werdum, then Brandon Vera would move down to the UFC Light Heavyweight Division and defeat Reese Andy. Brandon Vera will be looking to keep the fight on the feet, with six career victories coming by way of knockout.
My Prediction: Brandon Vera
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
Michael “The Count” Bisping (16-1-0) vs. “The Crippler” Chris Leben (18-4-0)
Michael Bisping got into the UFC after winning the UFC Ultimate Fighter 3 by defeating Josh Haynes in the reality show finals. Michael Bisping then went onto defeat Eric Schaffer, Elvis Sinosic, Matt Hamill, Charles McCarthy and Jason Day, with his only UFC and career loss coming to Rashad Evans. A victory for Michael Bisping may put him behind Patrick Cote and Yushin Okami for a UFC Middleweight Title opportunity against Anderson Silva. Michael Bisping will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with eleven victories coming by knockout. Chris Leben was originally scheduled to fight Michael Bisping at UFC 85, but a legal situation caused him to pull out of the fight. Chris Leben has defeated top fighters in the UFC like Jason Thacker, Patrick Cote, Edwin Dewees, Jorge Rivera, Luigi Fioravanti, Jorge Santiago, Terry Martin and Alessio Sakara. However, it has been key losses to Anderson Silva, Jason MacDonald and Kalib Starnes that has kept him out of title contention. A victory over Michael Bisping can essentially put Chris Leben right back into title contention in the UFC Middleweight Division. Chris Leben will be looking to put the fight on the feet, with ten career victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Michael Bisping
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
