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UFC Heavyweight Division Fight
Cheick Kongo (12-4-1) vs. Mustapha Al-Turk (6-3-0)
Cheick Kongo has always been on the verge of being a top contender in the UFC Heavyweight Division, but seemingly falls short in the breakthrough fight. In his time in the UFC, Cheick Kongo has victories over Gilbert Aldana, Christian Wellisch, Assuerio Silva, Mirko Cro Cop and Dan Evensen, while losing to Carmelo Marrero and Heath Herring. If Cheick Kongo gains the victory, he could become a top contender in the UFC Heavyweight Division after the mini-tournament concludes between Brock Lesnar, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Frank Mir and Randy Couture. Cheick Kongo will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with seven victories coming by knockout. Mustapha Al-Turk will be making his UFC debut in this fight, but is a longtime veteran of the Cage Rage promotion. In the Cage Rage promotion, Mustapha Al-Turk defeated former UFC tournament champion Mark Kerr at Cage Rage 20. This will be the first time Mustapha Al-Turk has fought outside of the Cage Rage promotion in over five years. Mustapha Al-Turk will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with four prior victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Cheick Kongo
UFC Light Heavyweight Division Fight
Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva (32-8-1-1NC) vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (28-7-0)
Wanderlei Silva has actually fought Quinton Jackson twice before, defeating him both times at both PRIDE 28 and PRIDE: Final Conflict 2003. Wanderlei Silva is a longtime veteran of the PRIDE organization, with victories over Guy Metzger, Gilbert Yvel, Dan Henderson, Kazuski Sakuraba, Yuki Kondo, Mark Hunt and Ricardo Arona. Wanderlei Silva made his long awaited UFC return after a nearly eight year absence by losing to Chuck Liddell at UFC 79, but rebounded to defeat Keith Jardine at UFC 84. Early in his career, Wanderlei Silva competed in the International Vale Tudo Championships, losing in the finals to Arthur Mariano. Wanderlei Silva will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with twenty three career victories coming by knockout. Quinton Jackson came into the UFC at UFC 67 by defeating Marvin Eastman, then defeating Chuck Liddell at UFC 71 to win the UFC Light Heavyweight Title. Quinton Jackson would go onto defend the title against Dan Henderson at UFC 75, before losing the title to Forrest Griffin at UFC 86. Quinton Jackson is also a longtime veteran of PRIDE, where he fought Kazushi Sakuraba, Igor Vovchanchyn, Kevin Randleman, Murilo Bustamante, Ricardo Arona, Murilo Rua and Mauricio Rua. Quinton Jackson will be looking to using his striking skills to gain the victory, with thirteen career victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Wanderlei Silva
UFC Middleweight Division Fight
CB “The Doberman” Dollaway (7-1-0) vs. Mike “The Master Of Disaster” Massenzio (11-2-0)
Most UFC fans will remember CB Dollaway as a finalist on the UFC Ultimate Fighter 7, losing to Amir Sadollah in the finals. CB Dollaway would get his first UFC victory a month later of Jesse Taylor at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 14. CB Dollaway entered the UFC on a six fight undefeated streak, before suffering that lone career loss to the aforementioned Amir Sadollah. CB Dollaway will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with four victories coming by knockout. Mike Massenzio made his UFC debut at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 15, upsetting UFC Middleweight Division contender Drew McFedries. Prior to coming to the UFC, Mike Massenzio was a veteran of the Ring Of Combat and Reality Fighting promotions, where he holds a victory over UFC veteran Dan Miller. Mike Massenzio was riding a nine fight winning streak midway through his career, before seeing that streak ended by Danillo Villefort at an International Fight League event in May 2008. Mike Massenzio will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with six career victories coming by submission.
My Prediction: CB Dollaway
UFC Interim Heavyweight Title Fight
Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira (31-4-0-1NC) *Champion* vs. Frank Mir (11-3-0)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira blasted onto the UFC scene at UFC 74 by defeating Heath Herring, before defeating Tim Sylvia at UFC 81 to become the UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion. Prior to entering the UFC, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was a longtime star of PRIDE, where he fought Mark Coleman, Heath Herring, Bob Sapp, Semmy Schilt, Dan Henderson, Fedor Emelianenko, Mirko Cro Cop, Fabricio Werdum and Josh Barnett. Early in his career, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira was in the Rings: King Of Kings 1999 Tournament, losing in the finals to Dan Henderson., before winning the Rings: King Of Kings 2000 Tournament by defeating Valentijn Overeem in the finals. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with twenty career victories coming by submission. Frank Mir is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who never actually lost his title, but was stripped of his title after suffering serious injuries in a motorcycle accident. Frank Mir made his long anticipated UFC return at UFC 57 in a losing effort to Marcio Cruz, but would defeat Antoni Hardonk and Brock Lesnar to become a top contender in the UFC Heavyweight Division. Frank Mir won his first UFC Heavyweight Title by defeating Tim Sylvia at UFC 48, in a fighter where Frank Mir broke Tim Sylvia’s arm. Frank Mir will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with seven prior victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
UFC Light Heavyweight Title Fight
Forrest Griffin (16-4-0) *Champion* vs. Rashad “Sugar” Evans (12-0-1)
Forrest Griffin is easily one of the biggest success stories in UFC history, starting off as the winner of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 1 and now as the UFC Light Heavyweight Champion. During his time in the UFC, Forrest Griffin defeated Stephan Bonnar, Elvis Sinosic, Bill Mahood, Hector Ramirez, Mauricio Rua and Quinton Jackson, while suffering losses to Keith Jardine and Tito Ortiz. Outside of UFC competition, Forrest Griffin has fought top notch fighters like Dan Severn, Jeff Monson, Chael Sonnen and Jeremy Horn. Forrest Griffin is currently riding a three fight winning streak, with his last loss coming to Keith Jardine nearly two years ago. Forrest Griffin will be looking to put this fight on the ground, with seven previous victories coming by submission. Rashad Evans is an undefeated fighter and the winner of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 2, then earned his UFC Light Heavyweight Title opportunity by defeating Chuck Liddell by knockout at UFC 88. Rashad Evans has defeated top notch UFC competitors like Brad Imes, Sam Hoger, Stephan Bonnar, Jason Lambert, Sean Salmon, Michael Bisping and Chuck Liddell, while fighting Tito Ortiz to a draw. Rashad Evans was the Gladiator Challenge 20 Tournament by defeating Hector Ramirez and Jaime Jara in one night. Rashad Evans will be looking to use his wrestling and striking skills to gain the victory, with six victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Rashad Evans
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
