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Tyson Griffin (13-2-0) vs. Hermes “The Unreal†Franca (19-7-0)
Tyson Griffin is a fighter who is constantly on the verge of becoming a top contender in the UFC Lightweight Division, with victories over David Lee, Clay Guida, Thiago Tavares, Gleison Tibau, Marcus Aurelio and Rafael Dos Anjos, while suffering losses to Frankie Edgar and Sean Sherk. Tyson Griffin is only one of two fighters (the other being Mike Brown) to hold a victory over former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah Faber. Tyson Griffin is a fighter known for using his ground and pound skills to win the fight, with five victories coming by knockout. Hermes Franca was once the top contender to the UFC Lightweight Title, a title fight he lost to then UFC Lightweight Champion Sean Sherk at UFC 73. Thus far in his UFC run, Hermes Franca has defeated Richard Crunkilton, Caol Uno, Joe Jordan, Jamie Varner, Spencer Fisher and Marcus Aurelio, while suffering defeats to Josh Thomson, Yves Edwards, Sean Sherk and Frankie Edgar. Hermes Franca will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with eleven victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Tyson Griffin
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Josh “Kos†Koscheck (12-4-0) vs. Frank “Twinkle Toes†Trigg (19-6-0)
Josh Koscheck has had a very long run in the UFC, attaining victories over Chris Sanford, Pete Spratt, Ansar Chalangov, Dave Menne, Jonathan Goulet, Jeff Joslin, Diego Sanchez, Dustin Hazelett, Chris Lytle and Yoshiyuki Yoshida, while suffering losses to Drew Fickett, Georges St. Pierre and Paulo Thiago. Before coming to the UFC in 2005, Josh Koscheck achieved a victory over UFC veteran Luke Cummo at Ring Of Combat 6 in early 2004. Josh Koscheck is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with seven victories coming by knockout and submission. Frank Trigg will be making his UFC return in this fight, following a four plus year long vacation from the promotion. During his first UFC run, Frank Trigg defeated Dennis Hallman and Renato Verissimo, while suffering defeats to Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre. Frank Trigg also spent some time outside of professional MMA, entering the world of professional wrestling, competing against AJ Styles on a TNA PPV. Frank Trigg is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with fourteen victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Josh Koscheck
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Martin “The Hitman†Kampmann (15-2-0) vs. Paul “Semtex†Daley (21-8-2)
Martin Kampmann was originally scheduled to face Mike Swick in this fight to determine a top contender to the UFC Welterweight Title, but an injury force Mike Swick to pull out of the fight. Martin Kampmann has had a hugely successful run in the UFC, with victories over Crafton Wallace, Thales Leitas, Drew McFedries, Jorge Rivera, Alexandre Barros and Carlos Condit, while suffering a lone loss to Nate Marquardt. Martin Kampmann is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with twelve victories coming by knockout and submission. Paul Daley will be making his UFC debut in this fight, as he came to the promotion following the closure of the Affliction promotion. Paul Daley once fought in the Elite XC promotion, where he lost to Jake Shields in a fight to determine the first ever Elite XC Welterweight Title. Paul Daley is a longtime veteran of the Cage Rage promotion, where he fought eleven times, winning eight of those fights. Paul Daley will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with sixteen victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Martin Kampmann
UFC Heavyweight Division Fight
Mirko Cro Cop (25-6-2) vs. Junior “Cigano†Dos Santos (8-1-0)
Mirko Cro Cop made a successful return to the UFC at UFC 99 in June 2009, defeating Mustapha Al-Turk by TKO. In his first UFC run, Mirko Cro Cop had a largely unsuccessful attempt at success, defeating Eddie Sanchez, while suffering defeats to Gabriel Gonzaga and Cheick Kongo. Mirko Cro Cop had a long run in the PRIDE promotion, where he fought the likes of Wanderlei Silva, Kazushi Sakuraba, Heath Herring, Igor Vovchanchyn, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, Ron Waterman, Kevin Randleman, Aleksander Emelianenko, Josh Barnett, Mark Coleman, Fedor Emelianenko and Mark Hunt. Mirko Cro Cop will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with nineteen victories coming by knockout. Junior Dos Santos has had an undefeated run thus far in the UFC, with victories over Fabricio Werdum and Stefan Struve. Junior Dos Santos is also a veteran of the XFC Brazil and Mo Team League promotions, where he won three of four fights in the promotions. Of his nine professional fights, none of them has gone past the first round for Junior Dos Santos, which speaks to his finishing abilities. Junior Dos Santos will be entering the fight on a three fight winning streak that has lasted over an entire year. Junior Dos Santos will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with six victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Junior Dos Santos
UFC Catchweight Division Fight
Rich “Ace†Franklin (25-4-0) vs. Vitor “The Phenom†Belford (18-8-0)
Rich Franklin will be competing in his second straight catch weight fight in the UFC, the other took place at UFC 99, where he defeated Wanderlei Silva by unanimous decision. Rich Franklin has had a long run in the UFC that includes victories over Evan Tanner, Edwin Dewees, Jorge Rivera, Ken Shamrock, Nate Quarry, David Loiseau, Jason MacDonald, Yushin Okami, Travis Lutter, Matt Hamill and Wanderlei Silva, while suffering losses to Anderson Silva and Dan Henderson. Rich Franklin will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with thirteen victories coming by knockout. Vitor Belfort is a former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion who is making his return to the promotion after a four year absence. During his first run in the UFC, Vitor Belfort defeated Tre Telligman, Scott Ferrozzo, Tank Abbott, Joe Charles, Wanderlei Silva, Marvin Eastman and Randy Couture, while suffering defeats to Randy Couture, Chuck Liddell and Tito Ortiz. Vitor Belfort returns to the UFC after a good run in the Affliction promotion, where he defeated Terry Martin and Matt Lindland. Vitor Belfort will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with twelve victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Vitor Belfort
(Note: I will be doing live coverage of UFC 103: Franklin vs. Belfort on PWInsiderXtra.com on Saturday September 19th at 9pm EST.)
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
