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Paul “The Headhunter†Buentello (27-10-0) vs. Stefan “Skyscraper†Struve (18-3-0)
Paul Buentello had a successful first run in the UFC, defeating Justin Eilers, Kevin Jordan and Gilbert Aldana, while suffering a loss to Andrei Arlovski in his UFC Heavyweight Title opportunity. Paul Buentello also had a successful run in the Strikeforce promotion, where he defeated Tank Abbott, Ruben Villareal and Carter Williams, while suffering a lone loss to Allistair Overeem. Paul Buentello enters the UFC after the death of Affliction MMA, where he defeated Gary Goodridge and Kirill Sidelnikov in his two appearances in the promotion. It has been over three years since Paul Buentello last stepped into the UFC, but he will be entering the fight riding a two fight winning streak. Paul Buentello will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with seventeen victories coming by knockout. Stefan Struve has had a successful run in the UFC, defeating Denis Stojnic and Chase Gormley, while suffering a lone defeat to Junior Dos Santos. Prior to entering the UFC earlier this year, Stefan Struve had fought UFC veterans Mario Neto and Colin Robinson in non-UFC competition. In his twenty one career fights, none have gone to a decision, which speaks to the finishing abilities of Stefan Struve. Stefan Struve is also a veteran of the Cage Gladiators promotion, where he defeated Mario Neto, Colin Robinson and Tom Blackledge. Stefan Struve also made a lone appearance in the M-1 Challenge promotion, defeating Yuji Sakuragi by submission. Stefan Struve will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with fourteen victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Paul Buentello
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Kenny “Ken-Flo†Florian (11-4-0) vs. Clay “The Carpenter†Guida (25-10-0)
Kenny Florian has had a successful run in the UFC, defeating Kit Cope, Alex Karalexis, Sam Stout, Dokojonosuke Mishima, Alvin Robinson, Din Thomas, Joe Lauzon, Roger Huerta and Joe Stevenson, while suffering defeats to Diego Sanchez, Sean Sherk and BJ Penn. At UFC 101 earlier this year, Kenny Florian became the only fighter in UFC Lightweight Division history to lose two straight opportunities at the UFC Lightweight Title. Prior to entering the UFC in 2005, Kenny Florian lost a fight to UFC veteran Drew Fickett at a Combat Zone event in late 2004. In fact, the loss to BJ Penn at UFC 101 snapped a six fight winning streak that had lasted well over two years. In an odd career note, the last two losses Kenny Florian had suffered in his UFC career were both UFC Lightweight Title fights. Kenny Florian will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with seven victories coming by way of submission. Clay Guida has had an interesting run in the UFC, defeating Justin James, Marcus Aurelio, Samy Schiavo, Mac Danzig and Nate Diaz, while suffering losses to Din Thomas, Tyson Griffin, Roger Huerta and Diego Sanchez. Clay Guida also had a brief run in the Strikeforce promotion, where he defeated Josh Thomson and suffering a defeat to Gilbert Melendez. Early in his MMA career, Clay Guida went on a fifteen fight winning streak, which had lasted nearly two years. Prior to entering the UFC in 2006, Clay Guida had fought top notch MMA veterans like Bart Palaszewski, Joe Jordan, Josh Thomson and Gilbert Melendez. Clay Guida will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with twelve prior victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Kenny Florian
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
Jon Fitch (20-3-0) vs. Mike Pierce (10-2-0)
Jon Fitch has had a successful run in the UFC, defeating Brock Larson, Josh Burkman, Thiago Alves, Kuniyoshi Hironaka, Luigi Fioravanti, Roan Carneiro, Diego Sanchez, Chris Wilson, Akihiro Gono and Paulo Thiago, while suffering a lone defeat to Georges St. Pierre. Prior to entering the UFC in 2005, Jon Fitch has fought top MMA fighters like Mike Pyle, Wilson Gouveia, Solomon Hutcherson, Kyle Jenson and Shonie Carter. Before suffering the loss to Georges St. Pierre at UFC 87 in 2008, Jon Fitch was riding a sixteen fight winning streak that lasted over five years. Early in his MMA career, Jon Fitch won an MMA Mexico tournament, defeating Mike Seal, Jorge Ortiz and Alex Serdyukov in a single night. Jon Fitch is on an interesting run right now in the UFC, with his last five fights going to a decision, only losing one of those fights. Jon Fitch is a fighter known for taking the fight the distance, with ten of his career victories coming by way of decision. Mike Pierce made his UFC debut at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 19, defeating Brock Larson by unanimous decision. Mike Pierce is a veteran of the Sport Fight promotion, where he defeated Tim Sternod, Mike Dolce, Ed Nuno and Mark Miller, while suffering a lone defeat to Nathan Coy. Mike Pierce also made a single appearance in the World Extreme Cagefighting promotion, where he defeated Justin Haskins by TKO. Prior to entering the UFC in 2009, Mike Pierce fought UFC veteran Mark Munoz at a Gladiator Challenge event in 2007. Mike Pierce will be entering the fight on a six fight winning streak and hasn’t suffered a defeat in over a year. Mike Pierce will be looking to use his striking skills to gain the victory, with six wins coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Jon Fitch
UFC Heavyweight Division Fight
Frank Mir (12-4-0) vs. Cheick Kongo (14-5-1)
Frank Mir is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion and UFC Interim Heavyweight Champion, having defeated Roberto Traven, Pete Williams, Tank Abbott, Wes Sims, Tim Sylvia, Dan Christison, Antonio Hardonk, Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, while suffering defeats to Ian Freeman, Marcio Cruz, Brandon Vera and Brock Lesnar. In fact, Frank Mir never was defeated for the UFC Heavyweight Title, but forfeited it after a motorcycle accident severely injured him, it would be nearly two years before he returned to action in the UFC. Outside of two other MMA fights, all of Frank Mir’s professional MMA fights have occurred in the UFC and he hasn’t fought outside of the UFC in over eight years. Frank Mir will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with seven victories coming by way of submission. Cheick Kongo has had a successful run in the UFC, defeating Gilbert Aldana, Christian Wellisch, Assuerio Silva, Mirko Cro Cop, Dan Evensen, Mostapha Al-Turk and Antonio Hardonk, while suffering defeats to Carmelo Marrera, Heath Herring and Cain Velasquez. Cheick Kongo is also a veteran of the Rings promotion, where he defeated Andre Tete, Dave Van Der Veen, Dave Vader, Joop Kasteel and Dave Dagliesh, while suffering a lone defeat to Rodney Glunder. Early in his MMA career, Cheick Kongo fought Affliction veteran Gilbert Yvel, who will soon be making his UFC debut. This fight against Frank Mir will mark the third fight of 2009 for Cheick Kongo and his first fight in nearly six months. In an interesting career note, outside of the year 2007, Cheick Kongo has averaged three fights a year in the UFC. Cheick Kongo will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with nine victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: Frank Mir
UFC Lightweight Title Fight
“The Prodigy†BJ Penn (14-5-1) (Champion) vs. Diego “Nightmare†Sanchez (21-2-0)
BJ Penn is the current UFC Lightweight Champion and has held the title for nearly two years, since defeating Joe Stevenson at UFC 80. BJ Penn has had a successful run in the UFC, defeating Joey Gilbert, Din Thomas, Caol Uno, Paul Creighton, Matt Serra, Matt Hughes, Jens Pulver, Joe Stevenson, Sean Sherk and Kenny Florian, while suffering defeats to Jens Pulver, Georges St. Pierre and Matt Hughes. BJ Penn has joined Randy Couture as the only two fighters in UFC history to hold titles in two different weight classes, as BJ Penn is the current UFC Lightweight Champion and former UFC Welterweight Champion. In his few fights outside of the UFC, BJ Penn had fought MMA luminaries like Duane Ludwig, Takanori Gomo, Lyoto Machida and Renzo Gracie. BJ Penn is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with eleven victories coming by knockout and submission. Diego Sanchez got into the UFC after winning the UFC Ultimate Fighter 1, defeating Kenny Florian in the finals. Diego Sanchez has had a successful run in the UFC, defeating Kenny Florian, Brian Gassaway, Nick Diaz, John Alessio, Karo Parisyan, Joe Riggs, David Bielkheden, Luigi Fioravanti, Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida, while suffering defeats to Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch. Diego Sanchez is also a veteran of the King Of The Cage promotion, where he defeated Shannon Ritch, Jake Short, Michael Guymon, Rene Kronvold, John Kronk, Ray Elbe and Jorge Santiago. Diego Sanchez started off his MMA career in impressive fashion, with a seventeen fight undefeated streak that lasted nearly five years. If Diego Sanchez does become the UFC Lightweight Champion, he will join both Forrest Griffin and Matt Serra as UFC Ultimate Fighter winners who won UFC gold. Diego Sanchez will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with nine victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: BJ Penn
(Note: I will be providing live coverage of UFC 107: Penn vs. Sanchez, right here on PWInsiderXtra on Saturday December 12th at 10pm EST.)
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
