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Mark Hunt (5-6-0) vs. Sean McCorkle (9-0-0)
Mark Hunt will be making his UFC debut in this fight, but he began his career overseas in the PRIDE promotion. While in PRIDE, Mark Hunt defeated Dan Bobish, Wanderlei Silva, Mirko Cro Cop, Yosuke Nishijima and Tsuyoshi Kosaka, while suffering defeats to Hidehiko Yoshida, Fedor Emelianenko and Josh Barnett. Mark Hunt will be making UFC history in this fight, as he is the first MMA fighter to compete in the UFC with a losing record. Mark Hunt will be trying to stop a five fight losing streak in this fight, which has lasted well over four years. Mark Hunt will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with three victories coming by knockout. Sean McCorkle will also be making his UFC debut in this fight, but he is a veteran of the Legends Of Fighting promotion. While in Legends Of Fighting, Sean McCorkle defeated Shane Paulson, Justin Wade, Jeremy Norton, James Ferguson, Joe Mellotte, Bobby Favors and Jonathan Ivey. Of his nine MMA fights, only one has gone to a decision for Sean McCorkle, which speaks to his finishing abilities. Sean McCorkle will be entering the fight riding a nine fight undefeated streak, which has lasted nearly five years. Sean McCorkle is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with eight victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Sean McCorkle
UFC Welterweight Division Fight
TJ Grant (15-4-0) vs. Julio “Dominican Demon†Paulino (17-3-0)
TJ Grant has had an interesting run in the UFC, defeating Ryo Chonnan and Kevin Burns, while suffering defeats to Dong Hyun Kim and Johny Hendricks. TJ Grant also fought in the King Of The Cage promotion, defeating Nicholas Portieous, Elmer Waterhen, Kevin Manderson and Stephane Lemarche, while suffering a lone defeat to Gary Wright. TJ Grant started off his MMA career in impressive fashion, with a six fight undefeated streak that had lasted just under a year. TJ Grant has yet to achieve a victory in 2010, with his lone fight this year at UFC 113 in a losing effort to Johny Hendricks. TJ Grant will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with twelve victories coming by way of submission. Julio Paulino is currently winless in UFC competition, suffering a defeat to Mike Pierce at UFC On Versus 1. Julio Paulino fought the majority of his MMA career in the Alaska Fighting Championships, where he fought UFC veterans Rob Yundt and Rick Story. In fact, sixteen out of twenty fights in Julio Paulino’s professional MMA career has come in the Alaska Fighting Championships. Julio Paulino started off his MMA career in impressive fashion, with a seven fight undefeated streak that had lasted well over a year. Julio Paulino will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with ten victories coming by knockout.
My Prediction: TJ Grant
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Steve Lopez (12-2-0) vs. Waylon Lowe (8-3-0)
Steve Lopez is currently winless in UFC competition, suffering a defeat to Jim Miller at UFC 103 by knockout in the second round. Steve Lopez also competed in the Madtown Throwdown promotion, defeating Joel Blanton and David Gaston, while suffering a lone defeat to Billy Stamp. Steve Lopez started off his MMA career in impressive fashion, with an eight fight undefeated streak that had lasted over a year. It has been over a year since Steve Lopez last competed in an MMA fight, so cage rust can become a factor in the fight. Steve Lopez will be looking to use his striking skills to win the fight, with five victories coming by knockout. Waylon Lowe is also winless in UFC competition, suffering a defeat to Melvin Guillard at UFC 114 by TKO. Waylon Lowe also competed in the Fight Fest promotion, defeating Cody Shipp and Nick Sorg, while suffering a lone defeat to Alonzo Martinez. This fight against Melvin Guillard will mark the fourth MMA fight on 2010 for Waylon Lowe, he has won two of the three previous fights. Waylon Lowe also competed in the Bellator Fighting Championships, defeating Frank Caraballo by unanimous decision. Waylon Lowe is a fighter who is comfortable wherever the fight ends up, with six victories coming by knockout and submission.
My Prediction: Steve Lopez
UFC Lightweight Division Fight
Pat “Awesomely Awesome†Audinwood (9-0-1) vs. Thiago Tavares (14-3-1)
Pat Audinwood will be making his UFC debut in this fight, but he is a veteran of the Full Force Productions promotion. While in Full Force Productions, Pat Audinwood defeated Chris Murphy, Lewis Rodriques and Jeff Camera. Pat Audinwood most recently competed in the M-1 Selection promotion, defeating Robert Conner by unanimous decision. Pat Audinwood will be entering the fight riding a nine fight undefeated streak, which has lasted nearly three years. Pat Audinwood will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with four victories coming by submission. Thiago Tavares has had a successful run in the UFC, defeating Naoyuki Kotani, Jason Black, Michihiro Omigawa and Manny Gamburyan, while suffering defeats to Tyson Griffin, Matt Wiman and Kurt Pellegrino. Thiago Tavares also competed in the Rumble Of Amsterdam promotion, defeating both Mathieu Lawalata and Romano De Los Reyes. Thiago Tavares started off his MMA career in impressive fashion, with a twelve fight undefeated streak that had lasted nearly four years. Thiago Tavares has yet to achieve victory in 2010, fighting Nik Lentz to a draw at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 20. Thiago Tavares will be looking to put the fight on the ground, with ten victories coming by way of submission.
My Prediction: Thiago Tavares
(Note: I will be providing live coverage of UFC 119: Mir vs. Cro Cop on PWInsiderXtra.com this Saturday at 9pm EST.)
You can contact David Tees at bigtees360@yahoo.com
