PWInsiderXTRA - WWE News, Wrestling News, WWE

UFC 125: RESOLUTION ION TV CARD PREVIEW

During its 2011 pay-per-view debut, the UFC decided to make another kind of debut, which is to debut live fights on the Ion TV Network. Foregoing Spike TV, the UFC has turned to this new network to air three preliminary card bouts from UFC 125. These fights will feature top middleweight and lightweight fighters as well as a fighter who was originally scheduled to fight for the new UFC Featherweight Title.

The live preliminary card action will kick off with a middleweight encounter as Phil “New York Bad Ass” Baroni (13-12-0) takes on TUF alumni Brad Tavares (6-0-0). This fight could be the UFC swan song for Phil Baroni, who has lost five straight fights in the promotion. Brad Tavares is currently undefeated in his MMA career and holds a UFC victory over fellow TUF alumni Seth Baczynski. The real factor in this fight will be Phil Baroni’s gas tank, which seemingly fades a few minutes into his fights. If Brad Tavares can withstand the early Phil Baroni barrage, then he will achieve a victory over the “New York Bad Ass.”

Up next on the Ion TV debut event is a featherweight battle as Josh “The Fluke” Grispi (14-1-0) takes on late replacement Dustin Poirier (8-1-0). Josh Grispi was originally set to co-headline the UFC 125 pay-per-view card against UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, but a training camp injury forced Jose Aldo off of the card. Dustin Poirier has a lot of pressure on him entering the fight as a late replacement, but he does has experience in the WEC promotion. Josh Grispi should handily walk away with the victory on Saturday Night and then get his long overdue UFC Featherweight Title opportunity.

Headlining this live UFC 125 preliminary card is a lightweight tilt as Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis (17-7-0) takes on Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens (18-6-0). This fight will mark the UFC Lightweight Division debut of Marcus Davis, who previously competed in the UFC Welterweight Division. Jeremy Stephens is a fighter who is coming off a controversial split decision loss to Melvin Guillard at UFC 119. This fight could determine the future of Marcus Davis in the UFC, as he has lost three of his last four fights in the promotion. This fight will come down to who is the sharper striker in the octagon, which at this point, seems to be Jeremy Stephens.

You can contact David Tees at bigteesps3@yahoo.com

---