A Fan's View from his Couch: UFC 97 Preview
MMA Fight Note: I was lucky enough to be in Las Vegas at a sports booking site of my choice watching the StrikeForce: Shamrock vs Diaz card this past weekend. The point of this little rant is that I have never, and I mean never, heard a more ominous HUSH fall over a crowd as I did when Nick Diaz landed the finishing right hook to Frank Shamrock; a shot that not only led to the end of the fight, but may have closed the book on "The Legand's" career forever!
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UFC 97 REDEMPTION:
Anderson Silva vs Thales Leites
It is way to easy to just pick "The Spider" and leave it at that, but lets take a look at why Leites can win.....He is 14-1, with the 1 loss coming on a very tough decision loss to Martin Kampmann where he was out-boxed, not Leites strong suit. Since that fight Leites has ripped off 5 straight wins in the UFC's Middleweight division (only Silva has a longer streak). He is a black belt in BJJ, Silvas' toughest fight to date in the Octagon was against Travis Lutter, a lesser known jits expert and two of Anderson's three true losses came via submission (advantage Leites). Next area is common opponent: Nate Marquardt. Both Leites and Silva beat him, however Silva won via destruction by punches at the end of the first round. Leites won a razor thin split decision, but a win is a win (advantage push). So, now that we're all thinking Thales Leites has a chance, my prediction says he doesn't. Anderson is looking for total annihilation after taking flack for not sucking the life out of a spent Patrick Cote. Silva wins via KO referee stoppage in the second.
Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell vs Mauricio "Shogun" Rua
I wish we could go back to my senior year in high school when I was arguing with the one other MMA fan I knew about how "The Iceman" would destroy "Shogun." Chuck had just won 6 straight fights including a massacre over Renato Sobral at UFC 62, while Mauricio was 13-1 including two devastating wins in back-to-back Pride Fighting Championships. AHHHHH Glory Days! Instead we get the fight on Saturday where both fighters are at the proverbial fork in the road. Another Liddell loss and he may have to take a hard look at ringside commentary. While if Rua takes the "L" his UFC future may be in doubt and his legacy with the new age MMA fans could be over before it starts. My take, Rua gets gassed and sloppy in the second, goes for a lifeless shot at a double and Chuck lands the nastiest hook we have seen in years, circa 2004, and a rag doll like "Shogun" is left in the middle of the cage. Expect to see Chuck perform his signature chest pound scream celebration!
The third fight worth talking about in my opinion has nothing to do with the main card and I/we may have to pay to watch it on UFC on demand.
David Loiseau vs Ed Herman
Although it's on the under card, this fight has big time draw written all over it. I understand that Herman has lost 4 of 7 UFC fights, but his fights normally end in spectacular fashion. 5 of the 7 didn't make it the distance and the ones that did (Belcher and Grove) were wars to say the least. While "the Crow" Loiseau may have lost some of his street cred falling out of the UFC for a bit he has earned his way back in with 3 straight wins including back-to-back wins that ended via David's signature clinch shots, elbows or knees - they are nasty! Hardcore MMA fans may remember David stopping Evan Tanner, Charles McCarthy and Gideon Ray in three straight fights all by way of Ginsu knife-like elbows. Bottom line, Loiseau doesn't want to lose his spot on the UFC payroll and ends this one early with those razor blade bows of his.
To bring it all full circle this is a very good fight card top to bottom. I didn't even mention, Krzysztof Soszynski vs Brian Stann, Cheick Kongo vs Antoni Hardonk, Steve Cantwell vs Luiz Cane, or Jason MacDonald vs Nate Quarry. One second I need wind my jaw back in, this card is LOADED! Here’s to few decisions, lots of banging and some sweet jits sprinkled in to keep my eyes glued in!
> Don't miss our UFC 97 preview of all 12 fights on the card for Saturday night's big event!
By Greg Vorse
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer
A Fan's View from his Couch