A Fan's View from his Couch: UFC 98 Preview

Has there ever been less excitement, less anticipation, or less drama built up for a championship bout - between two undefeated fighters? The short answer, NO. My task in the following text is to convince you to drop the $45 that I will be spending this weekend to watch the next installment of UFC pay-per-view.

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UFC 98 Main Event:

Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida

These two fighters come into this fight with a combined 32-0-1 record; that in itself is enough to tune in as "someones 0, must go." Although these two are both counter punchers, 25 minutes is plenty of time for one of them to make a mistake and see the other end this bout in a fantastic fashion. Evans has ended 4 of his last 6 fights with a devastating KO our TKO, while Machida may be known for his run, run, run tactics, but anyone who watched UFC 94 knows that when push comes to shove "The Dragon" has cinder blocks for hands and can end a fight early - right Thiago? So, what are my predictions for this fight....Evans gets impatient far before Machida and is willing to lunge and Lyoto, the master karate practitioner, strikes with a fury of punches and ends this one in the 3rd by KO. Sorry Rashad, you're not a true champ until you defend your belt and you just aren't a true champ.

Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra

I wish it was still 2007 and you still cared about the grudge match that is Hughes v. Serra, but it's not and you don't - but you should. With a loss Hughes will have dropped 4 of his last 5 and probably conjures up the same rants from Dana that has brought out frustration in Liddell fans as it's time to retire. However, if the "Terror" garners the "L" he never lives down the one hit wonder moniker and becomes the 170 lb. gatekeeper he was destined to be before GSP 1. Basically, this is a must-win for both guys' careers - that is, if they plan on being relevant in the near future. Who wins, the farm boy or the New Yorker? I'll take Matt, Hughes that is, as he uses his wrestling and raw strength to overwhelm the BJJ ace just as GSP did in their second time around. Serra, enjoy the undercard as Hughes vs. Koscheck in a will of wrestling here we go!

After those two fights it's hard to find another key match up to watch out for, but those are the fights that make the highlight reals. See TUF 4 Finale Pete Sell vs. Scott Smith, a fight made on matchups that no one talked about, but you can't speak of MMA knockouts or comebacks without it. Let's hope Sean Sherk vs. Frankie Edgar, Dan Miller vs. Chael Sonnen or Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam can give us one of those don't blink, gut-busting, slow-motion finishes that are burnt in out cerebellum forever!

> Don't miss our UFC 98 preview of all 11 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