UFC Previews: UFC 98 Preview & Predictions

Pro Fighting Fans is the home of UFC fans across the world and we now bring you the best place to find the latest UFC preview & predictions. UFC 97 has come and gone and we take a look at what we learned in our UFC 97 recap.

The next event for UFC will be UFC 98, held on May 23, 2009, live on Pay Per View from Las Vegas, Nevada, and our UFC 98 preview & predictions has been posted below for UFC fans across the globe to enjoy. Also be sure to check out our popular A Fans' View from his Couch" column where UFC fan Greg Vorse gives us his take on each major UFC fight, including UFC 98, 99, 100, 101 & more in the coming days and weeks and buy UFC tickets online here through Pro Fighting Fans!

For more UFC events to be held in 2009 and lists of which Mixed Martial Artists are schedule to fight, be sure to check out the future UFC event fight cards.

Following one of the most underwhelming main event title matches in UFC history last month between middleweight champion Anderson Silva and challenger Thales Leites, UFC brass is hoping that Rashad Evans is willing to do more to keep his title, or that top contender Lyoto Machida will take risks to become champion during a five round battle of the undefeated at UFC 98 at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada on May 23.

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Dave Kaplan vs. George Roop (Lightweight)

Why the UFC is even bothering with mid to low-level lightweights like this on a PPV card is difficult to surmise, but Kaplan (2-2 MMA) and Roop (8-4 MMA) both possess decent striking skills and a degree of aggression that could be entertaining, assuming both men go forward. Neither fighter has tasted victory in the Octagon yet, but Roop’s superior ground skills combines with a slightly more impressive resume should make him a comfortable favorite.

Roop over Kaplan by Armbar (Round 2)

Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Brandon Wolff (Welterweight)

While both Yoshida (10-3 MMA) and Wolff (7-3 MMA) were handed one-sided beat downs at the UFC’s Fight for the Troops card in December of 2008, “Zenko” should be a moderate favorite in this welterweight contest. Look for the Japanese cage-fighting standout to come close to earning “Submission of the Night” honors with a first round throttling of Brandon Wolff ala his UFC 84 bout with War Machine.

Yoshida over Wolff by Choke (Round 1)

Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Andre Gusmao (Light Heavyweight)

Andre Gusmao (5-1 MMA) came into the UFC under high praises and even higher expectations. Unfortunately, Light Heavyweight up and comer Jon “Bones” Jones took all of that away from him with a Unanimous Decision victory at UFC 87 in August of last year. Gusmao is not catching any breaks with the seasoned submission specialist in Soszynski (17-8-1 MMA), whose already-loaded resume and current five-fight winning streak will be augmented with a Unanimous Decision victory on the preliminary card on the 23 rd.

Soszynski over Gusmao by Unanimous Decision

Philipe Nover vs. Kyle Bradley (Lightweight)

A very difficult fight to pick. Kyle Bradley (13-6 MMA) has more MMA and UFC experience than his over-hyped opponent, and his technical boxing skills are noteworthy. However, Nover (5-1-1 MMA) has yet to be seriously rattled in a professional fight, having only lost by decision to TUF 8 winner Efrain Scudder in June of 2008. This fight will ultimately come down to self-confidence and control, and since Bradley has yet to make it out of the second round in his two UFC appearances—albeit to Chris Lytle and Joe Lauzon respectively—look for Nover to live up to some of his hype with a second round TKO, providing Bradley with a one way ticket out of a stacked lightweight division.

Nover over Bradley by TKO (Round 2)

Patrick Barry vs. Tim Hague (Heavyweight)

At 5’11” tall and a modest 230lbs, Patrick Barry (4-0 MMA) is a small heavyweight amongst giants in the UFC. His UFC 98 opponent, Tim Hague (9-1 MMA) is five inches taller and nearly 30 lbs heavier, plus he boasts more than twice the professional MMA experience as “HD.” That being said, Barry should make mints meat out of Hague’s legs en route to an early stoppage, as the heralded heavyweight kick boxer pulls an almost-upset that might make the PPV broadcast for the second time in a row.

Barry over Hague by TKO (Leg kicks) (Round 1)

Chris Wilson vs. Brock Larson (Welterweight)

Chris Wilson (14-5 MMA) has had an up and down road in the UFC to date, but he has done it against respectable and world-class competition, including former top contender Jon Fitch. Nevertheless, Larson (25-2 MMA) is as aggressive as they come and boasts one of the most unflappable chins in the division. Look for Larson to bull through the peppering shots of Wilson en route to a Unanimous Decision victory after three hard rounds.

Larson over Wilson by Unanimous Decision

> After the fights are complete fans can find the UFC 97 results here at Pro Fighting Fans as well as the UFC 98 fight card!

Dan Miller vs. Chael Sonnen (Middleweight)

It may not be a worthy replacement of a potential title eliminator after Yushin Okami was forced out of his schedule bout with Miller, but Sonnen should provide a difficult challenge and an entertaining fight for fans in attendance, as he takes on one of the most aggressive and complete middleweight up and comers in the UFC. Look for Miller (11-1 MMA) to capitalize on the careless and slow style of Sonnen (21-10-1 MMA) to grind him into an early series of mistakes from the very beginning of the fighter. Sonnen might make it past the first bell, but this one isn’t going the distance.

Miller over Sonnen by Submission (Guillotine Choke) (Round 3)

Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam (Middleweight)

Following the withdrawal of the heavy hitting middleweight James Irvin from the card, Xavier Foupa-Pokam (20-10 MMA) eagerly stepped up for the opportunity to take on the equally powerful, and equally inconsistent slugger in Drew McFedries (7-5 MMA) in a bout that will likely end up on the PPV broadcast. Look for McFedries overly aggressive, offensive style to play nicely into the hands of Pokam, who will rebound from a Unanimous Decision loss just a few weeks ago with a hard-fought TKO over “The Massacre”.

Pokam over McFedries by TKO (Round 2)

Sean Sherk vs. Frank Edgar (Lightweight)

Prior to Diego Sanchez’s move from 170lbs to 155lbs, this fight would almost certainly have been for the next shot at the winner of the UFC 101 main event bout between Lightweight Champion BJ Penn and top contender Kenny Florian, and it still might be. In what should be an explosive, back and forth battle from start to finish, powerful and scrappy wrestlers Sherk (33-3-1 MMA) and Edgar (9-1 MMA) will test each other’s almost limitless cardio boundaries throughout this 15 minute affair.

While Edgar is certainly one of the top contenders in the lightweight division, Sherk is probably stronger and almost as tough as the NJ native. This, combined with the fact that he has only been defeated by three men throughout his 34-fight, 10 year career, and judging by the exclusive talents of those men—Matt Hughes, Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn respectively—this fight should look very similar to Sherk’s three round war with Tyson Griffin in October of last year, albeit with more ground work, and it should have a similar result.

Look for Sherk’s busier attack and aggressive counter style to play into the judges’ decision, and pray for a title eliminator bout with Gray Maynard later this year for the honor of top contender.

Sherk over Edgar by Unanimous Decision

Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra (Welterweight)

This fight has more storylines heading into it than a Stephen King novel. Will either Matt retire following the bout, win or lose? Will Hughes ask for a shot at the winner of St-Pierre/Alves if he is victorious? Will Serra move down to 155? Will the bad blood lead to an exciting fight?

The last question is the one that most fans actually care about, as the stock of both Hughes and Serra has plummeted in the last year and a half since their coaching stint on Season 6 of The Ultimate Fighter reality show. While both fighters are ranked in the top ten by most publications, they are also being swallowed up and overshadowed by the explosive athleticism and natural talent of up and comers such as Anthony Johnson and Mike Swick, never mind Champion Georges St-Pierre—who thoroughly handled both Matts in 07-08—and top contender Thiago Alves.

Bad blood and endless trash talk aside; this one is probably—and unfortunately—going to turn into a boring ground and pound clinic, with Hughes in complete control. Unless Serra has drastically improved his ring movement and/or striking precision, or unless Hughes really has slowed down by a noticeable margin, look for the former welterweight kingpin to make it looks easy with a thrashing of the tough-talking New Yorker.

Hughes over Serra by Unanimous Decision

UFC 98 Main Event: Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida (LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP)

Endless promos and online segments launched and re launched by the UFC prior to every UFC event attempt to bill each as the most important even in company history—for some reason. This one, contrary to what some might think, could actually live up to all the hype, though not in the way many casual fans will appreciate.

Both Rashad Evans (13-0-1 MMA) and Karate ace Lyoto Machida (14-0 MMA) are somewhat aggressive counter fighters. They like to pepper their opponents with awkwardly timed strikes and explosive takedowns prior to setting up blitzing power shots and combinations—many of which lay their opposition out cold. The fight probably will be slowly paced from the outset, but it is unlikely to go the distance. Someone is going to get caught, and when they do, they are going to sleep.

While Evans probably packs more than twice the concussive impact in his blows than Machida does, the latter’s superior timing and pinpoint accuracy, as well as his ability to avoid punishment will serve him well in a five round title bout. If Evans connects solidly, it could be a quick night for Machida, as his chin has yet to be tested by a proven striker in the UFC. By the same token, if Machida can slip some of the champ’s lightning-quick combinations and land a few counter straights of his own, he should take an early lead on the judges’ scorecards. Expect this fight to be won largely by Machida’s far superior kicking. He will not be caught off balance as Griffin was in his first title defense, and he will not throw a technique unless it has close to a 100% chance of landing and landing with authority. Look for Machida to come out on top in a high impact, back and forth war that may go down as the most technical light heavyweight bout in MMA history—thus far. Machida over Evans by TKO (Knees and Punches) (Round 4)

By Steven T. Kelliher
ProFighting-fans.com Staff Writer

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