UFC 80: "Rapid Fire" Predictions
by Robert Sargent & Daniel Regan
On the heels of a great end to 2007, UFC 80 offers an exciting Lightweight title fight between "The Prodigy" BJ Penn and Joe "Daddy" Stevenson, and a rematch between Gabriel "Napão" Gonzaga and Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum.
MMARising.com breaks down the card, with predictions for each fight, beginning with the main event between BJ Penn and Joe Stevenson.
Rob: The main event of UFC 80 sees the return of "The Prodigy" BJ Penn to UFC Lightweight title contention, as he battles The Ultimate Fighter winner Joe "Daddy" Stevenson. Though Stevenson has put together some impressive victories in the UFC, I believe that he is completely outclassed in this battle. If the same BJ Penn shows up as the one who dismantled Jens Pulver, this will be a short night for Stevenson. This fight may go beyond the first round, but I see BJ taking it by submission either late in the first or early in the second, setting up a Penn vs Sherk fight in the future. Prediction: Penn by Submission.
Daniel: Stevenson is constantly promoted as one of the UFC's top Lightweights. He's got some decent wins, but he's never really fought top-level competition. I'm not sure what he's going to do here, or what most people can do versus Penn. He has strong enough wrestling to stunt Matt Hughes. He outstrikes strikers on a daily basis. His submission skills are unparalleled. Honestly, the only thing that can beat Penn is Penn, and I don't buy in to the no-cardio myth. Penn takes this by 2nd round TKO. The fight comes close to ending in the first. Prediction: Penn by TKO.
Daniel: Gabriel "Napão" Gonzaga vs Fabricio "Vai Cavalo" Werdum. While good on paper, it could turn out to be quite boring. Look for Gonzaga to continue being overzealous with his strikes. Werdum TKOed him badly in their first fight, but Gonzaga does have a lot more confidence now. I'm going to call for a Gonzaga victory here. I believe Werdum is the better fighter, but his head isn't where it needs to be. Prediction: Gonzaga.
Rob: I agree that Werdum needs to go into the fight with the right frame of mind, or he'll lose. However, although Gonzaga has unquestionably improved since their first battle in 2003, Werdum has also improved. I think that Gonzaga will come out swinging, looking both to avenge his previous loss to Werdum and also to redeem himself after losing to Randy Couture at UFC 74. However, I think that that will be his downfall. I don't think that Werdum will score another TKO victory, but I believe that he will get Gonzaga to the ground - even if he has to pull guard to do it - and submit him. I think Werdum takes this by submission in the second round. I see the first round being very slow for the first couple of minutes, but it should pick up after that. Prediction: Werdum by Submission.
Daniel: Jess "The Joker" Liaudin vs "The Irish Hand Grenade" Marcus Davis. While Davis has gotten a lot of hype behind him, people seem to forget that he almost got KOed in his last fight, and some refs would've stopped it. Liaudin is no slouch, and I think he will surprise people by taking this fight. Prediction: Liaudin.
Rob: I agree. Davis is a good fighter, and does deserve a lot of the hype he has received, but Paul Taylor nearly knocked him out at UFC 75. However, despite that, I do think that he will take this fight because Liaudin doesn't have the striking power that Taylor does. Liaudin did win his last fight, over Anthony Torres, by TKO, but Torres really isn't even on a level that is worthy of being compared to Davis, so this will be a much tougher challenge for Liaudin. I would not be surprised if Liaudin found a way to win this one, but I'll take Davis by TKO late in the first. Regardless, I don't see this one going to the judges. Prediction: Davis by TKO.
Daniel: Wilson Gouveia vs Jason "The Punisher" Lambert. What looks like something straight out of a Fight Night, we have Gouveia and Lambert. Honestly, I know too little about Gouveia to make an educated guess here. However, in an uneducated guess, I would have to give the edge to Lambert. He's been much more successful against strong competition. Prediction: Lambert.
Rob: Gouveia is no joke, having gone the distance with Keith Jardine - something which current #1 contender Forrest Griffin could not do - but Lambert is the stronger overall fighter. Lambert is known for his heavy hands and ground and pound, and I think that he will have little trouble taking Gouveia down and handily defeating him by TKO. This fight probably ends in the first round. Lambert really has nowhere to go with a win, however, as the light heavyweight division is already in chaos as it is. Prediction: Lambert by TKO.
Daniel: Jorge "El Conquistador" Rivera vs Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove. While Kendall Grove enjoys UFC PPV main cards, the man who destroyed him in his last fight, Patrick Côté, is stuck competing on a Fight Night. In this fight, though, Grove faces Rivera, who has performed poorly in his last few outings. Losing to both Terry Martin and Chris Leben, I don't see him standing up to Grove. Prediction: Grove, by complete domination.
Rob: I'm not even sure why Rivera is fighting on a main card, to be honest. He has looked terrible in his past few fights, and is nowhere near title contention. Grove, who was supposed to be the next big thing, was soundly defeated by Patrick Côté in his last battle. I think that Grove will take this by early TKO or submission, but I really do not know why this is on the main card. Prediction: Grove by TKO.
Undercard Fights:
Rob: Antoni Hardonk vs Colin "Big C" Robinson. I have no idea how this fight will go, not that it really matters, but I'll take Robinson in this one. Hardonk looked terrible against Justin McCully, and was destroyed by Frank Mir. Robinson takes this by Decision.Daniel: Hardonk by KO, even though he's looked bad in the past two fights.
Rob: Paul "Tellys" Kelly vs "Relentless" Paul Taylor. I'll take Taylor by TKO in the first round.
Daniel: Taylor by TKO in the 2nd.
Rob: James Lee vs Alessio "Legionarius" Sakara. Lee is a relative unknown, but has an impressive record of 25-2. Sakara is regarded as an incredible striker, yet has lost two of his last three fights, both by TKO. I think that Lee takes this by whatever he wants. TKO or Submission.
Daniel: Lee by Submission.
Rob: Per Eklund vs Sam "Hands of Stone" Stout. I have yet to see any of Eklund's fights, but I have heard that he is actually quite a good fighter. However, I think that Stout will simply outmatch him in this fight, and will eventually win by TKO. Stout should be fighting on the main card. His performance against Spencer Fisher, even in defeat, was far better than Kendall Grove's when he was destroyed by Patrick Côté. I'll say Stout by TKO in the second round.
Daniel: Stout by KO or Decision.
UFC 80 features a solid main event, but it remains to be seen whether the remainder of the card will measure up.
