UFC 88 Predictions
by Robert Sargent, Daniel Regan & Mike Miller
MMARising.com welcomes a new face to the team, as Mike Miller joins Robert Sargent and Daniel Regan for a breakdown of the card for UFC 88: Breakthrough, which is headlined by "Sugar" Rashad Evans challenging Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell.
Elsewhere, former UFC Middleweight Champion Rich "Ace" Franklin face Matt "The Hammer" Hamill at 205, while Dan Henderson battles Rousimar Palhares at 185.
Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell vs "Sugar" Rashad Evans
Rob: This fight is really nothing more than a showcase for Liddell, as the UFC desperately needs him back as their Light Heavyweight Champion. I'd love to see Evans pull off an upset in this one, simply because Liddell doesn't deserve more title shots, but Evans's one-dimensional game and untested chin will likely see him unconscious before the night is done. Look for Liddell to pick his shots and score with a looping right sometime in round two. Prediction: Liddell by KO in round two.Daniel: What a waste of a main event. Okay, I understand, Liddell sells tickets. Great! And Rashad Evans is going to be the one to give him a title shot? We're talking about someone who was beaten by Tito Ortiz and scooted away with a ridiculous draw. The same guy who was being outstruck by Sean Salmon before pulling off his highlight-reel KO. Simply put, Rashad Evans is trying to be a Top 10 fighter but is in the wrong division and won't see luck here. Expect Liddell to come out with something to prove. Prediction: Liddell by KO in round two.
Mike: I thought you two were nice guys, but that nice? Giving Rashad a full round with the Iceman? He is, as noted, an untested fighter who has beaten a bunch of 205ers who, as himself, do not belong in that division. If not for the highlight-reel KO of Salmon, this guy's only footage would be of him grinding to victory. Chuck's sprawl and power will land him a KO late in round 1. Prediction: Liddell by KO in round one.
Rich "Ace" Franklin vs Matt "The Hammer" Hamill
Rob: While I think that Franklin's experience will keep him out of danger in this fight, I think that this is Hamill's time to shine. Franklin is moving back up to 205 because he can't beat Anderson Silva at 185, but Hamill is anything but a stepping stone. I don't think that Hamill will be able to stop Franklin, but I think that he pulls off a hard-fought decision win, derailing the former Middleweight Champion's return to light heavyweight. Prediction: Hamill by Decision.Daniel: There is no way that Hamill comes out of this one on top. His one shot at fame was his fight with Bisping, where he dominated him for the early part but gassed out and blew his chances. Was it a bad decision? Many think so, but he still gassed out and ran on empty for the last 7 1/2 minutes. Franklin is a cardio machine and, while he isn't going to take down Silva, he will destroy Hamill, who will attempt to lay and pray his way to victory. Expect Hamill to tire himself out, get flipped over and pounded out. I expect the fight to resemble Jake O'Brien vs Andrei Arlovski. Prediction: Franklin by TKO in round two.
Mike: Hamill, 4-1 (Bisping won, live with it), does have a future in the sport, with his powerful wrestling and his ever-improving standup. He, one day, might (never) wear a belt. Franklin will dominate the standup, get taken down by a shaken Hamill, be laid upon for the rest of the round and then proceed to knock out Hamill with a vibrant flurry of punches. Franklin will make it known that he is back at 205. Prediction: Franklin by KO midway through round two.
Karo "The Heat" Parisyan vs Yoshiyuki "Zenko" Yoshida
Rob: Most UFC fans are going to see this as a cakewalk for Parisyan, as they have no idea who Yoshida is. However, the true upset here would be if Parisyan actually won. Yoshida looked amazing in his destruction of TUF alum Jon Koppenhaver, and he should be able to easily counter Parisyan's judo. I see this being the second straight stoppage loss for Parisyan. Prediction: Yoshida by TKO in round two.Daniel: That's 4th Degree Black Belt Yoshida! Screw TKO...Karo will come out with something to prove, and his aggression will put him on his back and leave him submitted somewhere around the 3-minute mark. Yoshida is a future title contender at 170 and he's going to make a serious impact. Prediction: Yoshida by Submission in round one.
Mike: Karo is too naturally talented to train and will be too naturally stupid to win. He knows how to throw people. His standup is horrible, his nose is a big target and he lets his emotions fight for him. After suffering 2 losses early in his career, Yoshida has won 9 straight and all have been stopped by KO or submission. The guy has defeated some serious competition and Karo will be another win for him. I also predict that the UFC will stop billing Karo as a top 170-pounder after this embarrassing loss. Prediction: Yoshida by KO in round two.
Dan "Hendo" Henderson vs Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares
Rob: Though the UFC insists on vastly inflating Palhares's fight record, the fact remains that he is a very talented submission fighter with a bright future. However, he's facing a Dan Henderson with more than a little to prove, and a motivated Dan Henderson is extremely difficult to beat. Henderson has struggled against submission fighters in the past, but I see him testing Palhares's chin early and often, and finishing the fight in round two. Prediction: Henderson by KO in round two.Daniel: I'm going out on a limb here and saying Palhares by Leglock submission. Henderson is an excellent fighter - one of the best and he will probably win - but I feel like there is something special going to happen here. I feel that they'll strike, Henderson will do well and Palhares will shoot, get stuffed and land on his back. Just when it looks like he's going to get slowly pounded on for the rest of the round, he'll surprise us all with a submission. I'm looking forward to it even though Henderson is one of my favorite fighters. Prediction: Palhares by Submission in round one.
Mike: Rousimar Palhares will win with a Leglock. I believe Henderson is overblown. He is a good fighter, but not great. He owned two belts in PRIDE and never had to defend them. He pissed off Silva in their fight and was choked out in the next round. If the fight goes to the ground, I predict Palhares will take the win by Leglock late in round 2. The only thing Palhares needs to be worried about is Henderson's right-hand bomb. Prediction: Palhares by Submission in round two.
Daniel: However, let me do say that I would pick Palhares or Henderson (in a rematch) over Anderson Silva. I think Silva's lack of wrestling would put him on his back and he's out of his element there. When Henderson put him on his back, he looked completely lost. Expect the same when the Filho-esque Palhares eventually fights him.
Mike: I think Silva would knock Palhares out before it got to the ground. Silva has been training Jiu-Jitsu since his early teens, so the guy is just as strong on the ground as he is on his feet.
Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann vs Nate "The Great" Marquardt
Rob: This is actually a pretty solid fight, even though a win for Marquardt wouldn't do much for him at this point. However, I don't even see him getting that win, as Kampmann has been on a roll. Now recovered from various injuries, he's looking for a future title shot and I see him steamrolling Marquardt. Prediction: Kampmann by TKO in round one.Daniel: Marquardt over Kampmann via head spike.
Mike: Haha. Nate might be great, but do not overrate, for the skill of Kampmann will saturate. Prediction: Kampmann by KO in round one.
Thiago Tavares vs Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino
Rob: While Pellegrino has shown recently that he can take a ridiculous amount of punishment, that's not going to be enough against Tavares, who seeks to make a comeback after his brutal knockout loss to Matt Wiman. This should be a one-sided affair. Prediction: Tavares by TKO in round two.Daniel: Tavares over Pellegrino via being named Thiago.
Mike: That is pathetic! I am picking Batman by submission in Round 1. Tavares is good, not amazing. Kurt is good, not amazing. I have no justification for this pick. I just liked Kurt's tooth through the gum. Prediction: Pellegrino by Submission in round one.
Tim "The Barbarian" Boetsch vs Michael Patt
Rob: I have absolutely no idea who Patt is, other than that most of his wins have come by submission and he fought to a decision (loss) against Canadian star Todd Gouwenberg. This fight will be entirely decided on how long it goes. If it's short, Boetsch wins by knockout. If long, Patt scores a submission. I'll say Boetsch lands a hard kick that ends it. Prediction: Boetsch by KO in round one.Daniel: Patt over Boetsch via scarier UFC picture.
Mike: Boetsch utilizes the most under-utilized front leg kick. I loved how he kept Heath at bay and pissed him off. Classic example of making someone mad and throwing them off their game. Prediction: Boetsch by KO late in round one.
Dong Hyun "Stun Gun" Kim vs "The Immortal" Matt Brown
Rob: I honestly see this as being one of the worst beatings in recent memory. Nobody knows who Kim is, but he is an incredible fighter with vicious knockout power. He tore through everyone in DEEP and mauled Jason Tan in his UFC debut. If Brown survives round one, I'll be shocked. Prediction: Kim by KO early in round one.Daniel: Kim over Matt Brown by presence of skill.
Mike: Matt Brown will retire after this fight. Kim by knockout...of the UFC. Prediction: Kim by KO in round one.
Jason "The Punisher" Lambert vs Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald
Rob: This battle of Jasons looking to rebound from losses should go the way of the Canadian. Lambert has been knocked out two fights in a row, and that has to weigh on his psyche. By contrast, MacDonald lost a thrilling submission war with Demian Maia at UFC 87. Prediction: MacDonald by Submission in round two.Daniel: Lambert over MacDonald by way of mediocrity.
Mike: In a battle of whose moniker is worse, MacDonald would win. In a battle of better body, MacDonald would win, and in a battle of skill, MacDonald would win. Prediction: "The Athlete" by Submission in round two.
Roan "Jucao" Carneiro vs Ryo "The Piranha" Chonan
Rob: Carneiro's going to be mad coming into this fight, after being humiliated in a submission loss to purple belt Kevin Burns at UFC 85. However, Chonan looked vastly improved in his fight with Karo Parisyan, even in defeat. I believe that Chonan can succeed at 170 pounds, and I see him escaping Carneiro's takedown attempts and scoring with a looping right. Prediction: Chonan by TKO in round one.Daniel: Chonan over Carneiro via need to get paid.
Mike: I have never been impressed by Carneiro, and Chonan pulled off the greatest submission ever against Anderson Silva in PRIDE. Chonan by repetition in round 3. Carneiro should never show his face in a ring, or cage, again if he loses by submission. Prediction: Chonan by Submission in round three.
UFC 88: Breakthrough airs live this Saturday night on pay per view, and features both newcomers looking to make their mark and established veterans seeking to hang on to their top spots.
