UFC Fight Night 22 Preview & Predictions

The fabled UFC travels to Texas tonight for Fight Night 22, which should prove to be an exciting (and free), set of fights.A big middleweight clash headlines this might of match ups, lets dive into the four main card fights for some predictions:

UFC Fight Night 22

September 15, 2010

Frank Erwin Center,
Austin, Texas, United States

Nate Marquardt vs. Rousimar Palhares
Efrain Escudero vs. Charles Oliveira
Jim Miller vs. Gleison Tibau
Cole Miller vs. Ross Pearson
Yves Edwards vs. John Gunderson
Jared Hamman vs. Kyle Kingsbury
Rich Attonito vs. Rafael Natal
David Mitchell vs. Anthony Waldburger
Brian Foster vs. Forrest Petz
Tomasz Drwal vs. Dave Branch
(main card denoted by bold) 

Ross "The Real Deal" Pearson

Record: 11  -  3  -  0

Details: Ross Pearson is on a 4 fight win steak, with his last victory over Dennis Siver at the last fight night (fight night 21). Most of his wins (5) have come via submission. Pearson also utilizes good boxing as well as ground and pound in his fights.

VS

Cole "Magrinho" Miller

Record: 16  -  4  -  0

Details: Cole Miller is coming off a one fight win streak over Dan Lauzon.Miller has great BJJ skills and has won 11 of his fights via submission. Miller trains with American Top Team.

 Prediction: Ross "The Real Deal" Pearson

Jim Miller

  Record:  17  -  2  -  0

Details: Jim Miller is coming off a 4 fight win streak, and only has one loss in his last 13 fights and twice in his 19 fight career. His only losses come from lightweight champion Frankie Edgar and number one contender Gray Maynard. He has won ten of his fights via some form of submission.

VS

Gleison Tibau

Record: 21 - 6 - 0 

Details: Tibau is on a two fight win streak, defeating Caol Uno in his last fight at UFC Fight Night 21. He has good BJJ, winning 9 fights via submission, and he has impressive athleticism and specifically top control.

Prediction: Jim Miller 

Efrain Escudero

Record: 13  -  1  -  0

Details:  Escudero is riding a one fight win streak over Dan Lauzon into his match up tonight. He utilizes great grappling and BJJ skill sets with ever improving quick and powerful stand up. His e only has one loss in his career, coming to undefeated fighter Evan Dunham.

VS

Charles "do Bronx" Oliveira

Record: 13  -  0  -  0

Details: Oliveira is undefeated in his career, and implements superb grappling and submission offense in his game plan. His previous fight has been his only in the UFC and he finished his opponent in 41 seconds with a armbar.

Prediction: Efrain Escudero

Nate "The Great" Marquardt

Record: 29  -  9  -  2

Details:  Marquardt is coming off a loss to middleweight number one contender Chael Sonnen ( who is busy getting a rematch with title holder Anderson Silva). He is the type of fighter that can fight smart and utilize a strategy, implementing solid accurate stand up and good cardio.

VS

Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares 

 

Record: 11 - 2 - 0

Details:  Palhares is on a three fight win streak since his loss to Dan Henderson in 2008. He has a incredibly impressive ground game and favors a particularly destructive heel hook early in the fight. He is a very athletic fighter, but questionable cardio in the later rounds has hampered him before.

Prediction: Nate "The Great" Marquardt

Results to follow event

StrikeForce Houston Preview and Predictions

The latest edition of the fight promotion Strikeforce, takes us down to Houston, Texas.With the Light Heavyweight and Middleweight championships on the line, lets dive into some previews and predictions for the main card:

August 21, 2010

Toyota Center,
Houston, Texas, United States

Muhammed “King Mo” Lawal vs. Rafael “Feijao” Cavalcante
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. Tim Kennedy
K.J. Noons vs. Jorge Gurgel
Bobby Lashley vs. Chad Griggs
Daniel Cormier vs. Jason Riley
Andre Galvao vs. Nate Moore
Vinicius Magalhaes vs. Rocky Long
Kier Gooch vs. Adam Schindler
Jose Santibanez vs. Reynaldo Trujillo
Humberto DeLeon vs. Chad Robichaux
Chad Cook vs. Arteneus Young

Bobby Lashley

Lashley comes into this fight undefeated with over Bob Sapp and Wes Sims. His strong wrestling base and large frame allow for good power as well as ground and pound

VS

Chad Griggs

Griggs has a fairly impressive MMA record with only one loss and eight wins, but he does not really hold any victories over notable opponents. Griggs will make his Strikeforce Debut in his fight with Lashley. While Griggs has a big frame, similar to lashley, he lacks a major base, such as Lashley's wrestling.

Analysis: While Lashley has stated recently that he wants to use more stand up in this fight then he has previously done before, if that angle fails him, his superior wrestling and strength will put Griggs away.

Prediction: Bobby Lashley Via 2nd Round TKO

KJ Noons

 Noons has a record of 9-2, with 7 KO/TKO victories, and a notable win over Nate Diaz. Noons supports a boxing skill set and is very smooth and powerful with his technique and can pick apart most fighters.

VS

Jorge Gurgel

Gurgel is coming not only off a loss, but off a almost year long layoff between his last fight. Gurgel has very credible BJJ but lacks wrestling and grappling. Gurgel loves to slug it out despite his BJJ background.

Analysis: KJ Noons has very impressive boxing and should match up well to Gurgel's need to fight a stand up war.

Prediction: KJ Noons by Unanimous Decision

Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza

Jacare is finally up for the belt in a bout against fellow contender Tim Kennedy. Jacare, has great grappling, judo and submissions. Jacare won 10 of his 12 fights by submission.

VS

Tim Kennedy

Tim Kennedy is coming of a four fight win streak as he fights to win the Middleweight title.He has credible grappling and solid stand up.

Analysis: Kennedy is a solid fighter, but with Jacare's improved striking and great BJJ, he should be able to take the belt home.

Prediction: Jacare Souza by 3rd Round Submission

King Mo

This will be King Mo's first title defense in the Light Heavyweight Division and is undefeated overall.King Mo has incredible wrestling and can take opponents to the mat at will, and also has heavy enough hands to put them away on the ground or mat.

VS

Rafael Cavalcante

Cavalcante comes into the title fight with a two fight win streak. He has won 8 of his 9 victories by way of KO/TKO.His great striking has finished 5 opponents in the first round.

Analysis: Cavalcante is indeed a dangerous striker, but stylistically, this is a horrible match up for him. Not only is King Mo a solid boxer with KO power, but Cavalcante will not be able to defend Mo's take downs. Puncher's chance aside, King Mo retains the belt.

Prediction: King Mo by 3rd Round TKO

Results to follow event