UFC Live On Versus 2: Jones vs. Matyushenko Preview and Predictions

Ladies and Gentlemen, this Sunday night you are in for a real treat (and a FREE one at that.) This weekend Jon Jones fights Vladimir Matyushenko on the main event of a very promising second edition to the UFC's "Live on Versus" fight card series.

The main card of this Versus event looks like it will promise some great action, intense fights, and maybe some highlight reels. Lets get straight into previewing the top four fights of the night and my predictions on the winners:

 UFC LIVE: Jones Vs Matyushenko

 Aug 1st, San Diego Sports Arena, SD CA

Jon Jones

Jon "Bones" Jones has burst into the UFC, emerging as one of the Light Heavyweight divisions most talented prospects, seemingly with unlimited potential. His excellent 10 - 1 record includes breaking Brandon Vera's face,  outpointing Stephen Bonnar and submitting Jake O'Brien. The only blemish to his career so far was a DQ loss to Matt Hamill when he accidentally utilized a vertical illegal elbow (all of the fight up to the disqualification, Bones was throwing Hamill around much like a silver back gorilla might toss around an unconscious infant)

                         VS

Vladimir Matyushenko

Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko is an respected MMA veteran and has fought in the UFC several times over the duration of his career. He rides a three fight win streak into his bout with Jones, and has notable wins over Pedro Rizzo, Antonio Rogerio Nogueira, and has only been finished twice in the past seven years. Matyushenko is recognized as the first and only IFL Light Heavyweight champion, and his extensive wrestling background has helped him though his twenty four career wins

 Analysis: Matyushenko is a very accomplished veteran mixed martial arts fighter, with a talent for wrestling that should in no way be taken lightly. On the other hand, Jon Jones is an incredibly unorthodox striker and wrestler, whose creative gameplan including spinning back fists, unorthodox throws and sweeps are hard to prepare for, and even harder to counter. Matyushenko definitely has a good chance in this fight, as he is still a very talented fighter, but I see Jones using this fight to continue showing the UFC that he needs to be fighting better competition. Hopefully we will see some more of Bones ridiculously creative striking. (here's hoping for a spinning back fist KO)

Prediction:  Jon Jones (2rd round TKO )

Mark Munoz

  Mark "The Philippine Wrecking Machine" Munoz is a former two-time California State Wrestling Champion, sporting  a near unblemished 8 - 1 MMA record with the only lose coming from a loss to Matt Hamill. Munoz comes into this bout with a three fight win streak looking to climb further up the Middleweight ladder. Munoz won Fight of the Night honors for his last fight in which he TKO'd the dangerous Kendall Grove. Munoz is a master of the takedown  and has finished his opponent in five of his eight wins

                               VS

Yushin Okami

Yushin "Thunder" Okami is currently ranked eighth in the world in Middleweight division, holding a fantastic record of 24 - 5. Okami holds notable victories over Alan Belcher,  Mike Swick, and Evan Tanner, and a strange win over the legendary Anderson Silva through Silva's DQ. He was last beaten by current Middleweight title contender Chael Sonnen at UFC 104.  With great wrestling and kickboxing, he presents a suitable challenge for anyone in the 185 pound weight class.

 Analysis: Okami is no easy opponent, but Munoz is looking fierce at this point in his career. Munoz should have the advantage of being able to take "Thunder" down and finish him before the bell.

 

 Prediction: Mark Munoz (3nd Round TKO)

Jake Ellenberger

  

Jake Ellenberger is looking for his second win in the octagon after his mediocre record of 1 - 1 in the UFC. His overall MMA career is a respectable 22 - 5, but he dropped his UFC debut to fellow Welterweight Carlos Condit in a close split decicion, in which he took the fight on short notice. He bounced back in his next fight with a TKO victory over Mike Pyle. Ellenberger comes from a wrestling background and also utilizes effective striking and jiu-jitsu. 

                         VS

John Howard

 John "Doomsday" Howard comes into this bout with a very impressive seven fight win streak, with four of those wins coming via KO or TKO. Sporting an overall record of 14 - 4, this will be Howard's 5th fight in the octagon, and a win would no doubt send him closer to contender status. In his UFC debut Howard earned Fight of the Night honors defeating  Chris Wilson, and also earned Knock out of the Night honors when he KO'd Daniel Roberts in his last fight.

Analysis: Ellenberger is a talented prospect in the UFC, but Howard's combination of striking prowess and overall power put him in a perfect situation to put him out cold if given the smallest chance.

Prediction: John Howard (2nd round KO)  

Takanori Gomi

 

Takanori "The Fireball Kid" Gomi is one of the msot established  lightweight fighters in MMA, holding the Pride LW belt when it disbanded, and winning four All Japan Combat Wrestling championships and former Shooto Welterweight champion. He is currently coming off a loss as he produced a sub bar performance in his bout with Kenny Florian that ended in Gomi submitting to a Rear Naked Choke in the 3rd round.  This will be Gomi's second UFC fight.

VS

Tyson Griffin

Tyson Griffin is also coming into this bout off a loss, losing a recent decision to Evan Dunham. Griffin does hold notable victories over Clay Guida, Urijah Faber, and Rafael Dos Anjos. Griffin holds five Fight of the Night honors and one Submisson of the Night honor. His extensive wrestling and strength based skillset aid him greatly in his MMA fights.

Analysis: Gomi seems to have hit a bit of a rut, dropping 3 of his last 5 fights, and Florian simple outclassed him. Look for Griffin to use his strength and wrestling to at least grind out a win over "The Fireball Kid".

Prediction: Tyson Griffin (UD) 

Results to follow event