MMA Roundup: UFC 99 – The Comeback

Last week we had Strikeforce and the WEC to wet our MMA palates, this week we get the big leagues. First off the when’s and wheres:

UFC 99 The Comeback

Broadcast Live from the Lanxess Arena in Germany

Saturday June 13, 3pm EST live and replay at 10pm EST

Rich “Ace” Franklin -145 Vs. Wanderlei “The Ax Murder” Silva +105

I would not touch these lines. “Ace” lost his last fight against Dan Henderson, no big deal. His other 2 UFC losses come at the hands of one Anderson SIlva, also nothing to be ashamed of. Wande has lost 2 of his last three UFC fights. One, a questionable decision to Liddell, the other a highlight reel KO at the hands of Rampage. The reason I want nothing to do with this fight is because Wanderlei is fighting for his career. He is a guy who is backed against a corner. Dana White has said that the Chuck Liddell forced retirement could be in the cards for Silva if he drops this fight.

Another twist in this fight is Rich Franklin’s training partner for this fight. The man that has handed him two UFC losses, Anderson Silva. Anderson and Wanderlei used to be training partners, they had a fall out and now cant seem to stand each other. Right now Rich is not only training with the best in the world, but he is training with someone who has spent a great deal of time with his opponent.

One last thing to consider for this fight is it’s weight class. This is a catch-weight battle at 195. It’s heavier then Franklin usually fights at, and lighter then Silva. Now, does Franklin hold the advantage from not having to cut as much as he usually does, or does “The Ax Murder” hold the edge by not carrying as much weight as his body is used to.

MY PICK: Wanderlei Silva, KO RD 1 (if he doesn’t end it early, Franklin will take it)

Cheick Kongo +150 Vs. Cain Velasquez -185

If I could bet on one aspect of this fight it wouldn’t be the winner, but how many times Kongo “Kongo’s” Velasquez. As I have mentioned, being “Kongoed” means to get hit in the groin. My friends and I have turned all Kongo fights into drinking games. Every hit to the man berrys is a drink.

Now Cain is an up and commer in the sport. He appears to want to become a KO artists, but I dont think he has what it takes to get Kongoed and keep moving. He’s young, so I dont see this as a major setback to him, and if he can turn in a good preformance, ,it could be good for his career.

Kongo is looking for a title shot, to get it he needs to make this a highlight reel victory. Be it KO or tap out, this needs to become his “Mr. Hollands Opus” if he hopes to move up in the Heavyweight ranks and be more then a gate keeper.

MY PICK: Cheick Kongo Via TKO after a hard punch to the junk

Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic -500 Vs. Mostapha Al Turk +300

As much as I hate to say this, it might not be a bad idea to put about %10 of what you would normally bet in a fight on Al Turk. I am picking Cro Cop, but I am also an unbiased Cro Cop fanboy. The fact of the matter is Cro Cop hasn’t fought anyone except Alistair Overeem (which he won via DQ due to shots to the junk despite being manhandled the entire fight) since last UFC stint.

Cro Cops last UFC run ended the same way Al Turks started, getting hit in the dick by and loosing to Cheick Kongo. Al Turk has a great build, a pro-wrestling made name, and a few believers. Cro Cop has special forces training, the entire Croatian Government, and me behind him.

MY PICK: MIrko Cro Cop Via Kick to the head.

MMA Roundup: Quick UFC 92 Review and Notes

UFC 92 has come and gone and so has my gambling account. Let me tell you, there is nothing like telling your fiancee that there is no going out for sushi for a few weeks because Frank Mir learned how to punch.

Ultimate 2008 was an entertaining card. Personally, I though UFC 91 was a better broadcast but if you bought UFC 92 you definately got your money worth. If you look at “safe bets” UFC 92 took your account. I went 1-3 on my predictions, and the one I hit on was a Vegas underdog.

Rampage, Frank Mir, Rashad Evans, and Cheick Kongo all won by decisive knockouts. Of that group I only hit on Rampage. Too bad I took him in a parlay with Forrest Griffin.

While on the UFC 92 card, I have one question… Has Kongo ever been in a fight where he didn’t deliver one obviously deliberate cock punch? His fight against M. Al Turk saw Al Turk deliver one accidental knee to the groin. AT that point 5 of the people in my room made joks that all suggested we knew Kongo wouldnt allow someone to get by with his trademarked knee to the nuts. Sure enough during the next clench Kongo got himself into position, looked down to make sure where his knee was, then lifted Al Turn off his feet via a knee to the junk.

I think it’s time to start fining guys for repeated rules violations. I’m not talking about the occasional accidental kick to the groin, thumb to the eye, or accidental blow to the back of the head. I’m talking about patterns that arise and violate the rules whenever a certin fighter fights. Kongo has built a career using knees to the balls, every fight there is at least one. If I were a heavyweight I wouldn’t want to fight the guy, not because he’s good, but because I saw what happened to every other guy he has fought.

Moving on to new news it appears the door is open for Andrei “The Pitbull” Arlovski to return to the UFC. Dana White was quoted this week as saying that Arlovski is the one who got away. Andrei wanted to do some boxing and stuff outside UFC and Dana wanted Arlovski all to himself. I would look for Andrei to start talking with Dana seriously after he his upcoming Affliction bout against Fedor Emelianenko on January 24. As for that bout, I’ll take Arlovski, I dont care how great Fedor is or was, there is just something special about Andrei’s fanged mouthpiece and that smile which makes me pick him every time. Side note: as soon as I saw Rashad Evans was wearing a fanged mouth piece against Forrest Griffin I knew my money was on the wrong fighter. One of my rules is never bet against the fangs.

In other Dana White news, it is reported that he may be interested in bringing back Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. It was reported on Cagepotato.com that Dana said (On Best Damn Sports Show) if Cro Cop wins his New Years eve freakshow fight against Hong Man Choi he will be welcomed back in the UFC. Adding more fuel to this fire, Cro COp still has his cage up in his training facility. Now, I dont want to run with speculation, but UFC needs heavyweights. Cro Cop is a marketable heavyweight, even if he went 1-2 in his UFC stint and had a horrible 2008 (Hey who didn’t?), he is still a former top 5 heavyweight who has crazy knock out power. I’m not saying this will happen, I’m just saying I would pay to watch Mirko fight anyone, especially if he is coming in with a point to prove.