Not going to get into why posting has been lacking lately, that's for a later post about life getting in the way.....

Anderson Silva Vs. Dan Henderson - it's one of those fights for me where it's just very difficult to pick. I really like both fighters. Anderson Silva is really well rounded and only lacks in takedown defense where Dan Henderson excels. Henderson also, in my opinion, has more power to his wild punching style but Silva is extremely accurate with his. That's the beauty of MMA, this fight can end in a number of way. I'm picking Anderson Silva by slow methodical pick apart.

Heath Herring Vs. Cheick Kongo - I really don't like Herring and how perpetually over hyped he is even though he's been show up numerous times for what he is - sloppy mediocre fighter unwilling to improve any aspect of his MMA game. Just look up a pinnacle of his MMA evolution - fight against Gan McGee.  Anyways,  Cheick Kongo looks to be always in shape and his imposing size and reach combined with his good striking should lead him to beating the always under performing sloppy Herring. Picking Kongo.

Alessio Sakara Vs. Chris Leben - Already addressed this one. WTF is Sakara doing in UFC? I'm glad Leben is thinking exact same thing. In his last knockout victory, Leben showed he can improve himself to be a better fighter with good composure and go crazy when appropriate.  Picking Leben to clean Sakara's clock and send him packing once and for all. Warm up the bus Sakara!

Chris Wilson Vs. Jon Fitch  It's no secret that Jon Fitch has been the top 170 "parallel" contender for while now. Remember Chuck Liddell when Tito Ortiz was terrified of fighting him? Well, it's kind of the same with Jon Fitch right now except it's not the current champion who's scared, it's the UFC and the fact that their promotion strategies and campaigns take forever to unravel.  In the mean time Jon Fitch has been winning. Picking Fitch to continue his "parallel" contender streak.

Yushin Okami Vs. Evan Tanner Evan Tanner? Really? How desperate does an organization have to be to dig up a serious alcoholic homeless former fighter after years of drinking away his life??  Yushin Okami could have been fighting Anderson Silva tonight had he not picked a wrong "coast till 3rd round and try a submission them" strategy in his fight with Rich Franklin, which he could have won with more effort early on. He's not the most exciting fighter, but he's cleaned the 185 division's middle tier and is due for a desperate shot at Anderson Silva/Henderson winner. Picking Okami by mouthwashing with vodka before the fight and making sure Tanner gets a whiff and the ground and pounding for the win.

Jake O'Brien Vs. Andrei Arlovski It's garbage what UFC is doing to Arlovski after a boring loss on one knee to The Lame-iac Sylvia and a boring win over coma inducing Werdum. I hope the show the fight tonight because I think Arlovski is due for dealing out a vicious beating with a KO or at least a submission. Picking Arlovski to come back with a bang.

Luigi Fioravanti Vs. Luke Cummo Cummo looked pretty good in his last two fights and Fioravanti lost his last two, but I'm picking Fioravanti because he's faced much better competition than Luke did.

Dustin Hazelett Vs. Josh Koscheck  Koscheck should be ready to rip his opponent up after his loss to Georges St. Pierre, it just happens to be a less experienced Hazelett. Picking Koscheck

David Bielkheden Vs. Diego Sanchez Sanchez just dropped two close fights to Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck and should be getting back on track in this one. Picking Sanchez to win in an exciting fashion for which he's been known for in the past.

John Halverson Vs. Jorge Gurgel  not really sure about this one, but leaning toward Gurgel by decision after taking a good beating as usual.

 

 

I've been wondering for a while now why and how Alessio Sakara has been getting fights in UFC. You just have to question Joe Silva and Dana White's thinking here. With numerous fighters getting cut from UFC due to 1 or 2 bad performances, this guy rides the coat tales of his highly questionable boxing career in Europe and a decision win over Elvis Sinosic (no offense Elvis, you're cool) where his punching looked kinda good.  Dana and Joe Rogan just couldn't get over him and his supposedly amazing striking skill when they initially pushed him.

With all the hype about Sakara's "amazing" boxing background, he managed to actually win only 1 fight by TKO out of his 2 wins in six outings in UFC (I'm definitely not counting the James Lee fight, that should have been a no-contest). Both of his wins were over journeymen fighters at best. He's had 3 decisive losses 1 by submission from to Dean Lister and two TKOs from Drew McFedries and Houston Alexander. None of the guys that beat him, all in the first round I should add, are knocking on the door to the title condenders room either.

So how the hell does he get fights? It's not like he was impressive in his losses either, those fight were only decent because of the other fighters. WTF is going on here? Why doesn't UFC scrap him like they've done with even better fighters after a loss or two? If UFC just in love with his tattoos? What is it? What's surprising is that nobody, at least I think..., has publicly spoke out on this - till now that is. 

Chris "The Crippler" Leben finally said something in at his myspace blog, which I found via MMAMania. In Leben's last fight against the always dangerous heavy handed Terry Martin, he showed himself as a greatly improved fighter - he was calm, methodical, fought with a good game plan and when push came to shove when Martin rocked him at the end of the third round, he didn't back down and went forward to knock Martin out. It was a great fight. Anyways, Chris Leben always says what's on his mind and here is what he said on Mr "WTF, u still in UFC?!" Sakara:

“Honestly, as much respect as possible to him, but I really don’t think he deserves to be in the UFC. I haven’t seen him win the fights or do what he has to do to prove himself at this level. You know, we’re going to pressure him and test him and I’ll tell you what , he has a pretty good opportunity to prove himself if that’s what he wants to do.” more at his blog.

Chris Leben is fighting Sakara on March 1st at UFC 82 with Anderson Silva vs Dan Henderson headlining. Also, check UFC.com's article on Leben's recent maturing.