UFC 83 Preview: Matt Serra Vs Georges St-Pierre, Part Two

The Franchise's Gary Whittaker brings his 30-13 Fight Prediction record into UFC 83, and like GSP and Jonathan Goulet, he expects to come out victorious in his picks.

by Gary Whittaker (Scribe)

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April 16, 2008

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MMA, Matt Serra, Rich Franklin, Australia, Travis Lutter, Preview/Prediction

The UFC will be making it's way to Montreal, Quebec, Canada for the first time in 83 pay per view events. This is the UFC's first visit to Canada, and it will be the highest attended MMA event in history, selling out the over 21 thousand seat capacity at the Bell Center. The Franchise has brought you in depth coverage of one fighter's journey to UFC 83, as we have brought you the Road Warrior's Road to UFC 83 for the last 3 weeks. For most of the fighters however, their training is finished and a week of heavy media coverage begins. This card is heavy on Canadian Content a total of 8 Canadians and with 7 out of the 11 matches being fought by a Canadian. This is great news for smaller organizations, like TKO, as they continue to pump quality fighters out of Canada for the world stage. Patrick Côté was also supposed to be fighting, but he got hurt slipping on some ice soon after the announcement that he was to fight Alan "The Talent" Belcher. The media coverage is insane, as national television and radio stations have all made their way down to Montreal this week to cover this event. It's also sparked major controversy in Ontario since MMA competitions are still not legal in that province. Many of them will be coming to Montreal to enjoy the weekend, and what will surely be a wild night of excitement. It's too bad that George St-Pierre is almost exclusively sought out by the media, because there is so much talent coming out of Canada, and Quebec especially, that great fighters have been overlooked. We hope that they use that slight by the media to fuel their rage and pick up the win in front of a crowd already excited over the Montreal Canadiens who are on their way to the 2nd round of the Stanley Cup playoffs.

Matt Serra Vs. Georges St-Pierre

Matt Serra is the champion. He beat GSP fair and square, even if it was a shock to everyone, including most people from Serra's hometown. Matt Serra is a cocky, and has full confidence in his abilities standing up and on his back. GSP has shown that he wants to take on fighters at their own game. He out-wrestled both Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck. My prediction is very simple. GSP will be looking to outright KO Matt Serra. George wants this fight to end the same way Serra took his title from him, and I think it's going to happen. I am even more confident of this than I was the first time they fought.

Prediction: GSP by KO in round 1

Travis Lutter Vs. Rich Franklin

Both of these fighters are big 185 pounders. Lutter couldn't even make weight for this last fight against Anderson Silva. Lutter's game-plan is simple, he wants to put Franklin on his back. While he does have some power in his hands, it isn't enough to take out a striking expert like Franklin. It could be that he tries to test Franklin by bringing some Muay Thai into the Octagon, but I just don't see that happening. Franklin will be looking to prove something, perhaps to himself. I think Lutter can win this one. I think that there are a lot of questions on both the mental and ground game of Franklin that Lutter can exploit. But, I have to give the nod to Ace Franklin for now, since Lutter has not shown anything to me that tells me he is the man to exploit those potential weaknesses.

Prediction: Franklin by KO in Round 3

Nate Quarry Vs. Kalib Starnes

I have to reverse an opinion I stated on last week's show. I had originally stated that I felt that Quarry was going to win, but upon further review, I have to change that. I don't like the fact that Quarry had to take 3 rounds to beat Pete Sell, I don't like the quality of opposition he has faced, and I don't like the fact that his ground game is suspect when compared against Kalib. Starnes has both KO power and submission skills, and has beaten guys like Jason MacDonald and Chris Leben. While he may have lost 2 out of his last 3 fights, I have to think that he will even that up in Montreal.

Prediction: Starnes by submission in Round 2

Charles McCarthy Vs. Michael Bisping

While the UFC typically does not make easy fights, Charles McCarthy seems like he should be a cakewalk for Bisping. McCarthy has only fought once in 2006, and while he does train with American Top Team and hopes to expose Bisping weak ground game, I simply don't think he is the man to do it. Bisping will be making his debut at 185 pounds, and unlike Sakara, he will be walking away with a win because he chose the right opponent to face.

Prediction: Bisping by Decision.

Mark Bocek Vs. Mac Danzig

Mac Danzig was on a 2 fight losing streak before beating a now exposed Tommy Speer in the Ultimate Fighter Finale, however was on a 13 fight winning streak before that. Mac Danzig is supposed to win this fight, but Canada's young up and coming Mark Bocek is not looking to make this easy for him. This is an important fight for Bocek, since a loss could put him back to King of the Cage events for a year. I believe that Bocek does have a better ground game, and a better stand up game than Danzig.

Prediction: Bocek by Decision

Joe Doerksen Vs. Jason MacDonald

Not much to say here. Doerksen in the journeyman that will be in his 50th fight while Jason MacDonald will be trying to show Dana White that he is the elite fighter that beat Chris Leben and Ed Herman, and not the one that recently lost to Franklin and Okami.

Prediction: MacDonald by submission in Round 2

Jason Day Vs. Alan Belcher

Jason Day got this opportunity after a surprising split decision against David Loiseau, and it will be up to him to make the most out of it. I am not a fan of Alan Belcher AT ALL, and just hope to see the Canadian with his hand raised at the end of this fight. But, being objective, I have to pick Alan Belcher. He simply has got the tools to finish what David Loiseau couldn't.

Prediction: Belcher by KO in Round 2

Ed Herman Vs. Demian Maia

TUF alumni Ed "Short Fuse" Herman has been on a tear since losing to Kendall Grove and Jason MacDonald back in 2006. He's won 3 straight and will be looking to use his strong wrestling and ground and pound skills against the BJJ specialist in Maia. Maia comes in undefeated in 7 matches, and you have to think that they will each play into each other's strengths. I think Herman's only real chance though will be to win this fight standing up. Which he won't.

Prediction: Demian Maia via submission in Round 1

Rich Clementi Vs. Sam Stout

"No Love" will be finding just that as he takes on Canadian Sam Stout. Sam "Hands of Stone" is nothing but hands, so it will be interesting to see if Rich wants to continue testing his stand up game like he did for all of 15 seconds against Guillard. Clementi was very active in 2007 winning 6 of 7 fights including one over the recently notable Anthony Johnson. Clementi can nullify a strikers stand up game, and it will be interesting to see if all the team that Stout has been doing with Team Thompkins over in Couture's gym has paid off.

Prediction: Rich Clementi by submission in Round 3

Brad Morris Vs. Cain Velasquez

There is a lot of talk coming out of about Cain. This guy was a decorated amateur wrestler who has been very impressive in his first 2 MMA fights. Brad Morris is no slouch, being one of Australia's top MMA fighters, but I think he's in tough against Velasquez. Cain looks to be the bigger of the two, and I look for him to triumph in what is both their UFC debuts.

Kuniyoshi Hironaka Vs. Jonathan Goulet

Quebec's own Jonathan "Road Warrior" Goulet will be making his UFC Pay Per View debut against Hironaka. Hironaka is a BJJ and Judo expert, so Jonathan will be looking to keep this one standing up. That being said, he's been training with top tier guys like Nathan Marquardt, Patrick Côté and George St-Pierre, among MANY others, so he will be ready for whatever Hironaka brings to the table.

Prediction: Goulet by KO in Round 3

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