UFC 83: Pre-Event Coverage

UFC 83: Serra Vs. St. Pierre 2 is going to be an electric card.  Not only is the main card stacked, but the undercard makes this worthy of buying the eventual DVD the day it is released. 

In my opinion, the most intriguing bouts will appear on the undercard. Coverage will be given to the main card as well.

This being the first time the UFC is taking place in Canada, the crowd is definitely going to have an impact on the hometown fighters. 

The first undercard bout features Jonathan Goulet and Kuniyoshi Hironaka.

Goulet is sporting a 21-9 record against Hironaka's 11-4 record. Experience goes to Goulet. Both fighters have UFC experience, but Hironaka's last bout was a loss against Thiago Alves in back in September, so ring rust may be an issue.

On the other hand, Goulet is on a two-fight win streak and has the hometown advantage.

My pick: Goulet via early KO.

Another undercard bout is Rich Clementi against Sam Stout.  This is my pick for fight of the night. 

Clementi is on a four-fight win streak, while Stout is on a two-fight win streak. Clementi has more experience than Stout by more than 20 fights, having more wins than Stout has fights. 

Stout has quick hands and will prove a challenge for Clementi. 

Clementi believes that his size, strength, and ground fighting abilities will be more than the hands of Stout can handle.

I agree. I think Clementi will work inside, get the takedown, and either submit or ground 'n pound Stout until the ref pulls him off.

In my opinion, the only thing Clementi has going against him is the Canadian fans.

My pick: Clmenti by TKO through Ground 'n Pound.

Probably the most interesting undercard match is between heavyweights  Cain Velasquez and Brad Morris. 

Velasquez is an American Kickboxing Acadamy product, going 2-0 in his career. Although he came from AMA, he has a strong wrestling background from Arizona State. 

Brad Morris is 9-2, winning his last four fights. 

The heavyweight division needs some new blood, and I believe Velasquez will fit that mold.

My pick: Cain Velasquez via TKO (Ground 'n Pound).

Also on the undercard is Alan Belcher against Jason Day.

Belcher is fresh off of two dominating performances, submitting Sean Salmon in the first and TKOing Kalib Starnes in the second round via cut. 

This is Day's UFC debut, giving the UFC experience advantage to Belcher. However, Day is a little more experienced in terms of number of fights and has the hometown crowd behind him. 

This is going to be an exciting fight to say the least.

My pick: Alan Belcher via 2nd round KO.

My other candidate for fight of the night goes to another undercard bout between two Canadians in Joe Doerksen vs. Jason MacDonald.

Both fighters are trying to rally back after suffering a loss. MacDonald's decision loss to Yushin Okami in October and Doerksen KO loss to Ed Herman in November were each fighter’s last fight. 

Both fighters are submission specialists. Of Doerksen's 39 wins, 31 were submissions, and of MacDonald's 19 wins, 16 were by submission.

This fight could go one of two ways. It can be a ground war or a test as to who has the better stand-up.  My guess is a ground war. 

I don't see either of these fighters finishing the other, so Doerksen's experience will help him control the pace of the fight.

My pick: Joe Doerksen by Unanimous Decision

The last fight on the undercard features Ultimate Fighter 3 middleweight finalist Ed Herman taking on undefeated Demian Maia (6-0). 

All but one of Maia's fights ended in the first round, with four of those victories coming from submission.  Herman has more octagon experience with Maia making his second appearance in the UFC.

This one will be tough to call. 

If it goes to the ground, Maia wins. If it stays on feet, Herman will take the bout.

My pick: Herman by 2nd round KO. He'll utilize takedown defense and beat Maia on his feet.

Now for the main card:

The first fight scheduled for the main card features Ultimate Fighter 6 winner Mac Danzig taking on Mark Bocek.

Danzig is fresh off of dominating the most recent season of the Ultimate Fighter, this being his first fight on a PPV card. Mark Bocek has been inside the octagon twice, losing to Frank Edgar and defeating Douglass Evans.

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