Bleacher Report - Articles by Matt Bulldozer Harandi

Why Has Joe Silva Left the Middleweights In Pure Chaos and Confusion?

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Wed, 04 Nov 2009 16:57:19 -0500

There has been plenty of talk about an Anderson Silva vs. Vitor Belfort championship bout. Silva says Belfort doesn't deserve a title shot yet as Belfort has not even fought anyone in that division. Nate Marquardt and Dan Henderson have publicly agreed with that statement. Even Vitor Belfort has agreed!

This division was once called the weakest division in the UFC, and Joe Silva is doing his best in keeping it that way. One of the unarguably top three pound-for-pound fighters in the world, a King of Pancrase champion and a former Pride champion don't seem to be enough.

Now Anderson Silva is fighting off injury and has not been cleared to fight at UFC 108 on January 2nd. Understandable. Dan Henderson, who is expected to possibly fight Nate Marquardt for a title shot, is in a contract dispute. That makes sense. So the plan appears to be putting the middleweight division on hold.

That does not make any sense to me.

Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin are expected to be postponed even further than UFC 108, so why won't Joe Silva have Nate Marquardt fight Vitor Belfort? Both of them had relatively recent fights that left them without a scratch.

Marquardt is easily a top condender in that division. Besides Henderson, I only have Anderson silva ranked above him. I don't consider Vitor Belfort and Wanderlei Silva as middleweights until they have actually had a fight in that weight class.

A Marquardt vs. Belfort fight would make sense for multiple reasons. Not only will it co-headline the New Years card (the UFC tries to make that super fight card annually), but it will also establish a legitimate title contender. If Belfort beats Marquardt then he deserves a shot at Silva.

Marquardt's quick disposal of Maia already put him up there a a top middleweight. Also, Anderson Silva is running out of fights on his contract. He has made it clear that he will retire after he completes his contract. At this point Belfort vs. Silva is a waste of a potential superfight.

If Joe Silva has any sense, we'll see Marquardt vs. Belfort before we see Anderson Silva in any fight.

UFC 109 and Beyond: Unannounced Fights We Can Expect To See

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Thu, 29 Oct 2009 17:51:00 -0400

With the UFC 105 through 108 cards basically completed, there are still some fighters waiting for their next battle. (By the way, UFC 108 appears to be the best card ever assembled.) Here are some fights that we may see in the future on the main card:

Lightweight

Joe Stevenson vs. Roger Huerta

Joe Stevenson has done a great job rebounding off of consecutive losses to BJ Penn and Diego Sanchez with wins against Nick Diaz and Spencer Fisher. Many, including myself, had major doubts of him being a top 10 fighter in the lightweight division.

The results of his last two fights place Stevenson right up there as he has re-emerged amongst the fray since joining Greg Jackson's camp. He appears more polished and is still overpowering.

Roger Huerta comes in with a tough loss to Gray Maynard in a close decision. He looked OK but a little rusty; Maynard is a tough opponent who fights very conservatively, though.

The winner of this fight likely places himself among the top five contenders while the loser hangs in limbo. It could be a close and very exciting fight. The final result will likely have the winner taking advantage of a mistake due to over-aggressiveness.

Sean Sherk vs. Spencer Fisher

This is a fight of two old dogs. Both seasoned veterans are coming off losses to tough opponents. The loser of this fight will be nothing more than a gatekeeper while the winner will continue to hang by the skin of their teeth. Fisher could be gone if he loses this bout. Sherk's legacy will be in limbo with a loss. This is the definition of a must-win fight.

Middleweight

Nate Quarry vs. Chael Sonnen

You want a potential war, well here it is (assuming that Marquardt will still be fighting Dan Henderson). Quarry just had a slugfest against Tim Credeur in which he threw half a dozen monster counter punches in response to repeated bone shattering fists flying at him. It was one of the most exciting fights that I've ever seen.

On the other end, you have Chael Sonnen who just dominated and controlled Yushin Okami for three straight rounds. He has star potential.

I believe that Sonnen can win this fight since he is more technical but if he makes any major mistakes, but Quarry can pull it off just as easy. Both fighters have losses to Damian Maia and the winner could be in line to avenge those losses.

Tim Credeur vs. Patrick Cote

Credeur comes off a loss to Quarry, but he proved that he is on the verge of being a solid top 10 fighter in the middleweight division. Patrick Cote comes off a title fight with Anderson Silva in which he severely hurt his knee.

A win for Cote would put him right back to title contention. On the other hand, Credeur would cement stability as one of the better fighters in his class. If Cote is prepared I expect him to win but this isn't one I would put money on. I have a lot of respect for Credeur.

Light Heavyweight

Chuck Liddell vs. Rich Franklin

A big name superfight to get the casual fans rolling in. Also it can potentially cement Dana White's personal belief that Liddell is done. Franklin hasn't been the same since getting annihilated by Anderson Silva but he still has quite a presence in and out of the octagon.

A Liddell win puts him back in the top 10 while a Franklin win could have him facing a guy like Forrest Griffin or Rampage in the future. I give the edge to Franklin based on the fact that he won't be rusty from ballroom dancing.

Ryan Bader vs. Keith Jardine

Ryan Bader will have his first true test against the inconsistent but very dangerous Keith Jardine. Bader did not look impressive in his win against Eric Schafer but a win is a win.

This will be a serious test for Bader as Jardine is destined to be a sort of gatekeeper. He's not a typical gatekeeper, though, as he's very prone to getting upset and vice versa. You never know with the Dean of Mean. I think this will be a close decision.

Heavyweight

Minotauro Noguiera vs. Cain Velasquez

Cain Velasquez is "probably" next for a title shot according to Dana White. I've heard that before except with Noguiera's name after he dominated Randy Couture.

With Lesnar vs. Carwin pushed back to early next 2010 and the UFC entering Mexico City in April, this seems all the more realistic. Velasquez would be a great in a headlining fight since he is the best Mexican fighter in the UFC. Noguiera is a very respectable opponent for Velasquez in what could be a superfight.

The winner gets a title shot. I expect that to be Noguiera as his Jiu-Jitsu will be way too much for Cain.

I would explore Stefan Struve vs. Pat Barry, but unfortunately Barry will be sidelined for quite awhile with a fractured wrist.

Struve has proven to be a submission specialist. The way he calmly goes through each motion really intrigues me, though I don't think he'll have the stand-up skills to face anyone in the top five. Pat Barry possesses very good kickboxing and also is an intriguing fighter but he is too undersized to stand a chance against a monster like Gabriel Gonzaga.

Note: All major welterweight fighters have opponents with the exception of Matt Hughes, Dong Hyun Kim, and GSP. None of them will be fighting each other anytime soon.

After a Brief Hiatus, The Bulldozer Has Returned With His Crystal Ball

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Thu, 30 Apr 2009 01:18:31 -0400

I hope I am welcome back after my brief disappearance. Don't assume I have turned a blind eye to what is happening in the world of MMA. There especially has been a lot of excitement in the UFC lately.

First off, I tried the new UFC game demo on PS3 and it blows my mind. Talk about surpassing my expectations. This will be better than that obscure Pride Fighting game on PS2. If any of you have a PS3 account and want to "Unleash" on me, please let me know and I will add you as a friend to my account.

Second, Anderson Silva vs. Forrest Griffin! Hell yeah, now that is what I am talking about. I'm totally pumped for that one.

Now down to business. I was looking at my current rankings among UFC fighters (Updated rankings will be posted after UFC 98) and I saw some potentially lethal matchups that Joe Silva cannot possibly miss.

Cheick Kongo vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

Considering that I expect Shane Carwin to take on the winner of Mir and Lesnar, this fight makes a lot of sense. Now some people seem to think that Kongo deserves a title shot but that is garbage. Kongo's biggest victory, besides possibly Cro Cop which took place eons ago, came against Antoni Hardonk.

Hardonk is a decent fighter that is not considered a Top 10 heavyweight. It is possible that Kongo could face Carwin and that would make a lot of sense, but if that was the case, then who would fight the winner of Mir and Lesnar? For that reason, I feel that the top heavyweight that does not have a fight scheduled is Gonzaga. Personally, I think Gonzaga would tear Kongo apart. Hopefully we'll find out in the near future.

Mauricio Rua vs. Luis Cane

With just about every light-heavyweight booked for a fight and Rampage in line for the next title shot, I had to dig deep in order to find my 9th and 10th ranked fighters. This would create a good matchup. At UFC 97, I was impressed with Rua and how he bounced back so well after a pitiful fight against Coleman.

On the other hand, Cane seemed slow and incapable of finishing his mediocre opponent. The winner of this fight would become cemented as a contender in a deep division and the loser will continue to survive in LHW purgatory. Both are good strikers, though Rua's kicks could prove to be the difference as they were against Liddell.

Nate Marquardt vs. Damien Maia

With Anderson Silva set to take on Forrest Griffin, this fight seems inevitable. Even though I don't expect this fight to be a headliner, I would be surprised if it did not win fight of the night. Each fighter had a very impressive finish in their last trip to the octagon. If Marquardt can stay off the ground I expect him to win, but none of Maia's opponents have been able to achieve that feat. Then again, none of Maia's opponents have been as good as Marquardt. Expect the winner to face off against Anderson Silva if he returns to the middleweight division. Otherwise, the victor will take on the winner of the Bisping and Henderson fight. Either way, the middleweight division is about to get very exciting.

Thales Leites vs. Nate Quarry

These fighters are going in opposite directions but meeting at the seventh and eighth spots in their weight class. I'm sure you've heard enough about Leites against Silva so I will spare you this time around. Deep in the depths of the undercard of UFC 97, Nate Quarry gave Jason MacDonald quite a beatdown. If this fight occurs, I wouldn't be surprised if the same fate awaits Leites. Then again, a submission loss for Quarry wouldn't be a shock either.

Thanks for reading once again. I'm off to play UFC Unleashed!

5 Observations Made By The Bulldozer at UFC 97

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Sun, 19 Apr 2009 23:32:13 -0400

UFC 97 was a telling event. There were a few surprises and disappointments. Here are things I noticed watching the fights:

1. Cheick Kongo was intimidated at the beginning of his fight against Antoni Hardonk.

Kongo proved in this fight that he is a legitimate contender in the heavyweight division. Hardonk is no slouch but he is far from being considered elite among heavyweights. Kongo seemed to be very confident in his last two fights against weak opponents but he was hesitant and reluctant to start the fight against Hardonk.

Hardonk actually controlled the first couple of minutes with some powerful leg kicks while stalking Kongo early on.

The problem for Hardonk is that he stopped pushing forward and let Kongo gain confidence and take over the fight. Kongo is surely the better of these two fighters but if he were to hesitate against guys like Shane Carwin, Cain Velasquez or even Gabriel Gonzaga he would get pummeled into submission.

I believe his next fight will be either against Gabriel Gonzaga or a rematch against Heath Herring. I think a matchup on that level will determine if Kongo is just a gatekeeper or a legitimate contender for the belt. My guess is that he is just a gatekeeper as his resume indicates thus far.

2. Nate Quarry is the real deal and should face a tough opponent next.

Quarry showed that he could excel against a jiu-jitsu practioner despite being labeled as a a one-sided fighter. He took a tough guy in Jason MacDonald down and devastated him with brutal elbows leaving cuts all over MacDonald's forehead while sitting in his guard.

While I don't consider him as a top 5 fighter in the middleweight division, I do think he could possibly challenge a guy like Thales Leites and maybe beat him if he does stay off the ground. He could possibly face either Leites or Nate Marquardt in the future. I believe he would lose to the latter if he did.

3. Krzysztof Soszynski fits in very nicely in the already talented light heavyweight division.

Here is the thing with the light heavyweight division; with the exception of Lyoto Machida, any of the top 10 or so fighters can win or lose in a given night when stepping in the octagon with one another. Soszynski posseses the toughness and the skill to compete with a lot of those guys.

He is a solid striker and may be able to trade with a guy like Jardine but his real strength in comparison to his division is that he is good on the ground. Once there, a kimora, Soszynski's favorite technique, seems almost inevitable to make an appearance.

I think he provides a little variety to the natural sluggers of the division and soon we will have the opportunity to see where he really stands. A fight between Soszynski and Rua could be very exciting to watch.

4. Liddell is done and Rua is back.

Dana White pretty much announced Liddell's retirement for him last night. Liddell is no longer a top 10 fighter in his division and despite still having the capability to beat some light heavyweights, he has fallen too far from the top to continue his career as a fighter.

In 2008, I attributed Liddell's losses to the talent of his opponents rather than his demise and I thought he would rebound against Rua. Instead, he fell a step further and looked only like an average fighter. On the other hand, Mauricio Rua rebounded quite well from his previous fight against UFC forefather, Mark Coleman.

He seemed very well conditioned and despite being hit with a few solid punches, he went along with his game plan and weakened his pray with some well placed high leg kicks. I am still on the fence with him, but I think he proved that he isn't over the hill yet.

Liddell will probably announce his retirement soon. Thanks to the Iceman for propelling the UFC and MMA forward into the view of mainstream America. MMA has come a long way since he emerged into the public eye. He is a legend of the sport and a class act.

5. Anderson Silva cares only to win, not so much to entertain.

I think Silva proved on Saturday that he will do what it takes to win, no matter how uneventful it may be. He was headed in the same direction with Patrick Cote as he ended up in with Thales Leites. If I jumped into the ring with him, I wouldn't be surprised if he let me backpedal my way to a decision faster than Kalib Starnes backpeddled himself out of respect in the MMA community.

With that said, it was not entirely his fault as Leites seemed content to lose via decision. I didn't see any effort from Leites in the 5th round despite the fact that he was obviously losing the fight. He just kept falling on his back and pissing off Yves Lavigne. I also blame the UFC for placing an unworthy opponent in the octagon for a title fight.

I know the middleweight division may lack quality opponents for Anderson Silva but they could've done better. It is true that Marquardt and Maia really emerged as true contenders after the title fight was announced, but Joe Silva could have pinned a guy like Yushin Okami against the Spider.

Okami won't back down and actually has unfinished business with Anderson Silva after Okami won due to disqualification in the only time these two met in the ring. With all the hype surrounding Damien Maia, I expect him to face his fellow countryman Anderson Silva for a title shot in the latter part of the summer or early fall.

The big stars of UFC 97 seemed to disappoint while others gained notoriety with their very strong efforts in Montreal.

Undefeated: The Bulldozer Predicts UFC 97

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Wed, 15 Apr 2009 02:14:02 -0400

Here we are again for the third round of predictions by the Bulldozer. UFC 96, 5-0 sweep. Fight night 18, 4-0, still undefeated. Shane Carwin over Gonzaga, no problem. Kampmann vs. Condit, okay I admit I got a bit nervous, but Kampmann squeaked one out.

UFC 97 may be the most difficult set to date. Okay, Anderson Silva over Thales Leites won't be the most difficult pick, but there are some really tough battles that are sure to send the blood rushing to my head.

Now let's get down to business.

Steve Cantwell vs. Luis Cane

Steve Cantwell is coming off a win where he snapped his opponents arm. Luis Cane isn't going to let that happen. He has a solid ground game but he won't be interested in laying down for Cantwell. He's riding on two straight TKOs, make that three.

Luis Cane wins via TKO in Round One

Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk

Am I excited for this one! Two 6'4" fighters with viscous leg kicks come face to face. Cheick Kongo is coming off two jawbreaking wins against weaker opponents. Hardonk has won three straight by TKO. Hardonk has legs that resemble tree trunks, while Kongo walks into the cage with a body of steel.

You can count on Cheick Kongo to get some solid shots on Hardonk but he has never been knocked out before, despite taking some gargantuan hits in the past. I don't expect Kongo to be the first. If this goes the full length I think Kongo will win. Instead, I'm going to pick the upset and go with Antoni Hardonk.

Antoni Hardonk wins via TKO in Round Two

Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann

Brian Stann loves to come out swinging but one potential weakness that glares at me is that he leaves himself open to get hit. Soszynski, who has trained with Dan Henderson and Bas Rutten, likes to slug it out, but he's also very good on the ground.

This fight can go two ways. Either this turns into a battle of fists and both fighters take massive blows to the head or Soszynski takes it to the ground and locks in a submission. Soszynski wins in either scenerio.

Krzysztof Soszynski wins via TKO in Round Two

Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio Rua

I'm assuming that Rua comes into this fight in better shape than his Coleman fight. If he doesn't he might as well stay home. Rua does not matchup well with Liddell. He's got good knees and has good Jiu Jitsu but Liddell isn't going to let himself get taken out so that Rua can utilize his BJJ.

On the other hand, Liddell is going to rock Rua with too many right hooks and he'll eventually take his opponent out. Liddell makes a mini-comeback in 2009.

Chuck Liddell via TKO in Round Three

Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites

I really hate to discount a man from a fight but I just cannot see Leites pulling this one off. His only chance is to get Silva on the ground and submit him, but Silva knows better than to let that happen. I think Silva will coast through this fight and keep the streak of knockouts going.

Anderson Silva via TKO in Round One

Until next time, enjoy the fights and look out for oncoming bulldozers...V'roooom!

MMA Fights: Here Are Some You Can Even Bet Your Right Leg On

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Tue, 07 Apr 2009 11:44:15 -0400

Put my money where my mouth is? Okay. My recently created series "Predictions by the Bulldozer," has yielded some favorable results. I'm 9-0 overall after giving my predictions to UFC 96 and Fight Night 18's main cards. 9-0 could have equaled a lot of money, considering I pick Shane Carwin to KO Gonzaga and I had Kampmann beating the over-hyped Condit (which I admit was a great fight).

As I help myself make some money to hopefully fund my Vegas bachelor party, perhaps I can help you out and you can join me for the festivities in Sin City!

UFC 97 is less than two weeks away and I see a few opportunities to hit up the bookies for this major event. Anderson Silva is a sure win, but the odds end up being about 6-1, it's not worth it. Here are some better deals:

Better Safe Than Sorry

Chuck Liddell over Shogun: Liddell may have had a dismal 2008, but he lost to quality fighters. Shogun is no longer a quality fighter, he gassed out by the end of the 1st round against Mark Coleman. Lucky for him, Coleman gassed out walking to the octagon. Liddell won't tire quickly.

In fact, he'll be full of energy when he KOs Shogun early in the 2nd round. Liddell is favored to win, but I think he's a safe bet and his odds are more favorable than Silva's.

Coin Flip? I Think Not

Nate Quarry over Jason MacDonald: MacDonald is as tough as nails, he also has a decent ground game, but he is nothing more than an average UFC fighter. He's lost to all respectable fighters from Damian Maia to Rich Franklin all the way to his most recent loss against Wilson Gouveia. At the same time, he has beaten only mediocre fighters in Rory Singer, Joe Doerksen, and Jason Lambert. Nate Quarry is hardly your average fighter and I'd put him up over Wilson Gouveia. He's also lost to Rich Franklin and Damian Maia, but those are his only two losses. I see Quarry winning this in what I am sure will still be a very tough fight.

The betting line for this fight is even between the two fighters. Take this opportunity like I did and run with it.

Darkhorse Pick Of The Night

Antoni Hardonk over Cheick Kongo: I am not saying that this will happen, but if you're going to pick an upset, I'd bet on the 3-2 underdog from the Netherlands. Hardonk is susceptible to getting hit hard, but he's got a great chin. He's got massive leg kicks and a solid defensive ground game. Cheick Kongo only wins if he can bully his opponent. His recent wins have all come against very weak opponents. Kongo's opponents, Mustapha Al-Turk and Dan Evensen came out over-matched in their UFC debuts and the latter is already out of the UFC.

Why is Hardonk a bad matchup for Kongo?

As I mentioned earlier, Hardonk has a very tough guard to get by. Kongo demonstrated against Heath Herring that he does not have a ground game, so the ground and pound is virtually gone. Along with Hardonk, Kongo has very good leg kicks. Unfortunately for Kongo, the leg kicks that annihilated Evensen, won't do as much damage on Hardonk's legs that are reminiscent to tree trunks.

Lastly, Kongo can hit you with some hard kicks and punches, but he doesn't have the KO power that big guys like Shane Carwin and Gabriel Gonzaga have. Hardonk has shown on multiple occasions that he can take a hit.

Finally, I have not yet decided if I am predicting Hardonk to win this fight, but it is a great matchup and the 3-2 odds given to Kongo are a bit steep considering the challenge that awaits him. Kongo's best UFC win has come against a washed up Mirko Cro-Cop. After that he's beaten. He's lost to an above average fighter in Heath Herring and a bottom feeder in Carmelo Marrero. Hardonk is much better than Marrero.

That's the wrap. As always, the Bulldozer awaits your feedback and/or questions. V'ROOOOOOOOM!!!

Dustin Hazelett Probably Out for the Rest of 2009

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Mon, 06 Apr 2009 02:45:26 -0400

Dustin Hazelett, also known as "McLovin," is out of action for an extended period of time with a torn ACL. He began running on a treadmill recently in his road to recovery. Hazelett told MMAWeekly.com that he's way ahead of schedule in regards to his rehabbing, but also added, "I’ll be lucky if I can get a fight in by the end of the year.”

McLovin's much anticipated next fight will not come until the holiday season, at the earliest. He was set to fight Ben Saunders at UFC 96, but both fighters withdrew due to injuries.

Ben Saunders has recovered and is expected to face Mike Swick at UFC 99.

A lot can happen between now and then and it'll be hard to predict who he'll be fighting next, but I'll take a shot in the dark and guess Carlos Condit. Unfortunately, we'll have to wait about the length of a year to find out.

10 UFC Fights Destined To Happen in the Future

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Wed, 01 Apr 2009 13:07:42 -0400

Now that everything up to UFC 100 is all but set and UFC 101 is coming to shape, what is going to happen after that? As long as everything that is supposed to happen happens (it rarely does in the UFC), then these fights might as well be set for our new era of triple digit UFC events.

I picked two fights from each of the five weight classes that should all be on the main card in future events.

Heavyweight

Junior Dos Santos vs. Cheick Kongo - Dos Santos already said he wants a piece of Kongo. Even though he praised his stand-up, "Cigano" says his ground game is on a whole different level than Kongo's.

Kongo should get by Hardonk at UFC 97 and even if he doesn't I could still see him paired up with Dos Santos. I believe Dos Santos would win in a very bloody fight.

Shane Carwin vs. Cain Velasquez - Need I say more. As long as Velasquez beats Herring in Germany, this would setup this HUUUGE fight, with the winner fighting for the title.

Carwin broke his nose against Gonzaga so he is sidelined just long enough for Velasquez to be ready to fight again. This would be a monumental fight from the top two up and comers in the division.

I wouldn't be surprised if these guys face off two or three more times in their careers. This could become one of the largest rivalries in the UFC.

Light Heavyweight

Luis Cane vs. Chuck Liddell - I'm expecting KO wins for both of these fighters at UFC 97. This matchup would simply be the youth vs. the experience of the UFC and it should be a great matchup.

Cane is on his way up and Liddell appears to be on his way down. I think this has the makings of an old school slugfest, it's too difficult to choose a winner in this one right now.

Keith Jardine vs. Forrest Griffin - Rematch! Jardine KO'd the !*@# out of Griffin last time around. Griffin will get his revenge this time and be in line of a title shot. Could that potentially mean another rematch, Griffin vs. Rampage? Probably not, but it's still worth mentioning.

Middleweight

Anderson Silva vs. Damian Maia - I keep hearing Marquardt vs. Maia. That would be fine and dandy but I don't see it happening.

Marquardt already got a shot at Silva awhile back, it will be Maia's turn. This fight will be one sided most of the way no matter who wins. Silva will dominate standing up and Maia will dominate on the ground.

Silva is a very intelligent fighter and I don't see him opening up to getting taken down. With that said, Maia looked very impressive against a formidable opponent in Chael Sonnen. His takedowns were truly unbelievable. I'm still going to go with Silva with a KO victory.

Yushin Okami vs. Nate Marquardt - With Maia fighting Silva, Marquardt has a few possibilities. Nate Quarry is a good possibility, but if Okami wins (not an easy task against Dan Miller), this would be the perfect bout with the winner eventually facing the champ. Both of these men are salivating at the mouth to fight Silva again.

Marquardt looked nothing short of awesome in his last fight and I expect a similar performance vs. Okami.

Welterweight

Mike Swick vs. Thiago Alves - This would rock. Of course Swick would have to beat Saunders who I like a lot and Alves would have to lose to GSP. I think Alves is very good competition for GSP.

Then again, GSP seems unstoppable right now. Anyway, Swick has been raving about a fight with Alves for quite sometime but an injury put a delay on that. The delay will soon come to the end in what should be nothing short of a war in the Octagon.

The fight can go wither way but I favor Alves.

Josh Koscheck vs. Martin Kampmann - I'm confident Kampmann will win against Condit tonight (if Condit wins the fight and you're reading this tomorrow, it was merely an April Fool's joke on my part). Kampmann is incredibly underrated.

On the other hand Kos ran into a no name and got taken out.

His stock has fallen a bit but with an expected win against Chris Wilson at UFC 98 all will be forgiven. Kos and Kampmann will be a war as both of these guys are very well rounded. My prediction, maybe Kos with a KO?!?! Maybe...

Lightweight

Gray Maynard vs. Sean Sherk - This could potentially be the most boring fight of all-time. That is if Sherk vs. Edgar at UFC 98 doesn't take the title. Maynard wants one of the top three or four fighters and he deserves it. Sherk beats Edgar via decision and Maynard goes to a three-round cardio battle with Sherk.

I predict that the UFC will set this fight up and at the last minute make it a foot race to spare us from an expectations of an exciting battle.

Diego Sanchez vs. Kenny Florian - So I have to make an upset pick, I saved the best for last. First, Sanchez beats Guida via decision in the battle of the Energizer bunnies, not much of an upset. At UFC 101 Florian pulls off the upset against Penn, sending Penn spiraling down into a career of bitching and moaning.

Within this is a title fight between "The Nightmare" and "KenFlo." Florian defends his title for the first time and wins, starting a new era within the lightweight division!

Thanks for reading, please feel free to share your thoughts...

The UFC Crystal Ball: The Bulldozer Predicts Fight Night 18

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Thu, 26 Mar 2009 00:08:21 -0400

Here is the second set of predictions by the Bulldozer, after going an unscathed 5-0 at UFC 96.

The difficulty increases during Fight Nights, as the fighters are typically more obscure than they are at PPV events.

Despite this, the Bulldozer vows to crush any rival predictions.

Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller

Browning looked very impressive against Dave Kaplan. His striking was crisp and he won with a submission.

Despite this, he appeared vulnerable at some moments, where a better fighter could take advantage.

Expect the well versed Cole Miller to be the guy who takes control.

At 6'1", I expect him to out-strike Browning and keep his distance with his 72-inch reach. Even if the fight does go to the ground, expect Miller to show better Jiu Jitsu than Browning.

Cole Miller wins via Submission in the first round.

Tyson Griffin vs. Rafael dos Anjos

Griffin has only lost to Frank Edgar and Sean Sherk. Both are cardiovascular machines similar to Griffin, but Tyson is still a step down from their level. He does, however, minimize mistakes and takes control of his fights.

Rafael dos Anjos will do enough to defend himself and not get KO'd like he did against Jeremy Stephens, but he won't stand a chance unless he sneaks in a submission.

It's not going to happen.

Griffin possibly earns a fight against Gray Maynard after he wins by unanimous decision.

Ryan Bader vs. Carmello Marrero

If Marrero can last into the third round he might lose via decision.

But my crystal ball is sensing an early first round KO at the hands of Ryan Bader.

Bader can hit really f'n hard, so my crystal ball sees Bader knocking Marrero down and finishing with some ground-and-pound.

Ryan Bader wins via TKO in the first round.

Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann

Carlos Condit is extremely tough and a very good fighter on his back.

Unfortunately for Condit, you usually don't win fighting on your back unless you put a triangle on your foe.

Kampmann has a good ground game and should be able to avoid that.

On the other side of the matchup, Kampmann is very good standing up and striking, and is one of the most underrated fighters in the UFC, hands down.

I believe Condit will be able to compete in the UFC, but he has been handed an extremely tough task in Kampmann.

It's going to be difficult for Kampmann to finish Condit with a KO, but I think his punches will eventually weaken Condit into submission.

This should be an exciting and perhaps memorable headlining bout.

Kampmann wins via Submission in the second round.

Don't miss Fight Night 18 next Wednesday, April 1st on Spike TV.

Then again, the Bulldozer has already provided the spoiler in case you miss it...

What Happens If Paulo Thiago Beats Jon Fitch?

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Thu, 19 Mar 2009 00:40:29 -0400

Recent reports suggest that Fitch vs. Thiago has been signed and is ready to go for UFC 100. Jon Fitch finally gets a fight, but is this what we really expected?

Enter Brazilian newcomer Paulo Thiago. Undefeated, but with experience only in Brazil, he comes in to sign a rare one-fight contract with the UFC.

A one-fight contract? That doesn't happen in the UFC.

The lack of confidence in Thiago's ability must have spurred this unique arrangement. Dan Evenson even got a longer contract!

You probably don't know who he is, and there's a reason for that.

With that said, it makes sense that Thiago will come in and fight a young new talent in the UFC, so he can establish himself as a UFC winner. Not a chance.

Thiago is left in a cage with Jon Fitch's teammate Josh Koscheck. The poor guy is going to be a punching bag for "Kos." I guess the Jiu Jitsu practioner is there only for entertainment value as he'll surely get knocked out.

So here comes the first fight of the main card, Josh Koscheck vs. Paulo Thiago.

Thiago will have to take this to the ground to have any chance, but that won't happen because Koscheck is too good of a wrestler to get taken down by Thiago.

Fair enough; Thiago is screwed. I almost pity him.

The fight begins with Koscheck feeling out his opponent, controlling the pace of the fight. It's only a matter of time before Thiago gets lit up by Kos, much like Yoshida did at Fight for the Troops.

Thiago looks weak; he is leaving the side of his face open for Kos' haymaker to take him out of the UFC permanently. Once again, it is just a matter of minutes, maybe seconds before Thiago hits the floor.

KA-BOOM!

Two punches out of nowhere knock out Koscheck and the fight is stopped! Wait, what? Thiago wins? That can't be, I was just pitying the fool. Unbelievable!

One month later Thiago's next opponent is announced as Jon Fitch. Obviously, Fitch is heavily favored against Thiago. Thiago is now widely regarded as a fluke that pulled off one of the greatest upsets in UFC history.

Fitch not only has his first fight in over six months coming up, but also he must avenge his teammate's loss. It's safe to say that there is a lot of pressure on him.

On the other hand, Thiago comes in expected to lose once again. What does he have to lose? Absolutely nothing.

He has probably already set himself up with a few more fights in the UFC by knocking out Koscheck. All he can do now is try to win. Otherwise, no big deal. He's facing Jon Fitch for God's sake. Fitch only loses to GSP.

Now let's just imagine for a minute that Thiago pulls off the impossible again. What happens then? He will have beaten two of the top four fighters in the welterweight division within months. Does he face the winner of GSP and Alves? Seriously?

I'm going to say it: If Paulo Thiago beats Jon Fitch he deserves a shot at the title, no doubt in my mind.

First, though, Thiago has to actually beat Fitch.

Impossible, right?

Giant Lightweight Implications at TUF 9 Finale

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Wed, 11 Mar 2009 16:39:48 -0400

Two lightweight matches have been announced thus far and aside from BJ Penn vs. Kenny Florian and Sean Sherk this is the most you could ask for in this division.

Last week it came out that Diego Sanchez (No. 4 the current Bulldozer Rankings) is fighting Clay Guida (No. 9 in the Bulldozer Rankings) at the The Ultimate Fighter 9 Finale.

This fight is huge, the winner will surely be in the title hunt. Sanchez is already on the brink and is only one or two fights away from facing the winner of Penn and KenFlo. Guida had a massive win against Nate Diaz and has become relevant in the lightweight division. A win here probably pins him in the top five of the division.

Now, according to MMAMadness and MMAJunkie, Nate Diaz (No. 10 in the Bulldozer Rankings) is set to face Joe Stevenson (No. 6 in the Bulldozer Rankings). This match has much different implications than Guida vs. Sanchez. These guys are coming off losses to the men in the other fights and are fighting just to stay relevant in the lightweight division.

It's safe to say the losers won't be fighting anyone in the top 10 next time, and may start fighting for their jobs with two or three more losses.

Expect TUF 9 to decide the top contenders for the title. Diego Sanchez may be fighting for the title later this year if things go his way.

Jon Fitch Is Itching for His Next Fight in the Octagon, So What's the Delay?

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Fri, 06 Mar 2009 11:18:56 -0500

Jon Fitch looking another fight after his victory over Akihiro Gono at UFC 94. It seems like he's the only major welterweight fighter still searching for another go-round in the octagon.

Of the top-15 light-welterweight fighters, only Karo Parisyan, Dong Hyun Kim, and Dustin Hazelett are without a fight.

So, when is Fitch going to fight, and what's the holdup?

"I’m training. I was hoping to be done with that fight and get out and fight again, but for some reason I haven’t got a fight yet. I don’t know what the reasoning is, but we’re still trying to get a fight booked," said Fitch, who's anxious to get back to business.

Could the delay be in response to the spat between Fitch and UFC management over a past contract dispute?

In case you don't remember, Fitch was cut by the UFC for 24 hours before coming to an agreement, creating tension between Fitch and UFC President Dana White. Wait, Fitch is still under contract, so he will have to fight sometime soon, right?

Fitch isn't holding back in sharing his feelings on the situation, as he seems confused and as clueless as you and I about the situation.

"I don’t event know when I’m going to fight again," said Fitch of his current situation.

At this point all we can do is speculate. There are three fighters that are possibilities if we are assuming that Fitch will fight by mid-year.

We all know about Parisyan and his failed drug test. He is temporarily suspended until a final ruling will come down this month.

Perhaps the UFC wants to wait until that is resolved, and if Parisyan is reinstated, then Fitch will fight him. Keep in mind, however, Parisyan was initially scheduled to fight Fitch's teammate Josh Koscheck in May.

Another possibility is Dong Hyun Kim who actually lost in his last fight to Parisyan by split decision. It's safe to say, however, that the final decision was questionable as Hyun Kim appeared to dominate two of the three rounds.

Kim could be the most likely opponent for Fitch, but I feel he will be overwhelmed by Fitch. Then again, I thought Paulo Thiago was in much worse shape going into a fight with Koscheck.

The last possibility is Dustin Hazelett. This could be an intriguing fight, as Hazelett has shown a ton of potential. His Jiu Jitsu seems to be only a step away from Damian Maia's.

The problem is that Hazelett is recovering from an injury. He should, however, be ready to fight again in May or June.

Despite his current stalemate, Fitch remains optimistic about 2009.

"I’d like to get about four or five fights in," said Fitch of his plans for the final nine months of the year

The ball is now in Dana White and Joe Silva's court.

Junior Dos Santos Calls Out Cheick Kongo

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Tue, 03 Mar 2009 17:53:35 -0500

Junior Dos Santos coming off his second straight knockout in the Octagon is plenty ready for his next fight. He had this to say about his future bout and potential opponent:

“I heard I could face Heath Herring, but then I heard he was going to Bellator event. Maybe I can fight Cheick Kongo now…I hope they put some guy with a good name against me. I think it’d be an interesting fight against him (Kongo), he’s very strong, but doesn’t know a thing on the ground, he’s pretty weak. I think we’d do a great fight standing, very aggressive, and I’d be better than him on the ground, easily.”

Quite the statement by Dos Santos. Judging by Kongo's typically borderline cocky attitude, he won't back down to this challenge. One potential obstacle stands in the way, Kongo vs. Hardonk at UFC 97.

What this means is that Dos Santos will have to wait atleast until UFC 99 at the earliest. Since Kongo is not Josh Koscheck, UFC 100 or 101 is more likely to host this fight.

For now though, we'll leave it up to Joe Silva to create this sure to be exciting bout.

Five Non-Title/Headlining Fights the Bulldozer Is Dying To See

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Mon, 02 Mar 2009 10:54:38 -0500

There are some badass fights coming up and I'm getting plenty excited! I picked a fight from each event (UFC 96-100) that I am dying to see...

UFC 96—Shane Carwin vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

This is a fight every non-casual fan has marked on his calendar. Carwin is a beast but Gonzaga, despite his 20-pound disadvantage, is no slouch. Gonzaga was one win away at one point from becoming the heavyweight champ. With a win here, he may get another title shot.

If Carwin wins he becomes relevant in the division and could also be a fight or two away from a title bout. This is Carwin's first real test in the UFC, he is 10-0 with all being decided in the first half of the first round.

I wouldn't be surprised if this one went a little longer.

UFC 97—Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk

Both of these guys are coming off win streaks against weak opponents following losses to octagon veterans. Kongo lost to Heath Herring via decision but has rebounded against Dan Evenson, who has been recently cut from the UFC, and Mustapha Al-Turk, who Kongo gave a severe beating to.

On the other hand, Hardonk has won three straight after losing to interim champion Frank Mir in just over a minute in the first round. This should be a violent fight between the Frenchman and Dutchman.

UFC 98—Sean Sherk vs. Frank Edgar

Usually I am not one to get excited about a fight that I think will end in decision but here's an exception. Sean Sherk already has the reputation of a top-five lightweight, arguably top three, so this makes this fight more relevant for Frank Edgar.

If Edgar wins, he should be a win against Diego Sanchez from a title shot.

I think the same goes for Sherk. There is a chance that Gray Maynard may also be in the running for a title shot against Penn or Florian, but this is definitely a battle that will fill in the name of one of the fighters in the future No. 1 contender match.

UFC 99—Mike Swick vs. Ben Saunders

Of the five fights I have listed, this has got to be No. 1 or 2 on my list. Swick is 8-1 in the octagon and is ready to overcome a leg injury that has sidelined him for over half a year. Before his injury he was talking Thiago Alves but that has taken a back seat for now.

If he can beat Saunders we may be hearing Swick's name for a title fight. But a win won't come easy against Saunders. Saunders gave Brandon Wolff a 42-knee salute in a quick but brutal victory at Fight For the Troops in 2008.

I'm also excited for Herring vs. Velasquez at UFC 99. A great fight card is on its way to Germany.

UFC 100—Dan Henderson vs. Michael Bisping

So only two fights have been confirmed for UFC 100, with the other being GSP vs. Alves. But if these fights are any indication for what we're expecting in July, it should be quite the extravaganza. Henderson is coming off a win against Rich Franklin while Bisping beat brawler Chris Leben at UFC 89.

With a win, Henderson becomes relevant for a title rematch with Anderson Silva, assuming Silva wins against Leites at UFC 97. If Bisping wins, it will probably lead him to an immediate title shot and less importantly quell my beliefs that he is merely an average fighter who hasn't won against a serious opponent yet.

Dana White has quite a few treats waiting for us through the next five months starting this Saturday at UFC 96. I'm picking Carwin to join Rampage in the winner's circle.

UFC 96 Predictions By The Bulldozer

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Fri, 27 Feb 2009 11:07:39 -0500

UFC 96 is only one week away. The main card has three undefeated fighters and is headlined by a potential championship contender in Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. Rampage will take on Keith "The Dean of Mean" Jardine, whose resume includes the knockouts of former champions Chuck Liddell and Forest Griffin.

Here are the Bulldozer's predictions for the main card:

Gray Maynard vs. Jim Miller—These two fighters boast a combined 20-1-1 record and I don't expect either fighter to be taken out by submission or knockout. I expect Maynard to avoid getting taken down by Miller in what should be a very defensive fight.

Result: Maynard by unanimous decision

Matt Hamill vs. Mark Munoz—Matt Hamill will welcome undefeated Mark Munoz to the UFC. Munoz is 5-0 and his two previous fights ended in the first round as a fighter in WEC. Matt Hamill is coming off a win against Reese Andy after getting KO'ed by Rich Franklin. Both men are world class wrestlers, so this should be a very interesting matchup.

Result: Hamill by second round KO

Pete Sell vs. Matt Brown—I'm very surprised this fight is on the main card. Regardless, it should be a fairly entertaining fight. Coming off of a win against Josh Burkman, Sell may still be fighting for his job after losing four prior fights in a row. Matt Brown comes in 2-1 in the octagon. I expect Brown to push this fight early with his aggressive attitude and catch Sell early. This could be Sell's last UFC fight.

Result: Brown by first round submission

Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Shane Carwin—This is my prediction for fight of the night. I expect Carwin to come hard at Gonzaga early, but Gonzaga is a smart fighter and will weather the storm. First round would go to Carwin, but Gonzaga will take the fight into the second round and after picking up some momentum later in the first. ustice will be served mid-second round as Carwin makes his second-round debut (Carwin has won each of his 10 fights early in the first round).

Result: Carwin by second round KO

Quinton Jackson vs. Keith Jardine—Good things often come to those who wait. As we've grown accustomed to seeing with Jardine, either he will get knocked out early or he often wins if he lasts more than a couple of minutes. This time around, impatience wins and we will see an Evans vs. Jackson title fight at UFC 100.

Result: Jackson by first round KO

Ranking the UFC Weight Classes: A Pound-for-Pound Comparison by the Bulldozer

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Thu, 26 Feb 2009 11:58:42 -0500

The UFC Heavyweight division has the reputation of being weak.

Anderson Silva is supposed to be the only champion-caliber fighter in the Middleweight division despite some newly rising contenders as of late.

The Light-Heavyweight and Welterweight divisions are stacked, right?

Well, let's find out the truth.

I will be analyzing each weight category individually. I will look at 10-15 of the top fighters in each class and rank each fighter between 0-4 points.

Four will go to the elite, future Hall of Fame locks who can still perform at high levels. Three points will go to to each champion-caliber fighters, two to rising stars and occasional contenders, followed by one point for gate-keepers and also some rising stars once again. Anyone below that will not get any points. So lets start!

Heavyweight Division

Randy Couture is the only elite fighter, as of now, in this class. He may not be at his peak any longer but he can still beat anyone in this division.

Brock Lesnar may one day become a future Hall of Famer but right now he lacks the experience to be considered elite.

Noguiera highlights the occasional contender, and Shane Carwin should be considered a rising star of the two point variety. Heath Herring and Cheick Kongo are both Gate Keepers.

Total Points : 22

Light Heavyweights

This is a toughest division to rank. Everyone beats each other.

I am not comfortable rating Rashad Evans as elite though the argument can easily be made. After a title defense I would be more comfortable.

Chuck Liddell is also a notch below that. Despite his guaranteed spot in the Hall of Fame, two years ago he would have been considered elite. Then you have plenty of guys like Wanderlei, Rampage, and Griffin to give this division credibility.

Total Points: 27

Middleweight

Anderson Silva is elite, no need for discussion there. After that you have a whole bunch of contenders. Henderson and Maia are champion caliber though. I know lots of people will argue against Maia, but this guy has incredible takedowns and Jiu Jitsu. I call him the modern-day Royce Gracie.

The tough part of this division is distinguishing between gatekeepers and occasional contenders because there are more than a handful of both. This division is deeper with young rising stars and gatekeepers than both leagues I have gone through thus far.

Total Points: 27

Welterweight

GSP is elite. Alves and Fitch are champion-caliber.

After Kos lost to Paulo Thiago, I must take him one step down from Alves and Fitch. Hughes is way over the hill and I won't consider him as much more than an occasional contender right now and that is being generous.

This division is very deep with gatekeepers and rising stars, but not contenders and champions.

Total Points: 28

Lightweight

Penn, as a lightweight, is elite. There is significantly less vaseline in this lightweight than in welterweight (take that how you want).

KenFlo has the potential to be elite. Sherk will never be elite but he is very, very good and Sanchez is a step below Sherk. Clay Guida and Tyson Griffin are some young talents moving up.

Total Points: 26

Here we have it. Welterweight is the deepest and strongest division in the UFC. It was driven by a strong group up top and also by its many prospects. Strangely, besides Kos, it is hollowed out of regular contenders but newcomers such as Dan Hardy and Marcus Davis look to fill the void.

The Heavyweight division finished last due to a lack of depth but it does contain some great fighters. I think the biggest surprise is how deep the middleweight division is.

Despite this, no one has proven to be able to control Anderson Silva for more than a few seconds. I'm hoping Maia is the answer but he has to take Spider down to the ground first.

Mike "Quick" Swick Returning at UFC 99? Velasquez Too?

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Wed, 25 Feb 2009 10:40:51 -0500

A not so "Quick" return for Mike Swick can be attributed to a broken bone in his foot. After a six month layoff, Swick expects to be back at UFC 99 along with Cain Velasquez, according to the American Kickboxing Academy. Opponents have not yet been decided for either fighter.

Swick was asking to fight Alves but his broken foot and Alves' bout with GSP will get in the way of that.

In a recent interview with mmajunkie.com Swick stated, "I'll fight whoever, but I would really like to have a bout that's going to put me in the top ranking if I have a good performance and I win," Swick said. "I'm 8-1 in the UFC, and I feel like I definitely deserve a big fight."

Swick does deserve a tough fight and the most logical bouts would be against Josh Koscheck or Jon Fitch. After GSP and Alves those are the next 2 fighters in the welterweight division.

In terms of Cain Velasquez, I have previously stated that a fight against Herring would make sense. Herring is an internationally recognized fighter. Considering his fame with Pride in Japan, it would make perfect sense for Herring to be on the card for the first UFC show in Germany since he does have the name recognition.

No matter who the opponents are for Swick and Velasquez, I expect them to bolster the UFC 99 event as the 3rd and 4th fights on the main card.

Cain Velasquez or Shane Carwin, Who Should Lesnar, Mir and Couture Be Afraid Of?

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Tue, 24 Feb 2009 15:06:52 -0500

What only takes between 22 and 131 seconds? If you said a Shane Carwin KO or submission you are right. Shane Carwin is 10-0 in his MMA career. Since winning his first MMA fight with strikes in 2005, he has not needed more than two minutes to defeat any of his opponents.

Standing right next to Carwin is Cain Velasquez, an All-American wrestler at Arizona State. He is 5-0 with 5 KOs. Until his last fight, he had beaten his all of his opponents with fists in the 1st round.

The fact that it took him two rounds to beat Denis Stojnic is a testament to Stojnic's toughness. It is safe to say Stojnic was mauled in a one-sided fight for over eight minutes.

With that said, have these guys fought anybody legitimate yet? Carwin fought Christian Wellisch, who was recently cut by the UFC. Carwin will face a true challenge in Gabriel Gonzaga and it is rumored that the winner may fight the winner of Mir and Lesnar.

Velasquez faced Jake O'Brien who has beaten Wellisch, but O'Brien isn't even a heavyweight anymore. I'd be shocked if Velasquez isn't given at least a "gatekeeper" such as Cheick Kongo or Heath Herring next.

Big Nog is also a possibility.

Both of these guys are rising stars and we could see them face each other for the title one day. Until then, we will watch as casual fans begin to catch on to the potential that these two warriors possess.

UFC Rankings: Heavyweight down to Lightweight By The Bulldozer

Matt Bulldozer Harandi — Mon, 23 Feb 2009 17:46:04 -0500

Welcome to the Bulldozer's rankings. These rankings are limited to only UFC fighters, therefore fighters such as Fedor and Jake Shields will not be included unless they fight in the UFC. Also included is each fighter's next opponent. The opponents listed may or may not have been officially announced yet by UFC but they all have reliable sources, I do not post based purely on speculation. Feel free to debate any of my rankings, that is why they are there. The top rank is always reserved for the current champion in each of the 5 weight categories. BTW, UFC 95 was unexpectedly awesome all the way through.

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