UFC 97 Writer's Picks

It's baaaaaaaaaaaack! Writers' Picks, ladies and gentlemen, is back for UFC 97, taking place this Saturday in Montreal, Canada. I gathered up some of the top MMA minds on Bleacher Report (B/R) to hear the voice of the people on the main card this weekend.

Out of the top 25 or so writers, I got responses from about half of them, on who they think will win this weekend. Thanks go out to everyone who contributed and to our new community leader for letting me spearhead this revival!

OK, now that the formalities are out of the way let's see how people feel about what's going to happen on the main card tomorrow.

Luiz Cane vs. Steve Cantwell

Cantwell did not get much love in the voting. He is the former WEC LHW champion before the division was folded into the UFC, but the folks on B/R weren't having it.

Cane gets the pick here by our second highest margin, eight votes. Most people had him winning by TKO in the first or second round.

Cheick Kongo vs. Antoni Hardonk

The fight on the card with the most international flavor pits the Frenchman against the Dutchman. Both are devastating strikers. Kongo has nasty muay thai and Hardonk has the best legs kicks at HW.

Those leg kicks did not win him many votes though. Kongo gets the pick here tying for our highest margin, 10 votes. Most people have Kongo winning by a second round TKO. A few people had the fight going to a decision.

Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Brian Stann

The man with the most misspelled and mispronounced name in MMA is back. He'll step into the cage with another former WEC LHW champ.

In our closest pick of the night, only two votes separation, KS gets the pick. The people who picked KS thought he was more well rounded than Stann. The people who picked Stann thought that KS was a stiff.

Most people thought this fight would go to a decision, no matter who won.

Chuck Liddell vs. Mauricio Rua

"The Iceman" vs. "Shogun" gets co-main event billing here, even though neither guy looked good in his last fight. Two years ago, this fight would've been a blockbuster. Now it features two guys looking to hold on to what's left of their UFC careers.

This was also a hotly contested bout in the voting panel. Liddell got the nod here by four votes. Most people thought this fight would go to decision, while some people think it might be over quick for either fighter. This fight should be very interesting, based on the diverse responses I received.

Anderson Silva vs. Thales Leites

This fight seemed to be a no brainer for most people. Tying the Kongo fight, in terms of confidence with a 10 person difference in voting, this fight should be a resounding victory for the "Spider."

Leites is only dangerous to Silva on the ground. So not surprisingly, almost everyone has Silva winning by TKO in the first or second round. One brave soul said Leites would submit Silva, but for fear of public outcry, I will let him remain nameless.

Alright folks, tomorrow night should be pretty exciting. Let's see if us couch potatoes know a thing or two about UFC 97.

Enjoy the fights everyone.

Soccer kicks and head stomps...