UFC 109 Preview and Predictions

This Saturday after nearly a month layoff the UFC returns with another PPV.

This card, called "Relentless", gives us a couple old timer match ups and some competitive bouts that may lead to future title shots. This isn't the kind of fight card to get all excited about, but it's a card that should be watched nonetheless.

Let's get it started.

                                             Undercard

Rolles Gracie vs Joey Beltran (Heavyweight Bout)

For the first time we have a Gracie fighting at heavyweight that isn't named Royce and isn't going to have a big size disadvantage.

After originally being assigned to face Mustapha Al-Turk Rolles Gracie is now facing King of the Cage and Bellator veteran Joey Beltran.

Now we all know that Beltran is brought in here to lose after looking his record you can tell he's a natural 205lb fighter. No problems for Rolles as he gets an easy takedown and finishes "The Mexicutioner" with most likely an armbar or choke.

Gracie via 1st round Submission

Tim Hague vs Chris Tuchscherer (Heavyweight Bout)

Next up we have the victim in Todd Duffee's debut vs. the victim in Brock Lesnar's training.

While I agree that neither of these guys is really going anywhere Tuchscherer at least seems to have a good wrestling pedigree Hague seems to have nothing. Hague was getting battered by Pat Barry before tapping out the one dimensional fighter. All I've seen Hague do is take punches to the head at least Tuchscherer lost to a contender in Gonzaga I say he takes this one is a horrible fight.

Tuchscherer via Decision

Brian Stann vs Phil Davis (Light Heavyweight Bout)

Here we have a nice quality match up of some prospects in MMA.

Davis comes with some pretty high NCAA wrestling credentials against the "All American" Brian Stann. I gotta say I'm still just tired of Stann as a fighter.

He has no ground game and struggled against Rodney Wallace who isn't anywhere close to the wrestler that Davis is. Davis isn't going to have a huge coming out party here but he will handle the one dimensional Stann.

Davis via Decision

Rob Emerson vs Phillipe Nover (Lightweight Bout)

These two former TUF fighters have been sinking since their little TUF success. Nover I think has just caught a string of bad luck while Emerson is just coasting on his limited skill set. 

Emerson is a perfect match up here with little striking, wrestling, and sub skills. I think we see the Phillipe of old here as he shows off his skill set tooling Emerson to a decision.

Nover via Decision

Melvin Guillard vs Ronnys Torres (Lightweight Bout)

Now we have some more prospect match-ups as the always game Melvin Guillard takes on Nova Uniao trained Ronnys Torres.

Now a lot people see this as the UFC giving Torres a guy he can easily tool and show his skills off.

I, on the other hand, see this as the exact opposite I see this as a guy who has really no real takedown force and limited striking given to Melvin Guillard to show he's got his shit straight.

While Torres has a good sparring partner to simulate Melvin's speed (Jose Aldo) after watching some of his fight I think he's gonna come in reckless and get laid out by Melvin.

Guillard by 1st Round TKO

Mac Danzig vs Justin Buchholz (Lightweight Bout)

Next we have TUF winner Mac Danzig trying to rebound after three straight losses against Alaskan Justin Buchholz. Now I'm gonna make a prediction that the loser of this bout will no longer be in the UFC.

While Danzig's skill set is average at best he's it's still ten times better than anything Buchholz has. I don't understand why Buchholz is still in the UFC with nothing but a fluke win over Corey Hill.

Danzig takes this one easily.

Danzig via 2nd Round Submission

                                            Main Card

Mike Swick vs Paulo Thiago (Welterweight Bout)

This fight is really one of the least on the card I am caring about. Their styles are nothing to talk about.

Neither have much of a future in my opinion so they will battle to see who loses in their next fight. Thiago is very bland his jiu-jitsu is your basic Brazilian's and his striking is there by a thread.

Swick bores the crowd with a unanimous decision win.

Swick via Decision

Matt Serra vs Frank Trigg (Welterweight Bout)

Okay, now we go to the first match-up in the fictional old timers division. Both Trigg and Serra are coming off of losses while Trigg got toasted by top contender Josh Koscheck Serra lost a competitive bout to Matt Hughes.

While Serra has power in the stand up I believe his world class jiu-jitsu is only effective when he's on top. Plus Trigg has better stand up than Hughes so I think he'll do better in that portion.

Trigg competes with Serra in the stand up enough to get the fight to the ground in each round.

Trigg via Decision

Demian Maia vs Dan Miller (Middleweight Bout)

Here we have a matchup between the ever tough Dan Miller and the jits ace Demian Maia. Now Miller had a lot of his momentum derailed by the annoying blanket known as Chael Sonnen while Maia had his immediately halted by Nate Marquardt's right hand.

Here we have Miller who's obvious bread and butter is his jiu-jitsu and wrestling, however, Maia bread and butter is jiu-jitsu and it's ten times better. Something else Maia is good is getting in situations where he can use it.

Miller will put up a struggle like Herman and MacDonald but will fall victim like them to one of Maia's chokes.

Maia 3rd Round Submission

Nate Marquardt vs Chael Sonnen (Middleweight Bout)

Here we have a bout that will possibly lead to a number one contender.

Sonnen has jumped into the middleweight picture thanks to his fucking annoying mouth and his shitty blanket game. Marquardt has at least shown some finishing power and has looked pretty good in his fights.

If only Sonnen was as good as he thinks he is Marquardt will dominate him as Sonnen only reason of life his wrestling saves him at times.

I hate Sonnen and I will enjoy fight.

Marquardt via 3rd Round TKO

Randy Couture vs Mark Coleman (Light Heavyweight Bout)

We for the first time two current UFC Hall of Famers fighting for I don't know really what.

Both are coming off hard fought wins over top names in the 205lb division. Seeing how Couture has put up some close fights with Vera, Nogueira, and Lesnar while Coleman in reality outwrestled Stephan Bonnar, which is isn't that hard, I gotta lean towards Couture.

Although I think Couture lost his last fight against Vera here he's dealing with basically a crappy version of his future self.

Coleman has a terrible gas tank and with all the wrestling and grappling that will happen here will destroy his cardio.

Couture will eventually pin against the cage, get a takedown, and just pound him until the ref pulls him off.

Couture via 3rd Round TKO