UFC 122: Predictions for the Entire Marquardt vs. Okami Fight Card

Another UFC card, another set of predictions.  If you check out the MMA portion of my site—www.GuysNation.com—you’ll see that I’ve done predictions for every UFC card going back over 16 months.  This night of action hails from Germany, and although there are no titles on the line, there are several fights which look to be entertaining.  The casual fans might not tune in because they don’t see a lot of names they recognize, but those who do tune in will likely be in for some entertainment—capped off by a No. 1 Contender’s fight in the Middleweight division.

Feel free to join me in predicting fights.  Pick as many or as few as you’d like, and you’ll be entered into the GuysNation UFC prediction contest which ends with UFC 125.  The winner isn’t picked by the number of victories he (or she) correctly predicts.  It’s based on percentage…though you’ll need to predict a minimum number of fights to be deemed relevant.  Just leave your predictions in response to the GuysNation version of this article (I won't be counting responses here on Bleacher Report).

PRELIMINARY CARD

Welterweight bout: United States—Kris McCray vs. Brazil–Carlos Eduardo Rocha

My hometown loyalty wants me to pick McCray, who fought and won his first five fights in Fairfax, Virginia.  The problems are these: Carlos Eduardo Rocha is 8-0, has finished most of his fights in the first round by varying types of submissions, and here’s the kicker—all of Rocha’s experience is over in Germany, and fighters are notorious for stumbling when they’re forced to cross the Atlantic Ocean.  So as badly as I’d like to pick McCray (who has an impressive record of his own prior to the loss in the finale of The Ultimate Fighter), my brain tells me to go with Rocha.  If McCray wins, I’d like to invite him to do an interview with GuysNation so I can formally apologize and promise not to pick against him again.
Prediction:  Carlos Eduardo Rocha

Light Heavyweight bout: United States—Seth Petruzelli vs. Czech Republic—Karlos Vemola

Karlos Vemola losing to Jon Madsen wasn’t a big problem to me, as I think Madsen has a decent future in the UFC.  I’m going with Petruzelli because his losses have been by submission, and I don’t see Vemola doing that.

Prediction:  Seth Petruzelli

Welterweight bout: United States—Duane Ludwig vs. England—Nick Osipczak

Duane Ludwig has lost three of his past four fights.  Not good.  Nick Osipczak has lost his past two, but they were both by decision, and I liked what I saw from both fights.
Prediction:  Nick Osipczak

Welterweight bout: Germany—Pascal Krauss vs. England—Mark Scanlon

Both Krauss and Scanlon have good records, but Krauss is on home field turf, and Scanlon is a replacement fighter for Krauss’ initial opponent.  This one’s almost a coin flip.

Prediction: Pascal Krauss

Light Heavyweight bout: Belarus—Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Brazil—Alexandre Ferreira

Ferreira is 10-1 in the past five years, but he hasn’t fought in 13 months, and he’s never fought in UFC before.  I’m actually impressed by Matyushenko, whose only losses in the past 5 years are to some tough fighters—on Jones and Rogerio Nogueira.

Prediction:  Vladimir Matyushenko

Middleweight bout: Australia—Kyle Noke vs. United States—Rob Kimmons

I really liked how Noke performed back in June, so this one’s easy for me.

Prediction:  Kyle Noke

MAIN CARD

Light Heavyweight bout: Canada—Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Croatia—Goran Reljic

For my reasoning behind my prediction for this fight, view the full version of this article over at my site—GuysNation.com—where you can enter the prediction contest.

Prediction:  Goran Reljic

Welterweight bout: United States—Amir Sadollah vs. Germany—Peter Sobotta

For my reasoning behind my prediction for this fight, view the full version of this article over at my site—GuysNation.com—where you can enter the prediction contest.

Prediction:  Amir Sadollah

Lightweight bout: Germany—Dennis Siver vs. England—Andre Winner

For my reasoning behind my prediction for this fight, view the full version of this article over at my site—GuysNation.com—where you can enter the prediction contest.

Prediction:  Dennis Siver

Middleweight bout: United States—Jorge Rivera vs. Italy—Alessio Sakara

For my reasoning behind my prediction for this fight, view the full version of this article over at my site—GuysNation.com—where you can enter the prediction contest.

Prediction:  Alessio Sakara

Middleweight bout: United States—Nate Marquardt vs. Japan—Yushin Okami

For my reasoning behind my prediction for this fight, view the full version of this article over at my site—GuysNation.com—where you can enter the prediction contest.

Prediction:  Nate Marquardt

Reminder: Join me in predicting fights over at my site—www.GuysNation.com.  Pick as many or as few as you’d like, and you’ll be entered into the prediction contest which ends with UFC 125.  The winner isn’t picked by the number of victories he (or she) correctly predicts.  It’s based on percentage…though you’ll need to predict a minimum number of fights to be deemed relevant.  Just leave your predictions in response to the GuysNation version of this article.