UFC 92: Ultimate 2008 Predictions

Here now are my predictions on this weekend’s end of the year MMA spectacular UFC 92 Ultimate 2008. 

Like most of you, I’m excited at what Joe Silva and the rest of the UFC hire-ups were able to put together—although I still think that the main card should have Okami on it and not CB.  But I digress.  And now for the under-card:

Antoni Hardonk vs. Mike Wessel

What I know about Mike Wessel is very little.  He trains with TUF cast member Roli Delgado at Westside Fight Team.  He is 6-0 with three of his wins coming by TKO.

Hardonk has some sick stand-up with some very powerful leg kicks.  All of Hardonk’s wins in the UFC have been by TKO or KO so my guess here is that this will end early because I think it will stay standing.  So I’ll say Hardonk via TKO in the first.

Pat Barry vs. Dan Evensen

Barry is a member Duke Roufus’s fight team that was some serious—and I mean serious—striking.   He has never been out of the first round as a MMA fighter, with three wins by way of TKO or KO. 

Evensen did show very much against Cheick Kongo in his debut and I don’t we will see anything more in this fight, except his ability to be a punching bag.  Evensen is going to be wishing he stuck with the hammer throw after this fight. 

Pat Barry will win his debut via any type of leg kick he damn well pleases.  Seriously—look out for Barry in the future.

Ryo Chonan vs. Brad Blackburn

The IFL veteran Brad Blackburn makes his second stop in the UFC and has a real step-up in competition in Ryo Chonan. 

The outcome will depend on which Chonan shows up.  He hasn’t look like the man who was a great in Japan, but if he gets back to his former self then he should win. 

That said, my guess is that Blackburn’s career is on the way up and Chonan’s is on the way down—which by the way is sad for me to say.  So with that said, it’s with a heavy heart that I’m going to say that Blackburn may be more hungry for this win.

Blackburn via Decision.

Matt Hamill vs. Andy Reese

Matt Hamill had his career on the right direction before his fight versus Rich Franklin, and afterwards a lot of people have been questioning his heart.  For this reason alone I think Hamill is going to win this fight with ease. 

Andy Reese is in the wrong place at the wrong time.  Hamill will the most impressive we have ever seen him and the determined.  Poor Andy.  Hamill via TKO in the Second. 

Yushin Okami vs. Dean Lister

This should be the fifth fight in the Main Card, but no dice.  Okami is the most logical choice to face Anderson Silva in the middleweight division with a win.  Lister, win or lose, will be in a good spot no matter what. 

Okami will have a huge striking advantage with some good ground abilities, while Lister is a top level BJJ player.  Okami is going to have to use his wrestling to sprawl and keep it standing in order to win, which I feel like he can.

This is a real step up for Lister in MMA competition and I think we will see if he is ready for the upper-level fighters in the UFC.  I personally like both fighters but normally I’m going to go with the better rounded fighter on this one.  Okami via Decision. 

MAIN CARD

C.B. Dollaway vs. Mike Massenzio

I hate that this fight is given main-card status, because it isn’t worthy.  We all know about Dollaway being a very good wrestler and a member of ACS.  Mike Massenzio is the wild card in this won, because he has a very good victory against Drew McFedries in his debut. 

Massenzio has had better competition and has been around a lot longer than CB, so don’t think for a minute it’s an easy win for CB.  CB needs to keep it standing, because he is better versed there than Mike and I feel that Mike is better in the BJJ than CB. 

This fight is more of a toss-up than any other fight.  If I were forced to bet on it I would bet on a decision and nothing more.  For the sake of the prediction piece then I’ll say Dollaway via Decision. 

Mustafa Al-Turk vs. Cheick Kongo

A friend of mine swears that Al-Turk is for real.  The truth is all I know is he is from England and has a win over Mark Kerr. 

With that said, I got to go with what I know.  Cheick Kongo kicks hard and punches hard, and he wants a shot at the title.  He has to win big in order to put his name back in the line for a title shot. 

I don’t think he is going to walk past Al-Turk, but he will win in the end.  Kongo via TKO in the Third. 

Quinton Jackson vs. Wanderlei Silva

So call me crazy, but this is going to be the fight of the night and KO of the night. 

Fight of the night because both men will get hurt and recover, and KO of the night, because after that someone will be sleeping for a minute or two. 

The epic fights between them in Pride made people watch and this fight will not disappoint them.  It will be fierce in the beginning and will stay that way till the end. 

The biggest factor in this fight will be the mental aspects.  Before Rampage KO’ed Liddell he said that he had his number and I believe that Wandy has Rampage’s as well.  Getting manhandled in two previous fights will be in Rampage’s head and would be in any man’s head for that matter. 

Wandy looked to be back to his old ways against Jardine and I just feel like it will end as a repeat from the Pride days.  I like Rampage but it’s no secret that the mental game is not his strongest suite, and it will show.  Wandy via TKO in the Second. 

Champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Frank Mir

The TUF coaches will get their chance to show their real ability and not just yell out instructions.  The winner will face the now UFC heavyweight champ Brock Lesnar to find out who the real UFC heavyweight champ. 

Both have excellent BJJ and both have good stand-up with Nog’s stand-up being a bit more technical.  I like Nog’s demeanor and his personality a lot more then Mir’s and the truth is Mir has always kind of come off as an ass; a loss for Mir would not make me sad in the least bit. 

Personally, I’d rather see Nog up against Lesnar, so out of sheer spite I’m hoping for Mir to lose.  Nogueira via (this may surprise you) third-round TKO.

Champ Forrest Griffin vs. Rashad Evans

I can honestly say that I never thought that these two fighters would be fighting each other for a belt.  This fight is compelling and the UFC’s wet dream.  Two fighters that they developed into champions from their show is the main event at one of their biggest events to date. 

I’m not going too far into the details on this one because I’m working on a piece for this fight alone.  So I’ll say that this fight will end on the ground with Forrest getting the Sub of the night.  Forrest via RNC in the Second.