This is truly a pinnacle fight for the MMA world. This will be the first fight for a combination of belts. The light heavyweight UFC belt has been the most coveted belt because of its history and its competition in its deep division. Also the other belt will be the same a PRIDE light heavy weight belt. This event will combine both of these light heavy weight belts. Dana White has not commented on Dan’s other PRIDE middleweight belt yet or what will happen if he loses his PRIDE lightweight to Jackson.
Quinton Jackson Vs. Dan Henderson
(Quinton Jackson wins via unanimous decision after five rounds)
RESULTS: Pretty much went like I thought. The poll I did had 40 people vote on it with 55% for Henderson and 45% Jackson. Nothing really exceptional to point out on this fight. Henderson came out and used his Greco to do cage clinches and a few take downs, but Jackson was able to do a few himself and dominate Henderson. Every time the stood and banged Jackson got the better of the exchanges. Good five round war.
I could about an hour going through all the pros and cons about these fighters, but at this point everyone knows now who Jackson. The guy that is the new comer this time is Dan Henderson. This guy holds two belts in two divisions at one time and in an organization with that had the same talent or more than the UFC. Quinton has the age advantage of about ten years on Dan, but Dan gets better every fight. He is a lot like Couture because he seems to get better every fighter and the older he gets. Dan has fought all the hard guys and won, but he has also lost to powerful opponents as well. He has a superior wrestling upbringing and even though Quinton had some experience at wrestling Dan was in a different class all together with his wrestling. Quinton has him on his power. Quinton is so strong and with his new training and help has gotten even stronger. I think this will help with anything that Dan does with Jackson against the cage. Dan loves to stand and use his strong right hand. Several fighters have commented on how powerful he hits with his right hand. I am sure Quinton has trained with it in mind and has a good strategy with his striking just like he did with the Liddell fight. This will be an all out war, but I think we are still seeing the tip of the iceberg with the new and improved fighter Jackson. I am going with Jackson winning via decision.
Matt Hamill Vs. Michael Bisping
(Michael Bisping wins via split decision)
RESULTS: Wow before the fight Hamill looked like he was in great shape. Bisping looked a bit smaller. I wonder if all the media and attention got to him pre fight. Maybe to much confidence. This fight ended up being rather controversial with even the London crowd sending out some boos when the winner was announced. This and back and forth with Hamill dominating alot with stand up and take downs. Bisping had a few moments, but nothing extreme enough to think he would wind up the winner. I think Hamill learned a lesson in this fight that he better not let the judges score one more of his fights. Bisping thought he won because after it he didn’t seem to be to surprised at the announcement.
Bisping showed a lot of energy and striking against Elvis in UFC 70. Elvis seemed to get him in trouble a couple of times and caught him with that knee, but Bisping showed spirit and pounded out a victory. Hamill has little experience in the octagon and claims his fame from the reality show Ultimate Fighter. Although he is powerful and can fight at the UFC level I am not sure if he will slip out a win on Bisping. I am going to go with the favorite on this one and say that Bisping will win via decision.
Mirko Cro Cop Vs. Cheick Kongo
(Kongo wins via unanimous decision)
RESULTS: Mirko came out in the beginning hard and pissed. Stalking Kongo the whole time with force and strikes. I thought this was pretty much how it would go, but then in Round two Kongo got dominate and Mirko seemed to shrivel away into survival mode. Really weird because Mirko didn’t seem to be tired.
Mirko is mad. That should be his new name. This guy does not want to end his career with a knockout like he just got in his last fight. It usually takes two or three good fights to erase one like that so I think this dude is going to come with a vengeance. Kongo is good, but I think we will see the Mirko of old show up at this fight and be nothing short of spectacular. Maybe it is the PRIDE fan in me, but I think it will happen. No comparisons, just a quick win for Mirko via TKO in the second.
Marcus Davis Vs. Paul Taylor
(Marcus Davis wins via submission with an armbar)
RESULTS: Marcus came out hard, but Paul dazed him good and tried to finish with a flurry on the ground it was so close to being stopped, but Davis got back his composure somewhat and still took a bit longer to really get it back and then right after he got Taylor’s back they rolled out and Davis shot his leg around in front of Taylors face to cinch in the armbar. Pretty good comeback to witness. Davis is a tough guy.
Marcus Davis is a lot of muscle to put on this ole Brit Taylor, but Taylor is known for his cardio. I am sure Davis will have a knock out strategy like he did in the last fight and might get one over on this guy. I think with these fighters two styles I would have to go with Davis getting a decision win.
Houston Alexander Vs. Alessio Sakara
(Alexander wins via TKO with strikes)
RESULTS: WOW, Alexander is for REAL! Came out and blew this guy up. I was glad because we got to see him on his back and saw his guard and how easy he fights to get back up. I don’t know who he is gonna fight next but I feel sorry for the guy. I mean I don’t know what Alexander needs to work on for the next fight, but maybe to try to get a TKO within under a minute next time? TKO at 1:01 in the first round. WOW! He also gave a hard shout out to MMAJunkie.com at the end. Givin props to the sponsors, cool guy.
I can’t wait to see Alexander again along with everyone else that saw him knock Keith Jardine out. This dude had an answer for everything and blasted him several times. It looked like the GSP Vs. Serra fight and the crowd had the same reaction when it happened. Alexander will have to prove on this fight that he wasn’t a fluke and win this one. I don’t think he needs to knock him out, but if he wins this he will make an instant jump into the upper tier in the UFC lightheavy weight division. This would be one of the quickest jumps to the top for a no-name fighter to take in UFC history. Alexander wins by TKO in the third round.
