Karo Parisyan v. Dustin Hazelett – Bout Cancelled. Hazelett will receive both his show and win money.
I’ve waited this long specifically to see if anyone can find out what the hell happened that made Parisyan pull out of the fight. He made a claim that the Nevada State Athletic Commission wanted the money, 32,000 dollars, for his steroid suspension up front, but a ton of sources have interview NSAC member Keith Kizer and he says they worked out a payment plan for Karo, let alone asked for the money up front.
The same bit Karo that always does: he’s not of right mind. He simply self-destructs far too often to be employed by anyone, let alone the UFC. Dana White has said that he’ll never work for the UFC again, and now I can imagine that Strikeforce or DREAM will likely try and sign him. Good luck, boys. You’ll need it.
Phil Baroni v. Amir Sadallah
Here’s the fight that will replace Hazelett and Parisyan on the main card.
Baroni is making his return to the UFC after being banished to the wastelands of MMA in 2005. He hasn’t really been all that successful since, going 13-11 in his MMA career and just 8-5 since UFC 55.
He’s mainly a kickboxer and used to train with Team Hammerhouse, which means that he has almost no jiu-jitsu whatsoever. There’s an awesome moment where he tries to describe a kimura that he used after finally learning it. If you can find the video, leave it in the comments. because it’s hysterical. Baroni also has a tendency to gas early, so watch for that.
I like to call Sodallah the “Forgotten TUF Winner.” After winning TUF 7, defeating a much better fighter in C.B. Dolloway, he missed over a year with injuries before losing to Jonny Hendricks at UFC 101. It was a really early stoppage, as after Sodallah got buckled, the ref jumped in really quick. He’s also a kickboxer, but has good submissions, but has to take Baroni down first.
If Sodallah can’t beat Baroni, he doesn’t belong in the UFC.
Prediction: Sodallah via submission
Luiz Cane (#10 Light Heavyweight) v. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Cane is making his name a a light heavyweight contender in the UFC. He’s 10-1-1 in his career, and his only loss is to James Irvin via DQ when illegally kneed Irvin in the head when he was on the ground. The American Top Team product is a very strong BJJ practitioner and has pretty good standup to go with it.
Lil Nog is making his UFC debut, and he’s pretty much a smaller carbon copy of his brother. Sick BJJ and very good boxing is what both Nogueiras bring to the table. He’s 17-3, with wins over Alstair Overeem, Dan Henderson, and Vladimir Matuyshenko.
Nog will be the first real road bump in Cane’s career.
Prediction: Nogueira via TKO
Paulo Thiago v. Jacob Volkmann
Thiago’s on this undercard too, huh? It wasn’t too long ago that he knocked out Josh Koscheck, right? Since then he lost a decision to Jon Fitch at the swing fight of UFC 100, and now he’s been banished to the undercard. He’s only loss is the one to Fitch, and he still has a bunch of potential.
Volkmann is making his UFC debut, but has big fight experience as his last bout was on ESPN’s Bellator Fighting Championship. He’s 10-0, and a very hot prospect. Another Minnesota Mixed Martial Arts project, he’s got great BJJ, and a decent all around game. Side note: His nickname is Christmas. Not kidding.
I’m just pretty sure that this fight is designed for Thiago not to lose.
Prediction: Thiago via unanimous decision
Josh Koscheck v. Anthony Johnson
This is probably the most interesting fight on the card, and has some serious implications.
Koscheck is one of the original TUF cast, and has a laundry list of achievements in the UFC. However, he is 2-2 in his last four fights. He’s coming off a TKO victory over the returning Frank Trigg and is looking to get himself back into the welterweight title picture. Coming from the American Kickboxing Academy, he possesses great wrestling and sick power in his hands.
Johnson is an unbelievable athlete who has a few things going for him in this fight. First off, he trains as kickboxer with the legendary Cung Le. He possesses knockout power in all four limbs, and if you think I’m kidding, check out his last couple of fights. He also is a good wrestler, which he should be looking to use in reverse to stay on his feet. Last, he is HUGE for 170, as people have suggested that he cuts from around 195. If he walks into the cage at 195, he will be hard for Koscheck to take down.
Welcome to the championship conversation, Rumble.
Prediction: Johnson via TKO
Forrest Griffin (#9 Light Heavyweight) v. Tito Ortiz
Griffin needs this win as bad as anyone has ever needed a win. He;s coming off two consecutive losses, and one to Anderson Silva where he made a bad moment embarrassing by running out of the ring as soon as the fight was over. He doesn’t posses elite skills, but is one of the toughest fighters in the world, and will go after Ortiz, there’s no question about that.
Ortiz is making his much publicized return to the UFC, and claims to finally be healthy after having back problems for years. He hasn’t won a fight in nearly three years, but blames the injury for most of his problems. He always has possessed good wrestling and is one of the forefathers of ground and pound. There is no doubt of his gameplan in this one. He won’t get caught in a submission, as he isn’t Ken Shamrock and has evolved his game over the years. Look at the Machida fight when he almost triangled the Dragon at the end of the fight.
Griffin better be working on his wrestling, which is the weakest part of his game. Otherwise, he’s in trouble.
Prediction: Ortiz via unanimous decision
November 20, 2009, at 4:18 pm
Tags: 
