Fabricio Werdum v. Antonio Silva
How often do you see a fight between two heavyweights that are basically BJJ specialists? The heavyweight division has been filled with big wrestlers and strikers for so long now that besides Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, most of these guys don’t know how to spell kimura.
Werdum is coming off a victory over Mike Kyle at Strikeforce’s last big card. He’s not much of a striker, but his BJJ is top level. If nothing else, just look at some of the names that he’s fought over the last few years: Alstair Overeem, Junior Dos Santos, Brandon Vera, Gabriel Gonzaga, Andrei Arlovski and Aleksander Emelianenko just to name a few. Suddenly, his 17-4-1 record looks really good, huh?
Silva’s most intriguing attribute is that he actually suffers from Giantism. Yup, that’s right, the dude is actually a giant. Silva doesn’t have the same number of impressive fights on his record. His standup is mediocre, and his BJJ is great.
It’s like these guys are looking in the mirror. It’s basically a toss up. It’s possible the BJJ cancels out, but I still think someone is going to tap.
Prediction: Werdum via submission
Gegard Mousasi v. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Mousasi is one of the sports biggest rising stars. He trains with Fedor, which is always a good thing, and was really put on the American map by defeating Babalu Sobral in impressive fashion earlier in the year. He has a judo background, but what was really impressive was his standup. He put Babalu on his back and pounded him out quick. This may be a guy we are talking about as a top light heavyweight for a long time to come.
Sokoudjou came over from PRIDE with great fanfare and fought this guy named Lyoto Machida. He was arm triangled and lost, then beat Kazuhiro Nakamura, then lost to Luis Cane and was cut from the UFC. Since then, he’s gotten a couple of wins over heavyweights in DREAM’s Super Hulk tournament and lost to Babalu.
He’s a bit of a maddening case in the MMA world. He has all the physical skills in the world. He just never developed any kind of mental game. He just fights dumb at times, and it always ends up costing him. It will again tomorrow night.
Prediction: Mousasi via TKO
Jake Shields v. Jason “Mayhem” Miller
No welterweight not named GSP has the kind of momentum that Jake Shields has right now. The Ceasr Gracie jiu-jitsu specialist has won 10 straight fights including big name wins like Robbie Lawler, Paul Daley and Nick Thompson in the last three fights.
The only problem is that this fight is being held at middleweight. Will Shields be be strong enough to win at 185?
As for Miller, everyone knows his silly side from the MTV show, Bully Beatdown. However, people don’t realize how good of a fighter he is. His last fight was a no contest when he inadvertantly kicked Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza is the head with an illegal upkick, which caused a cut that stopped the fight. He’s got wins in the past of Tim Kennedy, and Robbie Lawler. He’s game is solid all around and, he has a chance to win because of the difference in strength between him and Shields.
This could be the best fight of the night.
Prediction: Shields via submission
Fedor Emelianenko v. Brett Rogers
Ahhh…Fedor. Finally on United States soil with a legit organization that will get him some decent fights. Here’s the long and short of Fedor. He’s awesome. He is 30-1 in a sport where upsets are commonplace. He has great power, fast hands, and a ground game that puts most BJJ practitioners to shame. It’s remarkable how good he is. He’s got wins over Big Nog, Mark Coleman, Kevin Randleman, Mirko Cro Cop, and Andrei Arlovski just to name a few.
As for Brett Rogers, he’s more of a one trick pony. He has sick devastating knockout power in his hands and tighter boxing then Fedor does. However, tighter doesn’t mean more effective. He is going to have to keep this fight on the feet. Despite his recent destruction of Glass Joe Andrei Arlovski, he still has a way to go.
While Strikeforce has done a great job of making Rogers seem like a threat, he really isn’t all that much of one.
Prediction: Fedor via submission
March 2, 2010, at 12:23 pm
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The problem doesn’t begin or end with Anthony Johnson. Every fighter cuts weight, you have to in order to maintain a competitive advantage. Weight cutting, however, never had really found it’s way to the heavyweight division. While Lightweights, welterweights, middleweights and light heavyweights always provide drama on weigh in day we never saw it with the heavyweights. Smaller weight classes get on the scales in the nude to shed that final pound, the big boys weigh in with jeans and sunglasses on.
