UFC 111 Preview
The UFC will be in Newark, New Jersey, Saturday night for UFC 111. In an action packed month for MMA cards, this one stands alone at the top. UFC 111 features two, yes two, title fights. The interim Heavyweight Championship is on the line as well as the Welterweight Championship. Let's take a look at the Top 3 fights this card has to offer.
Jon Fitch vs. Ben Saunders
This fight was originally Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves in a rematch/ number one contender bout. Alves was forced to pull out after doctors revealed a brain abnormality from tests earlier this week. Thankfully, Alves is confident he will be fine, and since he has never had any red flags in previous brain tests he hopes it is a one time thing. Both Fitch and Alves are Top 5 170 pound fighters (when Alves makes weight), and this was a most anticipated rematch. Fitch won the previous match-up back in June of 2006 by TKO.
Stepping up on short notice to battle Fitch is Ben Saunders, he of The Ultimate Fighter Season 6. Saunders' only UFC loss came at the hands of Mike Swick, and he enters Saturday's bout fresh off a TKO victory over Marcus Davis. "Killa B" owns some of the most devastating knee in all of MMA, ask Brandon Wolff and Davis. He has a "punchers chance" or perhaps "kneer's chance" to defeat Fitch, who is his toughest test to date.
Fitch, the former Purdue wrestler, is an impressive 11-1 in the UFC, with his lone loss being a 5 round decision to champion Georges St. Pierre in his lone title bout. Since then he has won 3 straight unanimous decisions including one over top welterweight Paulo Thiago. In 12 UFC fights he has gone to the judges' score cards 8 times. They say don't leave it in the hands of the judges, but for Jon Fitch that has worked out just fine. I expect another victory, but will it result in a title shot?
Shane Carwin vs. Frank Mir (heavyweight interim title)
Two of the very best Heavyweights in the world square off for the interim belt. The winner is assured a shot at current champ Brock Lesnar. Mir wants Round 3 with Lesnar, while Carwin wants what was originally his. Carwin was all lined up for the title shot before Lesnar became ill.
Shane Carwin has not been inside the octagon since March 7 of 2009. It was then where he defeated Gabe Gonzaga, earning a shot at the belt. He is 3-0 in the UFC, 11-0 in his career, ending each and every fight in the 1st round. Read that last part again. Ok, we can move on.
Meanwhile former champion Frank Mir is the only man to defeat Brock Lesnar. He lost the rematch and is desperately seeking a rubber match. Mir is one of the best heavyweight on the ground, his jujitsu is top notch, and he has improved significantly on his stand up, something Antonio Rodrigo Noguiera and Cheick Kongo can attest too.
It's undoubtedly a tough test for both fights, Mir has been there done that in the Heavyweight division, while this is only the 2nd contender Carwin has faced. Real tough to pick here, but I'll roll with experience and Frank Mir.
Georges St. Pierre vs. Dan Hardy (welterweight title)
GSP looks about as unbeatable as Anderson Silva. Since being shocked by Matt Serra, St. Pierre has taken down the following fighters: Josh Koscheck, Matt Hughes, Matt Serra, Jon Fitch, B.J. Penn, and Jon Fitch. (It was the 2nd time he beat both Hughes and Penn, GSP also has wins over Sean Sherk, Frank Trigg, Jason Miller, Jay Hieron, and Karo Parsiyan on his resume). It's safe to say that GSP has cleaned out the welterweight division.
On Saturday night he faces the epitome of a "punchers chance" in Dan Hardy. I honestly don't even think Hardy is a Top 10 welterweight in the world, let alone the #1 contender. (Coming soon: Boston Throwndown's MMA Rankings). Yes I have learned to appreciate him more by watching the countdown shows on Spike, but I still don't see it.
Hardy is a perfect 4-0 in the UFC. His key wins? Mike Swick and Marcus Davis. Since when do victories over Swick and Davis equal a title shot? I think it has more to do with Hardy being a fresh face and not another "rematch" for GSP to tear through. Hardy is strong on his feet, but stronger than Alves? St. Pierre has proved that whatever the challenge, he's game. He outwrestled Koscheck, he took down Hughes and Penn, and he even looked stronger than Alves.
I like St. Pierre to win this fight convincingly, and it will leave people asking for a super-fight against Anderson Silva or even the cry to bring back Nick Diaz to the UFC.
Other fights at UFC 111:
(Main card)
Kurt Pellegrino vs. Fabricio Camoes
Jim Miller vs. Mark Bocek
(Undercard)
Nate Diaz vs. Rory Markham
Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Brown
Jared Hamman vs. Rodney Wallace
Tomasz Drwal vs. Rousimar Palhares
Ricardo Funch vs. Matt Riddle
Enjoy the fights!
