UFC 110: Don’t Call it a Preview
__________________________________________________________________________UFC 110 features an unassumingly strong card filled with name fighters who are either on their way up or out of the UFC ranks. PRIDE Fight fans should appreciate this pay-per-view from a nostalgic standpoint with a handful of punch-drunk PRIDE alumnus featured on the main card. However seeing so many PRIDE fighters with so many wars under their belts at UFC 110 could be the equivalent of seeing a dry, crusty version of Shamu at Seaworld as he or she is being transferred to his or her tank by the wetsuit mafia out in San Diego. 
Cain Velasquez (-115) over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Cain Velasquez has a real shot to set the wheels in motion for a changing of the guard at the top of the heavyweight division. Nogueira has been training like an animal for this fight, as is always the case, and intense training sessions with wrestling specialist Mark Munoz should have him ready to fight off numerous takedown attempts from our man Cain.
However Velasquez’ youth and quickness mixed with his size and underrated striking ability (especially on the ground) should be the difference in what we feel will be a very close fight. Cain is not going to want to stand and trade with Nogueira as he did with Cheick Kongo and almost paid for it. Velasquez will also need to enforce his will with takedown attempts early to see just how prepared Nogueira is for a wrestler of Cain’s size.
The consensus opinion is that the winner of this fight will be next in line for a title fight with the winner of Lesner vs. Carwin/Mir (pick one). This will make this fight that much more intense, and in the end, I like Cain.
Keith Jardine (+135) over Ryan Bader. Kieth Jardine has slowly eroded after a series of tough fights, and is fools gold in a lot of ways. However the fact that he’s going up against a young competitor with limited striking ability gives me some confidence in The Dean of Mean.
Jardine may have trouble working in as may leg kicks as he would like (if you believe that) as Ryan Bader’s heavy wrestling background will warrant multiple takedown attempts, however Keith Jardine’s takedown defense, facilitated by an awkward fighting style, will frustrate the young wolf en route to a much needed victory by UFC’s resident movie star bridesmaid.
Joe Stevenson (-250) over George Sotiropoulos. It’s getting to the point where any given fighter in the lightweight division is just there to collect a paycheck as the entire division reads like a who’s who of guys who either have gotten trounced by B.J. Penn or would get trounced by B.J. Penn if locked in a cage with him. Sotiropoulos has strung together a series of impressive submission victories against guys you’ve never heard of. However veteran Joe “Daddy” Stevenson is a notch (just a notch) above ‘guy you’ve never heard of’, and his overwhelming experience advantage will be too much for young George to contend with.
Mirko Flipovic over Ben Rothwell Anthony Perosh. A loss to a last-minute replacement by a proud PRIDE fighter would give the defunct promotion’s legacy yet another black eye both figuratively and probably literally (homeboy can strike)
Michael Bisping (+135) over Wanderlei Silva. Look up warhorse in the dictionary and you’ll find a picture of an ailing Wanderlei Silva. I talked about ‘fools gold’ earlier on in this preview and, believe me, nobody exemplifies fools gold like Michael ‘I only win big fights overseas’ Bisping, but this is a big fight and it’s overseas.
It also helps that Wanderlei is starting to show signs of being prone to the big knockout with the combination of brutal, non-drug tested, PRIDE fights and Chute boxing sparring sessions finally starting to take their toll. Remember this?!
Michael Bisping will enjoy somewhat of a homefield advantage as the UK native will be fighting in front of a hot Sydney crowd that will better relate to a Count than an Axe Murderer, and nobody can deny that Michael Bisping is one heavy-handed Brit. My gut tells me Rampage gave him some solid Wanderlei tips (because ‘Page hates Silva) that could be the difference in this one.
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Tags: Michael Bisping is The British Bulldog of MMA, MMA, Nogueira vs. Velasquez, Pontification, UFC, UFC 110
