Post by christopherf on Jul 18, 2008 22:56:04 GMT -5
UFC FIGHT NIGHT 14 RAPPORT
Saturday night will be a historic one in the history MMA. Two different companies will be running big-time fight cards up against one another. The most important and overshadowing will be the UFC Fight Night 14.
Dana White, the brash owner of the UFC took exception when, a now rival promotion, AFFLICTION decided on debuting on PPV. Their stacked card includes an underground hyped heavyweight match up between PRIDE legend Fedor Emelianenko against former UFC champion Tim Sylvia. AFFLICTION had done everything in their power, using vast money resources to sign top level MMA fighters for their card.
In response, Dana White announced the UFC would be running Fight Night 14 on the same night for free on SPIKE TV. On top of all of that, Dana announced that Middleweight champion Anderson “ The Spider” Silva would make his Light Heavyweight debut against James “ Sandman” Irvin.
Anderson Silva is known as the top fighter in all of mixed martial arts today. He has literally crushed all competition he has faced in the Middleweight division. It has almost come to the point where anybody who is given a match with Silva is more like a sacrificial lamb rather than an opponent. Silva has captured the fans imaginations all over with his vicious beatings of Rich Franklin ( twice) , Travis Lutter, Chris Leben, and Dan Henderson. The only man I could compare his domination to is maybe that of Mike Tyson in his early days. When Anderson Silva walks down to the octagon its almost the exact same feeling as when Tyson walked out during his prime. You were not just going to see a great fight, the general feeling was a man was going to be hurt, hurt badly.
Main Card
Jake O’Brien Vs Cain Velazquez
This fight is mean’s to showcase Velazquez’s skills to UFC fans on free TV. UFC is banking on Cain becoming one of their top heavyweight fighters. He has good all around skills on the ground and boxing. Jake O’Brien comes in with only one loss to Andrei Arlovski in what was a rather boring fight at UFC 82. O’Brien is a wrestler but most wins have come way of TKO. Cain will want to keep it standing and has the skills to make that happen. I think Cain Velazquez wins this one with KO in the first round.
Reese Andy (205) Vs Brandon Vera (205)
Not much to say about Reese Andy, he is an IFL guy, I haven’t seen much of him. He hasn’t really fought anybody credible and it is his first time in the octagon. Vera is making his debut at 205. He has been asked for awhile now to make the move and finally has. Vera has tons of potential and at times has shined, then other times we have seen him be less than impressive. Vera has all the tools, he is good everywhere but just hasn’t seem to put it all together. I think Vera wins in round one again via strikes.
CB Dolloway (185) Vs Jesse Taylor (185)
Both men are getting their “ second chance.” Taylor since he busted a limo window and harassed women at a Las Vegas casino owned by Lorenzo Fertitta. Dolloway was embarrassed twice by underdog Amir Sadollah after being picked to win TUF 7. He wasn’t just arm barred once, but twice by Amir. Hopefully for CB, Jesse Taylor doesn’t know how to apply an armbar. CB should win this one he is the better all around fighter and should be the smarter fighter. But still to me, CB is lacking something and has two bad defeats on his mind. I think Jesse Taylor will win via unanimous decision.
Frankie Edgar (155) Vs Hermes Franca (155)
This should be the most fun fight of the night. Hermes is coming off a long suspension due to using steroids before his title fight against Sean Sherk. Edgar is also coming off a loss to fellow wrestler Grey Maynard. Hermes has good strikes and is a BJJ black belt. Problem for Hermes is the last time he faced a wrestler he wasn’t able to do much to keep from being thrown to the ground over and over again. I am going with Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision.
Anderson Silva (205) Vs James Irvin (205)
The main event of the card, and the draw being Anderson fighting at 205. The only questions are how the weight difference is going to affect him. I don’t think it will at all he cuts down from above 200 to get to 185. Anderson will be silky smooth as usual and will be able to avoid anything James Irvin offers up. Irvin always has a puncher’s chance but it is a small one at that. Silva by TKO round one.
Saturday night will be a historic one in the history MMA. Two different companies will be running big-time fight cards up against one another. The most important and overshadowing will be the UFC Fight Night 14.
Dana White, the brash owner of the UFC took exception when, a now rival promotion, AFFLICTION decided on debuting on PPV. Their stacked card includes an underground hyped heavyweight match up between PRIDE legend Fedor Emelianenko against former UFC champion Tim Sylvia. AFFLICTION had done everything in their power, using vast money resources to sign top level MMA fighters for their card.
In response, Dana White announced the UFC would be running Fight Night 14 on the same night for free on SPIKE TV. On top of all of that, Dana announced that Middleweight champion Anderson “ The Spider” Silva would make his Light Heavyweight debut against James “ Sandman” Irvin.
Anderson Silva is known as the top fighter in all of mixed martial arts today. He has literally crushed all competition he has faced in the Middleweight division. It has almost come to the point where anybody who is given a match with Silva is more like a sacrificial lamb rather than an opponent. Silva has captured the fans imaginations all over with his vicious beatings of Rich Franklin ( twice) , Travis Lutter, Chris Leben, and Dan Henderson. The only man I could compare his domination to is maybe that of Mike Tyson in his early days. When Anderson Silva walks down to the octagon its almost the exact same feeling as when Tyson walked out during his prime. You were not just going to see a great fight, the general feeling was a man was going to be hurt, hurt badly.
Main Card
Jake O’Brien Vs Cain Velazquez
This fight is mean’s to showcase Velazquez’s skills to UFC fans on free TV. UFC is banking on Cain becoming one of their top heavyweight fighters. He has good all around skills on the ground and boxing. Jake O’Brien comes in with only one loss to Andrei Arlovski in what was a rather boring fight at UFC 82. O’Brien is a wrestler but most wins have come way of TKO. Cain will want to keep it standing and has the skills to make that happen. I think Cain Velazquez wins this one with KO in the first round.
Reese Andy (205) Vs Brandon Vera (205)
Not much to say about Reese Andy, he is an IFL guy, I haven’t seen much of him. He hasn’t really fought anybody credible and it is his first time in the octagon. Vera is making his debut at 205. He has been asked for awhile now to make the move and finally has. Vera has tons of potential and at times has shined, then other times we have seen him be less than impressive. Vera has all the tools, he is good everywhere but just hasn’t seem to put it all together. I think Vera wins in round one again via strikes.
CB Dolloway (185) Vs Jesse Taylor (185)
Both men are getting their “ second chance.” Taylor since he busted a limo window and harassed women at a Las Vegas casino owned by Lorenzo Fertitta. Dolloway was embarrassed twice by underdog Amir Sadollah after being picked to win TUF 7. He wasn’t just arm barred once, but twice by Amir. Hopefully for CB, Jesse Taylor doesn’t know how to apply an armbar. CB should win this one he is the better all around fighter and should be the smarter fighter. But still to me, CB is lacking something and has two bad defeats on his mind. I think Jesse Taylor will win via unanimous decision.
Frankie Edgar (155) Vs Hermes Franca (155)
This should be the most fun fight of the night. Hermes is coming off a long suspension due to using steroids before his title fight against Sean Sherk. Edgar is also coming off a loss to fellow wrestler Grey Maynard. Hermes has good strikes and is a BJJ black belt. Problem for Hermes is the last time he faced a wrestler he wasn’t able to do much to keep from being thrown to the ground over and over again. I am going with Frankie Edgar via unanimous decision.
Anderson Silva (205) Vs James Irvin (205)
The main event of the card, and the draw being Anderson fighting at 205. The only questions are how the weight difference is going to affect him. I don’t think it will at all he cuts down from above 200 to get to 185. Anderson will be silky smooth as usual and will be able to avoid anything James Irvin offers up. Irvin always has a puncher’s chance but it is a small one at that. Silva by TKO round one.
