UFC 102: pre fight picks

Hello Shed26 Fight Night Fans....it's your friendly correspondent back to ground and pound some truth before tonight's event.

A little news for you first.. Massachusetts has finally approved MMA in the state!! I just heard Dana white say he is in negotiations with both the TB Bank Garden and FENWAY Park for the first boston event in 2010!!!


UFC 102...really nice card, but not shed worthy.


Here's how it should break down:

Main Event

Randy Couture (220) vs Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (231)
This would have been a fantastic fight 2 years ago when these two incredible champs were at the top of the UFC and Pride respectively...but today...not so much...should be a great fight though...

Pick: Shed26 favorite Randy "the natural" Couture" ground and pounds his way to a decision....Big Nog is almost impossible to knock out and is the best BJJ Big man in the world.....I think he's 4 holes into the back nine....and the natural should have no problem..Greko-and-Pounding him for 3 rounds... One caveat...if Randy tries to stand and trade with Big Nog, it would be a huge mistake.. even though Nog made Frank Mir look like Mohammad Ali a few months ago...he still has an iron chin and can slug with anyone....Randy has shown that he can be knocked out if he gets too fancy with the hands.....SHOOT THE DOUBLE RANDY!!!


Keith Jardine (205) vs Thiago Silva (205)

Pick: Tiago Silva is tough as nails and has serious power, but, in a close fight, you always go with the Dean of Mean....Wins by KO in the 2nd round...Keep your chin down and your hands up Jardine...Tiago gets' frustrated with all the Leg kicks he takes...lunges at the dean....and get's put to sleep with a looping overhand right...signature Dean of Mean!!



Nate Marquardt (185) vs Demian Maia (185)

Pick: this is the best fight on the card...Nate is overall one of the best 185'ers in the world...good at everything...former king of Pancreas...and only the spider keeps him from wearing a belt.....Damian Maia is one dimensional....but that dimension (BJJ) is the best in the world...he is unstoppable on the ground...his opponents go to sleep faster than Frank after the first under card fight...If Nate can keep it standing...he'll win...but he can't keep it standing... Maia is too good and is the only real threat to the Spider at 185.. Maia wins by submission in the second round.



Brandon Vera (205) vs Krzysztof Soszynski (205)
Pick: We have to go with the Polish experiment (Soszynski) by tko in the 3rd round... Vera has great talent but hasn't looked or fought like himself since coming down from heavyweight...he is much better suited fighting larger, slower guys and with 205'ers he ends up clinching like bone crusher smith for three rounds. The polish experiment goes for his trademark kimora from half guard...then transitions to the mount and brings the elbows until the ref calls it.



Chris Leben (185) vs Jake Rosholt (185)

Pick: great fight again...another Shed26 favorite Chris Leben...always brings it...he's the Arturo Gatti of MMA...Rosholt is a former NCAA wrestling champ and people have high hopes for him...the problem is that I haven't seen his wrestling translate well in MMA and his standing up way behind the curve. Unless he channels Mickey Ward for Three Rounds....Leben is going to highlight reel him in the First. If the UFC wanted to prop up Rosholt...putting him against Leben is a huge mistake...


Ed Herman (185.5) vs Aaron Simpson (185)
Pick: Tough pick here....Ed "Short Fuse" Herman is a slight favorite...and can wrestle...but Simpson is no joke...NCAA D1 wrestler... Herman only seems to loose to submission guys so I think he'll GNP Simpson for a decision victory.



Gabriel Gonzaga (259) vs Chris Tuchscherer (258)

Pick: Let's go with Gonzaga...local guy...who is a top 10 heavyweight...has great BJJ and huge knockout power in the his hand and feet (kro cop)...never heard of the other guy...



Justin McCully (238) vs Mike Russow (260)

Pick: Justin McCully seems to have been hand picked to loose to Mike Rossow...Russow is a police officer with a good story line...but McCully it tough, although small for a heavyweight...and since this is Russow's first time in the octagon.. I think the big lights will get to Russow and he'll be TKO'd in the first round.




Tim Hague (263.5) vs Todd Duffee (251)

Pick: this is a pick'em...bathroom break fight...let's go with heavier guy....Hague by TKO in the second.




Nick Catone (185.5) vs Mark Munoz (185.5)

Pick: Again..here is another Former NCAA wrestling champ that has had trouble transitioning his wrestling effectively into MAA....after getting KO'd by Shed favorite Matt the hammer Hammill...Munoz drops down to 185...Catone seems to have been hand picked to loose...but I like his skills and think he puts Munos to sleep in the 3rd round.




Marcus Aurelio (156) vs Evan Dunham (155)

Pick: Aurelio in the first by submission...no banter for this one



That's all fight fans..until next time...this has been your friendly Shed26 Fight night Correspondent..