UFC 80: Rapid Fire; New Castle, England

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

Hey, it's only 16 days away, and there are yet again a few fights on this card that I'm interested in seeing. Here are my round by round predictions.

#1 being able to see if Joe Stevenson is really a top LW, or still in the 5-10 range?
#2 Who's gonna win the rematch of the former Chute guys of Werdum and Gonzaga?
#3 How will "Da Spyda" return after his embarassing performance against Cote?(Kendall Grove is one of my fav fighters)
#4 How will Sam Stout fair as a LW? This is his first UFC LW matchup, and I've always been impressed with his POTENTIAL.

Joe Stevenson vs B.J. Penn
Remember folks! This is a 5 round afair for the vacant UFC LW Championship. Kinda weird that BJ has only fought 1 LW fight and is already in the title fight. But boy is he legit when he trains for it. On the other end, Stevenson has been IMPRESSIVE to say the least since moving to LW. I honestly see no way this fight ends early other then a BJ Penn via Submission. However, I'm gonna go with...
*BJ Penn via Split Decision

Jason Lambert vs Wilson Gouveia
This is the typical matchup of Striker vs Ground specialist respectively. Not really impressed with a guy who's lost to Rory Singer. Som simply put...
Jason Lambert via KO/TKO - 1st Round

Fabricio Werdum vs Gabriel Gonzaga
Finally the rematch of 4 years in the making. The only other man besides Randy Couture to defeat "Napao." Most people see Gonzaga's fight with CroCop and think KO! However, Gonzaga and Werdum's strengths are both on the ground. I would probably favor Werdum on the ground. However, he TKO Gonzaga the first time, which makes this an interesting matchup. I, by possibly a suprise to some, like the same result.
*Fabricio Werdum via KO/TKO - 2nd Round(otherwise, I'll take a Unanimous Decision)

Jess Liaudin vs Marcus Davis
This is my most intriguing fight of the night. Marcus Davis is a fighter on the rise, and he could very well be the next fighter to challenge GSP, IMO. Jess Liaudin is a solid fighter with back 2 back impressive UFC fights. This is a ground games dream. I belive Davis is the better fighter.
*Marcus Davis via Split Decision

Kendall Grove vs Jorge Rivera
Rivera IMO is on the decline, and I believe Grove is gonna bounce back, not sure if impressively, but pickup the victory...
*Kendall Grove via Submission/Tapout - 2nd Round(depending on the pace of this fight, I could see a Unanimous/Majority decision)

Sam Stout vs Per Eklund
Stout is moving to LW and fought 1 time outside the UFC since losing disapointingly to Spencer Fisher. Stout needs to keep this fight on the feet, and I like his chances.
*Sam Stout via KO/TKO - 2nd Round

Colin Robinson vs Antoni Hardonk
This fight is really tough. Hardonk has been a dispointment, and Robinson is coming off a bad KO. Anyways. I like this one going...
*Colin Robinson via Split Decision

Paul Taylor vs Paul Kelly
*This will probably be one of those fights that won't make the main card, yet be worth it. These guys are gonna throw down.
*Paul Taylor via KO/TKO - 1st Round

Alessio Sakara vs James Lee
This fight is the KO vs the Ground game. I personally don't like Sakara's ability to KO James Lee in this fight. James Lee isn't exactly a NOBODY.
*James Lee via Submission - 1st Round

 

[swonger]

Card seems pretty damn weak to me. Couldnt Dana White have put something better together?

:shrug: :shrug: :shrug:

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

I know it was rumored for a little while that Cro Cop was going to fight, but obviously he's not.

With future fighters such as:
Rampage, Ortiz, Forrest, Nogueira, Sylvia, Fitch, Gono, A.Silva, Henderson, Koscheck, Florian, Bonnar, Hammil, GSP all locked up in future fights or other things, I'm not sure what else you want?

You also have to factor in fighters who've fought in UFC's 77,78, or any UFN's since won't be fighting until prolly 81 anyways because of recovery/training.

Hermes Franca and Sean Sherk are serving out their suspensions. Sherk's first fight prolly won't come until month's after UFC80 because he'll get 1st shot at the winner.

I'm still waiting for Ricardo Arona to make his debut. I'm waiting for Arlovski to extend his deal, or the UFC to just give in and let him fight his last fight and re-negotiate afterwards. I'm waiting for Evan Tanner to finalize his deal with his next fight.

Brandon Vera, Cheick Kongo, Chris Leben, Diego Sanchez, Rich Franklin(injured), Martin Kampmann(injured), Matt Serra(injured), Shogun Rua(injured), Mirko Cro Cop, Nate Quarry, Travis Lutter, Yushin Okami are the only fighters that when looking are "available" to fight that would garner any "considerable interest" that I'm assuming you're looking for. Not only that, but you gotta consider the fact that these guys are all in different weight classes, might have fought already, etc...

 

[layinwood]

I really like Gonzaga here. I had Werdum vs AA and he really disappointed me. I think Gonzaga gets it here as long as he keeps it standing, I'm not saying he'll lose if it goes to the ground but he doesn't have as good of a chance there. If Randy's head wasn't made of stone Gonzaga would have won, that kick to the face would have ko'd 99% of fighters out there. Even though he lost, he impressed the hell out of me in that fight. There's just not a lot of ways for someone to train vs someone like Randy. Gonzaga's standup is far better than Werdum's and I think his ground game can neutralize Wedum's. I say Gonzaga ko in round 1. His size is much different than their first fight, he may weigh the same but it's definitely more muscle mass than before.

 

[tonymontana]

I watched the first fight and Werdum looked good.
I like that Werdum has never been stopped and all his losses are decisions.
Gonzaga is the total opposite. He never heard the final bell. Get stopped or stop the opponent.
Gonzaga has stamina issues. If this fight goes longer than one round i like werdum alot.
I believe it is a good match up stylewise for werdum (good chin and defense and stamina advantage and the psycho factor that he can stop Gonzaga).
At this odds Werdum is a very live dog and a great bet. If Gonzaga comes in heavy it is even better.

 

[weepaul]

I really like Gonzaga here. I had Werdum vs AA and he really disappointed me. I think Gonzaga gets it here as long as he keeps it standing, I'm not saying he'll lose if it goes to the ground but he doesn't have as good of a chance there. If Randy's head wasn't made of stone Gonzaga would have won, that kick to the face would have ko'd 99% of fighters out there. Even though he lost, he impressed the hell out of me in that fight. There's just not a lot of ways for someone to train vs someone like Randy. Gonzaga's standup is far better than Werdum's and I think his ground game can neutralize Wedum's. I say Gonzaga ko in round 1. His size is much different than their first fight, he may weigh the same but it's definitely more muscle mass than before.

I don't think Gonzaga will have any trouble on the ground. He is the BJJ world champ and was beating Werdum on the ground, he had him mounted a couple of times.

I agree completely with tonymontana that if the fight go's a round or two, Gonzaga might be in deep shit. He seems to be a front runner and there is nothing that indicates he has better stamina than in the first fight.

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

I really like Gonzaga here. I had Werdum vs AA and he really disappointed me. I think Gonzaga gets it here as long as he keeps it standing, I'm not saying he'll lose if it goes to the ground but he doesn't have as good of a chance there. If Randy's head wasn't made of stone Gonzaga would have won, that kick to the face would have ko'd 99% of fighters out there. Even though he lost, he impressed the hell out of me in that fight. There's just not a lot of ways for someone to train vs someone like Randy. Gonzaga's standup is far better than Werdum's and I think his ground game can neutralize Wedum's. I say Gonzaga ko in round 1. His size is much different than their first fight, he may weigh the same but it's definitely more muscle mass than before.

Randy defended that kick, in fact, it actually broke his arm in doing so. It didn't connect on his head.

 

[layinwood]

Ah, that's right. I forgot he broke his arm on that one.

I'm not worried about stamina, it's only a 3 round fight and as passive as Werdum was vs AA he'll probably be down 2 rounds if it makes it to 3. I don't see Gonzaga losing at any part of the fight. His gnp vs CroCop looked devastating. Hopefully the line won't be too high.

 

[gardenweasel]

I watched the first fight and Werdum looked good.
I like that Werdum has never been stopped and all his losses are decisions.
Gonzaga is the total opposite. He never heard the final bell. Get stopped or stop the opponent.
Gonzaga has stamina issues. If this fight goes longer than one round i like werdum alot.
I believe it is a good match up stylewise for werdum (good chin and defense and stamina advantage and the psycho factor that he can stop Gonzaga).
At this odds Werdum is a very live dog and a great bet. If Gonzaga comes in heavy it is even better.

i couldn`t agree more,compadre....

 

[The Sponge]

This card wont sell. Wouldn have been nice to see Arloski against Gonzaga? This would be a much better fight. Wasn't this the guy that laid on the ground the whole Arloski fight and had to be shamed into standing? To me it will be a boring fight. With Arloski you know they both would be banging.

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

Ah, that's right. I forgot he broke his arm on that one.

I'm not worried about stamina, it's only a 3 round fight and as passive as Werdum was vs AA he'll probably be down 2 rounds if it makes it to 3. I don't see Gonzaga losing at any part of the fight. His gnp vs CroCop looked devastating. Hopefully the line won't be too high.

I wouldn't quite say the GNP looked devestating...in fact, the ref stood them up

Werdum(Wear-Doom) is the better ground guy, and Gonzaga is the better on their feet fighter. However, that's so interesting considering Werdum KO'd him the first time.

 

[The Sponge]

Lets get this back up top

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

Fighters that I'm leaning towards betting on:

Jason Lambert
Sam Stout(BIG)
Kendall Grove
Marcus Davis

and possibly BJ Penn

 

[The Sponge]

this card is so mediocre I have to keep bumping it. Never had to do this before. :shrug: Kick, you going with any Rogans in this one? I ll be on the sidelines scouting. Its so bad im thinking of watching the Roy Jones lay on the ropes match instead.

 

[weepaul]

this card is so mediocre I have to keep bumping it. Never had to do this before. :shrug: Kick, you going with any Rogans in this one? I ll be on the sidelines scouting. Its so bad im thinking of watching the Roy Jones lay on the ropes match instead.

You could watch both if you wanted. The UFC is in England so it will start at 3.00 EST and be replayed at 10.00 EST.

My only big bet is on James Lee to beat Sakara.

Sakara is a front runner and when things are not going his way, he looks for a way out.

I heard him being interviewed and he said he will be moving to 185 after this fight. This sounds to me like he has his excuse prepared.

 

[layinwood]

I wouldn't quite say the GNP looked devestating...in fact, the ref stood them up

Werdum(Wear-Doom) is the better ground guy, and Gonzaga is the better on their feet fighter. However, that's so interesting considering Werdum KO'd him the first time.

The ref did stand them up but he was doing some damage with the elbows from the top, we all know certain refs will stand the fighters quicker than others so him standing them doesn't mean a whole lot.

I don't think you can compare the first fight they had to what's coming up. Gonzaga has grown a lot and was very young in that fight. That's like saying GSP was going to get beat by Hughes because he lost in the first fight. Fighters grow and from then to know Gonzaga has grown more. The AA fight Werudm had really is making the line high but I still think Gonzaga wins.

 

[BUCSnotYUCKS]

The ref did stand them up but he was doing some damage with the elbows from the top, we all know certain refs will stand the fighters quicker than others so him standing them doesn't mean a whole lot.

I don't think you can compare the first fight they had to what's coming up. Gonzaga has grown a lot and was very young in that fight. That's like saying GSP was going to get beat by Hughes because he lost in the first fight. Fighters grow and from then to know Gonzaga has grown more. The AA fight Werudm had really is making the line high but I still think Gonzaga wins.

I never compared the first fight. I was just simply implying that Gonzaga's strength is how he lost the first fight.

Gonzaga hasn't impressed me like many have bought into it. He caught Mirko by a leg. Then he get picked apart by Randy. I think people seen the severity of how he KO'd Mirko and just bought into it.

Werdum could've easily won that Arlovski fight...some think he should've. Arlovski's one of my favorite fighters, and I was sweating bullets on the decision.

I just think Gonzaga will continue to struggle against guys who can pick him apart, make the fights last, etc...

 

[layinwood]

I had Werdum in the AA fight and he didn't come close to winning that fight. I never felt like I stood a chance. As soon as I saw AA decide he was just going to pretty boy Floyd on him I knew I was screwed.

Also, Gonzaga's stregth then wasn't his stand up. That's something he's developed. He was more known as a bjj guy then.

 

[The Sponge]

You could watch both if you wanted. The UFC is in England so it will start at 3.00 EST and be replayed at 10.00 EST.

My only big bet is on James Lee to beat Sakara.

Sakara is a front runner and when things are not going his way, he looks for a way out.

I heard him being interviewed and he said he will be moving to 185 after this fight. This sounds to me like he has his excuse prepared.

geez wee thanks for that post. I had no idea it was in England. I can't remember if they show it on Payperview early or just late or even both? Man i might have looked to bet something and realized it was already over. Usually when its in england Bisping is the headliner. they could throw him on this card and it still wouldn't help it.

 

[kickserv]

UFC Record (since UFC 58)
--------------------------------------

Prop Bet 1-5
Fighter vs. Fighter 52-37
Parlays 21-21

+68.95 Joe Rogans


ok here we go for UFC 80:


BJ Penn beat Joe Stevenson inside distance $1.66 *1 Joe Rogan

Jorge Rivera beat Kendall Grove $3.60 *half Joe Rogan

Jason Lambert beat Wilson Gouveia $2.25 *1 Joe Rogan


Parlay
---------
BJ Penn
Marcus Davis

odds =$1.74 *4.5 Joe Rogans :scared


I just don't see Penn or Davis losing, yes this is the UFC and anybody can beat anybody, but how will Penn lose:shrug: He is actually taking things seriously and I don't see him losing:SIB