UFC 106 Rumble Johnson v. Josh Koscheck

Johnson is the climbing new guy and "The Kos" was that guy about 3 years ago. Johnson is hungry and comfortable with taking a hit to give a better one. Both have pedigrees in wrestling, but each wants to prove that he can stand and bang. Like Yoshida, Koscheck's only smart strategy is to close in and make a dirty boxing or ground and pound match. Kos has already been knocked out and can't let Johnson drive in with his patented straight right hand. I anticipate Johnson will be able to reach out a touch Kos at will and rebuff any takedown offence. My system predicts Johnson by a considerable margin.

UFC 105 Wilks v. Brown

Brown showed why he has been an underrated fighter since his loss on TUF against Amir Sadollah. Brown showed his speed, strength, endurance, and skill set finishing an outclassed James Wilks. Brown varied his attack and he used the ground minded Wilks strengths against him with a well-timed flying knee.

UFC 105 Couture v. Vera

I don't know how the favoured fighters in the UFC seem to get the real advantages, Couture gets knocked down and in pain and Vera doesn't swarm in and then in the second round Couture had a blatant shorts hold while he smothered Vera against the fence. Vera had Couture in trouble in the first and second rounds, and took down Couture to end round 3. Again, the refs must be crosseyed - or biased. Couture's win can not be an endorsement- he looked incapable of finishing the action. And Vera let a golden opportunity slip through his fingers.

UFC 105 Bisping v. Kang

Michael Bisping, a man that suffers from mental diarrhea and what appears like "little empire syndrome" did get knocked out by Kang in the first round. Luckily Kang spent the rest of the round trying to get to full mount and allowed Bisping back into the fight instead of standing back up in a restart to finish Bisping on the feet. Kang seemed a little confused, he circled to the left when both he and Bisping are orthodox fighters - a little mental lapse for Kang. It seems Bisping gets a second redemption and as it seems to go when Bisping fights in the UK he gets a little extra help from the judges (Sinosic, Matt Hammill, ...) - of UFC marketing spin.

UFC 105 Winner v. Delgado

Andre Winner proved that he should have one TUF when he dismantled Roli Delgado with an overhand right, that dropped Delgado on the first strike and continued to find its mark. Andre Winner was a little sloppy and overconfident, but Delgado had no response to the overhand right and it proved the difference in a TKO for Winner, who looks ready for more than Ross Pearson.

UFC 105 Pearson v. Riley

Riley looked flat and Pearson didn't capitalize on it. The comments from announcers regarding Riley indicate that he was not really loose in the first round and that continued into the second. The fact that Pearson couldn't capitalize on a stiff and hesitant opponent says more about his tactical thinking that it does about Riley. Not an impressive performance by either, TKO by cut for Pearson. It doesn't validate Pearson as much as Grogan and Oldberg claim it is. Beware of UFC market spin.

Favourite Video - The Flying Knee

Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort demonstrates how to shock an awe and opponent when he leaps at the unprepared Terry Martin at Affliction Banned.

Strikeforce - Fedor v. Rogers

I watched the fight between Rogers and Fedor, and it was a good fight. But the one thing I noticed as the fighters were announced was the nervousness and agitation in the face of Brett Rogers that told me he was not likely to win. As Matt Hughes once said, "the fight game is 90% mental" and this is true. It looks like Rogers gave Fedor too much respect and did not treat him badly. He broke Fedor's nose with the first punch but when he felt the power of Fedor he started backing up and that was not a good tactic.

Rogers did so well on the ground and showed he deserved to be there, most people assuming Fedor was going to ground and submit Rogers. Rogers surprised him, that was plain.


Rogers knows he could have one, and did beat himself, and he knows it. He should have swarmed Fedor and wiped him out like Arlovski.

Rogers showed some mental weakness against a truly great opponent. He needs to work on concentration and strike and move to set up the knockout blow.

Rogers like so many before, had the chance to finish Fedor but it demonstrates what a unique MMA artist Fedor is.

UFC 105 Bisping v. Kang

Denis Kang in known to Pride FC followers, and doesn't have any of the British Bisping's big mouth and ego. But he is a serious striker and has all the same tools as Dan Henderson. Look for Bisping to try to strike with him and if Kang hits the right shot Bisping will be out. If not, then on the ground Kang has the edge as a BJJ black belt. My system predicts Kang to win

Strikeforce - Fedor v. Rogers

There is a lot of circular smack talk on the internet about Fedor and Rogers - without a lot of thinking.
Here's reality:
Rogers beat Arlovski because Arlovski was not prepared for the straight attack. Arlovski was beating Fedor for the same reason - tactics. Anyone can take one on the chin for a matt nap. Like a Hail Mary pass can win, all things being equal fighters must come prepared for their opponent's strength and strategy. The fighter that comes in with an unpredicted surprise strategy has the advantage.

Fedor knows how Rogers will attack, and he knows where Rogers is weak.

Rogers knows Fedor's skills, and he knows where Fedor is weak.

All that nonsense about who beat who or who is better is just plain nonsense - it's empty.

Fedor is Fedor's biggest weakness, he thinks he can keep recovering from mistakes, and against a hard puncher that isn't good.

Rogers is confident, but that is his biggest weakness.

Both must expose the weakness and stick to their game plan. The one who sticks to the game plan - the right tactics - will defeat the other guy. I predicted a while back that Rogers will win because hype and previous history means nothing; he has longer arms, stronger, faster, and willing to take a shot to deliver the knockout shot, and is not afraid of the consequences.


As my old karate instructor said, "professionals are predictable, amateurs are dangerous!"