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Leonard Garcia vs Nam Phan
Leonard "Bad Boy" Garcia vs Nam Phan
Better Nickname Bad Boy... really, Leonard? Then how do you explain getting caught in the UFC's first twister submission? Besides, as Anders said on Workaholics, that's disrespectful to the rap game. Biggie RIP. Phan wins; by subtraction.
Inside Scoop, @badboygarcia He hasn't looked good in his last six (2-3-1). He's got heart. He's a scrapper but the only person he's beaten lately is Nam Phan...
Inside Scoop, @namphanmma Not sure if it's bad luck or an inability to seize an opportunity but Phan hasn't been able to pull out the big fights. With a record of 16-9, another loss would raise questions about his future with the UFC.
Prediction Phan. Many say Phan was robbed in their first match but Garcia has a lot to prove too. Either it's a laser show or someone gets submitted. A decision benefits neither fighter. Garcia's never been knocked out. Since Phan's jaw is soft like a week-old clementine, he takes Garcia to the ground and taps him with a submission.
Melvin Guillard vs Joe Lauzon
Melvin "The Young Assassin" Guillard vs Joe "J-Lau" Lauzon
Better Nickname Guillard is 28 so he still qualifies as young, but what happens when he turns 40? Besides, he's going up against J-Lau—pronounced J-Lo, that is. Clearly Lauzon has a sense of humor. Jenny FTB is single. Maybe she'll take notice. On that alone, Lauzon wins.
Inside Scoop, @young__assassin Guillard's had 40 fights so despite his youth, he's experienced. He's a talented striker whose major problem has been submission defense. Over the last two years he's shored that up and he enters this match riding a 5-fight win streak.
Inside Scoop, @JoeLauzon J-Lau is a versatile fighter who can submit you or knock you out. He's won "Fight/Submission of the Night" honors six times but he's 2-2 in his last four fights.
Prediction Guillard. Lauzon is hard to beat but Guillard has been on a tear lately. In a toss up, it's hard to pick against momentum. Guillard stays off the ground and wins with strikes.
This is a good bet for KO of the night.
Chael Sonnen vs Brian Stann
Chael Sonnen vs "All American" Brian Stann
Comedic Backstory Since last year, Sonnen's life has gone something like this: He broke a mirror then walked under a ladder before stopping to let a black cat saunter by. Translation: He lost a title fight to Anderson Silva in the last round. Then he tested positive for elevated testosterone which he blamed on Hypogonadism medication. After that, he was forced to plead guilty to money laundering for his involvement in a mortgage fraud.
After a year on the sidelines, Sonnen was reinstated and the UFC throws him in with a hard-hitting upstart who happens to be a decorated Iraq War veteran. Yikes. This guy must have barbequed a cow in a previous life.
Inside Scoop, @sonnench This dude has one of the biggest mouths in the game and he uses it. When he's not hating on Anderson Silva he's bad-mouthing the Spider. It's an obsession. However, his wrestling is legit and he can take a punch.
Inside Scoop, @brianstann Since moving from light heavyweight to middleweight, Stann has racked up three straight wins: two by knock-out and one by submission. Sonnen is his biggest test to date.
Prediction Stann. The best thing to happen to Sonnen in recent history is a $10,000 fine so he's got nowhere to go but up. Unfortunately, getting knocked out by Stann is up, and that's what's going to happen. Stann avoids the takedowns and rocks Sonnen to sleep with fisticuffs.
Jose Aldo vs Kenny Florian
Jose "Junior" Aldo vs Kenny "KenFlo" Florian
Better Nickname Floetry. The Flowbee. "Flow Joe." "Let the Funk Flow." Co Flow. The only way Aldo could win this is if his nickname was short for Junior's Cheesecake. KenFlo wins.
Inside Scoop, @josealdojunior Some experts argue that Aldo, the featherweight champ, is the best fighter (pound-for-pound) in the knuckle game. His jiu-jitsu is proper but he never uses it because he's been so successful with the strikes.
Inside Scoop, @kennyflorian Kenflo is well-rounded. He can win by knock out or submission. His only losses have come at the gloves of top level guys. This is his second match at featherweight since moving down from lightweight. He won his first. This is also his second title fight. He lost a match for the lightweight belt to BJ Penn. A victory here would be major redemption.
Prediction Junior. Florian hasn't been knocked out since Hurricane Katrina made landfall, but Junior hasn't lost since Kuwaiti women earned the right to vote. Aldo's too fast and too strong. He slows Florian with leg kicks and finishes him with the fists by TKO.
Frankie Edgar vs Gray Maynard
Frankie "The Answer" Edgar vs "The Bully" Gray Maynard
Pre-Fight Hype: This is the third fight between these guys. Maynard won the first by unanimous decision. The second, for the lightweight belt, was a draw. Maynard had Edgar out on his feet with strikes but the champ battled back to earn a draw.
Inside Scoop, @frankieedgarEven though he's the champ he's never beaten Maynard. That has to weigh on the psyche. But Edgar showed tremendous heart and stamina in the last fight. Only problem, he still didn't win.
Inside Scoop, @graymaynardHe's undefeated as a pro and his trophy case is filled with collegiate and high school wrestling statuettes. He makes a fair point when he says he's the most accomplished fighter in the division. The only thing preventing that from being the absolute truth is Frankie Edgar. Staying perfect, as Kelly Rowland would say, that's motivation.
Prediction Maynard.The Bully has only fought a 5-rounder once and it resulted in his only non-win. Maynard's weakness is his gas tank. Both fighters know that. Edgar will try to stretch it past three rounds but Maynard won't let him. He uses his size to wear Edgar down and stops him with strikes.