Coutesy of www.UFC.com
Just a week following UFC 89 in Birmingham, England, the UFC returns to the States. UFC 90 will be held just outside Chicago in Rosemont, Ill at the Allstate Arena, with a Main Event featuring Anderson Silva vs. Patrick Cote. I was 4-1 in my predictions for UFC 89, my one loss due to taking Leben over Bisbing. This card is a little tougher but here I go.
Main Event
Anderson “The Spider” Silva vs. Patrick “The Predator” Cote
How can anyone in all seriousness pick Cote in this fight? I’ll give one reason-Mark DelleGrotte. DelleGrotte always has his fighters well prepared and with a top-notch game-plan in place. Nobody can question Cote’s solid chin or KO power but word out of his camp is that his ground game and conditioning have improved by leaps and bounds as well (for what that’s worth). Does that really mean he has a chance against arguably the best fighter in the world? I still have serious doubts. Silva has walked through every opponent he’s faced in the UFC. Only Travis Lutter and Dan Henderson had him in any sort of trouble and that turned out to be not much trouble at all. I’m all for the underdog but I’m not sure I can pick against Silva. Or can I.
In reading Tomas Rios (writer for Sherdog) breakdown on this fight, Tomas made quite clear his political leanings. So here are mine, as you’ll see in my analogy to this fight and the Presidential race. Silva like Obama is unbeatable (also not from the United States), no one thinks he can lose except his opponent and those closest too his opponent. Well, this guy is expecting two upsets, Cote much like McCain may just well “shock the world”. I’ve seen crazier things before. Cote by TKO rd 2.
Thiago Alves vs. Josh Koscheck
Alves is on an absolute tear, having won 6 in a row, his last a dominating win over Matt Hughes. His striking is above average and he’s a purple belt in BJJ also his muay thai is exceptional. Having been prepared to fight Diego Sanchez, there’s no telling if the change in opponent will have an affect on him. Josh Koscheck as we all know, is perhaps one of the better wrestlers in MMA but lately he’s shown a vast improvement on his striking, out striking boxer Chris Lytle. That may be his undoing against Alves.
Prediction: Alves by TKO rd 3
Fabricio Werdum vs. Junior Dos Santos
Werdum may be the most underrated fighter in the UFC. After losing his UFC debut against Andrei Arlovski by decision, he has won two in a row against Gabriel Gonzaga and Brandon Vera. Werdum is a black belt in BJJ and a brown belt in judo and his striking is slightly above average. Junior Dos Santos will be making his UFC debut but holds an MMA record of 6-1. Dos Santos is a purple belt in BJJ and has a boxing background, so although he may be good on the ground, I expect him to try and stay on his feet.
Prediction: Werdum by submission rd 2
Tyson Griffin vs. Sean Sherk
This is a very interesting match-up, both Sherk and Griffin are short, strong and amazing grapplers. Griffin has won 4-in-a-row but all by decision. Sherk is coming off a brutal beating from BJ Penn but he still is a former champion and his only other losses were to GSP and Matt Hughes both at welterweight. This could very well be “fight of the night”.
Prediction: I see this one going the distance, with the winner by split decision Sean Sherk
Rich Clementi vs Gray Maynard
Maynard is coming off a huge win over Frankie Edgar which really opened some eyes. His wrestling is superb and he’s very strong. Clementi has strung together 4 wins in-a-row and is equally as strong as Maynard. Clementi may have the advantage standing but that wont mean much if Maynard keeps taking him down.
Prediction: This is a tough one to call but I’ll take the wrestler, Maynard by decision.
