And… the UFC comes back to 
I love MMA, but it seems like the UFC is really struggling lately to put on a compelling card. I think the events are coming too often. Who can spend $50 a month (or more!) on Pay Per Views? This Saturday’s card is mediocre, but should provide at least a few entertaining fights. The UFC’s light heavyweight division is stacked and full of talented fighters, but this card is a bit heavy; pun intended. Let’s check out the fights!
The Main Card
Anderson Silva (23-4) vs. Thales Leites (14-1) - Middlweight (185)


Anderson Silva is widely regarded as the best pound-for-pound fighter in the world. With his recent move to 205lb just for kicks, and his dominance there, too, I’m not surprised at the rankings. He’s won 9 straight fights in convincing fashion, and there’s no reason to think the trend won’t continue. Leites is no slouch, but he’s nowhere near Silva’s level. Silva wins by TKO/KO in Round 1.
Chuck Liddell (21-6) vs. Mauricio Rua (17-3) - Light Heavyweight (205)


This is a career-breaker one way or the other. Liddell used to be one of the best, now he’s a 40 year old has-been. The cracks in his game started to show when Rampage dropped him at UFC 71. But hey, losing to Rampage is nothing to cry about. Then Keith Jardine took him to the cards at UFC 76, and Rashad Evans rang his bell at UFC 88. This isn’t the Chuck Liddell of 2005, folks. Rua looks to be in a much better position, although his last 2 fights have left him looking gassed and pathetic. First, my boy Forest tapped him out, and then with 24 seconds to go in round 3 he barely managed to finish a geriatric Mark Coleman. Not exactly a strong showing. This is a fight that I’m wondering how the hell it’s even on the card; let’s see who wants to end their career faster! Rua wins by unanimous decision.
Brian Stann (6-1) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (16-8-1) - Light Heavyweight (205)


I have no idea why this is even on the televised card. Stann is - quite literally - a one hit wonder. He punches hard, and that’s it. Zero other technical skills round out his game, and Soszynski would do well to not stand and trade. Soszynski is a TUF alumni, and that’s the only reason this bout isn’t a dark match; the UFC is pushing its own brand and trying to make him a name. He trains with Couture and the rest of Team Quest, so he’s got a well rounded game, but I predict a boring-ass fight. Stann will try to trade, Soszynski will dance and survive to take it to the ground, where he’ll feebling attempt to submit Stann for a few minutes. I think this one is going to the cards, folks. Yawnfest. Soszynski wins by submission in Round 2.
Cheick Kongo (13-4-1) vs. Antoni Hardonk (8–4) - Heavyweight (265)


Kongo is an absolute monster. He lost by a shady decision to some washed up douche from Texas, and in my opinion his failings are all mental. His last two brutal TKOs should give him the confidence going into this match to take Hardonk to the cleaners. Hardonk’s list of opponents reads more like the roster of last month’s Tough Guy contest held behind the Waffle House. He’s overmatched, and it’s going to show. Round 1 is going to be boring while both strikers try to find their range and not make any mistakes, Round 2 is when the banging will begin in earnest. Kongo wins by TKO in Round 2.
Luis Cane (9-1) vs. Steve Cantwell (7-1) - Light Heavyweight (205)


Strangely enough, this is the most compelling fight (besides the main event) on the entire card. Cane has the entire UFC hype machine roaring to life behind him, but by all accounts he’s done well to keep a level head and focus on training. Cantwell was apparently a big deal in the WEC, but nobody knows that because who the fuck cares about the WEC? This is the real deal, and Cane is a much better opponent than anyone else Cantwell has ever faced. It’s going to be a slugfest for these guys, and I predict it’ll be a fun fight. Cane wins by TKO in Round 1.
The Undercard
The non-televised card has a lot of potentially great fights on it. I’m hoping the main fights go short so that we get a chance to see some of these.
Eliot Marshall (6-1) vs. Vinny Magalhaes (2-3) - Light Heavyweight (205). Two TUF veterans going head to head? A likely promo to televised if it’s not boring. Magalhaes’s Jiu Jitsu is masterful and should end this one by submission.
Denis Kang (31-11-1) vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam (20-9) - Middleweight (185). Kang has come and gone over the years, from Pride to the UFC. He’s a solid midcard journeyman and I’m not surprised he’s just making a living. Foopa-Pokem is a no-namer who has fought other no-namers. Seriously, I’ve never heard of him or just about anyone he’s ever fought. I’m going to say Kang is going to welcome him to the big leagues with a TKO.
Jason MacDonald (20-11) vs. Nate Quarry (16-3) - Middleweight (185). This is another likely-to-be-promoted-to-televised. Both of these guys have yo-yo’d around the Middleweight division for some time, and it’s a style clash. MacDonald grapples and Quarry strikes; it’s the wrestling that will decide this one. I think Quarry keeps it on the feet and TKOs MacDonald late.
David Loiseau (18-8) vs. Ed Herman (16-6) - Middleweight (185). Two fighters with decent name recongition that could never put it together and are fast both becoming journeymen in their division. The only reason this fight is interesting is that it’s doubtful the loser will fight in the UFC again; Loiseau was already cut once and only brought back because this PPV is in Canada. I really don’t care who wins, honestly.
Mark Bocek (6-2) vs. David Bielkheden (13-6) - Lightweight (155). I actually don’t know anything about these fighters. I recognize Bocek’s name, but don’t have anything to say except that I love watching these lightning fast 155ers throw down.
Ryo Chonan (15-9) vs. T.J. Grant (13-2) - Welterweight (170). If Grant weren’t Canadian, he wouldn’t be fighting at all. Chonan is a veteran from the Japanese MMA scene, but while he’s mid-tier at best he should prove a difficult first fight in the big time for Grant. Although I don’t know anything about him, let’s root for the new guy, eh?
Sam Stout (14-5-1) vs. Matt Wiman (10-4) - Lightweight (155). This should be on the main card rather than the Soszynski fight. I love lightweights, and these two scrappy guys are fighting for the kind of name recognition that will get them on TV for sure. Stout’s striking is overrated, but you guessed it! He’s Canadian. Wiman is pretty well rounded and generally puts on a good show. I’m thinking its going to go to the ground and Wiman will submit Stout early.