COUTURE RETURNS HOME AFTER LESNAR BEATING
Portland, OR– Randy Couture (16-9, 7 KOs, 2 SUBs) vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (31-5-1, 2 KOs, 20 SUBs) Although this fight may be five years too late, it still shows promise to be an entertaining headliner. Couture, now 46, will look to erase the memory of his last fight-a loss via TKO at the hands of the UFC heavyweight champion Brock Lesnar (4-1, 2 KOs, 1 SUB). He will have his hands full as he faces off against fellow legend Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira. Minotauro is also coming off a TKO loss against former UFC heavyweight champ Frank Mir (12-4, 2 KOS, 7 SUBs). Don’t let Minotauro’s lackluster performance against Mir fool you; he had been battling a staph infection before that fight and wasn’t even close to 100%. I think Nogueira will come back strong and father time will grab Couture by the throat. Prediction: Nogueira by Submission.
“DEAN OF MEAN” KEITH JARDINE IN ROUGH SPOT
Keith Jardine (14-5-1, 6 KOs, 2 SUBs) vs. Thiago Silva (13-1, 10 KOs, 2 SUBs) Jardine has got to be one of the most awkward guys to fight and is not easy to prepare for. He has a very jerky, unorthodox style that makes him hard to time. He has always taken on the best competition and gives his all; win or lose. He will need to be prepared as he takes on the once beaten Thiago Silva. Both men have very good striking skill sets and this could end up being fight of the night. It’s a hard one to call, but I think Silva probably learned a lot from his first and only loss, when he was TKO’d by light heavyweight champ Lyoto Machida (15-0, 5 KOs, 2 SUBs). Prediction: Silva by TKO.
LEBEN TRYING TO BOUNCE BACK FROM SILVA LOSS
Chris Leben (18-6, 10 KOs, 4 SUBs) vs. Jake Rosholt (5-1, 4 KOs, 1 SUB) Leben will need this win to keep his career alive. After his loss to middleweight kingpin Anderson Silva (25-4, 15 KOs, 4 SUBs), he has gone 3-3 including a suspension for testing positive for steroids in his losing effort against Michael Bisping (17-2, 11 KOs, 4 SUBs) last October. Rosholt is no pushover and Leben will need to be at his best to beat him. Prediction: Leben by TKO.
STAND UP VS. THE GROUND GAME
Nate Marquardt (28-8-2, 6 KOs, 15 SUBs) vs. Demian Maia (10-0, 1 KO, 8 SUBs) The always improving Nate Marquardt will look to become the first man to defeat Demian Maia. He will have his work cut out for him as Maia is no doubt one of the best Jiu-Jitsu men in the world in any weight class. However, if Marquardt can avoid the ground game and use his stand up striking skills, he could end up taking Maia out of his game and earn himself a decision, or possibly a knockout victory. If however it hits the ground, Marquardt might as well go a head and tap. Prediction: Maia by Submission.
Brandon Vera (10-3, 7 KOs, 1 SUB) vs. Krzysztof Soszynski (18-8-1, 6 KOs, 9 SUBs) Vera is now fighting at a more natural weight, that being light heavyweight (205). Vera had been making a name for himself at heavyweight after beating Frank Mir by TKO. After that fight, he seemed to lose his edge as he lost three of his next four fights. Now with a new zest for the sport, he will be taking on the dangerous Soszynski. This fight should be a good one and should be a solid way to open up the night of action. Prediction: Vera by UD.
UNDERCARD
Gabriel Gonzaga (10-4, 4 KOs, 6 SUBs) vs. Chris Tuchscherer (17-1, 7 KOs, 6 SUBs)
Prediction: Tuchscherer by SD.
Ed Herman (15-7, 4 KOs, 7 SUBs) vs. Aaron Simpson (5-0, 5 KOs)
Prediction: Simpson by UD.
Michael Russow (11-1, 2 KOs, 8 SUBs) vs. Justin McCully (9-4-2, 5 SUBs)
Prediction: Russow by Submission.
Todd Duffee (4-0, 4 KOs) vs. Tim Hague (10-1, 5 KOs, 3 SUBs)
Prediction: Hague by Submission.
Mark Munoz (5-1, 3 KOs) vs. Nick Catone (6-1, 3 KOs, 2 SUBs)
Prediction: Munoz by UD.
Marcus Aurelio (18-7, 4 KOs, 11 SUBs) vs. Evan Dunham (8-0, 2 KOs, 5 SUBs)
Prediction: Aurelio by Submission.
Matt Grizzle