Let’s Get It ON!!!  This weekend UFC 93 is live from the Emerald Isle.  The first event for the UFC in Ireland is shaping up to be a good one, not necessarily for the fair weather fan but for the cage potatoes who know the difference between a gogoplata and an omoplata.  Who am I kidding?  Everyone loves seeing a couple beefcakes get in the Octagon and see who the better man is that day.  

Like I did before The Ultimate Fighter 8 Finale and failed to deliver for “The Ultimate 2008″.  I am going to supply you with my “knowledge” of the fights and give you a leg up on your competition or maybe some background information for those of you that may not know who these guys are.  So let’s get it started, I will only be discussing the fights that are scheduled to appear on TV.

Main Event: 205lbs Dan “Hendo” Henderson vs. Rich “Ace” Franklin

Pop Quiz: What do you get when you put 2 of the nicest guys in a cage against each other? Answer: Hendo vs. Franklin.  In one the weirdest match-ups I can remember, you get Dan Henderson, a nice guy but really justa  gate keeper in the UFC light heavyweight division vs. Rich Franklin a….nice guy and a gatekeeper in the UFC middleweight division.  Like I said, this is a weird fight and one that doesn’t really make sense to me?  If Hendo wins he jumps to…5th in line for the title shot???  And if Franklin wins he winds up somewhere near 7th?  Like I said this is a very strange match up and especially for a main event but I digress, these are two GREAT fighters with some pretty impressive resumes.  Henderson has a hall of fame of fighters under his belt and was once a double belt holder in Pride of Japan in the promotions haydays.  Franklin is no slouch himself.  He was the Anderson Silva of middleweights before well..Anderson Silva performed reconstructive surgery for free on Franklin’s face. Without that loss, Franklin had ran through the whole division and  looked like he couldn’t be stopped. 

Keys to victory: Its no secret “Ace” has about as good take down defence as a folding lawn chair. I am not even sure that metaphor makes sense but this guy needs WORK and Henderson is an unreal wrestler that loves the ground andpound.  Also a disadvantage for Rich is the chin of “Hendo”, that thing is as legendary as Pam Anderson’s twins (there’s a metaphor that works).  If Rich keeps this standing that would be his best chance.  If Henderson wants this on the groundit’s going to the ground and that will be that, snooze fest.

Outcome: Henderson via ugly unanimous decision.

205lbs: Mauricio “Shogun” Rua vs. Mark “Old As” Coleman

Now here is a fight that promise to be the polar opposite of the “Main event” with two guys who really don’t like each other.  The last time these two animals met was in Pride, when Rua fell awkwardly on his arm and snapped it in two ending the match early.  Ever since that controversial decision both these guys have wanted to prove who was the bigger stud and now they get prove it.  Last time UFC fans saw Rua he got out worked by Forrest Griffin and eventually was choked out.  Don’t let that last showing fool you, this guy is GOOD.  Still considered by many to be a top 4 light heavyweight IN THE WORLD, this guy is GOOD!  He once knocked out “Rampage” Jackson and it wasn’t unexpected.  Although fight a 44 year old, SLIGHTY over the hill Coleman,  this is a great chance for “Shogun” to get UFC fans excited about what he has to offer.  Coleman is a UFC legend.  He fought WAY back in UFC 10 and like Henderson this guy has fought EVERYONE. Fedor twice, Mirko Crocop, Antonio Nogueira even Dan Severn for crying out loud.  This guy is legit and also legitimately old as dirt which you would think poses a problem for him against a young phenom like Rua utthat is not the truth in this case.  Rua is younger but not great with the cardio and that may come into play here is Coleman uses his Olympic wrestling background and slowly grinds this fight out.

Keys to Victory: If Rua wants to prove all ney sayers wrong this is not the time to gas out against a 44 year old man.  Get down to business and either knock his block off or break HIS arm instead of your own for a change.  Coleman, you’re a 44 year old cage fighter and you can still sign your own name, good job, now go in there, wrestle this guy until her falls asleep and PLEASE don’t cry and tell your kids “Daddy is ok” because their kids might be there and no one wants to see Grampa cry on TV.

Outcome: Rua submission 2nd round

185lbs: Denis “Ghengis” Kang vs. Alan “The Talent” Belcher

This is Goat’s pick for fight of the night!  This fight (and the Davis/Lytle bout) has 2 fighters that are pretty much just trying to make a name for themselves at their weight class and will definitely end before the cards.  Denis Kang is a new comer to the UFC but not to the world of mixed martial arts or even bare knuckle fighting.  Since getting his start in a Vancouver warehouse bare knuckle chucking, he has put together quite the resume andeven went undefeated from 2004-2006 with 1 no contest.  Alan Belcher is probably one of the cockiest fighters in the UFC, even giving Rashad Evans a run for his ball grabbing money.  This Muay Thai specialist is always a fan favourite because of his exciting fights (albeit he is only 3-3 in the Octagon) he still brings the fun.

Keys to Victory: Kang, YOU DA MAN!  Show all these beautiful Irish people and the rest of the UFC fans why you are one of the most complete fighters in the world and bring the house on this guy, what do you have to lose? Oh yeah your contract. Belcher, you are 3-3 in a sport that forgets you as soon as your lights go out.  You need to go for broke in the match, your only chance is a Muay Thai battle, which you may still lose.  Just pray.

Outcome: Kang 1st round TKO

170lbs: Marcus “The Irish Hand Grenade” Davis vs. Chris “Lights Out” Lytle

Here are 2 guys that BETTER make this fight of the night.  Since he called out Dana White, Marcus Davis has basically but his ass on the line withthis fight.  After Davis’ last win (UFC 89) he begged in the Octagon for a chance to fight in his motherland of Ireland.  Well Davis got his wish and now he is fighting someone who called HIM OUT.  Chris Lytle fighting at the SAME UFC 89 after Davis made his claim for a fight in Ireland, Lytle demanded he be the man to face the Irish Hand Grenade.  Well boys you got your wish but at what price?  If I know Dana White, and I don’t whatsoever, he doesn’t like when someone puts him on the spot andyou both have done that .  So if I were either of you, I would take this fight like a “loser leaves town” and make the other loser leave town.

Keys to victory: Seriously, both of you SWING FOR THE FENCES!

Outcome: I would say *flips coin* Lytle in a decision andboth get dropped from the UFC.

I know there is another fight on the card but I cant spell the one fighters name and I REFUSE to write anything about Jeremy Horn.  Remember the fights are being shown at 3pm ET as well as 10pm ET, so get to you favourite watering hole or in front of the biggest TV you can find and then THANK ME for giving you all a winning day of UFC 93 fantasy.

Peace!

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