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UFC 59: Reality Check
April 15, 2006
Arrowhead Pond
Anaheim, California
By Stephen Quadros, “The
Fight Professor”
It feels good typing the word “California” at the top of this
preview, real good. Yes, the main “reality” in this is that MMA is HERE…in the
golden state; the UFC will finally make it’s debut in Cali. The ‘other reality’
is that this UFC is headlined by…
UFC Heavyweight Championship
| Andrei Arlovski (Belarus) |
Vs. |
Tim Sylvia (USA) |
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UFC heavyweight champion Andrei “Pitbull” Arlovski may
have to get a restraining order to prevent Tim Sylvia from getting any
more title shots during the Belarusian’s reign “if” he beats the
“Maine-iac” again. This is really getting like the Halloween film series
where Michael Myers will always come back for one more go (tonight’s
main event is Sylvia’s FOURTH title shot in 3 years, including when he
took the championship from Ricco Rodriguez in 2003). And big Tim is not
to blame here. What’s he supposed to say when the UFC comes calling? “Oh
no, I don’t want another try at being UFC heavyweight champion?” I don’t
think so. The “reality” question remains, if it’s not Sylvia to
challenge Arlovski, then who else is worthy in the UFC’s current
heavyweight fish bowl? Or better yet, just how does one ‘qualify’ for a
title shot? Food for thought…
Anyway…this match will most likely unfold like a déjà vu of their last
dance in February 2005 (UFC 51), where Andrei dropped Tim with a
cobra-quick punch and made him tap with an Achilles lock. So what has
changed since then that lead us to think differently? Not much. There is
no doubt that Andrei Arlovski is still the FASTEST heavyweight in the
UFC and seems unstoppable…in that universe.
Sylvia is a threat if you get caught with one of those humungous
punches, although his head kick KO of Tra Telligman suggests his overall
striking arsenal might be growing. But he does not have the quickness to
beat Andrei to the punch. Therefore I foresee an outcome that will be
almost identical to their last fight: Arlovski will hit him in the head,
the fight will go to the ground, where Andrei will end it, maybe by
ground and pound, but a submission is more likely. |
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| Tito Ortiz |
Vs. |
Forrest Griffin |
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I have had countless conversations about TUF (The
Ultimate Fighter TV show) and whether the fighters who come from that show
can ‘hang’ with UFC champions. TUF contestant Nate Quarry was definitely
thrown to the lions when he was given a “title shot” against UFC
middleweight king Rich Franklin (Quarry was KO’d quickly in the first
round).
Technically Tito Ortiz in not the champion anymore. But now that Randy
Couture has retired, Ortiz could be ranked, if the UFC ever did such a thing
(as fighter rankings), as high as #2, right behind champ Chuck Liddell. This
is based solely on his accomplishments inside the Octagon TM.
Forrest Griffin was the winner of the first TUF season finals, by the
narrowest of margins, with a gutsy effort against Stephan Bonnar (some
people felt Bonnar had done enough to win). Since then he went through
Canadian journeyman Bill Mahood (rear naked choke) and had a war with
Australia’s Elvis Sinosic before stopping him in the first round. Throughout
his career (Sherdog lists him as being 12-2) Forrest has always exhibited
loads of heart and has been known on occasion to come from behind to pull a
win out of the fire.
As likable and charismatic as Griffin is, he will be over his head
experience-wise with Tito. Ortiz also has one of the best wrestling-based
games in the sport. And although ground and pound is not the premiere style
for delivering multi-textured, fan friendly action, it is effective,
especially when it’s Tito Ortiz is on top of you and ungloved elbows are
legal.
I think there is a very good chance that Griffin, like Patrick Cote, will
survive and lose a decision against “The Huntington Beach Bad Boy” as
opposed to succumbing inside the distance. Yes, I pick Ortiz to win. But one
thing is for sure; Tito will not stand and trade. THAT would definitely
jeopardize his chances. |
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Nick Diaz, to me, is a fighter to the core. We all
know he takes his craft very seriously, maybe too seriously at times.
But I do not remember him ever given less than his all, even when he
lost. And boy, he sure doesn’t get many easy fights. His itinerary over
the past 2 years has included scraps with Diego Sanchez (decision loss),
Drew Fickett (TKO win), Joe Riggs (decision loss), Karo Parisyan (split
decision loss) and Robbie Lawler (KO win). Now he faces Sean Sherk, a
wrestling power plug with a fairly educated left hook.
Sherk was left out in the cold from the UFC for almost 3 years after his
decision loss to Matt Hughes. In his re-entry on November 19, 2005 (UFC
56) he represented himself well in losing to Georges St. Pierre. He gave
the Canadian a hard time standing before Georges decided to take matters
to the mat for the finish.
Diaz/Sherk is a difficult one to call because they both have strengths
standing. Diaz is a southpaw with a very tricky, albeit wide, right
hook. Sherk is the shorter fighter but has a compact, bursting punching
style. There ground games are different on paper in that Sherk is great
at takedowns but Nick has a very effective guard. I’ll have to toss a
coin on this one. |
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| Jeff Monson |
Vs. |
Marcio Cruz |
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This will be a grappling match as both are
well anointed in that world. I predict “The Snowman”, Monson will get a
decision over “Pe De Pano” in a slow paced contest. |
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| David Terrell |
Vs. |
Scott Smith |
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A jiu-jitsu guy with a punch against a wrestler with
a punch; hmm, I see this one being a ground battle, with a lot of
punching (thank you, thank, hold your applause). If Smith, who is WEC
(World Extreme Cagefighting) light-heavyweight champion, can keep it
upright he could make his UFC debut a memorable one (they don’t call him
“Hands Of Steel” for nothing). If not, “The Soul Assassin” (Terrell)
stands a very good chance of catching him with a choke or an armbar.
|
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| Karo Parisyan |
Vs. |
Nick Thompson |
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Karo cannot afford to lose this one. He’s
always one step away from a title shot or one step away from being out
of the UFC (it seems). Nick Thompson is a tough cookie who has racked up
8 straight wins since July 2005! But Parisyan has moved into the top ten
with wins over Nick Diaz, Chris Lytle and Matt Serra. Karo should
prevail here but Thompson may stretch him to a decision.
|
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| Jason Lambert |
Vs. |
Terry Martin |
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Jason Lambert will exploit
Terry Martin’s strike oriented game by getting the fight on the ground
and wailing away.. |
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| Thiago Alves |
Vs. |
Derrick Noble |
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There’s nothing like an
undercard rematch to settle an old score. Derrick Noble submitted Thiago
Alves in December 2003 with a rear naked choke. But Alves looked awful
good last November when he TKO’d Ansar Chalangov. So the American Top
Team slugger from Brazil has a shot here. Still I feel Noble may
duplicate his past win. |
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Evan Tanner |
Vs. |
Justin Levens |
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Justin Levens, like Scott
Smith, Nick Diaz and Jason Lambert (and many more), is another promising
fighter from WEC. But I doubt that will be mentioned on TV. He may make
a huge impression if former UFC middleweight champion Evan Tanner takes
him lightly. I feel Tanner knows he needs this fight to remain relevant
in the UFC. If Levens is smart he will use a lot of kicks and lateral
movement.
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 Stephen
Quadros, “The Fight Professor”, has worked as a host and play-by-play
commentator for some of the world’s greatest fight organizations including:
PRIDE, K-1 and Inoki Bom Ba Ye. He currently balances his activities
between acting, freelancing around the globe as a host/commentator for major
fight shows (World Extreme Cagefighting, Cage Rage, etc.), choreographing fight
scenes for feature films and playing drums for the band, Sacred Cowboys.
Visit Mr. Quadros on the world wide web at:
www.StephenQuadros.com
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