Make your predictions:

Rich Franklin (27-4) v. Vitor Belfort (18-8)

Vitor is a fighter that gets his spirit broken as the fight goes on. Rich can get him to that point as long as he survives the initial fury. Rich has to be better than he was against Wanderlei though. Rich by decision.

Mirko Cro Cop (25-6) v. Junior Dos Santos (8-1)

Cro Cop has been fighting defensively his last few fights and Junior has been mowing through his last couple of opponents. This should be a match of whoever gets their shot in first. Cro Cop has always been one of my favorite fighters so I'll go with him via TKO, although it could go either way.

Martin Kampman (15-2) v. Paul Daley (21-8)

What should've been a #1 contender's match becomes a showcase match for Kampman. Kampman by TKO.

Josh Koscheck (14-4) v. Frank Trigg (19-6)

I was not a Koscheck fan but he has shown improvement over his last few fights and I expect him to come back strong after his last fight. Josh will be faster, younger and stronger than Trigg. Josh by TKO.

Tyson Griffin (13-2) v. Hermes Franca (20-7)

Both of these guys need a win. Tyson hasn't shown much improvement over his last few fights and Franca will be a big test for him. Franca by TKO.

Efrain Escudero (12-0) v. Cole Miller (15-3)

A good matchup that might not be broadcast. I think Escudero will have a good showing. Escudero via tapout.

Rich Franklin (27-4) v. Vitor Belfort (18-8)

Rich decision.

Mirko Cro Cop (25-6) v. Junior Dos Santos (8-1)

Dos Santos KO 2

Martin Kampman (15-2) v. Paul Daley (21-8)

Kapmann tko 2

Josh Koscheck (14-4) v. Frank Trigg (19-6)

Trigg sub 2

Tyson Griffin (13-2) v. Hermes Franca (20-7)

Franca via decision.

Efrain Escudero (12-0) v. Cole Miller (15-3)

Miller TKO 2

Hmmm....Hermes Franca looked like he didn't train at all for that fight. The only time Franca ever looked in shaped was when he got busted for 'roids, but he looked bad last night. Dana White must have been ****ed.
Cro Cop said he would fight to the death (like B.J.) then said "no mas" (like B.J.).
The new up and coming heavyweights (Carwin, Dos Santos, Lesnar and Duffie) are much better than the old heavies (Tim Sylvia, Arlovski, Mir).
Would like to see Dana find some competition for B.J. at 155. Fast.

First, I must say that I enjoyed the free undercard matches on SPIKE TV and extra undercard matches on the PPV more than the actual PPV matches. All the fighters seemed a bit off to me for some reason.

I agree that Franca looked as if he just got over being sick, was sick or was injured. Something had to be up since he couldn't make weight and really looked bad. He had no fight to him and little energy as well. Griffin did what he had to do but I wouldn't say he answered a lot of questions as Rogan and Goldberg stated.

Trigg got beat easily as I thought he would. The ref might've stopped it a second or 2 early but Trigg was going to be KO'd so no foul IMO.

Daley stepped up and made a statement! Kampman didn't look like much of a fighter who was in #1 contender's talk.

Cro Cop is done. Hate to say it since he's one of my favorites but he was fighting gun shy. Fighting defensively and afraid to throw punches or kicks. Dos Santos didn't look too impressive either. Put Dos Santos in with one of the heavier hitters in the HW division and he'll begin showing bigger cracks in his game.

Franklin v. Vitor was a HUGE disappointment!!! Rich looked stiff. I don't even know what Rich got hit with that took him down, even after seeing the replay. Rich saw the replay and couldn't figure it out either.

UFC is getting desperate to hotshot matches for PPVs. They were talking about Vitor getting a title shot against Silva at 185 if he won? How does he get a title shot or even talk about it so soon with him just coming back to the UFC. He barely made the 195 catchweight. Ridiculous.

Totally agree. It looked like Rich got hit in the back of the head with a wrist... Not a good PPV.

Don't know what Kampmann was thinking-Daley has ZERO ground skills, yet Kampmann wanted to make a statement by getting the KO. Should have tried for the takedown ASAP. Neither one is in the same league as GSP.
The Trigg stoppage might have been early, but he wasn't winning that fight anyway-he's been fighting cans for the last 5 years, and the few fights he's had against UFC level fighters have been losses. The only "name" fighter he's beaten in years is "Mayhem" Miller-who's only a "name" because of his MTV show.
Looked to me like Franklin caught at least two illegal shots (back of the head, base of the neck) when he went down, but he was rocked beforehand.
Vitor should fight either Hendo or Marquardt before he gets a shot-but probably won't, because Belfort vs. Silva is a bigger draw (as Silva hasn't already beaten him).

Nice to see a couple MMA fans on board.

quote:

Originally posted by Paulzzy:
Nice to see a couple MMA fans on board.

Welcome aboard.

quote:

Originally posted by Paulzzy:
Don't know what Kampmann was thinking-Daley has ZERO ground skills, yet Kampmann wanted to make a statement by getting the KO. Should have tried for the takedown ASAP. Neither one is in the same league as GSP.
The Trigg stoppage might have been early, but he wasn't winning that fight anyway-he's been fighting cans for the last 5 years, and the few fights he's had against UFC level fighters have been losses. The only "name" fighter he's beaten in years is "Mayhem" Miller-who's only a "name" because of his MTV show.
Looked to me like Franklin caught at least two illegal shots (back of the head, base of the neck) when he went down, but he was rocked beforehand.
Vitor should fight either Hendo or Marquardt before he gets a shot-but probably won't, because Belfort vs. Silva is a bigger draw (as Silva hasn't already beaten him).

Nice to see a couple MMA fans on board.

Kampman had a lousy game plan and its things like that which keep guys like him from getting title shots.

Totally agree about Trigg. Fighting Koscheck in his first time back in the octagon was a huge step up in competition.

Rich definitely took a shot to the back of the head and a shot to the neck but yes, he was rocked beforehand. That fight was pretty much over when he went down. Rich fought scared, just like he did against A. Silva. In all the pre-fight interviews all he kept talking about was Vitor's hand speed, it was in his head. Not good.

I agree that Vitor should have to have at least 1 or 2 more fights before facing the Champ. It sends a bad message to the fighters already there fighting consistently and it sends a message to the fans that the division is shallow that a new guy gets a title shot, just like it did with Lesnar. Those 2 guys you mentioned would be good matchups and big draws as well. Of course not as big as a hotshot match against the Champ but really... let him earn the title shot!