UFC 119: MIR VS CRO COP
by Eric Van Den Haas, Prediction Specialist...and Evil
Madness Levels indicate the amount of insanity inspired in anticipation of a fight on a scale of 1 to 10, a numerical translation of excitement for each fight.
Evil Eric speak 'em...
MAIN PPV CARD
Heavyweight Bout
MIRKO CRO COP vs FRANK MIR
Madness Level (1-10): 7
This would be a 10 on the Madness scale if this was 2005. Now... well, it's a relatively poor main event compared to what the UFC has been treating us to recently. I would love to see Crop Cop kick the shit outta Frank "Papps" Mir but I'm betting that Mirko gets taken down and submitted. Man, I'd love to be wrong on this one!
PREDICTION: Frank Mir by Submission in Round 1
____________________________________________Light Heavyweight Bout
RYAN BADER vs ANTONIO ROGERIO NOGUEIRA
Madness Level (1-10): 8
I tend to take the young, hungry up and comer over the overrated veteran. Bader will lose at some point but not against Minotoro. Bloody hell, Jason Brilz outwrestled Nogueira and nearly beat him!
PREDICTION: Ryan Bader by Unanimous Decision
____________________________________________Welterweight Bout
CHRIS LYTLE vs MATT SERRA
Madness Level (1-10): 9
Hard to believe that a bout featuring a couple of 36 year olds is generating the most Madness for yours truly but it is an intriguing battle. Lytle's all-out style has garnered him several Fight/Sub/KO of the Night bonus checks (and it's quite possible once again) but he'll be on the wrong end of the majority of abuse dished out.
PREDICTION: Matt Serra by Unanimous Decision
____________________________________________Lightweight Bout
EVAN DUNHAM vs SEAN SHERK
Madness Level (1-10): 7
Another undefeated, rising star against an aging vet well past his prime (who hasn't fought in 16 months due to a variety of injuries). There is no way Dunham loses this fight - just a matter of how he prevails.
PREDICTION: Evan Dunham by Submission in Round 3
____________________________________________Lightweight Bout
MELVIN GUILLARD vs JEREMY STEPHENS
Madness Level (1-10): 8
This will be quite the battle and it could go either way but I'll take Lil' Heathen in a slight upset as his game is a lil' more well-rounded.
PREDICTION: Jeremy Stephens by TKO in Round 2
____________________________________________UFC PRELIMS LIVE ON SPIKE TV
Middleweight Bout
JOE DOERKSEN vs CB DOLLAWAY
Madness Level (1-10): 6
Joe Dirt was a huge underdog against Tom Lawlor (who defeated Dollaway) and prevailed via submission... and The Doberman's had trouble with submission defense in the past. Sadly I don't have the stones to back the biggest dog on the card though this ain't the walk in the park the oddsmakers might have you believe.
PREDICTION: C.B. Dollaway by Unanimous Decision
____________________________________________Heavyweight Bout
JOEY BELTRAN vs MATT MITRIONE
Madness Level (1-10): 7
I'm quite surprised Meathead is the favorite here. He beat Marcus Jones and Kimbo - so what? The Mexicutioner has pretty much KO'd everyone he's faced that's not named Tony Lopez. Add Mitrione to the casualties list (much to the delight of many TUF fans).
PREDICTION: Joey Beltran by TKO in Round 2
____________________________________________PRELIMINARY BOUTS
Lightweight Bout
PAT AUDINWOOD vs THIAGO TAVARES
Madness Level (1-10): 6
I'm really pulling for Tavares in this fight. He came into the UFC with so much promise that he has yet to fulfill (though injuries having certainly been a factor). Besides, he's up against some douche that goes by the handle "Awesomely Awesome"... seriously.
PREDICTION: Thiago Tavares by Submission in Round 1
____________________________________________Lightweight Bout
STEVE LOPEZ vs WAYLON LOWE
Madness Level (1-10): 5
I generally don't back fighters who lose in the first round on a knee to the body. Put some dough on an Indiana boy on an Indiana night.
PREDICTION: Steve Lopez by TKO in Round 2
____________________________________________Welterweight Bout
TJ GRANT vs JULIO PAULINO
Madness Level (1-10): 6
Their records suggest this should be a fairly even bout - not so. Grant has lost to serious contenders like Dong Hyun Kim and Johny Hendricks while Paulino was hunting wolverines in Alaska.
PREDICTION: T.J. Grant by Submission in Round 2
____________________________________________Heavyweight Bout
MARK HUNT vs SEAN McCORKLE
Madness Level (1-10): 8
A 36 year old, loser of 5 straight matches, makes his UFC debut against an undefeated 6' 7", 300 pounder fighting in his home state. Sounds like an absurd mismatch... but that's no ordinary 36 year old. That's Mark Hunt, son! Baaaaammmmm!!
PREDICTION: Mark Hunt by TKO in Round 1
