Tonight on PPV, Live at 7 pm P.T.,UFC 98 - Evans vs. Machida.

<object width="560" height="340"><param name="movie" value="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bf48nJ48Q8Y&hl=en&fs=1"><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true"><param name="allowscriptaccess" value="always"> <embed src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bf48nJ48Q8Y&hl=en&fs=1" mce_src="http://www.youtube.com/v/Bf48nJ48Q8Y&hl=en&fs=1" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowscriptaccess="always" allowfullscreen="true" width="560" height="340"></object>

Great night of fights tonight. The Main Event is going to be great for those who can really appreciate the depth of strategy involved in MMA, and might be considered a snooze fest for others. But, if that be the case, you'll get your fill from the Co-Main Event.

As always, the fights can be seen via

http://channelsurfing.net/ and usually
<a target="_blank" rel="nofollow" href="http://www.justin.tv/directory/sports" >
http://www.justin.tv/directory/sports</a>

(Channelsurfing the link is closer to the bottom. On justin.tv, it's just in one of the channels. You'll probably find it fairly easily.)

Now! Onto the fights! And feel free to let us know who you think is gonna win and why...

UFC 98 - Evans vs. Machida

For the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship of the World: (205 pounds)

"Suga" Rashad Evans (18-0-1) vs. Lyoto "The Dragon" Machida (14-0-0)



- In the Welterweight Division (156-170)

Matt Hughes (43-7-0) vs. Matt "The Terror" Serra (16-5-0)



In the Middleweight Division (171-185)

Drew "The Massacre" McFedries (7-5-0) vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam (20-10-0)



In the Middleweight Division (171-185)

Dan Miller (11-1-0 1 NC) vs. Chael Sonnen (23-10-1)



In the Lightweight Division (146-155)

Sean "Muscle Shark" Sherk (37-3-1) vs. Frankie "The Answer" Edgar (9-1-0)



Moving on to the Undercard Fights of the night: (May not broadcast)

In the Welterweight Division (156-170)

Brock Larson (26-2-0) vs. Mike "Quicksand" Pyle (17-5-1)



In the Heavyweight Division (206-265)

Pat "HD" Berry (4-0-0) vs. Tim "The Thrashing Machine" Hague (9-1-0)



In the Lightweight Division (146-155)

Phillipe "The Filipino Assassin" Nover (6-1-1) vs. Kyle Bradley (13-6-0 1 NC)



In the Light Heavyweight Division (186-205)

Krzysztof "The Polish Experiment" Soszynski (18-9-1) vs. Andre Gusmao (5-1-0)



In the Welterweight Division (156-170)

Yoshiyuki "Zenko" Yoshida (10-3-0) vs. Brandon Wolff (7-3-0)



In the Lightweight Division (146-155)

Dave "Diamond" Kaplan (3-2-0) vs. George Roop (8-5-0)



Gonna be a good one tonight! Hope the links above hold for the entire card, and will put my analysis of the Co-Main Event and the Main Event fights below.

And according to Sherdog on the "Pros Pick" (on the two main fights)

10 pick Rashad
11 pick Machida
7 could not decide

http://sherdog.com/news/articles/1/ufc-pros-picks-17600

And on Hughes vs. Serra

8 picked Hughes
10 picked Serra

http://sherdog.com/news/articles/2/UFC-Pros-Picks-17600

LOL! Rob, you fucker!

Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida

This is going to be either an absolutely amazing fight, or the most boring fight ever. Personally, I can't wait, as it's going to be tactical as all hell. So, I'll be looking to see how each fighter adjusts as the fight goes on.

What we have here are two exceptionally intelligent fighters who are both tops in their division, and undefeated at that, going into battle. This is Napoleon vs. Robert E. Lee. (I dono, the best two generals I could think of. Feel free to substitute your own)

We all know what Machida is going to do. He's going to use his Karate base which was developed by his own father (who adapted Karate he learned in Japan to fight much bigger guys, so he tweaked it at being a bit more elusive), and mesh it with all the other fighting styles into a very very effective fighting philosophy. He does the most damage and takes, by FAR, the least. Statistically, he is the best fighter MMA has ever seen. He's fast beyond words, and is exceptionally balanced (which, if you study martial arts, you know is not nearly as easy as some make it seem) and can read his opponents movements very well.

There are some kinks in his armor, as pointed out by Kenny Florian. Because he is in a "New Age" Karate stance, leaned back, as opposed to the more traditional Muay Thai stance, when he does move in and out, he does leave openings. His chin is usually way up in the air, and for some times, completely unguarded. However, because of his unreal agility, no one has been able to time anything that could really catch him. Lyoto needs to just do what he does and move in and out, frustrate Rashad into making a mistake, and then pounce on him. He's very very well rounded, a black belt in BJJ, and well versed in wrestling (he studied wrestling in Japan), and has the ability to finish a fight wherever it goes.

Rashad Evans needs to exploit the weaknesses pointed out above. He has VERY fast hands, and is a bit shorter then most LHWs in the UFC. He makes up for this with very fast and exceptionally powerful punches, and having the master of strategy in his corner, in Greg Jackson. He'll have a gameplan, of that I'm sure, but I have no idea exactly what they're planning.

He and Lyoto are both known predominately as counter punchers. So, if he plays the hare and chases Machida, it's going to be lights out. He needs to draw Machida out of his comfort zone and his timing must be perfect. Don't try and outquick Machida, because he'll lose. He needs to time Machidas movements with his own strikes and look to shake him up. If he can do that, he'll steal some rounds and maybe get a KO/TKO victory.

Serra vs. Hughes!!!

Man, I hope Serra KO's this fucking guy. But! Have to be objective!

Matt Hughes is a 9 time WW Champion. He's very well versed in MMA (but lacks in striking prowess), and uses his great wrestling ability and natural strength to get opponents on the ground with himself in top position where he uses gravity to augment his punches with great ground and pound. Also, thanks to Jeremy Horn, Matt Hughes is also very well versed in submissions and submission defense. So, if he decides to stand and trade with Serra, it's likely that he'll get the worst of it there.

On top, he has great control, and can far more often then not, avoid submission attempts and maintain a dominant position while inflicting damage upon his opponent.

If he wants to win this fight, it needs to be on the mat.

Matt Serra is a very well rounded fighter who is a World Champion in BJJ and has extremely heavy hands. He's probably just as physically strong as Matt Hughes, but doesn't have the wrestling backround. He may be good enough to avoid too much damage from Hughes, but I can't see him pulling off a spectacular submission. Hughes is too well versed there as well. If Serra is going to win, it's most likely going to be on the feet with his devistating punches, and/or he needs to sweep/reverse Hughes to get the top position. Matt Hughes does not do well off of his back. If he can get him there, it's going to be a great night for Serra.

My picks are Lyoto to win the Main Event, and just because I CAN NOT stand Matt Hughes, I'm picking Matt Serra, but the obvious favorite is Matt Hughes.

(Kinda sloppy analysis, but meh)

Edit - It's actually pretty close in the Serra/Hughes fight, but on paper it's obvious to Matt Hughes. But Randy Couture and a few other top trainers and competitors say that Serra looks absolutely phenomenonal for this fight and has really tweaked his wrestling, so that augmented by his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, if he can dictate where the fight is by either keeping it standing, or putting it on the mat with him in guard/side mount/mount, he'll take this one home.

PLEASE! MATT SERRA PLEASE! PUNCH THAT COCKY, ARROGANT, FUCKHEAD IN THE MOUTH!

I just have this feeling Rashad is gonna catch Machida, i dont think Machida is used to fighting somebody as fast as him, or faster, but a real key will be avoiding the trips and going back to his wrestling fundementals, i think he will catch Machida in the 3rd, take him down, and pound him out.

I cant stand Matt Hughes, but i think he is gonna come in with the mentality he had 5 years ago, i think Serra would have been better served not making this a bigtime battle of egos and pride, Hughes via ground and pound

Im willing to take up to $200 in bets on the machida fight, with the odds of course which im seeing as Rashad Evans +150. Willing to have somebody trustworthy to hold for any be

this is the first main event in a long time where i have no clue who is gonna win. does anyone know the line?

Wow, this looks like an incredible UFC card for tonight. Can't wait to watch the action. Going with Machida to become the new Light Heavyweight Champion.

rashad really did lose to tito, machida was gonna get tapped out by tito, therefore tito should fight the winner!!!! hahaha (just trying to tilt you doc)

It's pretty obv to me the jackson camp will not have Rashad chase Machida around, Rashad is the champ, you gotta come take the belt, not wait for the belt to come to you, i think this alone will have a huge effect on the fight, if im Rashad i dont engage at all, i let the fans boo, til either Machida moves forward or i retain my belt via the most boring fight ever, hurting Machida's rep much more since he already has been tagged by the casual fan as "boring"

 

Originally Posted by Necro

rashad really did lose to tito, machida was gonna get tapped out by tito, therefore tito should fight the winner!!!! hahaha (just trying to tilt you doc)

It's pretty obv to me the jackson camp will not have Rashad chase Machida around, Rashad is the champ, you gotta come take the belt, not wait for the belt to come to you, i think this alone will have a huge effect on the fight, if im Rashad i dont engage at all, i let the fans boo, til either Machida moves forward or i retain my belt via the most boring fight ever, hurting Machida's rep much more since he already has been tagged by the casual fan as "boring"

Eh, that "I'm the Champ and you gotta take my belt" is a cheap old boxing mentality.

Both fighters have an obligation to do their best to finish the fight, imo. Not the play it safe and eek out a decision bullshit. Every second of that fight, both fighters should be doing their best to utilize their skills in order to finish the other fighter. That's how you really determine a winner.

Rashad, imo, has to try and finish just as much as Lyoto does.

 

Originally Posted by Dr.GHouse

Alright moses! Put Up or Shut Up bish! My pics vs. yours! LET'S GO!

At the top!

Machida
Serra
professor x

Sonnen

Sherk

Larson

Barry

Nover

Sossznysnksihisfaihihfdsahfduisahfdalsh (Who the fuck named him like that? Who can't spell in his family? WTF!?)

Yoshida

and Roop

 

Originally Posted by Necro

whats any of what i said have to do with finishing the fight?? Only a moron and a moronic camp would make a gameplan to chase Machida around. Being the champ is a HUGE advantage in this regard, who do you think the judges are?? BOXING type judges??? duhhhhhhhhhh to take a title from a champ in a decision, it usally has to be convincing, so Rashad will make Machida come take it, something he doesnt seem to like doing, we all know he destroys ppl that chase him, why would rashad do that?? What does it have to do with finishing the fight??

UFC has horrible judges, worse then boxing and horrible ways of setting up cards based on popularity and not earning it, Machida hasnt earned a shot, he hasnt even beaten a true top 10 since entering the ufc. He needs to go take that belt tonight, because i will pretty much guarantee rashad will make him be the agressor, til he gets caught ;)

let me add, martial arts isnt about finishing fights, its about doing damage and taking none. Alot of ppl have respect for those that actually dont try to harm an obviously inferior opponent massive damage, instead of just doing what is nessicary to win, like Anderson Silva did last fight (dont i remember you defending him after it??). Im surprised your mentality is that of a fighter, not a martial artist, for a guy that claims to study many martial arts (as do i), i fully disagree.

Well, I half-heartedly defended Anderson Silva. The blame wasn't entirely on him as nearly everyone was making it out to be. But, yes, I have been one to talk about Anderson Silva and his relatively poor performance against Leites. I think he could have finished the fight, and for whatever reason didn't. I don't know why, and I can't really imagine a reason not to.

And the purpose of these competitions is to showcase skills attained through training in the various martial arts. The means to do that is a fight. How do you prove that you're a better fighter then the other guy, beyond a doubt? You finish him! Either with a KO/TKO/Submission. Decisions, imo, based on the 10 point Must System are horribly flawed and are not tailored enough toward MMA. The 10 Point Must System are used in Boxing and Kickboxing. Which is fine, as they're just singular skills sets being measured against eachother. We don't have that in MMA. We've got 4,5 even 6 kinds of things to consider. Strikes, aggression, who dictates where the fight goes (on the ground, keeping it standing), takedowns (which are scroed way too heavily, generally, imo) and submissions/submission attempts, submission defense. Strikes on the ground. How active are you on the ground? Do you just maintain position, or do you try to advance and do some damage to your opponent either form the guard or on top? Wayyyyyyy too many variables.

And, I don't like the mentality some people have about "I'm the Champion, you have to take my belt." Because, imo, that sometimes (as we've seen in boxing) causes people to just play it safe. Let's say a fight is 5 rounds, and the champ wins the first 3. He has a choice to not take anymore real chances, and can essentially disengage and hide behind a jab or whatever and let the other guy win the other two, and still win. It's garbage. Bell to bell, you should be trying to finish the fight. I don't care if you've won 4 rounds, you go out there, and try and put the other guy away!

When you're going into the title fight, imo, no one is the champion. It's two guys fighting to be the champion. Just two fighters, that's it. The winner is the Champion. Both fighters, as I've said before, have an obligation to try and finish the fight.

Take a fighter like Sean Sherk. He's a wrestler, mainly. Got a lot of decision victories, yes. But round after round, no matter how many rounds he's won, he goes to finish the fight. He doesn't hang back and hold onto a decision. If he's won 4 of 4 rounds going into the 5th, he's trying just as hard to finish the fight in the 5th as he was in the 1st. That, imo, is a real fighter.

Can we have a belt for most correct picks?

Whoever picks the most right of alllll the fights tonight gets the belt until the next ufc.

I might be the only person here that wants Matt Hughes to win. weeeeeeee.

 

Originally Posted by brianyut

I might be the only person here that wants Matt Hughes to win. weeeeeeee.

Well, it's good to know you like cocks, I guess...I'll be more careful when I meet you.

 

Originally Posted by GRIMYOAF

 

Originally Posted by Dr.GHouse

 

Originally Posted by brianyut

I might be the only person here that wants Matt Hughes to win. weeeeeeee.

Well, it's good to know you like cocks, I'll be more excited when I meet you.

Oh, and Evans wins this by ko late in the 2nd

I'm buying this shit tonight it starts at 10 how long do you think or do thet usually last???

I'm just not as impressed by Machida as you and everyone else seems to be, James.

I think Rashad drops the first 2 rounds very marginally and then KTFO's machida in the third with either a sick overhand right that put his lights out, or a lead hook and some ground and pound for the TKO ref stoppage.

I think serra takes the upset from hughes simply because he wants it more. He has more to prove, he's the underdog, and he knows hughes underestimates him. I see hughes taking him lightly and serra coming up and dropping him more than once w/ his hands, a la mir vs nog.

As far as the other fights go, god damn, sean sherk is a handsome man.

Oh and i just learned to throw head kicks and super man punches in undisputed so if u wanna play against me im going to ruin your life, just keep it on the feet please :-)