Date: April 15, 2006
Venue: Arrowhead Pond of Anaheim, CA
This is the first UFC event to be held in the state of California. It is also the return of Tito Ortiz (old school), who is fighting in his home state against Forrest Griffin (new school).
Does Tito have just too much experience for the stone-headed Griffin? Or is Forrest another soldier from the Ultimate Fighter Reality TV show, who proves worthy of being a UFC title contender? Tonight we find out. Add a great heavyweight title fight (Arlovski vs. Silvia), throw in a sweet Nicki Diaz vs. Sean "the muscle shark" Sherk battle, add "the Snowman" Jeff Monson, Karo Parisyan, David Terrell, and a little Evan Tanner, and you have one exciting MMA fight card. I can't wait.
RevWrestling.com's UFC Monster goes one-on-one with the sportsbooks, trying to put his knowledge to the test. Here's how I see the fights (with betting odds in parenthesis):
Thiago Alves brings a 13-3 record into the ring against Derrick Noble, who was a late replacement for Drew Fickett, a more experienced fighter. Alves went from being an underdog to Fickett, to being a favorite to beat Noble, who is 15-6-1. Oddsmakers made Alves the steep –400 favorite. Why" He already lost to Noble by rear-naked choke! Couldn't it be done again? Tonight, I'm betting that it can.
NOBLE +300 over Alves by submission in the 3rd round
Two light-heavy weights will go toe-to-toe and duke it out when Jason Lambert and Terry Martin fight. Much like wrestlers who are attracted into the UFC and MMA (mixed martial arts) to extend their athletic careers, brawlers, who like to fight, also are attracted to such venue, often to cash in on earning potential for fighting. This is what we have here, two dudes like to throw leather. And the crowd always loves a KO. I've seen both fight live before, and I think Lambert's determination and better experience makes him the winner tonight.
LAMBERT (–210) by KO in the 2nd round
Karo Parisyan has an outstanding 22-3 record, mostly because his fighting style is unique. He tumbles around the mat like a rubber-band man, and uses judo to often surprise his opponent who he then quickly submits. His problem is that he is often injured and unable to compete. Tonight's opponent is Nick "the Goat" Thompson, 23-8, a tough guy who likes to punch, but is, like most MMA fighters today, very good on the ground, as well. But, his ground game pales in comparison to Parisyan's. So, unless the Goat gets in his punch, this one will go to Karo.
PARISYAN (-250) over Thompson by submission in the 3rd round
Jeff "the Snowman" Monson, 20-5, is about as strong and compact as a human being can be. He's all muscle, and looks like he could punch your eyes out, yet he actually wins most of his fights by submission. And, he's won 14 in a row! His pancrase background makes him a formidable foe. His opponent is a relative unknown, Marcio Cruz, 2-0, who is coming off a stunning upset of one-time heavyweight champion, Frank Mir, who is back from his motorcycle accident. Cruz surprisingly dominated that fight and was able to get Mir to tap out. But, tonight, he has bitten off more than he can eat!
MONSON (-210) over Cruz by submission in the 1st round
Tim Silvia has waited almost two years to get another shot at regaining his heavyweight title from the monster who took it, Andrei Arlovski, who many feel may be the best fighter in the world today. Arlovski is lightning fast and strong at 6'4" and 240 lbs. His knock-out power is awesome, and yet he wins most fights by submission. He took out Paul Buentello in 15 seconds. Silvia submitted in less than a minute. Silvia, the Maniac, is still a force to be reconned with at 6'8" tall and weighing 265 lbs. He's had many wins by one punch KO's. Silvia, when champion, was never seen without carrying his belt around. Really. He slept with it. This is his life. He has more to gain here than Arlovski. And, in some strange way, I see the Miletich fighter landing that blow to cash at the windows for some long-shot under dog bettors!
SILVIA (+300) over Arlovski by KO in the 2nd round
Many feel that David Terrell, 9-2, will someday be the middle-weight champ. He is the prototype fighter, who loves to punch and brawl, but who's real strength is in their ground game. Terrell is from the Carlson (may he R.I.P.) Gracie school. There is none finer. Terrell never expects to lose. He is tough mentally. His opponent, Scott "Hands of Steel" Smith, 11-1, is known for his hard hitting. He will need a KO to beat Terrell. I don't see that happening. I see Terrell taking it to the mat and getting his way.
TERRELL (-200) over Smith in the 2nd round
In one of the UFC Monster's favorite match-ups, we have Nick "the soul assassin" Diaz, 11-5, against Sean "the muscle shark" Sherk, 28-2-1. Sherk's only losses have been to Matt Hughes and Georges St. Pierre. Enough said. But, Sean took some time off "to get away from the sport" and started to raise a family. His return now stands at 0-1 (loss to St. Pierre) and doubts may still linger. But Sherk's physique alone makes him look menacingly formidable, and slight favorite here. Meanwhile, the never imposing looking Diaz has announced that he will drop down a weight after this fight. On physicality, I'd give this fight to Sherk. But, Diaz has backed himself into a corner, losing his last two by close decisions (Diego Sanchez and Joe Riggs). He is fighting for his UFC life here. Three straight losses and you have to change your name to "Tank Abbott". I think Nick finds a way to get it done tonight. He'd rather not go to the mat and be muscled around by Sherk, though his ground game is awesome. Nick will try to land a punch to take out his man. I know he's had enough of judge's decisions lately.
DIAZ (+125) over Sherk by KO in the 3rd round
In an added match, the ninth on the card, one-time middle-weight champion, Evan Tanner, 35-7, meets a young Justin Levens 7-1. Why? Fading legend against dangerous upstart? Tanner loves to win by using his elbows as lethal weapons in a wicked ground-and-pound game. Levens goes to school tonight. And, the UFC Monster goes to the winner's window.
TANNER (-325) over Levens by TKO in the 1st round
UFC Monster and Forrest GriffinEverything on paper points to Tito. He's even one of the coaches this year on the Ultimate Fighter Reality show. Coaches can't lose! But something tells me that there is an upset brewing. Tito becomes too frustrated with his inability to dispose of the persistent Griffin, and late in the third round, Forrest finds his way through the trees!
GRIFFIN (+300) over Ortiz by KO in the 3rd round
That's 5 favorites and 4 underdogs. Enjoy the fights. I know I will.
More later.
The UFC Monster
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