Post by David "the Warhound" Stone on Aug 5, 2008 20:35:02 GMT -5
I know i already went over the fights but im gonna keep this short on my picks cuz my thought process has changed a bit. startin from the bottom.
Manny Gamburian vs. Rob Emerson: Manvil the anvil by submission
This is almost a no brainer. Emerson has good standup and decent ground game. But i doubt he can keep Manny from takin him down. I mean he had trouble stoppin Diaz, who in my opinion is a better fighter but doesnt have as good takedowns as Manny has. Also as a sidenote Emerson more or less insulted Manny's style by saying it was boring and he does is take people down to grind out a decision. well rob i dont know if you saw his last two fights but both ended via submission by gamburian and his aggresive Judo style. I think he might have set a fire underneath Manny's ass as well with that comment so we'll see how it unfolds.
Damien Maia vs. Rob MacDonald: Maia by Submission
Ok Maia has looked better in each bout and his jiu-jitsu is really slick. If MacDonald keeps it on the feet then i cant count him out but his biggest strength is his ground game and as Ed Herman learned quickly fighting Maia on the ground is just stupid.
Kenny Florian Vs. Roger Huerta: Florian by Decision
I really feel this is one of those bouts where the unstopable force meets the immovable object. I think they will come out and have a great fight. Unless Huerta turns into a demon somewhere in there though i dont see either one finishing the other off. The only reason that i give the decision to Florian is because if it does go to a decision then I expect Kenny to be the more disciplined in his gameplan despite him mentioning that his only gameplan is to pressure him from the beggining. I think that Kenny will use his throws to his advantage and push huerta around in the clinch as much as he can. Because i feel that is out of huerta's element. Roger is known for his wild agressive style and it will be hampered against the cage. Not that i think Huerta will just sit there but it will be less dynamic than usual. Dont hold me to this one cuz i just dont know with this fight.
Heath Herring Vs. Brock Lesnar: Lesnar By TKO
As much as i dont want to admit it i think Lesnar will walk away with his hand raised. His takedowns were great in the Mir fight, and unless heath has improved his escapes since he fought Obrain hes in trouble. I also think that Brock learned from the Mir fight that he needs to take Full Mount when in control. if you watch he just rained punches from side mount all day and Mir could move his legs and get out of the position alot easier. i think if brock would have taken mount he would have won the fight. The biggest X factor is that Lesnar has not gone an entire round in his MMA career. So i have no clue what he will be doing in the second and third rounds besides sticking to the gameplan. I ponder how his gastank is. He looks like he could go for three full rounds but alot of heavyweights do only to disapoint in the final round.
George St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch: GSP By Decision
Okay if i may steal a quote from my favorite radio show "I'm not betting against GSP until he loses". Now here is the thing thats funny about the whole thing, Fitch has the tools to win. no doubt about it. Rush is explosive as hell but he is not unbeatable. Fitch has great Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. I also think with the exception of Hughes that he is the best all around grappler that he has faced in his career. I dont think that Fitch is nearly as explosive but i think he is smart enough to play his game and not get caught into what GSP is going to do. That is the biggest fault of most fighters. Now GSP has also run right through his competition as of late. Submitting Hughes and TKOing Serra. However he did go three full rounds with Koshcheck and i think that Fitch is just as athletic if not more than Koshcheck and he can go all five rounds with GSP without getting knocked out or submitted i also think he could take a round or two with him. Make no mistake though, Rush is the better fighter and he comes into this fight with a whole new focus to defend that belt. I would bet 10 to 1 that he walks away with the belt still on his mantle.
Manny Gamburian vs. Rob Emerson: Manvil the anvil by submission
This is almost a no brainer. Emerson has good standup and decent ground game. But i doubt he can keep Manny from takin him down. I mean he had trouble stoppin Diaz, who in my opinion is a better fighter but doesnt have as good takedowns as Manny has. Also as a sidenote Emerson more or less insulted Manny's style by saying it was boring and he does is take people down to grind out a decision. well rob i dont know if you saw his last two fights but both ended via submission by gamburian and his aggresive Judo style. I think he might have set a fire underneath Manny's ass as well with that comment so we'll see how it unfolds.
Damien Maia vs. Rob MacDonald: Maia by Submission
Ok Maia has looked better in each bout and his jiu-jitsu is really slick. If MacDonald keeps it on the feet then i cant count him out but his biggest strength is his ground game and as Ed Herman learned quickly fighting Maia on the ground is just stupid.
Kenny Florian Vs. Roger Huerta: Florian by Decision
I really feel this is one of those bouts where the unstopable force meets the immovable object. I think they will come out and have a great fight. Unless Huerta turns into a demon somewhere in there though i dont see either one finishing the other off. The only reason that i give the decision to Florian is because if it does go to a decision then I expect Kenny to be the more disciplined in his gameplan despite him mentioning that his only gameplan is to pressure him from the beggining. I think that Kenny will use his throws to his advantage and push huerta around in the clinch as much as he can. Because i feel that is out of huerta's element. Roger is known for his wild agressive style and it will be hampered against the cage. Not that i think Huerta will just sit there but it will be less dynamic than usual. Dont hold me to this one cuz i just dont know with this fight.
Heath Herring Vs. Brock Lesnar: Lesnar By TKO
As much as i dont want to admit it i think Lesnar will walk away with his hand raised. His takedowns were great in the Mir fight, and unless heath has improved his escapes since he fought Obrain hes in trouble. I also think that Brock learned from the Mir fight that he needs to take Full Mount when in control. if you watch he just rained punches from side mount all day and Mir could move his legs and get out of the position alot easier. i think if brock would have taken mount he would have won the fight. The biggest X factor is that Lesnar has not gone an entire round in his MMA career. So i have no clue what he will be doing in the second and third rounds besides sticking to the gameplan. I ponder how his gastank is. He looks like he could go for three full rounds but alot of heavyweights do only to disapoint in the final round.
George St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch: GSP By Decision
Okay if i may steal a quote from my favorite radio show "I'm not betting against GSP until he loses". Now here is the thing thats funny about the whole thing, Fitch has the tools to win. no doubt about it. Rush is explosive as hell but he is not unbeatable. Fitch has great Jiu-Jitsu and wrestling. I also think with the exception of Hughes that he is the best all around grappler that he has faced in his career. I dont think that Fitch is nearly as explosive but i think he is smart enough to play his game and not get caught into what GSP is going to do. That is the biggest fault of most fighters. Now GSP has also run right through his competition as of late. Submitting Hughes and TKOing Serra. However he did go three full rounds with Koshcheck and i think that Fitch is just as athletic if not more than Koshcheck and he can go all five rounds with GSP without getting knocked out or submitted i also think he could take a round or two with him. Make no mistake though, Rush is the better fighter and he comes into this fight with a whole new focus to defend that belt. I would bet 10 to 1 that he walks away with the belt still on his mantle.
