UFC 64: Unstoppable Preview

Previews


UFC 64: “UNSTOPPABLE” PREVIEW

Overview

On paper, this card lacks the kind of well-hyped, big-name, big-money fight that we’ve come to expect from UFC’s Pay Per Views. There are several names on this card that may not be familiar to the more casual MMA fan. There are, however, a lot of compelling match-ups, and several fights have the potential to be genuinely good.

Main Card

Spencer Fisher vs. Dan Lauzon

Dan Lauzon is the 18 year old brother of Joe Lauzon. “J-Lau” recently made a name for himself — and threw a monkey wrench into UFC’s plans for the lightweight division — by knocking Jens Pulver out in 48 seconds at UFC 63. Younger brother Dan was called in as a late replacement when “King” Fisher’s original opponent ran into visa problems. Fisher is a member of the Miletich Fighting Systems camp. He’s experienced, he’s tough, he can take a punch, and he has KO power. I’m not expecting another Lauzon upset in the lightweight division just yet.
Prediction: Fisher, KO, R1

Cheick Kongo vs. Carmelo Marrero

This is a match-up of two talented young heavyweight fighters, both of whom have championship experience with independent organizations. Marrero is an American fighter known for his Ground & Pound. Kongo is from France, and he’s won his last four fights by KO, including impressive first round victories at UFCs 61 and 62. If Marrero can take Kongo down, he might have a chance. If the French fighter has good takedown defense, he’s going move up the heavyweight ladder with a third straight UFC win.
Prediction: Kongo, KO, R1

Jon Fitch vs. Kuniyoshi Hironaka

Fitch is on a streak of ten straight victories, including three Ultimate Fight Night dark matches. This will mark the first time that one of his fights has been placed on the main card in the UFC, so this is his chance to make a name for himself with people who are not hardcore MMA fans. Hironaka made his name in the Japanese independent promotion Shooto, and he’s recently fought for Greatest Common Multiple, Rumble on the Rock, and MARS. This is his chance to make a name for himself in America. Both Fitch and Hironaka are extremely talented and well-rounded fighters. Both can strike, wrestle, and work for submissions. Both have the endurance to go three hard rounds. Both can defend on their feet and on the ground. This should be a very good fight, and it wouldn’t surprise me if it ended up going to the judges.
Prediction: Fitch by decision.

Sean “The Worst Nickname Ever” Sherk vs. Kenny “Aunt-Flo” Florian

I’m pretty sure that the UFC were counting on “Little Evil” to make short work of “J-Lau” and earn the right to reclaim his lightweight title. That didn’t work out for them, though, and so instead we get a fight between two of the absolute worst nicknames in MMA to determine who gets to call themselves champion. This is a tough fight to call. I’m always wary of underrating TUF guys, which is something that’s killed me in MMA prognostication contests in the past. There’s also the handy rule of thumb that says that muscular guys usually lose to weenie-looking BJJ black belts. On the other hand, Sherk has never once been submitted in over thirty professional MMA fights since he started in 1999. I’m sure that Ken-Flo has come a long way since losing to Diego Sanchez, but I still think that Sherk will be a little too much for him at this stage.
Prediction: Sherk, TKO,. R2

Rich Franklin vs. Anderson Silva

This is another fight that has the potential to be very entertaining. Silva has some of the best Mui Thai in MMA today, and he earned his BJJ black belt from none other than “Minotauro” Nogueira. Franklin is a very well-rounded fighter with unbelievable cardio-vascular conditioning. “The Spider” caught the attention of casual MMA fans in a big way with his spectacular flying knee KO of Chris Leben on free TV at UFN 5. Slightly less casual fans have been paying close attention to him since his spectacular flying knee KO of Carlos Newton at PRIDE 25. I don’t expect that “The Spider” will catch “Ace” with yet another flying knee, but I’d mark out like a little kid if he did. I do think that this fight will mostly play out standing, with Franklin using his footwork and conditioning to try and counter Silva’s reach advantage. A completely healthy Franklin would probably be able to take Silva down and grind out a victory, or keep things going long enough to earn a decision. There have been persistent rumors that Franklin is injured, though.
Prediction: Silva, KO, R4

Preliminary Fights

Kurt Pellegrino vs. Junior Assuncao

Both men are good submission fighters. Assuncao is a BJJ brown belt, and Pellegrino earned his black belt under UFC veteran Hermes Franca. I guess this fight will show us a little something about whether belts really mean anything. I’m picking Pellegrino, at least in part because Sherdog lists “Batman” as his nickname.
Prediction: Pellegrino, Submission, R2

Justin James vs. Clay Guida

Guida is reportedly a monster on the ground, and James has lost five of his sixteen pro fights by submission.
Prediction: Guida, Submission, R2

Yushin Okami vs. Kalib Starnes

Like his compatriot Hironaka, Okami has recently fought for Greatest Common Multiple, Rumble on the Rock, and MARS. He was in Caol Uno’s corner at HERO*S 6, when Uno beat “Black Mamba” Gill, who was cornered by none other than Kalib Starnes. I’m a huge fan of Starnes, mainly because he lives in the same geographical area that I do, but also because he came across as a thoughtful and intelligent guy on TUF. Starnes has ended all of his official fights in the first round. It’s probably just as well for me that this fight isn’t making air, since it would only lead to disagreement between Chitose and I (She always backs the Japanese fighters, and I always back the Canadians). I’m assuming that this fight will be more than good enough to eventually get shown on an episode of Unleashed or something.
Prediction: Starnes, Submission, R2

Keith Jardine vs. Mike Nickels
These are both TUF guys, you know who they are. Jardine has been training in New Mexico with Diego Sanchez, Mike Van Arsdale, and Rashad Evans. He is going to kick Nickels’ rear end all the way back to the tattoo parlor. I’d also vote this the prelim fight most likely to be shown if there’s time remaining.
Prediction: Jardine, KO, R1

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Gordi is a former professional wrestler who has been following MMA since the very first UFC tournament. Gordi's been part of the Inside Pulse family from day one. He and his wife are currently preparing to move to Japan.