It's the biggest fight in UFC history, or so we've been told a million times in the last couple of months. Randy Couture will return to the Octagon and defend the heavyweight title against Brock Lesnar at UFC 91 in an event that has the hard-core fans and the casual fans alike in a lather. Here are the details. What: UFC 91: Couture vs. Lesnar
Who: In addition to the main event, the fights on the main card are Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson, Gabriel Gonzaga vs.Josh Hendricks, Demian Maia vs. Nate Quarry and Dustin Hazelett vs. Tamdan McCrory.
When: Saturday
Where: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas
How: Pay-per-view, $44.95 ($54.95 in HD), or just follow along with our FanHouse UFC 91 live blog.
Predictions after the jump.
Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar
The fact that Lesnar, whose career MMA record is 2-1, is actually the favorite over Couture, a UFC legend, is incredible. But it speaks to just how captivated fans were by the size and athleticism Lesnar displayed in beating Heath Herring at UFC 87. I was one of those captivated fans, but I just don't believe Lesnar has enough MMA skill just yet to beat a well-rounded fighter like The Natural.
Predicted winner: Couture
Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson
The best of the UFC 91 undercard bouts is this lightweight match-up that will go a long way toward determining the No. 1 contender when champion B.J. Penn is finally ready to defend his title. I like this fight a lot, and I think Florian will get his sixth straight win, setting up either a title shot or, maybe, a rematch with Sean Sherk, the last man to beat Florian.
Predicted winner: Florian
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Josh Hendricks
Gonzaga was on a two-fight losing streak after Couture and Fabricio Werdum beat him, and now the UFC seems to want to rehabilitate Gonzaga by giving him opponents he should beat. Gonzaga had little trouble with Justin McCully at UFC 86 and now shouldn't have much trouble with Hendricks, either.
Predicted winner: Gonzaga
Demian Maia vs. Nate Quarry
Maia, a Brazilian jiu jitsu specialist, is 8-0 overall and has won all three of his UFC fights by submission, and some folks see him as a future middleweight title contender. I'd like to see him become a more well-rounded fighter on his feet, but I think he'll stay undefeated against Quarry.
Predicted winner: Maia
Dustin Hazelett vs. Tamdan McCrory
This fight, which wasn't originally scheduled to be part of the televised card, should be a good ground battle. I think Hazelett's superior jiu jitsu will be the difference.
Predicted winner: Hazelett.
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
11-13-2008 @ 6:54PM
Frederick said...
My predictions are
Lesnar This match is a hard one to choose for me. But I will go with lesnar simply because I feel the UFC management thinks he will beat couture.
Florian
Gonzaga
Quarry(because he is a truly good person he gave is cap to my son after is match in Montreal)
Hazelet
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11-14-2008 @ 7:44AM
Eric said...
I'm disappointed that Amir isn't able to fight ... he has shown a lot of heart in his previous fights, and he has developed his skills since the last time we saw him in the ring.
Predictions:
This is a difficult fight to understand and predict, but the more I think about it - this could be an easy fight for Randy. In the scrambles, transitions, and also the striking Randy should have a big advantage.
-Randy by rear naked choke
Stevenson doesn't have the takedown ability of a Sean Sherk, so I doubt that he will be able to control Florian like Sherk did. Florian has improved greatly over the last couple years, and I think he will have the advantage in all areas of this fight.
-Florian by Decision
I don't know anything about Hendricks, so I'm going to go with ...
-Gonzaga by unknown
I'm going to go against my better judgement and say that Maia is going to get his first loss on Saturday night. I feel that Maia must get the submission to win this fight, and I think that Quarry will be up to the challenge ... he has shown that he is very difficult to take down, and I think he will stay away from Maia's guard.
-Quarry by KO
Hazelett by submission
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11-14-2008 @ 10:08AM
Rory said...
I have the same picks for the main card.
Upset special I'm looking at Ryan Thomas.
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11-15-2008 @ 10:45AM
JeMarcus said...
Randy Couture is not going to be able to Keep Lesnar down. Period. Why do you think he moved to light heavyweight, because he could not manhandle the big heavyweights on the ground. Don't any of you fans wonder why Couture never fought Marc Coleman??? Couture knew that Coleman was way to big and strong for him, and could effectively counter any wrestling moves Randy put on him. The only chance Randy has against Brock is a knockout, because if this goes to the ground, which it will, Lesnar will simply overpower him.
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11-16-2008 @ 8:12AM
mark said...
heres a thought, dana white needs influx of cash. vince mcmahon needs new superstar for wwe, dana has mega ppv lesnar now "deadliest man alive" goes back to wwe and makes a LOT of money.
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