Mike & Mike in the morning on ESPN Radio, have the Predictions sure to go wrong segment at the end of their show on Friday (maybe everyday).  That’s what inspired this post, as this UFC is impossible to predict for a variety of reasons.

One glaring reason being UFC judges huff paint between rounds while watching the fights.

Tito Ortiz vs. Forrest Griffin

This one is the most difficult to know anything about, even though it is a rematch of a split decision fight 3+ years ago.  In that fight Tito dominated round one and did nothing for rounds two and three and still got the nod.  This fight wasn’t supposed to be the main event and it wasn’t supposed to be Griffin (Mark Coleman backed out due to injury).

Tito hasn’t been in a fight in a long time.  He has since had back surgery, had kids and made random appearances teasing a fight in nearly every MMA organization on the planet.  Two of which no longer exist.

Forrest has lost two straight fights, including a complete destruction against Anderson Silva (knocked down 3x in the first round).  The last I saw of him he was sprinting backstage in embarrassment.  Typically, I’d argue he needs a win more, but Silva can make anyone look that bad.

Forrest is a bad matchup for Tito.  I have a very difficult time saying he will lose his third straight fight, but Tito must make it an entertaining/competitive fight.

Tito Ortiz by unanimous decision.

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Josh Koscheck vs. Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson is friggin’ huge.  I heard somewhere (maybe during the UFC 104 broadcast) he walks around at about 220lb and cuts to 170lb to fight.  That’s insane.

Sometimes I get the feeling Koscheck likes to test himself standing up even though the takedown / ground and pound is where he is most effective.  I doubt he decides to do that in this fight, even though a takedown on a guy that will be 10-15lb heavier and stronger by fight time might not be automatic.

Johnson has lost by rear necked choke and eye poke (in a fight he was winning).

Koscheck by unanimous decision.

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Antonio Rogerio Nogueira vs. Luis Arthur Cane

This one ends in a knockout.

Most heavyweight fights not involving Fedor seem boring to me, but I’d expect fireworks here.

Rogerio has 3 losses, Vlad Matyushenko (which he avenged), Shogun (everyone including Machida lose to him) and a flash KO from Soukoudjou. if you ran Rogerio vs. Soukoudjou 10x, I think Antonio wins 8x.

The deeper this fight goes, the bigger edge Nogueira has.

Little Nog by Technical Knockout in Round 2

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Dustin Hazelett vs. Karo Parisyan

This one is a stone cold lock.

Hazelett by phone call. 0:00 Rd1

Amir Sadollah vs. Phil Baroni

I haven’t figured out Sadollah yet.  I think I’ve picked against him in every fight from his first fight in TUF to his last fight vs. Hendricks.

Baroni is ridiculously powerful.  So much muscle soaking up all that oxygen is usually his demise.  I’m surprised he’s back in the UFC, to tell you the truth.  I love watching his fights, before he gases out.

I think the UFC is throwing their TUF winner a softball here though.  He can’t lose back to back fights with no pro fights prior to his TUF win.  It would be difficult to promote a 1-2 fighter in future UFC’s I think.

Sadollah by submission (triangle) in round 2.

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I’m just going to make the rest of this quick.

Marcus Davis vs. Ben Saunders
Paulo Thiago vs. Jacob Volkmann
Kendall Grove vs. Jake Rosholt
Brock Larson vs. Brian Foster
Caol Uno vs. Fabricio Camoes
George Sotiropoulos vs. Jason Dent

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I should get at least 3 fights correct.