MMAVu

If I had to choose the winner based on mean-lookin' faces, I'd choose Thiago Silva, by way of "Pulverizing th' Bum"

Some people are complaining about this line-up, but really, what could the UFC have done? Several main event guys had to drop out, and there’s only so many guys around that are “true” headliners. Rashad Evans is one, and Thiago Silva is getting there. With a clean win over Evans however, Silva will be a main eventer. There are a bunch of solid bouts here though, just like how last year’s “Fight for the Troops” turned out to be an incredible card, with “b-level” fighters.

Main Bouts (On Pay-Per-View):

Rashad Evans (205) vs. Thiago Silva (205)

Evans will have picked the brain of teammate Keith Jardine, whose brains were scrambled by Silva a few months back. I say Evans takes it by TKO, but it will be a close fight.

Paul Daley (172) vs. Dustin Hazelett (168)

The one-dimensional Daley will get taken down and submitted by Dustin “McLovin’” Hazelett in short order, or Hazelett will be staring at the lights. I’m betting Hazelett is smarter than that, and will take Daley down fast.

Joe Lauzon (155) vs. Sam Stout (155)

I like Stout, a fellow Canuck, but Lauzon is too much on the ground for him. Joe by sub.

Duane Ludwig (156) vs. Jim Miller (155)

Bang.

Junior Dos Santos (237) vs. Gilbert Yvel (239)

Junior takes the duke, and puts himself in the short list for guys to fight for the heavyweight strap.

Preliminary Bouts (On Spike TV):

Martin Kampmann (171) vs. Jacob Volkmann (171)

Kampmann has sure fallen down the charts after a single loss, from a welterweight title eliminator against Mike Swick at UFC 103 to the prelims here. Sounds like he has Jon Fitch-itus. Why no love for Marty?

Dan Lauzon (155) vs. Cole Miller (155)

J-Lau Jr. (pronounced Jay-Low) takes on the wiry pipe cleaner of an excuse for a fighter, Cole Miller. I think Dan is still too young, and will get taken out by Miller, who has had more big show experience.

Preliminary Bouts (Non-Televised):

Mark Munoz (185) vs. Ryan Jensen (186)

Munoz. Because he has a better last name.

Mike Pyle (171) vs. Jake Ellenberger (170)

What a Pyle of…Jake takes this, after improving his cardio after the loss to Condit. Jake was doing great until he gassed. Hopefully that problem has been fixed.

Rafaello Oliveira (156) vs. John Gunderson (155)

This is the first of the un-televised prelims for a reason. Not much of an idea who these guys are, but I’m taking Oliveira, because I like that pasta.

Some intense dudes.

Poor Thiago Silva.

First he gets his first loss by emphatic knockout at UFC 94, then he gets the rug pulled out from under him in the Forrest Griffin fight, now he gets the 2-dollar-steak-tough, Keith Jardine. Let’s look at the three duds one at a time.

KO loss to Machida: Silva was on an absolute tear. He exemplified the fierce, aggressive Chute Boxe style to a tee, like a young Wanderlei Silva. The Brazilian Buzzsaw ran into an enigma he couldn’t solve though, in the ghost-like Lyoto Machida. Machida danced and hit, and danced some more, eventually connecting on a clean shot, flooring Silva, and adding a second punch when Silva was horizontal on the ground, turning his lights out. Suffering your first loss is bad enough, but to lose in such a fashion…ouch.

For his comeback fight, Silva was offered up Forrest Griffin, the former Light heavyweight Champion. This was to be the highest profile fight of Silva’s career, as the stars don’t get much bigger than Griffin in the UFC. A win would have put him in line for a title shot…until Griffin got pulled out for Anderson Silva.

Finally, he gets an almost-as-tough opponent in Jardine, but with 1/4 the star power of Griffin. A win over Jardine puts Silva up a few notches, but still about 2 wins from a title shot.

You win some, you lose some, huh Thiago?