UFC 98: Quick Picks and Preview

We’re just hours away from another installment of the UFC, and if you want to get some predictions and analysis of all the fights on the card, you’re in the right place!  Here’s a rundown of the fights we’ll see tonight (along with preliminary bouts) and who I expect to have their hand raised tonight.
First of all, let’s take a quick look at the preliminary bouts for UFC 98. 

David Kaplan vs. George Roop-

You may remember Kaplan as the fighter who challenged a heavier fighter to punch him in the face during the last season of The Ultimate Fighter, claiming he couldn’t be knocked out.  We all remember how that turned out.  Tonight, Kaplan should fare much better in a fight against a smaller, but otherwise pretty much evenly-skilled opponent in George Roop. 

Prediction: Kaplan by TKO, Round 3

Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Brandon Wolff

Yoshida’s UFC career was off to a nice start as he served up a nice platter of Anaconda choke for War Machine, who now is out of the UFC and regularly making inflammatory statements on his Myspace site.  Unfortunately, that start was derailed when Josh Koscheck knocked him into another realm in the very violent “Fight for the Troops” card in December.  Wolff, meanwhile, made his UFC debut against Ben Saunders, who introduced him to his knees a few times in a dominating victory.  In this one, figure that Yoshida’s advantage on the ground will be the difference.

Prediction: Yoshida by submission, Round 2

Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Andre Gusmao

IFL veterans meet in this battle, as Gusmao was unsuccessful in his UFC debut against the impressive Jon Jones, and Soszynski has been performing well since his stint on the Ultimate Fighter.  Soszynski will probably look to take this one to the ground, and if he does so, he should make relatively quick work of Gusmao.

Prediction: Soszynski by submission, Round 1

Phillipe Nover vs. Kyle Bradley

This one could have plenty of fireworks, as Nover, who was unfortunately saddled with the assessment of being “the next Anderson Silva” by Dana White before the last season of The Ultimate Fighter, will get to match up with Bradley, who has very good boxing.  Look for this one to remain standing for most of the bout, and for Nover to out-pace his opponent en route to a decision win, though he could finish the fight if he puts his strikes together well.

Prediction: Nover by decision

Tim Hague vs. Pat Barry

Pat Barry brings world class kickboxing into the Octagon, as he showed in his dominating win over Dan Evensen at UFC 92, where it only took a half dozen or so leg kicks to ensure that Evensen was unable to continue.  Now, Barry faces Tim Hague, who has fought nearly all of his career in King of the Cage and will bring a large weight advantage into the cage with him.  I think that Barry may run into trouble if it goes to the ground, but his talent should overcome in the end as he overwhelms Hague with strikes.

Prediction: Barry by TKO, Round 2

Sean Sherk vs. Frankie Edgar

This fight could be great or could be a fifteen-minute stalemate, depending on how the fighters approach the proceedings.  Edgar is underrated and has only lost to Gray Maynard in his UFC career, with four wins out of five appearances.  Not much needs to be said about Sherk, who has held the division’s championship and wants to get back into the running again.  I believe he will do so here, as his advantages in experience and cardio will be the difference.

Prediction: Sherk by decision

Chael Sonnen vs. Dan Miller

Dan Miller, who has won his previous three UFC bouts, will take a significant step up in competition against UFC and WEC veteran Chael Sonnen.  Sonnen has only struggled of late against excellent jiu-jitsu practitioners, which Miller is really not.  Sonnen hasn’t been successful in reaching the upper echelons of his weight class during his career, but he should have enough to best the young and talented Miller.

Prediction: Sonnen by decision

Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam

Foupa-Pokam fought most of his career in Cage Rage before coming to the UFC and losing a rather uninteresting decision to Denis Kang.  Now, he’ll face someone who will willingly stand and strike with him in Drew McFedries, who has done well in his UFC career except when taken to the ground.  McFedries’ power should be enough to win the fight here, as Foupa-Pokam will have to pick his shots carefully.  McFedries is not the type of fighter to beat around the bush, so my prediction of an early finish is no insult to Foupa-Pokam.

Prediction: McFedries by TKO, Round 1

Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra

This fight (which will apparently be the last in Hughes’ career) will finally settle the grudge match between Hughes and Serra, who don’t like each other because…I don’t know.  Apparently Serra doesn’t like Hughes’ attitude, and felt compelled to make an issue of it, and Hughes didn’t like that he made an issue of it.  Compelling stuff!  The fight should be good, though, and Serra has enough talent to win the fight short of the scheduled three rounds, especially on the feet.  Serra has great jiu-jitsu, but is unlikely to sub the savvy Hughes.  If Hughes stands with Serra, he will be gambling big-time, as Serra is better with his stand up and has more than enough power to knock Hughes out.  I don’t think Hughes will make that mistake, and I think he takes the decision.

Prediction: Hughes by decision

UFC Light Heavyweight Championship: Rashad Evans (champion) vs. Lyoto Machida

This fight is very hard to predict.  Machida’s style has been described by everyone under the sun (including me) as elusive and even perplexing, and he is unlikely to engage in a foolhardy striking war.  Meanwhile, Evans has shown on more than one occasion that he’s willing to be patient and counter-attack, so you can’t expect him to make the decision to come out guns blazing, either.  Both fighters claim to have great game plans for this one, and Evans has the best trainer in the game on his side in Greg Jackson.  I can’t see Machida submitting Evans even if Evans gets the fight to the ground, and I don’t expect that either fighter will make a mistake that will result in a knockout.  However, Machida has not yet lost a round in his UFC career, so what to do?  In this case, you pick the better athlete, who is stronger, faster, and a better wrestler than his counterpart, and that’s Rashad Evans.  I think he’ll take a decision, though if the fight is an aggressive one, maybe he finishes “The Dragon” late in the fight.

Prediction: Evans by decision

by Jon Hartley for Fightmania.com

Tags: Anderson Silva, Ben Saunders, Chael Sonnen, Dana White, Frankie Edgar, Gray Maynard, Jon Jones, Josh Koscheck, Lyoto Machida, Matt Hughes, Matt Serra, Rashad Evans, Sean Sherk, UFC, WEC