UFC on Versus 2

The Ultimate Fighting Championship’s second card to air on the Versus network is slated for Sunday, August 1. That means it’s time for my to break out my inner Karnack the Magnificent and offer up some for sure predictions to be wrong.

First up the quick-hit prediction on the preliminary card and then the break down of the four-fight televised main card.

On the preliminary card, I like:

Rob Kimmons to beat Steve Steinbeiss
Charles Oliveria to beat Darren Elkins
Brian Stann to beat Mike Massenzio
James Irvin to beat Igor Pokrajac
DaMarques Johnson to beat Matthew Riddle
Paul Kelly to beat Jacob Volkman

Main Card

Lightweight bout: Tyson Griffin (14-3) vs. Takanori Gomi (31-6)

Until further notice, I have zero faith in Takanori Gomi doing anything but losing and looking terrible when he fights on American soil. The main advantage Gomi might have in this fight is that Tyson Griffin stepped up on relatively short notice to replace an injured Joe Stevenson. Then again, Griffin trains at Extreme Couture in Las Vegas and I don’t remember anyone in that camp ever being accused of being lazy and out of shape.

Prediction: Griffin over Gomi by submission in the 2nd round.

Welterweight bout: John Howard (14-4) vs. Jake Ellenberger (22-5)

John Howard’s last two bouts ended in knockouts. He’s 4-0 in the UFC, his first two victories were both by way of split-decision. Ellenberger has had two fights in the UFC with a 1-1 mark. His last fight saw him win by a technical knockout. I think Howard has a little too much power here, but look for Ellenberger to try and test Howard’s gas tank in this one.

Prediction: Howard over Ellenberger by TKO in the 1st round.

Middleweight bout: Mark Munoz (8-1) vs. Yushin Okami (25-5)
I see this fight was one that sets up a possible contenders run to the belt at 185. Munoz has looked very good at Middleweight. Okami has been underrated in the division, in my opinion. Okami has a record of 8-2 in the UFC. His two losses were to Rich Franklin and Chael Sonnen, not exactly two bums off the street. Since dropping to 185, Munoz had won his last three fights. His most recent outing was a comeback TKO win over Kendall Grove at UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi. Okami’s last win was over Lucio Linhares when the fight was stopped by the doctor due to a cut on Linhares. IF Okami doesn’t want to be the gatekeeper at middleweight, he better come out with guns blazing. Munoz needs to avoid a repeat performance of the first round he had against Grove.

Prediction: Munoz over Okami by split decision.

MAIN EVENT

Light-Heavyweight Bout: Jon Jones (10-1) vs. Vladimir Matyushenko (24-4)

The Old Lion vs the Young Lion. The up-and-comer testing himself against the grizzled veteran. This is the fight where we find out if Jon “Bones” Jones is legit or if he still needs seasoning. Or it’s the fight where Matyushenko proves he’s still got something left to give to the sport before he’s done.

Jones was last seen putting Brandon Vera away and then on the shelf with a busted eye socket from a big elbow strike. Before that, Jones “lost” to Matt Hamill due to a disqualification because of an illegal elbow strike.

Matyushenko has picked up two straight victories since returning to the UFC. “The Janitor” won a split-decision over Igor Pokrajac and then won a unanimous decision over Elliott Marshall in his last fight on the UFC’s first foray on to the Versus airwaves.

Both have backgrounds in wrestling. Jones has come up with highlight reel worthy strikes and takedowns in his matches. Can he catch the veteran with one of those? Matyushenko has a list of credentials as long as anybody in the sport. The former IFL Light-Heavyweight champ has more than his fair share of “Been there, done that & got the shirt to prove it” T-shirts.

Based on his last two fights, look for Matyushenko to try and grind out a win over Jones. Based on Jones’ fights, look for him to land a big elbow either in the clinch or on the ground if he can establish a dominant position against Matyushenko.

Prediction: Jones over Matyushenko via TKO in the 3rd round.

Until Next Time

I’m Q

CYA

“Words are important, I thank you for hearing my words.” George Carlin.