PRELIMINARY CARD (Facebook)
Maximo Blanco (8-3, 7 KO, 1 dec, losses-3 KO, 2 sub, 1 DQ) vs. Marcus Brimage (4-1, 2 KO, 2 dec, loss-1 sub). Blanco was a standout wrestler but has become known for his powerhouse striking in MMA. Both these guys are really rough around the edges and need more experience. But this is a match that seems tailored to deliver Blanco to the next level with a dramatic finish. So I’ll go with Blanco by KO.

Chris Clements (10-4, 10 KO, losses-1 KO, 3 sub) vs. Keith Wisniewski (28-13, 6 KO, 15 sub, 7 dec, losses-3 KO, 4 sub, 6 dec). Wisniewski is on 30 years old and has WAY more experience (42 fights) but the burnout factor is always a hidden enemy in these cases. If he’s fresh and has a fast enough shot, he can take this by submission. But I’m thinking that won’t happen as I see Clements stuffing a few TD attempts and then finding Keith’s chin for the KO.

PRELIMINARY CARD (FX)
Travis Browne vs. Chad Griggs
Chad Griggs (11-1, 9 KO, 2 sub, losses-1 sub) is the everyman’s favorite. He beats the odds. It ain’t pretty but boy is it exciting. But the stakes are extremely high here. It’s his UFC debut and he’s facing a man on the rise in Travis Browne (12-0-1, 9 KO, 1 sub, 2 dec). Browne has definitely beaten the better opposition but Griggs brings something special to the contest; his unpredictability. Still I can’t see how Browne would or could give up his unbeaten status to the wild bull from Arizona. I pick Browne by KO in a crazy one.

Matt Brown vs. Stephen Thompson
Matt Brown (13-11, 7 KO, 5 sub, 1 dec, losses-9 sub, 2 dec) is a real test for the high kicking Stephen Thompson (6-0, 3 KO, 1 sub, 2 dec). To me Thompson has a chance, minus the distraction of making movies, of being what Cung Le couldn’t, a flashy traditional karate style fighter who uses footwork to bewilder his opponents. I honestly don’t se this fight being that exciting to be honest. Thompson will skate around and score points while Brown will try to clinch, plant and blast. Brown is hoping for Wanderlei vs. Cung Le but I envision Gustafson vs. Silva myself. Thompson by decision.

John Makdessi vs. Anthony Njokuani
This is a similar match to Matt Brown/Stephen Thompson except that Makdessi (10-1, 7 KO, 2 dec, loss-1 sub) is more experienced in MMA and therefore likes to stand and unload more than his countryman, Thompson, does. Njokuani (14-6, 8 KO, 6 dec, losses-1 KO, 3 sub, 2 dec) is a strong and aggressive striker, but he’s also not very creative, and therefore predictable. But he may have the key to send the Canadian into his 2nd loss because of power and of course pride. Njokuani by decision.

Mac Danzig vs. Efrain Escudero
Both TUF winners. Stylistically they have their minor differences: Danzig (20-9, 5 KO, 10 sub, 5 sub, losses-1 KO, 2 sub, 6 dec) seems more well rounded but I wouldn’t say he is great in any one area. He has technical boxing but lacks power. His submissions are sound but I wouldn’t advise a ground game against the Mexican grappling ace. The on-again-off-again Escudero (18-4, 1 KO, 12 sub, 5 dec, losses-2 sub, 2 dec) is like an updated version of Joe Stevenson, a wrestler with strong submissions. Danzig has the footwork to stay out of the clinch in a match that will infuriate the crowd. Going on their previous track records however I see Escudero locking up a submission for the win, all to the boos, or booze for that matter, of the crowd.

MAIN CARD
Mark Bocek vs. John Alessio
Surely John “The Natural” Alessio (32-14), who replaces injured Matt Wiman, will envision an Aldo vs Mendes performance here, neutralizing BJJ black belt Mark Bocek ground heavy game and starching him in standing mode. But if he fights too defensively and doesn’t hurt Mark, which I think he won’t, Alessio could let Bocek impose his wrestling/grappling to the extent of a lay & pray victory or more likely, if the fight stays on the floor, a submission. Bocek by decision.

Mark Hominick (20-10) vs. Eddie Yagin (15-5-1)
Hominick’s striking is better and his takedown defense will neutralize any advantage that Yagin has on the floor. Still Yagin is a rough and tumble character and will swing for the fences and most likely lose and exciting decision.

Miguel Torres vs. Mike McDonald
Torres (40-4, 2-1 UFC) has fallen significantly since his days as WEC champion when he was in the ‘pound for pound best’ conversation. After the Twitter slip up, and timeout that followed, he looks to just get on first base here with a “back to his old self” win. Michael “Mayday” McDonald (14-1, 3-0 UFC), “Fight of The Night” bonus at UFC 139 (56 sec KO of Alex Soto) has other ideas.

Both guys have strong standup, Torres at range and McDonald with his powerful right hand. So I say they stack up about even on their feet. On the floor Miguel has shown a world class guard but many times judges, for whatever reason, don’t reward bottom game players. It’s a toss up but my gut says Torres will win a decision in a speedy and technical fight.

Brendan Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell
Ben Rothwell (31-8, 17 KO, 11, sub, 3 dec, losses 4 KO, 1 sub, 3 dec) last brawled with Mark Hunt and lost a sloppy decision to the popular K-1 champion. Brendan Schaub (8-2, 7 KO, 1 dec, losses 2 KO). Speed doesn’t only kill, it also wins decisions and that exactly what’s going to happen here. Schaub by decision.

Rory MacDonald vs. Che Mills
Rory MacDonald (12-1, 5 KO, 6 sub, 1 dec, loss by KO) Tri-Star Gym, teammate of Georges St. Pierre Che Mills (14-1, 7 KO, 4 sub, 2 dec. losses 3 sub, 1 dec). Mills has good standup and is coming in off a “Knockout of The Night” performance against Kit Cope. But MacDonald is a different breed entirely and should be able to match and surpass the Englishman’s rather straightforward kickboxing approach and dominate him in every other aspect on way to another impressive win. MacDonald by submission.

Jon Jones vs. Rashad Evans
Jones has significant height & reach (over 9”) advantage over Evans and has destroyed 3 former champions: Shogun Rua, Lyoto Machida & Quinton Jackson. Evans is coming in with some momentum off a one-sided decision over previous unbeaten Phil Davis, a man some had prematurely thought could challenge Jones.

This fight is all about tempo; Rashad must push the action and Jon must answer the aggression with force and movement. Hanging around on the outside would be slow suicide for Evans. If I were Rashad I’d be watching lots of Mike Tyson knockouts as inspiration and analyzing how he got inside all those bigger guys he fought. A Hagler/Hearns style brawl would actually be of benefit to the challenger, as long as he stays aware of the champs knees. Jones should use his length and throw straight punches and tear Evans up at long distance. I picture a standing battle for the most part because I don’t see a wrestling advantage for either in the heat of an MMA battle. It’ll be Ali/Frazier III under MMA rules while it lasts. I not see this fight going the distance. I see a brutal KO for Jon Jones via head kick in the early rounds.

BELLATOR 66

Shinya Aoki vs. Eddie Alvarez II

Dec 31, 2008 Alvarez succumbed to an inverted heel hook to Aoki in K-1 Dynamite. Surely Eddie will want to study the Gilbert Melendez handbook on how to defeat the Japanese submission guru’s “twist & shout” game by stinging him with punches and staying out of the clinch. Aoki will want to use kicks, especially at Eddie’s legs, to slow him down for a takedown and lockup. I foresee a strategic win for Alvarez using a “hunt & peck” striking approach to stay away from being grounded by Aoki.

Brian “The Predator” Rogers vs. Andreas “Sweet Swede” Spang

Rogers is the current Bellator poster boy after his guided missile, flying knee KO of Vitor Vianna in March. Let’s be real here, Andreas is in over his head. Having posted a respectable record in the “out back” circuit while facing relative unknowns, Spang has a diversified attack. But a technical chess match is NOT what’s going to happen as he will get bulldozed by Rogers in round one.

Rick Hawn vs. Lloyd Woodard

Hawn (12-1, 8 KO, 4 Dec, loss 1 dec) is an Olympic judoka who is a powerhouse since he’s shredded down to lightweight. His only loss is a split to Jay Hieron. Lloyd Woodard (12-1, 3 KO, 7 subs, 2 dec, loss 1 dec) submitted fan fav Patricky “Pitbull” in last month so he has some momentum. Woodard’s only loss, a decision to current champion Mike Chandler is no cause for mourning. Woodard is extremely game but I can’t see Hawn losing this. Decision for Hawn in a wild one.

Thiago Michel Pereira Silva vs. Brent Weedman

Silva can move on his feet and his devastating 90% KO percentage speaks volumes here. And he’s extremely hard to control in the clinch or on the floor. Beating JJ Ambrose jump started Weedman’s career to some extent, but he seems to have leapt from the frying pan into the fire against Silva. He must smother Thiago’s range and stay close for the tieup and takedown. Otherwise he’s toast. Thiago Pereira by KO.

Maiquel Jose Falcao Goncalves vs. Vyacheslav Vasilevsky

Brazil has produced so many dangerous strikers lately and Goncalves is no exception. 23 KOs in 29 wins says it all. And he LOVES a war! But Vasilevsky posed a serious threat with a much more technical approach and will avoid standing in the pocket after he lands. I have a hunch fight will resemble Joe Calzaghe vs. Jeff Lacy (boxing), with Goncalves catching more air than chin and Vasilevsky scoring at will down the stretch.

Below is a review of UFC Undisputed 3 from IGN.com, one of the world’s most respected and influential video gaming websites:

http://ps3.ign.com/articles/121/1218339p2.html

And the ‘hits’ just keep on comin’…LOViNG iT! Big thanks to Mick Hammond and the entire crew at MMAWeekly.com!

http://www.mmaweekly.com/quardros-and-rutten-back-in-pride-mode

And finally, THQ sound director Antoine Peltier talks about the making of the game:

Spread the word: UFC Undisputed 3 hits the stores this Tuesday, February 14th!

There was huge a amount of pressure on this fight because the stakes were high (the winner was guaranteed a title shot/the loser=lost in the shuffle). Carlos Condit had already been promised a title shot, then mysteriously stepped aside for Diaz to fight champion Georges St. Pierre (?), etc. Then he had to fight Nick Diaz when GSP got hurt. Standing directly in front of Nick Diaz and getting repeatedly punched in the face was not part of his gameplan, but winning was. And he got the necessary results by being elusive, and an accurate counter striker. Please see the FightMetric stats below:

Overall strikes:
Condit: 159
Diaz: 117

Significant strikes:
Condit: 151
Diaz: 105

Round 1: Condit 30 (28 significant stikes), Diaz 28 (23)
Round 2: Condit 29 (29), Diaz 35 (32)
Round 3: Condit 33 (32), Diaz 24 (22)
Round 4: Condit 37 (36), Diaz 11 (11)
Round 5: Condit 30 (25), Diaz 19 (17)

Fight Metric overall score: Condit 306, Diaz 274

True, it wasn’t a knockdown, drag out, Arturo Gatti style, concussion friendly brawl. But when the downside of losing such a high profile fight is so steep, both financially (yes, it actually is a business) and physically, well, you can’t blame guys for actually fighting ‘smart’ on occasion.

I stopped frequenting the rock clubs because 1) It was painful for me to watch others do what I once could do, but now could not, and 2) I was embarrassed that I was no longer this big man I had made up in my head. I had fallen from my self-made Mount Olympus of rock and roll and was now just another dude in L.A. I was depressed beyond belief. I was also pretty f#@*in’ angry. So when “Scarface”, starring Al Pacino hit the theaters, I was in; I was going to become an actor.

So let’s fast-forward three decades to now, January 2012. I had basically put my acting career on hold because I was having some fairly good luck as a broadcaster within the world of mixed martial arts (PRIDE Fighting Championships, IFL, etc.). But after four+ great years with Showtime Networks, I suddenly have plenty of time on my hands, due to the new Strikeforce deal with the network, which cut the schedule from 16 Strikeforce events per year down to eight, and eliminated the Strikeforce “Challengers” series altogether, of which I provided commentary for, along with my esteemed colleagues Mauro Ranallo and Pat Miletich. So…time to get back to acting…and music (can you say “SNOW“)!

I’ll end with this quote from Michael Shurtleff’s book, “Audition”:

“To go into acting is like asking for admission into an insane asylum. Anyone may apply, but only the certifiably insane are admitted.”

Hold on, that sounds like the fight game, hahaha – sign me up!

I loved the (original) movie too! It’s one of the best films I have ever seen! I haven’t seen the remake yet, with Daniel Craig, who I really enjoy as an actor, playing ‘Michael Blomkvist’. But I will give it a fair shake, even though I had a blunt, negative reaction when I first heard that there would be a “Hollywood” re-make just two years after the release of the original, hahaha.

http://mmadiehards.com/live/features/stephen-quadros-is-down-with-dmx-quiet-riot-and-mma/