Be Here Tomorrow...

As mentioned way back in May, we're going to celebrate UFC 100 by counting down the 100 Greatest Fighters in UFC History and it starts tomorrow.

The UFC 100 will be comprised of our selections as the top 100 fighters to work under the UFC banner. While many of the names to be featured on the list have had success outside of the UFC, we're only dealing with their records inside a the Octagon.

So, that means Wanderlei Silva's dominance in Pride is worth a wooden nickel and his 2-5 UFC record is what we'll be considering. Of course, the five losses "The Axe Murderer" has suffered with the UFC came at the hands of Vitor Belfort, Tito Ortiz, Chuck Liddell, Rampage and Rich Franklin, so that has to be considered too.

See how much fun this is going to be?

Each day, we'll roll out 10 fighters, working our way from #100 until we get to #1, a fighter who will receive a full post all his own on Saturday, July 11th.

And don't worry - we're still going to be delivering the same Fight Week Previews that we've done thus far, complete with another round of Punch Drunk Predictions.

But now I have to go. I just realized how much work I have to do in the next couple weeks...

I hope you enjoy it.





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Punch Drunk Predictions: UFC 99

The record is getting better - 7-3 at WEC 41 helped - but the fights are getting harder.

Time to flip a coin and see who will emerge victorious... okay, so I'm not flipping a coin, but it's pretty damn close with some of these fights.

Mirko "Cro Cop" (22-5-2) vs. Mostahpa Al Turk (6-4)
I don't care that Cro Cop is most likely nowhere near the Cro Cop of old. Did you see the way Checik Kongo demolished Al Turk in their last fight? One big kick and this one is done. You don't bring him back on a one fight deal if you expect him to get dummied.

Spencer Fisher (23-4) vs. Caol Uno (27-11-4)
As much as I love seeing Spencer Fisher in wars, that inability to finish guys in those stand-up slugfests is what I see working against him. While he might pick away at Uno, the veteran has simply been down that road too many times against higher calibre opponents.

Marcus Davis (21-5) vs. Dan Hardy (21-6-1)
Thing with poking a bear with a stick is that sometimes, the bear gets mighty pissed and claws your arm off with the stick still in your hand. Unfortunately, I don't think Marcus Davis is that kind of bear. He'll be fired up and despite what he says, will be trying to kill Dan Hardy. Then he'll make a mistake and catch a counter hook in the bean and drop like a sack of potatoes.

Mike Swick (13-2) vs. Ben Saunders (7-0-2)
One thing I'm certain of is that there will be a finish in this fight. When it will come and who will be the one getting their hand raise will all depend on who controls the action. Swick will be looking to pick his spots from a safe distance and Saunders will be looking to use his reach and that deadly Thai clinch. Flip a coin...

Cheick Kongo (24-4-1) vs. Cain Velasquez (5-0)
Kongo has looked damn good in his last couple fights, but Cain just keeps getting better. I liked that he was pissed he didn't finish Denis Stojnic sooner, that shows hunger to me. The guys Kongo has struggled with - Carmelo Marrero and Heath Herring - took the fight to the ground and used their wrestling on the big man. Neither of them is in the same category when it comes to wrestling as the former ASU All-American.

Rich "Ace" Franklin (26-4) vs. Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva (32-9-1)
Simple as this: if Wandi is still all about pleasing the fans, he's going to get laid out. If he sticks to a game plan and uses his aggression wisely, he'll get the win. Remember, Franklin sure didn't like being in Anderson Silva's clinch and Wanderlei has a deeply clinch game too.

Punch Drunk Predictions
Record: 20-21

Preliminary Card
John Hathaway over Rick Story
Denis Stojnic over Stefan Struve
Paul Kelly over Roli Delgado
Paul Taylor over Peter Sobotta
Dennis Siver over Dale Hartt
Justin Buccholz over Terry Etim

Main Card
Mirko Cro Cop over Mustapha Al Turk
Caol Uno over Spencer Fisher
Dan Hardy over Marcus Davis
Ben Saunders over Mike Swick
Cain Velasquez over Cheick Kongo

And in the Main Event of the evening...

Wanderlei "The Axe Murderer" Silva over Rich Franklin!

Now touch gloves and come out swingin'...


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Fight Week Previews: Franklin vs. Silva

Time to tackle the Main Event.

While I wouldn't call it "the match up fight fans have been waiting to see" or whatever they've billed it as in the commercials, it certainly is an interesting tilt and one that should contain some serious fireworks.

And for those saying this is a sub-par Main Event, UFC 89 (Bisping vs. Leben) and UFC 95 (Sanchez vs. Stevenson) could tell you a thing or two about being sub-par, not "Ace" and "The Axe Murderer."


Rich Franklin (26-4) versus Wanderlei Silva (32-9-1)
Let's get the training team and training partners angle out of the way right off the bat, shall we?

It certainly doesn't hurt Rich Franklin to be training with Anderson Silva, just because he's Anderson Silva. The fact that Silva has previous knowledge and experience training with Franklin's opponent is clearly a bonus.

That being said, it also pisses off "The Axe Murderer" and even the way that sentence sounds comes off a little dangerous. It's not like Wanderlei trains in solitude either. The entire Wand Fight Team lives under one roof and Silva is a true pioneer in cross-training and circuit training.

As has been the case with a lot of the main card fights, training is a wash.

Franklin and Silva share one mutual opponent: Dan Henderson. Both suffered losses to the former Pride dual champion, though Franklin came out on the wrong side of a close decision in his last fight, while Wanderlei was knocked stiff in his last Pride bout.

Though Franklin gets a slight edge from his "better" result against Hendo, Wanderlei has the stronger overall competition. Not to take anything away from the guys Rich Franklin has fought and defeated, but Wanderlei has been in the ring with some of the best when they were at their peak and came away victorious more often than not. Then again, Wanderlei has two losses in three UFC fights, while Franklin has three in four and a half years...

Stylistically, this fight is a nightmare for Wanderlei Silva. I know that sounds strange, but guys who are willing to take a couple shots to find the right counter-punching opportunity are his kryptonite. Look at the Rampage fight. Franklin is strong enough on his feet and has exhibited a strong enough chin over the years to take a couple of "The Axe Murderer's" early offerings and still move forward.

While Franklin is no slouch on the ground, perhaps this is one time that it might be beneficial for Silva to display the BJJ skills he is reputed to have. After all, you don't train with a multiple time world champion and not pick up a thing or two.

24 hours before I tell you who I like, I still don't know. This whole card has me second-guessing and over-analyzing, and those are the cards I really enjoy.

See you tomorrow for the Punch Drunk Predictions.
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