Steve's Blog
Select a date from below to read Steves blog entries.Entries
Aug 01, 2010
SABO VS GOGUEN: UFC LIVE ON VS. 2
I forgot to post this before, my apologies...Steve: 202 - 137 (42 perfect picks)
Josh: 186 - 153 (49 perfect picks)
Jon Jones vs Vladimir Matyushenko
Steve: Jon Jones 1st KO– Jones has been on a tear lately, beating all comers. Bonnar, Hamill, Vera… all fell to this newcomer. Matyushenko does not have the boxing of Bonnar, the wrestling of Hamill or the Muay Tai of Vera… this should be a quick, dirty nasty victory.
Josh: Jon Jones has to be the most exciting up and comer in the UFC. He is amazingly explosive, unorthodox, and has the build to that makes him difficult to get to. Matyushenko has a wealth of experience, but that only means something to me if he’s fighting anyone other than Jones. Jon Jones by 1st round KO.
Mark Munoz vs Yushin Okami
Josh: Yushin Okami by decision. Okami is a huge step up in competition for Munoz. Mark’s been on a tear, but I think Okami puts a stop to it. This should be a battle.
Steve: Okami 3rd submission– Munoz has been doing some good things in the octogan. Okami, however is too strong and smothering to be taken out by him. Okami is one of the best in the weight class, and he will show it tonight.
John Howard vs Jake Ellenberger
Steve: Howard, decision– this is one of the more even fights in my mind, which is why I took it to decision. It really could be a toss up.
Josh: Tough call. I don’t want to look like we’re just agreeing on everything, but I’ll give it to Howard by decision as well.
Tyson Griffin vs Takanori Gomi
Josh: Gomi by decision. I think he’s looking to show that he’s still a force and will win this with sheer grit.
Steve: Griffin by decision– Griffin can beat just about anyone in the lightweight division… but he just doesn’t finish fights. Gomi is still a solid fighter, but he has fallen from the ranks of the elite to one of middling performances.
Paul Kelly vs Jacob Volkmann
Steve: Paul Kelly 2nd KO– I like Paul Kelly. He is one of those “Battlin’ Brits” I like watching. Volkmann needs to show me much more for me to put money on him.
Josh: Paul Kelly has the better record. I’ll give it to him by decision.
DaMarques Johnson vs Matthew Riddle
Josh: I don’t really care for Matt Riddle, so I’m picking DaMarques Johnson out of spite. Pure ugly spite. Johnson by KO in the 2nd.
Steve: Matt Riddle, decision– DaMarques likes to swing for the fences and that style has worked for him in the past. Riddle is a solid ground and pounder who should smother this to a victory.
James Irvin vs Igor Pokrajac
Steve: Irvin 1st KO. Irvin hasn’t looked good since Anderson Silva made him look like a chump. This may be his last ditch effort to stay in the UFC. Back to 205 after looking like a corpse at 185. He should make this an exciting match.
Josh: James Irvin is a guy the UFC likes and I think they’re setting him up for a win. Irvin by KO in the 1st.
Brian Stann vs Mike Massenzio
Josh: Stann by KO in the 1st. I’m watching Futurama and I don’t care to explain.
Steve: Stann 3rd KO. Stann is not the most impressive fighter out there. He is slow and stiff and doesn’t have the flashy KOs or subs. But, he has a good story, was a champ in the WEC and has enough skills to finish off Massenzio, if not in a flashy way.
Darren Elkins vs Charles Oliveira
Steve: Oliveira 1st submission. Oliveira is a solid fighter looking to make an impression. He hasn’t lost and won’t be beat by Elkins.
Josh: Elkins by KO in the 1st. He did it to Duane Ludwig, why not again?
Rob Kimmons vs Steve Steinbeiss
Josh: Kimmons by submission in the 1st. His record shows a pattern of this being a win for him. It’d be a shame for that to be messed up.
Steve: Kimmons 2nd sub. Steinbeiss hasn’t looked too solid and though they both lost their last fight, Kimmons has the experience to pull off the victory.