After a seemingly never-ending string of injuries to the lineup for UFC 108, it's finally taking place tomorrow night on Spike TV and pay-per-view. As always, we'll have live round by round coverage of the event as it airs, but first, it's time for some previews and predictions!
Preliminary Card:
Rafaello Oliveira vs. John Gunderson: Rafaello Oliveira's no stranger to late opponent changes. His UFC debut was supposed to be against Dan Lauzon in a bout originally scheduled for Affliction: Trilogy, but due to an injury to Lauzon he ended up facing Nik Lentz. Now he faces the debuting Gunderson, a late replacement for his originally scheduled opponent Sean Sherk, who was moved to the main card initially due to an injury to another fighter before going down himself with an injury. He came into the UFC riding a three fight win streak in 2009, and is 9-2 overall in his career. Gunderson is a 30 year old submission specialist and former IFL fighter, coming into his UFC debut with a 22-6 record. Oliveira wasn't very impressive in his debut against Lentz, and I like Gunderson in a slight upset in this one. He's got a knack for submissions, and I'll take him with a first round submission.
Mike Pyle vs. Jake Ellenberger: Mike Pyle lost his UFC debut to Brock Larson after stepping in on extremely short notice, but turned around with a submission victory over Chris Wilson in September. Ellenberger looked extremely impressive in a losing effort to Carlos Condit in his debut for the organization on the same Fight Night card in September, nearly finishing Condit multiple times in the first round before losing the last two rounds. Pyle's got some good submission skills, but Ellenberger's only submission loss was to multi time Jiu Jitsu champion Delson Heleno in an IFL bout in 2007. Ellenberger takes this one in the second round by TKO.
Mark Munoz vs. Ryan Jensen: Mark Munoz's UFC debut was a memorable one, for everyone but him. A devastating head kick from Matt Hamill sent him hard to the canvas in the first round and he laid there for several minutes before eventually being helped out of the cage. He rebounded nicely with a split decision victory over Nick Catone at UFC 102. Ryan Jensen comes into his fifth UFC appearance with a 1-3 record in the organization, though his three losses were by submission at the hands of Wilson Gouveia, Demian Maia and Thales Leites. I like Munoz here to get back to his finishing ways and pick up a devastating TKO of his own in the first round.
Spike TV Prelims
Dan Lauzon vs. Cole Miller: Joe Lauzon's little brother finally makes his UFC return for the first time since a 2006 loss to Spencer Fisher. In that bout he was the youngest fighter to compete in the UFC. He lost his very next bout after that but has not tasted defeat since then, and he is currently riding an eight fight win streak. Cole Miller is looking to rebound from a vicious KO at the hands of season eight Ultimate Fighter winner Efrain Escudero. Lauzon is a solid fighter, but his stand up is not as good as his ground game, and with Miller also very adept at the ground aspect of the fight game this one could come to be a stand up battle. I like Miller's hands if that takes place, and will take him with a unanimous decision after outstriking Lauzon in this one.
Martin Kampmann vs. Jacob Volkmann: Volkmann lost his UFC debut to Paulo Thiago last month at UFC 106 by decision, and comes into another tough fight here against Kampmann. While Kampmann just got derailed by Paul Daley in September, he was a win away from a Title shot and possesses a much better stand up game than the Minnesota native. While Volkmann's wrestling is good and he does possess a good ground game, this is just a very difficult match up on the feet and even if he takes it to the ground Kampmann will be extremely difficult to finish without knocking him silly. I like Kampmann in this one with a third round TKO.
Main Pay-Per-View Card
Junior Dos Santos vs. Gilbert Yvel: This is going to be a brawl. Dos Santos and Yvel are both brutal strikers more than capable of knocking the other out, and it may come down to which one connects with the big shot first. Dos Santos has been on a nice run in the UFC thus far, and a win puts him right in the mix in the Heavyweight Title picture. Yvel is coming off one of the most vicious KO's of 2009 in a June bout against Pedro Rizzo on the "Ultimate Chaos" pay-per-view event, and is looking to make a big impression on the UFC audience. Yvel is more than a live underdog in this one, but I like Dos Santos to finish him off in the second by TKO.
Jim Miller vs. Duane Ludwig: Ludwig returns to the UFC for the first time since registering one of the fastest knockouts in the organization's history in 2006. Miller, however, is a very good fighter with great wrestling and a very good ground game. Ludwig doesn't have much of a chance in this one outside of landing a shot that puts Miller out, but Miller should get this one to the ground and dominate there through all three rounds. A unanimous decision victory is in the cards for Miller.
Joe Lauzon vs. Sam Stout: The big question mark in this bout is how the lengthy injury layoff has or will affect Lauzon's performance. He's a more well rounded fighter than Stout with a much better ground game, and if he's even at 80% of where he was before the injury I'd like him in this one. Stout is a good fighter and has been in some great battles inside the Octagon, but I like Lauzon to ride this one out to a unanimous decision in what could very well be the "Fight of the Night."
Paul Daley vs. Dustin Hazelett: This is a throwback to the clash of styles bouts of the early UFC years, with Daley possessing great striking and Hazelett being the wunderkind he is in the submission game. This is such a toss up because if Daley can keep this one standing he will knock Hazelett out and if Hazelett can get it to the ground he will more than likely submit Daley. I can't wait to see this fight, as that combination definitely makes this one of the most intriguing fights on the card. If he watched the tape of Daley's bout with Kampmann, Hazelett needs to realize that he can't try to stand with Daley when his only real hope is on the ground. It's going to be tough, but I like Hazelett to get this one to the ground a few times and finish it off with another highlight reel submission in the second round.
Rashad Evans vs. Thiago Silva: Rashad Evans and Thiago Silva both share one major thing in common, and that is the fact that the only loss on their records have come at the hands of UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Lyoto Machida. Rashad's definitely got some issues in his stand up game that have been exposed in the past, and Silva is extremely dangerous with his striking and could find a spot here. On that same note, Silva has been exposed standing before as well, and could find himself getting dropped quickly here, as well. The key for Rashad will be to get back to what brought him to the dance, and that's his wrestling game. If he can avoid attempting to make this one another brawl, and not be concerned with going for a carbon copy of the Liddell or Griffin finishes, he should be able to take over on the ground and find his shots there. I like Rashad with a ground and pound TKO in the second round.
It may not be the best card it could have been due to the injury situation that has plagued it, but UFC 108 still looks to be an enjoyable night of fights. With Spike and the pay-per-view scheduled to air seven of the ten, it's a near certainty that all ten of these fights will make the two broadcasts as well, so those deciding to tune in should not be disappointed with their purchase.
