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UFC 110 comes to us here in the U.S. live on Saturday night as it takes place on Sunday afternoon from the Acer Arena in Sydney, Australia. The UFC's first trip down under may not feature a Title fight, but the main event could end up having Title implications depending on next month's heavyweight bout between Frank Mir and Shane Carwin. But while the event is slightly lacking on star power, all of the main card fights could very well deliver more excitement than UFC 109 brought us just two weekends ago. We've got ten fights scheduled for the event, so let's get under way with the previews!
Preliminary Card
James Te Huna vs. Igor Pokrajac: Te Huna is one of the fighters on this card due to his proximity to the location, as the New Zealander is getting a shot following a 15 fight career in Australia. He's on a five fight win streak, including four straight victories by knockout or TKO. Ranked #1 in Australia by InfiniteMMA.com in the light heavyweight division, Te Huna is now going to try to show what he can do on the main stage. Pokrajac is a Croatian fighter and sparring partner of main card fighter Mirko Cro Cop, and had ridden an eight fight win streak into his UFC debut in September last year against Vladimir Matyushenko. I like Te Huna to make his debut a successful one in his fighting home, and I'll take the slight favorite with a second round TKO.
C.B. Dollaway vs. Goran Reljic: 25 year old Croatian Goran Reljic made a big impression in his UFC debut in May of 2008, picking up a TKO victory over Wilson Gouveia in the UFC 84 "Fight of the Night." He hasn't been back in the cage since then, however, as he sustained multiple injuries and had to undergo back surgery, bringing his fighting layoff to 21 months when he steps into the Octagon on Saturday night. Dollaway defeated prospect Jay Silva in his last fight in September to bounce back from a quick submission loss to Tom Lawlor at UFC 100. Dollaway received two shots at Amir Sadollah in season seven of The Ultimate Fighter, losing by almost identical armbar submissions in the semifinals and finals after fighting his way back in. Since then, he's posted a 3-1 record in the UFC and looks to halt the return of the undefeated Reljic. Despite the layoff, Reljic was the better fighter before and if he's able to shake of any ring rust early this is his fight for the taking. It might take him a bit longer, but I think he can pick up a late first round submission in this one.
Chris Lytle vs. Brian Foster: Lytle is a long standing member of the UFC's roster, and with six of his fourteen fights in the Octagon earning him bonuses he almost never has a bad fight. Brian Foster is coming off the biggest win of his career, defeating Brock Larson in a shocking and dominating performance at UFC 106 in November. This is a fight primed to please the fans in Australia, and depending on time constrictions this is a fight all but guaranteed to make the broadcast at some point during the night. Lytle hasn't posted consecutive victories since 2007, but I think that trend changes here in yet another patented Lytle brawl, with Lytle connecting on the KO blow in the third.
Stephan Bonnar vs. Krzysztof Soszynski: One of the fighters that has been credited for turning the sport around with his performance against Forrest Griffin in the first season finale of The Ultimate Fighter, Stephan Bonnar now finds himself very much in desperate need of a win. He's lost two straight fights since returning from a lengthy injury layoff, to Jon Jones and Mark Coleman, and he simply hasn't looked like the fighter he once was in his past two fights. Soszynski had his Octagon momentum slowed a bit against Brandon Vera last August, as he lost a unanimous decision. Soszynski is a slight favorite in this fight, but that's mainly for their recent performances and Bonnar is very much capable of taking this one. Soszynski doesn't have the wrestling that Bonnar struggled against in his last two fights, and I think Bonnar gets back on track in this one with a unanimous decision.
Elvis Sinosic vs. Chris Haseman: The Australian contingent is in full swing in this one, as Sinosic returns to not only the UFC, but the fight game itself. He hasn't fought since December of 2007, and hasn't fought in the UFC for almost three years. Haseman has only fought twice since in the last six years after a career that saw him fight 33 times from 1996-2002, including a UFC bout with the late Evan Tanner at UFC 38. It's hard to tell how either fighter is going to fare after lengthy layoffs, and this is the definition of a toss up from a betting perspective. Flip a coin, pick a winner, and I'll take Haseman with a second round TKO.
Main Pay-Per-View Card
Mirko Cro Cop vs. Ben Rothwell: Following his loss to Junior Dos Santos last September, a highly dejected Mirko Cro Cop sounded like he was done with fighting. His interviews in the weeks after the fight were all very sad to read for his fans around the world, who have all been coming to realize that it may just be the end of the line for one of the storied careers in the sport. Ben Rothwell is coming into this fight looking to make a better impression than he did in his UFC debut against Cain Velasquez, where he was smothered and peppered with shots before the fight was finally stopped. Cro Cop has adjusted his training for this fight and is sounding like a much more confident version of himself than we've heard from in quite some time. This is a fight Cro Cop can win, and it's a fight Cro Cop must win. It might take some time to get it done, but Cro Cop can get the job done here, and I'll take him to take the TKO victory in the third.
Keith Jardine vs. Ryan Bader: The season eight Ultimate Fighter winner has not lost a fight in ten career outings, and takes a definite step up in competition against Jardine despite the recent losses on Jardine's record. Jardine is in need of getting back to the winner's circle after suffering consecutive losses for the first time in his career. The devastating loss to Thiago Silva in August was brutal, but it's the type of loss he's suffered before and bounced back from. This is a really interesting matchup and a very tough opponent for both guys. Jardine can outstrike Bader from a technical standpoint if he can avoid the takedowns and the big right hand. The problem with that is he needs to avoid that for three rounds, and against a young and ever improving Bader it will be a tough task. I like Bader to get him down and find a way to ground and pound his way to victory in the third round by TKO.
Joe Stevenson vs. George Sotiropolous: This is an excellent lightweight fight for this card. Stevenson has come back in a big way following his move to Greg Jackson's camp, winning two straight fights after losing three of four prior to that, and Sotiropolous continues to make a name for himself with impressive victory after impressive victory. For as much as Stevenson has emerged as an improved fighter, and he's looked really good in his last two fights, I really like what I've seen out of Sotiropolous, and as such this is my big upset of the night. Stevenson is a wrestler first and foremost, and if Sotiropolous can put him on his back he'll be out of his element. Sotiropolous' top game is excellent and he finds a way to submit Joe Stevenson on Saturday night in the second round.
Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping: Were it not for his performance against Denis Kang in November Bisping wouldn't be getting as much consideration from fans as far as his chances in this fight. Wanderlei is rested, recovered and is looking for new life in the middleweight division. The x factor is Wanderlei's first cut to 185 and how that effects what he's able to do for three rounds. If Bisping plays his game and stands and trades with him he'll be in for a long night, but Bisping would be smart to not employ that strategy. Still, Wanderlei is an extremely tough fighter and despite some questions on his chin in recent years he can still take a ton of punishment from most. Bisping doesn't have the power that fighters like Rampage has, and even Chuck Liddell couldn't put Silva out. I just don't see Silva losing another fight in a row, and for as good as Bisping looked against Kang he needed to recover from getting rocked in the first round. Wanderlei won't make the mistake of letting him back into this one, and I'll take Silva with a second round TKO.
Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: I'm really surprised at the betting lines for this one leaning towards Cain with Nogueira an even money pick. While Velasquez has not been defeated in his career, he also has had a really hard time stopping some of the higher up fighters he's fought, and the power just hasn't been there in his hands. While his takedowns are relentless and he can give Nogueira fits, the ground may not be where he wants to fight this one. On the same token, the Nogueira that fought Randy Couture in August absolutely has the ability to outstrike Velasquez on the feet. This is just a fight that I see being really tough for Velasquez to win, as I think it will take him being able to do what only Frank Mir has been able to do and finish Nogueira off. I just can't see that happening on Saturday night and as an even money pick it's Nogueira all the way. Cain may get him down, but it will prove to be his downfall as Nogueira submits him in the third.
Make sure to check back with us on Saturday night for our live round by round coverage of the event as it airs on pay-per-view!
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