Roundtables
ROUNDTABLE: Most anticipated fights at UFC on Fuel 5 "Struve vs. Miocic"
Sep 27, 2012 - 5:15:46 PM ROUNDTABLE: Most anticipated fights at UFC on Fuel 5 "Struve vs. Miocic"

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Which bouts at UFC on Fuel 5 are you most anticipating?


MATT PELKEY, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

This card is loaded up and down with fun, albeit relatively meaningless fights. I'm pumped for Gunnar Nelson and Tom Watson's UFC debuts, and they're both on the undercard against quality opposition. Dan Hardy-Amir Sadollah and Che Mills-Duane Ludwig both look like sloppy bloodbaths on paper. Brad Pickett-Yves Jabouin will be the faster, more technical, more diverse version of those fights. The one fight I'm most looking forward to though is Paul Sass-Matt Wiman. When Sass was able to triangle Jacob Volkmann like he was any other scrub I became a believer. If he can pull it off against a rock solid lightweight like Matt Wiman, it'll be time to really get excited.


BRAD WALKER, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Miocic and Struve should be one hell of a scrap, neither man is one to back down and both need to be finished in order to lose if you ask me, and both are fully capable of finishing the other. That fight aside, Pickett and Jabouin really has my interest as does Sass-Wiman on that card. All of the fights are essentially pointless to the title picture but each can help the fighter either finally make their way into it, or just help them gain a bit of momentum in the upwards direction, except for Dan Hardy whom I can't begin to justify a top 10 spot for even if he takes out Amir with a three second flying armbar. It has all the makings of a solid card that should yield a high percentage of finishes.


DAN MOORE, MMATORCH UK CONTRIBUTOR

My anticipation for UFC on FUEL 5 is far higher than usual because i'll be there in person. I was really disappointed when Struve vs. Miocic was first announced as the main event, but over time the card has developed into one I am really happy with. Seeing Dan Hardy fight in his hometown will be an obvious high, but for me I'm most looking forward to seeing Hathaway vs. Maguire. At first I thought it was an odd decision to match up two local favorites, but whoever wins this weekend will be knocking on the door of the Welterweight top 15.

Pickett vs. Jabouin is an intriguing match up and a win for either fighter could leave them very close to a future title shot. Another highly anticipated part of the card, at least from a British perspective, are the debuts of both Jimi Manuwa and Tom Watson. Both are long overdue an opportunity to showcase their skills in the UFC.

Manuwa is an absolute beast and I'm expecting him to take home a KO bonus against Kingsbury. To be honest I'm looking forward to every single fight. 10,000 partizan fight fans will provide a fantastic atmosphere that will give every Brit on the card enough motivation to put in an exciting performance to send the fans home happy.


RICH HANSEN, MMATORCH COLUMNIST

Would it make me an MMA snob to say I'm geeked for Shotgun Young versus Robbie Peralta? It would? In that case I'm f***ing geeked for Shotgun Young vs. Robbie Peralta. Or maybe I'm just defiantly challenging your assertion that wanting to see Robbie Peralta fight makes me an MMA snob. But since I'm still glowing from the Packers getting their asses handed to them on Monday night, I'll take the high road and assert that I'm honestly excited for this entire card.

The main event is going to crown a heavyweight who will be in the mix to have a chance to be in line to be the next big thing after all of the current contenders weed themselves out. Dan Hardy, fresh off of feuding with Matt Hughes for killing exotic animals for sport, will continue his rebuilding tour by knocking Amir Sadollah into next week.

John Hathaway vs. John Maguire is the rare Brit vs. Brit matchup to hail from the UK. Brad Pickett vs. Matt Pelkey's favorite fighter of all-time Eve Juh-blahhh can't help be anything but ten shades of awesome. Matt Wiman will be the toughest of Paul Triangle Sass' career. And Che mills gets a chance to show he's a solid fighter, something the bizarre matchmaking with Rory MacDonald failed to allow him to show, when he faces off against Duane "Bang" "I've Got The Fastest KO In UFC History And If you Say Otherwise I KILL YOU" Ludwig.

The main card is just lousy with good fights, and I'm looking forward to five hours of fights AND still being able to go out on Saturday night for a couple of sazeracs at Bryant's on Lapham.