Light Heavyweight Grand Prix The Champ: Rashad Evans The #1 contender: Lyoto Machida I'll simulate their matchup IMO and put the winner of the Grand Prix up against my winner of the fight The talent pool (top 16 remaining fighters) 1. Quinton Jackson 2. Forrest Griffin 3. Keith Jardine 4. Thiago Silva 5. Dan Henderson 6. Rich Franklin 7. Chuck Liddell 8. Wanderlei Silva 9. Luis Cane 10. Mauricio Rua 11. Matt Hamill 12. Steve Cantwell 13. Brandon Vera 14. Mark Coleman 15. Mark Munoz 16. Houston Alexander 1st round matchups #1 Quinton Jackson vs #16 Houston Alexander Houston has KO power in his hands and knees; however, he has no gas tank and a glass chin. Rampage’s defense and boxing would be too much Winner – Jackson via KO #2 Forrest Griffin vs #15 Mark Munoz Forrest Griffin is a tough SOB. Munoz is no slouch but would completely over-matched. Griffin’s cardio is too much. He isn’t a former champ for nothing. Winner – Griffin via Decision #3 Keith Jardine vs #14 Mark Coleman Jardine's awkward style and never ending gas tank would be too much for old man Coleman I think. Winner - Jardine via Decision #4 Thiago Silva vs #13 Brandon Vera Vera was once a highly touted UFC fighter and Silva has only one loss on his record. His overwhelming style and power will catch Vera for a KO win Winner - Silva by KO #5 Dan Henderson vs #12 Steve Cantwell Cantwell is a good fighter, Hendo is just better. Hendo can get the fight on the ground and GnP a decision or can end it on the feet. Cantwell simply isn't good enough Winner - Henderson via Decision #6 Rich Franklin vs #11 Matt Hamill We've already seen this fight and I don't think it would be much different. Franklin is just a better fighter Winner - Franklin via KO #7 Chuck Liddell vs #10 Mauricio Rua Lucky for us if I predict this fight wrong, we'll find out how it really goes next month. I think Rua's looked bad in the UFC and I think Liddell has the power to get a decision. He's got the ability to take Rua down or get up if he is taken down. Winner - Liddell via Decision #8 Wanderlei Silva vs #9 Luis Cane Silva's best days are behind him and he is coming off a brutal KO loss. Cane has outstanding stand up and power. I think he'll catch Silva. Winner - Cane via KO Moving On to the Next Round 1. Quinton Jackson 2. Forrest Griffin 3. Keith Jardine 4. Thiago Silva 5. Dan Henderson 6. Rich Franklin 7. Chuck Liddell 8. Luis Cane
Re: Mamba's LHW Grand Prix Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Round 2 1. Quinton Jackson 2. Forrest Griffin 3. Keith Jardine 4. Thiago Silva 5. Dan Henderson 6. Rich Franklin 7. Chuck Liddell 8. Luis Cane The Four Matchups #1 Quinton Jackson vs #8 Luis Cane This fight should be full of fireworks. Cane has power, Quinton has solid chin and power. I've got to go with Rampage here, as his boxing defense and striking abilities just reign supreme. Winner - Jackson via KO #2 Forrest Griffin vs #7 Chuck Liddell A matchup that UFC fans have wanted forever. Griffin's new found fighting style has led him to a UFC championship. I think he'd be too much for Liddell and be able to win a convincing decision. Winner - Griffin via Decision #3 Keith Jardine vs #6 Rich Franklin A solid matchup. Jardine seems to be the LHW version of Franklin as in they can't beat TOP QUALITY opposition. Franklin's ground game is better, and his striking is more accurate. I've got Franklin winning this one. Winner - Franklin Via #4 Thiago Silva vs #5 Dan Henderson Maybe I'm too bias to be doing this, but I think Dan's chin would withstand Silva's shots. Thiago will gas and Hendo will get the decision victory by taking round's 2 and 3. Winner - Dan Henderson via Decision Fighters Moving On 1. Quinton Jackson 2. Forrest Griffin 3. Rich Franklin 4. Dan Henderson
Re: Mamba's LHW Grand Prix Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Final Four 1. Quinton Jackson 2. Forrest Griffin 4. Rich Franklin 6. Dan Henderson The Semi-Finals #1 Quinton Jackson vs #6 Dan Henderson We've all seen this matchup before and many feel Hendo got ripped off. I don't. I think Jackson did enough to win it the first time, and I think he'd do it again Winner - Jackson via Decision #2 Forrest Griffin vs #4 Rich Franklin Franklin would surprise a lot of people if he made it this far, but I don't think he'd continue. Griffin would swarm him and keep control of the fight and win a decision. Winner - Griffin via Decision Light Heavyweight Championship Match Champ Rashad Evans vs Contender Lyoto Machida Machida has proven elusive so far and is getting well adapted to the Octagon and becoming more aggressive. However, I'm not convinced that he could be be aggressive against Evans. Evans' speed would catch up, IMO. Winner - Evans via KO in the late rounds Grand Prix Final's Matchup 1. Quinton Jackson 2. Forrest Griffin
Re: Mamba's LHW Grand Prix Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Finals 1. Quinton Jackson 2. Forrest Griffin The Matchup #1 Quinton Jackson vs #2 Forrest Griffin Again, we've seen this matchup. I'm not convinced that Forrest did enough to secure that fight. I gave him rounds 2 and 4(it might have been five) and I gave Jackson the remaining rounds. I think Jackson is hungry, he is with a new camp, and I think he'll leave this one up to him--not the judges. I think we'll see Jackson utilize his ground and pound and wrestling to control the matchup. Winner - Jackson via late round KO The Championship Bout Champion Rashad Evans vs Grand Prix Winner Quinton Jackson We all know I think Jackson is out for his title and is more motivated than he has ever been. I think this would be a great matchup, but Jackson's power is just too much. Rashad needs to box. His speed is an advantage but if he is going to box, he is going to get hit. I think Jackson takes this boxing match. Winner and New LHW Champ - Quinton Jackson via KO
great stuff. The best potential for an upset IMO is Brandon Vera. If he's adjusted to the weight drop and has his energy back like he did at HW I think his striking could give Silva fits because it is so precise and much more polished than Silva's. The three guys who I see as being on the cusp of being in the tourney are Stephon Bonnar, Jon Jones and Wilson Gouveia. The guy I'd love to see there but I believe is still injured is Goran Reljic great write up Mamba. I still think Lyoto would take Evans but that's a close one to call for sure. Rampage is with a good camp and looks good. I think he has a great shot at getting his title back from anyone.
I actually forgot about Jon Jones and dropped off Gouveia because Alexander seems to be a fan favorite. He is exciting to watch, despite his empty gas tank and glass chin. And about Vera, I just haven't been impressed by him since he dropped down to LHW. He owned some scrub last fight, but before that, he hasn't been impressive.
I agree adding Houston is a popularity move and a good one, especially since it would let Rampage say 'time for some black on black crime!' Vera has not been impressive, but he did seem to have some pep to his last fight and looked more like himself like he did when he first came into the HW division. Even if it was vs some can. Confidence is a big part of being a fighter and if he got it back he'd be a handful for a lot of 205'ers. I've like his attitude and personality when he first came into the UFC, I'm hoping he bounces back.
Nicely done. I think Luis Cane has a lot of potential in this division but Rampage is just a tough draw for him. I can honestly envision Cane eating Jackson's best shots and working towards the Thai clinch, Shogun style. I think that fight would be extremely close.
Also, instead of Coleman, Munoz, and Alexander, I would recommend Jon Jones, Brian Stann, and Ryan Bader. But I'm nitpicking.
I'd keep Alexander. He's a feel good story that casual fans are interested in. That and he started off with a couple of brutal KO's that casual fans remember well. I forgot about Stann too. He should be on the list. Not totally sold on Bader yet.... yet.
I can understand Houston as a fan-pleaser pick. However definitely Coleman would be out. Personally I'd drop Coleman, Munoz, and Houston. Add Thiago Silva, Jon Jones, and Bonnar. Not to take anything away though.
Thiago Silva was in there ... But yeah, I forgot Jones and left Bonnar out because he looked like absolute shit against Jones.
Yea now I see Silva. I personally thought Coleman looked 50 times worse than Bonnar. lol. Bonnar ate a big elbow to the back of the head, and took some big shots, however he recovered and his cardio looked good, and he looked decent standing with Jones. He was manhandled though by Jones' wrestling and throws.
Goran Reljic is the sleeper I'd love to see make his comeback and have a go in the GP. He'd have a great chance at surprising some ppl.
