It hasn't received the kind of pub it deserves, mostly because it's an overseas event, but UFC 99 is a GREAT fight card. Franklin vs. Silva, Kongo vs. Velasquez, Swick vs. Saunders, Cro Cop's return, the culmination of the Hardy/Davis feud, and a real sleeper in Fisher vs. Uno. This could potentially be the best card of the summer, even better than UFC 100. Let's hear some picks.
Here are some of my quick predictions Franklin via KO 2nd round Velasquez via decision Saunders vs Swick will be FOTN material but I can't pick a winner Dan Hardy vs Marcus Davis will be a straight up war, I got Davis coming out the victor though
I think Rich is going to try and stay at arms length, moving in and out of range. He'll let Wandy swing but he won't be there. Franklin by UD. Velasquez is from a camp that makes good wrestlers into mediocre boxers (re: Koscheck, Fitch). I think he will stand and Wang with Kongo. Kongo doesn't like to get hit but he won't shoot on Velasquez, so you'll see a lot of clinch work. This won't be fight of the night. Velasquez will want to win the third round so he'll shoot, get on top, and claim the decision. Swick vs. Saunders could be fun. Saunders looked like a beast in his last fight against Wolff. Swick was just as good against Glass Joe Goulet. Saunders will use his reach and his kicks but I think Swick's more technical striking will earn him a UD. Cro Cop gets a TKO in the first after knocking Turk down. If Hardy can defend Davis' takedowns, I think it will go to decision. Davis has a much better ground game and will look to submit Hardy in the first, which is what I predict will happen. Fisher vs. Uno will be a good fight. Fisher will out point him on the feet and earn a TKO in the second.
Rich Franklin-KO-3 Cain Velasquez-KO-2 Mike Swick-KO-3 Marcus Davis-KO-3 Spencer Fisher-Dec-3 Mirko Filipovic-KO-1 Terry Etim-Sub-3 Denis Siver-Sub-2 Paul Taylor-KO-1 Paul Kelly-KO-3 Stefan Struve-Sub-1 John Hathaway-KO-3 least confident in Davis and Fisher on the main Card. Uno can take a beating and still pull out a sub. Hardy may be the real deal and his speed and kicks may win the fight.
