I know this has been a long time coming and the anticipation is immense, but finally UFC 66 is here, Liddell-Ortiz II, The Iceman Vs The Huntington Beach Bad Boy go at it again and it’s probably going to be the biggest pay-per-view in UFC History and that’s saying a lot.
Before we get to that lets take a look at the Main Televised Card. This has got to be one of best cards in a long time, so that’s take a look at each one and break it for you.
This for me Is a make or break fight, you’ve got the crippler coming off a KO of Jorge Santiago after being demolished by the Current MW Champion Anderson Silva and making his PPV debut against a the new guy on the scene the Athlete making short work of ShortFuse Ed Herman a close friend of the The Crippler in a crisp performance which stunned the majority of people and getting the opportunity to throw his name in the hat for a shot at the Spider. Let’s not forgot one of Leben’s defeats to Joe Doerksen and Macdonald choked out Doerksen in round 4 of their fight. Let’s see what these two will bring in styles. Slugger v Technician.
For me this will be a tricky fight for Leben and we will finally get to see Leben’s ground game, which has been talked as respectable in the MMA industry. If Leben can get through the first round avoiding the takedowns and submission attempts he should squeeze a victory out.
Prediction- Leben by KO in Round 2 to set up a rematch with Mike ‘Quick’ Swick at UFC 68.
Finally the face of the UK MMA hits the big stage at the MGM grand December 30. I have been waiting for this one like the rest of England have been since The Count won the 6 figure contract back in June. Making easy work of Josh Haynes. His opponent Ravishing Red made his debut at UFC 62 making Rob Mcdonald his first victim in his UFC debut in a round 1 submission.
This isn’t the case in for Ravishing Red in his main card debut against Bisping the Ultimate Fighter winner. Look for Bisping to mix it up with Schafer on the ground.
Prediction: Bisping by TKO Round 1
Maybe a match with Matt ‘The Hammer’ Hamill is next???? Ultimate Finale match that should have happened.
The pitbull hits the octagon again after two title bout defeats with Tim Sylvia to take on the BJJ wizard that is Marcio Cruz. This like all people is a walk in the park for the Pitbull after seeing the poor stand up bout against Jeff Monson which lasted all three rounds, but keep in mind that deadly ground & Pound of Former HW Champion Frank Mir which was delivered by the hands of the Brazilian. The Pitbull has been itching to get back in the ring to make his way back up the division in a poor HW division and has been training with the ‘Natural’ Randy Couture for this one & as it looks Arlovski is to get his first victim on the Road to Championship glory again in the form of Marcio Cruz.
Prediction- Arlovski by TKO Round 1
Look for the UFC to set a Super bout with Mirko Flipovic.
This could be a big opportunity for one of these two to cement their name as championship contender. I know what your thinking Keith Jardine title fight I don’t think so!!!. Well if you look at the fighter his been training with for this on in Albuquerque with the current WW champion the Rush GSP, Nate Marquette a top middleweight contender, up and coming Rashad Evans and the Nightmare Diego Sanchez, now that’s one hell of a group of guys to be training with and he has been getting better each fight and after being screwed out of a decision against Bonnar this is a real opportunity for the Dean of Mean.
Forrest ‘I like to Bang’ Griffin, the fan favourite , the crowd pleaser. You know when Forrest’s on the card there is gonna be a fight. But although his conditioning is better I haven’t seen any real improvement in Forrest’s game. For me his heart is his biggest weapon, I know what about the Ortiz fight well Ortiz wasn’t 100% and the bottom line he lost, don’ get me wrong I love the guy but championship material?????
The rematch, this has been announced in the top 100 of the ESPN must see events of the year and for me what a way to see out the year.
Use to be training partners, now enemies with one goal to be the champ but don’t get me wrong these guys respect each other. I think a lot of people are now giving Tito a real chance to redeem himself after a sweet flurry of them trademark looping from all angles hooks & uppercuts by Liddell, was the poke in the eye intentional in the first fight who knows, but I really feel Tito will stand and trade with the Iceman, I feel this will be a back and forth fight on the ground, back to the feet with a fast pace through out and could be over in the blink of an eye. These guys are prepared for a war with this being a 5 rounder I cannot see this going to the judges.
Prediction- Ortiz by TKO Round 4
After this expect Rampage v Liddell (Title or No Title) &/or Ortiz v Babalu.
Conclusion.
This is this is a huge card for the UFC to finish off the year competing with Pride & IFL (International Fight League), but UFC has a few announcements in store for the UFC 66 with the Official announcement of Mirko Cro Cop to the heavyweight division as well as Heath Herring and the buying of assets from Zuffa including ‘Rampage’ Jackson and Machida to the LW division, the UFC looks to be gaining great momentum into 2007.
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