Comments on: Trading Punches: UFC 105 Preview and Predictions; The Main Card

By: Makington

Makington — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 21:06:29 +0000

I was basically going to say what Rich said, but he basically covered it. But a couple other things I’ highlight is how good Vera is at striking from his range. He doesn’t have the longest reach, but he uses what he does extremely well. Although he doesn’t have that imposing wrestler physique, his wrestling is still top notch. I believe top notch enough to avoid all, or most, of Randy’s takedowns. If Randy is going to shoot, he is going to have to shoot from far away which I believe Vera can stop anytime. Vera has some of the fastest and most accurate hands at LWH, and although he doesn’t have the power other fighters do with their hands, I think he has enough to finish Couture whose jaw has seemed quite suspect lately to me.

I’m not absolutely convinced beyond a doubt that Vera will win Dave, but I am leaning slightly more on his side to take the W.

Agree or Disagree: 1 0

By: Rich S.

Rich S. — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 18:53:41 +0000

David Andrest: I just have a curious question for those of you picking Vera.What has Brandon Vera ever done to lead you to believe he can beat Couture? Is it something that Couture has done?serious question.

Well, I’ve always backed Vera, but I’ll be the first one to tell you his last however many fights have been… unimpressive.

1. I enjoy calling the upset, and I’m normally right when I do.
2. Randy got dropped multiple times by Nog’s wild strikes (and I still think he was unconscious before he hit the floor that one time in the 3rd). So, how is he going to fair against Vera’s technical, set up strikes?

Randy is a great wrestler, and a legend of the sport, but at this point, his chin is far too suspect..
Brandon Vera KNOWS this is the biggest fight of his life, and he KNOWS that he’ll have to give the performance of his life if he wants to take out this figurative giant.. Therefore, he’s going to pour it on, and he’ll either get taken down consistently and controlled, or he’ll get a knockout.. I happened to choose the latter..

Agree or Disagree: 1 0

By: edub

edub — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 17:16:03 +0000

David Andrest: I just have a curious question for those of you picking Vera. What has Brandon Vera ever done to lead you to believe he can beat Couture? Is it something that Couture has done? serious question.

Um just gonna list some certain things that could help him…

Randy struggles with quicker guys early on in some of his fights; Vera has a strong Greco background; Randy struggles with good strikers if he takes too many shots looking for the clinch; If Vera loses it would be the 4th high profile/high ranked fighter to beat him in a row and Vera would be one notch closer to bust, So he might take this as a fight for his career…

Agree or Disagree: 1 0

By: nate

nate — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 15:55:03 +0000

D A- what has he done? not much. but to be honest he looks like sagat from street fighter. and thats pretty sweet. that and everyone always picks randy. i know i know…never bet against randy couture.. good thing i got no money on it. i was picking how wives pick the winner of football games…ooh i like the purple team!

Agree or Disagree: 2 0

By: David Andrest

David Andrest — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 14:55:17 +0000

I just have a curious question for those of you picking Vera.

What has Brandon Vera ever done to lead you to believe he can beat Couture? Is it something that Couture has done?

serious question.

Agree or Disagree: 1 0

By: JollyDV

JollyDV — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 11:17:21 +0000

bigbadjohn: or maybe I’ll wait till the weigh-ins to call Vera Couture like edub. So I can see whos got the “eye of the tiger”

Love it!!!

Vera via TKO
Swick via TKO
Kang via UD
Riley via UD
Brown via TKO

Agree or Disagree: 1 0

By: bigbadjohn

bigbadjohn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:56:23 +0000

or maybe I’ll wait till the weigh-ins to call Vera Couture like edub. So I can see whos got the “eye of the tiger”

Agree or Disagree: 2 0

By: bigbadjohn

bigbadjohn — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 06:50:51 +0000

anyone see at the press conference dan hardy gave a “runners up” trophy to mike swick? swick vowed to give it back to hardys corner after the fight! entertaining stuff eh?. but I doubt hardy will play the mind games as effectively with swick that he could with marcus davis. I’ll take Swick. I’ll be rooting for Vera to live up to his potential but can’t pick him over Randy after that last Nog fight. And I’ll take Kang because Bisping can’t touch his ground game and because I’m from Vancouver, the best city in the world.

Agree or Disagree: 0 0

By: nate

nate — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:17:01 +0000

u know what i meant! Standing over a grounded opponent pounding on them! lol but no really the standing gnp will be to mma what the members only jackets did for mens fashion in the 80s lol.

Agree or Disagree: 1 0

By: David Andrest

David Andrest — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 04:03:39 +0000

Sergio Hernandez:
Haha… David, be nice.

No malace at all, he made me smile. And after a day like today I could use it.

Agree or Disagree: 3 0

By: MMA-LOGIC

MMA-LOGIC — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:58:04 +0000

1)Randy vs Vera= Vera via TKO or Randy via Dec. Randy cannot finish Vera, unless he head butts Vera’s nose. LOL
2)Kang vs Bisping= Kang via TKO. Bisping is not in Kang’s class for me.
3)Swick vs Hardy=Swick via TKO. Swicks too quick.
And Brown to win along with Pearson.

Agree or Disagree: 1 1

By: Sergio Hernandez

Sergio Hernandez — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:23:28 +0000

David Andrest:
Standing GNP……………….I love it!!Not if randy gets the takedown from the guard.

Haha… David, be nice.

Agree or Disagree: 2 1

By: David Andrest

David Andrest — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 03:05:44 +0000

nate: and my most dark horse vera via upset tko. (leg kick punch combo followed by standing gnp)

Standing GNP……………….I love it!!

Not if randy gets the takedown from the guard.

Agree or Disagree: 2 0

By: Rich S.

Rich S. — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:37:23 +0000

These days, it’s hard not to pick Couture..
His age really doesn’t even come to mind when picking his fights because that never seems to be a factor..
But, he got rocked way too many times against Nog, and I don’t think it will be any different here..
Vera will be very antsy and cautious in the 1st round, slipping in leg kicks and jabs occasionally.
Then, he will stagger Couture with a small punch that didn’t seem very powerful, and that’s where he’ll start the mauling and take a TKO late in the first round.

-Vera TKO late r1.
Just know, I wouldn’t be surprised to see Couture give the performance of his life here.. but this is my gut feeling..

Bisping has nice, technical striking.. He mixes up the punches and kicks nicely, and he’s got a great ground game if he needs to use it.. But, this style Bisping has picked up, this stick and move, back away and counter style, doesn’t work very well for him. He’s a bit too sloppy for it to work effectively, but as long as he doesn’t get hit, he’ll win.. Well, he will get hit here… Kang will be stronger, and will use that to control Bisping in the standup and on the ground..

-Kang via Unanimous Decision.

Dan Hardy is great, and I look forward to seeing more of his fights, but Mike Swick is unstoppable at Welterweight.. Well, at least by guys that AREN’T GSP.
-Mike Swick via Unanimous Decision.

I’m still not sold on Ross Pearson.
-Riley via Unanimous Decision.

Wilks looked like a mad man at the TUF finale..
He did OK on the show, but he blew my mind that night..
I still don’t know if that was him just being THAT dominant, or if Johnson was just totally out of it..
Either way, Matt “Motherf***ing” Brown is going to control him here..

-Matt Brown via Unanimous Decision.

Agree or Disagree: 5 0

By: nate

nate — Fri, 13 Nov 2009 00:10:57 +0000

im going to do something silly and pick based on what i want to happen in my silly head. nick o by sub. pearson by ko. hardy by shocking tko. kang better put away bisping.. otherwise it will be the count via controversial “fuck you ya wanker he won” decision. and my most dark horse vera via upset tko. (leg kick punch combo followed by standing gnp) . i cant wait till i re-read this monday to remind myself why you dont pick on who you like more lol.

Agree or Disagree: 3 0

By: Makington

Makington — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 23:22:56 +0000

Go figure, I have your exact picks edub. I have Swick winning by tko or decision, but I haven’t really decided yet. Probably decision. I also am one of the people who picked Vera. Everyone is saying Vera should win this fight, but they’re going with their gut and picking Couture, but I’m thinking, ‘Vera should win this fight, so I’m going with my gut and picking the guy who should win in the first place.’ I think Vera’s strikes are just a little too sharp and a little too fast for Couture to handle, and he will get caught eventually. I would love to be wrong since Couture is a true champ inside and outside of the ring, and is proving phenomenal odds everyday at 46, but I don’t see him winning.

Agree or Disagree: 3 0

By: edub

edub — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 22:29:57 +0000

Short and sweet.

Brown by tko
Riley by dec
Swick by tko
Bisping by dec
Not picking until I see weighins for Couture vs Vera.

Agree or Disagree: 6 2

By: Angry Mike

Angry Mike — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:44:36 +0000

Vera is a better technical striker, but he looks kinda scrawny. Seriously, the man has no ass. How much core body strength can he have? If Couture gets him in the clinch, Vera will take a pummeling. Couture caught Sylvia and Gonzaga, but Vera’s more elusive and probably respects Couture’s power more since he’s smaller than Couture. Vera will try to stick and move, and I expect him to test the waters with leg kicks. He’ll keep Couture moving forward and in his striking range. Vera is an interesting match up and Couture’s age has to be catching up to him, but I’m giving the edge to Couture on this one.

Agree or Disagree: 4 1

By: thatswhatshesaid13

thatswhatshesaid13 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 21:16:30 +0000

I really like this card, I think it might be better than 106. I really am confused by the main even however. As they said, all signs point to Vera, but I cannot bring myself to say he’ll win. Randy by UD. Bisping, I think, is overlooking Kang, who has a more complete skill set than Bisping. Kang by UD., although he’ll come close to finishing on multiple occasions. Swick vs. Hardy. Yes. I’m very excited for this fight, as well as Kos vs. AJ, to see who fights GSP. Maybe they could even make it a tournament for the shot? I like that idea. I like Hardy by TKO, and AJ by TKO, both KOOTN. Then I like AJ by TKO, and obviously we won’t get to see the “third place” match between the two AKA fighters. Not much to say on Pearsons fight, as I dont think the guy’s that good, Riley by UD. I also believe Wilks vs. Brown will be FOTN, with Brown taking a UD.

Agree or Disagree: 1 1

By: fanoftna33

fanoftna33 — Thu, 12 Nov 2009 19:36:19 +0000

Vera is a very talented fighter but every time he really steps up the competition he seems to wilt. Think of a LHW version of Gonzaga. If he faces someone who isnt going down easy it spells a lose or a very boring fight. Couture via gnp 2nd
I dont see Bisping having the power to KO Kang here, and say what you want to about his ground game but Bisping is a handful just ask Rashad or Hamill, I see a good 3 rounder here but likely a UD for the Brit.
I really expect Hardy to come out with something to prove here and take it to Swick. Look for Swick to be a little overwhelmed early here and Hardy to build up enough points to win via a split decision.

Agree or Disagree: 4 5