A late addition has been made to the card for UFC Fight Night 18 on April 1. MMAWeekly.com was the first to break the news that a middleweight matchup between Tim Credeur and Nick Catone is now on tap for the event and FiveOuncesOfPain.com has since confirmed the new bout with a source close to one of the fighters.

Credeur improved to 11-2 overall and 2-0 in the UFC with his second round TKO victory over Nate Loughran during the UFC’s “Fight for the Troops” event in Fayetteville, North Carolina this past December. A veteran from the seventh season of The Ultimate Fighter, Credeur won his official UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 14 when he TKO’d Cale Yarbrough at 1:54 of round 1.

Catone presevered his perfect record and improved to 6-0 during his UFC debut last month at UFC Fight Night 17. A strong wrestler who was a top prospect in the Northeast corridor of the U.S., Catone submitted fellow newcomer Derek Downey with a keylock at 1:15 of round 2 during the event.

UFC Fight Night 18 will take place at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The two-hour Spike TV broadcast will be headlined by former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit making his UFC debut against Martin Kampmann and will serve as a prelude to the season premiere for the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Additional reported matchups for the UFN 18 include TUF 8 light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader vs. Carmelo Marrero, Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller, Tyson Griffin vs. Rafael dos Anjos, Matt Horwich vs. Ricardo Almeida, former WEC welterweight title challenger Brock Larson vs. newcomer Jesse Sanders, Jeremy Stephens vs. Gleison Tibau, Aaron Simpson vs. Tim McKenzie, Steve Steinbeiss vs. Ryan Jensen, and Rob Kimmons vs. Joe Vedepo.

With season eight lightweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter Efrain Escudero forced to withdraw from his upcoming match at UFC Fight Night 18 due to injury, UFC officials have finalized a deal with Gleison Tibau to step in as a replacement on April 1 against Jeremy Stephens.

MMAWeekly.com was the first outlet to break the news of the change and FiveOuncesOfPain.com has since confirmed the report with a source close to one of the fighters.

Tibau, 16-6, trains out of Florida’s American Top Team and last competed at UFC Fight Night 17 in February. Facing veteran Rich Clementi, Tibau was victorious after securing a guillotine choke submission at 4:35 of round 1. The win improved Tibau’s lifetime record in the UFC to 5-3.

Stephens also last competed at UFN 17, fighting in the night’s main event against Joe Lauzon. The 22-year old Iowa native fell to 14-4 after submitting to an armbar by Lauzon at 4:43 of round 1.

UFC Fight Night 18 will take place at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tennessee. The two-hour Spike TV broadcast will be headlined by former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit making his UFC debut against Martin Kampmann and will serve as a prelude to the season premiere for the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Additional reported matchups for the UFN 18 include TUF 8 light heavyweight champion Ryan Bader vs. Carmelo Marrero, Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller, Tyson Griffin vs. Rafael dos Anjos, Matt Horwich vs. Ricardo Almeida, former WEC welterweight title challenger Brock Larson vs. newcomer Jesse Sanders, Aaron Simpson vs. Tim McKenzie, Steve Steinbeiss vs. Ryan Jensen, and Rob Kimmons vs. Joe Vedepo.

The card for the UFC’s German debut continues to unfold with a middleweight matchup between Alan Belcher and Alessio Sakara expected to be finalized soon.

Word of the new UFC 99 matchup comes courtesy of a report on MMAWeekly.com.

According to the report, both combatants have verbally agreed to the June 13 fight with bout agreements expected to be signed shortly.

Both Sakara and Belcher are former members of the UFC’s light heavyweight division who have dropped down to the 185 pound weight class in order to become more competitive.

Belcher, a Mississippi native who trains under Rick Roufus, is 14-5 overall in an MMA career that dates back to 2004.

While competing under the UFC banner, he is 5-3 but has won his last two fights inside of the Octagon. Belcher’s two fight win streak began at UFC Fight Night 15 this past September, where he recorded a split decision victory over season three middleweight runner-up of The Ultimate Fighter, Ed Herman.

Belcher’s latest win took place in January at UFC 93 in Dublin, Ireland, where he upset UFC newcomer Denis Kang via guillotine submission choke when Kang tapped at 4:36 of round 2.

Sakara is a former Italian professional boxer who currently trains out of American Top Team in Florida. The Rome native is 13-7 lifetime in MMA and 4-4 lifetime (with one no contest) in the UFC.

The fight vs. Belcher will mark Sakara’s first fight since UFN 15, where he knocked out Joe Vedepo with a head kick at 1:27 of round 1.

UFC 99 will emanate from the Lanxess Arena in Cologne, Germany and will be headlined by a 195 pound catchweight fight between former PRIDE middleweight champion Wanderlei Silva and former UFC middleweight champion Rich Franklin.

In addition to Franklin vs. Silva and Sakara vs. Belcher, UFC 99 will also reportedly feature matchups between Mike Swick vs. Ben Saunders, Caol Uno vs. Spencer Fisher, Cain Velasquez vs. Heath Herring, and Todd Duffee vs. Mustapha al Turk. Paul Taylor and Stefan Struve could also be added to the card as well, in separate bouts.

The UFC is by far the leading mixed martial arts organization in the world. With over 200 fighters contracted to parent company Zuffa, LLC, no other organization can rival the UFC in terms of depth.

In order to take a deeper look at just how much depth currently resides on the UFC roster, FiveOuncesOfPain.com will be taking a division-by-division look at each weight class in the UFC from top-to-bottom.

The primary purpose of these organizational rankings is to present UFC rosters broken down by division. Instead of just listing fighters in alphabetical order, I decided to create a highly subjective listing using a very unscientific formula that took into account the following:

1. Overall won/loss record
2. Won/loss record in the UFC
3. Quality of wins
4. Head-to-head victories against opponents ranked similarly
5. Total finishes (submission, KO, or TKO wins)
6. Amount of headlining appearances followed by televised appearances
7. Marketability (taking into account things such as TUF championships and “Fight Night” bonuses)

My goal was to try and create a list that might look something like what a matchmaker would use as a guide for putting together fights.

Last week we kicked off our mock organizational rankings with a look at the lightweight division. This week, we’re turning our attention to welterweight, which may not have as much depth as 155 pounds from a sheer numbers perspective, but has more depth from a quality standpoint.

Without further ado, our highly unofficial UFC Welterweight Organizational Rankings (records in parenthesis):

1. Georges St. Pierre (Overall Record: 18-2/UFC Record: 12-2) - With 12 career UFC wins and two welterweight title reigns, St. Pierre has already punched his ticket for the UFC Hall of Fame. Matt Hughes is widely recognized as the greatest UFC welterweight of all-time but with a few more big wins, that distinction will belong to GSP.

2. Thiago Alves (Overall Record: 16-3/UFC Record: 9-2) – Alves has strong wins in his UFC career over Hughes, Karo Parisyan, and Josh Koscheck. When you look at those head-to-head victories, it’s easy to put him here at number two. From a star power standpoint, he has become more recognizable in the last year and his dynamic athletic ability means he has the potential to become even bigger.

3. Jon Fitch (Overall Record: 18-3/UFC Record: 9-1) - Fitch’s body of work in the UFC cannot be questioned. Even in his only loss — against St. Pierre at UFC 87 — Fitch still managed to impress. Once labeled with the stigma of not possessing star qualities, Fitch got a superstar reaction during the UFC 94 weigh-ins. His one-day release this past November played a roll in that, as he was on the front page of every MMA-related web site and gained a lot of sympathy and respect. If getting released generated that much attention for Fitch, I wonder what a turn on TUF as a head coach would do for his career?

4. Josh Koscheck (Overall Record: 12-3/UFC Record: 10-3) - Head-to-head loss to Alves and GSP make him a clear cut number four on this list. The TUF 1 exposure makes him one of the UFC’s signature stars. In addition to his world class wrestling ability, his standup has made strides. His highlight reel knockout win over Yoshiyuki Yoshida this past December at “UFC Fight for the Troops” could help turn some of the boos he receives into cheers.

5. Matt Hughes (Overall Record: 42-7/UFC Record: 15-5) - Having competed in the UFC since 1999, Hughes is one of the UFC’s career leaders in victories. But what separates him from a lost of fighters is the quality of his victories. On his resume he has wins over B.J. Penn, Georges St. Pierre, Royce Gracie, and Sean Sherk. Also, wins over Carlos Newton, and Frank Trigg were big wins in the context of their time period. His career is winding down but whether you like him or not, his success in the UFC is undeniable.

6. Matt Serra (Overall Record: 9-5/UFC Record: 6-5) – His overall and UFC records really aren’t overly impressive. But Serra is a one-time UFC welterweight champion and is also the season four champion of TUF. His memorable turn on TUF 4 also has turned him into a fan favorite and one of the most recognizable fighters around. However, after not looking so great vs. St. Pierre at UFC 83, Serra will need to turn in a strong showing vs. Hughes when they meet later this year in order to remain a highly ranked fighter.

7. Mike Swick (Overall Record: 13-2/UFC Record: 8-1) - Swick looked liked a superstar in the making coming out of the first season of TUF. After getting out of the gates fast with a 4-0 record and three finishes, Swick was on the fast track to the top of the UFC food chain. However, a disappointing loss to Yushin Okami at UFC 69 coupled with myriad injuries have really hurt his stock. Fortunately, he is gaining back some momentum after going 3-0 since dropping to welterweight.

8. Dustin Hazelett (Overall Record: 12-4/UFC Record: 5-2) – He’s only 22 and has won a great deal of “Fight Night” bonuses. Despite being a jiu-jitsu based fighter, Hazelett has managed to emerge as an exciting fighter. All he needs is more exposure.

9. Karo Parisyan (Overall Record: 19-5/UFC Record: 9-3) - He’s an immensely talented fighter with a lot of charisma. However, out-of-the-cage issues and a recent positive test for pain killers really have put his career on the brink.

10. Anthony Johnson (Overall Record: 7-2/UFC Record: 4-2) – Johnson is still very inexperienced as a fighter but his dynamic athleticism has allowed him to emerge as a borderline star. His highlight reel knockouts have gained him a lot of traction but there is still much work to be done, as Johnson has the potential to some day emerge as number two on this list.

11. Marcus Davis (Overall Record: 16-4/UFC Record: 8-2) - The UFC has done a tremendous job in building Davis up. He doesn’t have the most impressive win list but the UFC has been him in situations where his strong boxing skills can be showcased. Davis may never truly contend for a title, but he’s a strong fighter to have on the roster for purposes of depth.

12. Carlos Condit (Overall Record: 22-4/UFC Record: 0-0) - Just outclassed his competition in the WEC and the move to the UFC was long overdue. Moving from VERSUS over to Spike TV will help do wonders for his career. The question is: how will he respond to the upgrade in competition?

13. Martin Kampmann (Overall Record: 14-2/UFC Record: 5-1) – Is a perfect fit for the middleweight division with the potential to grow. Has impressed people with his jiu-jitsu but from a technical standpoint, there might not be very many strikers at 170 pounds better than Kampmann.

14. Dong Hyun Kim (Overall Record: 11-1-1/UFC Record: 2-1) - Suffered his first career loss at UFC 94. Aside from having a boring fight vs. Parisyan, Kim really didn’t hurt himself because he didn’t get dominated and some people event felt he fought well enough to win. The biggest thing Kim has going for him is that his Korean heritage makes him a potential major draw in South Korea, a market that the UFC really wants to develop. To be able to have such a credible fighter with his background is a huge asset to the UFC.

15. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (Overall Record: 10-3/UFC Record: 1-1) - Wins outside of the UFC against Akira Kikuchi and Dan Hardy have really earned him a lot of credibility with hardcore fans. However, his disappointing showing at “UFC Fight for the Troops” against Koscheck really hurt his stock.

16. Brock Larson (Overall Record: 24-2/UFC Record: 1-0) - He is really a wildcard. Larson’s tremendous strength, aggressive style, and outstanding wrestling ability could make him a surprise contender in the UFC.

17. Dan Hardy (Overall Record: 20-6/UFC Record: 1-0) - Hardy is an exciting fighter with plenty of charisma. The UFC has several U.K. fighters on its roster but only one true star in Michael Bisping. However, Hardy gives the UFC a real chance at developing a second major British draw.

18. Ben Saunders (Overall Record: 7-0-2/UFC Record: 3-0) - Really changed the way people thought of him following his destruction of Brandon Wolff at “UFC Fight for the Troops” in December. With his height in the welterweight division, he has a chance to record some big wins and move up in the rankings this year. He just needs to stay healthy and consistently fight on TV in order to reach his full potential.

19. Matt Brown (Overall Record: 8-7/UFC Record: 2-1) - Brown is a victim of the fact that he was willing to fight anyone, anytime, at any place before he got to the UFC. He took a lot of bad matchups and if he had been built up properly, he easily could have walked into the UFC with an unblemished record. However, that’s just not who Matt Brown is and that aspect of his character was accurately portrayed to millions of fans during TUF 7. For such a soft spoken guy, the producers and editors of TUF 7 did an amazing job of building his character. I really thought someone like him would be overlooked for years but he’s living proof of just how powerful a marketing tool that TUF can be. A well-rounded fighter who always comes prepared, Brown should have home in the UFC for a long time to come.

20. Chris Wilson (Overall Record: 14-5/UFC Record: 1-2) - Doesn’t have the best record in the UFC right now but is just getting warmed up. The loss to John Howard at UFC 94 was a setback but his striking ability really makes him unique for the UFC welterweight division. Make sure you keep an eye on him.

21. Chris Lytle (Overall Record: 26-17-2/UFC Record: 6-9) - Really does not have a good record but his professional boxing background has allowed him to become a solid television fighter. Even though he had a great fight vs. Davis at UFC 93, the recent release of Rich Clementi sends the message that Lytle needs to start putting together more wins in order to stick.

22. Rory Markham (Overall Record: 16-4/UFC Record: 1-0) - Was plagued by inconsitency in the IFL but really benfitted from the exposure. With good looks and heavy hands, he has the potential to become a highly-recognizable fighter in the UFC. His highlight reel knockout at UFN 14 was really a great way to introduce him to a new fanbase. The question is: is Markham well-rounded enough to consistently win and remain in the UFC? Only time will tell.

23. John Howard (Overall Record: 11-4/UFC Record: 1-0) - Really turned heads with his upset win over Wilson at UFC 94. A much better wrestler than previously thought. Howard is yet another strong fight prospect to come out of the overlooked Northeast region.

24. Brad Blackburn Overall Record: 13-9-1/UFC Record: 2-0) - Has a serious injury that could sideline him for an extended period of time. Which is a shame, because he’s gotten out of the gate fast in the start to his UFC career.

25. Ryo Chonan (Overall Record: 15-9/UFC Record: 1-2) - He really hasn’t impressed in the UFC and it remains to be seen if he’s long for the promotion.

26. Johny Hendricks (Overall Record: 4-0/UFC Record: 0-0) - Still technically on the WEC roster and has one more fight in the promotion this March against Alex Serdyukov. A former NCAA champion, it’s almost a guarantee that he will be transferred over. One aspect that has been overlooked is his charisma. He really caused quite a stir on the NCAA wrestling circuit. It’s a shame the Zuffa couldn’t have gotten him a spot on the upcoming season of TUF 9 as a member of the U.S. team. Reality TV would play well to his personality.

27. Danillo Villefort (Overall Record: 9-2/UFC Record: 0-0) - The American Top Team black belt will officially move from the WEC to the UFC. I saw him up close several years back at the IFL Draft tryouts in New York and was blown away. A great athlete, Villefort only needs to improve his standup game and he’ll emerge as a huge threat. His jiu jitsu off his back is sick.

28. Akihiro Gono (Overall Record: 29-14-7/UFC Record: 1-2) – Walking out at UFC 94 in a silver dress might have saved his roster spot because he has looked pretty unimpressive since arriving in the UFC.

29. Tamdan McCrory (Overall Record: 10-2/UFC Record: 2-2) - Still very young and is freakishly tall for the UFC. He’s a true prospect and just needs to win consistently and he will skyrocket up this list.

30. Matt Riddle (Overall Record: 2-0/UFC Record: 2-0) - Hasn’t fought a lot due to injuries but still has a lot of upside. Gained a lot of exposure on TUF 7 and his wrestling base makes him a threat.

31. Paulo Thiago (Overall Record: 10-0/UFC Record: 0-0) - Reports have suggested that he’s on a one-fight contract. We’ll know if he’s able to hang around by how well he performs vs. Koscheck at UFC 95.

32. Alexandre Barros (Overall Record: 13-6/ UFC Record: 0-1) - Didn’t look great vs. Kampmann at UFC 93 but still a credible fighter to have on the roster.

33. Pete Sell (Overall Record: 8-4/UFC Record: 2-4) - Doesn’t have a lot of job security but his heavy hands have allowed him to earn a reputation as being an exciting fighter. He’s getting a big opportunity at UFC 96 against Brown since the fight has been selected to open the PPV telecast. With the UFC moving welterweights over from the WEC to the UFC, an exciting fight might not be enough to save Sell. UFC 96 is a must-win situation for the native New Yorker.

34. Kevin Burns (Overall Record: 7-2/UFC Record: 2-1) – Really generated some attention after he subbed Roan Carneiro off his back at UFC 85. It was unique because Burns was a blue belt and Carneiro is a black belt. His first fight vs. Anthony Johnson also created a lot of buzz due to the controversial ending. If nothing else, a lot of people know who the hell Kevin Burns is and that’s saying something in a crowded UFC welterweight division.

35. Paul Kelly (Overall Record: 7-1/UFC Record: 1-1) - The UFC really needs to develop big draws in the UFC and Kelly gives them that potential. Training out of Wolfslair Academy with Michael Bisping, Kelly turned a lot of heads in winning “Fight of the Night” honors with Paul Taylor at UFC 80.

36. Luke Cummo (Overall Record: 6-6/UFC Record: 3-4) – A few losses and a recent arrest might overshadow all the notoriety he gained while a member of the TUF 2 cast.

37. John Hathaway (Overall Record: 10-0/UFC Record: 1-0) - Was a true revelation at UFC 93 in defeating Tom Egan. The UFC is reportedly very high on the 21-year old.

38. Jonathan Goulet (Overall Record: 22-10/UFC Record: 4-4) - Has made several UFN appearances but the problem is that he’s suffered some pretty bad knockouts in featured fights. Is still on the roster because he was offered a slot on the UFC 97 card but couldn’t accept due to injury. With more and more Canadian fighters rising through the ranks, his job security isn’t what it once was.

39. Paul Taylor (Overall Record: 9-4-1/UFC Record: 2-3) - Has several UFC fights to his credit and has become a mainstay on the U.K. cards. Currently sidelined with an injury, Taylor could have to fight to keep his roster spot when he comes back because the UFC will have a new crop of British stars to develop coming out of TUF 9.

40. Troy Mandaloniz (Overall Record: 3-1/UFC Record: 1-0) – Heavy hitter who has fought just once in the last two years. If he loses at UFC 95, he’ll likely get cut.

41. Rick Story (Overall Record: 7-2/UFC Record: 0-0) - Recent UFC signee who has yet to be scheduled for his first fight. A solid regional prospect but Derek Downey showed us at UFN 17 that sometimes you only get one shot to prove yourself in the Octagon.

42. T.J. Grant (Overall Record: 13-2/UFC Record: 0-0) - Solid Canadian prospect. Will make debut at UFC 97.

43. Steve Bruno (Overall Record: 12-5/UFC Record: 1-2) - Has great jiu-jitsu, an amazing back story, and good looks. But he doesn’t have great standup and his fights really haven’t been all that exciting. If he gets another shot coming off a loss at UFN 17, he’s going to have to make sure he wins in order to remain on the roster.

44. Dan Cramer (Overall Record: 1-0/UFC Record: 1-0) - May have won vs. Matt Arroyo at UFC 94 but still looked rather green. Having your first pro fights at the UFC level isn’t an ideal way to develop as a fighter.

45. Brandon Wolff (Overall Record: 7-3/UFC Record: 0-1) - Tough fighter who is hurt by the fact that the UFC has no immediate plans to hold shows in Hawaii.

46. Tom Egan (Overall Record: 3-1/UFC Record: 0-1) - He looked really green vs. Hathaway at UFC 93. Only 20, he might not be ready for the UFC but will still be given a shot to stick because the UFC really wants to cultivate an Irish star.

The debate as to whether UFC 95 has a main event worthy of a pay-per-view was made a moot one when Spike TV and the UFC received a deal to broadcast Saturday’s card from the O2 Arena in London, England back to the United States on a tape delay basis.

UFC 95 set to air at 9 p.m. ET this Saturday, the event will be free to those who are able to afford basic cable. Instead of another PPV that costs $44.95, the fan is instead being presented a bonus UFC Fight Night card.

However, the lineup on tap for Saturday is vastly superior to recent UFN offerings, as the main event matchup between season one and season two alums of The Ultimate Fighter Diego Sanchez and Joe Stevenson is a strong matchup on paper.

The card will also feature intriguing middleweight matchups between Nathan Marquardt vs. Wilson Gouveia and Demian Maia vs. Chael Sonnen. Below is FiveOuncesOfPain.com full preview of the event (including the non-televised undercard) along with predictions (remember to check back this Saturday for live play-by-play starting at 12 noon ET)…

Lightweight (155 lbs.):

Diego Sanchez (19-2) vs. Joe Stevenson (29-9)

A lot of people are counting Stevenson out in this one based on the fact that he’s coming off bad losses to B.J. Penn and Kenny Florian where he failed to impress. Sanchez fits the mold of the kind of eltie level fighter that Stevenson has yet to beat in the UFC. However, Saturday will mark Sanchez’s first cut to 155.

As recent as December Sanchez revealed that he was over 190 pounds and he was candid during a conference call last week in revealing that the cut has been difficult for him. He was at 162-163 pounds two weeks out so I believe he will make 156.

However, I am concerned about Sanchez’s cardio in the second and third rounds. The longer the fight goes, the more it benefits Stevenson. The fact that Stevenson has abandoned the temptations of Las Vegas also is a sign that he could be re-focused on his career.

I expect an upset in this one with Stevenson winning via unanimous decision against a gassed Sanchez.

Welterweight (170 lbs.):

Josh Koscheck (12-3) vs. Paulo Thiago (10-0)

A perfect 10-0 record is something to respect no matter how it was accumulated. Some of Thiago’s early fights in Brazil didn’t present much of a challenge, but his more recent fights while competing for the Jungle Fight promotion were a solid test. However, the submission specialist is going to be taking a major step up in competition at UFC 95 against Josh Koscheck.

Koscheck probably doesn’t want to spend too much time on the ground with Thiago and giving his world class wrestling a night off wouldn’t be the worst thing in the world. After all, Koscheck’s striking continues to make major strides and he recorded one of the most vicious knockouts of 2008 when he dropped Yoshiyuki Yoshida in the first round during the “UFC Fight for the Troops” event this past December.

I expect Koscheck’s athleticism to prove to be too much for Thiago and for the former TUF 1 veteran to record a second round TKO victory.

Middleweight (185 lbs.):

Nathan Marquardt (27-8-2) vs. Wilson Gouveia (12-5)

I know that the average fan isn’t overly excited about Saturday’s show but how do you not get excited for this fight? Marquardt vs. Gouveia is a strong matchup between two large middleweights who have the ability to compete whereever a fight may go.

Gouveia trains out of American Top Team and could eventually become the middleweight division’s version of Thiago Alves. He’s a good athlete with excellent size for the weight class and can fight on the feet or on the floor.

Marquardt also comes from an excellent camp, as he is a part of Greg Jackson’s extended family of fighters. Since a disappointing performance agaisnt Anderson Silva at UFC 73, Marquardt has impressed and continues to improve.

This is a fight that will have tremendous implications on the middleweight food chain in the UFC with the winner possibly moving onto the fast track for a middleweight title shot.

Picking a winner in this fight isn’t easy but I will give the nod to Marquardt via split decision. There are still concerns about Gouveia’s ability to properly cut to 185 and Marquardt’s high-atltitude training could give him an advantage when it comes to stamina.

Middleweight (185 lbs.):

Chael Sonnen (21-9-1) vs. Demian Maia (9-0)

Sonnen vs. Maia is another reason to get excited about UFC 95. Aside from Koscheck vs. Thiago, there isn’t a match scheduled to air on Spike TV that doesn’t have me intrigued.

Sonnen is perhaps one of the most underrated fighters in all of MMA. A seven-year veteran, he has been training with Team Quest before it was known as Team Quest. A real estate agent by trade,

Sonnen has put himself in a position where he can focus solely on fighting if he wants to by earning a strong contract with the UFC following three credible performances in the WEC, two of which came against one-time consensus top ten ranked middleweight Paulo Filho.

Having won seven of his last eight, Sonnen comes into this fight with a lot of momentum. However, he doesn’t have nearly as much heat behind him as Maia, perhaps one of the brightest prospects in all of MMA.

Undefeated at 9-0, four of his wins have come inside the Octagon. All of the jiu-jitsu black belt’s wins in the UFC have come via submission. As good as Sonnen is, he likely won’t be able to hang very long on the ground with Maia, a former jiu-jitsu world champion.

If Sonnen can use his solid wrestling to keep the fight standing, we could see Maia’s lack of standup exposed and witness his first career loss. However, Maia has always found a way to get the fight where he wants it and I expect we’ll see him win via third round submission.

Welterweight (170 lbs.):

Dan Hardy (20-6) vs. Rory Markham (16-4)

Fireworks in the cage will open up the Spike TV telecast. Markham has questioned Hardy’s punching power and Hardy feels like his hands are being overlooked.

One might think that Markham is trying to bait Hardy into standing with him, but if he’s looking to bang, he doesn’t need to resort to giving Hardy bulletin board material. Hardy is a strong striker in his own right and his standup is much more versatile than Markham’s.

Markham has spent a great deal of time over the years working on his wrestling while a part of Miletich Fighting Systems in Davenport, Iowa, but he’s not world class in that department. Yet again, the ground is another area in which Hardy possesses more versatility.

Hardy via unanimous decision is the pick here based on the fact that I consider him to be the more well-rounded mixed martial artist.

Non-televised Preliminary Bouts…

Heavyweight (206-265 lbs.):

Junior dos Santos (7-1) vs. Stefan Struve (16-2)

Struve is an M-1 Challenge veteran and based on his Dutch heritage, one might assume he’s a strong kickboxer. While he isn’t bad on his feet, the reality is that 12 of his 16 wins have come via submission.

He’s being counted out against dos Santos, who caused quite a stir at UFC 90 when he pulled off an upset first round TKO of Fabricio Werdum that caused Werdrum to get pink slipped.

I’m not so sure Struve should be overlooked because what did we truly learn about “Cigano” in just 1:21 of UFC action? That he can knock out an unprepared and out of shape Werdum?

Dos Santos trains under the Nogueiras so there’s no way the guy is a fluke. As such, I am going to predict him to win Saturday via second round TKO.

Lightweight (155 lbs.):

Evan Dunham (7-0) vs. Per Eklund (14-3-1)

Dunham accepted this fight on short notice but all indications are that he’s in fighting shape and ready to go. An undefeated lightweight prospect, Dunham’s hallmark is his wrestling. Eklund also has a solid ground game so we could see these fighters spend a lot of time standing in hopes of exposing a weakness.

Dunham is definitely a prospect but because Eklund has proven himself against higher caliber opponents such as David Baron, Rafael Dias and Samy Schiavo, I am going to give him the nod via unanimous decision.

Lightweight (155 lbs.):

Brian Cobb (15-4) vs. Terry Etim (11-2)

Cobb vs. Etim is a classic wrestler vs. striker matchup.

Cobb took this fight on short notice after Justin Buchholz was forced to withdraw due to injury. Fortunately for the former amateur wrestling standout, Cobb was already slated to compete on Feb. 21 for the M-1 Challenge so he was in full training camp mode when he got the call to fight.

Etim possesses good kickboxing skills and has solid UFC wins over Sam Stout and Matt Grice. The latter win against Grice was against a fighter who has a similar style to Cobb. However, Cobb is good enough of a wrestler that he was considered a hopeful for the 2008 U.S. Olympic team.

I think he uses his wrestling to control Etim while grounding out a unanimous decision victory.

Heavyweight (206-265 lbs.):

Neil Grove (7-1) vs. Mike Ciesnolevicz (16-3)

I was on the Neil Grove bandwagon after the unknown strolled down wearing a Karate Gi in his Cage Rage debut in July of 2007 and shocked everyone with a 10-second knockout of James Thompson. However, since the big win, I’ve seen a few holes in his game, such as suspect cardio and not much of a ground game.

Ciesnolevicz is a former IFL veteran and the Miletich product has long been overlooked by the MMA media. A well-rounded fighter, Ciesnolevicz normally competes at light heavyweight but has yearned for a shot at the UFC for so long that he was not only willing to take the bout on short notice but also move up in weight class.

Grove is a big heavyweight and if he connects with a punch on Mike C. — who could be giving up as much as 30 pounds on fight night — it’s likely lights out. However, I believe that Ciesnolevicz is going to turn the fight into a mixed martial arts bout as opposed to a brawl and I think his veteran savvy will prove the difference here. I like Ciesnolevicz to take the fight into deep water and record a third round TKO against a gassed Grove.

Welterweight (170 lbs.):

Paul Kelly (7-1) vs. Troy Mandaloniz (3-1)

We haven’t seen “Rude Boy” since he TKO’d Richie Hightower during the live finale for the sixth season of TUF way back in December of 2007.

The UFC has hung onto him but he likely will need to impress in order to remain on the UFC roster. Mandaloniz is a hard hitter but not a well-rounded fighter.

He could have some trouble against Kelly, a solid prospect who trains with Michael Bisping out of the Wolfslair Academy. I expect the 7-1 Kelly to win via unanimous decision.

The Florida State Athletic Commission has released the disclosed salaries from this past Saturday night’s UFC Fight Night 17, which took place at USF Sun Dome in Tampa.

According to records released to FiveOuncesOfPain.com, topping the list as the highest paid fighter was heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez who earned a total of $60,000 for his second round TKO victory over UFC newcomer Denis Stojnic. Velasquez had a guarantee of $15,000 which was supplemented by another $15,000 in the form of a win bonus. He also earned another $30,000 in the form of a “Knockout of the Night” bonus.

Stojnic received a paltry $5,000 for his efforts which would have been supplemented by another $5,000 if he would have been victorious.

Joe Lauzon was next on the list as he earned a total of $50,000 for his second round submission victory over Jeremy Stephens. Lauzon received a $10,000 guarantee plus a $10,000 win bonus. He also received another $30,000 in the form of a “Submission of the Night” bonus.

Complete salary lists are listed below but please keep in mind as a disclaimer that the published figures do not include any undisclosed totals such as signing bonuses, locker room bonuses, sponsorship earnings, and any other forms of compensation to fighters that are not disclosed to the commission as a matter of public record.

1. Cain Velasquez: $60,000 ($15,000 to show plus $15,000 to win: and $30,000 for “Knockout of the Night”)

2. Joe Lauzon: $50,000 ($10,000 to show plus $10,000 to win: and $30,000 for “Submission of the Night”)

3. Josh Neer: $48,000 ($9,000 to show plus $9,000 to win: and $30,000 for “Fight of the Night”)

4. Mac Danzig: $45,000 ($15,000 to show: and $30,000 for “Fight of the Night”; would have earned an additional $15,000 had he won)

5. Kurt Pellegrino: $32,000 ($16,000 to show plus $16,000 to win)

6. Anthony Johnson: $26,000 ($13,000 to show and $13,000 to win)

7. Gleison Tibau: $26,000 ($13,000 to show plus $13,000 to win)

8. Rich Clementi: $23,000 (would have earned an additional $23,000 had he won)

9. Dan Miller: $18,000 ($9,000 to show and $9,000 to win)

10. Matthew Riddle: $16,000 ($8,000 to show and $8,000 to win)

11. Luigi Fioravanti: $13,000 (would have earned an additional $13,000 had he won)

12. Jake Rosholt: $13,000 (would have earned an additional $13,000 had he won)

13. Rob Emerson: $10,000 (would have earned an additional $10,000 had he won)

14. Jeremy Stephens: $10,000 (would have earned an additional $10,000 had he won)

15. Steve Bruno: $7,000 (would have earned an additional $7,000 had he won)

16. Matt Grice: $7,000 (would have earned an additional $7,000 had he won)

17. Nick Catone: $6,000 ($3,000 to show and $3,000 to win)

18. Matt Veach: $6,000 ($3,000 to show and $3,000 to win)

19. Denis Stojnic: $5,000 (would have earned an additional $5,000 had he won)

20. Derek Downey: $3,000 (would have earned an additional $3,000 had he won)

The disclosed fighter payout for this event is $424,000.

The UFC is by far the leading mixed martial arts organization in the world. With over 200 fighters contracted to parent company Zuffa, LLC, no other organization can rival the UFC in terms of depth.

In order to take a deeper look at just how much depth currently resides on the UFC roster, FiveOuncesOfPain.com will be taking a division-by-division look at each weight class in the UFC from top-to-bottom.

The primary purpose of these organizational rankings is to present UFC rosters broken down by division. Instead of just listing fighters in alphabetical order, I decided to create a highly subjective listing using a very unscientific formula that took into account the following:

1. Overall won/loss record
2. Won/loss record in the UFC
3. Quality of wins
4. Head-to-head victories against opponents ranked similarly
5. Total finishes (submission, KO, or TKO wins)
6. Amount of headlining appearances followed by televised appearances
7. Marketability (taking into account things such as TUF championships and “Fight Night” bonuses)

My goal was to try and create a list that might look something like what a matchmaker would use as a guide for putting together fights. After compiling the UFC’s lightweight division and ranking over 50 fighters under contract, I am at a loss for how UFC Vice President of Talent Relations Joe Silva keeps it all together.

Without further ado, our highly unofficial UFC Lightweight Organizational Rankings (records in parenthesis):

1. B.J. Penn (Overall: 13-5-1/UFC: 9-4-1) - Was dominated by St. Pierre at UFC 94 but that was at welterweight. Penn is still the UFC lightweight champ and possibly the greatest lightweight fighter ever.

2. Sean Sherk (Overall: 33-3-1/UFC: 7-3) – Former champion and former title challenger. The UFC lightweight division is deep but lacks marquee stars. Sherk is the closest thing they have to one next to Penn.

3. Kenny Florian (Overall: 11-3/UFC: 9-2) – Has developed a large fanbase dating back to his days on the first season of The Ultimate Fighter. Continues to gain exposure on ESPN’s MMA Live. As a fighter, he is 9-2 in the UFC and the former UFC lightweight title challenger has done nothing but improve since a title loss to Sherk at UFC 64.

4. Diego Sanchez (Overall: 19-2/UFC: 8-2) – Was once a rising force at welterweight and can be that fighter again at lightweight. Brings a certain star power to the 155 lbs. division that it currently lacks. If Penn retires, Sanchez could be the heir apparent.

5. Joe Stevenson (Overall: 29-9/UFC: 6-3) – Losses in two of his last three fights has hurt his stock but his turn on TUF 2 has allowed him to become one of the promotion’s most recognizable stars at 155. A former UFC lightweight title challenger, Stevenson has credibility with wins over Kurt Pellegrino, Yves Edwards, and Melvin Guillard. Still could use a win over a top tier lightweight.

6. Frankie Edgar (Overall: 9-1/UFC: 4-1) – A former standout amateur wrestler with underrated hands, Edgar made a strong debut winning “Fight of the Night” during an upset win over Tyson Griffin at UFC 67. Edgar also has wins over Jim Miller (non-UFC fight), Spencer Fisher, and former UFC lightweight title challenger Hermes Franca. If the UFC ever adopted a 145 lbs. division, Edgar would be a leading candidate to drop down.

7. Tyson Griffin (Overall: 12-2/UFC: 5-2) – Talented wrestler who has won “Fight of the Night” honors against Edgar, Clay Guida, and Thiago Tavares. Only 24, Griffin has the upside needed to become a marquee attraction and future star. Head-to-head loss to Edgar puts him one spot below.

8. Roger Huerta (Overall: 20-2-1/UFC: 6-1) - May or may not fight for the promotion again but still owes the promotion one more fight. As long as he’s on the roster, he will get rated. An exciting fighter with aggressive standup and extremely marketable. He could be a tremendous draw on PPV and his impending departure will hurt the company. If UFC contract expires and attempt at acting career does not pan out, he could garner major money from Strikeforce or the Bellator Fighting Championships.

9. Clay Guida (Overall: 25-9/UFC: 5-3) - His record is good, but not great. He has great wrestling, outstanding cardio, and a tough chin. However, he is not a polished striker and absorbs too much punishment. Highly recognizable and a tremendous asset, but will he ever be an elite fighter?

10. Gray Maynard (Overall: 6-0/UFC: 4-0) - Has such a size advantage against competition that it’s almost not far. One of the best pure wrestlers in all of MMA, Maynard has improved his overall game at Xtreme Couture. One of the brightest prospects the UFC has under contract and has championship potential.

11. Nate Diaz (Overall: 10-3/5-1) – Ground-based fighter who has exciting style of jiu-jitsu. Likes to stay active and willing to fight anyone. The Diaz Brothers “bad boy” image works well for marketing purposes and is one of the lightweight division’s most recognizable fighters.

12. Jim Miller (Overall: 13-1/UFC: 2-0) - One of the most underrated fighters in the UFC. Needs more TV time in order to gain more notoriety. Future title challenger whose ability to draw is underutilized with Philadelphia and New York markets yet to be opened up.

13. Josh Neer (Overall: 25-7-1/UFC: 4-4) – Immensely talented but has underachieved for various reasons. Upset wins over Melvin Guillard, Joe Stevenson, and Mac Danzig have meaning. Has also received a lot of TV exposure courtesy of multiple UFN appearances. Just needs to be more consistent.

14. Hermes Franca (Overall: 19-7/UFC: 6-4) - Former WEC featherweight champion and former UFC lightweight title challenger. World class black belt with heavy hands. Has been around so long that he’s a household name with hardcore fans. Injuries and legal issues have really hurt his stock.

15. Joe Lauzon (Overall: 18-4/UFC: 5-1) - Explosive fighter who has gained great popularity thanks to turn on TUF 5 as well as multiple televised fights on Spike TV. Really made a name for himself with upset (at the time) win against Jens Pulver at UFC 63.

16. Spencer Fisher (Overall: 22-4/UFC: 7-3) – Fisher may never be an elite lightweight but his aggressive style and ability to turn in great fighters during televised bouts makes him a huge asset. His wrestling is also underrated. His 3-1 record in his last four fights puts him in a position to move up with a win over a big name opponent.

17. Kurt Pellegrino (Overall: 13-4/UFC: 5-3) - Talented black belt who is not afraid to trade on the feet. Has strong wins outside of the UFC against Danzig and Sergey Golyaev. May never be an elite fighter but one of the most credible combatants in the UFC’s lightweight division.

18. Thiago Tavares (Overall: 14-3/UFC: 4-3) - A talented prospect but stock was hurt by recent two-fight losing streak. Win at UFC 94 over Manny Gamburyan helped him regain momentum. Has the upside to be ranked much higher than this but must consistently win fights.

19. Gleison Tibau (Overall: 16-6/UFC: 4-3) – Doesn’t have the best record in the UFC but he doesn’t get any easy fights. Trained by American Top Team and a giant for 155 lbs., Tibau has the ability to rise above this ranking and move into the top ten. He just needs a streak of wins.

20. Efrain Escudero (Overall: 11-0/UFC: 1-0) - The most recent of winner of TUF always comes into the UFC with a great deal of momentum. Escudero is not only undefeated but has a strong wrestling base as his foundation. In his early 20s and of Mexican-American heritage, Escudero has star potential and could develop into a major draw.

21. Mac Danzig (Overall: 18-6-1/UFC: 2-2) – The TUF 6 welterweight winner has seen his stock fall, as he is 0-2 in his last two fights and 2-4 in his last six. The 29-year old Danzig has been long enough that he may have eclipsed prospect status and could be headed to journeyman land. His next fight is a must-win situation, lest anyone thought otherwise.

22. Matt Wiman (Overall: 10-4/UFC: 4-2) – Was on a four fight win streak until running into Miller at “UFC Fight for the Troops.” Wiman has gotten good exposure courtesy of TUF 5 and several UFN appearances. A good, but not great fighter.

23. Rich Clementi (Overall: 32-14-1/UFC: 5-5) - Prior to losing his second straight this past Saturday at UFN 17, Clementi had won four straight UFC fights against Melvin Guillard, Anthony Johnson, Sam Stout and Terry Etim. The 31-year old Clementi is a solid veteran for depth purposes.

24. Jeremy Stephens (Overall: 14-4/UFC: 3-3) - Good wrestler from the Midwest who has above average athletic skills. Has put on entertaining fights in televised spots and is coming off a solid effort vs. Lauzon in a UFN headlining fight. Only 22, there is still room for growth.

25. Mark Bocek (Overall: 6-2/UFC: 2-2) - Has improved a great deal since his UFC debut in 2007. Hasn’t really had any easy fights and continues to show that he’s more than just a jiu-jitsu black belt. Not going to challenge for a title anytime soon, but could surprise some people if he keeps improving.

26. Phillipe Nover (Overall: 5-1-1/UFC: 0-1) - Was extremely impressive during TUF 8 until the finals. The question has to be asked: is he the lightweight Anderson Silva or overrated? Showed vs. Escudero at TUF 8 that he must develop wrestling skills in order to have any chance to live up to the hype. Regardless, his flashy striking skills and Filipino heritage make him a tremendous asset to the UFC. Age is also on his side and he comes off very likable to fans.

27. Sam Stout (Overall: 13-5-1/UFC: 2-4) - Stout’s greatest value to the UFC is that his kickboxing skills translate well to TV and that he’s also very familiar to Canadian fans. Some may think this ranking might be a little high but we’re entering a different tier of UFC fighters at this stage.

28. Aaron Riley (Overall: 27-10-1/UFC: 1-2) - Now on his third tour of duty with the UFC, Riley looked impressive at UFC 91 in beating Jorge Gurgel. Despite having won his last three fights, Riley has little job security and must keep winning.

29. Junie Browning (Overall: 3-0/UFC: 1-0) - Will he be the next Chris Leben or the next Jesse Taylor? Didn’t seem like he really wanted to be a fighter at times during TUF but looked really strong vs. Dave Kaplan during TUF 8 finale. If he continues to improve under Shawn Tompkins then he will easily be another Leben and emerge as one of the lightweight division’s biggest stars.

30. Cole Miller (Overall: 14-3/UFC: 3-1) – Great height for the lightweight division and tremendous jiu-jitsu skills. Is working hard to improve with American Top Team and takes fighting seriously. Still, there are questions whether he’s long for the UFC. That question could get answered at UFN 18 vs. Browning.

31. Matt Veach (Overall: 11-0/UFC: 1-0) – Took a fight on short notice; turned into a “Fight of the Night” candidate at UFN 17 vs. Matt Grice; upset Grice; trains under Matt Hughes; and is undefeated. What’s not to like?

32. Melvin Guillard (Overall: 21-7-2/UFC: 4-3) - Legal issues and inconsistency have overshadowed his potential. As great as his upside is, potential only means you haven’t done it yet.

33. David Baron (Overall: 16-3/UFC: 0-1) - The French fighter has some big wins on the International level against Dan Hardy and Hayato Sakurai but is 0-1 in the UFC and will miss his next scheduled fight due to injury. In the UFC, if you’re out of sight then you’re out of mind.

34. Matt Grice (Overall: 9-2/UFC: 1-2) – Spent a lot of time away from fighting in order to graduate from the Police Academy after his stock was on the rise following impressive showing vs. Jason Black at UFC 77. Returned at UFN 17 with an upset loss to Matt Veach but his strong wrestling base makes him a threat.

35. Rob Emerson (Overall: 8-7/UFC: 2-1-1) – Doesn’t have the best record in the world but has been competitive in the UFC. Stock was high coming off 12 second KO against Manny Gamburyan at UFC 87 but came back down after second round submission loss to Pellegrino at UFN 17.

36. Terry Etim (Overall: 11-2/UFC: 2-2) - There’s a huge gap between International competition outside of Japan and competition in the UFC. Questions remain whether he will he able to hang long-term in the UFC.

37. Dennis Siver (Overall: 13-6/UFC: 2-3) - German wrestling standout won his UFC return against Nate Mohr at UFC 93 in January. Needs to develop striking skills in order to have a chance to stick this time. Will likely have a big role when the UFC goes to Germany in June.

38. Justin Buchholz (Overall: 8-2/UFC: 1-1) - Born in California but made a name for himself competing in Hawaii. Really impressed during EliteXC’s “Uprising” undercard against Ikaika Choy-Fu but UFC debut against Wiman at UFN 12 left a lot to be desired. Rebounded with win over Corey Hill at UFC 86. Is a fighter to watch in ‘09.

39. Shannon Gugerty (Overall: 11-3/UFC: 1-1) - Has a win over Dale Hartt in the UFC but lost his second fight against Fisher at UFC 90. Has not fought since.

40. Per Eklund (Overall: 14-3-1/UFC: 1-1) - Has competed for BodogFIGHT with a strong win over Rafael Dias. Also has some other solid International wins but has yet to gain traction in the Octagon.

41. Shane Nelson (Overall: 11-3/UFC: 1-0) - Trains under B.J. Penn and has benefitted from TUF 8 exposure. Will need to keep winning in order to stick with the UFC.

42. Dale Hartt (Overall: 6-1/UFC: 1-1) - Was one of the top fighters in the New England area but has yet to hit his stride in the UFC. Lost debut at UFN 14 to Shannon Gugerty and fight vs. Hill at “UFC Fight for the Troops” was stopped short because of injury to Hill.

43. George Sotiropoulos (Overall: 9-2/UFC: 2-0) - Better than this ranking but out of sight out of mind in the UFC. Is 2-0 in the Octagon but has fought just twice since December of ‘07. If the UFC promotes shows in Australia, his value will increase fivefold.

44. Evan Dunham (Overall:7-0/UFC: 0-0) - Will make debut on short notice at UFC 95. Will move up significantly if he can turn in an impressive win over Eklund.

45. Rafael dos Anjos (Overall: 11-3/UFC: 0-1) - Dos Anjos looked decent until getting caught by Stephens with an uppercut delivered from a mile away at UFC 91. His ground game is aces but will need to answer questions about standup.

46. David Bielkheden (Overall: 13-6/UFC: 1-1) - Former welterweight is an intriguing fighter to watch in ‘09. Must stay healthy though in order to have a shot.

47. Manny Gamburyan (Overall: 8-4/UFC: 2-3) - Not an overly exciting fighter and is 0-2 in last two UFC fights. Is woefully short for lightweight and would really stand to gain by moving to 145.

48. Kyle Bradley (Overall: 13-6/UFC: 0-2) - Had a lot of momentum coming into the UFC as he was also being recruited by EliteXC while on the heels of a seven fight win streak. But is winless in the Octagon after two fights and bout vs. Nover at UFN 18 is likely a must-win for him.

49. Rolando Delgado (Overall: 6-3-1/UFC: 1-0) - Winning against John Polakowski isn’t going to earn a lot of points. Needs to prove himself against tougher competition inside the UFC.

50. Corey Hill (Overall: 2-2/UFC: 1-2) - Is a genetic freak being a 6′4” lightweight and has solid wrestling credentials but time is running out for the 30-year old. A 16-24 month layoff due to a serious injury was the last thing his career needed.

51. George Roop (Overall: 8-4/UFC: 0-1) – Very tough fighter but toughness doesn’t keep you in the UFC. As you can see, the UFC has a lot of lightweights under contract right now. Needs to win his next fight to stick.

52. Dave Kaplan (Overall: 2-2/UFC: 0-1) - “Diamond” Dave had a tremendous entrance at live finale for TUF 8 finale and put on a solid showing against Browning. But a loss to Roop in his next fight means he’s out of the UFC.

53. Nate Mohr (Overall: 8-6/UFC: 1-3) – Was on the sidelines for two years with a knee injury. Lost in his return against Siver at UFC 93. Earns points for having the heart to come back but records in and out of the UFC are less than stellar.

The staff of FiveOuncesOfPain.com is back with another series of predictions, this time for Saturday’s UFC Ultimate Fight Night 17 featuring UFC lightweight champion Joe Lauzon taking on Jeremy Stephens.

Joe Lauzon vs. Jeremy Stephens

Lee Gerowitz: Lauzon is a smart fighter, which means that he is well aware of the fact that Stephens nearly became the first human being to decapitate another human being with an uppercut not too long ago (versus Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 91). Which means Stephens can drop bombs. Which means Lauzon will do everything in his power to take this fight to the ground and submit Stephens. It also wouldn’t surprise me to see Lauzon stop Stephens either. Regardless, I think this one is going the distance, with Lauzon dominating.
Lauzon by decision

Christopher Dolan: Joe Lauzon should be able to walk away from this fight with a submission victory.

Caleb Newby: Joe Lauzon wins this one after taking it to the ground in a fairly straight forward affair. Unfortunately, hardly anyone will care as Vaseline detracts from this nice free event we have. Winner: Joe Lauzon – Submission, Rd2

Cory Brady- This is a tough fight to call. Much tougher than initially meets the eye. These guy’s really match up well. Lauzon is a better submission artist and Stephens is a more explosive striker but neither gap is too great for either to overcome. I think Lauzon is just a little more well rounded out of the two. Lauzon by decision

David Andrest: I can try as I may to pretend this isn’t a  late minute replacement main event.  Lauzon is a better fighter, and I expect him to pound him out.  Winner: Lauzon

Cain Velasquez vs. Denis Stojnic

Lee Gerowitz: Velasquez is a wrestler who can throw down. Stojnic is a striker who can’t wrestle. The issue is, if Velasquez, who’s not quite a submission specialist, takes Stojnic down, what can he do with him? I don’t see him taking a nap on Stojnic for three rounds. Ultimately, this fight stays standing…until Stojnic falls down. Velasquez by TKO, round two

Christopher Dolan: I think this might be a huge mismatch. Velasquez should be able to show off his ground and pound to earn a TKO victory.

Caleb Newby: Yeah, I think we know what the UFC wants here and what is all but assured to happen. Winner: Cain Velasquez – KO, Rd1

Cory Brady- Cain Velasquez is a complete monster at heavyweight and he is doing the right thing by fighting a guy like Stojnic at this early point in his career. Cain will be champion one day but there should be no rush. Velasquez by devastation in the first round

David Andrest: Velasquez is the perfect example of a guy too big for Light Heavyweight, and not quite big enough for Heavyweight.  He will have a successful career with no title runs.  If It appears I’m treating this fight as an after thought, it because it is an after thought.  Velasquez by TKO

Anthony Johnson vs. Luigi Fioravanti

Lee Gerowitz: For all intents and purposes, this will be a boxing match, as well as a strong candidate for Knockout of the Night. I also think there is a 6% chance that these two will simultaneously knock each other out. I don’t have a freaking clue as to who will win this fight because I believe that it’s a toss up. Okay, I just flipped a coin. Fioravanti by TKO, round one

Christopher Dolan: Johnson looked great in the octagon his last time out and I think he will keep things rolling with a decision victory over Fioravanti

Caleb Newby: As much as I think people may be riding the Rumble bandwagon a little too high too early, I can’t go against a man that athletic and exciting. Luigi will be his toughest test yet though, and I can’t help but feel some apprehension over making this pick. Winner: Anthony Johnson – TKO, Rd2

Cory Brady- Another fight that is tougher to call than one would think. I want to say Johnson without a doubt but Luigi is just so well rounded, trains with one of the best camps in the business and has dynamite in his fists…plus, he’s a really cool guy. Oh well, A.J. is one of the coolest guys you will ever talk to as well and I see him having the tools to get the job done. Johnson by TKO.

David Andrest: Everyone loves Luigi.  He entertains everytime, works hard, and shows up to fight.  Unfortunatley for him, Johnson is a very good young fighter with power , speed, and more importantly a sick reach advantage.  Johnson by TKO

Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer

Lee Gerowitz: Mac Danzig may have the coolest name ever, plus he craps intensity. Like Danzig, Neer is coming off of a loss, so I expect both of these well-rounded fighters to enter the octagon in top form. Danzig’s loss, his first in the UFC, was to Clay Guida at UFC Fight Night 15. Neer’s last loss was to Nate Diaz on the same card. Guida just beat Diaz at UFC 94. I have absolutely no idea how that helps me choose a winner in what is an excellent match-up, but it sounded cool. I see Danzig having just a bit more in the gas tank. Danzig by decision

Christopher Dolan: I think Danzig will be able to bounce back from his loss to Clay Guida with a decision victory over Neer.
Caleb Newby: Wow, this card actually does have some good fights on it, doesn’t it? You’d never know that in the post January Mega-Fight aftermath. Both these guys are veterans… I’m leaning Danzig, but don’t quote me on that. Winner: Maz Danzig – Decision

Cory Brady- Danzig is just a little more dangerous on the ground and that’s what will make thee difference. Danzig by submission

David Andrest: They didn’t make this match for Danzig to lose two in a row……….pay attention people.  Winner: Danzig via sub

Jake Rosholt vs. Dan Miller

Lee Gerowitz: Former WEC fighter and collegiate wrestling champion Rosholt makes his UFC debut against an extremely well-rounded fighter in Miller. Rosholt has a world of potential, but I think he’s still a bit raw. And while his chin is rock solid, I believe that he will eat a lot of punches before the fight eventually goes to the ground, where Rosholt’s wrestling skills will not be enough to override Miller’s submission skills. Miller stops Rosholt; it’s just a toss up as to whether it’s by TKO or submission. Welcome to the UFC, kid.
Miller by submission, round three

Christopher Dolan: If all goes according to plans for Miller he should be able to pick up a submission victory.

Caleb Newby: Rosholt is welcomed into the UFC with a game Dan Miller. Rosholt has a shot, but I’m going Miller with a late fight submission. Why? It just makes sense in my head. Then again, I went 5-5 on UFC 94. Winner: Dan Miller – Sub, Rd3

Cory Brady- Rosholt’s wrestling is beautiful to watch but I feel like Miller may be a little too experienced for him at this point in his career. I hate having to pick this fight. Miller by decision

David Andrest: Being one half of my least favorite fight in 2008,  Rosholt’s victory over Nissen Osterneck showed me he has the ” Take down, and do nothing”  part of wrestling for MMA down.  I know everyone is picking Miller by experience.  I’m picking Rosholt because it’s exactly the outcome I don’t want to see.  Rosholt  via  lame GnP  after 14:30 of lay and pray.

Rich Clementi vs. Gleison Tibau

Lee Gerowitz: Tibau is on a two-fight losing streak. My momma told me that two plus one equals three.
Clementi by TKO, round one.

Christopher Dolan: Rich Clementi picks up the win? Yes that’s right look for a decision victory as I don’t think he will have this fight take place on the ground.

Caleb Newby: Clementi was on a roll going 6-1 with his only loss being against the skyrocketing Gray Maynard. Tibau shouldn’t be short of motivation either with two losses in a row making this a must win to continue in the UFC. Winner: Rich Clementi – TKO, Rd2

Cory Brady- Clementi has more tools at his disposal than Tibau. I don’t see Clementi finishing Tibau but he will defeat him and send him on a vacation from the UFC for a while. Clementi by decision.

David Andrest: Odd fight, and odd fight placement.  Rich Clementi gets no love………..( see what I did there)  from the UFC decision makers.  Who does he have to beat to get on television?  How many fights in a row does this kid have to win??  This should be a great fight, as Tibau has a fresh new haircut, and Clementi needed an additional hour to make weight…………that made it even in my book.   Winner: Clementi via decision

Kurt Pellegrino vs. Rob Emerson

Lee Gerowitz: Emerson is 8-6 and on a six fight winning streak. His last fight was a 12 second demolition of Manny Gamburyan at UFC 87. Pellegrino, meanwhile, is consistently inconsistent. Emerson is lucky to be in the UFC with such limited skills. And don’t give me the “but he shows tremendous heart” argument. Every fighter, regardless of their skills, has heart for simply entering the octagon. I think Emerson exits the octagon a loser. Pellegrino by TKO, round one

Christopher Dolan: I like Pellegrino to win this fight with a second round TKO.

Caleb Newby: Rob Emerson has fared much better in the UFC than I’d expected. Still, I am going to be picking against him once again by going with Pellegrino. PROVE ME WRONG ROB! Seriously. That’d be great. Winner: Kurt Pellegrino – Decision

Cory Brady- Emerson looked amazing in his knockout finish of Gamburyan but I wouldn’t put too much weight in a bout that ended so suddenly.Pellegrino has shown time and time again that he is tough as nails and I see him edging out Emerson in what should be an exciting fight. Pellegrino by decision

David Andrest: Rob Emerson has not lost a professional fight in the Octagon.  Take a moment, soak that in and say it so it really hits home. Rob Emerson has not lost a professional fight in the Octagon.  With that said all good things must come to and end.  BATMAN by decison

Matt Grice vs. Matt Veach

Lee Gerowitz: Veach may be 10-0, but none of those wins have come in the UFC. Grice’s last fight was a war with Jason Black at UFC 77. Veach will come in trying to impress, while Grice will want to remind the UFC of who he is. I’ll go with Grice because of his UFC experience.
Grice by TKO, round two

Christopher Dolan: This bout goes to the judges’ scorecards where Grice picks up the decision.

Caleb Newby: UFC jitters anyone!? That’s my favorite fallback when the whole “Who does Joe Silva want to win” isn’t really applicable. Winner: Matt Grice – TKO, Rd3

Cory Brady- Don’t know very much about either fighter but Grice has fought the tougher competition and his experience in the octagon will be a factor being that Veach is making his debut. Grice by submission

David Andrest: Grice via decision

Nick Catone vs. Derek Downey

Lee Gerowitz: We have two more fighters looking to impress in their UFC debuts. Catone was supposed to fight against TUF season seven champ Amir Sadollah at UFC 91, but Sadollah pulled out due to injury. I cannot imagine that the UFC would have paired Sadollah with a fighter who had a great chance at beating him. For that simple reason alone, I am justifying my logic and picking the fighter who is on a three-fight win streak: Downey. Downey by decision

Christopher Dolan: Cantone wins a dominating fight via a third round TKO.

Caleb Newby: Wait… who? Time to fire up the Fight Finder… Winner: Nick Catone – Decision (random selection)

Cory Brady- I’d be lying if I said I’m really familiar with either fighter. Fight Nights…sigh…whatever. Catone by submission?

David Andrest: Let it forever be known and  Gerowitz’s Theory of Canativity:  If you were the sacrificial lamb to a fighter with an unknown talent level . You are the sacrificial lamb to his last minute replacement.    Winner: Downey

Steve Bruno vs. Matt Riddle

Lee Gerowitz: Let’s be real here. The UFC has provided Riddle with the opportunity to show up and beat a fighter that he should beat. And that’s exactly what he’ll do. Riddle by TKO, round one

Christopher Dolan: I know some people will probably back Riddle in this bout but I’m going with Bruno to win a decision victory
Caleb Newby: Seriously, Matt Riddle’s nickname needs to be “Papagiorgio”. Just rent Vegas Vacation and you’ll see the resemblance. I like Riddle, inexperience and all, due to his wrestling and uncanny ability to win vehicles at the slots. Winner: Matt Riddle – Decision

Cory Brady- Matt Riddle should be able to use his superior ahletecism and strength to walk away with the W. Riddle by TKO

David Andrest: I hope at UFN 18 we can have Matt Riddle open the show against  Barry O  or SD Jones. I wonder if Riddle will pull out this victory?    Winner Riddle by destiny.

The staff of FiveOuncesOfPain.com is back with another series of predictions, this time for Saturday’s UFC 94 event featuring UFC welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre taking on reigning UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn.

Televised Main Card -

Welterweight (170 lbs.): Georges St. Pierre (17-2) vs. B.J. Penn (13-4-1):

Sam Caplan: This fight is a tie on so many angles that my preference would be not to offer a prediction and just sit back and enjoy it for what it truly is: one of the greatest pure fighting matchups in MMA’s brief history. St. Pierre vs. Penn II is truly an epic encounter that will serve as a huge part of the sport’s legacy for years to come. Both fighters are tremendous athletes that are at the top of their game. I don’t see one finishing the other as I believe this fight is destined to go to the judges. Out of hope that we get to see these two fight for a third time, I am giving the nod to Penn via split decision.

Michael Huckaby: While I can see Penn winning this fight I can’t give him too much of a chance.  We’re less than two years removed from their first bout and while Penn has improved since the first outing so has St. Pierre.  St. Pierre will still win the standup battle and if it goes to the ground I expect GSP to control with his wrestling and stay in a dominant position while avoiding submissions.  In fact the only difference from the first fight is that this could go even longer, another reason not to pick B.J. Penn.  I love that Penn wants to fight bigger and better guys in a world where everyone wants to cut 40 pounds and fight the smallest and weakest…. but he’s just not a great matchup for St. Pierre right now.  Winner: Georges St. Pierre, TKO, Rd4.

Nick Travaglini – As with most MMA fans on the planet, I have gone back and forth on this for 5 months. My head says GSP will win this fight with size and superior conditioning, but my gut says BJ Penn brings a better skill set and a determination he has rarely had in his career. I am going to go with my gut here and pick Penn. I even think there is a shot he may stop GSP, so I am picking Penn via TKO knockout in round 3.

Cory Brady: St. Pierre is simply too large, powerful, athletic, and downright beastly for Penn. He proved it the first time the two faced and he will prove it again at UFC 94 en route to a dream match up with Anderson Silva. The longer this fight goes, the more the fight favors St. Pierre. Penn could always catch St. Pierre with a hard shot and pounce on him for a submission win but I don’t see it happening. It’s going to be an amazing fight and I feel it will be much more closely contested than the first but the outcome will be the same. St. Pierre could stop Penn in the late rounds by TKO but I feel it’s a lot more likely that he will grind out the decision in a war. St. Pierre by unanimous decision

Jonathan Snowden: I’ve wavered several times making this pick, unsure of what this fight will be like. Maybe that’s what has fans so excited for this one? Both fighters are in their prime. Their respective skill levels are beyond reproach. I was ready to pick B.J. Penn, impressed as always with his attitude, with that something inside of him that makes him a born fighter. Then a UFC Champion reminded me that GSP will be 190 pounds the night of the fight. B.J. will be 175 at most. And those 15 pounds will be all the advantage Georges needs in this battle of equals. Georges St. Pierre, TKO, Round 4.

Christopher Dolan: This one is really tough to call. Both men are clearly at the top of their game, but I don’t think I can go against GSP. He has been on another planet since his loss to Matt Serra. The one thing I don’t see if GSP stopping Penn, he’s just too talented to fall victim in this fight. GSP by majority decision.

Lee Gerowitz: This is the kind of fight that every wanna-be, MMA analyst dreams of. I’ve read several takes on how this fight will go down and why. Well, there will be no in-depth breakdown or analysis from me here. This is the quintessential toss-up, so I’m going with my rather large gut, which tells me that B.J. Penn is going to come into this superfight as focused as ever and steamroll over St. Pierre. A superfight doesn’t always equate to a super fight. GSP will have no answers; B.J. Penn will not only dominate, but toy with GSP until he puts him away.Penn by TKO, round two

Caleb Newby: B.J. Penn – Sub, Rd2

David Andrest: I believe B.J. Penn to be the best p4p fighter in the world.  Very few guys can give him trouble if he is motivated and in shape.  GSP is one of those guys.  Regardless of the outcome this fight will be a close one decided by mistakes.  I think Penn will make fewer mistakes and win this fight.  Penn TKO Round 2

Light Heavyweight (205 lbs.): Lyoto Machida (13-0) vs. Thiago Silva (13-0):

Sam Caplan: As if Penn vs. St. Pierre II wasn’t enough, we will also be treated to this tremendous matchup of unbeaten Brazilian light heavyweight prospects. I consider both to be top ten light heavyweights and I am anxious to see whether the winner of this fight will be guaranteed a future title shot. As for the matchup itself, Silva is extremely aggressive while Machida is extremely elusive. I believe Machida’s defensive posture and strong counter-strike ability makes him a bad matchup for virtually every fighter he faces. I expect this one to be no exception with Machida earning a unanimous decision victory.

Michael Huckaby: Silva has a great deal of talent but he’s out of his league in this one.  Machida has been much more impressive in his UFC performances against better competition.  He may not be flashy and he may be fighting a powerful striker, but Machida should pick him apart and if he needs to take it down and be methodical.  Thiago Silva is only 26 years old and he’s probably at his ceiling for the next couple of years.  With a loss he will hopefully learn a couple of things and be a beast in the future.  Winner: Lyoto Machida, decision.

Nick Travaglini – This will be an entertaining battle of two undefeated Brazilians. As good as both fighters are, Machida is on another level in skill set and previous competition. Silva will give a good first round but I see Machida running away with this as the fight moves forward. Machida via unanimous decision.

Cory Brady: I am definitely NOT on the Machida bandwagon. I feel and have felt that he is overrated and I can safely say that watching Machida fight gives me the same feeling in my stomach that I get from sitting in backed up rush hour traffic. Extremely frustrating. That’s how the man wins his fights though. He frustrates his opponents and implements his game plan, time and time again. I want to see how he will react to an aggressive striker like Silva. The type of guy that will be in his face at all times. Machida will be forced to really fight and I can’t wait to see how he does. Either Machida finishes Silva or he will be finished. I feel certain about that. I’m going to go against my best judgement in this fight and go with Silva by highlight reel knockout sometime late in the first or early in the second round. Silva by brutal knockout

Christopher Dolan: Sometimes I’m in the minority in this but I really think Machida is one of the top five fighters on the planet.  No one has been able to figure out his unique style, as he often frustrates his opponents.  Silva is a huge talent but I don’t think he has what it takes to stop Machida.  Machida will win this fight via decision.

Lee Gerowitz: Machida is to MMA what Chris Byrd (in his prime) was to boxing: boring and tough as hell to figure out. I expect an aggressive Silva to bring it; and I expect Machida to have answers in the form of a solid, if not brilliant counter attack. This fight will provide fans with a few exciting exchanges, but in the end, Machida will be too much for Silva to handle. Machida by decision

Jonathan Snowden: Make no mistake about it:  Zuffa wants Silva to win. Look to see if Dana cries when Lyoto takes another decision. Lyoto Machida, Decision

Caleb Newby: Lyoto Machida – Decision

David Andrest: Honestly I think Silva smothers Machida with pressure and smashes his face in.  Silva KO Round 1

Light Heavyweight (205 lbs.): Stephan Bonnar (11-4) vs. Jon Jones (6-0):

Sam Caplan: Injuries have sidelined Bonnar for a year and half. Prior to his UFC 73 return, the TUF season one light heavyweight runner-up had been sidelined for nearly a year while he served out a suspension for testing positive for steroids. In the last three and a half years, Bonnar has fought a grand total of twice. Meanwhile, Jones has been very active, fighting seven times since making his pro debut in April of 2008. Many will pick Bonnar but I expect Jones to pull the upset much like he did in his UFC debut this past August against Andre Gusmao. I don’t think people realize how talented Gusmao is and just how big of a win it was for Jones. I expect Jones’ dynamic striking ability to get the crowd going and allow him to walk away the unanimous decision victor.

Michael Huckaby: Perhaps it’s too early and rude to call Bonnar a gatekeeper but this is the type of fight he should win and the type of fight UFC wants him to win to keep him around as a name.  I don’t think they’d throw Bonnar a fight they thought he’d lose with this being a comeback fight.  Bonnar will get picked a bit on the standup but he should close the distance and get this to the ground where he might be able to finish with a choke or armbar.  Winner: Stephan Bonnar, submission, Rd2.

Nick Travaglini – I like this fight much more than most people do. Bonnar is coming back from a devastating knee injury against an up and comer with tremendous upside. Jones should have his way with Bonnar in the takedown department as Bonnar has never shown above average wrestling. Where this fight gets interesting is on the ground, where Bonnar has an excellent submission game. For all of Jones’ hype, he has only been training MMA a little over a year. An extended ground and pound effort may lead to a submission loss. At the end of the day(for all you Dana White fans), I am picking experience over athleticism and taking Bonnar via unanimous decision.

Cory Brady: The American Psycho will utilize his most distinct advantage, experience,  to overwhelm Jones in the octagon. Bonnar’s iron jaw and superior submission game will be too much for the up and coming Jones. The loss will be a positive for Jones, who is poised to make a serious impact in the future of the UFC. Bonnar by submission

Lee Gerowitz: Assuming Bonnar’s reconstructed knee is 100%, Bonnar will win this fight and hand Jones his first defeat. Having said that, it won’t be easy. Jones has a collegiate wrestling background but is also an impressive striker. Regardless of the outcome, I expect fireworks. This fight has Fight of the Night written all over it.Bonnar by TKO, round three

Jonathan Snowden: Remember when Bonnar and Griffin had the fight of the decade, a fight many thought Stephan won? It’s amazing how far Griffin has come, while Bonnar has been content to live off a reputation that is now fading fast. This is a much win fight for Bonnar if he intends to make a run at significance. I think he still has it in him. Bonnar, Decision.

Christopher Dolan: It’s nice to see Bonnar back in the octagon.  Ring rust could play a factor in this fight, but I’m sure Bonnar’s camp has taken care of that.  In the end I like Bonnar to win this fight via TKO in the second round.

Caleb Newby: Stephan Bonnar – Sub, Rd2

David Andrest: I hate this fight. This fight is a trap.  Look at the main card. One of the fights is not like the others.  IT’S THIS ONE!  Why is this on the main card?  Does Bonner have the cache that would motivate Joe Silva to set him up with a showcase fight?   Or do they expect to create a contender with Jones?  Despite my better judgment I’ll pick.  Bonner Decision

Lightweight (155 lbs.): Nate Diaz (10-2) vs. Clay Guida (24-9):

Sam Caplan: I still have questions about Diaz’s all-around ability but in five UFC fights, his striking has yet to be exploited. I hate to pick against Diaz again, but I believe that Guida’s wrestling base will allow him to keep the fight standing. While not the most technical, Guida’s standup is aggressive and non-stop. I expect him to put a lot of pressure on Diaz, allowing him to earn a unanimous decision victory by being the more active of the two.

Michael Huckaby: It what is the most interesting fight outside of the main event, you have a game Clay Guida against a vastly improving Nate Diaz.  Diaz has went from the man getting pummeled by Manny Gamburyan to a guy winning wars against Pellegrino and Neer.  While he has more ways to win this fight, Guida isn’t exactly an easy win.  Mix in the fact Guida will be controlling the ground action and you have the age old battle of submission fighter on his back trying to submit the superior wrestler.  Will Diaz be able to clasp something on or keep it on the feet and hit some shots?  This will not be an easy fight for Diaz but it’s one he should probably win 50% of the time.  Don’t let me down.  Winner: Nathan Diaz, decision.

Nick Travaglini – Another match up with fight of the night potential. This will be two absolute fireplugs going at it for 3 rounds. Guida sets a pace in fights that very few can keep up with, even when he loses. Diaz has the BJJ and the length to make this an interesting fight for Guida on the mat. But I see Guida winning the stand up battle and using takedowns and ground control to win a unanimous decision.

Cory Brady: A win over Guida would convince me that Diaz is the real deal but I’m not convinced that Diaz is ready for that type of challenge. Guida is a beast at 155 and nobody can tell me otherwise. There are only about six or seven guys in the world that I can see beating Guida and Diaz isn’t one of them. Guida by Decision

Lee Gerowitz: Clay Guida has exciting hair, which, along with his exciting, aggressive style of fighting, makes him a pleasure to watch. Guida will come out firing like a furious Fabio, but it will only be a matter of time before Diaz takes care of business. I see Guida giving Diaz a fit or two in the first round, but that’s about it. Diaz will figure out the wild man in the next round and take advantage of his poor submission defense skills.Diaz by submission, round two

Jonathan Snowden: Clay Guida is a machine, a non-stop whirling dervish who keeps coming forward. Diaz is just a winning machine. He’s ready to step out of his brother’s rather large shadow and establish himself as the fighting Diaz brother. Guida is just another stepping stone. Diaz, Submission, Round 3.
Christopher Dolan: I know this is a huge card but I’m really excited for this fight.  Diaz has been on a role and I think he’ll continue that roll vs. Guida.  In the past Guida has fallen pray to submissions and I think that will happen again.  Look for Diaz to win this fight via submission in the second round.

Caleb Newby: Nate Diaz – Decision

David Andrest: This is a great fight for fans, finally we will know if Diaz is the goods.  Guida will bring it to you every second of every round.  While I think Diaz will eventually have more success than Guida , I don’t think it will happen this time. Guida via Decision.

Welterweight (170 lbs.): Karo Parisyan (18-5) vs. Dong Hyun Kim (11-0-1):

Sam Caplan: The last time we saw Parisyan was in April, when he got demolished by Thiago Alves at UFN 13. Since that time, Parisyan had been scheduled to fight Yoshiyuki Yoshida but was pulled a day prior to the bout because he was in no condition to fight. Parisyan himself has revealed his battles with panic attacks and acknowledged his poor conditioning habits. I’ve got to ask whether we have any reason to believe Parisyan is ready to fight? Kim is an extremely tough opponent and while I think he’s overrated to some degree, he’s going to make Parisyan look bad if Karo is not 100 percent ready for this fight. The pick for me is Kim via first round TKO.

Michael Huckaby: This matchmaking doesn’t make much sense to me.  Wait…. Parisyan beats an overmatched Chonan, faces Kim here and was originally scheduled to face Yoshida but had to pull out.  Karo Parisyan hates Asian people!  Wait, they throw Gono to Fitch and Nakamura to the wolves immediately.  This is just mean.  Is this Kim’s punishment for beating Matt Brown?  You go from a close squeaker against Matt Brown to getting dominated physically by Parisyan?  This is rubbing me the wrong way.  Winner: Karo Parisyan, decision.

Nick Travaglini – The big question in this fight is what Karo is going to show up. If the Parisyan of a few years ago shows up, this will be an exciting fight with it ending badly for Kim. If the more recent Parisyan with the panic attacks shows up, this will be a quick TKO for Kim. I am a firm believer you have to pick fighters on what you know about them and not what you think they can do. So I am picking Parisyan to win via unanimous decision over Kim, as I can see him winning round one and two and gassing out in round three. This fight has potential to steal fight of the night honors for the whole show.

Cory Brady: Parisyan hasn’t looked good in a while. Kim on the other hand, is a real rising star at 170 pounds. Kim has dynamite in his fists, very clean boxing. He has very good wrestling and his ground and pound can be downright horrifying at times. In a good way. Kim by horrifying ground and pound TKO. If Parisyan trades with Kim he will get caught, either way: Kim by TKO

Lee Gerowitz: Dong Hyun Kim’s nickname is “The Stun Gun.” Phenomenal. One major question needs to be answered here: Is Karo Parisyan 100% healthy? Another key – both fighters have strong judo backgrounds, but Kim has the edge in that department due to his fourth-degree black belt. Something just doesn’t seem right here with Parisyan, who is coming off of a TKO loss to Thiago Alves at UFC Fight Night 13. Kim may have been given a gift with his split-decision victory over Matt Brown at UFC 88, but I think he earns a clear win this time.“The Stun Gun” by TKO, round one

Jonathan Snowden: My friend Kendall Shields is all about Judo. It’s his whole life and watching the UFC with him is an infuriating cacophony of Japanese move names and cries of JUDO! What will young Kendall Shields do now, as Judo faces Judo in the Octagon? I guess he’s a winner either way. Parisyan, Decision.

Christopher Dolan: It’s not often that I change my mind on a fight last minute but that’s what I’m doing with this fight.  Originally I like Parisyan in this fight but I can’t go against Kim.  Parisyan has a long history of going to the judges score cards and I don’t see that happening in this fight.  I like Kim to win this fight with a third round TKO.

Caleb Newby: Karo Parisyan – Decision

David Andrest: Karo Parisyan is not going to win this fight.   KIM via TKO

Non-televised Preliminary Card -

Welterweight (170 lbs.): Jon Fitch (17-3) vs. Akihiro Gono (29-13-7):

Sam Caplan: It’s a shame that this fight has been relegated to the undercard because I believe it could be one of the best fights of the night. Gono hasn’t been all that impressive since coming to the UFC but he’s an experienced veteran who has not been fighting up to his potential. On the other hand, Fitch is one of the most technical and toughest fighters in all of MMA. I expect Fitch to win this one via unanimous decision.

Michael Huckaby: Gono is going to put up a fight as he always does but Fitch will use his superior striking to get close and take this to the ground where he’ll wear Gono out with ground-and-pound for fifteen minutes.  DJ Gozma only fights once per year in the UFC so enjoy his January performance.  Winner: Jon Fitch, decision.

Nick Travaglini – Fitch is coming off a devastating beating from GSP at UFC 87. Gono will be a tougher opponent for Fitch than most people think. Gono is a very slick veteran who will have a counter for everything Fitch throws at him. Where Fitch separates himself from Gono is in strength and conditioning. I think Fitch will start slow but win rounds two and three and pull off the decision win.

Cory Brady: Easiest fight on the card for me to pick, hands down. Fitch by however he wants, whenever he wants. Hopefully it’s quick so we get to see it on the live broadcast. I have a feeling it will be. Fitch by submission

Lee Gerowitz: Wow. Talk about being smacked upside the head with a dose of reality. In his last fight, Fitch was fighting for GSP’s welterweight title. Now, he’s slotted on the non-televised portion of the card. Gono is custom-made for Fitch, whose wrestling skills will enable him to take Gono down with ease. This has Mike Goldberg screaming, “Jon Fitch is back!” written all over it. On a sidenote, I was going to insert a joke about Fitch getting Gono-rhea, but it didn’t make the cut.Fitch by TKO, round one

Jonathan Snowden: Gono is one of the sport’s most colorful warriors and a veteran of almost every major promotion in the world. His resume includes SHOOTO, DEEP, ZST, Pancrase, Pride, Super Brawl, and the UFC. He has almost 60 career fights and is as comfortable on his feet as he is on the ground. None of that will help him when Jon Fitch takes him down and smashes his face. Fitch, TKO, Round 2.

Christopher Dolan: It’s amazing that Fitch is on the undercard but I can understand why he is there at the same time.  Gono is a talented fighter but he’s not in Fitch’s class.  I like Fitch to win this fight via third round TKO.

Caleb Newby: Jon Fitch – Decision

David Andrest: Guess you’ll sign on the dotted line next time. Fitch via whatever he feels like.

Lightweight (155 lbs.): Manny Gamburyan (8-3) vs. Thiago Tavares (13-3):

Sam Caplan: Tavares was once one of the brightest lightweight prospects in MMA before dropping three out of his last four bouts. A jiu-jitsu black belt, he presents a big matchup problem for Gamburyan. Gamburyan, the TUF 5 lightweight runner-up, loves to crowd his opponents and wrap them with bodylocks and ground them. However, Tavares is very slick on his back and is a threat to submit Gamburyan from the bottom. If Gamburyan is forced to stand, he could find himself in trouble because Tavares’ hands are good enough to exploit Gamburyan’s reach disadvantage. I am picking Tavares to get back on the winning track with a second round submission.

Michael Huckaby: Loss to Rob Emerson or not, Gamburyan always impresses with his tenacity.  Tavares has been nothing short of disappointing and while I considered picking him here I just picture Gamburyan being a pitbull and getting the best of it on the ground while avoiding subs.  Winner: Manny Gamburyan, decision.

Nick Travaglini – Talk about two pit bulls going at it. This will be a whirlwind fight. I think Tavares is the more well rounded than Gamburyan in every aspect of MMA. Tavares also has the length advantage in the stand up. I think Tavares rights the ship against Gamburyan and wins a third round TKO victory.

Cory Brady: Interesting fight. I just don’t feel that Gamburyan has what it takes on the feet to hang with a lot of the top guys in the UFC’s lightweight division. Tavares is not a top guy at 155 but he is more well rounded than Gamburyan and the stand up will be the difference. Tavares by knockout

Lee Gerowitz: Gamburyan was knocked out in 12 seconds by Rob Emerson at UFC 87. I don’t care how many times he says he’s gotten over that devastating loss; it has to be on his mind still. On the other hand, Tavares also has a lot to prove since he is coming off of two consecutive losses. Tavares should have an advantage in the stand up department, which is the reason why I believe that Manny comes up a bit short…as usual. Pun completely intended. Tavares by KO, round two

Jonathan Snowden: Manny is a better fighter than he showed the world in his first round knockout loss to the average Robert Emerson. He’ll show it here. Gamburyan, Decision.

Christopher Dolan: Tavares needs to win this fight to avoid his third straight loss and I think he will.  Gamburyan has a history of short fights no matter if he wins or losses and I think this fight will be quick.  I like Tavares via first round submission.

Caleb Newby: Manny Gamburyan – Decision

David Andrest: It’ll be interesting to see a touch of gloves here.  I like both guys in the cage, but Tavares is too well rounded. Tavares via Sub

Welterweight (170 lbs.): Chris Wilson (14-4) vs. John Howard (10-4):

Sam Caplan: Howard is a strong prospect from the East Coast but I am not sure if he’s ready just yet for the upper-echelon of the UFC’s welterweight division. Wilson might not be a household name in the UFC, but he’s already one of the promotion’s best strikers at 170. I see Howard coming into this fight a little overmatched and losing the fight via second round TKO.

Michael Huckaby: So Wilson gets this guy after Steve Bruno while poor Kim has to fight Parisyan?  Mean.  As far as I know, Wilson is better at every aspect and if I have to pick I say he dominates Howard early until the ref pulls him off.  Winner: Chris Wilson, TKO, Rd2.

Nick Travaglini – Chris Wilson is a hugely underrated fighter at 170lbs. I think Wilson is good enough to hang in with the best in the division. Short of Wilson looking past Howard, I think he tattoos Howard with a TKO win in the first round.

Cory Brady: Another fairly easy fight to pick. Howard is solid but Wilson is on another level. I want to say that Wilson is going to win a decisive decision but I’d love to see him finish it. He just may. Wilson by submission

Lee Gerowitz: From a physical perspective, this is an incredibly intriguing fight. Wilson is 6-foot-1, while Howard, making his UFC debut, stands at just 5-7. Despite the height (and reach) disadvantage, Howard can throw bombs, which means he has a puncher’s chance. The question is, can his maneuver his way inside and land on Wilson? I’m going with the upset here and also predicting Howard to win KO of the Night honors. Howard by KO, round one

Jonathan Snowden: The similar records are deceiving. Wilson is Team Quest’s top young fighter, with wins over top guys like Jay Hieron. Howard is also a young fighter, but one taking a huge step forward with this fight. Wilson, Submission, Round 2.

Christopher Dolan: In what should be a good fight I like Wilson to defeat Howard via a second round TKO.

Caleb Newby: Chris Wilson – TKO, Rd1

David Andrest: Chris Wilson is the best 170 that many have never heard of or seen.  He will dispose of Howard with relative ease.   Wilson TKO Round 1

Light Heavyweight (205 lbs.): Jake O’Brien (10-2) vs. Christian Wellisch (8-4):

Sam Caplan: O’Brien is coming off back-to-back losses and desperately needs a win here. Wellisch is the better striker of the two but O’Brien’s hands have improved a little in the last year. I see O’Brien using his boxing to set up the takedown and en route to grinding out a unanimous decision victory.

Michael Huckaby: This is one of those fights on WMMA or when making your own cards that you throw on there at the end because both need a fight and you might as well get them both out of the way at the same time.  This will be in no way pretty or entertaining and I’ll pick O’Brien by grounding and napping for longer than Wellisch can.  Winner: Jake O’Brien, decision.

Nick Travaglini – This is the only poor fight on the card in my opinion. Both men are fighting for a roster spot while the loser will most likely be shown the door. I think O’Brien has more upside so I am rooting for him to take this fight. I think his superior wrestling will enable him to win a controlling and boring decision.

Cory Brady: This is a gimme fight for O’Brien. Not that Wellisch is a push over but O’Brien’s wrestling ability should be enough to take Wellisch to the mat quckly on his way to a easy ground and pound victory. O’Brien by TKO

Lee Gerowitz: If O’Brien is smart, he’ll keep this fight standing in order to avoid any sort of submission attempts from Wellisch. O’Brien is also coming off of two straight TKO losses, while Wellisch is coming off of a first-round KO loss. Both fighters are also cutting down to 205 pounds for the first time in their careers. Something tells me O’Brien will let this fight go to the ground and Wellisch will take advantage of that. Wellisch by submission, round three

Jonathan Snowden: O’Brien was considered a top UFC prospect a few years ago, before a serious neck injury threatened to end his UFC career. Like Darth Vader, he’s more machine than man, complete with a titanium rod in his neck. How can Christian Wellisch compete with that? O’Brien, TKO, Round 2.

Christopher Dolan: Despite coming off back to back losses I think O’Brien should be able to bounce back in this fight.  I like for O’Brien to defeat Wellisch via a third round TKO.

Caleb Newby: Jake O’Brien – Decision

David Andrest: A classic loser leaves town fight.  O’Brien should have no trouble taking Wellish to the floor and laying on him for 15 minutes, giving  Caplan and Newby  time to find the hot dog stand.  O’Brien via Decision

Welterweight (170 lbs.): Matt Arroyo (3-2) vs. Daniel Cramer (0-0):

Sam Caplan: Arroyo was beating Matt Brown this past June during the TUF 7 finale until he was injured. A tremendous grappler, Arroyo’s Muay Thai has made major strides. He’s clearly the better fighter than Cramer but I am curious to know just how bad does he want this win? How important is being a pro fighter to Matt Arroyo? If Arroyo doesn’t bring his A-game, he will lose this fight. However, I expect him to step up and submit Cramer in the second round.

Michael Huckaby: Really, a PPV card?  You can certainly see why the UFC lets go of disappointing top 20 fighters that make mediocre money when they can throw guys like this on a PPV with a straight face.  I wonder if they can sign me and Caleb Newby and let us go on a PPV for cheap.  I’ll just pick Arroyo until I can really see Cramer.  Winner: Matt Arroyo, submission, Rd2.

Nick Travaglini – This will be a fun fight, both of the guys have a motor. Arroyo is a pretty accomplished BJJ grappler while Cramer basically showed a sprawl and brawl style on the show. I will take Arroyo to bounce back from a disappointing loss to Matt Brown and submit Cramer in round two.

Cory Brady: Is this fight seriously happening in the UFC? Do I really have to pick a winner in this fight? Matt Arroyo wins by something

Lee Gerowitz: Daniel Cramer is one of the prettiest men to ever enter the octagon. I would love for him to be my wing man every Friday and Saturday night here in New York City. There’s no doubt in my mind that he could pull in significant “talent” wherever we go. He’d even be a good choice to back to me up in a bar fight. The bottom line is, I’m jealous of Daniel Cramer’s Abercrombie and Fitch-like looks. But this isn’t about me. This is about a guy who will enter the octagon making his first and final appearance in the UFC. The bottom line is, had Cramer not been on The Ultimate Fighter 7, he’d never see the light of day in the UFC at this point in his career. Daniel Cramer…enjoy it while it lasts…at least you’ll look gorgeous losing.Arroyo by submission, round two.

Jonathan Snowden: TUF veteran Cramer makes his UFC debut. A fighter with no professional record doesn’t belong in the “Super Bowl of MMA.” This is unacceptable. I hope Arroyo makes him pay. Arroyo, Submission, Round 1.

Christopher Dolan: I think Arroyo will keep his career trend going winning a quick fight.  Look for a first round submission victory over Cramer.

Caleb Newby: Matt Arroyo – Sub, Rd2

David Andrest: Barring any freak injuries, Arroyo will dominate this fight from the bell until he decides what submission he choses to use to pick up his submission of the night bonus.  Arroyo  via Sub

—————–YTD PAIN POLL TOTALS———————–

David Andrest- 17/20 (.850)

Caleb Newby- 17/20 (.850)

Cory Brady- 16/20 (.800)

Lee Gerowitz- 16/20 (.800)

Chris Dolan- 15/20 (.750)

Jonathan Snowden- 15/20 (.750)

Brendhan Conlan- 14/20 (.700)

Huckaby- 13/20 (.650)

Nick Travalini- 13/20 (.650)

With Hermes Franca out due to a torn ACL, the UFC has turned to lightweight Jeremy Stephens to step in and face Joe Lauzon during its UFC Fight Night 17 telecast on Spike TV that is scheduled for Saturday, Feb. 7.

MMAjunkie.com was the first to break the news with the story since having been confirmed by the UFC’s official website.

Stephens is also slated to fight season eight lightweight winner of The Ultimate Fighter Efrain Escudero on April 1 during UFC Fight Night 18. FiveOuncesOfPain.com has learned that if Stephens makes it out of UFN 17 in relative good health, he will fight as scheduled at UFN 18 against Escudero.

The 22-year old Stephens is 14-3 overall and holds a lifetime record of 3-2 in the UFC. Stephens’ most recent bout was a victory over Rafael dos Anjos at UFC 91 this past November. The Des Moines, Iowa native registered one of the most impressive knockouts of the year when he finished dos Anjos at 0:39 of round 3 when he landed a massive uppercut from an extended distance.

Lauzon is veteran from the fifth season of The Ultimate Fighter and holds a career record of 17-3. Inside of the Octagon, he is 4-1 with notable wins over Jens Pulver, Jason Reinhardt, and Brandon Melendez. His most recent victory occurred at UFC Fight Night 15 in September, where he TKO’d Kyle Bradley at 1:34 of round 2.

UFN 17 will emanate from USF Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida. As of now, the complete lineup is as follows:

Televised Main Card -

• Joe Lauzon vs. Jeremy Stephens
• Cain Velasquez vs. Denis Stojnic
• Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer
• Nick Catone vs. TBA

Preliminary Bouts -

• Kurt Pellegrino vs. Rob Emerson
• Jake Rosholt vs. Dan Miller
• Matt Grice vs. George Sotiropoulos
• Rich Clementi vs. Gleison Tibau
• Anthony Johnson vs. Luigi Fioravanti
• Steve Bruno vs. Matt Riddle

Talented Brazilian lightweight competitor Ronys Torres is scheduled to make his UFC debut against Melvin Guillard during the undercard of UFC Fight Night 18 on April 1.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com confirmed the news with sources close to the fight on Wednesday afternoon.

Torres trains with Nova Uniao and is 14-1 during his three year MMA career. A standout submission specialist, Torres has recorded notable wins against fighters such as Adriano Martins and Luiz Azeredo.

Guillard, a veteran of the second season of The Ultimate Fighter, is 21-7-2 during a pro MMA career that began in 2002. A gifted athlete, Guillard is undefeated in his last two fights with his last win taking place inside of the Octagon. Matched up against German fighter Dennis Siver at UFC 86, Guillard improve his lifetime UFC record to 4-3 following a TKO just 36 seconds into the fight.

In addition to Guillard vs. Torres, UFN 18 will also reportedly feature bouts involving TUF 8 light heavyweight winner Ryan Bader vs. Marrero, TUF 8 lightweight winner Efrain Escudero vs. Jeremy Stephens, Aaron Simpson vs. Tim McKenzie, Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller, and Steve Steinbeiss vs. Ryan Jensen. The show will emanate from Nashville, Tenn. and will precede the season premiere of the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Middleweights Ryan Jensen and Steve Steinbeiss are now scheduled to square off during the eighteenth installment of UFC Fight Night 18 on April 1.

MMAjunkie.com first reported that the matchup was possible for UFC 96 but FiveOuncesOfPain.com has since confirmed that verbal agreements between both fighters have been secured for UFN 18.

Jensen, 13-5, is currently on his second tour of duty with the UFC and is winless in three Octagon bouts. He made his UFC debut at UFC 74 in May of 2007, losing to Thales Leites in the first round via armbar submission.

After going 2-1 outside of the UFC, Jensen returned at UFC Fight Night 15 in September. Facing Wilson Gouveia, Jensen tapped at 2:04 of round 2.

Steinbeiss trains out of Arizona Combat Sports and has a lifetime MMA record of 4-2. While UFN 18 will be his UFC debut, he has competed for other national promotions such as BodogFIGHT and the WEC. Steinbeiss’ most recent bout was a split decision loss to Carmelo Marrero at WEC 36 this past November. He was transferred over to the UFC after the WEC closed its middleweight and light heavyweight divisions in December.

In addition to Jensen vs. Steinbeiss, UFN 18 will also reportedly feature bouts involving TUF 8 light heavyweight winner Ryan Bader vs. Marrero, TUF 8 lightweight winner Efrain Escudero vs. Jeremy Stephens, Aaron Simpson vs. Tim McKenzie, and Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller. The show will emanate from Nashville, Tenn. and will precede the season premiere of the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter.

A lightweight battle between Junie Browning and Cole Miller is set for UFC Fight Night 18 on April 1. The battle of former cast members of The Ultimate Fighter was first reported by MMAjunkie.com and FiveOuncesOfPain.com has since confirmed the bout with a source close to the fight.

Browning, 3-0, last competed in December during the live finale for the eighth season of TUF where he submitted fellow cast member Dave Kaplan at 1:32 of round 2 courtesy of an armbar.

The highly controversial Browning fought three times on TUF 8, defeating Jose Aguilar during the show’s qualifying round following by a victory in the tournament’s first round against Rolando Delgado. He was eliminated from the show during the semifinals against eventual lightweight winner Efrain Escudero.

The fight vs. Browning will mark the first time Miller has competed since a submission victory in July over Jorge Gurgel at UFC 86. A member of the TUF 5 cast, Miller is 3-1 lifetime in the UFC.

Miller’s overall record is 14-3 with notable victories during his three-year career against Dwayne Shelton, Leonard Garcia, and Andy Wang.

In addition to Browning vs. Miller, UFN 18 will also reportedly feature bouts involving TUF 8 light heavyweight winner Ryan Bader vs. Carmelo Marrero, TUF 8 lightweight winner Efrain Escudero vs. Jeremy Stephens, Aaron Simpson vs. Tim McKenzie, and Steve Steinbeiss vs. Ryan Jensen. The show will emanate from Nashville, Tenn. and will precede the season premiere of the ninth season of The Ultimate Fighter.

Fresh off his stunning high kick knockout victory over Kevin Burns during the live finale for the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter, Anthony Johnson is set to return to the Octagon on February 7 during UFC Fight Night 17 against Luigi Fioravanti.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com learned of the news from Johnson’s agent, Ken Pavia, early Saturday afternoon with the story first being reported by MMAjunkie.com. Five Ounces of Pain has since confirmed with Fioravanti that he has in fact agreed to the bout as well.

Johnson’s win over Burns last month not only improved his record to 6-2, but it avenged a controversial defeat to Burns last July in which Johnson was declared the loser via TKO in spite of an illegal eye poke.

Fioravanti, a former Marine, also fought in December, defeating Brodie Farber via unanimous decision during “UFC Fight Night 16: UFC Fight for the Troops” in Fayetteville, North Carolina. The win improved Fioravanti’s overall record to 14-4 and his lifetime UFC record to 4-4.

UFN 17 will emanate from the University of South Florida’s Sun Dome in Tampa, Florida with the current card reported to be the following:

• Joe Lauzon vs. Hermes Franca
• Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer
• Amir Sadollah vs. Nick Catone
• Cain Velasquez vs. Denis Stojnic
• Anthony Johnson vs. Luigi Fioravanti
• Jake Rosholt vs. Alessio Sakara
• Rich Clementi vs. Gleison Tibau
• Kurt Pellegrino vs. Rob Emerson
• Matt Grice vs. George Sotiropoulos

Former two-time NCAA All-American wrestler and undefeated heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez is set to make his UFC return at UFC Fight Night 17 on Saturday, February 17.

Velasquez, 4-0, is set to face UFC newcomer Denis “The Menace” Stojnic in a bout expected to air during Spike TV’s two-hour telecast of the event.

Velasquez made his Octagon debt at UFC 83 this past April, where he recorded a first round TKO victory over Brad Morris. Then, in his second and most recent UFC bout, Velasquez recorded another first round TKO at UFC Fight Night 14 in July, this time over fellow wrestling standout Jake O’Brien.

A member of the American Kickboxing Academy, Velasquez has also competed for the Strikeforce and BodogFIGHT promotions. All of his four victories have come via first round TKO.

His opponent, Stojnic, hails from Bosnia and Herzegovina and the kickboxing standout has accumulated a 5-1 professional MMA record while competing on the European circuit.

The 28-year old is currently on a two-fight win streak following a unanimous decision loss to standout M-1 Challenge heavyweight Jessie Gibson in November of 2007.

Former two-time NCAA All-American and current UFC heavyweight prospect Cain Velasquez appears set to return to action inside the Octagon on February 7 at UFC Fight Night 17.

Velasquez made the revelation during a recent video interview with Steve Cofield of ESPN Radio and Yahoo! Sports.

The former Arizona State University wrestler ackowledged that he is aware of the identity of his opponent for the show but that he would rather keep it a secret.

UFN 17 had originally been expected to take place at the Pearl at the Palms in Las Vegas but MMAjunkie.com was the first to report that Tampa is now the most likely destination for the event. Thus far, reported matchups for the event include Mac Danzig vs. Josh Neer, Amir Sadollah vs. Nick Catone, and Hermes Franca vs. Joe Lauzon.

Cofield also asked Velasquez to address last month’s controversy in which the UFC decided to momentarily release Jon Fitch from his contract after the promotion became involved in a dispute with Fitch’s trainers at the American Kickboxing Academy and management at Zinkin Entertainment.

Like Fitch, Velasquez is also represented by Zinkin and trains out of AKA. Despite reports that he could be a victim of the dispute, Velasquez referred the matter to his management.

“I just had my management take care of it,” Velasquez began to tell Cofield. “I’m here to fight. With stuff like that, managers take care of that. I just want to fight and train… I’m here to fight for the UFC.”

Velasquez made his debut for the promotion at UFC 83 this past April, where he recorded a first round TKO victory over Brad Morris. Then, in his second and most recent UFC bout, Velasquez recorded another first round TKO at UFC Fight Night 14 in July. Following the win over opponent Jake O’Brien, Velasquez’s UFC record improved to 2-0 with his overall MMA record improving to 4-0.

Welterweight competitor Johnny Rees’ stay with the UFC has ended after just two fights. After entering the promotion with a 10-0 record, the Indianapolis native has seen his record fall to 10-2 with consecutive losses at UFC Fight Night 14 in July and last night’s UFC Fight Night 16 event, subtitled “UFC Fight for the Troops.”

FiveOuncesOfPain.com learned of the news early Thursday morning from a source speaking on the condition of anonymity, who expressed that other releases could be made stemming from losses sustained during Wednesday’s show.

Rees was signed by the UFC early this summer to be a part of the UFN 14 card that was headlined by Anderson Silva vs. James Irvin and was held opposite of Affliction’s first pay-per-view show. Facing fellow newcomer Nate Loughran, Rees submitted to a triangle choke at 4:21 of round 1.

At UFN 16, Rees was matched up with former Navy veteran Steve Bruno, who submitted Rees with a rear naked choke at 3:44 of round 2 in a match that aired on Spike TV on a tape-delay basis following Josh Koscheck’s stunning first round knockout of Yoshiyuki Yoshida in the night’s main event.

With three events planned for the month of December, the UFC finds itself in a position where it is testing the limits of the depth of its talent roster. The decision to promote three events this month also comes at a time when the promotion is trying to reduce its roster from 180-plus fighters to the neighborhood of 140.

But while Wednesday’s lineup for “UFC Fight Night 16: UFC Fight for the Troops” (Spike TV, 9 p.m. ET) might not be one of the strongest in recent memory, this is one of the few events you’ll ever see promoted by the UFC in which the primary focus of the show are not the fights.

Wednesday’s event was scheduled to help raise funds to to build a hospital for traumatic brain injuries for the brave men and women in the United States Armed Forces. The event will be held at the Crown Coliseum in Fayetteville, North Carolina with the crowd populated largely by soldiers from nearby Fort Bragg.

While many of us will be home for the holidays at the end of December, it is important to remember that the U.S. is still involved in two major military exercises in both Iraq and Afghanistan.

In Iraq, total casualties of members from the U.S. Armed Forces has reached 4,209 with the total in Afghanistan now at 1,022. Tens of thousands more have been injured while representing our country and the funds raised on Wednesday will help many of them recover from their injuries.

Economic times are tough in the U.S., but if you are in a position to donate and feel compelled to do so, you can contribute online at www.FallenHeroesFund.org or by calling 1-800-340-HERO.

Scheduled to compete at UFN 16 are five veterans of both the Marines and Navy, which includes Tim Credeur, Dale Hartt, Brandon Wolff, Steve Bruno, and Luigi Fioravanti. All but Fioravanti, a retired Marine, served in the Navy.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com has a preview of the five bouts scheduled to be televised during Spike TV’s special three-hour telecast.

– Josh Koscheck vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida: Yoshida destroyed Jon Koppenhaver during his Octago debut at UFC 84 in May when he submitted “War Machine” just 56 seconds into the fight. The impressive performance has prompted some pundits to predict an upset win for Yoshida, who has become a trendy fighter to support amongst hardcore fans.

And while Yoshida is a strong acquisition to the UFC’s welterweight division, I don’t see him having enough to defeat Koscheck. Yoshida’s Judo skills normally will be a huge factor in most fights, but Koscheck’s leg attacks will prove to be too strong and too fast.

Koscheck, 11-3 overall and 9-3 in the UFC, will look to rebound from a losing effort in his most recent fight at UFC 90 this past October. Alves’ superior athleticism neutralized Koscheck’s shot, forcing the fight to primarily be contest on the feet. While Koscheck’s standup has improved a great deal over the years, he was no match for Alves’ Muay Thai skills.

Against Yoshida (10-2/1-0), Koscheck should have the advantage when it comes to striking. And on the ground, the former NCAA wrestling standout should have an advantage as well.

Prediction: If Koscheck has the advantage standing and on the ground, where does Yoshida win this fight? Koscheck via unanimous decision.

– Mike Swick vs. Jonathan Goulet: Swick appeared to be on the fast track to success after beginning his UFC career 5-0 as a middleweight with notable wins over Joe Riggs and David Loiseau. However, a disappointing performance at UFC 69 against Yushin Okami prompted Swick to drop to welterweight.

While Swick is 2-0 while competing at 170, he’s yet to show the same dynamic finishing ability he displayed at the start of his UFC career. In victories over Josh Burkman and Marcus Davis, Swick fought tentative at times. The most likely reason could have to do with the fact that the American Kickboxing Academy-trained fighter has been dealing with an assortment of injuries over the course of the last year.

Swick most recently underwent elbow surgery and is claiming to be the healthiest he’s been in quite some time. Against Jonathan Goulet, he will have a chance to improve to 3-0 as a welterweight and regain some of the mometum he has lost over the course of the last year.

Goulet, 22-9 overal and 4-3 in the UFC, hasn’t exactly had the best luck when it comes to competing at UFC Fight Night events. Facing Duane Ludwig at UFN 3, Goulet was TKO’d just 11 seconds into their fight. Since that time, the 29-year old Canadian has won his fair share of fights against inferior competition. But when matched up against higher-caliber fighters such as Koscheck, Dustin Hazelett, and Jason Day, Goulet has been unable to step up.

Facing a healthy Swick, Goulet could find himself over-matched yet again.

Prediction: Goulet is rugged, tested, and experienced, but not skilled enough to pull off the upset. Swick via second round TKO.

– Jim Miller vs. Matt Wiman: Miller, 12-1, accepted this fight on literally a week’s notice. To top it off, learned of the potential fight almost as soon as he returned from his honeymoon. Based on the circumstances, many pundits are predicting Wiman to win. However, Miller should not be counted out.
One of the top lightweight prospects on the East Coast for several years, the only reason why it took this long for Miller to arrive in the UFC was because he wasn’t getting enough exposure. He’s actually been UFC-ready for at least a year now.

A good all-around fighter, Miller’s strength is on the ground. However, his standup is solid and Miller has enough potential that he could emerge as a top ten lightweight within the next 12-16 months. Yes, Miller is that good and he’s being understimated because he’s not just taking this fight on short notice, but a lot of people simply haven’t been exposed to him.

Miller made his UFC debut at UFC 89 in October, where he scored a third round submission of David Baron. Unfortunately, the impressive victory didn’t make the live broadcast. But even though he’s competing on short notice, I expect Miller to make an impression that puts him on the radar of both hardcore and casual fans alike.

Wiman has been on a roll as of late, going 4-0 in his last four UFC bouts. A veteran from the fifth season of “The Ultimate Fighter,” Wiman will have a significant reach advantage. If Wiman keeps the fight standing, he should be in good shape as his striking skills have improved greatly and the reach will be a factor.

This fight will contend for “Fight of the Night” with the winner moving on to bigger and better things.

Prediction: If this fight goes into the third round, Miller could start feeling it. But while cardio could be an issue, I still feel compelled to pick Miller via unanimous decision as he takes the first two rounds.

– Steve Cantwell vs. Razak Al-Hussan: Cantwell, 6-1, is the former WEC light heavyweight champion, a title that he won following a second round TKO victory over Brian Stann this past August at WEC 35.

The win not only earned Cantwell his first major singles title, but allowed him to avenge the only loss of his career. Cantwell vs. Stann III was supposed to happen on this show but an injury forced Stann off the card and opened up this slot for Al-Hussan.

Al-Hussan, a solid prospect who made a name for himself in the Midwest, had been slated to make his UFC debut during the summer but an injury prevented that from happening.

Hussan, 6-0, needs to get the figth to the floor as soon as possible. It’s unlikely he’ll be able to stand with Cantwell and if he gets to the fight to the mat, there’s a good chance that he’ll be able to use his solid submission skills to end the fight.

Prediction: Cantwell isn’t anything special on the ground, but he showed in his title win over Brian Stann that his Muay Thai has come a long way. I believe Cantwell uses his aforementioned Muay Thai skills en route to a second round TKO.

– Tim Credeur vs. Nate Loughran: Both Loughran and Credeur are 1-0 in the UFC and are strong submission-based fighters. Loughran is 9-0 but has yet to defeat a top-level fighter. At 10-2, Credeur’s record isn’t too shabby. Most of his wins have come against regional-level competitors, however, the Louisiana native has tested himself in the past against Joey Villasenor and Chael Sonnen. But Credeur lost both fights and like Loughran, he’s yet to defeat a major national-level competitor.

Since both fighters are so strong on the ground, look for them to try and engage in the standup in hopes of exposing a weakness. However, look for the fight to end up on the floor at some point, where we could see some very exciting exchanges between the two.

Prediction: The ground will be a stalemate and these two will look to slug it out with Loughran pulling off the upset unanimous decision victory.

The Ultimate Fighting Championship is back Saturday with UFC 89, returning after a month long break in action. In September the MMA world was stunned when Rashad Evans proved he was more than a “custom made opponent” for Chuck Liddell by knocking Liddell out with one of the fiercest KOs in UFC history. This time, the Octagon is set up in Birmingham, England and will be broadcast (via tape delay) free on Spike TV. Who could ask for a better deal than that? On the menu is Michael Bisping taking on Chris Leben in a bout that is sure to propel the winner into the mix for a shot at Anderson Silva and his middleweight title. Also on tap are two solid light-heavyweight bouts with “The African Assassin” Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou facing Luiz Cane and Keith Jardine versus Brandon Vera. And if there is any justice in this world, we’ll be treated to Akihiro Gono’s entrance from the undercard. Check it out below to see what the staff of 5 Oz. has to say about these and the rest of this weekend’s fights!

Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben

Caleb Newby: While this is not a slam bang main event for a traditional pay per view, I can’t deny my interest in this fight. While Bisping has been a good fighter, he looks to have found his sweet spot at middleweight. Leben had been written off as a gatekeeper of the division after back to back losses to Jason MacDonald and Kalib Starnes until we saw a new and improved Leben take on and defeat Terry Martin and Alessio Sakara. Leben seems to have evolved his game from a simple march forward and throw punches while relying on his cast iron chin to save the day. Here’s the real kicker in this match up though — neither Bisping or Leben has defeated anyone substantial at middleweight recently that makes you go “this guy is a contender!” That being said, you can bet whoever wins this one will by thrown into the fire at middleweight. You may be asking by now where is the analysis of who is going to win this fight and why. Good question. I’m stalling because I find this a tough one to pick. Backed into a corner I’ll go with Bisping’s fluid striking and timing to earn him the decision victory in a hard fought battle. Just don’t bet on it. Winner: Michael Bisping – Decision

Adam Morgan: For a card without a title fight on it on free television this is a pretty damn good main event. Bisping has looked very good in two outings at middleweight and a win over Leben could possibly catapult him into the title picture at 185 lbs. There aren’t too many contenders left for Silva’s belt and a Bisping vs. Silva main event could draw big PPV numbers. However, I think Leben is being overlooked here and is a highly dangerous opponent to derail Bisping’s fast track to the 185 lbs. title picture. Leben has an iron chin, very heavy hands and a very underrated ground game. I don’t see a way that Bisping will be able to finish the fight and the more you let Leben hang around the more dangerous he becomes. Not only that but he looks to be taking this fight very seriously and is in the best shape of his career. Chris Leben via unanimous decision.

David Andrest: As a main event on free television via tape delay I like this fight.  I’ll be honest with you. There has been a new curse placed on MMA, it’s no longer the huge upset.  Outcomes that are terrible for promoters have taken over.   Kimbo lost,  Chuck lost  and the list goes on.   Leben will eat a few shots on his way to knocking Bisping out in this fight.   Thus making Bisping a coach on TUF9  England vs. America  a more difficult decision.    Leben via KO  round 2

Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Luiz Cane

Caleb Newby: I know some people have hopped off the Sokoudjou bandwagon already after his loss to Machida. I am not one of those people. Everyone loses to Machida. I am hard pressed to take the unheralded Cane who is definitely facing his most dangerous opponent in his career in Sokoudjou. Both guys like to stand and trade so here’s hoping for an exciting fight. Unlike the main event though, I am anticipating a knock out here. Give me the man who wants to wrestle a tiger on a UFC event in Africa please. Oh yeah, he also knocked out Arona and Lil’ Nog. That too. As for my pick, GO BIG OR GO HOME! Winner: Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou – TKO, Rd1

Adam Morgan: Sokoudjou has looked less than impressive in his two Octagon appearances so far. He doesn’t seem to be the same animal that we saw at PRIDE 33 and 34, KOing two of the best light heavyweights in the world. That being said, he’s still a freakish athlete with heavy hands and great judo. However, I have been on the Luiz Cane bandwagon since his first appearance against James Irvin in which he got DQ’d and I don’t plan on getting off the wagon now. Cane will continue his rise in the UFC and this will be a marquee win for him. Luiz Cane via TKO, round two.

David Andrest: Sokoudjou is a beast! However I proudly sit beside my friend Adam Morgan on the Cane bandwagon.  Luiz Cane is one of the most overlooked fighters at 205, after Saturday night that will no longer be the case. Pure aggression will win this fight, Luiz Cane via TKO, round two

Keith Jardine vs. Brandon Vera

Caleb Newby: The man with the most memorable nickname and deepest blue eyes you’ll see in mixed martial arts versus the reluctant light-heavyweight. Vera seems like a smart guy and you’d think a smart guy would bum rush Jardine and work the Wanderlei Silva/Houston Alexander strategy. Unfortunately fighters rarely do what you’d think they should do in these situations. Not to mention that the last time was saw Vera in action he had one of his worst performances ever in his debut at 205 lbs. Jardine is up and down but still dangerous and has been navigating the waters at light-heavyweight for a long time against some of the best in the world. Winner: Keith Jardine – Decision

Adam Morgan: Keith Jardine is looking to rebound after his devastating and embarassing knockout loss to Wanderlei Silva but I don’t think that he will be able to do so in this fight. Jardine is good but his chin is suspect and so is his ground game. When it comes to striking, Vera is the real deal. When it comes to jiu jitsu he’s far superior than Jardine. Add that to the fact that 205 lbs. looks to be the best weight for him and you have a recipe for success. Vera will finally impress us again after being fairly unimpressive in his last three fights. Brandon Vera via submission, round two.

David Andrest: ” When it comes to striking, Vera is the real deal”  Are you kidding me?  Real deal based on what?  Seriously, who has Brandon Vera beat and what has he done to be held in such high regard? ( a win over a flabby out of shape broken Frank Mir doesn’t count )  I’m really getting tired of hype based on potential.  Brandon Vera has beaten no one of consequence, the two more important fights he has taken part in ( Sylvia, Werdum) were disasters.   Brandon Vera has proven nothing, he is an unproven fighter who has never shown up for the big fight.  Keith Jardine was just brutalized last time out by Wanderlei Silva in :39 seconds.  Is his chin suspect?   I don’t know. He once got cought with a savage uppercut in a scramble with Houston Alexander, and took a shot on the button from Wanderlei.  I’m not ready to nickname him “Ken Shamrock” just yet.  Jardine has been in the big fight,  he has won the big fight.  Victories over  the current lightweight champion and Chuck Liddell are proof positive that Jardine can compete on the big stage.  Jardine will either beat Vera so bad Brandon will be stuck on UFN cards for the rest of his contract, or he will chase Vera for 3 rounds in a boring decision    Jardine  KO round 1

Marcus Davis vs. Paul Kelly

Caleb Newby: Marcus Davis has a sweet thing going here with these overseas events. I like Davis to rebound strong here after a frustrating decision loss to Swick earlier this year. Paul Kelly has yet to face anyone of note beyond Paul Taylor, and you can make an argument about that. Davis is explosive and is in danger against guys that have the experience and skills of someone like Swick. I don’t see Kelly being that guy. Winner: Marcus Davis – TKO, Rd2

Adam Morgan: This one is going to be who can withstand the most punishment. With Davis it’s either knock someone out or get knocked out. He had a tough fight with Mike Swick and it appears that this fight with Kelly might be a rebound fight for him. It should be very exciting as the UK crowd will love both of these guys and they both love to stand and trade. In the end, though, I think Davis has too much firepower and just enough jiu jitsu to end Kelly’s night. Marcus Davis via TKO, round three.

David Andrest: Davis will show up in his kilt, knock out Paul Kelly and then suck up to his “Home away from Home”.   I’m starting to wonder if the UFC thinks the kilt won’t play well to the live crowd in Vegas. Davis via TKO round two.

Paul Taylor vs. Chris Lytle

Caleb Newby: Chris Lytle is tough as nails and nearly impossible to stop in a fight. As much as I like Paul Taylor this can’t be a good fight for him. Unless Taylor can cut Lytle and get the blood flowing this seems a ready made rebound fight and victory for Lytle. My only question is submission or decision. I’ll go wild and take the stoppage. Those fight bonuses are motivators I tell ya. Winner: Chris Lytle – Submission, Rd2

Adam Morgan: Lytle’s fights are never, ever boring and he is the definition of gatekeeper. He should be able to fend off Taylor in this fight and send him back to the bottom of the ladder at 170 lbs. After getting beat on by Josh Koscheck this is a good fight for Lytle to rebound, be exciting, and get a W under his belt. Chris Lytle via submission, round one.

David Andrest: Lytle is a very entertaining fighter. Taylor has one shot to win, and that would be to bait Lytle into a kickboxing match. This is not going to happen, Lytle is better on the ground and on the feet. Lytle via sub round two.

Akihiro Gono vs. Dan Hardy

Caleb Newby: I’m sorry, but there is no way I am picking against Gono here. He needs to win and make a main card so we can see his entrance in all of its glory. Some how, some way, Gono will win this. Hardy is a tough opponent that should prove to be a problem on the feet. Still, Gono’s takedowns and ground game can win him this battle against the experienced Hardy. But to be fair, I’d be picking Gono against about anyone just to get him on TV. Winner: Akihiro Gono – Submission, Rd2

Adam Morgan: Hardy’s introduction into the UFC will be a rough one as Gono is absolutely no pushover. Neither is Hardy and this fight has all the makings for Fight of the Night. Hardy is a hard nosed, tough kid from England with some very strong ground and pound. Gono, on the other hand, brings a ton of experience and an extremely well rounded game to the cage. Gono will have some ring rust to shake off, however, having not fought in just under a year. I still think he takes the fight due to his experience, well roundedness, and killer dancin’ skeelz. Akihiro Gono via unanimous decision.

David Baron vs. Jim Miller

Caleb Newby: Winner:Jim Miller – Decision

Adam Morgan: Baron shocked the world recently by beating Hayato Sakuria via guillotine choke in May. Baron is good, there’s no doubt about it but he’s not as good as Jim Miller, especially if the fight hits the ground. Baron will be brought back down to earth here and Miller will make a successful UFC debut. Jim Miller via submission, round one.

David Andrest:   I think I’ll use the same argument as Caleb on Baron’s behalf.  David Baron via KO round one.

Shane Carwin vs. Neil Wain

Caleb Newby: Both men are undefeated. Both have never been out of the first round, stopping all of their opponents. Both have powerful striking. But that’s where it ends. Carwin has the wrestling background and ground game to make this an easy pick’em. Winner: Shane Carwin – Sub, Rd1

Adam Morgan: Hmmm. I don’t have much to say here other than Neil Wain is being thrown to the wolves. Carwin is a manbeast and Wain doesn’t stand a chance. Carwin is being built up as one of the UFC’s next big things and deservedly so. Wain poses no threat to Carwin whatsoever. Shane Carwin via TKO, round one.

David Andrest: Shane Carwin is a fighter with a path headed straight to the belt.  Shane Carwin is not going to be truly tested until his first title fight.   Carwin TKO round one.

Jess Liaudin vs. David Bielkheden

Caleb Newby: I like Liaudin… but not here. Bielkheden’s ground game should be more than a match for Liaudin and I’d be surprised with anything other than a solid and decisive performance by the Swede. Winner: David Bielkheden – Submission, Rd2

Adam Morgan: Liaudin is the more experienced fighter here but his chin is suspect. If Bielkheden hits him with a solid punch it could be lights out for Liaudin but I think Liaudin gets back on track here. Jess Liaudin via TKO, round two.

David Andrest:  Liaudin is the better fighter in this match up.  Bielkheden could cause some problems should the fight go to the ground, however Liaudin is due for a win, and this is where he will get it.  Liaudin vid Decision.

Sammy Schiavo vs. Per Eklund

Caleb Newby: Adam Morgan to me via IM: “What do you even say about Per Eklund vs. Sammy Schiavo?” I echo his sentiments. You can’t buy this kind of insight, but here’s my angle. Shiavo has been more susceptible to being caught by subs in his career, and Eklund is a man who will throw attempts his way. That’s enough for me as I contemplate the lack of depth on overseas UFC PPVs versus Ultimate Fight Night undercards. Winner: Per Eklund – Submission, Rd2

Adam Morgan: Loser leaves town match? Perhaps. Schiavo and Eklund were add-ons to work themselves into the European crowd. Eklund put up the better fight in either of the men’s UFC debuts where as Schiavo just got manhandled. I’ll take Eklund here. Per Eklund via unanimous decision.

David Andrest: There are just countless inappropriate jokes that could have been made here. Eklund via Sub round 3

Sam Stout vs. Terry Etim

Caleb Newby: Whoever loses this fight will no doubt be shown the exit from the UFC while the winner earns a temporary reprieve. Stout desperately wants this to be a slugfest and Etim may give him that very thing. I’m taking Stout but if you see Etim taking this to the ground just think of me shaking my head at making the wrong pick.Winner: Sam Stout – TKO, Rd1

Adam Morgan: Stout has great striking but lacks any real jiu jitsu game. Etim is tall, lanky, and will be hard for Stout to get inside on and work his hands. Etim has a deadly guillotine choke standing or on the floor. Stout has all the experience and a very strong camp, however, which are the two big intangibles. Sam Stout via unanimous decision.

David Andrest: I agree with Caleb, loser leaves town.  If Stout can manage to stay out of a standing guillotine while pressing Etim into the cage he will be victorious.  Stout  via TKO round two.

Welterweight Luke Cummo has been forced to pull out of a planned Dec. 10 bout vs. Steve Bruno during UFC Fight Night 16: “UFC Fights for the Troops” in Fayetteville, North Carolina due to injury.

FiveOuncesOfPain.com learned of the development from a source close to one of the fighters last night. The source went on to add that Cummo’s spot on the show will be filled by Johnny Rees.

Rees, 10-1, made his UFC debut during UFC Fight Night 14 this past July, losing to fellow newcomer Nate Loughran due to a first round submission following a guillotine choke.

Bruno, 11-4, trains out of American Top Team in Florida and is coming off a loss in his UFC debut at UFC 87. Facing Chris Wilson, Bruno lost a unanimous decision.

In addition to fighting for the UFC, Bruno has also competed in the IFL and in South Korea’s SpiritMC, where he knocked out Jae Suk Lim at SpiritMC 11 in April of 2007.

UFN 16 will be a three-hour telecast on SpikeTV and is expected to be headlined by matches featuring Mike Swick vs. Jonathan Goulet, Brian Stann vs. Steve Cantwell, and Frankie Edgar vs. Matt Wiman.