Luis Cane is just as good as I thought he was. Cane walked through Sokoudjou’s kicks as if they were not there. While it it unfortunate for Sokoudjou to have taken such a beating, I would hope people give Luis Cane the credit he deserves rather than try to tear down a quality fighter such as Sokoudjou.

Marcus Davis is fun to watch. Even in his fight this evening, there was always a sense that something was going to happen and Davis did not disappoint. His guillotine victory over Paul Kelly was one of the better fights on tonights broadcast.

The UFC needs to spread out their Pauls and their Thiagos and not have multiples of either on the same card, It’s to confusing for Goldberg.

The UFC announce team of Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan really need to call the action they are watching , and stop trying to promote the company agenda. The very things Dana claims to hate about EliteXC are the same things we are forced to listen to from the UFC.

It’s time to face it. Brandon Vera is just not that good. To listen to Goldberg and Rogan tonight one would think Brandon Vera was the second coming of something great. This is a fighter that has never shown up for a top level fight. Tim Sylvia smashed him, Fabricio Werdum man handled him, and now Keith Jardine with a injured knee made him look ridiculous. I’ve heard all the excuses, and the reasons why he hasn’t shown his potential and I am not buying any of them.

If someone was stupid enough to take the commentary of the UFC to heart, you would have thought of Jardine as some type of underdog in this fight. A man who has defeated both Forrest Griffin and Chuck Liddell an underdog to a man who has never won a big fight. The way they talk about Vera you would think he might be the best hope to promote the UFC in a new market or something….

Speaking of best hopes to promote the UFC in a new market, Michael Bisping crossed over into very boring fighter territory tonight. Mark my words, Michael Bisping will never sell pay per views outside of the UK. Any fighter who says…………and I quote “That was my plan: stick and move and get the unanimous-decision victory.”

What we need next is for the UFC to award a “Stick and Move” of the night bonus. I was about to say, I got what I paid for, but after watching that fight I’d have to say Chris Leben is the only reason I’m not going to send in a bill for my time.

But again, I hear the praises being sung, Bisping looks great at 185……quick…….athletic…..ect… Um, No he doesn’t look great. He looks quick while moving backwards. Is there anyone in their right mind who thinks Bisping handles Franklin, Henderson, and god forbid Silva? I know we’re thirsty for new blood to face the champion but if things get any less realistic we might as well break down and hire Jim Ross to call the play by play.

I suppose it’s not exactly Bisping’s fault they are trying to force him on the masses as a star. We have all seen it before done by various promotions. They find the fighter they would like to be a headliner, the one that is easy to push to the desired audience, they build video packages to hype him up as a contender or unstoppable force. The announce team calls his fight as if they have lost all touch with reality.

Tonight I have learned Michael Bisping will not headline a show that people will pay for.

In the nights main event Michael Bisping counter punched and moved his way to a unanimous decision victory. Bisping used superior foot work through out the 15 minutes to land shots and move away from Leben. At times in the fight Leben was noticeably frustrated with what appeared to be Bisping’s unwillingness to stand and trade.

During his post fight interview Bisping said,”That was my plan: stick and move and get the unanimous-decision victory.”

With the victory Bisping improves his overall record to 17-1 and 6-1 in the UFC.

In the nights co-main event Keith Jardine scored a split decision victory over Brandon Vera. Jardine pressed the action throughout the fight, and appeared to be in control for the majority of the contest.

Full Results of UFC 89

• Michael Bisping def. Chris Leben via unanimous decision
• Keith Jardine def. Brandon Vera via split decision
• Luis Cane def. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou via TKO (strikes)– Round 2, 4:15
• Chris Lytle def. Paul Taylor via unanimous decision
• Marcus Davis def. Paul Kelly via submission ( guillotine choke) — Round 2, 2:16
• Dan Hardy def. Akihiro Gono via split decision
• Shane Carwin def. Neil Wain via TKO (strikes) — Round 1, 1:31
• David Bielkheden def. Jess Liaudin via unanimous decision
• Terry Etim def. Sam Stout via unanimous decision
• Jim Miller def. David Baron via submission (rear-naked choke) — Round 3, 3:19
• Per Eklund def. Sammy Schiavo via submission (rear naked choke) — Round 3, 1:47

It seems to be an easy task for the UFC to make a compelling and competitive fight at 205lbs anymore as the division gets more stacked by the day. The recent migration of Brandon Vera from the Heavyweight division adds another potential title contender to most talented division in all of MMA. Both fighters come into the match with high expectations and a lot to prove.

Keith Jardine is an alumni of season 2 of The Ultimate Fighter with a pretty impressive list of wins in the UFC so far. Jardine’s list of victims includes the likes of Wilson Gouveia, Forrest Griffin, and Chuck Liddell. An awkward striker with very good power and excellent leg kicks, Jardine wasn’t given much of a chance to make a name for himself early on in his career. But Jardine seemed to thrive off of the negative vibes and kept on impressing people with his wins. Jardine seems to have issues when has a big win, he then takes 2 or 3 steps back with an even bigger loss. Jardine comes out and TKO’s Forrest Griffin. He then loses to Houston Alexander. Jardine comes back from that loss and beats Chuck Liddell in a convincing unanimous decision. He then comes out and gets steamrolled by Wanderlei Silva in 36 seconds. Jardine’s career is in constant flux, and he needs a big win over Vera to get him back on the road to the elite of the division.

Jardine’s striking is unusual to say the least. He sort of throws side-arm punches, they have power but come at you from very unorthodox angles. Jardine’s head movement is also very abnormal, but it gets the job done. Vera says it best himself. Jardine’s opponents get caught up in trying to figure out his style, meanwhile he will knock them out. Jardine has developed excellent low kicks, and uses them as an efficient jab to keep opponents at bay. Jardine’s wrestling is decent and can keep himself from getting into troubles during the scrambles. His Brazilian Jiu Jitsu is mostly defensive but he can catch the occasional armbar if it presents itself. Overall Keith Jardine has a pretty well rounded game even though his style is not the prettiest to watch. He has done an excellent job of adapting what he does well to the MMA game.

Brandon Vera is a superstar in the making, just ask him if you don’t believe me. Brandon took the UFC by storm after entering it with an undefeated record. An impressive opening win against Brazilian Jiu Jitsu black belt Fabiano Scherner was just the beginning for Vera. His next three fights in the UFC were all first round TKO stoppages that was capped with a decisive stoppage of former heavyweight champion Frank Mir in under 2 minutes. Not only was the brash and well-spoken Vera winning, he was dominating and capturing a fanbase while he did it. Vera was embroiled in a long contract dispute between the UFC and his old management which kept him out of a projected title shot against then champion Tim Sylvia for over a year. When Brandon did come back, everything changed. Sylvia was no longer the champ, but more importantly Vera no longer fought with his normal care free attitude. When you fight not to lose instead of fight to win, bad things happen. A loss to Tim Sylvia and Fabricio Werdum opened the door for a move and a fresh start at 205lbs. Vera’s initial foray was a lackluster win over IFL reject Reese Andy. He left that fight with more doubters than supporters at his new weightclass.

Vera is a very talented and complete MMA fighter. Vera started as a wrestling standout in high school in Virginia and then in the Airforce. With such a ground fighting pedigree you would never think his striking would be adequate. The joke is on us, as he is an excellent Muay Thai practitioner with beautiful fluid movements and footwork. A pure athlete, Vera excelled at all aspects of the sport. He took up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu under Master Lloyd Irvin and rose to the level of Brown belt in record time. Vera is a threat to submit from any position on the floor and uses his wrestling to control the scrambles and the position battles. His Muay Thai has blazed a trail of unconscious bodies through the UFC. Vera can not only talk the talk, he can walk the walk.

This fight is a very compelling matchup to me. Even though both fighters are coming in from different situations, they both are fighting for respect and position in the most talented weight class in the world. Jardine needs to prove to UFC brass that he is worth an investment as he tries to renegotiate his TUF 2 contract. He needs to show consistency and an ability to handle pressure. Vera needs to show the UFC that he can be the fighter of old, the Muay Thai wrecking ball that was mowing down opponents and gathering fans. Vera also is approaching a contract renegotiation and will need to prove that the UFC didn’t make a mistake by investing so much money in such an inexperienced fighter. There are two certainties in Vera’s favor. He is the more talented fighter and has the clearer game plan for victory. If Vera forces the action and stays in Jardine’s face, along with his reach and muay thai striking he will knock Jardine out. Jardine does not like being pressured and has problems defending from a defensive stance. Jardine will need to get on his bicycle and keep this fight to the outside and hope to catch Vera making a mistake and getting frustrated. I think Vera will win this fight via TKO round 2 and send Jardine back to the drawing board.

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( Editor: for those feeling brave post your picks now.)

Per Eklund vs. Sammy Schiavo
Round 1
Sammy Schiavo starts off aggressive and the two clinch on the fence. Eklund is floored by an overhand right. Eklund recovers and the two fighters clinch. After some grappling the fight has hit the canvas with Eklund back. Eklund attempts a triangle, Schiavo stands out of Eklunds guard. After some failed upkicks Schiavo returns to guard. The two return to their feet, Schiavo continues to pressue Eklund as the round comes to a close.

Round 2

Schiavo starts off aggressive in the second. Schiavo is again controlling the pace of the fight. The two fighters briefly clinch and Schiavo connects with an over hand right. The fighters again clinch and the fight goes to the ground. Eklund has taken Schiavo’s back and is attempting the rear naked choke. Eklund can’t get his hooks in and Schiavo escapes danger. Schiavo is in top position throwing punches in Eklunds guard and the round comes to and end.

Round 3

Eklund shoots on Schiavo to open the third. Eklund has now worked into full mount on Schiavo, it appears he is going after his left arm. Eklund is doing damage from the mount with short punches on the now bleeding Schiavo. Eklund again tries for the Rear Naked Choke. Schiavo Taps!

Winner: Per Eklund via Rear Naked Choke @ 3:13 of Round 3

Jim Miller vs. David Baron
Round 1

The round begins and the two fighters exchange low kicks. Miller catches a Baron kick and takes the fight to the ground. Miller working from half guard working to gain mount. Baron tries to escape, and Miller gains full mount. Baron turns over and Miller takes his back. Miller slips and stands, Baron stands only to have Miller jump on his back as the fighters once again hit the floor. Miller is trying to get the arm across the neck to complete the RNC, and the round comes to and end.

Round 2

The fighters exchange punches to open the second frame. Baron has backed Miller into the fence as the two exchange. Miller used a single leg take down and ends up in Baron’s half guard. Miller stands out of guard long enough to rain down a solid shot on Baron. Baron is trying to control Millers arms and ends up rolling onto his stomach. Baron is cut and bleeding heavy, he attempts to roll out of this position. Baron works his way into top position and is now in Miller’s guard. Miller is working on a triangle agains the cage as the round comes to a close.

Round 3

Once again the fighters exchange low kicks to begin the round. Miller again catches a Baron kick and takes the fight to the ground. Miller working ground and pound from the top on his bleeding oponent. Baron rolls to his stomach once again. Miller is able to sink the rear naked choke and Baron taps.

Winner : Jim Miller via Rear Naked Choke 3:19 Round 3

Sam Stout vs. Terry Etim
Round 1

Both fighters trade punches as the round begins, both men scoring. Stout floors Etim with a strong left. Etim recovers and lands a superman punch of his own. Both fighter defend for the remainder of the round.

Round 2

The second frame begins and Etim is doing a nice job keeping his distance and staying out of trouble. Stout looks frustrated and attempts a double leg takedown without success. Etim continues to connect with well placed shots, and Stout is landing the occasional heavy punch. Etim shoots takes the match to the floor. Etim takes Stout’s back as the round comes to a close.

Round 3

Etim looks confident and well rested as the round begins. Stout catches an Etim front kick and throws a punch. Etim moves to the centre of the cage and the two continue to throw punches with Stout clearly being the more aggressive of the two. Both fighters go the distance as the round has come to an end.

Winner Terry Etim by Unanimous Decision

David Bielkheden vs. Jess Liaudin
Round 1

Liaudin starts off aggressive and Bielkheden clinches, and Liaudin drops him with a knee. Liaudin gives Bielkheden room to stand, Bielkheden attempts a takedown and pins Liaudins back to the cage. Liaudin works his way back to his feed. Bielkheden takes the fight back to the floor. After an unsuccessful omaplata attempt by Liaudin, the two continue to work on the ground as the round comes to an end.

Round 2

Bielkheden takes the fight to the ground to open the round. Liaudin opens his guard and once again attempts an omaplata. The two fighter stand and circle in the center of the cage, Bielkheden again shoots for the takedown and lands in Liaudin’s guard, Liaudin is working for a triangle choke. Liaudin is starting to look gassed. The ref stands the fighters. After another takedown attempt the fight goes back to the mat with Liaudin in top position landing shots into Bielkhen’s guard, the round ends.

Round 3

Bielkheden, takes Liaudin to the mat to open the third. Working from closed guard Bielkheden lands and elbow that opens up Liaudin. Bielkheden lands some big shots from guard and the action slows a bit. The ref stands the fight up. Beilkheden attempts a single leg , and as the fight moves to the floor Liaudin sets up a Kimura. The round ends……….

Winner David Bielkheden by Unanimous Decision

Neil Wain vs. Shane Carwin
Round 1

Both fighters come out swinging. A clinch in the fence leads to Carwin taking down Wain and landing in side mount. Carwin quickly takes full mount and begins to beat Wain into a bloody mess. The ref steps in to save Wain.

Winner Shane Carwin via TKO 1:31 round 1

Akihiro Gono vs. Dan Hardy

( for those scoring at home, Gono did enter the cage while dancing with his entourage all outfitted in curly wigs in classic Gono style)
Round 1

Hardy comes out very aggressive with a combination of low kicks and punches as the fight starts. Gono is fighting a very defensive fight againt the Brit. The two continue to trade kicks, Gono lands a front kick that puts Hardy on the ground. Hardy is allowed back up. The two continue with Gono fighting off his back foot and Hardy clearly controlling the pace. The two exchange spinning back kicks to close the round.

Round 2

The second round continues the same as the first with Hardy the clear aggressor. Gono’s face is beginning to show signs of wear, Gono clinches and the fight briefly goes to the mat. The two are back on their feet and Gono continues to try and work from a clinch. Gona appears to be tired, as Hardy looks fresh and confident. The two enchange blows as the round comes to and end with Gono avoiding a knee thrown by Hardy.

Round 3

Gono starts the third far more agressive and lands a left hook to the body of Hardy. Hardy fires back from a distance Gono is landing precision punches and Hardy is opened up over his eyes. Gono take a kick to the gonads and the fight is halted briefly. The two fighters exchange flurries and the fight briefly goes to the canvas. Gono lands an illegal knee and is warned by the ref. Hardy looks dazed and the fight starts again from the feet. Gono lands a right that appears to rock Hardy. Hardy recovers, the two fighters continue with Gono appearing to try to jump guard, jump into an armbar, but he fails and lands flat on his back to end the round.

Winner Dan Hardy via Split Decision

And the Televison portion of the fight card begins now…………..

Marcus Davis vs. Paul Kelly
Round 1

The fighters circle and feel each other out to start the first. Davis throws an inside leg kick that lands with a snap. Both fighters feel cautious, as the crowd chants for Paul Kelly. Davis throws some jabs to measure the distance. Kelly moves in and out as he throws some sloppy punches. The fighters continue to measure and Davis shoots taking Kelly to the ground. Kelly attempts a choke on the way down that isn’t successful Davis moves to sidemount and punishes Kelly. After a brief scramble both fighters return to their feet. Davis keeps Kelly at a distance with a series of leg kicks and the round ends.

Round 2

Davis measures with some jabs to open the frame, and the two fighters continue to circle. Davis is noticably faster, and crisper in this bout. Davis continues to throw jabs and low kicks. Kelly continues to throw combos that are not landing. Kelly shoots the double and takes Davis to the ground and exposes his neck in the process. Davis grabs the guillitine and chokes out Kelly. Kelly Taps.

Winner Marcus Davis Guillitine Choke at 2:16 of round 2.

Chris Lytle vs. Paul Taylor
Round 1

They both come out swinging wildly. Lytle is landing some solid shots, Taylor responds with a some quick kicks. Brutal start to an exciting fight, the fight moves to the cage with Lytle working over Taylor with knees. Back to the center and Lytle throws a looping right, Taylor closes the gap, and Lytle takes him to the mat with a hip toss. Taylor returns to his feets as the fighters trade positions against the cage in the clinch. The fighters exchange and both land some very strong shots. Lytle backs Taylor into the cage. Fighters dirty box and continue to punish one another. The fight briefly returns to the center of the cage, both men continue to throw kicks and punches. Taylor lands a big right hand with :15 seconds left in the most action packed round of the night.

Round 2

Kicks are exchanged and Lytle lands some heavy shots. Neither fighter is holding back as every punch has bad intentions. Lytle takes Taylor to the floor, Taylor reverses and takes top position briefly. Lytle reverse and puts Tylor into a guillitine. Both fighters back to their feet. The action continues without a moment of pause by either fighter. Taylor attempts a take down, Lytle stuffs it. The fighters clinch and move back to the cage. Both fighters exchange shots and Lytle may be showing signs of getting tired. Taylor throws a good leg kick, and follows is with a misplaced inside leg kick right to the nuts of Chris Lytle. After a brief pause we are back in action. Both guys are throwing bombs as the enter the clinch once again. Lytle backs Taylor into the cage. Lytles corner can see their fighter gas, and call for the takedown. Lytle attempts , Taylor stops it. We end the fight with both men punishing one another against the cage.

Round 3

The third round start like the previous two. Both fighters exchange blows. The fighters clinch, and move to the cage, each taking punishment as the reverse positions. The move to the center of the ring, Taylor looks fresh, but Lytle continues to throw HUGE shots. With under two minutes remaining this fight is too close to call. Both men continue to beat each other as Lytle completes a take down with about a minute and a half remaiming. Taylor works back to his feet and back to the center of the cage. Both fighters are throwing blows trying to end this fight with :20 seconds left. Lytle takes a huge uppercut and keeps moving forward. The horn sounds and this fight has come to an end.

Winner: Chris Lytle by Unanimous Decision

Luis Arthur Cane vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Round 1

Both fighters start out cautious. Sokoudjou thows and inside leg kick that lands.Cane throws a right and Sokoudjou with a body kick. Sokoudjou is pressing the action as Cane moves back. Cane with a body kick. Sokoudjou moves forward and throws some heavy shots. Cane defends himself nicely. The action slows a bit and Cane appears to be measuring the distance. Cane throws another strong body kick. With :10 seconds left both continue to circle.

Round 2

The round starts with Cane backing up Soko. Cane throws an inside kick and hits Soko below the belt. After a brief pause the fight restarts. Sokoudjou throws a Jumping front kick that looks impressive but does no damage. Cane is picking his shots and landing jabs with frequency. Sokoudjou throws another hard body kick that appears to have no impact on Cane. Cane throws some combos and Sokoudjou appears to be breathing heavy. After some measuring out, Cane lands a strong knee. Sokoudjou is down. Cane jumps on him and pounds him out.

Winner Luis Cane via TKO 4:15 round 2

Brandon Vera vs. Keith Jardine
Round 1

The round starts and Jardine immediatly takes Vera to the ground. Vera works for a Kimoura, and jardine is cut on top of his head. Jardine escapes the kimoura and starts dropping elbows on Vera. Jardine takes a elbow from Vera from the bottom but continues to drop damage. The ref decides to Stand the fight for some unknown reason. The fighters clinch and seperate. Both fighters continue to exchange blows and size eachother up on the feet. Jardine gets cought and is dropped, he bounces right back up and floors Vera. Vera is hurt and Jardine pours it on and the Horn saves Vera.

Round 2

The fighters start cautious and exchange a few kicks. Jardine continues to land leg kicks. Jardine shoots, Vera stops it. Jardine trys a high kick and gets cought by Vera and taken to the floor. Jardine works his way back to his feet and eats a knee in the process. The two men continue the chess match with jabs and kicks . Jardine continues to try and engage, Vera continues to evade. The two briefly clinch, and exchange punches. And the round comes to a close.

Round 3

The third round starts and we again start off by exchanging kicks. The two circle and both fighters throw combos. Jardine shuffles in and lands a looping right. Vera counters with an inside leg kick. the crowd begins to boo as they are thirsty for action. Jardine shoots Vera fights the take down. Jardine is throwing some nasty punches from the clinch. The crowd becomes restless as the two fighters continue to circle and throw the occasional leg kick. :10 seconds left and Jardine throws some bombs. It’s in the hands of the judges. This fight sould clearly be awarded to Jardine.

Winner Keith jardine via Spit Decision over Brandon Vera.

Chris Leben vs. Michael Bisping
Round 1

The fight starts with a leben inside leg kick. A missed superman punch by Bisping leads to another Leben Kick. Leben continues to throw kick after kick to the retreating Bisping. The two exhange puches and clinch for a moment. The fight then moves to the center of the ring. Bisping nails Leben with a right hand, Leben walks right through it. Leben continues to attack Bisping. Leg kick after leg kick, Bisping lands another good punch that doesn’t affect Leben. Bisping is starting to land some shots, that are not hurting Leben. The crowd begins to become excited. Leben moves Bisping to the cage and lands some big shots of his own. Leben is bleeding from the nose. Bisping is looking sharp while countering. Leben throws a big shot, Bisping tries to shoot and the round ends.

Round 2

The second round begins with the two fighters exchanging blows. Leben is haviing a hard time breathing though his nose, and is now cut under his eye. Leben continues to move forward, Bisping continues to counter punch while he retreats. Leben throws an inside leg kick to Bispings groin. After a brief stoppage Leben is back on the prowl. Bisping continues to be effective while moving backwards. Leben continues to move forward with leg kicks. Leben now continues to chase Bisping who appears satisfied moving backwards for the remainder of the round. Bisping looks gassed, Leben moves forward and asks Bisping to punch him as the round comes to a close Leben throws a looping left.

Round 3

The round starts with Leben moving forward and he lands a big left. The ref stops the fight to remove something from Bispings eye. The fight is then restarted. The two exhange kicks. Leben moving forward, Bisping remains on his bicycle countering. Leben lands a looping Left as bisping continues to move backwards. Leben shoots the double leg and takes Bisping to the floor. A scramble to the feet and the two exhange punches. Bisping puts the car back into reverse and works his counter punches. Leben is not happy it’s clear he puts his hands to his side and asks Bisping to hit him. Bisping with a head kick and an punch that Leben walks through as the horn blows on what is sure to be a UD victory for the love child of Kalib Starnes and Machida. Horrible. Just horrible

Winner Michael Bisping via UD.

The event will be headlined by a middleweight bout between Chris Leben and Michael Bisping. Be sure to come back tomorrow when Fiveouncesofpain.com will present LIVE play by play coverage of UFC 89.

Undercard fights begin at 1p.m. ET in the U.S.A. and 8p.m. locally in England.

Please be advised, we will have the results of the fight card prior to the tape delay broadcast on Spike TV.

Chris Leben (186) vs. Michael Bisping (185)
Brandon Vera (203) vs. Keith Jardine (205)
Luis Arthur Cane (206) vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (205)
Chris Lytle (170) vs. Paul Taylor (170)
Marcus Davis (169) vs. Paul Kelly (169)
Akihiro Gono (171) vs. Dan Hardy (169)
Neil Wain (254) vs. Shane Carwin (264)
David Bielkheden (156) vs. Jess Liaudin (155)
Sam Stout (155) vs. Terry Etim (155)
Jim Miller (155) vs. David Baron (155)
Per Eklund (156) vs. Samy Schiavo (156)

If you are a fan of MMA, this is the fight for you. Imagine two Tasmanian devils locked in a cage together with one side of beef. These are two of the most exciting fighters in the division. These are two guys with incredible gas tanks, all testicles, and no need for a game plan. Guys who fight for the love of it and leave their hearts in the octagon are worth their weight in gold. Not sure how much 170lbs of gold is worth, but they are worth all of it and more.

What can you say about Chris Lytle that hasn’t been already said? A nine year veteran with almost 50 fights to his credit, Lytle has experienced all the sport has to offer. Coming into this fight riding a loss to top ranked Josh Koscheck, Lytle’s main job is to excite the fans and man the gate to the top tier of the welterweight division. We throw the term “well rounded” around pretty loosely in MMA (myself included) but Lytle is one of the best examples of this in our sport. Lytle has elite level skills in all areas of the sport but seems to never be able to put it all together on a consistent basis to win the big matches. Lytle is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, with 17 of his 25 career wins due to submission. In the All-American-wrestler heavy welterweight division, Lytle’s above average wrestling skills often get overlooked. Lytle possesses a dynamic striking game which is centered on his boxing skills. He is a professional boxer as well as a professional MMA fighter who sports a 13-1 record. He has excellent power, and while he does not possess one-punch knockout power, his boxing is good enough to easily overwhelm an unsuspecting opponent for a TKO win at any time. Even Lytle’s transition game is excellent as he often will win the scrambles for position.

Why hasn’t Lytle ever won or even fought for a championship belt in the UFC? It is a good question with no direct answer. In my opinion Lytle’s issues throughout his career are mental in origin. He seems to have issues putting a complete product in the octagon. Lytle has definite confidence issues that will cause flat performances in big fights. Lytle is guilty on more than a few occasions of fighting not to lose instead of fighting to win. It has also resulted in lackluster fights with fans booing. After his loss to Matt Hughes at UFC 68 he seems to have finally turned a corner and is throwing caution to the wind by letting his hands go. As a result he has won three of his last five in exciting fashion and earned himself a nice big UFC contract extension.

Paul Taylor is a talented striker with excellent precision and technique, who is coming off of a razor-thin split decision win over Jess Liaudin. In my opinion he is the most technical striker from the UK in the UFC today. Taylor’s kickboxing is crisp, powerful, and capable of throwing multiple punch and kick combinations with deadly accuracy. As with most converted kickboxers in MMA, his ground game is somewhat suspect to say the least. Taylor’s wrestling is subpar to the point it is a severe disadvantage, especially in the wrestler-heavy welterweight division. His takedown defense has improved slightly from his first appearance in the octagon, but he still gives up takedowns all too regularly. Taylor’s submission grappling is progressing, and he actually has a rather active guard. The flip side of that is his guard defense is atrocious. He was pummeled for 12 minutes of his fight with fellow Brit Paul Kelly. Kelly is a talented fighter, but Taylor made him look like Mark Coleman with his lack of defense. Taylor does an excellent impression of the Energizer Bunny, and his act has won him two fight of the night bonuses already.

This is the best MMA fight you will see with absolutely no meaning to it in the division. This is just two fighters out to see who is the better man on any given day. It will be fireworks from the get-go as both fighters are quick to get off. Lytle is just a little bit better in every single aspect of the sport. With his experience and full spectrum of talent, Lytle is just too tall of a task for an up and coming fighter like

Taylor. But if Paul Taylor has proven anything in his short stay in the UFC, it is that he may have the biggest heart in the division. Taylor’s excellent chin and never-quit attitude will keep him in the fight for the duration, but to no avail. Lytle will lay a beating on him for 15 minutes and take a rip-roaring unanimous decision, and maybe a third fight of the night bonus for Taylor. If you share my love for the sport and not a particular fighter, then this fight will deliver.

Luiz Arthur Cane (8-1 MMA 1-1 UFC) vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou (5-2 MMA 1-1 UFC)

The wizard that is Joe Silva has done it again. Silva will often make matchups that I will initially scratch my head and say “it makes no sense!” but it will somehow always end up being an excellent fight. Cane versus Soku will most likely outshine the two co-main events and could snatch the knockout of the night from the outstretched arms of Shane Carwin. When these two collide on Saturday night for the first time it may resemble a dump truck driving through a nitroglycerine plant.

Luiz Arthur Cane is the newest Brazilian import to the UFC light heavyweight division. Although unlike most Brazilian fighters, he is a hellacious striker who can absolutely devastate and demoralize an opponent. Cane is coming off of a impressive TKO victory over Jason Lambert at UFC85. Cane shows excellent Muay Thai and hand speed, with KO power in all of his strikes. There is a flip side to throwing strikes with all of your power. His conditioning may prove to be an issue if Soku is capable of weathering Cane’s storm and drag him into the later rounds. Cane’s only loss is a DQ loss for an illegal strike to James Irvin. The resulting confidence he exudes in his fights may be his biggest weapon. Cane is very calm and relaxed in his fights and has utter confidence that his strikes will find their mark and do the job. A fighter in that zone is extremely hard to beat. It takes patience and restraint in order to capitalize on a mistake and steal the fight.

Sokoudjou is the African phenom who burst on the scene as Dan Henderson’s Judo training partner early in 2007. Knocking out not one but two top ten light heavyweights in his first two Pride appearances has set the bar ridiculously high for this young fighter. Soku has handled the pressure well so far with his first acid test being a second round submission loss to Lyoto Machida at UFC 79. Looking very tense and tentative against Machida, the loss may have actually helped as he look revitalized and having fun in his first round TKO win over Kazuhiro Nakamura at UFC 84.

Sokoudjou is extremely powerful and uses it in his striking and judo throws. He tries to overpower an opponent by hip-tossing them to the ground and smashing through their guard, as well as look for that knockout blow on the feet. With impressive knockouts over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Ricardo Arona, it is a gameplan that is simple yet formidable. But in his loss to Machida, Sokoudjou was exposed in a few areas. Soku’s grappling game is somewhat suspect as he seems to rely on his Judo and overall strength when pressured on the ground. Soku’s defensive guard was far from water tight in that loss, and as a result his conditioning suffered under the constant pressure and punishment. Soku’s overwhelming physical abilities make him a substantial threat to all of the fighters in the 205lb division on any given night, but consistency and overall skill level will keep him from ascending the ranks anytime soon.

This matchup highlights two sluggers who like to bang on the feet and wade head-on into their opponent. These scenarios almost always lend themselves to a quick and decisive ending. This fight will not go further than the second round as one of these capable strikers will end the other’s night early. Cane seems to be too precise with his striking and packs serious power. I cannot see Sokoudjou withstanding a protracted standup battle with Cane, and from what we have seen of Soku’s grappling game he will not threaten him there either. I believe Luiz Cane will stop Sokoudjou via second round TKO.

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.

This fight is a very dangerous coming-out party for Shane Carwin. The UFC is attempting to restock their barren Heavyweight division with promising new talent and Carwin is the crown jewel of the collection. The undefeated fighter /engineer from Colorado looks the part and talks the talk for a rare combo in MMA. Ushered along carefully he can be a star in this sport, a fact that has not slipped by Dana White and Joe Silva. With so much invested in a fighter, the decision to pair him up with Wain must have been a tough one. Although Wain does not have anywhere near the overall skill set that Carwin has available to him, Wain possesses knockout power in both hands that can knock him out and halt the Carwin hype train dead in its tracks. Carwin is one mistake away from turning this fight into the Neil Wain coming-out party.

Shane Carwin comes from a very good collegiate wrestling background. He has shown an excellent aptitude for boxing and has been making huge leaps in his standup attack. Carwin’s best offensive weapon at this point is his ground and pound, as it is some of the most vicious that I have ever seen. Carwin’s overall striking is pretty good when you consider he is still a part-time fighter and has had limited training and fighting time. Carwin possesses knockout power in both hands and is not afraid to use it. He has not shown much in the way of kicks, but can you really blame him? Shane Carwin has never fought longer than 2 minutes 11 seconds and the combined fight time in all 9 of his wins is under 10 minutes. Carwin’s highlight reel is also his complete career.

Neil Wain is the definition of a British brawler. Short and stocky compared to other fighters in the weight class, he has decent hands with knockout power. Wain is a novice grappler, but seems to have a natural affinity for wrestling. Wain has shown favorable takedown ability and a respectable ground and pound offense. He also hands his opponent a definitive size advantage as Wain weighs in around 240lbs at fight time while Carwin has been known to push the 265lb limit. He is not bashful as his amateur boxing background gives Wain the confidence to stand and trade with any opponent. Unfortunately for Wain, he is still a very raw talent and may have pushed himself too far-to fast in his MMA career. Wain also has not fought longer than 2 minutes in any of his 4 wins at the professional level.

Both fighters are at an equal disadvantage as there is really no film on either of them to study. Both end fights devastatingly quick. Wain is giving up a definitive reach and size advantage and in only his fifth pro fight has not stepped up to this caliber of event yet. The first-time octagon jitters is a very real condition and will most likely overwhelm Wain. Barring a huge mistake on Carwin’s part, this is his fight to lose. I see Carwin dominating Wain on the feet and using his strikes to set up a first round submission win.

Marcus Davis (14-4 MMA 6-2 UFC) vs. Paul Kelly (7-0 MMA 1-0 UFC)

It is fights like these that make you appreciate the job that the UFC’s match- maker Joe Silva does on a daily basis. I don’t think there could have been a better matchup for Marcus Davis after his loss to Mike Swick at UFC 85. Paul Kelly is a very impressive fighter out of the Wolfslair academy. Kelly is a push-the-pace type of fighter, and will be in Marcus’ face the entire fight. This is the type of opponent that brings the best out of Davis and enables him to showcase the talents and aggression that makes him a unbelievable draw for the UFC in Europe.

Davis started boxing at the age of 14 and turned professional by the age of 19. He was a talented boxer and accrued an impressive record of 17-1-2. But Davis realized that there was no future or money in his boxing career and made the switch to mixed martial arts. After training for a few years in Maine and eventually opening up his own gym, a student of his named Tim Sylvia had found a new gym in Iowa and invited Davis to come along. It was that introduction to Pat Militech that changed his career path in MMA. Shortly after making the move to Militech fighting systems, he was selected to participate in the second season of The Ultimate Fighter. After losing in the finale of the show to Melvin Guillard, he rededicated himself to the sport and to improving his weak points. Davis traveled to Ohio to train with fellow season two cast member Jorge Gurgel to improve his lacking submission game, as well as to Massachusetts to train Muay Thai with renowned coach Mark Dellagrotte. His renewed work ethic showed as Davis proceeded to rattle off an eleven fight win streak, 6 of those in the UFC. An increased work load in training and a busy fight schedule led Davis to enter his last fight against top-tier opponent Mike Swick injured, and it showed in his performance. He dropped a lackluster unanimous decision to Swick but took the loss in stride.

Davis has incredible hand speed with excellent head movement and may be the most technical boxer in all of MMA. His knockout power is undeniable and Davis has the kicking game to match. Dellagrotte has helped Davis put all the pieces together to make a well-rounded striking attack. But Davis is not a one-trick pony. After TUF 2 he realized his submission game was sorely lacking, and dedicated himself to becoming a complete MMA fighter. He did nothing but grapple for a full year and forced himself to try and win by Submission. The results were an astounding 6 submission victories in a 9 fight stretch.

Davis still has some holes in his game. He has a proclivity to rely on his punching power and will let his over-aggressiveness get him into bad situations. Davis’ defensive guard is adequate but has a tendency to stall on his back and let his opponent dictate the pace from his guard. His sprawl and takedown defense is still a little sketchy, but his ability to stand back up has improved dramatically.

Paul Kelly is probably most famous for being a training partner of Michael Bisping’s at the Wolfslair academy in England. Kelly is coming off of his first win at UFC 80 over fellow Brit Paul Taylor in what would be mildly called an outright war. Kelly kept up a frentic pace that eventually overwhelmed his opponent. Kelly is a relative newcomer to the sport as this is only his third year of professional fighting.

Kelly is physically gifted with incredible strength for his size and knows how to use it combined with technique instead of just trying to overpower his opponents and exhausting himself in the process. As he demonstrated in his UFC debut, he is a conditioning machine and has gas for days on end. Kelly also proved he is strong of mind as well as he did not succumb to the first time octagon jitters that so many in his stead have done. He is an average striker at best but is fundamentally sound and can do damage over the course of the fight. Kelly’s strong suit is his grappling, his physical strength enables him over-power opponents with a dangerous ground and pound. Kelly’s strength also allows him to power out of most submission attempts.

Although his physical strength is an advantage, it can also cause issues for him. Kelly has a tendency to use his strength as a crutch in place of technique. As a result he found himself in several bad positions in the Paul Taylor fight that would have cost him the win if he was in the octagon with a more experienced grappler. The most dangerous flaws in his game is his over-aggressiveness coupled with his tendency to keep his hands to low. It is a deadly combination that if not rectified quickly will spell disaster for him.

Like I said in the opening, this is the perfect showcase opponent for Marcus Davis. An aggressive conditioning machine with a penchant for walking into fights with his head first and hands down. Kelly is an amazingly tough guy and is capable of absorbing an enormous amount of damage. As a result I do not know if Davis will be able to finish the Brit. But I suspect that Davis will wear down Kelly over the course of the fight and cruise to an easy unanimous decision win.

We are starting the pre-event hype train with a preview of the undercard for UFC 89. UFC 89 is the best overall card the UFC has put on in England so far, with many compelling matchups. Unfortunately a few of them are on the untelevised portion of the card. Many of you may not be familiar with some of the names on the undercard, but there is some serious talent there and although they lack the big names this card may surprise you.

Per Eklund (13-3-1 MMA 0-1 UFC) vs. Sammy Schiavo (10-5-0 MMA 0-1 UFC)

In this battle of international lightweights, I believe this is a loser go home situation for these two. Both are coming off losses and subpar performances. This is a traditional striker versus grappler matchup that could prove to surprise some people

Schiavo, coming off a first round TKO loss to Clay Guida in his UFC debut, is more of a striker. He is a well rounded kick boxer with excellent leg kicks and above average hands. Schiavo’s ground game is subpar and was taken down at will by Guida in their fight. Schiavo’s guard defense is mediocre at best and his submission acumen is questionable as four of his five losses are by submission.

Eklund, coming off a unanimous decision loss to Sam Stout, excels in grappling. Eklund picked up Brazilian Jiu Jitsu only a few years ago but has spent long time periods in brazil training and competing in grappling tournaments. Eklund is a purple belt but rolls at a high level and has submitted black belts in the past.

These are two fighters who not only need a win but need to make an impression with the fanbase if they are to have a future in the UFC. Eklund is just a bit more well-rounded in his MMA game, and in his decision loss to Stout showed his striking is enough to hang with most lightweights. I think he competes with Schiavo long enough to get the fight to the floor and submit him. Not the best fight on the card, but is definitely a candidate to surprise us with fight of the night. Never underestimate the lightweights.

David Baron (16-2 MMA 0-0 UFC) vs. Jim Miller (11-1 MMA 0-0 UFC)

This is one of the more exciting fights on the undercard as these two UFC rookies face off with high expectations. This has the makings of fireworks and I wouldn’t be surprised if it made the televised card. Both of these fighters are push-the-pace guys with well rounded skills.

Jim Miller is the brother of fellow UFC newcomer Dan Miller, as both migrated over following the termination of the IFL. Jim is riding a six fight win streak with his only loss coming at the hands of Frankie Edgar almost two years ago. Miller is beyond slick on the ground, as his grappling is top notch with 8 of his 11 wins by way of submission. His stand up is a constant work in progress, but should be more than enough to give Baron all he can handle on the feet.

Baron is primarily a grappler with average striking skills, as ten of his sixteen wins are via submission. Baron has been called the best MMA fighter to come out of France and has the gaudy record to back it up. Baron boasts MMA wins over the likes of Hayato Sakurai, Abdul Mohamed, and two wins over Dan Hardy. His only professional losses are to Takanori Gomi and UFC fighter Per Eklund.

Both fighters have very good motors and are excellent offensive grapplers. Neither fighter will be mistaken for Jerome LeBanner in the cage, so this fight should go to the ground quickly. As good as Baron looked in his win over Mach Sakurai recently, he is susceptible to fighters who are good aggressive wrestlers. I think Miller has the advantage in the wrestling and the transition game. Look for Jim Miller to post his first of many wins in the UFC.

Terry Etim (10-2 MMA 1-2 UFC) vs. Sam Stout (13-4-1 MMA 2-3 UFC)

Etim and Stout both have incredible talent but have been the definition of inconsistent. This is another matchup of two fighters coming off of losses in the octagon. Two losses in a row in the UFC is never a good thing and could be a ticket to tune up fights outside the organization.

Etim is extremely talented fighter from England with excellent Muay Thai. His long frame for the weight class makes him hard to deal with on the ground. His submission game consistently shows improvement as he is currently a blue belt under Pride veteran Chris Brennan. He has an excellent Guillotine choke and an active guard, but his bread and butter is his striking.

Stout is a frustrating fighter as he tends to show flashes of sheer brilliance followed by flashes of disinterest. Under the tutelage of brother-in-law and striking coach-extraordinaire Shawn Tomkins, Stout has improved by leaps and bounds since his first UFC appearance. His technical striking is some of the best in the division. Stout has also improved his wrestling at an incredible rate while training at the wrestler-heavy Xtreme Couture gym. Stout still has a tendancy to lose interest in fights and will flake out for long stretches.

This will be a dynamic striking match between two supremely talented youngsters. I don’t think either of these fighters has the power to stop each other via TKO or knockout, but Etim has a little more submission acumen than Stout and could catch him in a submission. Stout has improved his takedowns immensely but likes to shoot in with his head to the outside and could get himself caught by Etim’s wicked guillotine. I think this goes to Etim via guillotine choke late in the fight. It should be a doozy.

David Bielkheden (12-6 MMA 0-1 UFC) vs. Jess Liaudin (12-10 MMA 2-2 UFC)

Keeping with the apparent undercard theme for UFC 89, both European fighters are coming off of a loss in the UFC. As a result, both have decided to drop from welterweight to lightweight for this bout.

Bielkheden is the second Swedish fighter on this fight card (never thought I would type that sentence!) with a serious ground game. Not many people know David Bielkheden is a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu from Brazilian Top Team. Bielkheden is also an excellent kickboxer who started training at the age of 13. He is a truly well-rounded fighter as well as extremely experienced. He has fought all over the world including Pride and Shooto.

Liaudin is a French import to Britain, who has recently been training in the United States with Cobra Kai gym. He is a very well-rounded fighter and is dangerous all over, but his striking is where he excels. He has knockout power in his hands and has a very good defensive ground game. Most of his submissions are set up from his striking game, and he has been overpowered by better grapplers in the past. Liadin’s wrestling is the weakest part of his MMA game, and it shows in the transitions and scrambles during the fight.

Bielkheden has cut to this weight before but this is the first time at lightweight for Liaudin. The first time weight cut combined with Bielkheden’s superior ground game leads me to pick Bielkheden to win via ground and pound stoppage in round two. I think Bielkheden was overwhelmed in his first bout with Diego Sanchez and has a lot more MMA to show the American audience.

Akihiro Gono (28-12-7 MMA 1-0 UFC) vs. Dan Hardy (19-6 MMA 0-0 UFC)

Hardy is getting a rather rude welcome to the UFC by being paired up with one of the most experienced and respected fighters in the world at 170lbs in Akihiro Gono. This is not a good style matchup for Hardy.

Hardy is a above average striker with a Taekwondo background. He has knockout power in both his hands and feet, but his best attribute is his will to win. He is hard to finish and never quits. His ground game is a work in progress but has improved dramatically over the last year or so under Eddie Bravo’s tutelage. Hardy’s defensive guard and submission defense are excellent, and combined with his standup makes him a handful for anyone at welterweight. Hardy’s conditioning has been in question before and has gased in previous defeats.

Akihiro Gono is a legend in the Japanese MMA community. At 34 years of age he is possibly the most experienced fighter still active in the sport, having his first professional fight in 1994 at the age of 20. Coming off a submission victory over Tamden McCrory at UFC 78, Gono is best known for his fan-friendly attitude and flashy and entertaining ring entrances. Gono is mainly a submission fighter who can surprise opponents with a submission from virtually any position. Gono is an adequate striker but more often uses his strikes to set up submissions. He is extremely elusive on the feet and can frustrate opponents into making mistakes. Gono’s best attribute is his ability to dictate where the fight takes place.

As much as I respect Hardy as a fighter, if Gono comes in shape this should be his fight to lose. I don’t think he will catch Hardy in a submission as Bravo will have him well prepared for most of Gono’s tricks on the floor. I see Gono keeping this fight on the ground and outworking Hardy for a unanimous decision victory. Should be the best fight on the undercard.

On October 18th Chris Leben, one of the UFC’s most celebrated personalities, will travel to England to headline UFC 89 in a middleweight battle with up and coming star Michael Bisping. It has been a journey full of peaks and valleys for Leben, filled with growth, progress, and life changes that may have the “Crippler” poised to reclaim his spot among the top fighters at 185.

Chris Leben

Fiveouncesofpain.com had a chance to speak with Chris Leben ( 18-4) as he prepares for his upcoming fight with Michael Bisping ( 16-1). The fight will headline UFC 89: “Leben vs. Bisping” on October 18th from the National Indoor Arena, Birmingham, England. The card will be broadcast on Sentanta Sports in England at 8p.m. BST and on Spike TV at 9p.m. EST.

Leben discussed a number of topics including the pressure of fighting in the main event, his growth as a person as well as a fighter, and his opponent Michael Bisping to name a few.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: You are headed to England to headline UFC 89, do you feel any added pressure being in the main event?

Chris Leben: Added Hype, obviously. Pressure has never been a problem for me. When I enter the octagon what is happening on the outside doesn’t matter, they could surround the cage with a black curtain and it wouldn’t matter, I probably wouldn’t notice. When I am in the cage my opponent gets all of my undivided attention.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: Over the last few years, you have experienced a lot of personal and professional growth, is there one incident you can point to or reference as the turning point in your career?

Chris Leben: There are 3 actually.

First was of course the reality show. It was tough at times watching how other people were viewing me. You are young, in a house, drinking and don’t realize you look like a fool.

Coaching has made me approach things differently. I have a gym full of fighters, and I can say anything I’d like, but in the end you have to walk the walk. You find yourself in small part a role model .
Losing fights would be the third. Losing sucks! I watch a lot of tape, I study all of my fights looking for what worked and what I might have done different. I look back on some of my fights and know I could have been in better shape.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: Can you explain how training your fighters has helped your game?

Chris Leben: It has help tremendously, the major benefit is coaching makes me focus on details. I find myself looking closer to the little things and this makes me better as a fighter.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: There has been talk that if Michael Bisping defeats you at UFC 89, he will be one of the coaches on The Ultimate Fighter 9. If the UFC were to ask you, would you consider coaching on the show?

Chris Leben: I’d love to do it. I have plenty of experience as a coach, and experience on the show, it would be a dream come true.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: Bisping hasn’t fought against a striker with your type of power. You on the other hand haven’t showcased your ground game in a while. Are you going to look to keep the fight standing?

Chris Leben: I’ll be comfortable wherever this fight goes. Bisping is a very talented fighter, but I think he is breathing the hype. He is good but not great, who has he beat?

Fiveouncesofpain.com: How do you feel the two of you match up?

Chris Leben: I think it will be a good fight. He has good foot work and punches straighter, I hit harder. I don’t think he will want to stand in front of me. I’ll have to work hard in this fight, and try and make sure he doesn’t run for three rounds like he did against ( Matt) Hammil. I really need to make sure I win every round in a very decisive way if for some reason I don’t finish him.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: Do you think the winner of this fight is next in line to fight Anderson Silva for the title?

Chris Leben: It will put one of us up there. I don’t know if it would make the winner next, but it’ll put one of us right in line.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: I read a recent quote from you where you had explained, that you are a martial artist, you want to be a champion and not just remembered as a good fighter. What do you think it will take to elevate you to a championship level.

Chris Leben: A LOT! ( laughs) I need to continue to go the the gym everyday and improve, always looking to evolve my game. I need to keep watching tape and breakdown what I did well, and what I can do better. Some guys have physical gifts, I aim to be the fighter with the greatest drive and strongest work ethic.

Fiveouncesofpain.com: Thank you for the interview Chris, is there anyone you would like to thank?

Chris Leben: I’d like to thank the fans that allow us to do what we do. I have to thank ICON Fitness it’s a great gym, and I have to thank the guys at Denaro Sports Marketing for all that they do for me.

On Saturday, Oct. 4, UFC 86 will make its basic cable television premiere. The show, which originally aired on pay-per-view on July 5, was headlined by Forrest Griffin’s dramatic decision upset over Quinton “Rampage” Jackson for the UFC light heavyweight title.

The following week on Oct. 11, UFC 87 will also premiere on Spike. The show, which originally aired Aug. 9 on PPV, featured Georges St. Pierre successfully defending his UFC welterweight title in a five round unanimous decision against Jon Fitch. UFC 87 also saw heavyweight Brock Lesnar record a unanimous decision victory over Heath Herring.

Then, on Saturday, Oct. 18, UFC 89 will air on a same day tape-delay basis from the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England. The card will feature Michael Bisping taking on Chris Leben in the night’s main event and will also see light heavyweights Keith Jardine and Brandon Vera square off.

The airing of UFC 86 will go head-to-head with EliteXC and CBS’ third-ever telecast of “Saturday Night Fights.” This will be the second time in which the UFC and Spike have counter-programmed a live EliteXC event on CBS.

During “Saturday Night Fights II” on July 26, the UFC and Spike aired a replay May’s UFC 84 event that featured UFC lightweight champion B.J. Penn recording a third round TKO against Sean Sherk.

While EliteXC’s show on CBS attracted more total viewers, the UFC 84 replay still beat SNF II in the coveted male 18-34 demographic. According to a press release issued by Spike TV, UFC 84 outdrew SNF in the male 18-34 demo by 27% with Spike totaling 433,00 men compared to CBS’ 341,000.

The Oct. 4 telecast of “Saturday Night Fights” is considered to be a key show for the future of EliteXC on CBS after the July 26 show only drew a 1.7 rating. While EliteXC officials have attempted to downplay the disappointing ratings claiming that the show was affected by the summer airing and a shorter turnaround time to promote the event, the show still attracted fewer viewers than what CBS normally drew in the Saturday primetime slot.

One major benefit that EliteXC and CBS will have this time around when they go head-to-head with the UFC and Spike TV is that they will be featuring their two biggest attractions in Kevin “Kimbo Slice” Ferguson and Gina Carano on the show. The July 26 show had been headlined by a EliteXC middleweight title rematch between Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith.

However, while the returns of Slice and Carano will no doubt help, UFC 86 will not be the only programming competing with “Saturday Night Fights” for male viewers between the ages of 18 and 34. ABC will be televising a college football game between Ohio State and Wisconsin that same night with FOX also expected to air a Major League Baseball wildcard playoff game in the opposing timeslot.

It’s expected that a new opponent for Machida will be secured and that he’ll be scheduled to fight on a show in either November or December. He has been rumored as a possible opponent for when Mauricio “Shogun” Rua is ready to return from a knee injury,

Replacing Machida vs. Silva on the six-fight Spike TV tentative UFC 89 televised lineup is a heavyweight fight between Shane Carwin and Neil Wain.

UFC 89 will emanate from the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England and will be headlined by a middleweight matchup between Michael Bisping and Chris Leben. Other bouts slated for the card include Keith Jardine vs. Brandon Vera, Luiz Cane vs. Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, Paul Kelly vs. Marcus Davis, Paul Taylor vs. Chris Lytle, and Wain vs. Carwin.

Scheduled for the preliminary portion of the card is a welterweight bout between Akihiro Gono and UFC newcomer Dan Hardy, Jess Liaudin vs. David Bielkheden, Sam Stout vs. Terry Etim, Jim Miller vs. David Baron, and Per Eklund vs. Samy Schiavo.

The UFC has yet to confirm Silva’s departure from the card but an official announcement is believed to be forthcoming.

It is not known if the UFC was able to immediately secure a new opponent for Machida, as the promotion has had trouble in the past finding willing opponents.

The 25-year old Silva is a native of Sao Paulo, Brazil and is 13-0 in his professional mixed martial arts career, according to Sherdog’s fight finder. Since debuting in the UFC at UFC 71 in May of 2007, Silva is 4-0 in the Octagon with wins over James Irvin, Tomasz Drwal, Houston Alexander, and Antonio Mendes.

Machida is also undefeated with a record of 13-0 and is 5-0 in the UFC. His notable UFC wins have come against Kazuhiro Nakamura, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou, and Tito Ortiz, who served as his most recent opponent in May at UFC 84. Outside of the UFC he holds notables victories over Rich Franklin, B.J. Penn, and Stephan Bonnar.

UFC 89 will emanate from the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England and will be televised on Spike TV on a tape delay basis in the United States. The featured bout on the card will be a middleweight matchup between Michael Bisping and Chris Leben. A light heavyweight fight between Brandon Vera and Keith Jardine is scheduled as well.

(Pictured: Thiago Silva)

As a part of our new agreement, select content from 5 Oz. will be appearing on Planet Tatami translated into Portuguese. In return, some of Planet Tatami’s Portuguese content will be translated into English and will appear on 5 Oz. of Pain.

The first article to appear on 5 Oz. from Planet Tatami is a quick interview with UFC newcomer Dan Hardy. We’ll have more from Planet Tatami in the future, but this is just a start.

Hardy is a native of Britain and will be making his UFC debut at UFC 89 on Oct. 18 at the National Indoor Arena in Birmingham, England in a welterweight fight against Akihiro Gono.

Hardy is an unknown to casual fans, but hardcore fans know him well from his outstanding performances while competing for the Japan-based Cage Force promotion. He is without question one of the top fight prospects in the UK and could emerge as the UFC’s second biggest British star next to Michael Bisping.

In order to get to know Hardy a little better, we’re proud to present this interview conducted by Planet Tatami’s Gabriel Maurer de Barros.

Planet Tatami: Is your fight against Akihiro Gono confirmed?

Dan Hardy: Yes it is

Planet Tatami: What is your expectation for it?

Dan Hardy: I’m expecting a tricky stand up fight with an exciting knockout finish and my hand raised at the end.

Planet Tatami: What will be your strategy for this fight?

Dan Hardy: It’s too early to say at the moment. I need to sit down with my coaches and talk through a gameplan. We will watch some of his fights and see how my skills match up with his and put a strategy together.

Planet Tatami: How many fights do you have in the contract with the UFC?

Dan Hardy: My contract is a four fight deal.

Planet Tatami: Are you training at Xtreme Couture? How is your training there?

Dan Hardy: Yeah, training is going really well here. The training partners and coaches are world class and every session brings a new challenge. I’m getting my ass kicked every day and improving all the time. It’s the place to be if you are serious about being successful in the sport.

Planet Tatami: Talk about your beginning in the MMA.

Dan Hardy: I started martial arts when I was six years old but it wasn’t until I spent two months in China training with the Shaolin monks back in 2002 that i decided to pursue a career in MMA. I came back and started doing amateur MMA tournaments and then had my professional debut in 2004.

Planet Tatami: You have already lost to Yoshiyuki Yoshida by disqualification. Is there any chance you’ll face him again now that you’re also in the UFC?

Dan Hardy: That’s up to the UFC to decide but if it was offered to me I definitely wouldn’t turn it down. It’s a loss on my record that shouldn’t be there and a chance to get the win that should be there would be great.

MMAWeekly is also stating a rumored bout between Brandon Vera and Keith Jardine in the light-heavyweight division is now also confirmed for the event. The bout is much needed for both as Jardine wants to quickly rebound from his beating at the hands of Wanderlei Silva while Vera wants to look impressive coming off of a decision win over Reese Andy last month at Fight Night 14.

UFC 89 will take place on October 18th with a scheduled main event of Michael Bisping vs Chris Leben. In addition to Vera/Jardine, also scheduled are two more light-heavyweight duels between Lyoto Machida and Thiago Silva as well as Sokoudjou battling Luis Banha Cane.

When: Saturday Oct 18, 08
Where: Birmingham, UK @ National Indoor Arena
Watch: Spike TV (will be tape delayed)

Here’s the latest on UFC 89:
Main Card

• Michael Bisping vs. Chris Leben @ MW
• Brandon Vera vs. Keith Jardine @ LHW
• Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou vs. Luiz Cane @ LHW
• Chris Lytle vs. Paul Taylor @ WW
• Marcus Davis vs. Paul Kelly @ WW
• Shane Carwin vs. Neil Wain @ HW

Undercard

• Akihiro Gono vs. Dan Hardy @ WW
• David Baron vs. Jim Miller @ WW
• Terry Etim vs. Sam Stout @ LW
• David Bielkheden vs. Jess Liaudin @ WW
• Per Eklund vs. Samy Schiavo @ LW

Card subject to change. We’ll update the match-ups as we confirm them.

The bonuses were set at $50,000 which is $25,000 less than last month’s UFC 84: Ill Will. They were awarded as follows:

• Thiago Alves earns $50,000 for KO of the night after his 2nd round TKO over former UFC welterweight champion, Matt Hughes.
• UFC newcomer, Kevin Burns earns $50,000 for submission of the night after his 2nd round triangle choke of Roan Carneiro.
• Both Matt Wiman and Thiago Tavares earned $50,000 for their exciting two round scrap which Wiman won via KO.

I personally disagree with Alves earning KO of the night based on the fact these bonuses are up to the UFC’s discretion and he should not be rewarded with anything extra after failing to make weight, regardless of any injury that may of hindered his training. In my opinion Luis Cane should have earned that award as he knocked Jason Lambert down cleanly three times in their fight before the referee intervened.

Read more UFC 85 content on FiveOuncesOfPain.com.

“My manager, Alex Davis, just confirmed this fight,” Tavares is quoted as saying in Sherdog’s report. “I am very happy with the choice of this opponent because he is a tough guy who is coming off three wins in a row, and I think we will make a great fight for the public. I like to face those tougher guys, and I thought this is a great opportunity.”

Tavares, a native Brazilian, is widely regarded as one of the top lightweight prospects in all of MMA. After starting his career with an undefeated record of 10-0, Tavares made his UFC debut at UFC Fight Night 9 last April, where he recorded a unanimous decision victory over Naoyuki Kotani.

Tavares upped his record to 12-0 when he submitted Jason Black with a triangle during his second UFC fight at UFC Fight Night 10 on June 12. He suffered his first career loss this past September at UFC 76 when he sustained a unanimous decision loss at the hand of Tyson Griffin. He would go on to rebound at UFC Fight Night 12 this past January with a unanimous decision win over Michihiro Omigawa.

CLICK HERE TO READ THE REMAINDER OF THIS ARTICLE ON SAM CAPLAN’S PROELITE.COM BLOG

Junkie has also confirmed through Ken Pavia that Justin McCully will also be fighting at UFC 76. Tito Ortiz mentioned the possibility in an interview last week.

I’m really looking forward to the show tonight because after it we’ll know the final four for TUF. Gray Maynard and Joe Lauzon are already in.

I think we’re going to see two matches tonight, as opposed to one,  because one of them will end quickly. I think the match that ends quickly will be the one between the two teammates on Jens Pulver’s team, Hill and Diaz (not a spoiler, just a prediction).

I like Corey Hill and think he will become a superstar. But he looked very green in his first fight vs. Rob Emerson. He also doesn’t have a single pro fight under his felt and going against someone as well-rounded as Diaz is going to be too big of a hurdle to clear at this early stage of his career. I think Nate takes it via submission.

Wiman, who is one of three fighters who have fought in the UFC that’s a part of the TUF 5 cast, made quick work of Marlon Sims in a few weeks back. Gamburyan is short, but I was really impressed with his first bout. The dude is an animal. I’m kind of surprise we’re not hearing leaks about this being the fight of the year. This match could really go either way and I expect a war. I’m going with a hunch here and picking Gamburyan in an upset.

I’m assuming that the big plot line for next week’s show will be how the semifinal matches are made. That means we’ll get to see more drama between Jens and B.J. The semis are going to be some awesome matchups.