Entertainment Base! Fun! Daily!

After a long awaited postponement, the anticipated Welterweight showdown will commence when UFC Welterweight champion, Georges “Rush” St. Pierre, faces challenger and TUF 4 Welterweight Winner, Matt “Terror” Serra. Also on the card is an epic clash of original TUF Welterweights, Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez and Josh “Kos” Koscheck, when they face off to see who will be next in line for the elite in the Welterweight division, or maybe even a title shot. All-in-all, this card is one to be watched when things heat up in Houston.

Georges St. Pierre v. Matt Serra Fight Preview

Despite Matt Serra being the vast underdog in this fight, the pressure is still on the New Jersey native to try and avenge the validity of TUF fighters being able to legitimately challenge for the UFC titles. Some have tried, some have failed, and for Serra’s Middleweight winner counterpart, Lutter failed miserably at the hands of a very strong Anderson Silva. For Matt Serra, George St. Pierre is no slouch and deserves everything that comes with the title and it will be up to him to try to break the norm of TUF fighters being simply, “not good enough”.

It seems like an anomaly that the majority of UFC champions today stem from an older generation of ultimate fighters, many exceeding the age of 30 (and some even 40), save for one charismatic youngster who is made his claim as the new generation fighter. 26-year-old, Georges “Rush” St. Pierre stands as a member of a new breed of fighters that delve in a more mixed martial arts background in comparison to his champion peers who only possess one or two facets that allow them to be champion. St. Pierre is the total package with athleticism, wrestling, striking, grappling, intelligence, precision, and showmanship that constitute what MMA is all about today. St. Pierre has so few weaknesses and so many strengths that it seems the only person who can really beat St. Pierre is himself (or someone 2-3 times his size). If the same St. Pierre that came to do business with Hughes comes out for Serra, “terror” will truly strike the heart of the east coast grappling magician. 

Although on paper, the odds are against Serra’s favor, many do not realize the potential the BJJ wizard possesses. Simply put, at any moment if Serra can get a hold of a limb, anybody, even the great St. Pierre is at risk. Hopefully, St. Pierre has been working on his Brazilian Jiu-jitsu since his armbar loss to Matt Hughes, and if he hasn’t, Serra is much more prolific at the grappling game then the former champion ever was. For Serra to win this battle, he must drill takedowns like his life depended on it. Otherwise, this will be a very lopsided night for the aging grappler.

Prediction: I love watching Serra fight. I believe he’s a fantastic fighter and an even better coach. However, to hang with a fighter like St. Pierre almost seems to be a farce for Serra. St. Pierre has concocted an amazing method of concocting perfect game plans and training his body to the peak of perfection. Where St. Pierre lacks in technical ability, he soars in athletic magic. Simply put, Serra doesn’t possess enough to overwhelm St. Pierre technically and athletically Serra is just not even close. St. Pierre by domination.

Diego Sanchez v. Josh Koscheck Fight Preview

Despite the UFC having four seasons of The Ultimate Fighter behind them, the most recognized group of “badass” fighters that MMA fans both hardcore and casual still talk about are the fighters that came out of the first season. In the Welterweight bracket, Josh Koscheck and Diego Sanchez were considered favorites to come away with the contract and their epic semi-final clash certainly proved why. It has been almost two years since then and both are next in line for a crack at the title. This fight is certain to be epic with both fighters trudging through a gauntlet of talented Welterweight fighters to only come full circle for a sure shot at Georges St. Pierre’s title.

There are individuals who doubt Diego Sanchez’ fighting ability. However, time and again, he has shut his critics up decisively (including myself) on multiple occasions when the odds where against him. Sanchez is a very good fighter with good technique, aggression, and athleticism that can be considered a poster-boy for an “ultimate athlete”.  Sanchez has to merely employ his game as he always has before, and against a fighter like Koscheck who’s an A-plus wrestler but has average grappling defense, Sanchez has to merely train his grappling ability to take his rival out. However, he must not underestimate the hulk-like Koscheck by trying to play Koscheck’s game with a takedown war. However, not to fear, Sanchez is trained by the amazing Greg Jackson and it shouldn’t be a problem for Sanchez to always maintain discipline and a cool-head in the cage.

Koscheck must work his submission defense plain and simple. Although Josh is not known for his striking, Sanchez’ striking isn’t that much better (even in the face of beating Riggs). If Koscheck has been thoroughly training his questionable submission-defense, then Koscheck can quite possibly manifest an upset over the favored “Nightmare”. Josh has all the tools of becoming an elite fighter, however, and he must consistently refine his game and never get comfortable with the abilities that he possesses now. With the hunger for the top that Koscheck has, the latter may be just cautionary note instead of an actual fact regarding Koscheck.

Prediction: I enjoy rooting for the underdogs, but unfortunately, my prediction is going to have to stay with the favorite in Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez. The level of focus embedded in him, the camp he trains with, and his overall progress in fighting over the years make it hard to put any doubt in him unless he’s fighting the big three in either St. Pierre, Matt Hughes, or a Welterweight B.J. Penn. Sanchez is a very talented fighter and has proven himself time and again, when he has even been an underdog, that he deserves to be in the top Welterweight competition. Unfortunately, Koscheck has hit too many bumps to put faith in an upset with Koscheck. However, it would not be surprising if Kos pulled it off.

Yushin Okami v. Mike Swick Fight Preview

As the “next in line’s” of the Welterweight is to be determined on UFC 69, so is the Middleweight division when Japanese standout Yushin Okami takes on fan-favorite and TUF veteran Mike “Quick” Swick. For both these fighters, a win over the other would surely catapult them to title run or even straight to a title shot. All-in-all, expect a very good technical fight.

Yushin Okami is on a tear in the Middleweight division, putting out Alan Belcher, Kalib Starnes, and Rory Singer. Okami has embraced the Octagon format and the utilization of elbows especially when he acquires top position. Incorporate that with the Japanese approach of feeling out fighters and turning on the heat in later rounds in order to tire out opponents. This has been the demise of Okami’s list of UFC fighters he has put away, however, when facing off against a very tough Mike Swick, who is also a counter puncher, this could be a little awkward for the Japanese fighter. He must try to induce Swick to make mistakes in his stand up and really test his ground technique which managed to put away very ground savvy fighters in Rory Singer and Kalib Starnes. If Okami can do this, then most likely, we will be seeing him fight fighters like Rich Franklin, and eventually, a rematch, against Anderson Silva.

If Yushin Okami has been going on a tear, Mike “Quick” Swick has been on a rampage (no pun intended, especially to Quinton). His moniker of “Quick” is aptly appropriate especially snapping on lightning fast submission holds and KO’s fighters with devastating, precision quickness. Swick possesses a large array of weapons in order to utilize whomever he fights, however, he has yet to be tested against a fighter that is as good, if not better experience than himself. Okami has been fighting around the world and has fought many big names along the way, whereas Swick has faced middle-tier fighters. If Swick can pinpoint certain mistakes and impose his game on Okami, he can quickly turn the tide of this fight and put Okami out of commission.

Prediction: This fight is very hard to decipher, for both fighters are truly equals in the Middleweight division with very similar styles. It will really come down to the fighter who researched and prepared better for their opponent, in-line with the one who makes the first mistake. On paper, this fight can be very exciting, but it does have a chance of becoming reminiscent of Ivan Salaverry v. Nathan Marquardt due to their equality in fighting talent. If the fight doesn’t finish early in the first round, it will be a highly disputed fight with the very last point determining who stays and who goes home.

(Part 2 of our preview will be published early tomorrow morning)

- Bardia Mehrabian BuddyTV Staff Columnist