Well, well, well, ladies (do they actually read this?) and gents, welcome to another installment of the famous, or sometime infamous Zacher factor.
    In my last installment I happen to upset one fighter's manager (and now we get along great), and also predict one of the biggests upsets of the year. So let's see what I can do this time, while bringing you my new installment. The Zacher Factor will cover UFC 71: Liddell vs. Jackson, live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. The UFC comes home for one show, and what a show to let people know your back in town. Well, with no further hesitation ‘LET'S GET IT ON!'

                                                  UNDERCARD

Wilson Gouveia (8 - 4 - 0) vs. Carmelo Marrero (6 - 1 - 0)

    Well, this fight is going to be the first fight of the card, and to be honest I think this could be a good main card fight. I first have to say I am a fan of American Top Team, and I think they are one of the top 5 teams in the American MMA scene. I was first somewhat skeptical of Gouveia, but after his last two fights, I think he showed me something which made it to where I would like to see him fight again. Too bad his opponent is Carmelo Marrero, who has a strong wrestling pedigree, and who also has moved down for the first time to 205. I think you all may remember him for one of two things, either:
 a) Showing Cheick Kongo's major weakness in takedown defense, or
 b) Being outweighed by (now #1 Heavyweight contender) Gabriel Gonzaga, and being schooled.

Now though he is at a slim 205, and word around town is the cut is going good, and he feels his cardio and his speed is better. I think this fight is going to be a three round war, and we will see a Marrero that we have not seen before. I can't blame the UFC for putting this fight on the under card, because seriously, Marrero's fight against Kongo can probably be compared to what the lovemaking of turtles look like, and I am not talking about the teenage mutant kind.

            So in the end I have to call this Marrero by JD.

Please note: The opinions stated in the Zacher Factor do not represent MMAbuzz.com in no way whatsoever. MMAbuzz.com is letting Chris post these "thoughts" mainly because....well...we really don't know.

This column is meant to be light hearted and we apoligize ahead of time if you are offended, frankly I am offended just looking at Chris' picture.

Jeremy Stephens (13-1-0) Vs. Din Thomas (22-7-0)

    First let me say this, holy crap to the fact that all these young dudes are coming up the ranks. It's all most like the science fiction movie The Village of The Damned, all these kids are coming out of the wood works and taking over the sport, well minus the whole creepy eyes, and being possessed by aliens things. Jeremy Stephens is a 20 year old Midwest Cage Championship Light Weight champ, who sports an impressive 13-1 record. Its to bad he has to fight Din Thomas, who recently has been beating people down in a fashion that I have never seen come from him before! I am a huge fan of Din, and I have only seen him in two fights that I didn't enjoy, his fight with Serra, and his fight with Lytle. For a while Din took a break from MMA, and taught mostly at American Top Team, and also received his black belt in BJJ. But something has happened to this gentleman that has made my attention in him spark up.

    Did you guy's see the fight against Rich Clementi? Holy crap, I mean it looked like Din called up Melvin while he was in the middle of snorting coke, and said "You know what Melvin, don't worry about making him pay for the racial slurs he used against you, I will handle it" In the end all that was left was a battered Clementi. Then he fought Guida, who I feel is a great fighter, and was able to neutralize his ground and pound, and also did a lot of damage with his hands, to end up winning the majority JD.

    I like seeing young guys get their shot, but I hate seeing them get fed to the wolves. This fight is going to start with Din giving massive damage by his hands, and then probably ending it via submission in the first. But who knows, I could be wrong, I felt the same way about Lauzon when he was going to fight Pulver, and look what happened.

Sean Salmon (: 9-2-0) Vs. Eric Schafer (9-2-2)

    Wow, before I even get into this let me say one thing; Sean Salmon is bringing Karate back! Oh yeah, when he did that spinning high roundhouse Van Damme/Chuck Norris kick, I jumped of my couch, and me and my son started to reenact the last scene from Blood Sport.

    I totally dug how Sean Salmon, a former Ohio State Buckeye wrestler, came out on his UFC debut, on the main event, and had such a care free attitude. I think that shows already the Sean has a place in the UFC, and in the sport of MMA. I also personally think that he could of beat Rashad Evans if that hadn't been his first fight, and he has so much pressure. Now Eric Schafer on the other hand, I feel has no chance in this fight what so ever. Not because of any skills he lacks, just for the sheer reason of Salmon's aggressiveness he showed against Rashad, and using that aggressiveness with no worries holding him down.

    Salmon by GNP stoppage rd 2

Thiago Silva (9-0-0) Vs. James Irvin (12-3-1)

    Man now it has started, Chute Boxe is now in the UFC, and what better fighter to bring in then someone who leads the new wave of fighters coming out of that school. Thiago comes into the UFC with a great 9-0 record with 7 of them coming from TKO/KO. This kid comes in the fight with that viciousness that all of the fighters from that camp come in with, it's almost like the movie 28 Days Later, sometimes I wonder if I am going to see their eyes turn red, but I will leave that to my dorky imagination. His opponent is none other then James Irvin, yeah the guy who looks like an underwear model (shut up with the jokes buttholes) who became extremely, extremely overrated after his "flying knee" knockout of Terry Martin. Like every internet fan boy does, he was built up to be the next contender for the Messiah. Soon he lost to Bonnar, and friggin Sincaid (yeah the cross dressing alcoholic from season one of The Ultimate Fighter). After that he picked up two wins on smaller shows and came back into the UFC to fight a fighter names Hector Ramirez, who looked very out of shape, and was pretty much, I feel, put out there so that Hanes model (shut up) could score a knockout in front of his home crowd of Sacramento, where the show was taking place. I see this not going good for Irvin, Thiago is not out of shape, and he isn't going in for a million takes downs to where he can get a flying knee.
    Silva by TKO/KO rd 1.

                                                        MAINCARD

Kalib Starnes (9-2-1) Vs. Chris Leben (16-3-0)

    Man it is so hard to be witty about this fight, because I seriously can not pick someone to win it. I am so serious when I say this, but I am sure some jerky remarks will come out in the end! First thing first, I am sure you all know Starnes; he was a team member of Shamrocks team in season 3 of The Ultimate Fighter, who after the show beat Danni Abbadi (cough cough) and lost to Yushin Okami. The thing that could point to Leben winning this is that fact that Starnes has no heart what so ever. I mean this dude starts getting hit, and it's like a nuclear meltdown. Alarms go off inside his head; warnings start flashing in his eye sight, Homer Simpson wakes up and runs out. One hit from Leben, and man it could be done.

    You know what, now that I think about it, after just having a discussion about it with some right in the middle of typing this, I can't seen Starnes winning this, unless, Leben throws those weird ass, no defense, haymakers from the trailer park for two rounds and gets so gassed he gets subbed.
    I am hesitantly calling this Leben by TKO/KO rd 1.

Houston Alexander (6-1-0) Vs. Keith Jardine (12-3-1)

    Well, from the get go on this card, the UFC wanted to have Keith Jardine, fresh after his knock out win over Forrest Griffin, to have a match on this fight. Well from the looks of the situation it seems they couldn't find anyone on his level. Houston Alexander comes into this fight with a total of 7 MMA matches that span the last 6 years. To me this says a lot in it self, his career never took off, and I frankly feel he was brought in for Jardine to win. Houston just participated in a 4 man heavy weight tournament in Extreme Challenge where he won the first fight, and got disqualified for illegal knees from the side mount in the second. I still don't see anything that leads me to believe that Jardine will lose this fight.

    On another note, doesn't that frigging goatee creep you guys out too? I mean, man, I kind of want to watch his interviews after the fight, but I have to fight the urge to grab some clippers, fly to where ever he is at, run in the ring, ask Joe Rogan to wait a sec, shave it off, say "peace" and fly back home for the next fight. You all ever get that urge?

Josh Burkman (19-3-0) Vs. Karo Parisyan (24-4-0)

    Before I get into this, let me point out one thing, do not Burkman and local fighter Brendon O'Dell look a like? Bald headed and ugly? Joking, joking calm down.

    So anyways, Burkman and Karo are facing off on the main card of this show, and I am going to say it, this is going to be probably the fight of the night. With Burkman training with Stevenson and the Cobra Kai guys in LV, and Karo training with Randy's Legends gym in LV, I think there two fighters are at the top of their game now. I mean shit, Burkman is so confident in himself now, that he is almost getting in bar fights with Phil Baroni, even though it is speculated that it was blown way out of proportion on the internet, go figure, huh?

   I think both fighters are going to bring the faced paced action, but I think that Karo is going to take every round. I think we are going to see Burkman doing flips like he is at Barnum and Baily Circus. The crowd is going to go "woooooooooooooo" while the little kids clap with joy.

   I see this fight going to JD with Karo being the winner. Remember people I am calling this the fight of the night!

Terry Martin (17-2-0) Vs. Ivan Salaverry (12-4-1)

    So speaking of James Irvin's highlight real flying knee, the victim of it Terry Martin, is facing returning UFC vet Ivan Salaverry in the swing bout for this card. First, let me say this, I really have no idea what to say about Martin at 185. I mean, his first fight against Rivera was so quick, and brutal, that you can't really judge at all what he is capable of at that weight. I will say this though; did he really think he had enough pull in the division to call out, at that time, the #1 contender of the division Swick? Maybe it just could have been the rush of winning, but either way, I found myself rolling my eyes like Paris Hilton when some suggests she wipe her own ass.

    His opponent Ivan is an interesting character to say the least. After a two win streak in the UFC, he fought a very, very bad fight against Nathan Marquardt on a main event of an UFN, that led to Ivan not getting his contract renewed, and Marquardt finding himself fight on under card, after under card, after under card. I like Ivan's skills, he has a good ground game, and pretty good stand up he learned from UFC legend Mo Smith.

    Ivan, I think, is light years beyond Martin in every aspect of MMA, so I call Ivan by Sub, Rd 2.

    Okay now that I got that out of the way, what the hell is with Ivan's post fight celebration? I mean dude, taking of your shorts, and running around in your underwear like a showgirl is kind of, ummm, out there to say the least. I mean bro, if you are going to do that you need to do it right! You need Barbra Streisand blaring through the PA system; you need fireworks, and at least a top hat man! Come on! Don't make me start fighting just so I can show you how to do it!

 MAINEVENT

 Chuck Liddell (20-3-0) Vs. Quinton Jackson (26-6-0)

    Man it saddens me to write this, I have seriously been dreading it. My favorite fighter in all of MMA history, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson vs. Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell. We all know the history that follows this fight, and I will bring it into light once more.

    A few years ago in MMA history, PrideFC threw a 205 Grand Prix, which pitted the best LHWs at the time in Pride against each other, along with one UFC representative, and that representative was Chuck himself. Both him, and Quinton made it into the semi finals, to which Quinton won the fight because Chuck's corner threw in the towel. A lot of people don't know how much this fight sparked debate. One debate was the infamous Chuck groin injury, that even Chuck said didn't make a difference in the fight, and the other was if the fight between them wore Quinton out to much, to where it affected the fight with him and Wanderlie, who he lost to in the finals.

    A lot of people wrote Chuck off after that, with him losing 2 of his last 3 fights, and thought he would never come back. Well he did, with a passion, even scoring 3 wins over two people who beat him in the past. Rampage went on to beat some no name Japanese guy, and Ricardo Arona on his path to get another title shot in Pride. In a fight many say Arona was winning, Rampage scored perhaps the most popular slam in MMA history, where he lifted Arona above his head, while Arona was trying a triangle choke, and slammed him down, knocking him out. In the slam, Rampage butted heads with Arona and in his owns words "saw GOD". After that fight rampage got the shot he wanted, but after proclaiming he was a born again Christian. He lost the fight against Silva, but at the end came out and said he had fasted for 3 days before it. People, myself included wondered if he was done mentally in the fight game. He went on to fight a fight with Ninja Rua, which a lot of people thought he lost, and fight against Shogun Rua which he did lose, and a fight against Yung Don Sik, who everyone said he was supposed to finish, but never did. Soon after that he left Pride, and signed with the reborn WFA, and fought Matt Linland and one in another fight that a lot of people though he lost, me included.

    Well when word was that the UFC bought out WFA contracts the first fighter everyone wanted to know about was Rampage and that being because at the time, the UFC was running out of opponents for Chuck to fight. Eventually after his first win in the UFC over Eastman, they offered him enough money to where he accepted, and this saddens me.

    Never have I wanted a fighter to win so much, that being Rampage, but yet knowing he is going to lose. I personally think the UFC rushed this fight, and that we won't truly see what could happen if Rampage had a couple more fights before fighting chuck.

    I call Chuck via KO Rd 3, and I have nothing funny to say at all about this.

Comments (19)

KPEAZY said:

... Good read, can't wait to see who you piss off this time!

May 22, 2007

Oakley said:

... I bet you cant

May 22, 2007

ChrisZacher said:

... ha ha, trouble makers.

May 22, 2007

a guest said:

... I got $20 on Rampage, I like Chuck but I predict an upset and a repeat of their first fight. -rex

May 22, 2007

Beast said:

... Zacher Factor… Where do I even begin, folks? Allow me to preface this discussion by letting you all know just how tired I was a few moments ago. I just got done sitting through an Article 32 hearing (think grand jury investigation.) After a day and a half of people talking, I now have the privilege of putting everything said on paper. Fun times. I’m going to sleep very good tonight. Moving on… After eating dinner, I came in the office to check my emails, fave websites, etc. I get to MMAbuzz, and there it is! THE ZACHER FACTOR!!! I get a huge grin on my face, grab some apple juice, rub my palms together, do a little jig, then begin reading. I am now feeling so lost and alone. I thought for sure someone would share my thoughts and opinions on several of the fights. Another beacon of light and common sense to shine through the madness of this world that follows Chuck blindly. My heart is hurting. Being a man that doesn’t sit idly by and let his ego get stomped, I decided to let my fingers fly a bit early. Enough prefacing for now…let’s do it!! Wilson Gouveia (8 - 4 - 0) vs. Carmelo Marrero (6 - 1 - 0)- Heartily Disagree Have to say…this is on the undercard for a reason. This is like going to a pro show and watching debut amatuers go at it. While Marrero showed a horrifying hole in Kongo’s game, he is not impressive at all. Yeah, he can wrestle, but THAT’S IT. He’s got a lot of learning and growing to do, so it’s probably best he goes to the most stacked division in all of MMA to do it. Gouveia on the other hand showed some promise in his fight against Jardine. In my opinion, he gassed out. If my memory serves me correct, he stayed with Jardine thru a majority of the fight. That fight left a foul taste in my mouth for a few reasons, in regards to Jardine. But that comes later… Gouveia by sub, Rd. 2. Jeremy Stephens (13-1-0) Vs. Din Thomas (22-7-0)- Agree, with a bit of hostility. Din by whatever he damn well chooses, whenever he damn well chooses to do it. Come on, now…let’s keep it real. I’m sorry, I’m about to get a little ignorant on this one. Din ain’t Jens. Din ain’t lettin no stardom or fans get to his head. Din sees some nobody across the cage from him, threatening his paycheck, threatening his return to the main card, and he ain’t havin it!!! (Taking a breath…centering myself.) Jens is very much guilty of letting his ego get the better of him. “forget the fact that he hit me!” LOL… That was comical. Sean Salmon (: 9-2-0) Vs. Eric Schafer (9-2-2)- Somewhat Agree Salmon is going to come out looking to show the world that he is, in fact, better than Rashad (in his mind.) From what I’ve read, he got the better of Rashad in the first round. That’s just a round. Fact of the matter is, he got knocked out with a highlight reel kick and lost. That will chap anyone’s ass. Trust me on that one! I see Salmon coming into this fight for blood. I feel sorry for Eric. I’ll tip a bottle of apple juice for you, man. Thiago Silva (9-0-0) Vs. James Irvin (12-3-1)- Agree Another Silva coming out of Chute Boxe. A Silva that trains with Wand, Ninja, Shogun. Sandman will not be bringing any dreams that night. And what’s with the fascination with underwear, bro? I'm a little disturbed by that. Silva in the first two minutes. I'll stop there for now, as my eyelids are getting the best of me. I look forward to reading your response Chris. And you're right. Oakley and Burkman do resemble each other a bit... weird...LOL.

May 22, 2007

ChrisZacher said:

... I like Gouveria a lot, but man Marrero is a wrestling beast. we'll see. also it is not my fasination with underwear! it's the internet fan boy base of the MMA scene's fasination! *slowly creeps out of thread*

May 22, 2007

ChrisZacher said:

... well we will see about Rampage Rex, I want him to win, but I just don't see it. i think chuck is just on one hell of a momentum right now, and Rampage is just starting to get it back. The fight is to early, but oh well, I would love to be proven wrong.

May 22, 2007

Oakley said:

...

May 22, 2007

MMAbuzz said:

... Oak is much better looking than Burkman.........for me to poop on! http://www.indcjournal.com/archives/triumph.bmp

May 22, 2007

ChrisZacher said:

... damn Mike, now you are going to make him cry, or make him have complete control of our souls if Rampage wins.

May 22, 2007

MMAbuzz said:

... Man, I love Oak.....He's the man! I was just trying to take your article from 'not so heterosexual' to 'funny' (somewhat). The Hanes model comment made me put you on the 'under suspicion' list.

May 22, 2007

ChrisZacher said:

... blame it on the internet

May 22, 2007

Oakley said:

... RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs LiddellRAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell RAMPAGE will kill Chuck Thumbs Liddell

May 25, 2007

ChrisZacher said:

... ok

May 25, 2007

Rick said:

... Liddell/Jackson WILL be a great fight... hopefully the best in a long while. You're probably right, Liddell has more UFC ring experience and has been on quite a roll. However, Rampage could still pull this one out if he uses those looping overhand rights effectively. Chuck has a hard time blocking that angle and the best way to defend is to do just what he doesn't want to do... step in! No one in their right mind wants to get too close to Jackson. He doesn't try to take you down, he tries to run you over. If Jackson can weaken Liddell's knees with a few connecting rights and then slam him the way only he knows best, he can definitely win. The key will be for Rampage to control the distance... Liddell is actually a distance fighter. He doesn't like to punch at clinch range and he isn't keen on fighting from the floor. Jackson will have to keep it close and SLAM. Liddell on the other hand has to take out Jackson's legs early with low kicks. (Other than an occasional thai-kick to the thigh, Jackson has hardly any kicking ability whatsoever.) This will allow him to maintain his effective fight distance and put Jackson at the end of his punches. Of course, Iceman needs to also watch out for those body slams, they could really ruin his night. IF Liddel can get Jackson down on his back (where he HATES to be) and maintain a ground and pound, I think Chuck will walk away with a quick win. Nobody sneaks in punnishing hits from on top like the Iceman. Anyway, Looking forward to a great fight!

May 26, 2007

Beast said:

... I just love it!!! I absolutely love it!! Watch for that hook!

May 27, 2007

ChrisZacher said:

... this by far has been the worst pics i ever made.

May 27, 2007

Rick said:

... Ummm... (just to rub it in) Didn't I mention something about a "looping overhand right"??? I was a little disapointed in Chuck, I figured that the fight would end up in a knockout, but really expected Iceman to take it further than the first round. And where were the leg kicks? You just can't take someone like Jackson strait on... it's like running directly into a freight train! He's lucky Jackson didn't have TIME to bodyslam him. Of course it's easy for me to pick on Chuck from the safety zone outside the octagon. Things happen a bit quicker in the ring with a monster beating down on you. Chuck is still the man. Long Live the New Light Heavyweight Champ "Ragin" Q Jackson!!!

May 27, 2007

Oakley said:

... Chuck was scared BIG TIME... You could just tell and he didnt want to stay in the pocket at all... Keep your hands down and that will happen... WAR RAMPAGE......

May 29, 2007