UFC 73: Stacked
July 7th
9PM EST
Main Event:
UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva (18-4) vs. Nathan Marquardt (25-6-2)
Undercard:
Sean Sherk (31-2-1) vs. Hermes Franca (18-5)
Tito Ortiz (15-5) vs. Rashad Evans (10-0)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (29-4-1) vs. Heath Herring (27-12)
Kenny Florian (5-3) vs. Alvin Robinson (8-1)
Chris Lytle (22-14-5) vs. Jason Gilliam (9-1)
Frank Edgar (6-0) vs. Mark Bocek (4-0)
Stephan Bonnar (9-4) vs. Mike Nickels (5-1)
Jorge Gurgel (10-2) vs. Diego Saraiva (9-4-1)
PREVIEWS - By Chris Zacher and Damon Daniels
ANDERSON SILVA vs. NATHAN MARQUARDT
ANDERSON SILVA - (Chris Zacher) - For all of you people who think that Nathan
is going to beat Silva because of Silva's last performance needs to know one
thing. Silva had knee surgery nine weeks before the frigging fight. Second, who
the hell did he beat in the last two years who's on the level of Silva? Having
a hard time picking out an answer are you? I'll tell you why, that because he
hasn't!!
Another
thing I would like to say is probably going to be in response of what a lot of
you people are going to say. "Nathan's ground game is so much better than
Silvas." Um, I ask again, what makes you say that? Does he train with Nogueira?
Nope, that's Silva who does.
This fight
is going to be bloody, and very bad. After this fight, I see a very sad future
of more prelims for Nathan after this fight.
NATHAN MARQUARDT - (Damon Daniels) - (Bankhead Bounce) - This
has the potential to be an awesome fight, or a dull one. As is always the case
when Marquardt steps into the cage. But I am hopeful. I see Silva trying to
push the pace, however, "Nate the Great" will stuff everything, as he is prone
to doing, but, for this one, he'll add some very physical, very punishing GNP
to soften Silva up for what will become a late fight thrashing. It's pretty
much slick, explosive speed against a strong, forceful technician. As seen in
the past with Silva against smarter, patient fighters, when Marquardt puts his
hands on Silva, he'll continuously keep Silva off his game and on his back. As
each round passes, Marquardt will not only be facing a broken, diminished,
desperate Silva, but he'll be that much closer to bringing that gold and
leather strap back to Greg Jackson's camp. Marquardt by UD. Booyakah!!! I end
the dance with a head-spin, and then pop up onto my feet, in my best B-boy
stance. Now for some more juice.
Click 'Read More' for fight previews
Previews
ANTONIO RODRIGO
NOGUEIRA vs. HEATH HERRING
ANTONIO RODRIGO NOGUEIRA - (Damon Daniels) - (I'm doing the robot!)- My
personal opinion...for those that are not new to these two, this is a boring
fight. Nog has already won twice. He's only going to win again. He's on his way
to avenge his loss to Fedor and reclaim his throne. Get ready people. You will
know his name and love it! This fight will be fast paced, and one-sided, as
Heath is once again going to look like a rank amateur in that cage. Yes, as it
stands, Heath has Octagon experience over Nog; however, Nog has the "I done
kicked your ass twice already" over Heath. You will see Nog out-box Heath. You
will see Nog get whatever takedown he wants out of the clinch. You will see Nog
use his masterful BJJ to take the "Texas Crazy Horse" out to pasture. Please
believe it!
HEATH HERRING - (Chris Zacher) - So I know everyone is sitting at home saying,
"oh my gosh I can't believe that Chris Zacher is picking Heath Herring" but
hear me out before you start throwing your computer on the ground.
First off,
yes I know that he lost in two prior fights before hand, but check this out. In
their first fight Herring had been training at The Golden Glory Gym in Holland,
which to be honest, isn't straight up known for being a school where you learn
any ground game at. Their first fight was a war, and showed Herring's talent on
the ground, but the second fight, which was ended in the first round, took
place when Herring just started training, and I mean, at a new school in LV,
and hadn't adjusted yet.
Another
factor is that Nogueira hasn't fought since New Years, and there are even
rumors that one of his eyes is having problems. So you put together the ring
rust, the injury, and the fact that Herring feels more at home now training in Las Vegas, will equal
Herring winning by JD. Hopefully after words he will shave those damn legs.
Thank god though he wears board shorts now. Those underwear shorts he used to
wear made me not want to watch his old fights when they hit the ground.
ALVIN ROBINSON vs. KENNY FLORIAN
ALVIN ROBINSON - (Chris Zacher) - Before we even get into the whole "this guy
is getting fed to the sharks" routine, I have to say two words, Joe to the
Lauzon. Everyone thought that he was going to get mauled, murdered, and have to
act out a scene from HBOs Oz.
Now people
are saying that this match is a feeder match for Florian, but ask yourself
this, why would they feed Florian matches? There is such a long line of light
weights that will get a title shot before he ever does again, so that doesn't
make sense. Then ask yourself this, even thought Florian lost to some good
fighters, who has he beat that is really so good? Kit Cope, Sam Stout, an old
and injured Mishima?
So what I
am saying, if you look at this objectively, you will see this is not a one
sided fight. Who knows, maybe Joe Silva, the UFC match maker, sees that this
fight is more then what we see it for, and maybe that is why it is on the main
card.
I see Alvin
Robinson taking the upset with a sub after the first round. Oh by the way,
remember Alvin is from Colorado, woo hoo *paints my body in Colorado Colors and
starts dancing around*
KENNY FLORIAN - (Damon Daniels) - (Doing the butterfly) - Most
of you probably recognize Alvin from his numerous Ring of Fire appearances.
While he's been cutting his teeth with mostly unknowns, Kenny has been busy
rolling with some of the best in the welterweight and lightweight division.
Now, at this point, people will probably say "look at their records! Alvin is
8-1!!" To that, I say go back to the second sentence. Kenny's losses come from
the likes of Diego Sanchez at middleweight, Drew Fickett (at welterweight), and
Sean Sherk (for the lightweight title). Let's see...one's the champ, and the
other two are welterweight contenders. Yeah...I'd say Kenny is going to tool the
"Kid." I hope he comes to the Octagon sporting his Osh Kosh B'gosh, Chucks, and
Mr. T and the T-Force lunch box, because Kenny is going to beat Alvin back to
elementary school. Welcome to the major leagues, Kid. (Giggety-Giggety!!)
TITO ORTIZ vs. RASHAD EVANS
TITO ORTIZ - (Chris Zacher) - First off one thing, BWAH BWAH BWAH BWAH, to all
of you people who think that Rashad is going to pull this off. Did you people
not watch the Sean Salmon fight/ I mean come on people! I was seriously just
starting at my computer like a comatose crack head when I saw the internet
blowing up with the threads "Rashad has kick ass striking!" yeah ok people, but
did you completely block out of your memory the fact that Salmon was taking him
down with no problem what so ever at ease? Now one thing, when Tito takes him
down, and he will, he will capitalize off of it, unlike Salmon did. He will
drop elbows from the sky that will open a grand canyon like cut on Rashad.
I am not
even going to entertain any of the arguments I heard in Rashad's favor. Oh and
before you say "He made short work of Lambart with his ground and pound", Jason
had a serious groin injury in that fight.
Tito by
vicious GnP that will end it in the second round.
RASHAD EVANS- (Damon Daniels) - (Uh-oh...the Cabbage Patch!!)-
This is going to be the fight of the night. We already got a preview at UFC 68.
Now it's time for Tito to put up or shut up. I'm going for "Sugar" on this one.
Hands down. He's got the better striking. He's the better wrestler. He's a lot
more explosive. He's got knockout power in both hands and feet. Tito's big dome
is going to get knotted up bad. Especially when he ends up on his back from a
slick "Sugar" takedown. From there, he will be re-introduced to the words
"hustle" and "ground and pound" from the man he said was going to be his "Nappy-headed
ho." Yes, while Rashad brushed that joke off, he is going to make Tito choke on
those words. Bottom-line, Rashad is going to do what Forrest didn't do, and
without an ounce of mercy.
SEAN SHERK vs. HERMES FRANCA
SEAN SHERK - (Damon Daniels) - (A-Town Stomp) - Alright...come on, now! Is that
all fighters have to do nowadays? Beg for a shot at the title? Well...
(Straightening my uniform out a bit) you got it Hermes. Now prepare for a
horrendous molly-whopping, sir. I can think of better contenders for Sean. More
worthy ones. Who knows, though? Hermes could suddenly come out striking like
GSP. He just might connect with that ugly-ass high kick. Or he might catch Sean
in a submission that Sean just can't escape. Yeah...I'm sipping on my apple juice
as I put those comic thoughts on digits. I see Sean dictating where this fight
goes. If he wants to keep it standing, he'll out point Hermes in striking. If
he wants to take him down, he'll get the clinch and take him down. If he wants
to dominate on the ground, he'll impose his will on Hermes till the dye on
Hermes's hair bleeds out. They could've picked a better opponent... Hell, I
would've gone with Stevenson, honestly.
HERMES FRANCA - (Chris Zacher) - So when was the last time
Sherk fought again? Oh yeah, 8 months ago, and why was that? Oh yeah, I forgot,
he has a torn rotator cuff. Hold on, don't leave yet, I have another question.
How many fights has Franca
won in a row now? Eight you say? No way!
That is
what this fight is going to come down to. Can Sherk come back from a serious
injury, along with a serious surgery, and major time off and handle the aggressiveness
of Franca. Franca worked, and strived to get back in the UFC, by going through
a rampage of wins, while Sherk was given a gimme fight to hold the belt.
Something deep down tells me we will see Sherk get knocked out at the end of
the night. It's going to be crazy, with Sherk running around the cage trying to
hug Francas leg, and Franca running away and throwing looping punches that come
from out of know where. "Come her give me a hug Franca, come here", "No way,
get away from me, get away from me!"
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