Breaking down all the fights as the Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Sin City.
After taking their show on the road for three consecutive pay per views, the UFC returns home to Las Vegas, Nevada for UFC 91. Come Saturday night, there are nine fights that will go down, with a few of them having major implications on divisional rankings.
The weigh-ins returned to the MGM Grand Garden Arena where thousands of UFC fans packed the seats for the free experience. They cheered, booed but above all, they were as loud as ever. Let's take a look at how much each fighter weighed in at, while I give you my thoughts and predictions on who will win.
MAIN CARD (TELEVISED)
Champ Randy Couture (220 lbs) vs. Brock Lesnar (265 lbs) for UFC heavyweight title
When Lesnar stepped off the scale, he was asked about the significance of this bout. He was all business in his response. "It is what it is. I'm just going to get in the octagon and take the belt away from Randy," Lesnar said. How does Lesnar see the bout ending? "I visualize having my hand being raised on Saturday night."
Couture was cheered to a deafening ovation and when asked if this was his biggest challenge to date, he said, "It's certainly one of my biggest to date and I'm excited to be here."
Couture has been there and done that and when asked if there was anything else he wanted to accomplish, he summed it up with what he knows best. "It’s not about the accomplishments. It’s about competing and doing what I love to do and that's to fight."
Ever since Couture (16-8) took on Kevin Randleman at the tender age of 37, the "Father Time" analogy has hung over him in every single bout thereafter. I, for one, do not buy it, as Couture will be using his veteran experience to push Lesnar (2-1) to the breaking point in this bout.
While Lesnar has cinderblocks for fists, and will always be one punch away from ending this bout, Couture will play a patient game and pick away at the Minneapolis monster. I look for him to frustrate the big man while sucking the will to win from his opponent. Couture will take his younger adversary to the championship rounds, where he will win via TKO in round 4.
Kenny Florian (156 lbs) vs. Joe Stevenson (156 lbs)
Ken-Flo (12-3) is taking a huge risk in this bout, putting his No. 1 contender status on the line, as he takes on the former No. 1 contender, Joe "Daddy" Stevenson (34-8).
With great risk comes great reward, and for Florian, the final result will be a title shot vs. B.J. Penn, as he will take out Stevenson via split decision in a candidate for fight of the night.
Gabriel Gonzaga (256 lbs) vs. Josh Hendricks (238 lbs)
With the recent release of Fabricio Werdum, Gonzaga (9-3) can catapult himself up the rankings should he defeat Hendricks (18-4, 1 NC) on Saturday night. While Hendricks has been training with Couture for this bout, I see Gonzaga working his ground 'n' pound until Hendricks eventually gives up his arm in a submission, midway through the second round.
Demian Maia (185 lbs) vs. Nate Quarry (185 lbs)
Everyone seems to be picking Quarry (16-2) in this bout, especially due to his stiff punching power and stellar wrestling. But Maia's (9-0) muay thai skills are underrated and I see him pounding Quarry down to the mat, where he will submit him via rear naked choke in the third round.
Dustin Hazelett (170 lbs) vs. Tamdan McCrory (170 lbs)
With the Amir Sadollah-Nick Catone fight being cancelled due to a Sadollah leg injury, this bout has been moved to the main card and will highlight one of the future stars in the welterweight division.
Hazelett (13-4) is the real deal with great punching technique, devastating knees and a punishing submission game. If McCrory (11-1) can make it out of the first round, he should consider that a victory for himself as I see Hazelett being too much for ‘The Barn Cat.’
PRELIMINARY CARD (NOT TELEVISED)
Jorge Gurgel (155 lbs) vs. Aaron Riley (156 lbs)
This is a battle of two veteran fighters, with the fight breaking down in Riley's (26-10-1) favour. He has excellent submission defence to neutralize Gurgel's ground attack and has much better striking. Look for Gurgel (12-4) to be saved by the ref late in the first round.
Jeremy Stephens (155 lbs) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (155 lbs)
Stephens (15-3) will be looking to impress in this fight and unfortunately for dos Anjos (11-2), he will be used as an example for Stephens to prove to the UFC he is still worthy of being kept on their roster. I look for Stephens to dominate dos Anjos, and finish him the first round.
Mark Bocek (155 lbs) vs. Alvin Robinson (155 lbs)
Canadian Bocek (5-2) will have his hands full with "Kid" Robinson (10-3). ‘The Kid’ will try and keep this fight standing up and unless Bocek's striking game has improved since his last bout, he could find himself in big trouble early on. Barring a Bocek submission, look for Robinson to win late in the third round.
Matt Brown (171lbs) vs. Ryan Thomas (170 lbs)
Brown (10-7) is coming off a recent decision victory and will be looking to teach Thomas (13-2) a lesson. But this may not happen as Thomas is a stud wrestler whose submission game has improved dramatically. I look for him to shock UFC fans by winning a unanimous judges decision and rising his stock with the organization.
