The 10-match Fight for the Troops card presents some interesting match ups and story lines as MMA begins a busy month of December.
Sportsnet is prepping for a busy week in the world of Mixed Martial Arts. The UFC is holding two events, one titled Fight for the Troops and the other is The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 8 Finale, both of which will be aired on Rogers Sportsnet. Later this week I will break down the TUF 8 finale, but today we will take a look at Fight for the Troops.
The card is headlined by American Josh Koscheck as he takes on 'Japanese Warrior' Yoshiyuki Yoshida. While Koscheck’s resume is better than Yoshida’s, do not underestimate what the Japanese judo sensation brings to the table. He is a beast, who will give Koscheck all he can handle. Another aspect that seems to be flying under the radar is that this may be the last time we see Josh Koscheck in the UFC for quite some time. Koscheck has yet to sign the video game licensing agreement, the same contract that saw his teammate Jon Fitch booted out of the UFC (and subsequently reinstated 24 hours later). Koscheck is aware that this is a different yet serious fight that looms beyond his bout with Yoshida. It remains to be seen what the UFC does with Koscheck regardless of whether the veteran of TUF 1 wins or loses.
But business issues aside, let’s take a look at the bouts on this card:
Josh Koscheck (13-3) vs. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (10-2)
This is a battle that sees Koscheck’s stellar wrestling and much improved striking against Yoshida’s incredible judo acumen and slick ground 'n pound. Yoshida enjoys the clinch game and welcomes any sort of strategy that will see Koscheck take him to the ground.
Putting a wrestler on his back is not an easy task and Yoshida will have to time his throws, reversals and sweeps perfectly. If he can get on top of Koscheck, his chances of winning increase exponentially as I cannot see him defeating Koscheck with his strikes, nor can I see him submitting him while Koscheck has him on his back.
All signs point to Koscheck winning this bout via a decision. It will no doubt be a war, and will send a stern message that Yoshida is the real deal and that Koscheck is still in the Top 5 among his peers.
Mike Swick (12-2) Vs. Jonathan Goulet (22-9-1)
While Goulet has the upper hand in experience, Swick is the heavy favourite in this bout. He possesses an explosive striking attack and is relentless once he switches gears. If Goulet can withstand the initial barrage, he will have a good chance at locking in one of his slick submissions in the later rounds.
Swick will be looking to make a statement in this fight (translation: early knockout), so Goulet should know better to engage early on. Stick and move to make Swick commit and put him on his back. Use some ground and pound to wear him out before moving in for the finish.
Both guys train with some of the best in the business. Swick’s training partners include Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch, while Goulet trains with GSP, Denis Kang and David Loiseau. They will be ready for a war and while I see Swick pulling a rabbit out his hat, I will not be surprised if Goulet is able to catch the favourite with an arm bar or choke.
Steve Cantwell (4-2) Vs. Razak Al-Hassan (7-0)
Cantwell is making his UFC debut, coming directly from its sister organization, the WEC. Al-Hassan has made his name on the grass roots circuit and is known for his reckless stand up, just to get the fight down to the ground. Look for Cantwell to corral Al-Hassan’s fury into a TKO in Round 1.
Tim Credeur (11-4) Vs. Nate Loughran (9-0)
This is a fight I cannot see going the distance. It’s a battle of submission specialists so their experience will neutralize any option to tap out, but I believe Loughran will surprise everyone with a referee stoppage in Round 3.
Matt Wiman (10-3) Vs. Jim Miller (12-1)
This match up has fight of the night written all over it. Wiman should have the better cardio as Miller is taking the fight on short notice, replacing Frankie Edgar who was forced to pull out last week. Anytime Miller fights, it’s a guaranteed fast-paced affair so look for Wiman to get hurt early, but pull off the serious comeback in Round 3.
Luigi Fioravanti (12-4) Vs. Brodie Farber (13-4)
This is could end up being a loser goes home match. Fioravanti is coming off a disappointing loss to Diego Sanchez and knows if he doesn’t win it’s off to the regional circuits again. Farber is coming off the wrong side of a highlight reel KO to Rory Markham, a bout he was winning until a high-kick changed the outcome.
It’s a tough fight to call and whomever is too cautious will most likely be the one to fall short on the judges’ scorecard. Look for Farber to win a split decision.
Steve Bruno (12-4) Vs. Johnny Rees (10-1)
Bruno impressed me in his loss to Chris Wilson and appears to be stuck with the stigma of not getting over the big hurdle of beating guys that are on the same level as him. His losses have all come to other fighters who are on par with his skills, and Rees doesn’t appear to be in that league.
Rees favours the ground but can stand and bang as well. Look for Bruno to soften Rees up for a final submission finish in the third round.
Ben Saunders (6-0-2) Vs. Brandon Wolff (7-2)
Saunders brings an undefeated record to this bout and will have to defend the ‘0’ in his loss column to a very tough brawler in Brandon Wolff. Wolff has fought some tough competition outside of the UFC, but may have his hands full making his UFC debut on this card.
Look for Saunders to pressure the UFC newbie into making a mistake, capitalizing with a rear naked choke in round 2.
Corey Hill (2-1) Vs. Dale Hartt (5-1)
The time is now for Corey Hill to fulfill the promise that he is the next big thing in the lightweight division. This is a make or break fight for Hill. Should he lose I believe he will be released by the UFC, and that’s not a bad thing. He’s still young and inexperienced with plenty of time to improve his record on the smaller shows so that when he does return to the UFC, he will be much better off.
Hartt will be looking to redeem a loss in his UFC debut against Shannon Gugerty. To do so, he has changed his training and enlisted the star studded staff at Xtreme Couture, Master Toddy’s and Phillipi Sports institute. Hartt will be ready to break through Hill’s incredible reach and push him to the point of exhaustion, a place I have pegged as midway through Round 3.
Eddie Sanchez (10-4-2) Vs. Justin McCully (8-4-2)
If this bout lasts more than five minutes, I will be shocked. Sanchez’s right hand finishes fights quickly while McCully’s submission skills can do the same. Look for McCully to finagle his way into the clinch, take Sanchez down and submit him with an arm bar in the first round.
