Guest blogger Dwight Wakabayashi gives his picks for Tuesday’s UFC on FUEL TV 3: Korean Zombie vs. Poirier from Fairfax, Va.
Undercard (watch on Facebook at 5:30 p.m. ET)
Alex Soto vs. Francisco Rivera
The 28-year-old Soto has one fight in the UFC, a loss to young phenom Michael MacDonald so it’s hard to gauge what Soto can do against a “normal” opponent. Rivera is that normal opponent and makes his return to the UFC on short notice after losing his UFC debut to Reuben Duran by submission a year ago.
In the end, I see Rivera being slightly more dangerous on the feet with power, but Soto is more technical. The key in this one will be on the ground where Rivera is very vulnerable. If the fight makes it to the ground, Soto will take over from there
The pick: Soto via second-round submission
Jeff Curran vs. Johnny Eduardo
A very intriguing matchup between two aging veterans will come down to the level of opponent that each man has faced.
Both have been in many wars outside the UFC but Curran is just a little bit higher in calibre and has faced tougher fighters throughout his career, mostly in the WEC. Both fighters can strike and grapple to equal degree so this fight will take place all over the cage.
In the end, the experience of Curran will help him be the more poised fighter and win a decision.
The pick: Curran via unanimous decision
Rafael dos Anjos vs. Kamal Shalorus
Dos Anjos is a talented, young lion trying to really find his footing inside the UFC cage and Shalorus is on the bubble, just trying to hang on to his job.
Dos Anjos s coming off a loss to monster Gleison Tibau but has beaten some great fighters in his time in the UFC. He brings an aggressive striking game to the cage and looks to hurt you at every moment. Shalorus has lost two in a row, to some very tough opponents, but he is a game and skilled fighter
In the end, I see dos Anjos getting off first on the feet and hurting Shalorus throughout the fight to win a decision
The pick: dos Anjos via unanimous decision
TJ Grant vs. Carlo Prater
One of three Canadians on this card, Grant is coming off a successful lightweight debut with a win over Shane Roller in October. He dominated Roller throughout the fight, convincing many that 155 pounds is the proper place for him. Grant is aggressive, yet extremely technical in his entire fight game.
The Brazilian Prater is on a great roll coming into this fight and is on a five-fight win streak. Like Grant, Prater is really in the prime of his career and this fight is extremely important for him to get to that next level in his career.
Both are exceptional grapplers and this fight is likely to stay standing because of it. The submissions game being equal, I give the power edge to Grant.
The pick: Grant via unanimous decision
Brad Tavares vs. Dongi Yang
Tavares is a young, strong all-around fighter who is coming off the first loss of his career to veteran wrestler Aaron Simpson. Yang is a dangerous judoka and striker from South Korea who is also coming off a loss to Court McGee.
Tavares should be able to use his strength and toughness to control the fight wherever it goes and no matter how long it goes. His previous conditioning woes should not be an issue. Yang will look to be quick and first in the striking and in the positioning on the ground but his speed will be overcome by the aggression of Tavares.
Don’t be surprised if this one ends quickly.
The pick: Tavares via first-round knockout
Cody McKenzie vs. Marcus LeVesseur
Many know what McKenzie’s most dangerous weapon is when he steps in the cage; it is his opponent that is the mystery in this one.
McKenzie is a submission fighter, and was supposed to take on Aaron Riley before the UFC took Riley out and replaced him with LeVesseur. LeVesseur’s pedigree comes from NCAA wrestling and he is making his debut in the UFC. It is a huge step up for him but if LeVesseur can avoid the one trick that McKenzie can pull off, he should be able to control the fight to victory.
The pick: LeVesseur via unanimous decision
Main card (on Sportsnet regional channels at 8 p.m. ET)
Tom Lawlor vs. Jason MacDonald
In a solid matchup between two aging and fading veterans I think the mauling and wrestling control of Lawlor takes the day in this one.
MacDonald is still very dangerous with his submissions and can pull one out from any position, but that is all he really has and Lawlor should be prepared for that aspect of MacDonald’s game. It’s no secret that J-Mac wants to get on the UFC 149 card in Calgary for a retirement fight in July. His mind may be preoccupied with that and that is never a good thing.
Lawlor is, as advertised, “Filthy” when it comes to his wrestling and pressure style, and I think that wins the day in a very ugly fight.
The pick: Lawlor via unanimous decision
Igor Pokrajac vs. Fabio Maldonado
This is another fight with aging fighters looking to be relevant and stay employed in the UFC and could turn out to be a nice slugfest.
Pokrajac is coming off a solid knockout of Krzysztof Soszynski in December where he displayed some nice power and a killer instinct. He hurt Soszynski with a big shot and then went in for the kill, but I’m not sure he will want to stand and trade with the boxer Maldonado in this one.
Pokrajac is definitely the more well-rounded of the two and he should be able to use that when needed to get points and secure a solid win.
Maldonado has a better chance the more this fight stays standing.
The pick: Pokrajac via unanimous decision
Yves Jabouin vs. Jeff Hougland
Although their styles are very different, these two fighters are very evenly matched. When all is said and done it will come down to desire and experience and I haven’t seen enough of Hougland to really know what he is made of.
On the other hand, Jabouin brings a wealth of experience and has fought tougher opponents in his career. He is coming off a nice win over lengthy Walel Watson in which he had to dig deep and get crafty with his game.
Hougland made his debut in the UFC last year and got a solid win with activity and submission attempts.
But I see Jabouin being a bit more well rounded and I think Hougland may be a step behind all fight.
The pick: Jabouin via unanimous decision
Donald Cerrone vs. Jeremy Stephens
Cerrone will be looking for a bounce-back in this matchup against the always game and tough Stephens. Cerrone was originally supposed to fight Yves Edwards in this one and I see Stephens as a tougher matchup for him.
The power edge has to go to Stephens and he has a chance to catch and hurt Cerrone. Stephens throws wildly at times and look for Cerrone to be the more technically sound, straight up the middle puncher.
That brings us to Cerrone’s dreaded leg kicks, the only weapon he used to any real success in his loss against Nate Diaz. Cerrone should be able to mix up his kicks with his hands to keep Stephens guessing and on his heels all night and that will set up a takedown and submission at some point.
The pick: Cerrone via third-round submission
Amir Sadollah vs. Jorge Lopez
This fight is a rescheduled matchup and one that Sadollah can’t afford to lose. Lopez lost in his debut last September but he is a new, young and fresh face in the promotion and has time to grow into his game in the coming years.
Sadollah is a "been there, done that" fighter on every level except the elite and he has failed to make that next jump in his career. The injury-prone and older Sadollah must use his experience and legs to take the lead and advantage all night.
Lopez has knockout power in his hands but that’s really all he has to this point and Sadollah should be able to pick him apart with his Muay Thai and make Lopez uncomfortable all night.
The pick: Sadollah via unanimous decision
Dustin Poirier vs. Chan Sung Jung
Dustin Poirier has a lot of heat behind him right now. Sure he has accomplished some things in his young mixed martial arts career but he shouldn’t be getting the hype that he has gotten, until he beats a guy like Jung.
Jung has a lot of hype and heat too, but his was earned via a beautiful twister submission of Leonard Garcia, followed by a flash knockout of Mark Hominick. Jung is for real and has a well-rounded, elite-level game on the feet and on the ground.
Poirier has some serious skills as well, and I think he is the stronger of the two men in this one. It is a step up for Poirier and should be a good indication of where his skill really stands in the division.
In the end, I believe Poirier will use his strength, youth and aggressive style to stay tight on Jung all night and win a back-and-forth war that will deliver to the fans delight.
The pick: Poirier via unanimous decision
Dwight Wakabayashi is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report and a writer/analyst for MMACanada.net.
