A number of media personalities weighed in for Sportsnet.ca on their predictions for UFC 83: Serra vs. St-Pierre 2, taking place Saturday, April 19, in Montreal.
Full predictions for each below:
St. Pierre/Serra: St. Pierre TKO 1st round – GSP is an improved fighter since his suprising loss to Serra at UFC 69…with all due respect to Serra I expect GSP to make short work of him.
Lutter/Franklin: Lutter submission 2nd round – I don’t think Franklin has been the same since his first loss to Anderson Silva. If Lutter gets him to the ground he will win by submission.
Quarry/Starnes: Starnes decision – Starnes like all the Canadians on the card will be very motivated to win and he proved he could win a tough fight when he beat Chris Leben.
McCarthy/Bisping: Bisping decision – McCarthy’s trash talk will motivate Bisping to step up his game.
Bocek/Danzig: Bocek submission – Bocek is a dangerous fighter on the ground.
Doerksen/MacDonald: MacDonald TKO – A no-win fight for MacDonald, after recently fighting some of the best at 185 he has to take on a fellow Canadian who has lost 5 of his 6 fights in the UFC.
Day/Belcher: Day decision – Coming off a win against David Loiseau will give him confidence in his UFC debut.
Herman/Maia: Maia submission 1st round – Maia is a world champion grappler.
Clementi/Stout: Stout TKO 2nd round – Clementi has been good since going to 155, Stout will have to be at his best.
Morris/Velasquez: Velasquez KO 1st round – two heavyweights making their debuts – probably won’t last long.
Hironaka/Goulet: Goulet decision – Goulet has been working hard to improve and being in his home province should provide an advantage.
St. Pierre/Serra: St. Pierre – Day by day, I’ve been been more and more tempted to pick Serra. But I just can’t.
Lutter/Franklin: Franklin – Apart from Anderson Silva, Franklin has only one loss in his career.
Quarry/Starnes: Starnes – The way he lost his last fight and then split with management was tough. I see him getting some redemption here.
McCarthy/Bisping: Bisping – He’s now at a weight that he can feel most comfortable with.
Bocek/Danzig: Bocek – I underestimated Bocek in his last fight. I won’t this time.
Doerksen/MacDonald: MacDonald – He’s just the stronger fighter at this point in their careers.
Day/Belcher: Day – He’s been on a roll and I like the composure I’m seeing from him this week.
Herman/Maia: Herman – Basically, just a hunch.
Clementi/Stout: Stout – Hands of Stone. ‘Nuff said.
Morris/Velasquez: Morris – His experience should give him the edge.
Hironaka/Goulet: Hironaka – I really want to go with Goulet, but he has been too inconsistent lately.
St. Pierre/Serra: St. Pierre – third round TKO
Lutter/Franklin: Franklin – unanimous decision
Quarry/Starnes: Starnes – second round TKO
McCarthy/Bisping: Bisping – third round KO
Bocek/Danzig: Danzig – first round TKO
Doerksen/MacDonald: MacDonald – unanimous decision
Day/Belcher: Day – unanimous decision
Herman/Maia: Maia – second round submission
Clementi/Stout: Stout – unanimous decision
Morris/Velasquez: Velasquez – first round TKO
Hironaka/Goulet: Goulet – split decision
Neil Davidson, The Canadian Press
St. Pierre/Serra: St. Pierre – St. Pierre is a man on a mission.
Lutter/Franklin: Lutter – Lutter gave Silva problems on the ground. If he can survive Franklin strikes, it will be more of the same.
Quarry/Starnes: Quarry – But my heart wants Starnes.
McCarthy/Bisping: Bisping – Time for Bisping to put on a show.
Bocek/Danzig: Danzig – One of the toughest fights to call on the card. Danzig by a nose.
Doerksen/MacDonald: MacDonald – Doerksen has riled MacDonald and The Athlete is dangerous when it gets personal. Ask Rory Singer.
Day/Belcher: Belcher – Day is tough but Belcher is a dangerous puncher with quick hands.
Herman/Maia: Maia – One tough, and unbeaten, Brazilian nut. And a BJJ world champion to boot.
Clementi/Stout: Clementi – Clementi has to avoid strikes, but can win if he surivives standup and gets fight to the ground.
Morris/Velasquez: Velasquez – Only two MMA fights but All-American wrestler will be hard to stop.
Hironaka/Goulet: Hironaka – He’s a black belt and has a pedigree.
St. Pierre/Serra: St. Pierre – As much as an upset wouldn’t shock me, it’s hard to bet against the hometown boy who’s dominated tough opponents in his last two fights. GSP by second round stoppage.
Lutter/Franklin: Lutter – Franklin’s been dealt devastating losses both in and out of the cage in the past few months. A second loss to Anderson Silva and the death of his father may be too much for the former champ to overcome. Lutter by decision
Quarry/Starnes: Quarry – Quarry looked great in his last fight and Starnes didn’t. Quarry by second round stoppage.
McCarthy/Bisping: Bisping – It’s The Count’s first go at middleweight after dropping down from 205lbs. It’s a more natural weight for him and he looks ready. Should have no problems with McCarthy. Bisping in the first with some sort of kick.
Bocek/Danzig: Danzig – Bocek’s been training with Team Quest and will be cornered by Dan Henderson. But even that’s not enough to beat The Ultimate Fighter 6 winner Danzig. Danzig by decision.
Doerksen/MacDonald: MacDonald – These two don’t like each other. It’s going to be a war. But MacDonald’s beat him before and he’ll beat him again. MacDonald by second-round submission.
Day/Belcher: Day – Betting with your heart and not your head is a recipe for bankruptcy, but I have to go with the Canadian on this one. Day’s making his UFC debut, has nothing to lose and has looked confident all week. Day by decision
Herman/Maia: Maia – Herman will be Maia’s biggest test to date but the undefeated Brazilian knows how to find a limb and stretch it. Maia by third round submission.
Clementi/Stout: Stout – Stout is one of the most exciting Canadian fighters on the planet and now training out of Xtreme Couture in Vegas. Stout will keep it standing up but this one will go the distance. Stout by decision
Morris/Velasquez: Velasquez – Morris has the experience but Velasquez has the power. Velasquez by second round TKO
Hironaka/Goulet: Goulet – You gotta give the other hometown boy some props. Goulet by stoppage in the second round.
St. Pierre/Serra: St. Pierre – Serra was always going to lose the rematch, but taking into account all the stuff his camp has been saying about St. Pierre lately, it’s only going to lead to GSP pummelling him into tomato paste now.
Lutter/Franklin: Franklin – As long as he’s not facing Anderson Silva, Franklin is a very good striker and against someone like Lutter he can go back to his comfort zone and hunt down his opponent.
Quarry/Starnes: Starnes – Quarry looked as stiff as a corpse in his last fight against Pete (lead with my chin) Sell, so expect Starnes to dictate where this fight takes place.
McCarthy/Bisping: Bisping – The Count should be able to keep the majority of this fight standing, where he holds a distinct advantage over McCarthy.
Bocek/Danzig: Bocek – Danzig is very well rounded but the advantage he holds over Bocek standing is far outweighed by Bocek’s savvy ground game.
Doerksen/MacDonald: MacDonald – How Doerkson continues to get invited back to compete in the UFC is the biggest mystery in MMA.
Day/Belcher: Belcher – Unfortunately for Day, he’ll be overwhelmed by Belcher in his UFC debut.
Herman/Maia: Herman – Herman is certainly susceptible to a submission, but I think he’s matured enough in his last few fights to not get caught.
Clementi/Stout: Clementi – Clementi has enough striking skills to hang with Stout standing until he can take the fight to ground where he’ll dominate the Canadian striker.
Morris/Velasquez: Velasquez – Velasquez is expected to be the next big thing in the heavyweight division.
Hironaka/Goulet: Hironaka – If Goulet is able to hang around and only lose by a decision, it will be considered a success.
St. Pierre/Serra: St. Pierre – GSP seems as focused as ever, and it
should be a loud, victorious homecoming for him.
Lutter/Franklin: Franklin – It’s been years since Franklin lost to
anyone not named Anderson Silva. It’s a trend that should continue.
Quarry/Starnes: Quarry – Quarry seems healed and solid, which should
lead to a striking-style win.
McCarthy/Bisping: Bisping – Bisping should rebound quickly from
his loss to Rashad Evans in the fall.
Bocek/Danzig: Danzig – The TUF6 winner simply has a wider skillset.
Doerksen/MacDonald: MacDonald – This should be one of the more even
matches of the night. While both have fought plenty since MacDonald defeated
Doerksen before, the fight will probably look very similar.
Day/Belcher: Belcher – I like Day, and I think a big UFC win will
come for him, just not here. Belcher’s mix of weapons should give him the
win.
Herman/Maia: Maia – An undefeated Brazilian looking to submit. Not
a surprise, but Maia’s record should remain flawless.
Clementi/Stout: Stout – The Ontario native’s trained for the ground
game, but the crowd could inspire him to a strike-heavy win.
Morris/Velasquez: Velasquez – Velasquez has a wrestling background, but
packs a powerful punch. If Velasquez doesn’t telegraph what he’s going to
do, the fight is his.
Hironaka/Goulet: Goulet – In another locale, I’d probably be
going with Hironaka, but the hometown crowd combined with Goulet’s
experience puts Goulet on top.
St. Pierre/Serra: St. Pierre – Traditionally-speaking, an angry and
determined GSP is not the kind of opponent Serra wants to be going up
against. St. Pierre should avenge the loss in a big way.
Lutter/Franklin: Franklin – The Franklin-Lutter matchup is similar to
Franklin-MacDonald in various ways. Expect the same result.
Quarry/Starnes: Quarry – Starnes may have the edge on the ground
but Quarry has an uncanny ability to get back to his feet. Quarry by TKO.
McCarthy/Bisping: Bisping – McCarthy offers nothing more than a
surprise submission. Bisping should make things quick.
Bocek/Danzig: Danzig – Bocek will put up a fight but Danzig is the
better fighter at this stage in the game.
Doerksen/MacDonald: MacDonald – A tactical battle will likely ensue with
MacDonald defeating Doerksen once again.
Day/Belcher: Day – Wins over David Loiseau and Jonathan Goulet
prove that Day is ready for the big-time and has the tools to beat Belcher.
Herman/Maia: Maia – Herman’s game is ever-improving but won’t be
enough to offset Maia’s dangerous ground attack.
Clementi/Stout: Stout – Stout’s new focus on his ground game should
give him a different result compared to past efforts against submission
specialists like Clementi.
Morris/Velasquez: Velasquez – Velasquez’s wrestling can give any
heavyweight fits. He should coast to a decision.
Hironaka/Goulet: Goulet – Hironaka has been proven hard to
finish but he doesn’t bring anything to the table that Goulet hasn’t seen
before. Goulet by decision.
