The following are fight predictions for TUF 7 Finale. For odds on the fight please visit our TUF 7 odds page.
Evan Tanner vs. Kendall Grove
“Kendall will pull off the upset with a decision win after the third round.”
Sportsbook.com Odds (Tanner (-200) / Grove (+160))
The main event of the night will feature Former UFC middleweight Champion Evan Tanner taking on the TUF season 3 winner Kendall ‘Da Spyder’ Grove. Both fighters are coming off tough losses and need a win.
Tanner is looking to rebound from a knock out loss at UFC 82 by Yushin Okami. Tanner took a knee to the head in the third minute in round two that finished him. This was Tanners first fight back from almost two years as a result of alcohol problems. One can hope he has shaken off the ring rust and is ready for Grove. With a good 5 months of training we may see some of the old, tough former UFC champion. Tanner is a very good wrestler and strong from the mat on top or on his back. He needs this win if he is to get back and be competitive in the UFC again.
This fight may be even bigger for Kendall because he has more to lose. He started off strong with three straight impressive wins in the UFC, after winning the TUF 3. Since then, he has dropped two straight fights by knock out. Tanner could be his toughest opponent to date if he comes out in shape and prepared. I believe Kendall has the skills to beat Tanner and needs to be ready and hungry come Saturday. He needs to use his kicks, jabs, and his length to keep Tanner away.
This fight is huge for both their UFC futures. It will be an exciting bout and full of action. I don’t think Kendall will lose 3 in a row. Tanner is very good and I have a lot of respect for him, but I think his days are close to done. Kendall will pull off the upset with a decision win after the third round.
Diego Sanchez vs. Luigi Fioravanti
“Diego will win this fight with a second round stoppage due to strikes.”
Sportsbook.com Odds Sanchez (-500) / Fioravanti (+300)
Diego ‘Nightmare’ Sanchez (18-2) will take on military serviceman turned MMA fighter Luigi Fioravanti (14-5) from American Top Team. This fight favors Diego Sanchez. He is a much better wrestler with more ground skills.
Diego is coming off a two fight losing stretch. Diego defeated pride veteran David Bielkhden at UFC 82 by verbal submission in the first round. Luigi is also coming off a two loss streak by defeating Luke Cummo at UFC 82 by unanimous decision. Both fighters would like to stay on a win streak, but one must go.
Diego is only 25 and has a big career ahead of him. His only two loses were against two very tough opponents in Jon Fitch and Josh Koscheck that went to decisions. Those loses had dropped him down the welterweight division, but he will soon be back. Jon Fitch has now received his chance at St. Pierre for the title. Diego will most likely take Luigi down to the mat and ground and pound for the win. Diego doesn’t have huge knock out power, but isn’t afraid to exchange with his opponents. His strong points are his strength and ground game.
Luigi started training in Jiu-Jitsu and kickboxing while stationed in California and Iraq with the U.S. Marines, so we know how tough and disciplined Luigi is. He likes to stand and strike, which shows by 8 of his 12 wins by KO. his best chance of winning this fight is if he can keep this fight standing, a place Diego is not as comfortable. I don’t see him being able to stop Diego’s take-downs.
Diego will win this fight with a second round stoppage due to strikes. Diego is too strong and much more well-rounded for Luigi to handle.
Dean Lister vs. Jeremy Horn
Lister will win by a split decision after the third round.
Sportsbook.com Odds Lister (+105) / Horn (-135)
This will be a great fight between two Jiu-Jitsu masters. Expect to see thest two fighters doing a lot of grappling and looking for one another to make a mistake and get submitted.
Dean ‘Boogeyman’ Lister is an Abu Dhabi champion. I feel he has the better striking between the two fighters. He doesn’t have any knock outs to his name. He is very strong and looks for the take down. Out of his 10 wins, he has 8 by submission. He has never been knocked out or submitted himself. All of his 5 losses came by decision. He is very confident coming from 3 wins from his last 4 fights.
Jeremy ‘Gumby’ Horn is also a Jiu-Jitsu master and MMA veteran. He is coming off a bad loss where he was battered and choked out by Nate marquardt. Like the veteran he is, Jeremy took that fight on only a few days notice. Jeremy has an impressive resume with 88 victories, with 49 by submission. He also is not a very big striker, but isn’t afraid to mix it up with his opponent. He has lost 3 of his last 4 fights, so this is very important to him and his career.
This is a tough fight to pick a winner. It’s going to be a grappling match between two Jiu-Jitsu experts. I see Lister over-powering and controlling most of the fight. There will be submission attempts on both sides throughout the fight. Lister will win by a split decision after the third round.
Josh Burkman vs. Dustin Hazelett
“I’m taking Burkman to win by decision after the third round.”
This will be a very exciting match between Josh ‘The Peoples Warrior’ Burkman and Dustin ‘ McLovin’ Hazelett. Both fighters are coming off tough losses and looking to get back in the with column.
Burkman is back from a dull decision loss to Mike Swick and is anxious to get back and put on a good show. He is going to Vegas to train with Xtreme Couture to get prepared for this fight. Burkman has said this fight is going to be an all-out brawl. He is sick of people talking about his wrestling background. He is going for the knock out and will keep this fight off the mat at all costs.
Hazelett is a very dangerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter. He is going to put a lot of pressure on Burkman, bringing the action to him. He doesn’t have heavy hands, but has great submission skills. Hazelett just had a three fight win streak taken from him by a TKO loss to the very tough Josh Koscheck. The advantage could be on Hazelett’s side if Burkman is going into this fight wanting to slug it out. Josh could get sloppy and Hazelett may get the take down easier than he may have thought.
Burkman is working hard for this fight and he is claiming to stay off his feet the whole fight, looking for a KO. If this doesn’t work out, he will probably resort to what he knows best, which is take-downs to ground and pound. I’m taking Burkman to win by decision after the third round.
Marvin Eastman vs. Drew McFedries
“I believe McFedries will be too much for Eastman to handle, and will catch him with a second round knock out.”
Marvin ‘The Beastman’ Eastman will be taking on Drew McFedries. This should be an all-out slug-fest, with someone getting caught with a big punch.
Eastman is coming off a good unanimous decision win over heavy-handed Terry Martin. This will be his last fight under his UFC contract, therefore, if he wants to get a new deal he needs a big win to show Dana he is still a threat. Eastman is very strong and comes out with a lot of intensity. He is, however, a little small for a light heavyweight and I think he is past his prime. He is very well-rounded and shows a lot of heart in the cage.
McFedries is coming off a loss to middleweight contender Patrick Cote in January. McFedries underwent surgery to repair damage from a bad staph infection in 2007. McFedries is also very strong and well-rounded. I see him coming out looking for the knock out and putting a lot of pressure on Eastman. He trains with the Miletich Camp, so you know he will be ready to send Eastman packing from the UFC.
This fight will be exciting and action packed. I believe McFedries will be too much for Eastman to handle, and will catch him with a second round knock out.
Spencer Fisher vs. Jeremy Stephens
“I say Fisher by decision after the third round.”
This will be another good match up between two pretty evenly matched fighters.
Fisher is a great boxer and spars with Jens Pulver. He is a Miletich Team member and trains with some of the greatest fighters around. He is an excellent striker and carries knock out power in both hands. He has 11 knock outs from his twenty wins. Look for him to keep this fight mostly on his feet.
Jeremy is very well rounded and is looking to get his name better recognized in the UFC. A win over Spencer could surely grab peoples attention. He also has very heavy hands and 9 knock outs from his 13 wins. His boxing is very technical and looks to land combinations.
These two fighters will most likely keep this fight standing. It may come down to who has the sharper and more effective punch combinations. Stephens has a bright future in the UFC, but I do not believe Saturday will be his day. I say Fisher by decision after the third round.
Predicted by Pat V.
—- Click here for a UFC sportsbook and to begin betting on any of these fights.
