Anderson Silva vs James Irvin
Sportsbook.com Odds ( -600 Silva / Irvin +400 )
Prediction: I see Irvin giving more than most people think, but getting caught with a kick to the head, then finished in the second round.
Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva will be making his debut at light heavyweight against the heavy handed striker James ‘The Sandman’ Irvin. This will be a good test for Silva to see if he can handle moving up twenty pounds. Irvin is no push over and should be able to give Silva a run for his money.
Silva (21-4) is on a seven fight win streak. He has just blown through the UFC middleweight division including three successful title defenses. He is so dangerous everywhere in the octagon. Anywhere this fight goes Silva should get the best of it. He is a Muay expert with devastating knees, elbows, kicks, and even carries knock out power in his hands. Silva is always calm and waits for the right time to strike. On his seven fight win streak, he has finished all of his opponents and hasn’t gone past the second round.
James Irvin (14-4) is a very good wrestler and carries heavy hands. He must come into the fight calm and smart, then wait for Silva to make a mistake. If Irvin is successful in taking take Silva he must watch out because Silva is a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt. Irvin must go to work fast and rain down elbows and fists to overwhelm Silva. If standing, Irvin has good striking and needs to land a big shot to the chin. Silva should not underestimate Irvin’s power or he may be put to sleep.
Irvin is a little bigger and is used to fighting at light heavyweight. Irvin should avoid the clinch and be careful of Silva’s deadly knees. Irvin is a big underdog at (+400) with a puncher chance to pull off the upset. I plan on putting $50-$100 down in this fight for a big return.
Silva has better technical striking and his overall skills top Irvin. I see Irvin giving more than most people think, but getting caught with a kick to the head, then finished in the second round.
Brandon Vera vs. Reese Andy
Vera is looking to rebound over two straight losses in the heavyweight division. Vera is taking on Reese Andy, newly acquired from the IFL. I don’t see Vera losing three in a row and coming our really aggressive.
Brandon ‘The Truth’ Vera (8-2), a former heavyweight contender will make his lightweight debut on Saturday night. Vera, coming back from a controversial loss to Fabricio Werdum at UFC 85. Vera thought the fight was stopped too early. Vera is very well rounded with tons of power in his hands and legs. Six of his eight wins have come by knock out. He will look to make some noise and shake up the light heavyweight division with a big win.
Reese Andy (7-1) is on a four fight win streak. Andy, like Vera, fights usually as a heavyweight and this will no doubt be his toughest fight to date. Andy was a three-time all American wrestler at the University of Wyoming. He spent most of his career in the IFL going 5-1. Andy will probably start off striking then looking for a way to wrestle Vera to the mat.
I see this fight like throwing Andy to the wolves. The UFC doesn’t want to see Vera lose again. Vera has the advantage all day long. Andy’s only chance is to try to take Vera down and hope to ground and pound. Vera is going to land kicks and punches at will. I take Vera by a second round knock out.
Anthony Johnson vs. Kevin Burns
Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson and Kevin Burns are each coming off impressive wins. Both fighters are looking for a another UFC win to make their way up the middleweight ladder.
Johnson (5-1) made short work of TUF 6 finalists Tommy Speer at UFN 13 with a devastating knock out. Back in June at Fight Night 10, Johnson’s UFC debut, he took out Chad Reiner in just 12 seconds. In between those two fights he did lose to Rich Clementi by submission. Johnson is very athletic and throws punches with intent to kill. Johnson will try to keep this fight standing, using his brute strength and throwing his fists.
Kevin Burns (6-1) taking his previous fight in just two weeks notice at UFC 85 shocked a lot of people. He submitted Jiu- Jitsu expert Roan Carneiro with a triangle choke. That submission earned him a $50,000 bonus for submission of the night. Burns is not a big striker and will try to avoid a Johnson knock out by taking him down. Burns is on a four fight win streak with 3 submissions and one knock out.
Johnson is much stronger and a great wrestler, but prefers to strike. Burns will be over-matched Saturday night. I’m calling Johnson with knock out of the night in the first round.
Hermes Franca vs. Frank Edgar
This should be an exciting fight between Hermes Franca and Frank Edgar. Both fighters are looking to rebound from losses.
The return of Hermes Franca (16-8) has finally come. This will be his first fight in a year due to his steroid suspension from his fight with Sean Sherk. A year ago, Franca was one of the most exciting lightweights in the UFC. Prior to his loss to Sherk, he was on an eight fight win streak. He is a very dangerous Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu fighter who is always pressuring his opponents. Only one of his 18 wins have gone to decision.
Edgar (8-1), is a very good wrestler and is currently the only fighter to have beaten Tyson Griffin. He will probably have to use his wrestling in this fight. Franca had problems with the superior wrestling of Sherk in his last loss. Edgar had also taken out the always dangerous Spencer Fisher by unanimous decision. He will have his hands full Saturday night.
Franca will pull off the upset as he is (+135 ) underdog Saturday night. With a year off, I believe he will be as eager as ever to get back up the ranks and contend for the belt. He is more well rounded and will be more than Edgar can handle. Franca by unanimous decision.
Rory Markham vs. Brodie Farber
This will be a competitive match up between two UFC newcomers. Both would love to start off in the UFC with an impressive win, but only one can.
Rory Markham (14-4) is a former IFL welterweight fighter. He is a heavy handed striker and shows tons of heart and determination in the cage. Markham has won seven of his last nine fights. His most recent victory came over Jay Ellis due to triangle choke at the Adrenaline MMA event. Markham is a team militech fighter and has put together an impressive 7-2 record with the IFL. Markham has only a month to train for this fight prior to his last fight.
Brodie Farber (13-3) has done most of his fighting in Mexico with MMA Extreme. Farber is a former Rage in the Cage middleweight champion. He is currently on a six fight win streak with 3 by knock out and 3 by submissions.
Markham is more experienced and more well rounded than Farber. I”m calling Markham with a third round knock out.
Cain Velasquez vs Jake O’brien
After being dropped by the UFC Jake O’Brien has been reinstated in the UFC to take on Cain Velasquez. Both fighters are former Division I wrestlers who actually met before in collegiate competition
Cain has been labeled the nest big thing in the heavyweight division. This is a lot to live up to, seeing he has only three professional MMA fights. He is currently training with American Kickboxing Academy, and has impressed many of his training partners. AKA owner and trainer, Javier Mendez thinks Cain has what it takes to be heavyweight champion.
Velasquez (3-0) has an excellent background in wrestling and is extremely athletic. He has been working on his striking and Jiu Jitsu. Cain displays very fast hands for a heavyweight and look for them to show up on O’Brien.
Jake O’Brien (10-1) is not a very exciting fighter to watch. He goes tight in for the take down and lays on top of his opponents, bagging out the win. His only loss has come by the hands of Andrei Arlovski. O’Brien relies mainly on his strong wrestling during his fights. He will need to bring more of his arsenal to the octagon if he plans on beating Velasquez.
This is a fight between two excellent wrestlers who should cancel each other out. I believe O’brien will be frustrated due to his take down attempts being stuffed and forced to stand and trade shots with Cain. Cain will show off his striking and TKO O’Brien in the second round.
