Mixed Martial B0nes

Are we really here? Just last month we were a buzz over one of the greatest matches in UFC history with the Liddell/Silva fight in UFC79. We are now at UFC81 looking forward to a former WWE wrestler’s debut on the freaking MAIN CARD??!? The UFC has managed to scape together a program the night before the Super Bowl with some questionable choices on the main card. I won’t even address the undercard this time because of all the uncertainty. A TUF5 alum in Rob Emerson is fighting there though. Hopefully, he does better than his outing in the Ultimate Fighter Finale, as well as not get caught doing anything illegal. That didn’t work out too well for Rob! So, here it is, such as it is, UFC81:Breaking Point’s Main Card.

Tim “The Maine-iac” Sylvia(26-3-0) vs. Antonio “Minotauro” Rodrigo Nogueira(30-4-1) This is actually one of the only good matches on the program. We have the classic stand up vs. submission fight with Sylvia vs. Nogueira. This figures to be a great Heavyweight Title, excuse me, Interim Title match. These two have plenty of experience under their respective belts. The Minotauro is a Jiu Jitsu expert having been an instructor before stepping into the Octagon. I’m leaning towards the Minotauro choking out the Maine-iac. I guess it’s my West Coast bias since my Chargers aren’t playing this week because of the Pats!!

Frank Mir(10-3-0) Vs. Brock Lesnar(1-0-0) Can you say, “Freak Show?” That’s what this match is. Any way you slice it, this can’t be good for the integrity of the UFC can it? Let’s say the great conditioning and solid wrestling skills, combined with the unconventional methods of a WWE veteran gets Brock another win. Does this mean that Mir is a bitch and that any kook with a yen for MMA can fight his way into a UFC contract? It certainly seems so. Brock hasn’t paid his dues in the MMA world. Mir was born into it as he was the son of a martial arts instructor. He also has a respectable record that includes a championship in the UFC. Brock’s star power in the WWE is the ONLY reason this match made the main fight card. I’m hoping our cable televisions don’t melt when they name the winner of this fight. I have to side with Frank and hope that his MMA experience is what’s cookin’ on Saturday!

Jeremy “Gumby” Horn(88-16-5) Vs. Nate “The Great” Marquard(28-7-1) These guys are part of the old guard in the UFC world. Between Gumby and Great, they’ve racked up about 145 fights. Gumby has at least 4 titles(Championships) that he holds to this day plus maybe up to 15 other smaller titles. He has been around and around so tricking him is out of the question. It will take the technique and pedigree of Marquardt to beat Horn. He holds black belts in BJJ and Pancrase. He also has won many Pancrase tournaments over the years. Throw in a few Ring of Fire victories and we’ve got ourselves a fight. I’m thinking that the years have taken their toll on Gumby and that Nate will win by submission.

Rob “Monster” Yundt(7-0-0) Vs. Ricardo “Big Dog” Almeida(8-2-0) They basically pulled both of these fighters off the street for this match. Monster took this fight on a little more than a weeks notice. Almeida has been out of the fight game for about three years so everything will be new for these two. Aren’t there other more worthy opponents to put up on a pay per view event? Our satellite televisions won’t be abuzz for a weird fight like this. I guess since TUF7 doesn’t go on the air until April, the UFC has to bring in new blood this way. I think somehow the Monster will give Ricardo a black and bruised eye and send him back to the couch.

Gleison Tibau(26-3-0) Vs. Tyson Griffin(10-1-0) In this Lightweight fight fest, we have Griffin coming off wins over some very good competition. That competition being Clay Guida and Thiago Tavares. We’ve already seen Clay’s fight with Huerta in the Ultimate Fighter Finale last year so we kind of know what Griffin is capable of. Tibau has been on a mini roll as of late by stacking up three wins in a row. They are both very good ground specialists and have the stamina to go the distance. I look to see Tyson submitting Tibau late in the second round.

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