UFC 101 Predictions

Josh Neer (25-7-1) versus Kurt Pellegrino(13-4)
Nicknamed “the dentist” for his penchant of rearranging the teeth of his opponents, Josh Neer is a hulking lightweight who with all the trademark ruggedness, durability and conditioning of Militech Fighting Systems products. He is the bigger and more versatile fighter over Pellegrino, a grappling virtuoso. Neer’s most recent victory over Mac Danzig was one of his most technical performances to date, as he showcased his striking, wrestling, and finally his guard control from the bottom by submitting Danzig with a triangle choke. Considering that Neer came in an underdog and put away guys like Melvin Guillard and Joe Stevenson as a welterweight, he should have no problem shutting down Pellegrino’s submission attempts with his strength. Neer takes the win via TKO in a bloody and fast-paced battle.


Ricardo Almeida (10-3) Versus Kendall Grove (10-5)
In a battle of two jiu-jitsu aces, striking and conditioning will dictate the victor. Almeida is a better jiu-jitsu tactician, but Grove demonstrated against Evan Tanner and Chris Price he can bombard his opponents with fist, feet, knees and elbows standing up just as easily as he can choke them unconscious out on the ground. At six-foot-six, Grove also has a reach advantage and will use his lanky frame to smother and tire out Almeida from the clinch. Grove win by unanimous decision.


Amir Sadollah (1-0) Versus Johny Hendricks (5-0)
Injuries have plagued Sadollah since he won the Ultimate Fighter season seven last June. He finally makes his return against Johny Hendricks, an accomplished wrestler coming off a two-fight winning spree in the UFC’s blue canvas colored counterpart, the WEC. Hendricks has more experience and his wrestling core can dictate whether the fight stays standing up or on the ground. It will be a harsh welcoming committee for Sadollah. Hendricks wins by decision.


Forrest Griffin (16-5)Versus Anderson Silva (24-4)
Like the alpha male in a pack of lions drunk on his superiority, Silva is dangerously close to letting his winning streak slip away to hungrier challengers. His performances against Patrick Cote and Thales Leites were uninspired, as if he was unwilling to expend the energy to finish off a harmless opponent. It is as if Silva rises to meet and destroy his opposition only when they pose a legitimate threat to his reign, as he did with by the pulverizing of Dan Henderson, Rich Franklin (twice) and Nate Marquardt. Forrest Griffin, who the short-lived merit as the first Ultimate Fighter winner and former light heavyweight champion, falls into the latter category. He’s fought his share of wars, and he seems to excel as an underdog. Silva may be the better striker, but Griffin has no qualms about sacrificing his good looks to secure a win. Rather, he smiles every time he is hit like he enjoys the pain.

Griffin wore down and choked out Mauricio Rua in what was supposed to be the Brazilian’s coming out party. Against Quinton Jackson, he won a relentless stand-up battle over five rounds. Griffin has the edge in enduring grueling wars, and as a fighter who normally walks around at over 220 pounds, holds a significant weight advantage over Silva. Unlike the Brazilian, Forrest has proven that he can go the distance, whether it be three or five rounds, without getting lazy.

To win, Griffin must bring the fight to Silva head on, but also play it smart, lest his sometimes reckless striking leave him victim to Silva’s pinpoint counter-punches. Griffin will be smart in forgoing his low kicks at Silva’s legs. While they worked against Quinton Jackson, Anderson Silva proved against James Irvin that he can catch a kick in mid-air and follow up with a knockout punch to the chin.
Both Silva and Griffin have jiu-jitsu that is under rated, but has also shown flaws. In Silva, he was taken down easily by Travis Lutter and Dan Henderson, and although he reversed positions and won both fights by submission, Forrest is a heavier fighter and his training with Randy Couture has taught him a thing or two about top control, but while his defense from the guard is solid, his loss to Rashad Evans was a remainder that it only takes one punch to break through from the top to end a fight.

As Forrest always seems to win as an underdog, I see him taking the fight to Silva and finding away to grind down the middleweight champion for the win.


B.J. Penn (13-5-1) versus Kenny Florian
Sometimes natural talent can only take one so far. For Penn, his prodigal jiu-jitsu skills can be the stuff of nightmares. His striking has almost knocked out Matt Hughes and reduced George St. Pierre’s face to a swollen red mess. But in Florian he will face an opponent with the same submission skills and killer instinct, more fluid foot work and muay Thai. Since losing his first title fight to Sean Sherk in 2006, Florian has tore through the 155-pound division in a six fight winning-spree, and laid waste to promising lightweights like Joe Stevenson, Joe Lauzon and Roger Huerta. If he avoids being taken down by Penn, he will have the stamina advantage and hurt Penn standing up with his elusive movement and crisp striking. I predict Florian winning the lightweight championship by knockout.