PRIDE Results, UFC preview

PRIDE Shockwave 2005 results:
Fighter
vs.
Fighter
Method of victory Round Time

Charles Bennett
defeated
Ken Kaneko
Submission(Armbar) 1 4:14

Kazuhiro Nakamura
defeated
Yuki Kondo
Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00

James Thompson
defeated
Giant Silva
TKO (Strikes) 1 1:28

Sanae Kikuta
defeated
Makoto Takimoto
Decision (Unanimous) 3 5:00

Aleksander Emelianenko
defeated
Pawel Nastula
Submission (Rear Naked Choke) 1 8:45

Fedor Emelianenko
defeated
Zuluzinho
Submission (Punches) 1 0:26

Dan Henderson
defeated
Murilo Bustamante
Decision (Split) 2 5:00

Takanori Gomi
defeated
Hayato Sakurai
KO (Punches) 1 3:56

Kazushi Sakuraba
defeated
Ikuhisa Minowa
Technical Submission (Kimura) 1 9:59

Mark Hunt
defeated
Mirko Filipovic
Decision (Split) 3 5:00

Wanderlei Silva
defeated
Ricardo Arona
Decision (Split) 3 5:00

Hidehiko Yoshida
defeated
Naoya Ogawa
Submission (Armbar) 1 6:04

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There were a few surprises but not many on this card. Mark Hunt shook up the heavyweight rankings by earning the decision over Cro Cop. Cro Cop looked very wary of Hunt's power and never attempted a takedown on his way to a loss. The Henderson/Bustamante and Silva/Arona decisions were both very controversial as they were very close fights that different people saw different ways.

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The next big event on the horizon is the Spike TV Ulitimate Fight Night on Monday, January 16th. This should be a very entertaining card with several very evenly matched fighters. Here are the scheduled fights:

MAIN CARD ON SPIKE TV
Heavyweight
Assuerio Silva(10-2)
vs
Tim Sylvia(19-2)#6 ranked Heavyweight, InsideFighting.com MMA Rankings

This fight will be the main event and will have a profound effect in the Heavyweight division. If Sylvia can win, he will prove he is ready to rematch Mir or Arlovski for the UFC title. A win by Silva propels him into championship status also, even though this is his first UFC fight.

Silva is a fighter with a lot of potential, but I think the reach and striking of Sylvia is too much for him. Sylvia will keep this fight standing and avoid the Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu skills of Silva. I think Sylvia will eventually catch Silva with a big shot and end this fight in the 2nd or 3rd round.

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Light Heavyweight
Stephan Bonnar(7-2)
vs
James Irvin(9-1)

TUF I finalist Stephan Bonnar continues his run in the UFC against a very tough opponent in James Irvin. Irvin is a former heavyweight making his second appearance as a light heavyweight. In his first, he was on his back most of the first round against Terry Martin before catching Martin with a highlight reel type flying knee in the opening seconds of round two. Bonnar earned most of his reputation as a fighter with tremendous heart for a battle with Forrest Griffin in the finals of TUF I.

I think this fight will be a stand up war at first because each fighter likes to bang on their feet. If Irvin is getting the better of Bonnar standing, Bonnar has the grappling background to put Irvin on his back and work from there. Irvin is a physical specimen at light heavyweight and could possibly overwhelm Bonnar with his athleticism. But I believe Bonnar will weather the storm, and do enough in this fight to earn a decision victory.

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Middleweight
Chris Leben(8-1)#13 ranked Middleweight, MMARanks.com
vs
Jorge Rivera(12-4)

This is a great fight between two guys who love to trade leather. Rivera burst onto the UFC scene with a win over David Loiseau, the middleweight #1 contender who will face Rich Franklin for the title at UFC 58 in March. He followed that up with consecutive losses to Lee Murray and Rich Franklin. Rivera is back on the winning track now after a win over Dennis Hallman at UFC 55. Leben was a TUF I contestant who has been impressive in the octagon, scoring three straight victories after losing twice on the show. The winner of this fight puts themselves in contention for a title shot later this year.

This should be an exciting fight. Rivera has what I consider to be technically superior stiking skills but Leben has the chin and the power to end a fight with one punch. Leben was also able to get a victory by arm bar in his last fight, proving he is not a one dimentional fighter. I think this will be a barn burner but I see Leben doing enough in the end to earn the victory.

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Welterweight
Josh Burkman(5-2)
vs
Drew Fickett(28-3) #10 ranked Welterweight, MMARanks.com

Burkman was a TUF II participant who won his only fight against Melvin Guillard but was injured in the process and forced off the show. Burkman showed good wrestling skills in that fight and will most likely try to use those skills to control this fight will Fickett. Drew Fickett has an impressive MMA record and has very well rounded skills. He appeared to be on the way to a decision loss to Josh Koscheck when a late standup allowed him the opportunity to land a big knee to the head of Koscheck, take his back, and secure a choke for the win.

Burkman is not the wrestler Koscheck is and a big key in this fight will be if Burkman can take Fickett down and control him on the ground. I don't think he will be able too consistently and Fickett will figure out a way to win this one and move up the welterweight rankings once again.

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PRELIM CARD
Welterweight
Jason Von Flue(10-4-1)
vs
Alex Karalexis(1-1)

Two TUF contestants here as Karalexis from season one takes on Von Flue from season two. Karalexis is a hard puncher with good cardio. He was lost against Diego Sanchez on the ground but has rebounded from that with a win over Josh Rafferty in the finals of TUF I. He has most recently lost to Kenny Florian and this may be his last chance in the octagon if he loses this fight. Von Flue won a tough battle against Jorge Gurgel on TUF II before falling to eventual winner Joe Stevenson. This is his first fight since the show.

Von Flue is a tough guy but doesn't look to be very strong at welterweight. Karalexis I believe will have a slight advantage standing, although Von Flue's awkward style can be effective. Von Flue has several submission victories under his belt and if he can secure a takedown and use his ground skills, I think he has a good shot at winning. If the fight stays standing, I see a long fight will blows landed by both fighters.

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Welterweight
Aaron Riley(23-7-1)
vs
Spencer Fisher(15-1)

Many people are dissapointed that this fight is a prelim. Spencer Fisher is a rising star in the welterweight division. He was impressive against Thiago Alves in his UFC debut and his only loss is a decision to the always tough Carlo Prater. Aaron Riley is an experienced fighter who debuted in the UFC back in 2002 but is making his first return since then. Riley is as tough as they come and is very tough to finish.

Fisher I believe will be too much for Riley, but this will likely be a very close fight that will go the distance. It's been a while since I have seen Riley fight, so maybe he will have improved his game more than I realize.

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Welterweight
Duane "Bang" Ludwig(10-4)
vs
Jonathan Goulet(15-5) #12 ranked Welterweight, MMARanks.com

"Bang" Ludwig returns to the octagon to showcase his striking skills. 155lbs. is probably a better weight for Ludwig, but until the UFC returns the lightweight division, this is the weight he must compete in. Jonathan Goulet is a Canadian fighter with well rounded skills.

I think Goulet will be able to take Ludwig to the ground and finish him there. But it will definately be interesting and exciting while it is still standing. "Bang" has the ability to finish a fight quickly if he connects on a big shot.

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Welterweight
Melvin Guillard(18-4-1)
vs
Josh Neer(15-3-1)

Another fighter who would be more effective at lightweight, Melvin Guillard is a smallish welterweight but still has explosive power and quickness. His raw athleticism is very impressive. Josh Neer sports a very impressive record with losses only to Drew Fickett, Spencer Fisher, and recent UFC debut winner Nick Thompson.

Neer is a tough fighter who isn't afraid to trade standing. Guillard has quick hands and would like to stand and trade as well. This is a hard fight to predict as both fighters have good skills and this fight could take place standing or on the mat. I believe this fight will go to a decision, with Guillard doing enough to earn the win.