MMA/Boxing

UFC 82 Picks/Vazquez vs. Marquez III /More Big Boxing Fights Scheduled

UFC 82 is Saturday in a super card top to bottom.

UFC Main Card Picks:
Anderson Silva in a late stoppage over Dan Henderson
Cheick Kongo in a decision over Health Herring
Chris Leben in a submission over Alessio Sakara
Yushin Okami in a stoppage over Evan Tanner

Andrei Arlovski, Josh Koscheck, Diego Sanchez, Luke Commo and Jorge Gurgel are all on the undercard. This maybe the first time for recent UFC fans that they have seen at least one fighter in every fight.  Nearly everyone on the card has fought at least once live on Spike.  I’m sure many fans are hoping the UFC will be able to show 7-8 fights on the PPV.

The Silva/Henderson match will be very interesting, as Henderson may be able to tie up Anderson enough to avoid getting Koed. However, I think Silva is on such a roll, he’ll eventually overwhelm Henderson. He has to be in top shape, though. I see Henderson staying in the fight until the fourth or fifth round before getting Koed by Anderson’s lethal strikes.  

Email me your picks at nobradovich@enterto.com.

Showtime features the rubber match between Israel Vazquez vs. Rafael Marquez for Vazquez's Ring/WBC junior featherweight title this Saturday. Their fights last year were probably the two best prize fights of 2007, so this promises to be spectacular. It's a hard fight to predict, but I'll go with Vazquez by decision. If you didn't see either of their fights last year, do yourself a favor and order Showtime for this month. With the Frank Shamrock/Cung Le fight at the end of the month, and boxing and MMA being shown throughout the month, you're getting a month's worth of awesome action for like $16. 

Last week, Wladimir Klitschko defeated Sultan Ibragimov in a heavyweight unification bout. Klitschko now claims the IBF and WBO versions of the title. While recognized as the best heavyweight in the world, Klitschko didn’t look aggressive for most of the fight, keeping the much smaller Ibragimov at bay with his long left jab. In terms of action, the fight was a let down.

Kelly Pavlik’s decision over Jermain Taylor was closer to me than the ringside judges scored it. Pavlik proved he could go the distance, something he’s never had to do as a professional boxer, but will still have to improve as time goes on to be considered on of the greats. Taylor looked much better than their first encounter. He’s expected to move up to super-middle weight. Taylor fighting former champs Jeff Lacy or Mikkel Kessler would a treat for fight fans.

NOTES:

The WEC from two week ago was solid (no surprise). My upset pick of Miguel Torres winning the 135lb belt came true, and he made it look easy. Overall, I went 2-1-1 on my picks.

Sugar Shane Mosley will face Zab Judah on May 31 in a clash of former welterweight champions on HBO PPV. This will be entertaining as both men need a win to stay in hunt for big fights.

Super middleweight top 10 contender Allan Green will fight on ESPN2’s “Fight Night Fights” for the second time this year on Feb. 29.

If anyone missed the Joe Lewis special on HBO last Saturday, I strongly encourage you to find when it’s airing again