UFC on FX 8 Main Card Predictions

Kingdom MMA: UFC on FX 8 Main Card Predictions

by Chris Houten @KingdomMMAChris, Tommy Strong @Strong_tea and Jack Broadey @J3cK_b

On Saturday night we will see a middleweight battle with potential title implications as Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold fight in Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil.

A lot of the talk before this fight has been about Vitor fighting again outside the USA and using TRT, something which if he was to fight in the USA probably would not be approved. On top of this both Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza make their UFC debuts and Chris Camozzi gets to test his skills against a top 10 ranked opponent for the first time, all in all it makes for an interesting night of fights.

Below you will find the predictions from some of the guys at Kingdom MMA for the main card.

Vitor Belfort (22-10) #2 MW vs Luke Rockhold (10-1) #5 MW

Jack: I see this being very similar to Belfort-Bisping. If it goes past the 1st round or 2nd Rockhold should take over and have the gas tank to win a comfortable decision. Can he stay away from the Vitor flurry though. I don't think he can. When Vitor lands he hurts you. When he hurts you he moves in for the kill.

Prediction: Belfort by TKO Round 2

Tommy: Just to say from the off, this event really isn't floating my boat! As I slap my face to keep myself awake, not just because of the lack of sleep from a new born child, but mostly due to the underwhelming card.

This is a massive step up for Luke, he hasn't fought anyone with the class of Belfort before. His last win was a decision win over Tim Kennedy, this will be like day and night in calibre of fighters. I was slightly amazed to see Luke being a slight favourite for this fight, I feel he has it all to do come Saturday night.

That being said, I written off a lot of ex-Strikeforce fighters before and they have made a massive impact in the UFC already. As much as i would like to see Belfort lose , I just don't see it. Belfort for me is better in pretty much every department, if Luke can keep it at range and wait for Belfort to tire he stands a chance, though that's easier said than done. Bisping tried the same tactics and ended up TKO'd.

Prediction: Belfort by KO Round 2

Chris: Is Vitor Belfort the best middleweight in the world right now? No, Anderson Silva is, but at this point it's really hard to argue against Vitor at number 2.

In his last 4 fights be destroyed Akiyama, submitted a solid opponent in Rumble Johnson, knocked out a top 5 middleweight in Michael Bisping and came the closest anyone has come to beating Jon Jones.

His opponent Luke Rockhold is an athletic guy and as a fighter he is pretty good at everything. While he holds a win over a fighter with a similar style as Belfort in Jacare, Belfort represents Rockhold's biggest test to date, and to win this fight he will need to stick and move, avoid the big shots and berserker style Belfort employs, and drag Belfort in to the later rounds...... All that while not letting the nerves of being in the main event in his UFC debut, or the crowd get to him.

That being said i think it will all be a little too much for Rockhold, and I like Belfort here. I think the quality he has produced recently has been overshadowed by his TRT use in recent fights, and he ends this fight early, much to the pleasure of the crowd.... And god.

Prediction: Belfort by TKO Round 2

Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza (17-3-1) #8 MW vs Chris Camozzi (19-5)

Jack: This is a tough fight for Camozzi. Souza on paper is better wherever the fight goes. Look for Souza to make a name for himself and put himself into contention talks

Prediction: Souza by Submission Round 1

Tommy: Disappointed that Costa Philippou had to withdraw from the fight, this would've been a great match up with Souza. Now I feel its going to be a damp squid! Souza really impressed me with his win over Ed Herman back in January.

Camozzi isn't a fighter that impresses me and I thought he was lucky to get the decision win over Nick Ring in his last fight. Souza has excellent Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and vastly improved striking which will make it a bad night for Camozzi.

Prediction: Souza by Submission Round 3

Chris: I like to think a man is most dangerous when he has nothing to lose, which will be the case for Camozzi on Saturday night. He is fighting a BJJ legend in his homeland who is better in every department.

If Camozzi pulls off the upset fair play to him, and fair play to you if you get him at the general price of 9/2, but I see this one ending in an early night for Chris Camozzi.

Prediction: Souza by Submission Round 2

Rafael Dos Anjos (18-6) #10 LW vs Evan Dunham (14-3)

Tommy: I really like this match up, this could be FOTN. I'm really struggling to pick a winner in this fight. Both are very good fighters and I favour Rafael slightly especially if he can get the fight to the ground.
You know with Dunham, he will come to fight and it will take a good performance by Rafael to get the win.

I keep changing my mind over the outcome of this fight, but I will go with my head and and not my heart pick Dos Anjos to get a narrow win.

Prediction: Dos Anjos by Submission Round 3

Jack: Dunham is tough but he's a slow starter. Always picks it up and appears in exciting match ups. This should be no different. Dos Anjos is a gamer as well and I think he has enough about him to win at least 2 of the 3 rounds.

Prediction: Dos Anjos by Decision

Chris: Put your hands up if you don't this this will be fight of the night.... yeah, didn't think there would be any. As with every Evan Dunham fight this battle has war written all over it.

This fight is pretty much a pick em to be honest but I'm siding with Dos Anjos.

I have been impressed with the radical improvements he is making between fights, and I expect him to come out more aggressive (wouldn't you if you were fighting to the sound of 15k Brazilians chanting "Tu vai morrer") and keep Dunham on the back foot most of the fight.

Prediction: Dos Anjos by Unanimous Decision

Rafael Natal (15-4-1) vs Joao Zeferino (13-4)

Tommy: Zeferino (13-4) will be making his UFC debut this weekend and not knowing much (well anything) about him he's coming into the fight on the back off a 7 fight win streak, with 9 of his 13 of wins coming via submission.

Natal himself also has a impressive win percentage of submissions. 8 of his 15 wins coming via sub. So I expect we will have a stand up battle on our hands. In that case I'm picking Natal to get a stoppage with the knowledge I have on him.

Prediction: Natal by TKO Round 2

Jack: I don't know a whole deal about Zeferino. After a bit of research he has excellent BJJ. I haven't been impressed with Natal's ufc career to date. There could be a shock on the cards here.

Prediction: Zeferino by Submission Round 2

Chris: Like Jack I can't say I'm particularly blown away by Natal either, although I do think he is reasonably well rounded, and has the still set to stop take downs and avoid submission attempts from grappler Zeferino.

Prediction: Natal by Unanimous Decision

Interview: Chris Camozzi: “I’m excited to get a top 10 opponent. Its something I have been asking for."

Kingdom MMA talks to Chris Camozzi ahead of UFC on FX 8

By Chris Houten - @kingdomMMAChris 

On the 3^rd of May less, than 3 weeks away from UFC on FX8 from the Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil, The UFC announced that Costa Philippou who was taking on Jacare Souza in the co-main event was injured and had been pulled from the card – Step up, step up Chris Camozzi :

“I was training at the gym and after practice I walked off the mat and saw I had a ton of missed calls from my management, Ingrained Media. Jason told me Joe Silva called and asked if I would be willing to step in.”

Stepping up is something Camozzi has become accustomed to in recent week as the bout with Souza will be Camozzi’s third schedule opponent in just under a month: first Ferreira, then Natal, and now top 10 ranked Middleweight Souza, but Camozzi’s not complaining:

“I’m very excited to get a top ten opponent. Its something I have been asking for. I’m young and making my way up the ranks. I feel like I’m ready for that next step.” Camozzi said.

6-2 in the UFC and currently riding a 4 fight win streak going in the bout on Saturday, former TUF contestant Camozzi has put together some impressive wins of late however Souza who will be fighting in his native Brazil, is undoubtedly the biggest fight in Camozzi’s 24 fight career, but a fight which Camozzi is ready for:

“Every UFC fight is the biggest of my career. Im honored to fight the BJJ legend in his country.”

“My Training camp has been great. We have been working more on me, rather than what my opponent will do. There is always work to be done when it comes to getting better as a fighter.”

A former Strikeforce middleweight champion and 5 time World Ju-Jitsu Champion, Jacare is possibly the best ju-jitsu fighter to ever enter the octagon, however when asked about his game plan on Saturday, Camozzi was quick to mention, his evolving striking:

“I think his striking game is underrated. He has good hands and he is a great athlete. Its been a while since he fought so Im expecting his hands to have improved a lot.” Chris Said.

“[But] my training camp has been great. We have been working more on me, rather than what my opponent will do. There is always work to be done when it comes to getting better as a fighter.”

You can catch Chris Camozzi take on Jacre Souza in the co-main event at UFC on FX 8 on Saturday night live on ESPN in the UK

UFC 158 Main Card Picks

Kingdom MMA main card picks for this Saturdays UFC 158 event

Georges St-Pierre vs Nick Diaz

Chris: Let me just start by saying how insane it would be if Nick Diaz was to become champion, you think it’s hard to get the guy to do press obligations now, imagine if he was ‘the motherfucking’ champion.

Don’t get me wrong I love Nick Diaz. I love how he is genuinely willing to fight anyone, and I share some of his sentiments on boring wrestlers who stall, but I just don’t see him winning this fight. Granted nothing in MMA is guaranteed, and Diaz does have the skill set to stop GSP and has clearly rattled GSP, but I don’t see how Diaz stops the constant take downs of GSP, and the only way he wins is by an unlikely late submission off his back.

St-Pierre to win by a lopsided unanimous decision.

Pick – Georges St-Pierre UD

Tommy: It will be a long tough night for Diaz, GSP will look to take him down, ground & pound him for 5 rounds and enjoy every second of it.

I love Diaz & what he stands for inside the cage, but 13 months out of the ring won't help his cause and I struggling to find a way he can beat GSP…

Pick – Georges St-Pierre TKO4

Ben: I’m going to go straight in and say it. I don’t think Diaz should be fighting for the title and in no ways deserves it. How he can get the shot over Hendricks makes absolutely no sense to me.

Thankfully for me though, I see absolutely no way in which he wins this fight. In fact I see more chance of Diaz not showing up to the fight than I do seeing him winning the fight.

No matter where this fight takes place it will be GSP who controls the fight from start to finish and my only disappointment will be that I don’t think GSP will finish Diaz. However I do think it will be so one sided even a stupid judge won’t be able to score it wrong.

Pick – Georges St-Pierre UD

Carlos Condit vs Johny Hendricks

Chris: You have got to feel sorry for Hendricks – he knocks out Fitch, beats Kos, then knocks out out Kampmann in a number one contender fighter, and still no title shot! The worse bit about it is this fight is probably going to rob him of his well deserved shot at the Welterweight title, in a fight that robs a division of its clear cut contender, something the UFC has been keen on doing in 2013 – see Bisping vs Belfort, Overeem vs Bigfoot, and Dan Henderson vs Lyoto Machida.

Sure Bigg Rigg could land one left and Condits world could come crashing down, and I can appreciate his college wrestling pedigree, but Condit is the complete package – he has excellent sweeps to get back up if he is taken down, a descent ju-jitsu game, KO power, and is a smart fight.

Look for Condit to frustrate Hendricks the same way he did Nick Diaz by popping in an out, and take a heartbreaking unanimous decision.

Pick - Carlos Condit UD

Tommy: Don't get me wrong I love this match up, but it doesn't make much sense to me.

Hendricks gains nothing by winning, he's the no.1 contender and has everything to lose. If Condit wins, he won't be getting a title shot next.

Condit will look to keep the fight at range staying away from Hendricks huge left hand. Using his jabs and movement not allowing Hendricks to get on the inside and land that power bomb.
If Hendricks can force his way inside taking some damage in the process he has a good chance of either landing that left hand or taking Condit down then he has a chance of winning the fight.

Pick – Carlos Condit UD

Ben: I agree with Tommy on this one, I love the match up however I preferred the original fight of Condit vs Rory. I still believe Rory got screwed in the first fight against Condit and would have loved to see the rematch.

That being said I see two outcomes to this fight. The first and the one I am hoping happens for Hendricks as he deserves his shot at the belt is he connects with his hammer of a left hand and knocks out Condit, unfortunately I am not confident this will happen.

I predict this fight will play out much like the Condit vs Diaz fight did… just with less middle fingers being stuck up during the fight. I see Condit getting inside scoring with quick combos and leg kicks before quickly getting back on the outside. Unfortunately this may mean it ends up being a boring fight when it has the potential to be such a great fight. It will also be a sad end to the run at the belt for now.

Pick – Carlos Condit SD

Jake Ellenberger vs Nate Marquardt

Chris: For me this is a great match up of two quality welterweights. Marquardt on one hand has pretty solid hands, is big for the division, is always a submission threat, but can be inconsistent. His opponent Ellenberger, has strong offensive wrestling, one punch knockout power, is coming off a full training camp, but has been known to have cardio issues. This fight could go either way, that being said Marquardt has shown in recent fights he can be hit, and Ellenberger has the offense to win this fight either using his wrestling or striking.

Pick - Jake Ellenberger- SD

Tommy: Just even mentioning the cheats name sends shivers down my spine! Though, he's taken the fight at short notice.

Both can be inconsistent inside the cage and never totally sure what fighter will turn up. Nate will be the bigger fighter and is huge at 170, his clinch will be better and his striking. Jake will have the edge wrestling, he's had a full training camp to prepare and as long as he can go the full 3 rounds I expect him to edge out Nate.

Pick - Jake Ellenberger UD

Ben: Again this fight plays out one of two ways for me, the first is that Nate comes out and puts on a performance the likes of his fight against Tyron Woodley in which he comes out as a man possessed and wanting to prove that he deserves to be back in the UFC. Unfortunately for Nate having not had a full training camp this may be a bit too soon for this to happen.

What I think is more likely is for Jake Ellenberger to out wrestle Marquardt and try and keep him on the ground before beating Nate with his ground and pound like we saw in the first round against Martin Kampmann.  I believe if he gets him down and tires Nate out in the first round the fitness levels will start to pull through and Ellenberger having the full camp should then start to dominate.

Pick – Jake Ellenberger UD

Chris Camozzi vs Nick Ring

Chris: For me this fight is a pick 'em fight. I think both fighters bring their own unique skill set - Ring has better kicks, and a better ground game, Camozzi has better boxing. The real question is how fit injury prone Ring is coming into this fight. While I wouldn't at all surprise me if Ring wins, I like Camozzi to use his superior boxing and improving ground game to keep this fight on the fight and to take this one by decision.

Pick - Chris Camozzi UD

Tommy: Camozzi is on a 3 fight win streak looking to make it 4 against Ring. Though Ring has a better all round game . Im picking Ring to take the fight to the ground and submit Camozzi inside the distance.

Pick - Ring Sub 2nd Round

Ben: I believe this fight certainly could go either way and is a very even match up, though both fighters bring completely different skill sets to the table. I also think that Ring will just have the edge thanks to his ground game and will finish the fight in the third with a submission and put an end to Camozzi’s three fight win streak.

Pick – Ring Sub 3rd Round
 

Colin Fletcher vs Mike Ricci

Chris: There is no one I want to win more on this card than Colin Fletcher, in the times I have met him he has been polite, charming and excellent with the fans – I have seen him climb walls and ignore telling offs from stewards to take photos with fans, and give most of his evening to spend time with them when he just trying to have a night out with his wife. That said I’m not sure he has the skill set to win this fight. Ricci is a quality fighter, he simply had a bad day against a great wrestler in Colton Smith. I think Ricci has the better striking and the better ground game, and justifies being the favourite here.

Pick - Mike Ricci UD


Tommy: Ricci is back to his natural weight class, after losing to Colton Smith in the TUF 16 final. This will suit him much better.

Freakshow is a lovely guy , but I think Ricci is more well rounded and will grind out a UD over Colin.
I really hope I’m wrong, as Colin has much more to offer than just a clown.

Pick - Ricci UD

Ben: I agree with Chris, you will struggle to meet a nicer MMA fighter than Colin Fletcher. A fighter who is willing to give up so much of his time to chat to fans and have pictures taken with hundreds of people in a night.

Although, Fletcher loves dressing as the clown in the weigh ins and outside of the cage his skills in the cage are far from being a joke. He has a lot to offer and I feel he will come out and put on a show this weekend after his poor performance last time out (by his own admission). Unfortunately all I think this will lead to is a competitive bout with Ricci but I still believe Ricci will have too much and will take the win.

The fact that Ricci had been competitive and made it to the TUF finale in a weight class that is not his natural proves he can fight. Now back to Lightweight I believe this will be a fight where Ricci can showcase his skills again to a PPV audience.

Pick – Ricci UD