UFC 88: Breakthrough Preview

By Matt Bishop

Created:
09/04/08 3:44pm

Last updated:
09/04/08 3:44pm

1 comment

After nearly a month without an event, the UFC is back Saturday with UFC 88: Breakthrough from Philips Arena in Atlanta.

I had the opportunity to speak with Jordan Breen, host of The Jordan Breen Show on the popular mixed martial arts Web site Sherdog.com, about this card and specifically about former MSU wrestler Rashad Evans’ chances against for UFC light-heavyweight champion Chuck Liddell in the main event.

Here’s how Breen breaks down the fight:

“Strategically, I think (Rashad) is in for an extremely tough fight. You’d be hard pressed to find anyone who is worse stylistically for him than Chuck Liddell. You consider the reach disadvantage and the fact that Rashad is a natural counterstriker who is going against a better natural counterstriker with more power (who is) a really great defensive wrestler … if he can get inside of Liddell and somehow set up takedowns actually near the middle of the cage and get on top of him and stay there and prevent Liddell from doing the wall-climb up the cage, then he’s got a much better chance of winning than many people would give him credit for.”

This is pretty much spot-on stuff that I couldn’t agree with more. Obviously, Evans will be going for the takedown and the big key here is if he can keep Liddell down. Liddell has this crazy track record of not really being taken down, but if he is, he is able to pop right back up.

In thinking about the fight, the only way I can see Evans winning this fight is by decision. He hasn’t shown enough power standing to this point to make me think he has a chance of knocking Liddell out. Then you factor in Liddell’s ability to somehow always get to his feet when taken down and that’s another strike against Evans.

He can be fast enough to out-point Liddell, but it’s going to be tough to dip in and out with strikes and kicks while not getting caught with Liddell’s huge right hand. That’s a lot of things to worry about. We’ve also never really seen Evans’ chin tested. Without a doubt, Liddell will test it. While it would be nice to be able to make the homer pick, the numbers just don’t add up — I’m going to have to go with Liddell by knockout in the second round, handing Evans his first career loss.

As for the rest of the card — it’s solid. There aren’t many UFC cards in which every fight is appealing. This is one of them. Most of these are competitive, intriguing fights.

Main card prediction time: I like Dan Henderson to end his two-fight losing streak by taking home a unanimous decision over Rousimar Palhares. Rich Franklin will knock out Matt Hamill in the second round, Yoshiyuki Yoshida will be a unanimous decision winner against Karo Parisyan and Martin Kampmann will beat Nate Marquardt by unanimous decision.
Breen is particularly excited for the Parisyan-Yoshida fight, calling it “awesome, awesome stuff,” and rightfully so. He believes the winner of the fight won’t be long for a shot at the UFC welterweight championship. He has Yoshida as well, for the record.

The Kampmann-Marquardt fight is exciting, as well, with the winner moving closer to a middleweight title shot. It could literally go either way.

On the undercard, I have Thiago Tavares, Jason MacDonald, Tim Boetsch, Dong Hyun Kim (his nickname is Stun Gun!) and Ryo Chonan.

This will be a good card, be sure to check it out!

Commentary

Add your $0.02, go to the comment form or follow the comment feed

TheBriMan

(09/05/08 8:44am)
Report

My girlfriend and I just got sweet Chuck Liddell for President shirts from www.PantherTees.com. They said not to tell anyone, but here is a 10% discount code, pts10 (it is case sensitive, so copy and paste it). And they have free shipping. Enjoy!

About The KO Corner

Sports Editor Matt Bishop examines the latest in mixed martial arts three times a week in The KO Corner.

Follow this blog in your feed reader

FEATURED CLASSIFIEDS: More classifieds »

In Employment:

In Apts. For Rent:

FALL/SUMMER 1-2 bdrm apt.

In Services:

SEND VOCALISTS to your Valentine.

PHOTOS OF THE WEEK:More reprints »

A firework display shimmers and shines above Cooley Law School Stadium Sunday night after the Lansing ...
Florence Welch, lead singer of London-based indie group Florence and the Machine, throws up a sign of ...
As deconstruction of the MSC smokestack continues, bricks pile up at the foot of the once iconic MSU ...
Paige Triezenberg, a global and area studies senior, uses a small trowel to clear dirt around an animal ...
Bournville, England resident Trevor Workman plays the carillon for the first Muelder Summer Carillon ...