UFC 88 Breakdown: The Undercard
Sep 6, 2008
The headline bouts always get the press but, like the backroom of a
club, the undercard can be where all the fun happens. With that in
mind, get set for a rundown of another packed-to-the-gills
undercard sure to launch at least a few mid-card regulars toward
primetime status. No excessive end zone celebrations necessary.
Dong Hyun Kim (10-0-1) vs. Matt Brown (Pictures) (7-6)
Why Kim will win: If Kim’s UFC debut
against Jason Tan in May was any indication, the welterweight
division just stumbled across its latest ground-and-pound
extraordinaire. That’s bad news for Brown who lacks the wrestling
to keep Kim from taking top position and posting another
record-breaking score on the CIE (Cringe Inducing Elbow) index.
The X factor: Suddenly thrust into the pay-per-view spotlight thanks to Karo Parisyan (Pictures)’s last-second injury, Kim certainly would not be the first fighter to buckle under the pressure of his own expectations, not to mention those of his fans in South Korea where the sport is gaining a rabid following.
The X factor: In the interest of calling a spade a spade, this is supposed to be a showcase match for Kim, who may play a pivotal role in the UFC tapping into the burgeoning South Korean MMA scene. How Brown reacts to being thrust into the role of division punching bag will play a crucial role in his performance.
The bottom line: Brown simply does not have the style or skill to match fists with Kim, and the disparity will be apparent from the outset, as “Stun Gun” lives up to his moniker and leaves Brown in a daze.
Martin Kampmann (Pictures) (13-1) vs. Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) (26-8-2)
Why Kampman will win: While “The Hitman” may not be Denmark’s answer to Thomas Hearns, his Muay Thai game is slick, and, more importantly, he knows when to change gears and use his surprising grappling skills. That versatility bodes well for Kampmann, as Marquardt often struggles with opponents who can test him anywhere the fight goes.
The X factor: There has been talk of Kampmann moving down to the welterweight division, as his slight frame at 185 pounds seems a poor match for the muscled slabs that populate the middleweight division. While Kampmann was able to put the ginormous Drew McFedries to sleep, Marquardt has the skill level to complement his sheer size advantage.
Why Marquardt will win: It may not always be pretty, but Marquardt knows how to use his size and skill to grind out a decision win, picking his spots standing while using submissions, strikes and top control to dictate the action on the ground. If Marquardt can keep Kampmann on his back foot and force him to guess what his next move should be, this fight will be another blue-collar special for “The Great.”
The X factor: Everyone should pay close attention to the early going, as Marquardt is coming off a contentious decision loss to Thales Leites (Pictures) for which he paid a heavy physical toll in June. If Marquardt has not fully recovered from the fallout of that bout, he will not be anywhere near ready for “The Hitman.”
The bottom line: In the era of weight cutting and division jumping, it’s hardly en vogue to take the undersized Danish kickboxer over the muscle-bound grappler, but Kampmann is surgical inside the cage, and his poise under fire is a rare commodity in this sport. It will not be easy, but Kampmann will outwork Marquardt on the feet and break even on the ground en route to a decision win.
Kurt Pellegrino (top), poses a
tough matchup for Thiago Tavares.
Thiago
Tavares (Pictures) (13-2) vs. Kurt
Pellegrino (Pictures) (11-4)
The bottom line: Once a potential golden boy, Tavares has fallen off precipitously after a dreary showing against Michihiro Omigawa (Pictures) and a surprising knockout loss to Matt Wiman (Pictures). While no one had the same kind of expectations for Pellegrino, he has settled nicely into his role of top-shelf gatekeeper and has the kind of style that could give Tavares fits.
Most remember the virtuoso showing Tavares gave in his bout with Jason Black (Pictures) in June 2007, and he provided similar flashes of brilliance against Tyson Griffin (Pictures), but his maddening inconsistency is winning him comparisons to Brazil’s most mercurial MMA star -- Vitor Belfort (Pictures).
Odds are “Batman” gives Tavares the Mr. Freeze treatment by scoring takedowns, pounding away from the top position and using his own jiu-jitsu to neutralize whatever Tavares tries from the bottom.
Tim Boetsch (Pictures) (7-2) vs. Michael Patt (Pictures) (12-2)
The bottom line: No one likes being the short notice special, and that is the very role Michael Patt (Pictures) is stuck with in his UFC debut, as he was brought in to face Boetsch thanks to a last-minute injury to James Lee (Pictures).
Luckily for Patt, he can find hope in his opponent -- a proud member of the short notice special hall of fame after his infamous macabre tossing of David Heath (Pictures) at UFC 81. That hope will not last long, however, as Patt’s cookie cutter style does not match up well with the unorthodox and surprisingly versatile Boetsch.
Zoning in on Boetsch’s suspect conditioning would be a smart play, but assuming Patt has the fortitude to survive an opening salvo and the cardio to answer back is expecting an awful lot from a relative unknown. Get the DVR ready, as Boetsch gets his highland games on at Patt’s expense.
Jason MacDonald (Pictures) (20-10) vs. Jason Lambert (Pictures) (23-8)
The bottom line: After walking around at light heavyweight with the world’s weirdest midsection, Lambert finally follows the smart money and moves down to middleweight to take on the talented but enigmatic MacDonald.
Once the premier blue chipper on the Canadian scene, MacDonald’s path to the UFC has been a rocky one, and his time in the organization has been up and down at best. Now matched against Lambert, who will make for a massive middleweight, fans may see MacDonald’s will tested and, perhaps, broken.
This just is not a great matchup for MacDonald, who does not do well against opponents who use a grinding style -- Lambert’s in-cage calling card. Barring a disastrous weight-cutting experience for Lambert, he should have no problem taking top control and running MacDonald through the meat grinder.
Roan Carneiro (Pictures) (12-7) vs. Ryo Chonan (Pictures) (14-8)
The bottom line: Here’s the rematch for which fans have been clamoring ever since Chonan took the first encounter with help from some of the most biased hometown refereeing this sport has ever seen.
The second go around promises a shot at redemption for Carneiro, a shot the American Top Team desperately needs after he was submitted by the unheralded Kevin Burns three months ago. Chonan, meanwhile, needs to get back on track after a dull showing in his UFC debut in November.
Stylistically, Chonan still does not have much on Carneiro, who can outwrestle and outgrapple his Japanese foe with ease. The only question is whether or not Carneiro’s conditioning will hold up long enough to finish the job. Bank on Chonan coming out too aggressively and all but handing Carneiro an easy submission win.
Dong Hyun Kim (10-0-1) vs. Matt Brown (Pictures) (7-6)
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The X factor: Suddenly thrust into the pay-per-view spotlight thanks to Karo Parisyan (Pictures)’s last-second injury, Kim certainly would not be the first fighter to buckle under the pressure of his own expectations, not to mention those of his fans in South Korea where the sport is gaining a rabid following.
Why Brown will win: If versatility is
the key to success in mixed martial arts, Brown has more than a
fighting chance here, as he can handle himself with equal aplomb on
his feet and on the mat. Keeping Kim off balance by constantly
switching gears and racking up points will be key.
The X factor: In the interest of calling a spade a spade, this is supposed to be a showcase match for Kim, who may play a pivotal role in the UFC tapping into the burgeoning South Korean MMA scene. How Brown reacts to being thrust into the role of division punching bag will play a crucial role in his performance.
The bottom line: Brown simply does not have the style or skill to match fists with Kim, and the disparity will be apparent from the outset, as “Stun Gun” lives up to his moniker and leaves Brown in a daze.
Martin Kampmann (Pictures) (13-1) vs. Nathan Marquardt (Pictures) (26-8-2)
Why Kampman will win: While “The Hitman” may not be Denmark’s answer to Thomas Hearns, his Muay Thai game is slick, and, more importantly, he knows when to change gears and use his surprising grappling skills. That versatility bodes well for Kampmann, as Marquardt often struggles with opponents who can test him anywhere the fight goes.
The X factor: There has been talk of Kampmann moving down to the welterweight division, as his slight frame at 185 pounds seems a poor match for the muscled slabs that populate the middleweight division. While Kampmann was able to put the ginormous Drew McFedries to sleep, Marquardt has the skill level to complement his sheer size advantage.
Why Marquardt will win: It may not always be pretty, but Marquardt knows how to use his size and skill to grind out a decision win, picking his spots standing while using submissions, strikes and top control to dictate the action on the ground. If Marquardt can keep Kampmann on his back foot and force him to guess what his next move should be, this fight will be another blue-collar special for “The Great.”
The X factor: Everyone should pay close attention to the early going, as Marquardt is coming off a contentious decision loss to Thales Leites (Pictures) for which he paid a heavy physical toll in June. If Marquardt has not fully recovered from the fallout of that bout, he will not be anywhere near ready for “The Hitman.”
The bottom line: In the era of weight cutting and division jumping, it’s hardly en vogue to take the undersized Danish kickboxer over the muscle-bound grappler, but Kampmann is surgical inside the cage, and his poise under fire is a rare commodity in this sport. It will not be easy, but Kampmann will outwork Marquardt on the feet and break even on the ground en route to a decision win.
Photo by
Sherdog.com
Kurt Pellegrino (top), poses a
tough matchup for Thiago Tavares.
The bottom line: Once a potential golden boy, Tavares has fallen off precipitously after a dreary showing against Michihiro Omigawa (Pictures) and a surprising knockout loss to Matt Wiman (Pictures). While no one had the same kind of expectations for Pellegrino, he has settled nicely into his role of top-shelf gatekeeper and has the kind of style that could give Tavares fits.
Most remember the virtuoso showing Tavares gave in his bout with Jason Black (Pictures) in June 2007, and he provided similar flashes of brilliance against Tyson Griffin (Pictures), but his maddening inconsistency is winning him comparisons to Brazil’s most mercurial MMA star -- Vitor Belfort (Pictures).
Odds are “Batman” gives Tavares the Mr. Freeze treatment by scoring takedowns, pounding away from the top position and using his own jiu-jitsu to neutralize whatever Tavares tries from the bottom.
Tim Boetsch (Pictures) (7-2) vs. Michael Patt (Pictures) (12-2)
The bottom line: No one likes being the short notice special, and that is the very role Michael Patt (Pictures) is stuck with in his UFC debut, as he was brought in to face Boetsch thanks to a last-minute injury to James Lee (Pictures).
Luckily for Patt, he can find hope in his opponent -- a proud member of the short notice special hall of fame after his infamous macabre tossing of David Heath (Pictures) at UFC 81. That hope will not last long, however, as Patt’s cookie cutter style does not match up well with the unorthodox and surprisingly versatile Boetsch.
Zoning in on Boetsch’s suspect conditioning would be a smart play, but assuming Patt has the fortitude to survive an opening salvo and the cardio to answer back is expecting an awful lot from a relative unknown. Get the DVR ready, as Boetsch gets his highland games on at Patt’s expense.
Jason MacDonald (Pictures) (20-10) vs. Jason Lambert (Pictures) (23-8)
The bottom line: After walking around at light heavyweight with the world’s weirdest midsection, Lambert finally follows the smart money and moves down to middleweight to take on the talented but enigmatic MacDonald.
Once the premier blue chipper on the Canadian scene, MacDonald’s path to the UFC has been a rocky one, and his time in the organization has been up and down at best. Now matched against Lambert, who will make for a massive middleweight, fans may see MacDonald’s will tested and, perhaps, broken.
This just is not a great matchup for MacDonald, who does not do well against opponents who use a grinding style -- Lambert’s in-cage calling card. Barring a disastrous weight-cutting experience for Lambert, he should have no problem taking top control and running MacDonald through the meat grinder.
Roan Carneiro (Pictures) (12-7) vs. Ryo Chonan (Pictures) (14-8)
The bottom line: Here’s the rematch for which fans have been clamoring ever since Chonan took the first encounter with help from some of the most biased hometown refereeing this sport has ever seen.
The second go around promises a shot at redemption for Carneiro, a shot the American Top Team desperately needs after he was submitted by the unheralded Kevin Burns three months ago. Chonan, meanwhile, needs to get back on track after a dull showing in his UFC debut in November.
Stylistically, Chonan still does not have much on Carneiro, who can outwrestle and outgrapple his Japanese foe with ease. The only question is whether or not Carneiro’s conditioning will hold up long enough to finish the job. Bank on Chonan coming out too aggressively and all but handing Carneiro an easy submission win.
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