The 2007 EWB UFC Predicition League

[Toe]

I don't like all this anti-Rich Franklin love. I really think that his fight against Silva was a blip, he is just a great MMA fighter all around and I think we will see him challenging for the Middleweight title really soon.

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

If not for the fact that all the Canadians in this thing have voted for Franklin, I'd suggest it was because of the piece Rogers Sportsnet did on MacDonald.

[Toe]

Yeah, I don't care that MacDonald is Canadian, I just don't see him being as good as Rich Franklin right now.

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

I meant more of a media perception thing - Macdonald was portrayed as the hot up-and-comer, Franklin as a old star in decline. I only included the mention of Canadians because we were the only ones who could have seen it.

[ACCBiggz]

Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture - Decision (Had to pick opposite EBG to try and gain points already)

Chris Lytle vs. Matt Hughes - Round Two, TKO

Drew McFedries vs. Martin Kampmann - Round Three, Submission

Rich Franklin vs. Jason MacDonald - Round One, TKO

Jason Lambert vs. Renato Sobral - Round One, Submission

Rex Holman vs. Matt Hamill - Round One, TKO

Jon Fitch vs. Luigi Fioravanti - Decision

Gleison Tibau vs. Jason Dent - Round One, KO

Jason Gilliam vs. Jamie Varner - Round One, KO

[Thrilla]

Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture - Round Four, TKO

Chris Lytle vs. Matt Hughes - Round Two, TKO

Drew McFedries vs. Martin Kampmann - Round One, Submission

Rich Franklin vs. Jason MacDonald - Round Two, TKO

Jason Lambert vs. Renato Sobral - Round Two, Submission

Rex Holman vs. Matt Hamill - Decision

Jon Fitch vs. Luigi Fioravanti - Round Two, TKO

Gleison Tibau vs. Jason Dent - Round One, Submission

Jason Gilliam vs. Jamie Varner - Round Three, TKO

[Guest Takayamanofear]

Tim Sylvia- Decision

Matt Hughes – Round 3 TKO

Drew McFedries - Round 2 TKO

Rich Franklin – Round 1 KO

Renato Sobral - Round 1, Submission

Matt Hamill - Decision

Jon Fitch- Decision

Gleison Tibau - Round 2, Submission

Jason Gilliam - TKO

[punky]

Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture - Decision

Chris Lytle vs. Matt Hughes - R2, Submission

Drew McFedries vs. Martin Kampmann - R2, TKO

Rich Franklin vs. Jason MacDonald - R3, TKO

Jason Lambert vs. Renato Sobral - R1, Submission

Rex Holman vs. Matt Hamill - R2, TKO

Jon Fitch vs. Luigi Fioravanti - Decision

Gleison Tibau vs. Jason Dent - R1, KO

Jason Gilliam vs. Jamie Varner - R2, TKO

[Enter Blue Guy]

Yeah, I don't care that MacDonald is Canadian, I just don't see him being as good as Rich Franklin right now.

[ACCBiggz]

Franklin had the biggest reaction in Columbus (Probably about 2 hour drive I think). Hughes had a mixed reaction, Sylvia was boo'd. Was fun at the weigh-in though.

[Typical Phenom]

Tim Sylvia vs. Randy Couture - Couture by decision

Chris Lytle vs. Matt Hughes - Hughes, round 1 TKO

Drew McFedries vs. Martin Kampmann - Kampmann, round 2 TKO

Rich Franklin vs. Jason MacDonald - Rich Franklin, round 2 submission

Jason Lambert vs. Renato Sobral - Sobral, round 1 TKO

Rex Holman vs. Matt Hamill - Hamill, round 1 tko

Jon Fitch vs. Luigi Fioravanti - Fioravanti, round 2 ko

Gleison Tibau vs. Jason Dent - Dent, decision

Jason Gilliam vs. Jamie Varner - Gilliam, round 2 tko

[ACCBiggz]

Jamie Varner d. Jason Gilliam by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in Round 1 @ 1:34

Gleison Tibau d. Jason Dent by Decision (Unanimous)

Jon Fitch d. Luigi Fioravanti by Submission (Rear Naked Choke) in Round 2 @ 3:05

Matt Hamill d. Rex Holman by TKO (Strikes) in Round 1 @ 4:00

Jason Lambert d. Renato Sobral by KO (Punch) in Round 2 @ 3:26

Matt Hughes d. Chris Lytle by Decision (Unanimous)

Rich Franklin d. Jason MacDonald by TKO (Corner Stoppage) in Round 2 @ 5:00

Martin Kampmann d. Andrew McFedries by Submision (Arm-triangle choke) in Round 1 @ 4:06

Randy Couture d. Tim Sylvia by Decision (Unanimous)

Electric crowd all night... ERUPTED when he won the belt... CRAZINESS.

Edited March 4, 2007 by ACCBiggz

[Blehschmidt]

THANK YOU RANDY!!!!

Man, I hate Tim Sylvia....and that really helped my predictions!!!

[Guest Takayamanofear]

Once again I will say its great to see the belt off Sylvia but I really don't want to see Couture Vs Cro Cop. It really just kind of screws up UFC's marketing I feel. Cro Cop has went from the foreigner that will save us for Sylvia. To the Outsider that is basically going to try to kill Captain America. Overall I thought the card was pretty boring. I can't point to it the crowd was good I had trouble getting into. Glad I went to a Bar to watch it instead of staying home.

[ACCBiggz]

By stylewise, Couture vs. Cro Cop is MUCH better than Tim/CC. This, to me at least, poses a better match. The card wasn't all that great, but it was worth 40. Franklin looked ok, Hughes needs to work some more, and I'd rather have seen Fitch on the main card than Kampmann, but oh well. Main Event was worth it, good solid card.

[Cole]

Well, I pretty much did horrible on this card. From the quick glance/from what I recall I don't think I have one correct round or method plus I barely had many of the winners.

I'll have two or three chances next month to get my heat back (We're doing Fight Night too right?)

[Thrilla]

UFC 68 Predicition Contest Results:

ACCBiggz was the run away winner of the UFC 68 predicition contest, finishing a full twenty points ahead of his closest competition. Biggz successfully predicted the winner, finish and round in two bouts, including the main event, as well as picking up fifteen points in three other matches. Raistlin and Natural Born Thrilla rounded out the top three with impressive scores of 85 points, in which both posters picked up twenty points from two of their predictions. Last month's winner, Cole slumped to a joint seventh place finish, alongside Mr. Potato Head, LBTN and the man who had finished in the top three in every prediction contest (Both UFC and Non-UFC) held so far, Enter Blue Guy. New predicitionist Numbahs had a torrid time of things as he finds himself at the bottom of the table with a medicore thirty-five points.

1. ACCBiggz: (15 + 0 + 10 + 20 + 0 + 15 + 15 + 10 + 20) 105

2. Raistlin: (0 + 20 + 10 + 10 + 0 + 0 + 15 + 10 + 20) 85

2. Natural Born Thrilla: (0 + 0 + 15 + 10 + 0 + 20 + 20 + 10 + 10) 85

3. punky: (10 + 10 + 10 + 15 + 0 + 15 + 10 + 10 + 0) 80

4. TypicalPhenom: (0 + 0 + 0 + 20 + 0 + 15 + 10 + 10 + 20) 75

5. crazedfan: (0 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 0 + 20 + 10 + 10 + 0) 70

6. Takayamanofear: (0 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 0 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 0) 60

7. Enter Blue Guy: (15 + 0 + 10 + 10 + 0 + 10 + 0 + 10 + 0) 55

7. Mr. Potato Head: (0 + 0 + 0 + 10 + 15 + 10 + 0 + 10 + 10) 55

7. LBTN: (15 + 10 + 0 + 10 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 10 + 10) 55

7. Cole: (0 + 10 + 10 + 10 + 0 + 15 + 0 + 10 + 0) 55

11. KCC: (15 + 0 + 0 + 10 + 0 + 0 + 15 + 10 + 0) 50

12. desiredtoe: (0 + 0 + 0 + 10 + 0 + 10 + 0 + 10 + 10) 40

13. Numbahs: (15 + 0 + 10 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 0 + 10 + 0) 35

Prediction Contest League Table:

The second prediction contest in as many months has resulted in a lot of changes throughout the league table. We have new joint leaders, as Natural Born Thrilla and ACCBiggz climb to the top of the pile with a score of 170. After a disapointting showing in this round, former league table leader Cole slips two places into third place; a position his shares with Raistlin, who climbed an impressive six places up the table. Enter Blue Guy, Mr. Potato Head and LBTN all slip down the table, while punky climbs five places to claim a joint sixth spot. The bottom end of the table is predominately filled with people who failed to predict for the UFC 68 show, as well as Numbahs who joined us for the first time and finds himself languishing in the penultimate league table position.

1. Natural Born Thrilla: (85 + 85) 170 (/\5)

1. ACCBiggz: (65 + 105) 170 (/\11)

3. Cole: (105 + 55) 160 (\/2)

3. Raistlin: (75 + 85) 160 (/\6)

5. crazedfan: (85 + 70) 155 (/\1)

6. Enter Blue Guy: (95 + 55) 150 (\/4)

6. Mr. Potato Head: (95 + 55) 150 (\/4)

6. punky: (70 + 80) 150 (/\5)

9. LBTN: (90 + 55) 145 (\/5)

9. Takayamanofear: (85 + 60) 145 (\/3)

10. desiredtoe: (90 + 40) 130 (\/4)

11. KCC: (60 + 50) 110 (/\3)

12. The K-Dogg: (75 + NA) 75 (\/3)

13. Dochappy: (65 + NA) 65 (\/1)

14. TAFKA SOB: (55 + NA) 55 (/\1)

15. Miami Vice: (40 + NA) 40 (/\1)

16. Numbahs: (NA + 35) 35 (NE)

17. Wonderkid: (30 + NA) 30 (--)

Edited March 4, 2007 by Natural Born Thrilla

[Guest Mr. Potato Head]

Wow. Awesome job, Biggz.

[Enter Blue Guy]

I watched it this morning. It wasn't a great card, so I'm glad I didn't actually have to pay for it. It was worth watching just for the main event. I am never doubting Randy Couture again, ever. Seconds into the fight he floors Sylvia and I was like "oh shit, I picked the wrong fight to bet against Randy." Amazing performance. I'm glad it turned out the way it did, I'm so happy the belt is off Big Tim and a 43 year old man coming out of retirement did it, in pure dominant fashion.

[crazedfan]

Some thoughts and play-by-play as I watch the show.... still haven't been able to find the undercard fights yet though.

Lambert/Sobral was a pretty decent fight. I thought Sobral would win this fight for sure. He absolutely dominated most of the first round. Lambert just absolutely destroyed Babalu with that left hook though, sick knock-out.

I didn't know Matt Hughes was only 33... hm. Still has plenty of good years ahead of him. Great reaction from the crowd for Hughes. Lytle swings for the fences early, Hughes doesn't look impressed. Hughes shoots, but Lytle's got a guillotine locked in. Lytle gives it up, and Hughes is on top. Hughes isn't able to do too much thus far, but gets side control. Hughes goes for an armbar late in the round, but Lytle survives.

Hughes shoots in again and gets inside half-guard. Lytle tries for his half-assed guillotine again, and Hughes gets side control. Hughes is starting to bring the elbows again. Hughes has full mount now. Lytle flips it over using the cage! Wow, I've never seen something like that. Lytle tries to swing around for an armbar, but Hughes is back in side-control. I'd give this round to Hughes again though.

Hughes almost immediately gets sidecontrol again. Crowd starts to boo, not too much is going on. Lytle's looking really weak in this round. Hughes almost had an armbar with 10 seconds left, but this fight's over. Little lackluster of a fight, but decent. I'd give this round to Hughes again. No surprise that Hughes gets the unanimous decision.

Awesome reaction for Franklin. I'm really looking forward to this one. MacDonald shoots in, but Franklin hits a flurry of punches. MacDonald goes to the ground and Franklin is pounding away! MacDonald survives though and the fight is back on the feet. Give Franklin the first round.

MacDonald keeps trying to grab Franklin's leg and take him down, but Franklin maintains his balance. Franklin gets taken down and gets out of it and is in MacDonald's side. Franklin gets into the mount! And brings down the fists! MacDonald does a good job of protecting himself though... Franklin is in half-guard. Full-mount again. Franklin has his back now... oh man, MacDonald survives. Franklin wins the round easily, maybe even 10-8. And Franklin wins the fight! The corner stops the fight. Rich Franklin is so classy, telling the crowd to stop booing MacDonald and Anderson Silva. It's hard to NOT root for Franklin. Silva's a real good guy also. Nothing but praise from both men, for both men. I'd love to see a rematch between the two.

There's no way I can't root for Kampmann for now, he's Danish! Danes do it right! McFedries takes Kampmann to the ground with a big punch, but the match is back up. McFedries is laying in some BIG punches. Kampmann is just taking all these punches. Kampmann with a very nice takedown though and with side control. Kampmann with some knees to the side. Kampmann had full-mount, and slid right over to get the submission win with an arm-triangle! Wow!

I'm not gonna do commentary for the Sylvia/Couture fight. Right from the beginning, Sylvia was in trouble. My god. Crowd went absolutely ape-shit when Sylvia hit the ground. Crowd was electric, really all night long, and especially for this fight. I hate UFC crowds sometimes though, they boo when people are on the mat too long, and then when McCarthy stands this one up, they boo. Whatever. Couture just dominated all aspects of this fight, even the stand-up. Only problem is, now it's Couture that Cro Cop is going to kill instead of Sylvia for the Heavyweight title. I don't see how Couture could conceivably beat Cro Cop... but then again, you never know.