(1) Forrest Griffin vs.
(16) Tim Boetsch
(8) Chuck Liddell vs.
(9) Stephan Bonnar
(4) Rampage Jackson vs.
(13) Keith Jardine
(5) Maricio "Showgun" Rua vs.
(12) Matt Hamill
(2) Rashad Evans vs.
(15) Eric Shafer
(7) Rich Franklin vs.
(10) Wanderlei Silva
(3) Lyoto Machida vs.
(14) Brandon Vera
(6) Dan Henderson vs.
(11) Luiz Cane
Who wins each match and ultimately the tournament?
please assume that every fighter is fresh for each fight.
Forrest over Boetsch via TKO
Bonnar over Liddell in a slug-fest. Bonnar avoids the big bombs and lands one of his own in round 2 or 3 that hurts Liddell and allows Bonnar to pounce on him and get the TKO stoppage. Bonnar's 3 defeats look pretty good (2 to forrest and 1 to rashad).
Keith Jardine over Rampage. Jardine has pulled off big upsets before and this match-up works out perfectly for him. The key to beating Jardine is to get in close and get your punches off first, something that Rampage is not known for. Rampage is more of a counter-puncher like when he beat Liddell. Liddell, also a counter-puncher, got beat by Jardine.
Showgun Rua over Hamill via submission. Hamill is still very raw and unsure of what his style should be. The experienced Rua will catch Hamill in a submission in this one.
Evans over Shafer in a boring decision.
Frankiln over Wanderlei in a very exciting fight that sees Silva pressing the action and Frankiln picking him apart in the stand-up.
Machida over Vera in a very interesting match-up featuring plenty of leg kicks. Machida eventually takes it to the ground and asserts his will.
Henderson over Cain in a boring fight where Hendo lays on top of Cane for most of the fight.
ROUND 2
Griffin vs. Bonnar 3!! Griffin wins again with superior heart.
Showgun Rua makes quick work of Jardine for a 1st round submission victory.
Rashad Evans via split decision over Rich Franklin. Exciting fight with several momentum changes, but ultimately a couple of takedowns by Evans make the difference on the scorecards.
Lyoto Machida outclasses Henderson with tremendous take-down defense and proceeds to pick him apart in the stand-up
SEMIFINALS
Griffin over Showgun again. a KO or TKO is highly likely.
Rashad Evans vs.Lyoto Machida. As much as I like Rashad, I have to say that Lyoto takes this one. He will avoid the takedowns and he has superior "stick-and-move" stand-up. Great fight.
FINALS
Forrest over Machida. I don't think Machida has the power to hurt Forrest. Machida may pick Forrest apart, but Forrest will just keep coming and eventually hurt Machida and gain the TKO stoppage.
(16) Tim Boetsch
(8) Chuck Liddell vs.
(9) Stephan Bonnar
(4) Rampage Jackson vs.
(13) Keith Jardine
(5) Maricio "Showgun" Rua vs.
(12) Matt Hamill
(2) Rashad Evans vs.
(15) Eric Shafer
(7) Rich Franklin vs.
(10) Wanderlei Silva
(3) Lyoto Machida vs.
(14) Brandon Vera
(6) Dan Henderson vs.
(11) Luiz Cane
Who wins each match and ultimately the tournament?
please assume that every fighter is fresh for each fight.
Forrest over Boetsch via TKO
Bonnar over Liddell in a slug-fest. Bonnar avoids the big bombs and lands one of his own in round 2 or 3 that hurts Liddell and allows Bonnar to pounce on him and get the TKO stoppage. Bonnar's 3 defeats look pretty good (2 to forrest and 1 to rashad).
Keith Jardine over Rampage. Jardine has pulled off big upsets before and this match-up works out perfectly for him. The key to beating Jardine is to get in close and get your punches off first, something that Rampage is not known for. Rampage is more of a counter-puncher like when he beat Liddell. Liddell, also a counter-puncher, got beat by Jardine.
Showgun Rua over Hamill via submission. Hamill is still very raw and unsure of what his style should be. The experienced Rua will catch Hamill in a submission in this one.
Evans over Shafer in a boring decision.
Frankiln over Wanderlei in a very exciting fight that sees Silva pressing the action and Frankiln picking him apart in the stand-up.
Machida over Vera in a very interesting match-up featuring plenty of leg kicks. Machida eventually takes it to the ground and asserts his will.
Henderson over Cain in a boring fight where Hendo lays on top of Cane for most of the fight.
ROUND 2
Griffin vs. Bonnar 3!! Griffin wins again with superior heart.
Showgun Rua makes quick work of Jardine for a 1st round submission victory.
Rashad Evans via split decision over Rich Franklin. Exciting fight with several momentum changes, but ultimately a couple of takedowns by Evans make the difference on the scorecards.
Lyoto Machida outclasses Henderson with tremendous take-down defense and proceeds to pick him apart in the stand-up
SEMIFINALS
Griffin over Showgun again. a KO or TKO is highly likely.
Rashad Evans vs.Lyoto Machida. As much as I like Rashad, I have to say that Lyoto takes this one. He will avoid the takedowns and he has superior "stick-and-move" stand-up. Great fight.
FINALS
Forrest over Machida. I don't think Machida has the power to hurt Forrest. Machida may pick Forrest apart, but Forrest will just keep coming and eventually hurt Machida and gain the TKO stoppage.