UFC 92 Picks!

Forrest Griffin 6' 3" 205 16-4-0
Vs
Rashad Evans 5' 11" 205 17-0-1

Brandon Stephens:
This should be a very exciting or relatively boring fight. Don’t get me wrong though. Both are great fighters. Evans has great wrestling and has came a long way with his striking and power. Griffin is a warrior with a “never say die” attitude. Griffin has the edge here due to experience and a more overall rounded game.

Winner: Forrest Griffin via Unanimous Decision

Jake Winfrey:
I think this will be the fight of the night, even over Wandy/Jackson III. To me, Rashad matches up to Forrest a lot like Rampage. He has good, powerful strikes and very good wrestling. Forrest continues to develop into a Top 5 fighter, and his heart/cardio is only matched by Ken Shamrock. So, it is with that, that I take Forrest in a 5 Round Decision.

Winner: Forrest Griffin via Unanimous Decision.


Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 6' 3" 240 31-4-1
Vs.
Frank Mir 6' 3" 240 11-3-0

Brandon Stephens:
The coaches’ clash we’ve been waiting for. UFC producers needed to add some drama to this matchup of two very calm and respectable fighters so they made Mir look like an arrogant jerk; while making Big Nog out to be this fun-loving teddy bear of a man. But they still have to fight (in Mir’s hometown) and decide the interim Heavyweight champion. Noone has ever submitted or knocked out Nogueira, but there’s a first time for everything. Both are expert Black Belt BJJ masters. Mir may the only heavyweight capable of winning the ground game. Mir’s biggest weakness may be his cardio after round 1. I believe he’s more focused than ever and pulls out a crazy Sub.

Winner: Frank Mir via submission (Darce choke) in Round 3

Jake Winfrey:
This fight interests me a great deal. Both have very similar fighting styles. However, I do not believe this will be much of a fight. I think Nog is way too much for Mir. If he can survive the first round by avoiding a submission, he will wear Frank "lacks cardio" Mir down and get a relatively easy win. So I like Nogueria to meet Brock Lesnar for the Undisputed HW championship later in 2009.

Winner: Antonio Nogueira via submission (RNC) in Round 3


CB Dollaway 6' 2" 185 8-2-0
Vs.
Mike Massenzio 6' 2" 185 11-2-0

Brandon Stephens:
CB will be the only recognizable fighter in this one to the casual fan but do not underestimate Massenzio. These guys met in the Junior College Wrestling National Finals a few years back with Dollaway getting the victory. That won’t, however, carry over to the cage. Massenzio’s only two losses were to a kneebar and a quick knockout in only 17 seconds. His striking as well as Jiu Jitsu is better than Dollaway which will earn him the revengeful victory when it counts.

Winner: Mike Massenzio via Submission (Guillotine) in Round 2

Jake Winfrey:
A rematch from the JUCO wrestling finals, this promises to have to well-versed in submissions fighters. CB, best known for his "non-tap," returns to Octagon after an impressive win over Jesse Taylor. Massenzio might have the edge in cardio, but I think I will go with CB in this one.

Winner: CB Dollaway via Submission (Armbar) in Round 1


Wanderlei Silva 5' 11" 205 32-8-1
Vs.
Quinton “Rampage” Jackson 6' 1" 205 28-7-0

Brandon Stephens:
Silva has won both their two previous fights before the fall of PRIDE by KO. Both were close fights before Wandy took over with his aggressive style. That’ll be the key again if Silva wants to pull off the win here. After Rampage’s own Grand Theft Auto style rampage he has changed camps and became a more focused and determined fighter. His new found skills as well as maturation since the PRIDE fights will show.

Winner: Rampage Jackson via TKO in Round 3

Jake Winfrey:
I am pumped for this fight. These 2 guys have met twice previously in PRIDE, with Wandy winning both via brutal knockouts. This has the potential to be a stand up war. I don't think that either will be intimidated by the other. Rampage seems extra dedicated after his last loss, and I believe that will be the difference, as he will out point Wandy on the feet.

Winner: Rampage Jackson via Unanimous Decision


Cheick Kongo 6' 4" 240 22-4-1
Vs.
Mostapha Al Turk 6' 2" 242 6-3-0

Brandon Stephens:
Two of the Gatekeepers of the HW division will clash. Cheick is likely not happy about being bypassed by Brock Lesnar for a title shot and will look to prove he deserved it. Kongo has been on a roller coaster since entering the UFC with mainly decision fights. Al Turk makes his UFC debut. After losing his first 2 pro fights, he has come on strong with a 6-2 record since with all his wins coming to due his ground and pound. I’m going on pure instinct here and Mostapha’s punches are just too much.

Winner: Mostapha Al Turk via TKO in Round 1

Jake Winfrey:
Kongo is a very Jekyll and Hyde fighter. I do not know much about Al Turk. Most of these HW UFC debuters make a pretty big impression. I will go against history in this one, and take experience. Kongo gets the nod.

Winner: Cheick Kongo via TKO in Round 1


Yushin Okami 6' 2" 185 23-4-0
Vs.
Dean Lister 6' 1" 185 11-5-0

Brandon Stephens:
A quality fight that, on any other card, would be aired without a doubt. Okami’s only loss in the UFC was to Rich Franklin. He’s explosive and has great striking to go with his solid ground game. Lister will need to take Dana White’s advice and really let his hands go to pull off this upset.

Winner: Yushin Okami via TKO in Round 3

Jake Winfrey:
I really like Okami. He may not be the flashiest of fighters, but he gets the job done with above average striking and a very good ground game. Lister is a decent MW, but really doesn't offer anything that Okami doesn't offer better. This could be quick or it could be a drawn out borefest.

Winner: Yushin Okami via Submission (Armbar) in Round 1


Antoni Hardonk 6' 4" 245 7-4-0
Vs.
Mike Wessel 6' 0" 260 8-1-0

Brandon Stephens:
Wessel took this fight on short notice, which is good for some fighters and bad for others. I guess we’ll see which it is for Mike.

Winner: Antoni Hardonk via Unanimous Decision

Jake Winfrey:
Hardonk has really come on strong since a few rough outings. I do not know much about Wessel. Most fighters who take fights on short notice tend to gas, especially the big guys. I'll take Hardonk in a less than stellar fight.

Winner: Antoni Hardonk via Split Decision


Matt Hamill 6' 1" 205 6-2-0
Vs.
Reese Andy 5' 10" 205 7-2-0

Brandon Stephens:
Both fighters are great wrestlers with Hamill most likely having a slight advantage in that department. Reese Andy will pose an interesting matchup because he’s relatively unknown. Matt may have to change gameplans on the fly which could prove difficult with his handicap.

Winner: Reese Andy via Split Decision

Jake Winfrey:
Tremendous wrestlers meet in this LHW bout. If Hamill sticks to his gameplan, he should earn another via. Reese Andy has a chance to win, as Hamill's cardio isn't that great, but then again, neither is Andy's.

Winner: Matt Hamill via TKO in Round 3


Ryo Chonan 5' 9" 170 15-8-0
Vs.
Brad Blackburn 5' 10" 170 13-9-1

Brandon Stephens:
To be honest, I don’t see Blackburn having much of a chance but he does come more than capable of throwing nice strikes and catching Ryo with one. Ryo is too well rounded though

Winner: Ryo Chonan via Unanimous Decision

Jake Winfrey:
Ryo Chonan has a wealth of international experience, while Blackburn's record does nothing to convince me he has a chance.

Winner: Ryo Chonan via Submission (Armbar) in Round 1


Dan Evensen 6' 3" 250 10-3-0
Vs.
Pat Barry 5' 11" 235 3-0-0

Brandon Stephens:
Honestly don’t know anything about these guys and couldn’t find much in the way of my research either. I’ll roll the dice.

Winner: Pat Barry via TKO in Round 3

Jake Winfrey:
YouTube has convinced me that Pat Barry will win......convincingly

Winner: Pat Barry via TKO in Round 1