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Carlos Condit (23-4) vs. Martin Kampmann (14-2): Condit comes over to the UFC as the former WEC Welterweight Champion for a reason. In sum, "The Natural Born Killer" has outstanding submission skills in that he can take you out from his back or the top position. What's more, his striking is technically strong and diverse. Though he doesn't hit extremely hard, his power can certainly do the job.
Not to mention he's tough as nails and has the cardio to go wherever the fight takes him.
Kampmann is an outstanding kickboxer with enough power to go around. What's more, his ground game, including wrestling, is somewhat underrated. After all, this is a guy with five submission victories to his credit. When Kampmann has lost it's been by knockout. But that's only been twice in a 16 fight career.
Prediction: This is as good a fight as you'll get on a Fight Night card. If the battle hits the ground, both guys are good but Condit would seem to be on another level with his submissions. If the fight stays standing, Kampmann should have a slight advantage, though to rule Condit out there may be a mistake.
Will Condit overpower Kampmann like Nate Marquardt recently did? No. But can he get this fight to the ground and do enough damage on his feet (and damage control) to weather the storm?
Figure on yes.
Carlos Condit wins by way of second round submission.
Ryan Bader (9-0) vs. Carmelo Marrero (10-2-1): Bader, a TUF winner, is a powerhouse wrestler. In other words, he hits like a truck and has excellent takedowns, takedown defense, and ground control skills. His submission game and defense is still in the beginning stages, however. But he's got a good camp behind him.
Marrero is a also very good wrestler that sports a win over Cheick Kongo. He's improved his submissions as well, and isn't bad defensively on his feet.
Prediction: Marrero is a very good wrestler, as is his opponent. However, he doesn't appear to be as physically gifted as Bader is. Since neither guy is likely to win this fight way of their Brazilian Jiu Jitsu capabilities?Marrero has gotten pretty good with submissions, but that's not necessarily his forte? guess is that Bader's power and athleticism will win out.
Ryan Bader wins by way of third round TKO.
Tyson Griffin (12-2) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (11-3): Tyson Griffin has an unbelievable motor, outstanding wrestling skills, and better than average technical stand up. Even his submissions and submission defense are solid. Beyond being a very well-rounded fighter, his fights always tend to be exciting, which is a good thing.
Dos Anjos is a strong submission fighter with good overall skills. But he's coming off of a devastating KO loss to Jeremy Stephens, which is never easy to come back from. And that was in his only UFC fight.
Prediction: Tyson Griffin wins via unanimous decision (lots of ground and pound and winning the striking battle)
The Rest of Fight Night
Junie Browning (3-1) vs. Cole Miller (14-3): Browning looked awesome in his last fight on his feet. But Miller has a lot more experience and has the length to give him trouble. What's more, his BJJ is very strong.
Cole Miller wins by way of decision.
Gleison Tibau (28-5) vs. Jeremy Stephens (16-4): Tibau is the better ground fighter. Of course, Stephens hits like a truck. So who will win out, the striker or grappler?
Jeremy Stephens wins by way of second round TKO.
Ricardo Almeida (9-3) vs. Matt Horwich (24-10-1): This is one heckuva fight for an undercard. Almeida has some of the best Brazilian Jiu Jitsu skills in the world. Matt Horwich is an excellent wrestler with strong dirty boxing skills and a never quit motor. But he has lost by submission before and fell to the last submission guy (Dan Miller) that he faced via decision.
Ricardo Almeida wins by way of second round submission.
Brock Larson (25-2) vs. Jesse Sanders (24-1): Sanders is an excellent submission fighter that has competed on smaller venues. Expect him to be blinded by the lights some when he goes up against an awesome ground and pound/ top position guy in Larson.
Brock Larson wins by way of first round TKO.
Tim Credeur (12-4) vs. Nick Catone (7-0): Catone may be able to control Credeur.
Nick Catone wins by way of unanimous decision.
Jorge Rivera (15-7) vs. Nissen Osterneck (5-1): Osterneck looked good up until he lost to Jake Rosholt in his last fight. But Rivera is a better striker and should be able to win out there.
Jorge Rivera wins by way of second round TKO.
Rob Kimmons (21-4) vs. Joe Vedepo (9-2): Both guys had a tough time in their last UFC encounter.
Rob Kimmons wins by way of second round TKO.
Tim McKenzie (12-5) vs. Aaron Simpson (4-0): Simpson likes to knock people out.
Aaron Simpson wins via first round KO.
Steve Steinbeiss (4-2) vs. Ryan Jensen (13-5): A toss up.
Steve Steinbeiss wins by way of a decision.
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