· UFC 105 Fighter And Staff Predictions
Middleweights Gerald "Hurricane" Harris and Patrick "The Predator" Cote sat down with the MMA Spot staff and discussed our predictions for "UFC 105: Couture vs. Vera" at The M.E.N. Arena in Manchester, England. The event will be broadcast live in Canada on Rogers Sportsnet at 3pm (est) and on Spike TV at 8pm (est) tomorrow. The event features Randy "The Natural" Couture's return to the light heavyweight division. Waiting to welcome him is Brandon "The Truth" Vera. Also, U.K. favorites Dan Hardy, Michael Bisping, Ross Pearson, James Wilks, Andre Winner, and others are scheduled for the card.
205 - Randy "The Natural" Couture (16-10) vs Brandon "The Truth" Vera (11-3)
Gerald Harris (Shark Fights 185 Champion): Randy Couture by straight snuggie dirty boxing beatdown on Brandon Vera.
Brad LeBeau: Vera will keep Randy at bay by using his devastating leg kicks and will work his jab which will eventually set up a Vera TKO
C.M.Holden: Couture will grind out a decision using dirty boxing, ground and pound, and by controlling Vera against the cage and on the ground.
Coy Lewis: Randy Couture
Clinton Wilson: Randy Couture
J.A.Yount: Brandon Vera
Joe Gullo: Randy Couture
Patrick Cote (UFC Fighter): Brandon Vera
170 - Mike "Quick" Swick (14-2) vs Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy (22-6-1)
Gerald Harris: Somebody is getting KTFO!
J.A.Yount: Mike Swick is simply the better fighter in this case. Hardy will have no answer for Swick's range, speed, or grappling, but Hardy always has heart, so I do not see a finish in this fight. Swick by decision.
Brad LeBeau: Swick has never really been hit hard in the UFC. Look for Hardy to counter Swick and deliver a KO in the 2nd.
Coy Lewis: Mike Swick
Clinton Wilson: Mike Swick
Joe Gullo: Dan Hardy
C.M.Holden: Mike Swick
Patrick Cote: Mike Swick
185 - Michael "The Count" Bisping (17-2) vs Denis Kang (32-11-1)
Gerald Harris: I could care less about any middleweight fights I'm not in.
J.A.Yount: Bisping was likely overrated going into his fight with Henderson, and Kang is likely underrated coming into this fight. Definitely a "Fight Of The Night" candidate. Kang by 2nd round submission.
Joe Gullo: Bisping got embarrassed by Henderson, but he's a great fighter that's constantly improving. I think he's just better than Kang; unless Bisping comes in gun-shy as a result of the Henderson fight, I see it ending with Bisping landing the TKO.
Coy Lewis: Michael Bisping
Brad LeBeau: Denis Kang
Clinton Wilson: Denis Kang
C.M.Holden: Michael Bisping
Patrick Cote: Denis Kang
170 - James "Lightning" Wilks (6-2) vs Matt "The Immortal" Brown (10-7)
Gerald Harris: Matt Brown by knuckle to the face of James Wilks.
Coy Lewis: Another tough fight to pick but I think Brown comes out aggressive and overwhelms Willks, winnning by unanimous decision.
Brad LeBeau: Wilks is one of the better fighters to come out of "The Ultimate Fighter" in awhile. I think he controls this fight, whether it be standing or on the ground. Wilks by 2nd round submission.
J.A.Yount: Matt Brown
Clinton Wilson: Matt Brown
Joe Gullo: Matt Brown
C.M.Holden: Matt Brown
Patrick Cote: Matt Brown
155 - Aaron Riley(28-11-1) vs Ross " The Real Deal" Pearson (9-3)
J.A.Yount: This has to be the toughest 1st fight for any "The Ultimate Fighter" winner, but Pearson is up to the challenge. It won't be pretty, but Pearson takes a decision on his home turf.
Clinton Wilson: Very close fight to call. In the end, I think Riley's experience will win him a close decision.
Joe Gullo: Pearson by Submission; Riley has used his size to grind out decisions and won't be able to do that against Pearson.
Coy Lewis: Ross Pearson
Brad LeBeau: Aaron Riley
Gerald Harris: Aaron Riley
C.M.Holden: Ross Pearson
Patrick Cote: Aaron Riley
155 - Terry Etim (13-2) vs Shannon Gugerty (12-3)
Patrick Cote: Terry Etim
Coy Lewis: Terry Etim
J.A.Yount: Terry Etim
Brad Lebeau: Terry Etim
Clinton Wilson: Terry Etim
Joe Gullo: Terry Etim
C.M.Holden: Terry Etim
170 - Paul "Relentless" Taylor (10-4-1) vs John "The Hitman" Hathaway (11-0)
Patrick Cote: Paul Taylor
Coy Lewis: Paul Taylor
J.A.Yount: John Hathaway
Brad Lebeau: Paul Taylor
Clinton Wilson: John Hathaway
Joe Gullo: John Hathaway
C.M.Holden: Paul Taylor
170 - Nick "Slick" Osipczak (4-0) vs Matthew Riddle (3-0)
Patrick Cote: Matthew Riddle
Coy Lewis: Matthew Riddle
J.A.Yount: Matthew Riddle
Brad LeBeau: Matthew Riddle
Clinton Wilson: Matthew Riddle
Joe Gullo: Matthew Riddle
C.M.Holden: Nick Osipczak
155 - Paul "Tellys" Kelly (9-1) vs Dennis Siver (14-6)
Patrick Cote: Paul Kelly
Coy Lewis: Paul Kelly
J.A.Yount: Paul Kelly
Brad LeBeau: Paul Kelly
Clinton Wilson: Paul Kelly
Joe Gullo: Denis Siver
C.M.Holden: Paul Kelly
205 - Alexander "The Mauler" Gustafsson (8-0) vs Jared Hamman (10-1)
Patrick Cote: Jared Hamman
Coy Lewis: Jared Hamman
J.A.Yount: Alexander Gustafsson
Brad LeBeau: Alexander Gustafsson
Clinton Wilson: Jared Hamman
Joe Gullo: Alexander Gustafsson
C.M.Holden: Alexander Gustafsson
155 - Andre Winner (9-3-1) vs Rolando "The Crazy Cuban" Delgado (6-4-1)
Patrick Cote: Andre Winner
Coy Lewis: Andre Winner
J.A.Yount: Andre Winner
Brad LeBeau: Andre Winner
Clinton Wilson: Andre Winner
Joe Gullo: Rolando Delgado
C.M.Holden: Andre Winner
Special Thanks to Patrick Cote and Gerald Harris for their contributions. Watch the UFC post fight conference here.
