UFC 73: Stacked Breakdown and Predictions:

If there is one thing that gets the FlamingBaby staff fired up it is bad puns, and in their absence, MMA. If you're a fan of MMA this weekends UFC card has got you covered. Two title fights, a "grudge match", big Nog's UFC debut, and the return of America's favorite roided up psycho (no, Chris Benoit is not back from the dead, I'm referring to "American Psycho" Stephan Bonnar), it's enough to make any MMA fanboy happy as Gabe Ruediger at an ice-cream cake factory. If you got the money to wager, follow our predictions to easy street.

Stephan Bonnar vs. Mike Nickels

"American Psycho" Stephan Bonnar is going to try to get back to winning. Following a loss to Rashad Evans he attempted to get back to winning by training and taking horse steroids. This plan was inherently flawed as he lost the following contest to Forrest Griffin by lackluster decision and got popped with a positive drug test to boot. Realizing that he now has to win or say good bye to the UFC he has kicked the horse juice started training like his fighting life depends on it (because it does).

Mike Nickels has been hard at work tattooing every exposed piece of skin on his body in an attempt to out do the lizard man. When not scaring his face with pin stripes and fake facial hair, Mike finds time to practice Jiu-Jitsu, competing in the Pan Am championships for the sport. He has also apparently been working on his striking as his record now boasts a 7 second KO of Carpaccio Owens, though his hands are probably still not at the level to pose a threat to the granite chin of Bonnar (who
has never been finished except by cut).

This fight has decision written all over it. With Bonnar fighting for his UFC life he will be unwilling to take the chances needed to win decisively and instead will try to eek out points by avoiding Nickels nonexistent takedowns and scoring with quick jabs and leg kicks. Conversely Nickels will be willing to take chances but does not have the tools to finish Bonnar standing up or the wrestling needed to take
him down. Expect this one to be a plodding bout akin to watching Tim Sylvia fight Ryoto Machida.

Bonnar by decision

Antonio Rodrigo "Minotauro" Nogueira vs. Heath Herring

Thanks to the UFC I no longer need 1.21 "jigawatts" of electricity and a Delorian to see this fight. To those not in the know, Minotauro (not to be confused with his little brother Antonio Rogerio "Minotoro" Nogueira) has fought Heath Herring twice before. He won a unanimous decision against "the Texas Crazyhorse" in 2001 and then choked him out snake style in 2004. Since then Nog has beaten Cro-Cop, Werdun, and Josh "The Coif" Barnett, while only losing to the best fighter in the world Fedor and losing a split decision to Barnett (the judges were obviously distracted by his hair). His stock is on the rise and many expect him to be the UFC heavyweight champion before the year is up.

Herring on the other end has done nothing but disappoint since coming to the UFC. He dropped his opener to Jake O'brien (an opponent the UFC probably figured would get destroyed and thus give them a new HW that could end the hated Tim Sylvia's reign), and then won a snoozer against Brad Imes. Herring is in a win or go home situation, and against Nog, he's probably busy packing his stuff.

While Herring has a good wrestling and striking, Nog has better wrestling, striking, and his jiu-jitsu is top notch to say the least. Since they last met, Nog has been practicing his boxing with the Cuban Olympic boxing team, while Herring has been bouncing around between training partners. Nog has gotten loads better in his quest to beat Fedor, while Herring seems to have leveled off. Herring is a good fighter, Nog is just better.

Nog by 2nd round submission.

Rashad Evans vs Tito "The Huntington Beach Badboy" Ortiz

This is the "Grudge Match" of the night, the UFC knows that conflict between Tito and anyone (even old men) sells tickets and PPV's. He's too tough for Ken Shamrock and not tough enough for Chuck Liddel... who's juuuuuuust right? Rashad Evans.

Rashad is somehow the favorite in this fight. Granted, his knock out win over Sean Salmon (where he basically kicked Salmons head into the cheap seats) was impressive. However, his only opponent with a winning record in the UFC was Jason Lambert. Lambert is a good fighter, but Tito is a legend. Tito was giving Chuck all he could handle in their rematch (the fight went to the third round) and he went the distance with Randy Couture. It is popular nowadays to vote against Tito, but he is still a top fighter in the LW division (even if he has a penchant for taking easy fights) and a danger to anyone who gets in the cage with him.

Both have a great wrestling pedigree as division 1 college wrestlers, both have been working on their standup. Rashad has the edge in quickness and Tito has a BIG advantage in power. When it comes fight time I expect Tito to get the takedown and GnP a win out. I think Rashad is starting to buy his own hype and is going to come in expecting an easy KO. Tito is going to ruin that plan in brutal fashion.

Ortiz by 2nd round TKO

Sean "The Muscle Shark" Sherk vs Hermes "Herpes" Franca

The UFC lightweight division is finally starting to be a draw. This is mostly because of the HUGE crop of talented fighters in the division. Guys like Griffin, Huerta, Guida, and Edgar are making it one of the most action packed and exciting division in the UFC, and sitting atop the division like a huge muscular shark (by this I mean having no neck) is Sean Sherk.

Sean "I have the greatest nickname in MMA behind Dean of Mean Keith Jardine" Sherk is planning an "eye opening experience" for Franca. After years of beating all but the very top WW's in the UFC Sherk saw an opening and dropped down to LW. You could say that plan worked out. After demolishing Kenny "Ken-Flo" Florian for five rounds he finally had a strap to call his own, and he intends to hold it for a while. He is by far the strongest LW in the division (except for maybe Tyson Griffin's thighs, holy crap that guy's legs look like someone stuffed two watermelons into his hips...) and has great wrestling and boxing to back it up.

Hermes Franca is known for his jiu-jitsu prowess and heavy hands. He throws wild looping punches that are telegraphed as hell but very powerful and he has stated publicly that he expects to be able to sweep out from below Sean with ease. Hermes strategy in this fight is probably to use his hands to setup a takedown and try to get on top of Sherk and work some jiu-jitsu magic. Sherk's plan is to put Hermes on his back and then GnP him till he quits or the bell rings. Upon hearing that Hermes thinks he will be able to sweep out Sherk said "He's not going to take me down and he's definitely not going to sweep me. I don't think I've ever been swept in 40 fights, so I don't think he's going to be the first guy to sweep me."

Sherk has not been put on his back since he fought Matt Hughes and Hermes's wrestling is just a few levels below Sean's. I see Sean using his superior boxing to stand in the pocket and pepper Hermes for just long enough to setup a takedown, from then on out it's all GnP as Sherk grinds out his first title defense.

Sherk by 4th round TKO

Anderson "Spider" Silva vs Nate "The Great" Marquardt

After capturing the MW strap from Rich "Ace" Franklin back in October of 06 and shuffling through the debacle that was Travis Lutter's weight cutting fiasco, Silva will finally defend his title on Saturday. The Spider is going to have his precise hands full though, as former King of Pancrase Nate Marquardt is standing in his way.

Anderson is thought by many to have the best and most accurate hands and feet in MMA today. His strikes shattered the "iron" jaw of Chris "the Cat Smasher" Leben. He also has a jiu-jitsu black belt and trains out of the newly formed "Black House" with the Nog brothers (if that doesn't help your ground game, nothing will). He submitted another jiu-jitsu great when he triangle choked a dehydrated prune looking Travis Lutter.

Nate Marquardt has been busy winning his last four UFC fights (albeit in quiet fashion as he is normally off the main card due to his some say boring style). He has beaten Ivan Salaverry (decision), Joe Doerksen (decision), Crafton Wallace (choke), and jiu-jitsu monster Dean Lister (you guessed it, decision). Nate's style of plodding aggression, take downs galore, and grinding on his opponent once he has them on the mat is in complete contrast to Anderson's punch you in the face till you die style.

Look for Anderson to try to KO Nate early and often, but to get stuffed by him (if freaking Travis Lutter could take Anderson down at will I don't see what hope he has against a takedown machine like Marquardt) put on his back, and punished until the round ends or they are stood up for inactivity. I think this bout will be another snoozer if Nate wins, and a highlight reel KO if Anderson takes it. Unfortunately for us, Nate is going home with the win and the belt.