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UFC Middleweight Division Fight

Matt Riddle (0-0-0) vs. Dante Rivera (10-2-0)

 

Talk about making your MMA debut on the biggest stage of all, as Matt Riddle is making his professional MMA debut in the UFC of all places. Matt Riddle is in the same position as Cale Yarbrough, whereas he lacks the experience, but his opponent has nothing to scout him with. Dante Rivera is a fighter gaining MMA experience by competing in the International Fight League and Reality Fighting promotions. Dante Rivera is a submissions expert who has won five career fights by submission and has never been knocked out in his professional career.

 

My Prediction: Dante Rivera

 

UFC Lightweight Division Fight

Spencer “The King” Fisher (20-4-0) vs. Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens (13-2-0)

 

Spencer Fisher was one fight away from becoming the top contender to the UFC Lightweight Title, but a loss to Hermes Franca at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 8 halted those plans. Since that loss, Spencer Fisher rebounded to defeat Sam Stout at UFC Ultimate Fight Night 10, before losing to Frankie Edgar at UFC 78. At points in his career, Spencer Fisher has gone on win streaks of nine fights and eight fight, and has won six of nine UFC fights. Spencer Fisher is known for his awesome striking ability with eleven wins by knockout, and an ever improving submission game with seven career submission victories. Jeremy Stephens is quickly making a name for himself in the UFC, winning two of three career UFC fights thus far. Like his opponent Spencer Fisher, Jeremy Stephens is a fighter known for his knockout ability, with nine victories coming by knockout. Prior to suffering his only career UFC loss at UFC 71, Jeremy Stephens was riding an eight fight winning streak. One advantage Jeremy Stephens may have is that thus far in his professional MMA career, Jeremy Stephens has never been knocked out.

 

My Prediction: Spencer Fisher

 

UFC Welterweight Division Fight

Diego “Nightmare” Sanchez (18-2-0) vs. Luigi Fioravanti (12-3-0)

 

Diego Sanchez was easily a victory away from earning a UFC Welterweight Title fight, but then suffered two straight losses to Josh Koscheck and Jon Fitch. Prior to that first career loss to Josh Koscheck, Diego Sanchez was on an undefeated streak that consisted of seventeen straight victories. Diego Sanchez originally broke into the UFC as the winner of the UFC Ultimate Fighter 1, but has fought top fighters like Kenny Florian, Nick Diaz, Karo Parisyan and Joe Riggs. Despite having great striking abilities, Diego Sanchez has achieved more career victories by submission, nine in total. Luigi Fioravanti is easily in the biggest make or break fight of his career, because a victory over Diego Sanchez will put him in contention and a loss will keep him as an unknown in the UFC for potentially the rest of his UFC run. In his career, Luigi Fioravanti has fought top notch competitors like Chris Leben, Dave Menne, Jon Fitch, Forrest Petz and Luke Cummo. Luigi Fioravanti is becoming a very dangerous striker, with seven career victories by knockout, plus he has never been knocked out himself.

 

My Prediction: Diego Sanchez

 

UFC Ultimate Fight 7 Middleweight Finals

Amir Sadollah (0-0-0) vs. CB Dalloway (6-0-0)

 

This is truly the oddest fight in any of the UFC Ultimate Fighter finals because Amir Sadollah and CB Dalloway previously fought on the show in the semi-finals, which Amir Sadollah won by submission. Then after a shocking turn of events, finalist Jesse Taylor was eliminated from the show by Dana White after his unruly actions in Las Vegas. That situation lead to CB Dalloway and Tim Credeur getting a second chance at becoming a finalist, which CB Dalloway won by decision. Despite making it to the finals, Amir Sadollah has yet to compete in a professional mixed martial arts fight. Like then other two fighters making their debut at this event, this could be an advantage or disadvantage for Amir Sadollah. One advantage that both fighters have is that they fought each other once already, so they should know what to expect from each other in the octagon. CB Dalloway was predicted by many inside the MMA community to be the fighter with the best chance to win it all. Obviously, coming into the fight with six professional fights under his belt gives CB Dalloway a big edge over Amir Sadollah. Before coming to the UFC via the Ultimate Fighter, CB Dalloway has competed in HDNet Fights and the International Fight Organization. CB Dalloway is a fighter who will want to keep the fight on his feet, with four career victories coming by knockout.

 

My Prediction: CB Dalloway

 

UFC Middleweight Division Fight

Evan Tanner (32-7-0) vs. Kendall “Da Spyder” Grove (8-5-0)

 

This fight could become the MMA equivalent of the career ending fight in pro wrestling because the loser of this fight could be looking to fight elsewhere. Evan Tanner has had a history of addiction issues, but has also been a former UFC Middleweight Champion. In his long MMA career, Evan Tanner has fought the likes of Paul Buentello, Heath Herring, Tito Ortiz, Elvis Sinosic, Rich Franklin, Phil Baroni, Robbie Lawler, David Louiseau and Yushin Okami. Evan Tanner has proclaimed that his addiction problems are dealt with and his career is back on track, so a victory here could get him in future contention for a UFC Middleweight Title fight. Kendall Grove was on the verge of joining fellow Ultimate Fighter alumni like Forrest Griffin and Rashad Evans in becoming a top contender in his weight class. After defeating Ed Herman, Chris Price and Alan Belcher in his early UFC run, two consecutive losses to Patrick Cote and Jorge Rivera put his UFC career on the verge of being finished. Kendall Grove will want to use his height advantage and submission skills, with six victories by submission, to get the victory and put his career back on track.

 

My Prediction: Kendall Grove