UFC 103 preview
Dallas, Texas – Former champions are set to throw down tonight in the lone star state, as Rich “Ace” Franklin welcomes back “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort to the Ultimate Fighting Championship.
UFC 103 “Franklin VS Belfort” will be held at the American Airlines Center in Dallas Texas and live on pay-per-view starting at 10pm ET.
The co-main event will feature heavyweight superstar Mirko Cro Cop as he attempts to make one last run at UFC gold, rising star Junior Dos Santos will be in his way.
Former number one welterweight contender Frank Trigg returns to the octagon after a four year absence and will have his hands full as he faces Josh Koscheck.
7/19/2008 marked the second coming of Vitor Belfort as he beat the hell out of Terry Martin at Affliction “Banned.” He followed up that stunning performance with a brutal knockout at the expense of Matt Lindland.
Tito Ortiz exclaimed that “Vitor Belfort is back!”
Belfort has seemed to recapture his past form and is indeed back, back at the “big show,” the UFC.
The former heavyweight turned light heavyweight champion is now fighting as a middleweight. His opponent will be former middleweight title holder Rich “Ace” Franklin as they fight at a catch weight of 195.
Franklin is arguably the most underrated fighter in recent memory. He’s lost only on four occasions against Lyoto Machida, Dan Henderson and twice to Anderson Silva. Franklin has his sights set on the light heavyweight division and a possible rematch with Machida.
Franklin’s strengths have always been his technical striking and ability to stick and move. What has given his opponents fits in the past is that he’s a southpaw, but he will be facing Belfort who is also a lefty.
Belfort has had the most success coming out aggressive early. His hands are powerful and fast, not to mention that he was primarily known as BJJ stud early on in his career. Belfort needs to turn up the heat early on Franklin as Franklin is known to stick and move his away to decision victories.
If Franklin can get out of round one alive, he should be able to secure another decision victory while ruining another contender for Anderson Silva.
Fan favorite Mirko Cro Cop is back in action and is hungry for gold, UFC gold. He will be facing a fighter equally hungry and equally dangerous in Brazilian Junior Dos Santos.
Dos Santos, a Team Black House protégé, has been straight nasty since his arrival to the UFC. TKO victories over Fabricio Werdum and Stefan Struve have landed him his biggest fight to date.
At 25, Dos Santos is young and mean. His standup is lethal like Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida while his ground game is reminiscent of the Nogueira’s. He’s aggressive and that will prove dividends against Cro Cop.
Cro Cop hasn’t performed at a top level since his victory over Josh Barnett back in 2006. Sure he beat Eddie Sanchez, Hong Man Choi and Mustapha Al Turk, but looked straight scared against Kongo and Alistair Overeem.
There is no secret that both fighters want to stand and trade. Cro Cop is easily frustrated when back pedaling, but is always a left head kick away from lights out.
I would love to see another title run for Cro Cop, but Dos Santos is nasty and his time is now. Dos Santos wins by decision.
Mirror images will be fighting in welterweight action as oldie but goodie Frank Trigg faces off against his younger counter part Josh Koscheck.
Some of you may not remember Frank Trigg; he was the one who gave up his back not once but twice to Matt Hughes in their title fights.
Well he’s back for one more chance at UFC glory, will he be remembered for being choked out twice by Hughes or do we have a comeback story in the making?
Josh Koscheck wants to end any comeback stories and get back into the title contention at 170. Koscheck is younger, faster and a better version of Frank Trigg. Kos will outwrestle the 37 year old and end the fight via rear-naked choke.
Should be an excellent night of fights, you’ll get more bang for your buck for a UFC card than boxing.
Who’s Mayweather fighting again? Not Pacman!
Watch the UFC!
Spike will be airing someundercard fights one hour before the pay-per-view.
MAIN CARD (pay-per-view)
• Vitor Belfort vs. Rich Franklin
• Junior Dos Santos vs. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
• Paul Daley vs. Martin Kampmann
• Josh Koscheck vs. Frank Trigg
• Hermes Franca vs. Tyson Griffin
PRELIMINARY CARD (Spike TV)
• Efrain Escudero vs. Cole Miller
• Tomasz Drwal vs. Drew McFedries
PRELIMINARY CARD (Un-aired)
• Steve Lopez vs. Jim Miller
• Nick Lentz vs. Rafaello Oliveira
• Brian Foster vs. Rick Story
• Jason Brilz vs. Eliot Marshall
• Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Igor Pokrajac
• Rafael dos Anjos vs. Rob Emerson
