UFC 57 - Liddell vs. Couture 3

This Saturday night brings us the next UFC, and possibly the most anticipated fight ever. With the growing talent in the MMA community many names stand out, but few shine as bright as Chuck Liddell and Randy Couture. Tonight I'll be talking about a couple of the undercard fights, check back with me for the main event. If you like the big boys who swing for the knock out this is your night. 4 of these fights are heavyweight match ups with 4 others being light heavyweight bouts.

9 fights in all on this Saturday night, let's check them out.

The Card
Keith Jardine VS Mike Whitehead

Nick Diaz VS Joe Riggs

Jeff Monson VS Brandon Lee Hinkle

Paul Buentello VS Gilbert Aldana

Brandon Vera VS Justin Eilers

Alessio Sakara VS Elvis Sinosic

Renato Sobral VS Mike Van Arsdale

Frank Mir VS Marcio Cruz

Chuck Liddell VS Randy Couture



First up let's talk about the undercard match up between the former TUF season 2 fighters.


Keith Jardine

Keith Jardine fought in The Ultimate Fighter 2 in the Heavyweight division. Many picked him to win the whole thing. He brings some TV PPV experience via the King of the Cage tournaments where he is known for bringing a fast and furios pace to his fights. Keith is pretty well rounded as a fighter but prefers to end his fights fast and bloody with kicks and strikes. 5 of his 9 victories come from KO or TKO.


Mike Whitehead

Mike Whitehead was also in the heavyweight category fighting at 255 during The Ultimate Fighter. He is now slimmed down and fighting at 205. Although he is from Crater High School in Southern Oregon, rival to my own beloved Eagle Point High School (GO EAGLES!!!!) I do like Mike as a fighter. He didn't put on a good performance in the show and he'll be looking to correct that during his 1st UFC fight. Of his 4 losses keep in mind that 2 of them come from Tim Sylvia, he's kinda good being a former champ and all. Mike will not have an easy opponent in Keith Jardine but I do look for him to win the fight.

I really don't look for this fight to make it out of the 1st round. Both these fighters have plenty to show and regretably didn't show it during The Ultimate Fighter. The jitters should be gone and they should be ready to put on a show. Too bad this will be an undercard fight.


Next up we have Nick Diaz VS Joe Riggs.



Nick Diaz
Nick Diaz has been around the block. As Joe Rogan would say, he's got crazy gumby legs and a sick ground game. Don't let that ground game fool you, this lanky boy can throw some blows as well. If I were Nick Diaz I wouldn't try and trade with Joe Riggs. After Matt Hughes put a clinic on Riggs and made him look like a fish out of water on his back Diaz should look to get this to the ground quick.


Joe Riggs

Joe "Diesel" Riggs comes to throw punches. He's incredibly well rounded for being known as just a striker, 52% KO's and 43% submissions if you add up his victories. After a dissapointing loss to Matt Hughes came 1 night after loosing his shot at the title due to not making his weigh in (1 pound over) he will be looking to get himself another shot at the title. Hughes made quick work of him, seemed to control him from the very begining of the fight until the submission.

I look for Diaz to take it to the ground early and be too much for Riggs. Diaz has thought for quite sometime that he deserves a shot at the title. A quick win over someone who just fought Matt Hughes may get him that opportunity in the near future.


Jeff Monson VS Brandon Lee Hinkle.



Jeff Monson
Jeff "The Snowman" Monson is a wrestler out of Washington. He's had a couple of fights in the UFC back in 2000 and 2002. 2 of his 3 fights he ended up on the wrong end of Chuck Liddel and Ricco Rodriguez. But he did got the distance with Chuck, something only a couple of people have been able to do. With only 1 KO in his 19 victories you can bet he'll be looking to take the fight to the ground early.


Brandon Lee Hinkle
Brandon Lee Hinkle had a less than impressive performance with a TKO victory over Sean Gannon at UFC 55. Both Hinkle and Gannon looked to be terribly out of shape upon entering this fight. Hinkle was able to end it inthe 1st round which was probably good for both of them, I don't know that either one of them would have got off their stools for the 2nd round.

I look for "The Snowman" to put the freeze on "The Iron Lion" at UFC 57.


Paul Buentello VS Gilbert Aldana.



Paul Buentello
Paul "The Headhunter" Buentello will be looking to make up for his 15 second 1st punch KO loss to Anrdei Arlovsky. If Arlovsky through a punch at me last fall I probably wouldn't be up yet! Buentello is. Buentello is known for having a rock hard chin and a big punch. Only 1 of his 27 fights have gone the distance so if you like knock outs you should tune in for this one.

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Gilbert Aldana
Gilbert Aldana is getting a great opportunity here. With only 5 fights (5 wins and 5 KO's) to his name he is fighting someone who was in the ring with the champ just a couple months ago. If you add them up his 5 fights lasted a total of 3 minutes and 43 seconds. That's right, he don't like to go the distance either.

This should be a great fun fight, and ummmmm. DON'T BLINK! I am going to go with an underdog pick of Aldana on this one. Buentello will be fired up after his loss but this kid has everything to gain and not to much to loose in this fight.

I'm hoping to have the rest of the fights mapped out tomorrow evening so check them out! Thank you to Sherdog for the profiles and some of the pictures, the UFC provided the rest of the pictures.