[scofflaw]

Date: Feb 25, 2012

Location: Saitama, Japan
Venue: Saitama Super Arena

Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson (for lightweight title)
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields
Tim Boetsch vs. Yushin Okami

[Vaughany]

Talks of Kongo vs Hunt in Japan

[Vitooch]

Shields wins quite easily. Akiyama is just not as good as what most people previously thought.

I like Pettis also. He's much more well-rounded than Lauzon.

[v1y]

Shields wins quite easily. Akiyama is just not as good as what most people previously thought.

not sure what this means.

he was beating leben until he gassed, and most expected him to lose to bisping and belfort.

he's performed pretty close to what people thought he would.

[NunyaBidness]

I'll take Brock Lesnar by triangle/armbar.

lolwut?

I bet Lesnar can't even get himself into position for a triangle.

[gabe]

I wanna see an ALL AMERICAN War on this card. Chris Weidman vs Brian Stann

[Vaughany]

Wouldnt be surprised if Stann is on this card as he was born in Japan and fits in time wise. Not sure if they'd give him another elite wrestler/grappler though!

[brooks85]

hioki and palaszewski have verbally agreed

http://www.bloodyelbow.com/2011/11/2...c-144-in-japan

[Vaughany]

Bloodyelbow reporting that Rampage will face Bader

[brooks85]

that would be amazing, i was reading all this crap the other day saying he wasn't going to be on the card. Which would just see foolish imo.

[brooks85]

"

The UFC has granted Quinton Jackson's request to fight in Japan in February.
The former light heavyweight champion will meet Ryan Bader at UFC 144. UFC co-owner Lorenzo Fertitta confirmed the matchup to ESPN.com."


that is great news

[bjpenn85]

People from china can spot ryans takedown attempts. I dont understand why he has agreed to take this fight. IMO a very unfavorable matchup. He weill be forced to stand up.

[bjpenn85]

But, its great news.

[Vitooch]

If Bader is a big enough dog I will jump on it

[Vaughany]

If Bader is a big enough dog I will jump on it

Bader has a small chance of a decision and next to no chance of finishing Rampage.... if I was going to play Bader I'd play him by decision

[Vitooch]

I don't know if Bader's display of one punch knockout power against Brilz is clouding my judgement but Bader may be able to catch Rampage with one of those big overhand rights.

[FindTheLock]

Man after what I saw from Rampage in that last fight I would not bet against him unless it's john jones. Did you see his head movement? He even had a 6 pack which is rare for him(meaning he is in great shape). I think rampage will win by decision most likely, but I do not think bader will be able to take rampage down or hit rampage with any damaging strikes.

[caveira]

Man after what I saw from Rampage in that last fight I would not bet against him unless it's john jones. Did you see his head movement? He even had a 6 pack which is rare for him(meaning he is in great shape). I think rampage will win by decision most likely, but I do not think bader will be able to take rampage down or hit rampage with any damaging strikes.

I couldn't agree more!

[sideloaded]

Man after what I saw from Rampage in that last fight I would not bet against him unless it's john jones. Did you see his head movement? He even had a 6 pack which is rare for him(meaning he is in great shape). I think rampage will win by decision most likely, but I do not think bader will be able to take rampage down or hit rampage with any damaging strikes.

he could be 300 lbs by now

[FindTheLock]

I think even an out of shape rusty rampage will beat bader on raw talent alone. Rampage is the anti-bader in my opinion. Jon Jones can wrestle and strike and he has freakishly long arms. bader is basically just a wrestler with a hail mary prayer in the striking department. Rampage can defend takedowns against bader without any trouble at all, and then on the feet I don't see how bader wins this fight.

[FindTheLock]

hell I wouldn't be surprised to see bader get KO'd in this fight now that I think about it.

[sirchadwick1]

Rampage seems like easy money against Bader.... almost too easy. I'd like to wait until weigh-ins to see the shape he's in, but by then he'll probably have terrible odds.

[mmaed]

I think Rampage really wanted to fight in Japan. This is a big deal for him, he should be motivated enough to fight.

[Beelzebubzy]

Damn, the two LWs I have faded in their last two fights are fighting Soti and Gomi

[Vitooch]

Liking Sotr to get back on track here. Going to fade Gomi until he fights someone of significantly lower quality than his recent opponents. Sotr should be able to take Gomi down and either sub him or get a UD.

Garcia and Akiyama look like pretty good fade material also.

Who thinks the UFC should have events with ring fighting like in Pride? That would be a fun change of scenery, and especially since ring fighting is so prevalent in Japanese MMA.

[The HOFF]

Liking Sotr to get back on track here. Going to fade Gomi until he fights someone of significantly lower quality than his recent opponents. Sotr should be able to take Gomi down and either sub him or get a UD.

Fight doesn't go the distance! Maybe even doesn't go over 1 round. Sot by sub or Gomi by brutal KO.