BJ PENN (14-5-1) -285 vs. Diego Sanchez (23-2) +225

Lightweight Champion Penn is the #1 ranked lightweight fighter in the world while Sanchez is fighting for the third time at this weight, having beaten Joe Stevenson and Clay Guida leading up to this match. In what is arguably his toughest fight to date, Diego figures to push the pace as BJ has a history of cardio issues. However, having said that, much of Penn's issues with conditioning have not come at this weight, where at 155 he hasn't lost an opponent at this weight in almost 8 years. Penn also has enlisted that aid of a cardio/conditioning expert to no doubt try to offset the furious pace Sanchez will try to impose upon him. Sanchez has an advantage when those he presses, having a tendency to back down. Don't believe Penn will back down and given the defense he put up in his last fight against Kenny Florian, he should be readily prepared for whatever Diego brings. While this should be a very good fight, the reality is that Sanchez hasn't fought a fighter of this caliber before.

PICK BJ PENN


FRANK MIR (12-4) -194 vs. CHEIK KONGO (24-5-1) +154

Mir is a 2x heavyweight champ looking to erase the memory and images of the pounding he took in his last fight, a brutal loss to Brock Lesnar. Mir has stated that he will stay on his fight for this fight, but in reality, that really shouldn't be his game-plan. Kongo's weakness was on display in his last match where Cain Velasquez continually took him to the ground. That loss stopped a string of 3 straight technical knockouts for Kongo, so regardless of what Mir says, he doesn't want to keep this fight upright and face the striking power of the big Frenchman. Mir should want this on the ground as fast as he can so that he can utilize his world-class wrestling skills against the seemingly one-dimensional striker. If Mir's ego gets in the way as it did in his last match, he could conceivably get knocked out. Belief here is that he plays it smart and uses his ground game to his advantage as Kongo has never faced an opponent with the ground submission skills that Mir has got. (FYI-It's +120 Mir wins by submission on the prop line)

PICK MIR


KEN FLORIAN (14-4) -203 vs. CLAY GUIDA (25-7) +163

Guida is a relentless, cardio machine, full of constant energy and drive, which always makes for a great fight. Florian, he of the sick elbow strikes, is a skilled Muay Thai and Jiu Jitsu expert. Ken-Flo is looking to come back off of a loss in his last fight, which not only broke a string of 6 consecutive victories, but it also was the first defeat in 3 years for the native New-Englander. Guida is also looking to make amends for his last match, a tremendous bout with Diego Sanchez, which won those fighters "Fight of the Night" bonuses. Florian is a deliberate tactician, while "The Carpenter" resembles a wild caveman, always moving and in motion with hair flying. Guida has the ability to absorb a ton of punishment, while it seems he is incapable of tapping out as many skilled submission experts have failed to make him quit. In what has the makings of a most entertaining fight, Florian should be able to inflict enough damage with his elbows and knees on Guida to sway the judges in a 3 round war.

PICK FLORIAN