Vs.

Tito Ortiz

Vs.

Nate Marquardt (Challenger)

UFC® Middleweight Championship Match

Nate “The Great” Marquardt is a 5-time King of Pancrase. What that means is that he has mucho international experience. Stylistically he brings a lot of weapons to the dance: solid wrestling, great movement and world class submissions skills (he made 14 out 25 victims tap the mat).

The only knock on Marquardt hasn’t been his resume though; it’s been in his lack of finishing as of late (4 out of his last 6 fights have gone the distance). Who could forget his snorefest with Ivan Salaverry (a dull, extended staredown that netted him a decision and a boatload of criticism)? So with the ever-present “encouragement”, A.K.A. pressure, on his shoulders to be “exciting”, he now faces someone who does have a good finishing rate, UFC® middleweight champion Anderson Silva.

So will Nate be intimidated? Hardly. Believe me, Marquardt will be the savviest fighter that Silva has yet to face in the UFC®. And that’s not a knock on either Rich Franklin or Chris Leben, both who Anderson plowed through like a jackhammer, or Travis Lutter, who the Brazilian choked out. You see Nate has a lot of practice against great fighters and deals in Silva’s on-paper weakness - submissions.

This fight will go to the ground at some point and it there where Marquardt will have the best chance to snatch the title, because standing Silva is just too damn slick. Regardless of who wins, THIS is what a title fight should be, men who are there for their fighting accomplishments first, not their “marketability”.

Vs.

Hermes Franca (Challenger)

UFC® Lightweight Championship Match

Sean Sherk was so far away from the UFC as little as two years ago that the Minneapolis, Minnesota resident may have thought he might never come back. But after those two long years of what seemed like banishment for losing a decision against Matt Hughes, Sherk is not only back but he is a champion and highly respected. Coming off impressive back-to-back wins against Nick Diaz and Kenny Florian “The Muscle Shark” is eager to prove he is the best, not only in the UFC, but also in el mundo.

The challenger is familiar with Sherk’s exodus because he himself has had his own parallel trials and tribulations during a similar period. Hermes Franca, like Sherk was wandering the dusty path of fighting in smaller shows (for two years) until he was once again useful for the big show, the UFC®. He was back in the Octagon® in July 2006 and has won three straight, all without the help of the judges (two armbar submissions and a nifty come from behind TKO over Spencer Fisher).

Both Franca and Sherk are power oriented, Sean being wrestling based and Hermes coming from jiu-jitsu. But standing is where the real action will happen. Sherk is a very quick puncher who fires in combination, where Franca is the quintessential single shot, powerhouse slugger who relies on a slightly unorthodox, yet potentially paralyzing approach.

Sherk should be able to control the how and where in this one and I predict him to retain his title by decision. However he has to be very careful of the unpredictable punches that will be occasionally sailing in the direction of his skull. And if Franca puts Sherk on his back the American could be in trouble.
 

Vs.

Heath Herring