UFC 88 Breakthrough
Sept. 6, 2008
Venue:Phillips Arena, GA
Broadcast on PPV
UFC Lightweight bout:
Chuck Liddell Vs. Rashad Evans
This will be the first mma fight in a while where Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell will have to worry about defending a take down. We all know how great "The Iceman's" sprawl was, but does he still have it. Rashad "Sugar" Evans does not have the stand up game to hang with Chuck Liddell on their feet. If Rashad Evans can not get the fight to the ground, he is toast. I am going with Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell with second round TKO.
UFC Middleweight bout:
Rich Franklin vs Matt Hamill
This will be Rich "Ace" Franklins first fight at 205 pounds since he fought Ken Shamrock way back when.. This fight breaks down very similar to the Chuck vs Rashad fight. Rich "Ace" Franklin has a great sprawl to prevent the takedown, and Matt Hamill has great take downs. The stand up is not even close in this one, with Rich Franklin owning a clear advantage when they are on their feet. If Matt "The Hammer" Hamill can't get this fight to the ground, he has almost no chance of winning this MMA fight. I am going with a Rich "Ace" Franklin victory by TKO in round 3, it would be sooner, but "The Hammer" has displayed in previous fights that he has a hard head.
UFC Welterweight bout:
Karo Parisyan vs 
Yoshiyuki Yoshida
Karo "The Heat" Parisyan is coming back after another disappointing lose, it seems that when Karo Parisyan is on the verge of his long awaited title shot, someone manages to derail it for him. Yoshiyuki "Zenko" Yoshida has not faced the same level of competition as Karo, so this fight will let us know if he is for real. I am going to pick Karo "The Heat" Parisyan by KO in round 2.
UFC Middleweight bout:
Dan Henderson vs 
Rousimar Palhares
Like the mma match-up above, this one has a young up and comer vs an established veteran. Dan Henderson has to much experience for Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares. Palhares will have a chance, Dan Henderson has been submitted three in his career, all by Brazilian MMA Fighters. I am still going to go with Dan Henderson by KO in round 1.
UFC Lightweight bout:
Thiago Tavares vs Kurt Pellegrino
This is an important fight for both men. Both Thiago Tavares and Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino have lost 2 out of their last 3 fights in the UFC. Thiago has looked impressive at times, but he needs to put it all together more consistently. Kurt Pellegrino has also looked good at times also. This should be a great mma fight, with everything that is on the line. I say Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino will win by decision in round 3.
UFC Welterweight bout:
Dong Hyun Kim vs Matt Brown
Dong Hyun "Stun Gun" Kim has KO power in his hands. Matt "The Immortal" Brown has a great chin. I like Mike's style of fighting, but I would not be suprised to see the "Stun Gun" get the KO of the night bonus.
UFC Light Heavyweight bout:
Tim Boetsch vs James Lee
Tim "The Barbarian" Boetsch will be tested by a submission fighter in this mma contest. James Lee has won a lot of fights by submission, and if he can survive the first few minutes of this one, he will have one more victory. I say James Lee wins by submission in round 3.
UFC Welterweight bout:
Roan Carneiro vs Ryo Chonan
This will be the second time these two mma fighters have squared (octagoned) off against each other. Ryo Chonan won the first fight by TKO due to a cut. I think he beats Roan Carneiro by decision this time around.
UFC Middleweight bout:
Nate Marquardt vs ![]()
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Martin Kampmann
Nate "The Great" Marquardt is coming off a tough split decision loss in a fight that he dominated, but was deducted 2 points for illegal strikes. Since Nate lost in his title shot against Anderson Silva, it seems that he is determined to make it back, even if he has to fight borderline dirty to do it. Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann has not lost an MMA fight since 2005, but he will lose on in 2008. I like the tools that "The Hitman" brings to the ring with him, but in the end Nate "The Great" Marquardt has to much for him and wins by TKO in round 3.
UFC Middleweight bout:
Jason Lambert vs
Jason MacDonald
The battle of the Jason's will come down to short notice. Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald just lost a tough 3 round MMA fight to Demian Maia at UFC 87 Seek and Destroy. With the extra time that Jason "The Punisher" Lambert had to train, I have to pick him to win by TKO in round 2.
Broadcast on PPV
UFC Lightweight bout:
Chuck Liddell Vs. Rashad Evans This will be the first mma fight in a while where Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell will have to worry about defending a take down. We all know how great "The Iceman's" sprawl was, but does he still have it. Rashad "Sugar" Evans does not have the stand up game to hang with Chuck Liddell on their feet. If Rashad Evans can not get the fight to the ground, he is toast. I am going with Chuck "The Iceman" Liddell with second round TKO.
UFC Middleweight bout:
Rich Franklin vs Matt Hamill This will be Rich "Ace" Franklins first fight at 205 pounds since he fought Ken Shamrock way back when.. This fight breaks down very similar to the Chuck vs Rashad fight. Rich "Ace" Franklin has a great sprawl to prevent the takedown, and Matt Hamill has great take downs. The stand up is not even close in this one, with Rich Franklin owning a clear advantage when they are on their feet. If Matt "The Hammer" Hamill can't get this fight to the ground, he has almost no chance of winning this MMA fight. I am going with a Rich "Ace" Franklin victory by TKO in round 3, it would be sooner, but "The Hammer" has displayed in previous fights that he has a hard head.
UFC Welterweight bout:
Karo Parisyan vs Yoshiyuki Yoshida Karo "The Heat" Parisyan is coming back after another disappointing lose, it seems that when Karo Parisyan is on the verge of his long awaited title shot, someone manages to derail it for him. Yoshiyuki "Zenko" Yoshida has not faced the same level of competition as Karo, so this fight will let us know if he is for real. I am going to pick Karo "The Heat" Parisyan by KO in round 2.
UFC Middleweight bout:
Dan Henderson vs Rousimar Palhares Like the mma match-up above, this one has a young up and comer vs an established veteran. Dan Henderson has to much experience for Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares. Palhares will have a chance, Dan Henderson has been submitted three in his career, all by Brazilian MMA Fighters. I am still going to go with Dan Henderson by KO in round 1.
UFC Lightweight bout:
Thiago Tavares vs Kurt Pellegrino This is an important fight for both men. Both Thiago Tavares and Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino have lost 2 out of their last 3 fights in the UFC. Thiago has looked impressive at times, but he needs to put it all together more consistently. Kurt Pellegrino has also looked good at times also. This should be a great mma fight, with everything that is on the line. I say Kurt "Batman" Pellegrino will win by decision in round 3.
UFC Welterweight bout:
Dong Hyun Kim vs Matt Brown Dong Hyun "Stun Gun" Kim has KO power in his hands. Matt "The Immortal" Brown has a great chin. I like Mike's style of fighting, but I would not be suprised to see the "Stun Gun" get the KO of the night bonus.
UFC Light Heavyweight bout:
Tim Boetsch vs James Lee Tim "The Barbarian" Boetsch will be tested by a submission fighter in this mma contest. James Lee has won a lot of fights by submission, and if he can survive the first few minutes of this one, he will have one more victory. I say James Lee wins by submission in round 3.
UFC Welterweight bout:
Roan Carneiro vs Ryo Chonan This will be the second time these two mma fighters have squared (octagoned) off against each other. Ryo Chonan won the first fight by TKO due to a cut. I think he beats Roan Carneiro by decision this time around.
UFC Middleweight bout:
Nate Marquardt vs 
Martin Kampmann
Nate "The Great" Marquardt is coming off a tough split decision loss in a fight that he dominated, but was deducted 2 points for illegal strikes. Since Nate lost in his title shot against Anderson Silva, it seems that he is determined to make it back, even if he has to fight borderline dirty to do it. Martin "The Hitman" Kampmann has not lost an MMA fight since 2005, but he will lose on in 2008. I like the tools that "The Hitman" brings to the ring with him, but in the end Nate "The Great" Marquardt has to much for him and wins by TKO in round 3.
UFC Middleweight bout:
Jason Lambert vs
Jason MacDonald The battle of the Jason's will come down to short notice. Jason "The Athlete" MacDonald just lost a tough 3 round MMA fight to Demian Maia at UFC 87 Seek and Destroy. With the extra time that Jason "The Punisher" Lambert had to train, I have to pick him to win by TKO in round 2.
