The Fight Network’s Ariel Shnerer breaks down the main card for UFC 109 this Saturday night on pay-per-view:
In a fight initially slated to take place at UFC 17 in May 1998, MMA pioneers Randy Couture and Mark Coleman will finally get it on. In their mid-40s, “The Natural” and “The Hammer” are still going strong as they headline a major card in 2010 at the Mandalay Bay in Las Vegas.
Here is a look at the marquee fights:
Randy Couture (17-10) vs. Mark Coleman (16-9)
This battle of UFC Hall of Famers may be happening 12 years too late. But even today, a main event between Couture and Coleman is an intriguing match-up with potentially major repercussions.
Couture, 46, and Coleman, 45, are legends in the sport and neither man can afford a setback at this stage in their career.
After returning to the UFC in 2008 following a lengthy contract dispute, Couture dropped back-to-back fights against Brock Lesnar and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira, which prompted the only two-division champion in UFC history to drop down in weight.
Back at 205 pounds, Couture edged Brandon Vera via unanimous decision at UFC 105 last November. The victory over Vera was a pivotal moment in Couture’s career as it demonstrated he can still be a relevant factor in the light heavyweight division.
Coleman is coming off a much-needed win over Stephan Bonnar at UFC 100 last July. The first-ever UFC heavyweight champion has high hopes of adding Couture to his list of victims, but he lacks the conditioning and striking needed to last against the crafty 27-fight veteran.
Couture’s Greco-Roman wrestling base and world-renowned clinch and ground-and-pound style have been the trademark tools in his repertoire.
Stylistically, Coleman, who is credited as the “Godfather of ground-and-pound,” excels in similar areas. The 1992 Olympian and former NCAA champion is a decorated wrestler as well. However, his grappling has not improved one bit since he first began in the sport.
The difference maker will be Couture’s ability to evolve with the sport. Couture has made drastic headway with his striking. His ability to brutalize opponents in the clinch is second to none and his work ethic in the gym is inspiring given his age. With all factors taken into consideration, Couture should control the bout en route to a decision nod.
In defeat, Coleman may need to asses his standing in the UFC. In all likelihood, Coleman has already accepted that he will never be a champion again. Couture, meanwhile, can move closer to a crack at the title later this year. A title bout between Couture and the winner of Lyoto Machida-Mauricio “Shogun” Rua at UFC 113 can still be a major draw for the company.
Verdict: Couture via Unanimous Decision
Nate Marquardt (29-8-2) vs. Chael Sonnen (23-10-1)
The three-time King of Pancrase and two-time national wrestling champion will collide with a potential shot at the middleweight crown on the line.
Marquardt, a black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu under Ricardo Murgel, has improved considerably since his knockout loss to Anderson Silva at UFC 73 in 2007. He has been training with Greg Jackson in New Mexico to put all the tools in his game together.
In 39 career bouts, Marquardt has showcased a strong base in submission grappling coupled with menacing kickboxing.
Sonnen, a veteran of 35 pro fights, is a former NCAA All-American and U.S. Olympic team alternate. Under Matt Lindland’s wing at Team Quest, the Greco-Roman wrestler has become a major middleweight threat coming off back-to-back victories over Yushin Okami and Dan Miller.
Sonnen’s standup game needs polishing. He will rely heavily on his wrestling to out-muscle and out-maneuver Marquardt to win a decision. Unheralded until his recent upset win over Okami, Sonnen is accustomed to playing it safe by taking his opponents down and dropping punches from top control, a tactic he employed perfectly in his win over Miller at UFC 98.
But, Marquardt has been training with Georges St-Pierre, the best wrestler in the sport. If Sonnen’s strategy will be to take Marquardt down with ease, he may be in for a long night. Marquardt is the vastly superior standup fighter with more speed, sharper footwork and greater punching power.
Marquardt is not the same fighter he was two years ago. He has stepped his game and is rightfully eager to get back into the octagon with the kingpin Silva. The superior all-around mixed martial artist, should punish the standout wrestler on Saturday’s night to justify his rematch with “The Spider.”
Verdict: Marquardt via TKO, Round 3
Paulo Thiago (12-1) vs. Mike Swick (14-3)
A rematch between Thiago and Josh Koscheck was ultimately a better match-up. However, Thiago and Swick both need a standout performance in the 170-pound division and this fight presents each with an opportunity they must capitalize on.
Thiago, a black belt in BJJ and Judo, is a member of the elite special police force in Brazil. He put UFC matchmaker Joe Silva on notice when he knocked out Koscheck at UFC 95 last February.
With only one loss on his record, a decision versus No. 2 welterweight Jon Fitch, Thiago is looking to make it 2-1 in bouts with welterweight sensations from the American Kickboxing Academy.
Now training with the Nogueiras, Anderson Silva and Lyoto Machida at Team Black House and regularly training at Constrictor Team, Thiago is an evolving fighter with unlimited potential.
Swick is a highly touted welterweight coming off a unanimous decision loss to upcoming title challenger Dan Hardy. Since debuting in 1998, Swick has defeated the likes of Joe Riggs, Josh Burkman, Marcus Davis, Jonathan Goulet and Ben Saunders.
With strong takedown defence, quick hands, a long range and decent submission skills, Swick is a handful for most welterweights, and Thiago should be no exception.
Despite being a well-rounded fighter, Swick can be exploited by Thiago on the mat. If the Brazilian can take this fight to the ground, he will control the action to win on judges’ scorecards. But if Swick successfully thwarts the takedown, he will rapidly turn into a favourite to win.
Verdict: Thiago via Unanimous Decision
Matt Serra (9-6) vs. Frank Trigg (19-7)
Serra and Trigg will put on a great show for the fans in this welterweight encounter.
Nicknamed “The Terror,” Serra packs a mean punch, which he showcased by shocking the world and stopping St-Pierre at UFC 67 in 2007.
Trigg, a former NCAA Division I Wrestler with a black belt in Judo, is a well-rounded southpaw with 26 fights under his belt. He’s is coming off a first-round TKO loss to Koscheck in his return to the UFC last September.
Trigg might opt to respect the ground game of Serra by standing and trading punches. Regardless of how he tackles Serra, Trigg takes the risk of leaving himself open to danger. Serra has one-punch power and dangerous submissions, which makes him the likely candidate to prevail on this welterweight collision course.
Verdict: Serra via TKO, Round 1
Demian Maia (11-1) vs. Dan Miller (11-2)
This bout presents the opportunity of a lifetime to Miller, but does little to propel the career of Maia.
Maia’s grappling credentials are among the best in the sport. In 2007, he reached the top of the BJJ mountain by winning the Abu Dhabi submission grappling tournament. He has won “Submission of the Night” honours four times in five UFC wins.
Formerly a top contender to challenge Silva for the middleweight title, Maia needs a win to maintain a top-10 ranking.
Miller, a former Cage Fury Fighting Championships and IFL middleweight champion, has a background in freestyle wrestling. He too is no slouch on the ground. On Jan. 15, Miller was awarded his BJJ black belt under Renzo Gracie black belt Jamie Cruz.
If Maia expects to steamroll through the AMA Fight Club product, he may run into some resistance. Miller is banking on a solid performance to further his UFC career following a unanimous decision setback to Sonnen last May.
Although Miller possesses the survival tools, his striking and wrestling are not good enough to neutralize Maia’s relentless ground assault. Miller is likely to be controlled by the superior BJJ practitioner before succumbing to a submission.
Verdict: Maia via Submission, Round 2