The card for 119 is somewhat lackluster, but there a few significant bouts on tap.
Heavyweight: Frank Mir vs Mirko “Cro Cop” Filipovic. Tough fight to call because both fighters have demonstrated that they can KO or submit opponents or be KO’d. Both seem to be past their prime and they are now fighting for survival in the UFC heavyweight Div. Will both show up with their A game? I think Mir, at his best, is a little more versatile, with both good striking and his superior Jiu Jitsu. If Mir stays clear of Cro Cop’s dangerous kicks he should prevail imo.
Mir by decision.
Light Heavyweight: Rogerio Nogueira vs Ryan Bader: Winner probably gets to fight a top 5 opponent in the division next, so this is an important fight. I’ll take Bader over Little Nog. Ryan Bader was a D-1 All-American wrestler at Arizona State Univ. and has added a pretty good stand up game to his repertorie. Bader is now 11-0 and seems ready to challenge the LHW division elite if he can get past the veteran Nogueira, who is a master of BJJ. He also he good boxing skills. This should be a very interesting fight, but I think Bader’s superior athletic ability will enable him to prevail. Bader by KO/TKO in Rd 2.
Welterweight: Matt Serra vs Chris Lytle: Lytle by submission in round 3. Lytle is on a 3 fight win streak and appears to be at top of his game. Lytle is fighting in his hometown tonight. Both fighters have strong Jiu Jitsu. Serra won by split decision last time these met in the Octagon, but that was four years ago. Although Serra scored a KO in his last fight I think Lytle is the hotter fighter right now. Lytle by decision.
Fight Pick Results: 3 right, 0 wrong.
gmf journal 