There are two fights I am really interested in on this card:
1) The Main event, featuring the fight female fight in the UFC, as former Strikeforce Bantamweight Champ Ronda Rousey (6-0) takes on former U.S. Marine Liz Carmouche (8-2).
2) The Light Heavyweight battle between Dan Henderson (29-8) and Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida (18-3)
Ronda Rousey is a huge favorite (-1200) over Carmouche (+775) and that is probably justified because no female fighter has come close to defeating RR as she has won all six of her fights in the first, using her Olympic level judo skills to secure arm bars vs all her previous opponents. It is hard to see how Carmouche will avoid the same fate. Carmouche lost a 3 rd decision to Rousey’s last opponent, Sarah Kaufman. It took Rousey only 54 seconds to defeat Kaufman. It will be impressive if Carmouche can take this fight past the first round. All that said, Rousey better not take Carmouche too lightly, because Carmouche has delivered TKO’s vs. four opponents.
I don’t think Rousey will underestimate Carmouche. There is lot riding on this fight for Rousey and the UFC.
Rousey by Submission, 2nd round.
Henderson vs. Machida is a great fight on paper, matching up two of the very best Light Heavyweights in the UFC. Machida is a favorite at -220 vs +170 for Henderson, but this fight could very easily go either way because both fighters have proven that they have the ability to deliver
KO’s. Hendo has put 13 opponents to sleep, while Machida has done the same to 7 opponents. Machida is the best pure martial artist in the UFC and Henderson has demonstrated that he is very dangerous as both a striker and a wrestler (He represented the U.S. in the Olympics as a Greco-Roman wrestler).
This fight is a very tough call me because both fighters are so skilled and I also like both fighters. They are both class acts. However, I’m going to have to pick Machita to win because he is still in his prime at 34, while Henderson is in the twilight of his career at age 42. To be fair, I must say that there really hasn’t been much of a noticeable decline in Henderson’s ability yet, but Henderson is coming off a knee injury and has not fought in a year. I think ring rust for Henderson may give Machita an advantage. Machita, with his karate influenced fighting style, has also demonstrated that he can be very elusive in the Octagon and that may enable him to avoid Henderson’s vaunted overhand right, known as the H-Bomb.
Machita wins by decision.
gmf journal 