UFC Fight Night 19 Preliminary Card Predictions
MMA Record- 168-107 (61%)
Ryan Jensen vs. Steve Steinbeiss: This could be the last chance for Jensen in the UFC. He was released by the organization after losing consecutive fights to Thales Leites and Demian Maia in late 2007. He followed those losses with a loss to Joey Villasenor in Strikeforce, then rebounded with two consecutive victories in smaller shows. Jensen made a return to the UFC at UFC Fight Night 15, only to get submitted by Wilson Gouveia. His 0-3 record in the UFC seems unsightly, but the losses were to some of the toughest fighters that the UFC middleweight division has to offer. He’ll fight someone more at his level tomorrow night in Steve Steinbeiss. Steinbeiss is 4-2 in his MMA career, with losses to former UFC fighters Bill Mahood and Carmelo Marrero. He trains alongside Ryan Bader, Carlos Condit and C.B. Dollaway at Arizona Combat Sports. Steinbeiss is a former light heavyweight fighter and would like to keep this fight standing and use his power advantage to strike his way to victory. Despite being submitted in each of his previous three UFC contests, Jensen should have the advantage if this fight goes to the ground. I’m going with Jensen to end his UFC losing streak at three. Jensen via submission in the 2nd.
Brock Larson vs. Mike Pierce: Welterweight contender Brock Larson hopes to extend his five fight win streak with a win over the 8-1 Pierce. Larson fights trains Brock Lesnar and Sean Sherk at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy, and his solid wrestling background has enabled him to go 26-2 in his MMA career. His only two losses have come at the hands of Jon Fitch and Carlos Condit. Since entering the UFC after the WEC folded their welterweight class, Larson has gone 2-0, with wins over Jesse Sanders and Mike Pyle. Pierce has fought regionally in the Northwest, and will be making his UFC debut. His biggest victory so far was a unanimous decision win over former UFC fighter Paul Bradley in April. Both fighters have similar strengths, wrestling and top control, but I think that Larson does those things just a little bit better at this point in their careers. Larson via unanimous decision.
Jeremy Stephens vs. Justin Buchholz: Buchholz is a late replacement for the injured Ronnys Torres. He’s fought for the UFC three times previously, going 1-2. His lone win came over Corey Hill at UFC 86. Buchholz trains alongside Urijah Faber at Team Alpha Male. Stephens has lost his last two UFC contests, to Joe Lauzon in February, and Gleison Tibau in April. His UFC record is 3-4 overall, and he holds victories over Cole Miller, Diego Saraiva and Rafael dos Anjos. Stephens is a solid striker, and has been working on his Brazilian Jiu Jitsu skills with Hermes Franca. Stephens is the better overall fighter, and I expect him to get the victory here. Stephens via TKO in the 2nd.
Sam Stout vs. Phillipe Nover: The once highly-touted Nover’s job in the UFC is in danger if he drops this fight to Stout. Since winning a spot in the lightweight finals of the eighth season of The Ultimate Fighter, Nover’s star has fallen. He lost to Efrain Escudero at The Ultimate Finale 8, and followed that up with a TKO loss to Kyle Bradley at UFC 98. During the taping of the show, UFC president Dana White compared Nover to Anderson Silva. It was lofty praise for any fighter, but especially for a fighter with only six professional contests under his belt at the time of the comparison. So far, Nover has been unable to deliver on the promise. In this contest, he’ll face a dangerous opponent in Sam Stout. Stout is a UFC veteran, and has a 14-5 MMA record to go along with his 3-4 record in the Octagon. He holds victories over Spencer Fisher, Per Eklund, and Matt Wiman in his UFC career. Stout is a dangerous striker, and has improved his ground game and defense in recent outings. Nover cannot strike with Stout, but is hoping his black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu will give him enough of an advantage on the ground to finish the fight. Nover has struggled on his feet before, and Stout will try and use the striking advantage to keep himself out of dangerous positions on the ground. The smart pick here is Stout, but I’m going with Nover. I think he knows his back is against the wall, and will come out aggressively looking for a takedown. He may have to eat some punches before he can accomplish that feat, but if he can survive, he can submit Stout. Nover via submission in the 2nd.
C.B. Dollaway vs. Jay Silva: Another former finalist in The Ultimate Fighter is fighting to continue his career in the UFC, as C.B. Dollaway tries to rebound from a humiliating 1st round loss to Tom Lawlor at UFC 100. Dollaway will be facing Jay Silva, who is a very late replacement for the injured Dan Miller. Miller set up as a very difficult opponent for Dollaway, and while no opponent is “easy,” Silva should be a much better match up for him. Silva will be making his UFC debut. He’s 5-1 in his MMA career, and fights at Wolfslair alongside Quinton “Rampage” Jackson, Michael Bisping, and Cheick Kongo. He’s still a novice when it comes to MMA, especially at the ground game. Dollaway was an excellent collegiate wrestler, though he hasn’t utilized those skills in the Octagon quite as well as many other collegiate standouts. Still, he should be able to take Silva down at will, and given the fact that Silva is only a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu purple belt, it shouldn’t be long until Dollaway pounds him out, or submits him. Dollaway via TKO in the 1st.
Chris Wilson vs. Mike Pyle: Welterweights Wilson and Pyle will try to move up the ranks in this showdown. Wilson is 1-2 in his UFC career, with the lone win coming over Steve Bruno at UFC 87. He also had a very good showing against top welterweight contender Jon Fitch at UFC 82, though he lost a unanimous decision. He trains exclusively in Brazil, and holds notable wins over Jay Hieron and Rory Markham. Pyle trains at Xtreme Couture, and has a 19-6-1 MMA record. He lost his only previous UFC fight to Brock Larson at UFC 98, but has victories over MMA veterans Shonie Carter and Dan Hornbuckle on his record to go along with a win over Jon Fitch in Fitch’s MMA debut in 2002. Both Wilson and Pyle are solid all-around fighters, but I’m going with Wilson in a close one. He’s probably the better striker, and though Pyle is better on the ground, I think Wilson’s ground game is better than many give him credit for. Wilson via unanimous decision.
Brian Stann vs. Steve Cantwell: This will be the third time that these two have squared off, with each fighter having a stoppage victory to their credit. Stann won his first six MMA fights, which included a victory over Cantwell at WEC 26. He won the WEC light heavyweight championship by defeating Doug Marshall at WEC 33, but lost the title to Cantwell when the two had a rematch at WEC 35. Both fighters were absorbed by the UFC when the WEC folded their light heavyweight division. Stann lost his UFC debut to Krzysztof Soszynski at UFC 97. Meanwhile, Cantwell beat Razak Al Hassan at UFC Fight for the Troops, but then lost a tough battle to Luiz Cane at UFC 97. Since their first fight in early 2007, Cantwell seems to have grown much more as a fighter. Stann, a Marine Corps veteran, is a tough fighter who has the power to knock out Cantwell again. However, the 23-year old Cantwell is a much more well-rounded fighter at this stage of their careers. Stann will put up a good fight, but Cantwell will earn the victory. Cantwell via TKO in the 2nd.
Popularity: 2% [?]
Related posts:
- UFC 106 Preview and Predictions-Preliminary Card
- UFC Fight Night 19 Main Card Predictions
- UFC 101 Predictions- Preliminary Card
- Stann vs. Cantwell III added to UFC Fight Night 19 in September
- Ultimate Finale 10 Preview and Predictions-Preliminary Card
Filed Under: Event Previews
