Ultimate Finale 10 Preview and Predictions-Preliminary Card

December 05, 2009 | Tim | Comments 1

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The finale for the highest rated season of The Ultimate Fighter promises to deliver huge ratings itself. The reason for the ratings success of this season was due to the presence of street-fighter turned MMA fighter (sort of) Kimbo Slice. Slice will be making his official UFC debut on the finale, squaring off against Houston Alexander. Brendand Schaub and Roy Nelson will be fighting for the “six-figure contract,” and light heavyweights Jon Jones and Matt Hamill will fight in the main event. First though, we have the prelims:

Joe Brammer vs. Mark Bocek: Brammer will be making his UFC debut after going 7-0-1 in his first eight fights, all which took place in regional promotions in Iowa. He’ll be making a huge leap up in competition in this one. Bocek is 7-2 in his career, and is 3-2 in his UFC career. His most recent fight was against David Bielkheden at UFC 97 in April. Bocek dispatched of him with a first round submission. He’s a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, and has trained under Renzo Gracie in the past. Everything that Brammer does well, Bocek does better. I don’t see many ways Brammer wins this fight. Bocek via submission in the 2nd.

John Howard vs. Dennis Hallman: Howard is 12-4 in his MMA career, and is undefeated at 2-0 in his brief UFC career. He last fought at UFC 101, defeating Tamdan McCrory by split decision. Howard is a very solid wrestler, and also boasts decent submission skills, as well as good submission defense. His striking is still a work in progress. Hallman is making his return to the UFC after a four-year absence. His biggest claim to fame in his MMA career is his pair of submission victories over UFC welterweight Matt Hughes. His wrestling has always been his biggest strength. I don’t see this UFC run ending much differently than his first UFC run. Howard should have the advantage in the wrestling department, and is a poor matchup for Hallman. Howard via unanimous decision.

Brian Stann vs. Rodney Wallace: Former WEC light heavyweight champion Brian Stann will be looking to get build a winning streak in the UFC after his split decision victory over Steve Cantwell at UFC Fight Night 19. Stann is now 1-1 since making the transition to the UFC after the WEC eliminated the upper weight classes. Stann showed improvement in many areas during his last fight with Cantwell. He still possesses good power in his hands, which is his biggest strength. His ground game is still a work in progress. Wallace will be making his UFC debut after going 9-0 in the U.S. and overseas. His biggest strength is his wrestling, and six of his nine pro fights have gone to a decision. I don’t think this one is going to. It’s a big step up in competition for Wallace, and I think Stann’s striking strengths will eventually prove too much for Wallace. Stann via TKO in the 3rd.

Jon Madsen vs. Justin Wren: In the first of the fights involving competitors from the past season of The Ultimate Fighter, Jon Madsen will take on Justin Wren. Madsen trains with Matt Hughes at the H.I.T. squad in Granite City, Illinois. In his first fight on the show, Madsen utilized his strong wrestling base to pummel Abe Wagner. In the 2nd round of the competition, Madsen was knocked out by Brendan Schaub. He showed good wrestling skills throughout the season, but offered little else. Wren was one of the more impressive heavyweights that I saw on the show. He easily finished UFC veteran Wes Sims in the first round of their fight with an arm triangle. He took on Roy Nelson in the 2nd round, and lost a decision. The fight was closer than many people thought it would be. Wren is also an accomplished wrestler, but in Greco-Roman wrestling, where he has trained at the U.S. Olympic training center. He’s 8-1 in his MMA career. I think that Wren is far too well-rounded for Madsen in this fight. Madsen is a solid wrestler, but just doesn’t set up his takedowns well, and offers very little striking skills or jiu jitsu skills. Wren should take this one easily. Wren via submission in the 2nd.

James McSweeney vs. Darrill Schoonover: In another matchup from the show, James McSweeney will take on Darrill Schoonover. McSweeney trains with Greg Jackson in New Mexico. He has a kickboxing background, but his MMA career to this point has been disappointing. He’s 3-4 in his pro career, with losses to middling UFC heavyweights Neil Grove and Mostapha Al-Turk. In his first fight on the show, McSweeney struggled with a completely gassed Wes Shivers, winning via majority decision in a fight that I thought should have went to a 3rd round. However, given how completely exhausted both fighters were at the end of that fight, I’m kind of glad it didn’t go another round. In his second fight, McSweeney choked out an overmatched Matt Mitrione but then lost to Roy Nelson in the semifinals. Schoonover was picked by some to be a darkhorse candidate to win the season. He came into the show with an impressive 10-0 record, and showed some of the most well-rounded skills in the house. Schoonover beat Zak Jensen with a triangle choke in his first fight, but lost to Marcus Jones via TKO in his second round fight. Schoonover probably should be fighting in the light heavyweight division, where he used to fight, but has gained weight since returning from active duty in the U.S. Army. He is being recalled into service after this fight, and has made it known that he wants to lose some weight and drop back into the light heavyweight division. McSweeney hasn’t impressed me at all during the show. I think his sriking is sloppy and overrated, and he has shown very little else to go along with it. I’m sure he’s improved since the show while training with Greg Jackson’s camp. You also have to question Schoonover’s mental state, knowing he has to report for duty not long after this fight. However, I think Schoonover is the better overall fighter, and he’ll win this fight. Schoonover via split decision.

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Ultimate Finale 10 Preview and Predictions-Preliminary Card

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