Anderson Silva once again on the top of the world as he blazes through "The First Round March Madness" middleweight tournament
Pool A: #1. Anderson Silva vs #4. Denis Kang
Kang has all the potential in the world and is very dangerous on the ground. The problem is so is Silva. But the real problem is Kang loses focus as he did against Alan Belcher when he got caught with a submission. There is no way that should have happened, but it means Silva could easily catch him. Silva wins by knockout though.
Pool A: #2. Michael Bisping vs #3. Thales Leites
This is the fight that should happen before Leites gets his title shot. I think Leites is very skilled, but Bisping is a big middleweight and fights at a blistering pace. His cardio and pace would be too much for Leites and I think Bisping would overwhelm him and win with some ground-and-pound.
Pool Championship: Anderson Silva vs Michael Bisping
This is the fight Bisping has talked about ever since moving down in weight. The problem is he likes to utilize his Muay Thai and you don't want to do that against Silva. I think the fight would end up in a clinch and Silva is absolutely unbeatable in that position. Some wicked knees and punches would get Silva the win.
Pool B: #1. Gegard Mousasi vs #4. Jason "Mayhem" Miller
This one would be a war, because it always is with Miller. Mousasi is skilled in every area and reminds me a lot of a Georges St. Pierre type fighter. Miller is very smart and crafty though and I think both men would each have moments of having the upper hand. In the end though, Mousasi is too good and would win on the scorecards.
Pool B: #2. Paulo Filho vs #3. Vitor Belfort
Fihlo is a big middleweight and Belfort used to fight heavyweights, so this one would be physical. Filho is super dangerous on the ground, but I think Belfort has found his speed again and would be unable to unleash a lightening fast combination on the often uninspired Filho. The older fighter gets the upset and Belfort moves on after a knockout.
Pool Championship: Gegard Mousasi vs Vitor Belfort
Belfort's weakness has been against great wrestlers and counter punchers. Mousasi does both of those well. I think Belfort would get over anxious and show off his hand speed, but get caught with a counter that would drop him. After that I think Mousasi takes his time and works him over on the ground for a ground-and-pound win.
Pool C: #1. Robbie Lawler vs #4. Benji Radach
Radach is a physical fighter that likes to bring everything including the kitchen sink. Lawler can do his share of brawling but he is much more technical and would use that to his advantage. I think Lawler sprawl-and-brawls his way to a victory after stuffing the takedown attempts of Radach.
Pool C: #2. Ronaldo "Jacare" Souza vs #3. Matt Lindland
Souza has looked impressive compiling a 10-2 record but the hardest thing for inexperienced fighters to handle is a strong wrestler. I think Lindland wouldn't waste time playing games on his feet and would take Souza down with authority and try to smother him with elbows and punches. I think Lindland has to work hard but walks away with a decision.
Pool Championship: #1. Robbie Lawler vs #3. Matt Lindland
This would be a great fight. Lindland has gassed bad in his recent fights at times, but if he paces himself just right, he has all the tools necessary to beat Lawler. Lawler could get frustrated if he is not able to knockout Lindland after landing a few hard shots. After that, I think Lindland takes over as punishes Lawler on the ground to win a decision.
Pool D: #1. Demian Maia vs #4. Nate Marquardt
This fight could actually happen down the line. The more Marquardt trains with St. Pierre, the more he starts to fight like him, which is a scary thought since Marquardt was already a beast. With that being said, Maia has made his opponents pay anytime the fight hits the floor and I think he gets the biggest win of his career over Marquardt via submission.
Pool D: #2. Cung Le vs #3. Yushin Okami
Okami is going to do whatever it takes to win, even if that means wrestling his opponent to the ground and holding him there. But Le is explosive and one of the best strikers in the world when he puts it all together. To give an example, he knocked out an opponent with a kick to the body and broke Frank Shamrock's arm with his striking and physicality. I think Le overpowers Okami and knocks him out.
Pool Championship: Demian Maia vs Cung Le
It's hard to tell what either of these man can fully do. Maia is 10-0 and Le is 6-0. Something has to give and I would say it would be Maia. At the end of the day, Le is strong enough to get to his feet if the fight hits the mat and Maia has to get better at his striking while Le could end the fight in one kick or punch at anytime. Le by knockout.
Semifinal: #1. Anderson Silva vs #1. Gegard Mousasi
Mousasi is a very smart fighter and he knows how to survive. He likes to retreat at times though and while that seems smart against Silva, all you have to do is ask Rich Franklin to find out thats a mistake. I think Silva could get a Thai clinch and deliver his deadly knees to floor Mousasi.
Semifinal: #2. Cung Le vs #3. Matt Lindland
These two are physical and punishing fighters. Lindland does it on the ground and Le on the feet. As I stated earlier, in Lindlands most recent loss to Belfort, he seemed to gas after getting caught with a punch. Le is just as powerful if not more so than Belfort and I think he could catch Lindland with a kick as he comes in for a takedown.
Final: #1. Anderson Silva vs #2. Cung Le
The young Le gets an early test against the master of fighting. Le is eerily similar to Silva with his devastating striking, but Silva has a jujitsu black belt and is very good on the ground. I think Le would surprise people and go toe-to-toe with Silva and be competitive with neither man getting the advantage. The fight would hit the floor and Silva would lock in the submission and prove he is the best fighter in the world once again.
Champion: Anderson "The Spider" Silva
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