Fedor wins my title too
Pool A: #1. Fedor Emelianenko vs #4. Ben Rothwell
Fedor is considered the best heavyweight in the world and in quite a few circles, the best fighter in the world. His first round opponent is a tough dude with a 30-6 record and former IFL Champion. But Fedor would be too much and one of his dynamite combinations would floor Rothwell early and Fedor would put him away in the first round.
Pool A: #2. Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic vs #3. Sergei Kharitonov
Cro Cop is a legend in the sport, but his recent performances show he is on his last legs. Meanwhile, Kharitonov is one of the most feared strikers, in fact many say he is a young Cro Cop. In this matchup, I think the pupil becomes the teacher and Kharitonov takes the next step in his career with a knockout victory in the second round.
Pool Championship: Fedor Emelianenko vs Sergei Kharitonov
A win over Cro Cop is impressive, but Fedor is a whole different animal. Kharitonov would come out smart and maybe score some points, but as the fight went on, Fedor would find the weakness, capitalize on the mistake and win like he always does.
Pool B: #1. Josh Barnett vs #4. Gabriel Gonzaga
Pretty tough matchup for Barnett to start things off. Gonzaga can submit you from anywhere and is a big guy. He does, however, have a glass chin and Barnett hits hard. I think Barnett gets a takedown and ground-and-pounds his way to victory.
Pool B: #2. Antonio Nogueira vs #3. Alistair Overeem
Classic kickboxer versus grappler matchup. Nogueira has a chin of steel though and would be able to survive the initial barrage of striking Overeem would bring to the table. Overeem would get a little sloppy and desperate, Nogueira would take advantage and secure the submission for the win.
Pool Championship: Josh Barnett vs Antonio Nogueira
These two have met in the past and each man holds a win in the series. This rubber match would be an epic battle, but I would give the nod to Nogueira who has been more active lately and fought better competition. His experience in the UFC should be enough to get a grueling decision over Barnett.
Pool C: #1. Frank Mir vs #4. Cheick Kongo
I think Kongo is a promising fighter. He is chiseled from stone and hits hard, but Mir is the master of pacing a fight and dictating where it goes. I think the jujitsu ace would be quick to take it to the ground where Kongo has very poor defense. Mir would lock in any submission he wants and win the fight.
Pool C: #2. Tim Sylvia vs #3. Shane Carwin
I would love to see this fight. Sylvia gets a bad rap, but the man knows how to win, even if it is boring. Carwin is a physical fighter and is one of the hottest prospects in the sport. I think this would be two big guys throwing bombs and having a very physical fight. In the end, Sylvia's experience is too much right now and I think he takes a decision.
Pool Championship: Frank Mir vs Tim Sylvia
Both are intelligent fighters and both men will try to dictate the pace of the fight and where it goes. Sylvia will try to jab and keep Mir on the fence and I think he would be successful for a while. Eventually, Mir would get an opening and put the big man on the mat. From there Mir could work for a submission much like he did when they first met.
Pool D: #1. Brock Lesnar vs #4. Randy Couture
This match would go similar to the way it did when these two first met a few months ago. At this stage in his career, Couture is just too old to hang with the athleticism and power Lesnar possesses. Lesnar would win this fight with some ground-and-pound in the second round.
Pool D: #2. Andrei Arlovski vs #3. Cain Velasquez
This is the best fight of the first round. Arlovski is a devestating striker and Velasquez is the Chosen One as far as the heavyweight division is concerned. Velasquez's cardio and work ethic would give Arlovski fits, but in the end, the super crisp striking of the Pitbull would put the young gun down and Velasquez will have to wait another March before capturing the title.
Pool Championship: Brock Lesnar vs Andrei Arlovski
Lesnar is seen as the best athlete in the heavyweight division. If that is the case, Arlovski is a close second. Lesnar likes to throw hard punches, but Arlovski would throw accurate punches and at the end of the day quality is better than quantity. Lesnar would taste more leather than he ever has in this match and get KO'd midway through the fight.
Semifinal: #1. Fedor Emelianenko vs #2. Antonio Nogueira
These two know each other very well and have fought three times. Twice Emelianenko won by decision and the other was ruled a no contest after an accidental cut. I think Fedor would try to knock out Nogueira, but it would end up hitting the mat because Nogueira just doesn't quit. Once on the mat, it would be a battle of wills, but Fedor's uncanny strength and technique in the full guard would get him yet another decision victory.
Semifinal: #1 Frank Mir vs #2. Andrei Arlovski
Frank Mir has been red hot lately and his striking has improved drastically. Arlovski is training with the best boxing trainer in the world. It would be a very tough fight to call and could go either way. I think Arlovski would win for most of the fight, but I think Mir is the best at capitalizing on mistakes and when that window opens, I think Mir would lock in a quick submission and pull out a comeback victory.
Final: #1. Fedor Emelianenko vs #1. Frank Mir
I would pay a whole lot of money for this one. I think Mir is in his prime and Fedor showed weakness for the first time in a long time in his last fight. Just as Mir did the impossible and knocked out Nogueira, I think he would have the confidence to do it to Emelianenko. Mir would win most of the fight and have Fedor searching for answers, but just like he did to Arlovski, Fedor would hit Mir with a punch from nowhere and prevent Mir from pulling off an upset and ending the legend of the unbeatable Fedor.
Champion: Fedor Emelianenko
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