Sherdog.com Preview: UFC 54 – Liddell vs. Horn
UFC 54 Conclusion
Aug 17, 2005
So we see if Liddell can go two for two in revenge matches. And if
he is successful, can a second meeting with Quinton Jackson (Pictures) be far behind?
Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Frank Trigg (Pictures) battle for another shot at the welterweight title after Karo Parisyan (Pictures) gets his crack versus Matt Hughes (Pictures).
We see what Randy Couture
(Pictures) (and Mike Van Arsdale (Pictures) for that matter) has left in the
tank.
And the debut of “The Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (Pictures) may have new fans from TUF tuning in. Enjoy the fights!
Martin def. Irvin TKO R2
Prangley def. Lutter TKO R2
Lindland def. Doerksen decision 3R
Telligman def. Sylvia TKO R2
St. Pierre def. Trigg TKO R3
Sanchez def. Gassaway KO R2
Couture def. Van Arsdale TKO R2
Horn def. Liddell submission R2
UFC/DOWN THE ROAD:
Rich Franklin (Pictures) vs. Gustavo Machado (Pictures): At 10-3-1, Machado has been on a roll but he hasn’t been scooped up by either of the big shows. Thalles Leite submitted him but his only other losses are to Ricardo Arona (Pictures) and Benji Radach (Pictures). Franklin needs to stay busy and Machado presents a serious challenge on the mat.
Vernon White (Pictures) vs. Renato Sobral (Pictures): White showed true heart in the knockout loss against the “Iceman” and is 2-0 since that bout. “Babalu” is the future of the light heavyweight division and hasn’t lost since meeting Liddell. This would be a good test before he gets a title shot.
Jutaro Nakao (Pictures) vs. Nick Diaz (Pictures): Diaz has been impressive and only has two losses by decision in three years. He’s as hot as the division gets and should get a title shot soon. Nakao is 6-2 since the loss to Sean Sherk (Pictures) at UFC 36. This is the same guy who knocked out Tony DeSouza (Pictures), submitted Pat Miletich and went the distance with Dave Menne (Pictures), Ray Cooper (Pictures) and Hayato Sakurai (Pictures).
Brandon Lee Hinkle vs. Stephan Bonnar (Pictures): Hinkle is 11-6 and has won six in a row, including a stoppage of Tom Sauer (Pictures) — and there’s no one from Hammer House in the Octagon. Bonnar showed what he was made of against Griffin but struggled with Hoger. After Freeman, this could be a good test.
Matt Lindland (Pictures) vs. Alan Goes: Lindland is 3-0 since the knockout loss to Terrell. Goes quickly kneebarred his first opponent in two years and he seems excited about the sport again. If he wins, you have another challenger for Franklin’s title.
Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) vs. Bazigit Atajev: “Volk” Atajev is the real deal and it would be a striker’s feast! Andrei is going to run out of competition pretty fast so they may need to import this guy.
Ian Freeman (Pictures) vs. Francisco Bueno: Freeman makes his return later this year against Griffin after two years away. Bueno was signed but never got his shot in the Octagon and hasn’t fought in two years.
Dustin Denes (Pictures) vs. David Terrell (Pictures): ATT vs. Cesar Gracie. David needs to come back from the loss to Tanner. Dustin has not lost in two years and it could make for a great match-up.
Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) vs. Mike Kyle (Pictures): Everyone heard about the bad blood between these two. Ricco is 3-0 since the loss to Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) in ’03. Kyle’s unpredictable behavior is a selling point and he’s 2-1 with two knockouts in the Octagon.
Georges St. Pierre (Pictures) and Frank Trigg (Pictures) battle for another shot at the welterweight title after Karo Parisyan (Pictures) gets his crack versus Matt Hughes (Pictures).
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And the debut of “The Nightmare” Diego Sanchez (Pictures) may have new fans from TUF tuning in. Enjoy the fights!
To recap, my picks are:
Martin def. Irvin TKO R2
Prangley def. Lutter TKO R2
Lindland def. Doerksen decision 3R
Telligman def. Sylvia TKO R2
St. Pierre def. Trigg TKO R3
Sanchez def. Gassaway KO R2
Couture def. Van Arsdale TKO R2
Horn def. Liddell submission R2
UFC/DOWN THE ROAD:
Rich Franklin (Pictures) vs. Gustavo Machado (Pictures): At 10-3-1, Machado has been on a roll but he hasn’t been scooped up by either of the big shows. Thalles Leite submitted him but his only other losses are to Ricardo Arona (Pictures) and Benji Radach (Pictures). Franklin needs to stay busy and Machado presents a serious challenge on the mat.
Vernon White (Pictures) vs. Renato Sobral (Pictures): White showed true heart in the knockout loss against the “Iceman” and is 2-0 since that bout. “Babalu” is the future of the light heavyweight division and hasn’t lost since meeting Liddell. This would be a good test before he gets a title shot.
Jutaro Nakao (Pictures) vs. Nick Diaz (Pictures): Diaz has been impressive and only has two losses by decision in three years. He’s as hot as the division gets and should get a title shot soon. Nakao is 6-2 since the loss to Sean Sherk (Pictures) at UFC 36. This is the same guy who knocked out Tony DeSouza (Pictures), submitted Pat Miletich and went the distance with Dave Menne (Pictures), Ray Cooper (Pictures) and Hayato Sakurai (Pictures).
Brandon Lee Hinkle vs. Stephan Bonnar (Pictures): Hinkle is 11-6 and has won six in a row, including a stoppage of Tom Sauer (Pictures) — and there’s no one from Hammer House in the Octagon. Bonnar showed what he was made of against Griffin but struggled with Hoger. After Freeman, this could be a good test.
Matt Lindland (Pictures) vs. Alan Goes: Lindland is 3-0 since the knockout loss to Terrell. Goes quickly kneebarred his first opponent in two years and he seems excited about the sport again. If he wins, you have another challenger for Franklin’s title.
Andrei Arlovski (Pictures) vs. Bazigit Atajev: “Volk” Atajev is the real deal and it would be a striker’s feast! Andrei is going to run out of competition pretty fast so they may need to import this guy.
Ian Freeman (Pictures) vs. Francisco Bueno: Freeman makes his return later this year against Griffin after two years away. Bueno was signed but never got his shot in the Octagon and hasn’t fought in two years.
Dustin Denes (Pictures) vs. David Terrell (Pictures): ATT vs. Cesar Gracie. David needs to come back from the loss to Tanner. Dustin has not lost in two years and it could make for a great match-up.
Ricco Rodriguez (Pictures) vs. Mike Kyle (Pictures): Everyone heard about the bad blood between these two. Ricco is 3-0 since the loss to Pedro Rizzo (Pictures) in ’03. Kyle’s unpredictable behavior is a selling point and he’s 2-1 with two knockouts in the Octagon.
