Columnist Mike Sloan and radio host TJ De Santis go at it again as they debate what could be the fight of the year between once-beaten phenom
Roger Huerta (Pictures) and never-stopping ball of energy
Clay Guida (Pictures). De Santis is trying to score his first win against the mighty Sloan, who has roared to another winning streak.
I can't believe my eyes, but
you're back in the saddle again? TJ, I thought you would have learned a lesson and never returned to debate. Well, at least against me, that is. What brings you around this land again? Didn't being on the losing end of the Liddell-Jardine debate scare you away? I'm shocked.
Anyway, I'll gladly kick off another winning argument here as we debate the main event of Saturday's "The Ultimate Fighter 6" season finale. To me, though this fight will be the best of '07, it is an easy pick.
Roger Huerta (Pictures) will triumph over
Clay Guida (Pictures), and he'll do it via unanimous decision. And you'll sulk in your cave in front of your desktop wondering what exactly went wrong for the second consecutive time.
Huerta is better at everything, basically, when it comes to mixed martial arts, and he's only lost once. Guida is a nonstop and fierce fighting machine, but he's a little too flawed for my taste. He'll lose at least two out of three rounds. Huerta's got better submissions, better striking technique-wise, better defense and the ladies like him. Guida might have the edge in stamina, but that's about it.
I'm not sure how Guida -- and you -- can survive this one.
Isn't it obvious why I am back? The unpredictable world of mixed martial arts robbed me of my first win in "The Great Sherdog Debate." Hat's off to you, though. Picking Jardine was a ballsy move. And when I say "ballsy," I am referring to you asking your Magic-8 Ball, "Should I pick Jardine?" All signs pointed to yes, and you went with it. Good job!
This is a harder fight to pick. Huerta is a solid mixed martial artist with good skill, wonderful charisma and the look of a future UFC poster boy. All of that is good, but Guida's heart is what wins him this fight.
Clay hasn't had an easy fight inside the Octagon. With a record standing at 2-2, you and I both know it should be 3-1 because the judges stole his win over
Tyson Griffin. For Guida this is just another fight. For Roger it is easily one of the hardest bouts in his career. On paper both are evenly matched, evenly experienced, but one man is tested more than the other. Let's look at their UFC opponents for a moment.
Huerta has had easier opponents than Clay, facing
Jason Dent (Pictures),
John Halverson,
Leonard Garcia (Pictures),
Douglas Evans and
Alberto Crane (Pictures). Despite a solid performance by Garcia and a lackluster first round against Evans, Huerta has been in control of his fights inside the UFC.
Guida, on the other hand, has battled tough with
Din Thomas (Pictures), should have beaten
Tyson Griffin and defeated
Marcus Aurelio. Need I remind you, Aurelio choked out some guy named Gomi.
Oh yeah, Gomi, a guy you're not impressed with, right?
Oh, now you bring in the whole "I'm not impressed with Gomi" thing. What are you, some sort of maroon? That's ancient kindling, brother. Besides, my boy
Nick Diaz (Pictures) stole on him with gogoplata magic.
Anyway, back to your second loss. There's no denying how tough and fun to watch Guida is. Hell, he spent six months on and off in the Bering Sea trying to catch crabs. And yes, I fully agree with you that Guida was robbed big time against Griffin, and the Chicagoland native has fought better competition.
But all that is water under the bridge -- water you'll be leaping into when this debate is finished. Guida has lost several times; Huerta has lost only once. Guida has struggled in the UFC, the sport's largest stage, while Huerta has flourished. Guida got manhandled and mauled at the hands of
Gilbert Melendez (Pictures), and Huerta is a step below him. Guida lost to
Din Thomas (Pictures), and Huerta is leaps above him.
Listen, TJ: I know you're pretty good at being a co-host on the Beatdown Radio show, and you have to put up with the egomaniac (
I mean … great editor and boss) that is Josh Gross, but that doesn't give you the right to come tooting your horn about
Clay Guida (Pictures) beating
Roger Huerta (Pictures). Come on, stick to sticking a microphone in your face and stay away from keyboards.
Co-host?!?! CO-HOST?!?! Excuse me? The show is called "Beatdown with TJ De Santis!"
I do appreciate your compliments on dealing with "The Gross One." But to be honest, his dryness is maybe easier to deal with than you writing off
Clay Guida (Pictures). If we have learned anything from this season of "The Ultimate Fighter," it's that strength mixed with heart can get you through anything. Tommy Speer has survived a massive cut, a deep rear-naked choke and a fully extended armbar to make his way to the finals.
Guida has the same heart of Speer. With that heart, and better skill, Guida is a scary individual. Short of a knockout, which I don't see happening, Huerta will not stop Guida.
The key to Guida winning this bout is perseverance. This matchup is already being called a potential fight of the year. If that is true, then both men will have their moments. When Guida has his chances, he will make the most of them. This is a classic fight that will leave MMA fans going, "Why aren't there two more rounds?"
For 15 minutes Guida and Huerta will shine. But Clay will do what it takes to get the decision. He will pick up his third win inside the Octagon and give me the deserved win in GSD that I should have had in September.
Danzig was my guy right from the start. This is a clear-cut victory for the insect-loving fighter. Danzig is going to steamroll Mister Speer, and he'll do it via rear-naked choke in the first. Thanks, Mac, for making me look like a genius.
There is no doubt that Danzig was the most talented fighter this season. The problem, though, for Danzig is this is a show for welterweights. Mac is a 155-pound fighter. Look for Speer to use his wrestling and size to get on top and grind out a decision. Mac could win, but to do it he will need a KO. Speer doesn't know the word quit and will keep going as long as he is awake.
Rollins sounds a lot like pro baseball Hall of Famer Tony Gwynn when he talks, and that's funny. For that reason alone, he wins via stoppage in the second round. The Padres won't draft him, though.
If J-Rock wanted to play ball, I would lobby for him to get on the Minnesota Twins 2008 lineup. We are going to be terrible. Rollins by TKO.
Troy was the guy I picked to fight
Mac Danzig (Pictures) in the finals, but I was wrong unfortunately. But he will win on Saturday when he scorches the Police Academy namesake in the first.
Agreed, Mandaloniz by stoppage in the first.
Dorian was lucky not to get booted off the show when he scrambled toward a cameraman. Mitichyan was unlucky because he broke his elbow before he could really even train on the show. Tails. Mitichyan by decision.
We didn't get to see much of Roman. Which is a shame as I thought he could do some damage on the show. He has a similar style of
Karo Parisyan (Pictures) and
Manvel Gamburyan (Pictures). Look for Mitichyan to get on top and ride out a decision.
Goulet just can't seem to get a fair shake inside the Octagon as he's lost pretty much every time out. Good thing for him, though: I pick him to win. That's a guarantee.
I have been fortunate enough to roll with Paul in the past. His ground game is sick. However, his standup is less than stellar. Lucky for Paul, Goulet will take this fight to the floor. We will see a good wrestler against a good jiu-jitsu player. With that said, I will go with Georgieff by submission in the second.
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