thesquaredcircle

Thats a really good looking card.  For the mainstream it problem isn't as gripping as it is for die hard fans.  Sherdog rank Fedor and Barnett as the #1 and #2 Heavyweights in the world for a damn good reason.  Barnett has only lost 5 times, 3 being to Cro Cop, 1 to Rizzo which he rectified at the first Affliction and 1 to Big Nog in a rematch of a match he originally won, and I'm pretty sure given a rematch with the Cro Cop of now, he'd beat him to.  Fedor on the other had has that reputation amongst fans in generally, many who have never seen him as the Terminator like MMA Fighter, who can't be knocked out, submitted or beaten.  No matter what you do he will just keep coming at you.  I really want Barnett to win and I think he's got the tools, although neither man looked superb in their last outings.  Barnett made a meal out of beating dirty Gilbert Yvel whereas Fedor was getting mashed before he exposed Arlovski's now world famous glass jaw.  Having demonstrated improved striking and a master of using his weight, Barnett could give him big problems.

Sobral and Mousasi has potential classic written all over it.  Both guys are on a role, Sobral is a veteran who could in many ways "Pass the torch" in this fight or he could expose Mousasi for being quite possibly overated.  After winning the DREAM Middleweight Grand Prix he's been highly touted, although Jacre fans have proclaimed it a fluke, either way it should be a lot of fun.

Santiago and Belfort are two guys who struggled last time they were in the UFC, but outside of it (recently) they have built up decent records.  I (think) Santiago won a Strikeforce Grand Prix if memory serves me correctly in the final he took out the talented UFC Vet Trevor Prangley.  Belfort on the other hand is the ultimate under achiever.  Coming into the UFC at such a young age he was seen as the future of the sport along with Tito Ortiz but he never quite lived up to his potential.  After some sluggish performances he seems to have reinvented himself as a Middleweight, his knockout of Matt Lindland was scary, more so for how Lindland reacted to it.

I'd expect Gilbert Yvel to defeat Rizzo to earn the fight with Buentello.  Rizzo in his day is far more talented than Yvel but Rizzo has lost a step in recent years and been knocked out by a fair few guys, Yvel on the other hand has a tendancy to go a little crazy.  At the Affliction event though I'd expect Buentello to win, he may not look the part but he is a very good striker.  I never understood why he got cut from the UFC, I think he posted a 3-1 record there, his only loss being to Arlovski, maybe he requested his release though I'm not sure.

Also good to see some English fighters on the card in Paul Daley and Rob Broughton.  Shame Broughton's fight is not televised he is always good to watch.