A look at UFC 98: Evans v. Machida

As some of you know UFC 98 is this weekend in Las Vegas. I, for one, am pumped for this card because it features a title shot in my favorite division, the light heavyweight division. I'm going to offer my opinion on the main card for the upcoming card.

Sean Sherk (33-3-1) v. Frankie Edgar (9-1-0)

This fight is an interesting one for me to pick. On one side, there is Sean Sherk, a monster of a wrestler who can conceivably fight at 170 lbs and on the other side Frankie Edgar, a young scrappy fighter out of Toms River, NJ. Since his hugely entertaining fight with Tyson Griffin at UFC 67, I have been a huge Edgar supporter. I am a fan of Sherk as well, but not as much since his suspension for testing positive for steriods after his UFC lightweight title defense at UFC 73.

For me, this fight comes down to wrestling. Both men are well-versed in wrestling and use it to gain victories in the Octagon. But Sherk's size and experience will be too much for the younger Edgar, in my opinion.

MY PICK: Sean Sherk via Unanimous Decision

Dan Miller (11-1-0, 1 NC) v. Chael Sonnen (22-10-1)

This middleweight scrap pits the IFL veteran, Miller, and the last WEC middleweight champion, Sonnen. Miller is a versatile, intelligent fighter coming off a quick first round submission win over NCAA wrestling standout Jake Rosholt. Sonnen is looking to bounce back after falling to BJJ ace Demian Maia by first round submission at UFC 95. For me, this fight comes down to versatility and Miller has it and Sonnen does not. Sonnen is too one-dimensional to pull out a victory in this one.

MY PICK: Dan Miller via 2nd round Submission

Drew McFedries (7-5-0) v. Xavier Foupa-Pokum (20-10-0)

This fight has KO of the night written all over it. McFedries is a guy who loves to stand and trade and Foupa-Pokum is a kickboxer with numerous knockouts on his resume. Foupa-Pokum cannot afford to stand and trade with McFedries, or else he will be knocked into next week. He has to pick McFedries apart and when the opportunity arises, take him down and either pound him out or grab a submission. McFedries' gorund game is atrocious and if he is on his back, he will be finished.

MY PICK: Xavier Foupa-Pokum via 1st round TKO

Matt Hughes (42-7-0) v. Matt Serra (9-5-0)

This is the grudge match that many MMA fans have been waiting for since these two former UFC Welterweight champions were coaches on The Ultimate Fighter reality show in 2007. The trash talk has been going since then, and has only gotten worse. These guys genuinely hate each other and that will make for a great fight. Hughes, the most dominant champion in UFC history, is coming back from a knee injury suffered in his 2nd round TKO loss to Thaigo Alves last June, and this could be his final fight in an accomplishment-laden career. Serra, the Long Islander, is looking to bounce back from his loss to Georges St. Pierre last April, and wants nothing more than to send his arch-enemy into retirement. I think that Hughes is done and Serra will come out victorious in this one.

MY PICK: Matt Serra via 2nd round TKO

Rashad Evans (13-0-1) v. Lyoto Machida (14-0-0) for Evans' UFC Light Heavyweight Title

In his first title defense Rashad Evans faces a stenr test in the karate ace Lyoto Machida. Machida has the knack for not getting hit in fights, and Evans has vowed to get after him and put his hands in his face. This, in my view, will be Evans' fatal mistake. Machida is a fighter who relies on his opponent's frustration to create openings. The longer this fight goes, Evans will get more and more frustrated and will start making mistakes. If Evans uses his wrestling to his advantage he will win, but with knockout victories over Chuck Liddell and Forrest Griffin in his last two fights, Evans will no doubt be looking to add Machida to his list of victims. But by doing this, he will give up his title, and his unblemished record.

MY PICK: Lyoto Machida via 4th round TKO

That's how I see it. Feel free to disagree. We will see this Saturday at 10pm on PPV.