Full Contact Talk: MMA discussion

Wednesday, September 17 crashes into living rooms around the world as much more than just a hump day. SpikeTV broadcasts UFC Fight Night 15 live from Omaha, Nebraska beginning at 8:00 p.m. eastern time followed the premiere episode of the acclaimed reality series, “The Ultimate Fighter,” Season 8.

UFN 15 is a stacked fight card worthy of a pay-per-view price. The fact that these fights air free is stunning. There’s potential for numerous fights of the night. Keep an eye out for the Joe Lauzon versus Kyle Bradley bout. It should be fast with lots of submission attempts. FCT is picking Lauzon as winner in the second round via submission.

The main card is extremely exciting. Nate Diaz is a talented up-and-comer and looked to be in the best physical shape of his career during the weigh-ins. People will call us crazy but FCT is picking Nate Diaz to actually win by TKO in the third round.

Houston Alexander is the hometown hero coming into tonight’s fight with two recent losses under his belt. The pressure to win on national television in front of friends and family should prove to be enough motivation for Alexander to score one of his vintage first round KOs. But Eric Schafer is certainly not an easy win. The odds are stacked against Alexander if Schafer gets him down to the ground or takes the fight into the late rounds. But regardless of Schafer’s chances, FCT is picking Houston Alexander by first round KO.

And although not many are talking the fight up between Mac Danzig and Clay Guida. It should be a war. I expect it to be one of the best fights of the night. But I think Danzig is in deep water this time around. Guida is incredibly strong and fast and just plain tenacious most times. FCT is picking Guida by TKO third round.

Ultimate Fight Night 15 in detail:

Main Card:
Josh Neer vs. Nate Diaz
Mac Danzig vs. Clay Guida
Ed Herman vs. Alan Belcher
Houston Alexander vs. Eric Schafer

Preliminary Bouts:
Wilson Gouveia vs. Ryan Jensen
Joe Lauzon vs. Kyle Bradley
Dan Miller vs. Rob Kimmons
Drew McFedries vs. Mike Massenzio
Jason Brilz vs. Brad Morris
Alessio Sakara vs. Joe Vedep

Live tonight on SpikeTV free!

Kudos to the UFC: Ultimate Fight Night 15 will be dedicated to Evan Tanner

UFC President Dana White will be dedicating Wednesday night’s UFN 15 on SpikeTV to recently deceased veteran, Evan Tanner. The event will air live from Omaha, Nebraska and feature a main event from hometown hero Houston Alexander as he faces Eric Schafer. An Evan Tanner tribute show will also air on SpikeTV.  White told the press that the UFC  has also put together 30 second tribute spots dedicated Tanner that will begin airing soon.

Cheick Kongo and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson to join Michael Bisping at Wolf’s Lair in England

It’s official. Kongo and Rampage will travel to England for training. Rampage recently fired his former longtime trainer Juanito Ibarra just after his troubles with the police in California. Be sure to listen to Full Contact Talk Episode 6 as we had Wolf’s Lair founder Kazeka Muniz in the studio discussing his future training of both Rampage and Kongo.

MMA Bad Boy in the Pokey

UFC lightweight Melvin Guillard had pulled out of his UFC 90 bout with Spencer Fisher because he is currently in custody for cocaine possession in the Harris County jail in Houston, Texas. The arrest (not Guillard’s first) was a violation of his probation for a drug charge in 2007. Rumor is that Guillard will be released to a strict drug treatment program once a vacancy is available.

Rashad Evans will face Forrest Griffin But Not At UFC 92

Evans and Griffin are set to fight for the light heavyweight title and its official. Only problem is that the fight will not occur at UFC 92 on December 27, 2008. Word is that the title fight will occur on one of the first fight cards in 2009. Rumors are leaning towards a February date for the match.

The War Machine Currently Disassembled 

Well, this is old news. A couple of days old anyway. But hey, we have been busy recording new episodes of the podcast and interviewing fighters. T.U.F. alumnus Jon “War Machine”Koppenhaver has been dropped by the UFC. Apparently The Machine was finally bitten by its own teeth when Koppenhaver made critical comments about the UFC’s pay to fighters in an unfavorable public statement about the death of Evan Tanner. War Machine also was rumored to have turned down a fight offer from UFC matchmaker Joe Silva. Koppenhaver, just barely out of recent legal problems, legally changed his name to War Machine in court following a battle for the right of the title with a professional wrestler. War Machine has published several irrate and immature diatribes on his official website that probably contributed to the UFC’s decision and certainly places the young fighter alongside recently ejected Jesse Taylor and potentially Melvin Guillard in light of his current arrest. I am almost willing to bet that all of these recent UFC rejects go knocking on the door of EliteXC. After all, EliteXC does love controversy within its brand. Heck, controversy is its brand.

Stay tuned …