Fightin' Words

By Joe Fernandez

Can Silva and Sherk defend their titles? Can Tito Ortiz climb back up the light heavyweight mountain? How will former Pride fighter Antonio Nogueira respond to his Octagon debut? What's up with Stephan Bonnar?

A lot of questions, a lot of good matches.

I realize that there are only five championship belts in the UFC, but I can get used to this two belts on the line theme.

Here are the Fightin' Words picks for UFC 73:

UFC Middleweight Championship: Nate Marquardt vs. Anderson Silva

True, Marquardt is 4-0 in the UFC, but Silva's UFC wins just jump out at me. He knocks out brawler Chris Leben, He dismantles middleweight champ Rich Franklin and chokes out fellow Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt Travis Lutter. Wow. Silva is a great fighter, and unfortunately for his opponents, he knows it. Marquardt starts strong, but Silva overwhelms him in the third round for the TKO victory.

UFC Lightweight Championship: Hermes Franca vs. Sean Sherk

Franca has found a way to win in his last three fights, capped by an impressive TKO win over UFC veteran Spencer Fisher in January. But Sean Sherk at 155 pounds is just unfair. He looks like a light heavyweight fighting at lightweight. One fifty five is turning into an elite division, but I don't see Sherk losing that belt anytime soon, not unless BJ Penn decides to stay put. Barring a Franca strike that sneaks through, Sherk punishes Franca and gets him out of there with a referee stoppage in the second round.

Rashad Evans vs. Tito Evans

Great matchup at the perfect time of both of their careers.

Evans is 5-0 in the UFC with a perfect 15-0 mixed martial arts record, but he's never mixed it up with the same names that Tito Ortiz has. Evans could be on his way up the mountain, while some could argue that Ortiz might be on his way down.

Not me.

True, Chuck Liddell has Tito Ortiz's number. Chuck Liddell can say that about a lot of fighters. Ortiz has a ridiculous amount of experience -- and he's only 32. This is a spotlight fight and Ortiz thrives in the spotlight. He's won five of his last six fights, and I think he'll win this one. Both of these fighters are very strong wrestlers, so I think this one will stay standing up with Ortiz earning a decision victory.

Heath Herring vs. Antonio Nogueira

Two guys brought in to improve the lackluster heavyweight division that Randy Couture is salvaging. Herring has experienced two UFC fights, winning his last one by decision against Brad Imes. Will Nogueira experience any "Cage Shock?" I dont think so. He catches Herring in a heel hook for the second round submission.

Preliminary undercard predictions:

Mike Nickels vs. Stephan Bonnar -- Bonnar wins by KO/TKO in the first round.
Diego Saraiva vs. Jorge Gurgel -- Gurgel wins by unanimous decision.
Chris Lytle vs. Jason Gilliam -- Lytle wins by KO/TKO in the third round.
Mark Bocek vs. Frankie Edgar -- Edgar wins by submission in the second round.