Fightin' Words

By Hank Winnicki

Anderson Silva vs. Dan Henderson
Here's the thing about this sport, just when someone looks unbeatable, they get beat. For awhile, Matt Hughes looked too tough to lose; then he tried to stand with Georges St. Pierre. GSP looked like he would be a long-time champ; then Matt Serra knocked him into next week. Chuck Liddell looked unstoppable until that right hand from Quinton Jackson.
Silva is on one of those rolls. If there's a hole in his game, no one has found it yet. What he did to Rich Franklin is still a little scary. That said, Silva will win this fight, but it will be close enough to earn Henderson a rematch.
Prediction: Silva by TKO in the third round. Rematch in a few months.

Cheick Kongo vs. Heath Herring
Win here moves Kongo up the heavyweight ladder.
Prediction: Kongo by KO in the second round

Yushin Okami vs. Evan Tanner
Okami will pull this one out. Hope Tanner goes back to the long hair.
Prediction: Okami by submission in the third round

Josh Koshcheck vs. Dustin Hazelett
Koshcheck is a huge favorite in this one, and for good reason.
Prediction: Koshcheck by TKO in the first round

Jon Fitch vs. Chris Wilson
Another mismatch. Fitch vs. Koshcheck would make a very good match.
Prediction: Fitch grounds and pounds a victory in the second round

Diego Sanchez vs. David Bielkheden
Sanchez will work his way back into the welterweight picture. It starts here.
Prediction: Sanchez wins by decision

Andrei Arlovski vs. Jake O'Brien
Here's your upset of the night. O'Brien eats a few punches, but keeps Arlovski on his back and grinds out a somewhat boring decision victory.
Prediction: O'Brien wins a decision

Luke Cummo vs. Luigi Fioravanti
Fioravanti is an Iraq war veteran who has lost his last two UFC fights. Cummo should win and deserves a step up in competition.
Prediction: Cummo by KO in the first round

Jorge Gurgel vs. John Halverson
Prediction: Halverson by KO in the third round

Chris Leben vs. Alessio Sakara
Sakara drops to 185 from 205, which was his weight for his January victory over Jason Lee. Leben gets caught by something, a big right or an armbar.
Prediction: Sakara by submission in the second round