You know, when Kimbo Slice and the gang get ready to bang it out on TUF 10. Anyway, I digress. Let's get back to Fight Night 19.
Nate Diaz (10-4) vs. Melvin Guillard (22-7-2) in the main event: Guillard is an outstanding athlete with loads of explosiveness and power. In other words, he's got the stuff to take out anyone on their feet if they blink and has good wrestling skills to boot. That said, his ground skills as they relate to submissions/submission defense are a weakness, even if they are improving.
Diaz is a Brazilian Jiu Jitsu nightmare for opponents that is highly dangerous whether on his back or on top on the ground. Further, he regularly demonstrates outstanding cardio, is tough as nails, and is a very underrated striker that uses his long reach to pepper opponents, similar to his brother Nick Diaz, until they break.
Prediction: In the end, Diaz has the kind of toughness, reach, and technical striking on his feet to deal effectively with Guillard's athleticism...Read More
Gray Maynard (8-0-1) vs. Roger Huerta (22-2-1): Maynard is a huge lightweight and an elite wrestler. In other words, his takedowns, takedown defense, and ground control skills are top of the food chain (as Joe Rogan likes to say). Combine that with the very solid technical striking skills he's learned at Xtreme Couture, and you've got a guy that's beginning to look championship worthy.
Huerta demonstrates a lot of power on his feet, as his 11 career (T)KO's would seem to attest to. He also possesses solid technical striking and submissions and outstanding cardio. However, takedown defense against elite wrestlers has proven to be a weakness in the past (see the Clay Guida fight, minus the end). That said, Huerta's a tough guy that's a gamer, so you can never count him out.
Prediction: Maynard has the kind of wrestling skills that only those with elite takedown defense can stifle. Unfortunately for Huerta, his takedown defense, though solid, probably won't serve him well in this one. Though Huerta is dangerous on his feet and could come through with that one punch, expect Maynard to control the pace in this one with wrestling.
Gray Maynard wins via unanimous decision.
The Rest of Fight Night 19
Carlos Condit (23-5) vs. Jake Ellenberger: Ellenberger can bang and has good overall skills. But Condit is just too darned good in all areas of fighting.
Carlos Condit wins via second round submission.
Nate Quarry (17-3) vs. Tim Credeur (13-4): Quarry would seem to have too much power on his feet.
Nate Quarry wins via second round TKO.
Steve Cantwell (7-2) vs. Brian Stann (6-2): This is the third fight for both of these former WEC fighters, with both having won once via TKO. Cantwell would seem to be the more well-rounded fighter, and having lost two straight Stann may be reeling a bit.
Steve Cantwell wins via second round TKO.
Chris Wilson (13-5) vs. Mike Pyle (17-6-1): This could be a very tough fight.
Chris Wilson wins via a close decision.
Jeremy Stephens (16-5) vs. Justin Buchholz (9-3): Stephens just has too much raw power.
Jeremy Stephens wins via first round KO.
Brock Larson (27-2) vs. Mike Pierce (7-2): Larson is just an absolute killer.
Brock Larson wins via first round submission.
Ryan Jensen (14-4) vs. Steve Steinbeiss (4-2): Really hard to call.
Ryan Jensen wins by second round submission.
