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For every upcoming UFC, my brother Rahim and I will make our predictions as to who will win each fight.
At the end of the year, we will tally up our results, and the loser will have to pay the winner $20.
The point scheme is as follows: 1 point for choosing the winner, and 1 point for choosing the method of victory.
UFC XXXII
Match 1: Tony DeSouza vs. Paul Rodriguez
Rahim: This fight should start UFC 32 off with a bang. DeSouza returns to the Octagon after his impressive victory at UFC 31 over Steve Berger. Tony scored with numerous takedowns and avoided countless submission attempts to score a unanimous decision. He is a John Lewis fighter and is a grappler primarily. Rodriguez is a well balanced fighter, who trains with Din Thomas. He has won fights with both his fists (a KO victory over UFC veteran Dennis Hallman), as well as submission (armbar on Hawaiian Ray Cooper). Rodriguez should win here, with more experience and more weapons.
Karim: Every fight on this card is very even, and this matchup is no exception. Paul Rodriguez is making his UFC debut, with a great track record behind him. His fighting style is Vale Tudo, which means he is adept standing and on the ground. He is looking to make a name for himself in the UFC. Tony DeSouza won a preliminary match in the last UFC. He was very impressive and used a variety of techniques in that fight. He wants to make a run for the title in his weight division, and with a win he will become a contender.
Rahim's Pick: Paul Rodriguez by Judge's Decision
Karim's Pick: Tony DeSouza by Judge's Decision
Match 2: Andrei Orlovskiy vs. Ricco Rodriguez
Rahim: This should be an intriguing matchup. Orlovskiy is back after his surprise debut at UFC 28, armbarring Aaron Brink in under a minute. He is still somewhat of an unknown, but looks to be able to grapple and strike. Ricco is very well known. An outstanding grappler, Ricco is a former ADCC champ, and undefeated in Pride. I don't think either will be able to submit the other, so this will probably go to the judges.
Karim: This is a match between a Russian Sambo expert and and Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert. Both fighters are adept standing as well. Orlovskiy is 1-0 in the UFC, and wants to continue to open eyes around the world. A victory over a well known and popular fighter such as Ricco "Pretty Boy" Rodriguez will achieve this. Rodriguez is making his debut, however he has fought several times in Pride and some of the smaller US promotions. This will be an compelling fight.
Rahim's Pick: Ricco Rodriguez by Judge's Decision
Karim's Pick: Ricco Rodriguez by Tapout
Match 3: Fabiano Iha vs. Kaoru Uno
Rahim: Iha vs. Uno should be a classic grappling exhibition. Both are well versed in ground work, and that is their strength. I would say Iha may have a slight advantage on the feet, but if Pulver couldn't knock out Uno, Iha won't be able too. Iha is usually more aggressive, so that could be the difference.
Karim: Two great grapplers from Brazil and Japan respectively face off in this technical matchup. Iha has been a dominating force in his last three UFC appearances, winning with two armbars and a TKO. Uno is well-respected all over the world, and is looking for redemption after losing in his debut against Jens Pulver. Uno is a great fighter, but Iha's size and aggressiveness will be too much for Uno.
Rahim's Pick: Fabiano Iha by Judge's Decision
Karim's Pick: Fabiano Iha by Referee Stoppage
Match 4: B.J. Penn vs. Din Thomas
Rahim: Everyone is looking forward to this fight. Penn made a huge impact in his UFC debut, dominating Joey Gilbert en route to a referee stoppage. Penn has been called the best grappler at his weight, and showed he could strike as well against Gilbert. Thomas, making his UFC debut, is excited about this fight. Thomas defeated UFC Lightweight Champion Jens Pulver by submission in a WEF event in August 2000, and is looking forward to a rematch. Thomas has also been submitted though by Kaoru Uno, but earlier in his career. This should be an explosive fight.
Karim: This yet another interesting matchup on a card full of interesting matchups. Penn was very impressive in his UFC debut, and Frank Shamrock is very high on his skills. He is a black belt in BJJ under John Lewis. Din Thomas will be stepping into the Octagon for the first time, and will be looking to make an impact. He has more experience in the fight game than the younger Penn, however, I believe that B.J.'s pure skill will be too much for Thomas.
Rahim's Pick: Din Thomas by Referee Stoppage
Karim's Pick: B.J. Penn by Tapout
Match 5: Shonie Carter vs. Pat Miletich
Rahim: A revenge rematch! Carter and Miletich have fought before, at Extreme Challenge 27 in August 1999. Miletich won a controversial decision in his hometown, in a fight many say Shonie won. Shonie has been on fire in the UFC, sporting a 3-0 record. He impressed many with his win over Matt Serra at UFC 31. He wants to beat Miletich and go on to fight for the UFC Welterweight Title. Miletich is very unhappy, after losing his title to Carlos Newton at UFC 31. He needs to win to re-establish himself in the UFC. Both fighters really want to win here, so this should lead to another great fight.
Karim: This is going to be a great fight. Shonie Carter was excellent in the last UFC, as he evaded the submissions of BJJ black belt Matt Serra, and then proceeded to knock him out with a spinning backfist. He is on the fast track to a title shot. Standing in his way is former champion Pat Miletich, who suffered his first UFC defeat at the hands of champion Carlos Newton at UFC 31. He is looking to regain his standing in the division he dominated in earlier events. Both fighters are great standing and on the ground. One mistake by one of the fighters could determine the outcome of this one.
Rahim's Pick: Pat Miletich by Judge's Decision
Karim's Pick: Shonie Carter by Judge's Decision
Match 6: Yuki Kondo vs. Vladimir Matyushenko
Rahim: This could be the sleeper of the night. Kondo, a former Pancrase champion is 1-1 in the UFC. He had an awesome victory over Cafe Dantas at UFC 27, but was soundly submitted by Tito Ortiz at UFC 29 in under 2 minutes. Kondo wants a rematch with Tito and will have to go through The Janitor. Vladimir is finally making his UFC debut. He is a great wrestler who can strike. He is from the RAW team. Both can grapple and strike, so it should be a great fight. Kondo may be able to slip on a submission, but Matyushenko's wrestling should win out.
Karim: Vladimir "The Janitor" Matyushenko is making his UFC debut, after gaining a reputation throughout the US and Japan. He is a champion wrestler who trains with Rico Chiapparelli as a member of the rAw team. He is very strong on the ground and likes to ground and pound. Yuki Kondo is a very experienced fighter and has wins over many excellent fighters in Pancrase. After his loss to Tito Ortiz, he bounced back with victories in Pancrase. He is returning to the Octagon to improve his record and become a contender for the title. Matyushenko will be too strong and experienced on the ground to be caught in a submission by Kondo, and I think he will take this fight.
Rahim's Pick: Vladimir Matyushenko by Referee Stoppage
Karim's Pick: Vladimir Matyushenko by Referee Stoppage
Match 7: Josh Barnett vs. Semmy Schilt
Rahim: Barnett is coming back to the UFC after a fantastic effort against Pedro Rizzo at UFC 30. Barnett chose to strike with Rizzo, and was ultimately KO'ed. Before that he was holding his own. Schilt made an impressive debut at UFC 31, upsetting Pete Williams. He is the current King of Pancrase, so he is solid both standing and on the ground. The X factor will once again be if Barnett can handle Schilt's size. At 6"11", he is huge, but Barnett did beat the 6'10" Gan McGee at UFC 28. This one should be extremely exciting.
Karim: This will be a war. Both of these monsters want to become UFC Heavyweight Champion. Semmy Schilt, a 6'11" King of Pancrase from Holland, was huge in his UFC debut, knocking out Pete Williams. Josh Barnett was impressive against Pedro Rizzo, even though he was knocked out, he went straight at the best striker in the game today. I think Barnett will want to take this to the ground, while Semmy will want to keep it on the feet where he has the height and reach advantage. I don't think this one will go the distance.
Rahim's Pick: Josh Barnett by Referee Stoppage
Karim's Pick: Semmy Schilt by Referee Stoppage
Match 8: Tito Ortiz vs. Elvis Sinosic (UFC Light Heavyweight Title Match)
Rahim: Tito has been on fire since losing to Frank Shamrock at UFC 22. He has been dominating in his UFC matches since then, smothering Vanderlei Silva, followed by the spanking of Yuki Kondo and Evan Tanner in a total time of under 3 minutes. He has vastly improved all areas of his game, and looks unstoppable. Elvis shocked the MMA community at UFC 30, submitting Jeremy Horn in under 3 minutes. Elvis also took Frank Shamrock to the limit, losing a decision in December. Elvis usually takes fights on short notice, but this time has had 2 months to train. Can he pull off another upset?
Karim: This is the main event of UFC 32. This is the Showdown in the Meadowlands. Tito Ortiz has been untouchable since winning the title against Vanderlei Silva. He is great on the ground and has knockout power. He is a student of the game, as he is always learning something new. He is a controversial fan favorite. He wants to keep the title. Elvis Sinosic is almost an exact opposite of Ortiz. He is coming off a great UFC debut by submitting former number contender Jeremy Horn. He is a very composed and technical fighter, relying primarily on a strong Machado Jiu-Jitsu ground game. He also trains in Muay Thai. He is very quiet and lets his fighting do his talking. He wants to take the title. This will be an awesome main event.
Rahim's Pick: Tito Ortiz by Tapout
Karim's Pick: Tito Ortiz by Referee Stoppage
| Match | Rahim's Points | Karim's Points |
| 1 | 0 | 1 |
| 2 | 1 | 1 |
| 3 | 0 | 0 |
| 4 | 0 | 1 |
| 5 | 1 | 0 |
| 6 | 1 | 1 |
| 7 | 1 | 0 |
| 8 | 1 | 2 |
| Total: | 5 | 6 |
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