UFC 87

I just read Jon Fitch's week 4 on UFC.com and was a bit taken back by the following comment:

I’ve heard some talk over the last few weeks about BJ Penn moving up to 170 to fight GSP at the end of the year. Of course, they’ve forgotten that GSP has a fight with me first. But that just shows you where some people really are still in this sport and how they still have no idea what’s going on. There are a lot of so-called experts out there, but they know nothing about the sport. They’re spectators on the outside watching the sport through a telescope, and they think they’re on the inside and know everything, but they don’t. You can’t let that stuff bother you though. I think it’s funny and it’s just that little extra pleasure at the end of the day when you win and all those people are exposed.

I like Jon Fitch, but comments like this are not going to make him any friends. Who exactly does he have a problem with here, is it GSP? Is it BJ Penn? Is it the "so called experts"?

I guess we'll all see on August 9th whether Jon Fitch should be mentioned in the same sentence as GSP and BJ Penn. I'm personally taking GSP in this fight and I'll give Fitch credit where credit is due, he's been pretty impressive as of late, but a split decision victory over Diego Sanchez is not the same as dominant victories over Karo, Hughes, Kos and Serra.

This is Fitch's first bout against a real top 5 guy at welterweight. Is he the real deal?

August 9th, return to this site to see what happened at UFC 87.

Here is the UFC 87 Fight Card - August 9, 2008
Main card

• Jon Fitch vs. Georges St. Pierre (Welterweight Title)
  
• Kenny Florian vs. Roger Huerta
  
• Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring
  
• Manny Gamburyan vs. Rob Emerson
  
• Jason MacDonald vs. Demian Maia
  

Preliminary card

• Cheick Kongo vs. Dan Evensen
  
• Chris Wilson vs. Steve Bruno
  
• Ben Saunders vs. Jared Rollins
  
• Luke Cummo vs. Tamdan McCrory
  
• Andre Gusmao vs. Razak Al-Hussan
  

Fitch vs GSP
I'd like to throw out a few comments and predictions as well, starting off with the main event title bout between Jon Fitch and Georges St Pierre. Let's face it, Jon Fitch is a beast. With wins over Diego Sanchez and Thiago Alves he has proven that he deserves this title shot. In fact, over his last eight fights Fitch is 8-0 while GSP is 7-1. Most people will tell you that "MMA Math" is extremely inaccurate, but I do consider level of competition and dominantness (is that a word?) of wins to be important.

In my opinion Fitch has faced two top 10 welterweights (named above) and defeated one by2nd round TKO due to strikes and one by split decision. St Pierre has faced 5 top 10 guys and has one loss vs one close victory and the rest were decisive victories. Edge in competition faced and dominance goes to GSP.

Styles make fights and unfortunately for Fitch GSP has seen the wrestler brawler style a lot. Face it, Matt Hughes and Josh Koscheck are probably better wrestlers than Fitch (Kos for sure). Also, Serra and Penn have the edge in Jui Jitsu. The one thing that GSP hasn't faced is a truly accomplished striker (although I would say that Penn is pretty damn good in that area).

Look for a feeling out process followed by a resounding thud as Fitch's back his the canvas, GSP will then spend the rest of the first round making Fitch squirm. Round 2 will start and Fitch will have his opportunity to stun GSP on his feet, but will again find himself on his back, this time stopped by GSP

Prediction : GSP by 2nd round ref stoppage

Florian vs Huerta
I think the first two fights on this card are spectacular. I can't wait to see Huerta and Florian lock up. Kenny has a way of solving opponents and making them look bad. Huerta has that never say die attitue and his well roundedness (is that a word?) has kept him in many fights until he finds a way to win. Fight of the night candidate for sure, but I have to pick one and I've like Kenny Florian's work lately.

Prediction : Kenny Florian

Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring
Brock Lesnar showed us two things in his loss to Frank Mir. First is that he is for real and he is a beast. Second is that he needs some work on his BJJ defense. Heath Herring will give Lesnar a war, Herring is tough to submit (although I doubt that Brock will take that route). Herring is tough and I expect him to win this via submission.

Prediction: Heath Herring

UFC 87 is August 9th and UFC 87 results will be available here on this site.

The UFC has "officially" announced Cheick Kongo vs Dan Evenson for the UFC 87 fight card, as well as adding Hermes Franca and Frankie Edgar. The UFC added 4 bouts to the official fight card (the ones we didn't have listed before are marked below as "new").

UFC 87 Fight Card

• Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch for the UFC welterweight title
  
• Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring
  
• Kenny Florian vs. Roger Huerta
  
• Cheick Kongo vs. Dan Evensen
  
• Hermes Franca and Frankie Edgar - new
  
• Demian Maia vs. Jason MacDonald
  
• Tamdan McCrory vs. Luke Cummo
  
• Manny Gamburyan vs. Rob Emerson
  
• Chris Wilson vs Steve Bruno - new
  
• Ben Saunders and Jared Rollins - new
  

UFC is being held August 9th at Minnesota’s Target Center.

UFC 87 Fight Card

• Georges St. Pierre vs. Jon Fitch for the UFC welterweight title
  
• Brock Lesnar vs. Heath Herring
  
• Kenny Florian vs. Roger Huerta
  
• Cheick Kongo vs. Dan Evensen
  
• Demian Maia vs. Jason MacDonald
  
• Tamdan McCrory vs. Luke Cummo
  
• Manny Gamburyan vs. Rob Emerson
  

UFC 87 is being held on August 9, 2008, UFC 87 results will be available on this site.
UFC 86 is being held on July 5, 2008, UFC 86 results will be available on fight night.
UFC 85 is just around the corner, come back this Saturday for UFC 85 results.

Mark Coleman will not be at UFC 87 due to an injury. His opponent, Brock Lesnar is still scheduled to fight and an opponent will be named shortly. However, Georges St Pierre will be facing Jon Fitch in a welterweight title matchup. Also previously announced is a lightweight bout between Kenny Florian and Roger Huerta.

UFC 87 is being held on August 9th in Minnesota at the Target Center.

UFC 84 is just around the corner and you will be able to find UFC 84 results here on May 24th.

UFC 87 is starting to take shape now, with co main events of Mark Coleman vs Brock Lesnar and Roger Huerta vs Kenny Florian. The Huerta vs Florian bout has not been made official yet, but it is expected to be signed soon.

Of the co main event bouts only the Huerta vs Florian bout will likely have any effect (short term) on the title picture. The winner of this bout will probably be on the short list of opponents for the winner of BJ Penn vs Sean Sherk at UFC 84.

UFC 84 is being held on May 24th. Return here for full UFC 84 Results