MMA News Forums » MMA Forums » General MMA Forum

[leedogg900]

Im just wondering who people think will be the fighters that make a name for themselves this year. and who are the fighters who will drop in rank or fall off.

personally i was going to go with chris lytle for blowing up. i think he has all the skills to become a high ranked 170lb fighter. but now that hes matched up with koscheck, a really bad matchup for him, im not sure if that will happen.

as for falling off. i think forrest griffin is going to have a bad year. i think he will lose his title fight to rampage. then i think he will fight again later in the year to someone whos good and lose again. i see 0-2 for griffin in 08. i think hes a great fighter but i just think it wont be a good year for him.

[Intellectual]

Mousasi will defeat Kang, Mousasi will defeat Akiyama, will get signed with the UFC, he will face Anderson Silva and win via DQ (Silva throws a groin kick 5 times). They will have a rematch and Mousasi will win due to Silva getting injured from kicking Mousasi in the groin 2 times (foot injury) ).

[jkilla374]

I hate to beat a dead horse on this forum, but I think Serra will make a big name for himself after he defeats GSP again.

And Serra is a gold mine for the UFC. He can play the "heel" in more "rural" areas and canada, and play the "babyface" here in the metro area of NY.

I see Serra defeating GSP, then headlining at MSG when MMA gets sanctioned in NY, which probably will be sometime in 2009.

Flame away.

I think Wandy will make a name for himself in the US. I believe he will win his next fight at LHW, and then might flirt with MW for a few fights.

As far as who will fall off, I too believe Forrest may be in for a bad year, but I don't think he will fall too far. I believe he will lose to Rampage. I also think Shogun will be in for a bad year, but I have no real objective reason for that, other than he looked very small and very out of shape against forrest.

[hunterkiller]

Serra loses to GSP, then Hughes (Fall Off)
Diego comes back strong has a good year.
Tito beats Machida and starts over in a new place.
Hughes beats Serra, then retires.
Rampage keeps rolling.
I have a couple more predictions but they seem so outlandish that I will do nothing but incite a bunch of haters so I will hold off on them.

[jlruthven84]

With regards to Forrest, I think he's going to have a good year. If he doesn't beat Rampage, which he's very capable of doing, he'll put up a great fight, and will get a boost similar to the one he received after the Ortiz loss.

Vera will resume his rise after beating Werdum. Who knows how he'll fair against Nog, but he's aggressive enough and good enough on the ground to avoid Nog's subs and eek out a decision win.

Anthony Johnson is going to annihilate a B-class fighter, then a couple of mid-carders.

We may finally get to see James Irvin's full potential if he can stay healthy and keep from getting kicked in the face while on the ground.

Serra's going to have a good year regardless of this Saturday's outcome. If he beats GSP again, he gains that much more credibility. If he loses, he goes on to defeat Matt Hughes.

[Brutus]

On the way up:

Diaz will be back to his old form, hopefully not trying to KO everyone anymore
Liddell will win out 08 and get another chance at the LHW title(even tho he's old, has a beer gut and a weak chin)
Tito beats machida and goes on to own EXC or adrenaline/affliction

Fallin off:

Anthony Johnson will win his first next fight and loose a couple a la Houston Alexander
Matt Hughes will fall farther and retire(JMO)
Randy Couture will lose to Nog and Fedor in 08 or early 09(assuming he actually fights them)

[Matrix]

Originally Posted by thecoylewis

Serra loses to GSP, then Hughes (Fall Off)
Diego comes back strong has a good year.
Tito beats Machida and starts over in a new place.
Hughes beats Serra, then retires.
Rampage keeps rolling.

Agreed.

I also think Rashad Evans will gain a good deal of respect in an all-out war fought with Chuck Liddell. I haven't picked a winner for that one yet, though. Flame away if you wish, but for some reason I'm not so sure about an Iceman victory in this one.

I think Anthony Johnson will explode in the welterweight division and really make a name for himself. He looked DAMN impressive while completely destroying Tommy Speer in this last UFN. I'm keeping an eye on him and I expect great performances from him in the near future.

I see Nate Diaz going 2-1 this year, and working his way up the ranks.

AA beats Rothwell and gets some warm-up fight prior to a match up with Fedor. Oh yeah, and Fedor beats Sylvia in the 1st round.

Nog cries because nobody wants to play with him.

[grambino]

I think Machida is in for a big year. He'll bore most of you to death, but he'll keep on winning.

[jlruthven84]

Originally Posted by Brutus

On the way up:

Diaz will be back to his old form, hopefully not trying to KO everyone anymore
Liddell will win out 08 and get another chance at the LHW title(even tho he's old, has a beer gut and a weak chin)
Tito beats machida and goes on to own EXC or adrenaline/affliction

Fallin off:

Anthony Johnson will win his first next fight and loose a couple a la Houston Alexander
Matt Hughes will fall farther and retire(JMO)
Randy Couture will lose to Nog and Fedor in 08 or early 09(assuming he actually fights them)

I agree with most of your predictions. I do not, however, see Tito beating Machida, who is a more elusive striker and smarter fighter than anyone Tito's faced in recent memory.

And while I don't totally discount your assessment of Johnson, I really see him becoming a force in that division. Matchups with top-notch wrestlers or strikers will tell his tale.

[Brutus]

Originally Posted by jlruthven84

I agree with most of your predictions. I do not, however, see Tito beating Machida, who is a more elusive striker and smarter fighter than anyone Tito's faced in recent memory.

And while I don't totally discount your assessment of Johnson, I really see him becoming a force in that division. Matchups with top-notch wrestlers or strikers will tell his tale.

I def see your predictions coming true jl i just have a feeling this is the way the year will turn out. Johnson definately has the potential to wreck a ton of fighters in that division but for some reason i see him gettin a real contender too soon and losing because he wasnt ready but its all speculation.

I really think Tito wants to win this next fight and basically say f*ck you to dana white w/ a W and then ride off to some other org and dominate. Either way is a definite possibility but we'll see what happens.