By MATT MOLGAARD
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer

The Consol Energy Center will play host to the upcoming UFC Live 4 this Sunday, as the promotion heads for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Headlining the event will be the welterweight debut of longtime middleweight contender Nate “The Great” Marquardt, who will lock horns with red-hot prospect Rick Story.

If the main event itself isn’t compelling, you may find interest in a pair of heavyweight bouts that will help outline the upper echelon and legitimate prospects of the division. First up, fans will be treated to a collision between rising Roufusport product, Matt Mitrione, who meets the unpredictable Christian Morecraft. In the evening’s co-headlining bout Cheick Kongo will tangle with fellow striker Pat Barry for a chance to make a solid advancement in the heavyweight ranks.

Check out a breakdown of the full main card below:

Matt Mitrione vs. Christian Morecraft:

This here is a battle to earn genuine respect amongst the promotions fellow big men. Both men are big, powerful strikers, and both show up to finish fights, often putting themselves at risk in search of the big stoppage victory. Mitrione is the technically superior of the two men, and he’s also the more athletic of the two. That said, he’s a little more cautious and methodical in his approach than Morecraft, which could spell doom for the former TUF contestant.

If Morecraft can force Mitrione into some fast-paced early exchanges, he could land a big fight finishing shot, or take this fight to the ground where he likely holds a slight edge in positional control as well as jiu-jitsu.

Having noted Morecraft’s positive attributes, I don’t favor him in this encounter. Mitrione improves with each trip to the octagon, and I expect to see that progression continue forth Sunday night. Matt will keep his distance and utilize fast, powerful straight punches to catch the lumbering Morecraft coming in.

Many critics are predicting a long drawn out battle between these two, but I see a conclusion in the first frame. Matt Mitrione by technical knockout midway through round one.