live from the Mandalay Bay Events Center, Nevada, on Saturday March 4, 2006 the UFC presents UFC 58: USA vs. Canada. With Rich Franklin defending his UFC Middleweight title against David Loiseau and the much anticipated fight between BJ Penn and George St. Pierre, UFC 58 has a chance to go down in the history books as a classic. Here is the official ADCC News preview.Rich Franklin vs. David Loiseau:Franklin: Most critics feel as though Franklin got it easy when the UFC let go number one contender Matt Lindland and he fought Lindland’s teammate Nate Quarry instead. His fight this time won’t be easy. Looking over Franklin’s impressive 19-1 record, a few things stand out. He won his last three fights by TKO or KO and his four fights before that he won all of them by submission. He can win by either knock out or submission, he has never gone to a judges decision, and the names he has beaten are impressive. Shamrock, Tanner twice, Eastman, and Rivera. His only blemish a TKO lost to Ryoto Machida in December of 2003. A win here and Franklin will have a big decision. Loiseau: When David defeated Evan Tanner in October of 2005, it was a coming out party for him, and his elbows. In bad positions early in the fight, Loiseau was able to reverse and land some nasty elbows that would eventually open a cut on Tanner’s head and force a stoppage. Loiseau hasn’t lost in over two years and is currently on five fight win streak. Loiseau, a favorable stand up fighter, would like to keep his fights standing but is slick enough on the ground to get out of dangerWhat Happens: This fight will not go to the distance. In some of his fights, Loiseau finds himself in terrible positions like his fight with Charles McCarthy. To his credit, he has come out of those positions and has came out the victor. If he finds himself in a bad position against Franklin, he won’t make it out. I feel as though Franklin will catch him in an armbar sometime in the third round. Franklin has a questionable chin and if Loiseau catches him or cuts him, it can go the other way.What’s Next:Rich Franklin vs. ????. As I stated earlier, if Rich wins this fight he will have to make a decision. He can stay at 185 and wait for a possible dream match up with BJ Penn or go back to 205 pounds and take on Chuck Liddell. Rumor has that Chuck has been asking for Arlovski, so I don’t think he would mind going after another UFC champion. If Rich stays at 185 pounds, I would like to see him fight Chris Leben or Mike Swick if they keep winning or the winner of Terrell and Smith. David Loiseau vs. Chris Leben or Mike Swick. Either one of this matches would be great and excited and would also test the skill levels of both Leben and Swick.BJ Penn vs. Georges St. Pierre:Penn: If you would have told me last year that BJ Penn would be fighting in the UFC again, I would have called you crazy. It was great for fans to have Zuffa and the Penn family settle their differences so he could come back and try to retrieve his Welterweight title that he never lost. Penn has show that he can fight at any weight and be successful. He has beaten, arguably the two best fighters between 160 and 170 pounds in Takanori Gomi and Matt Hughes. He is a fighter than can submit you in anyway but prefers to knock you out. Another attribute that Penn possesses is the ability to go the distance and not tire. St. Pierre: St. Pierre has been on a tear lately and has beaten everyone who’s anybody in the UFC welterweight division except for Matt Hughes. He has ousted Frank Trigg, Sean Sherk, Jason Miller, and Karo Parisyan. He has only lost once in his career and some critics say he has the more potential that anyone else in the UFC and it is only a matter of time before he wins UFC gold. What Happens: Originally I was going to flip a coin to predict this fight, but that would have been the easy way out. I’m going to go with Penn only because he has more experience and has been in more high profile wars. St. Pierre’s heart was questioned when he tapped to Hughes’ armbar before it was fully extended only one second left into the first round. I don’t either fighter finishing the other so I will go with Penn by decision. What’s Next: Penn vs. Hughes: Hughes wants this fight bad and if he can get by Royce Gracie, this fight needs to happen.St. Pierre vs. Diego Sanchez: After defeating Nick Diaz, Diego should get another tough opponent.Yves Edwards vs. Mark Hominick:Edwards: Edwards last fight in the UFC was in August of 2004 when he knocked out Josh Thompson, which should have been for the lightweight title. The UFC did away with the UFC division and Edwards went to fight for the MFC and Pride Bushido. He entered Pride’s Lightweight tournament and lost a split decision to Joachim Hansen. Edwards is 28-9-1 and is 6-2 in the UFC. Edwards hopes to win here and hopefully get the light heavyweight title if the UFC implements it again. Hominick: Hominick is 9-4 and is currently on a four fight win streak, going undefeated in 2005. Normally a 145 pound fighter, Hominick will step up in weight for a chance to represent his country in the UFC. None of his fights have ever gone to a decision and he has wins by both knock out and submission.What Happens: Yves wants to prove to everyone that when the UFC let go of the lightweight division, they let go of a great division. Yves will coming out swinging for the fences and will stop Hominick by TKO late in the first round.What’s Next:Yves Edwards vs. Jorge Gurgel: Once Gurgel’s injuries heal, this would be an exciting fight at 155 pounds.Mike Swick vs. Steve Vigneault:Swick: Mike Swick was a fan favorite because of his appearance on the Ultimate Fighter season one reality show. He then made waves as a serious contender when his first two UFC fights both lasted under 25 seconds and ended with highlight reel knock outs. Swick is 7-1 overall with his only loss coming to UFC and Ultimate Fighter season one fighter, Chris Leben.Vigneault: Before defeating Jason St. Louis in September 2005 in the TKO organization, Vigneault was on a two fight losing streak. Before those two loses he had put together seven straight victories. He is 11-5 overall and will be making his UFC debut. What Happens: It is difficult for a fighter when they make their debut in the UFC. It is more difficult when Mike Swick is on the other side of the octagon waiting for the first time in almost seven months. A very confident Swick will get the knock out in the first round. What’s Next: Mike Swick vs. Chris Leben: How many times do I have to mention this fight!?Spencer Fisher vs. Sam Stout: Fisher: Fisher was called in as a late replacement after Kenny Florian injured his back while training. Fisher just fought on 2/17/06 at the Battle of the Boardwalk in New Jersey, and should be ready for this fight. He is 17-1 overall and is undefeated in the UFC at 2-0.Stout: Stout has a very impressive record of 8-1-1. He lost his first fight, got a draw in his second, and then reeled of eight straight victories. His strength is in his stand up game as he has yet to submit an opponent. What Happens: I feel as though Sam Stout will shock many people and win this fight. I think it is very difficult for Spencer to come and fight on just three days notice. But this could go in Spencer’s favor as Stout has been training for someone else who did have the striking capabilities of Fisher. I’m going with an upset with Stout by TKO in the second round.What’s Next: Sam Stout vs. Kenny Florian. It was supposed to happen once.Spencer Fisher vs. Josh Thompson. Thompson needs to be big in the UFC and this would be a great comeback fight.Nathan Marquardt vs. Joe Doerksen:Marquardt: Former King of Pancrase, Nate Marquardt, didn’t impress to many people with his decision victory over Ivan Salaverry in his UFC debut in August of 2005. Everyone knows he has to skills to be a great fighter but he left a lot to be desired in his only UFC appearance. He is 20-6-2 overall. Doerksen: Doerksen has lost tow out of his three fights and is 1-2 in the UFC. He has beaten mma veterans such as Chris Leben, Denis Kang. John Allessio, Patrick Cote, and Lee Murray. He also been on the losing side of wars against Joe Riggs, Matt Hughes, David Loiseau, and Matt Lindland. What Happens: I see this fight being very slow paced as each fighter will have a lot of respect for each other. It will be interesting to see if Marquardt will push the pace after his last UFC fight. I’m going with Marquardt by decision after three rounds.What’s Next: Nathan Marquardt vs. Jeremy Horn. A great match up for the 185 pound division,Jason Lambert vs. Rob MacDonald:Lambert: Lambert has been impressing people as of late winning his last five fights against names like Travis Wuiff, Marvin Eastman and Matt Horwich. He has fought at heavyweight before and seems to have found a home in the lightweight division.MacDonald: Rob MacDonald was on the Ultimate Fighter season two show and was submitted by heavyweight runner-up Brad Imes. MacDonald suffered a bad injury and was unable to perform up to his full capabilities. This will be MacDonald’s UFC debut and he is undefeated in his early mixed martial arts career. What Happens: I don’t think MacDonald is ready for an opponent like Lambert. Lambert has faced some monsters but will have to be composed in his UFC debut. Lambert by TKO in the third round.What’s Next:Jason Lambert vs. Allesio Sakara. Get the fireworks ready for this one.Tom Murphy vs. Christophe Midoux:Murphy: This Vermont native will be making his UFC debut after defeating Josh Hendricks by knock out in his pro debut at KOTC in February of 2005. Midoux: Midoux is 5-5 and has fought in the K-1 organization and has been in the rings with the like of Jeremy Horn, Travis Fulton, and Fabricio Werdum. What Happens: Midoux has the edge in experience and will win this fight by TKO in the first round.What’s Next:Christophe Midoux vs. Seth Petruzelli: A battle of former K-1 Heavyweights!
