UFC Live Preview: Dan Hardy Vs Chris Lytle
By Siri Karri
To anyone who thought that the Rashad Evans vs. Tito Ortiz grudge match at UFC 133 was the last good fight card, you are mistaken. This Sunday, the dream matchup that I had been waiting for is happening flanked on all side by exciting fights. So get ready fight fans.
It’s exciting, it’s stacked and best of all . . . It’s FREE on Versus!
Amir Sadollah (5-2) vs. Duane Ludwig (20-11) at 170 lbs.
Even though Sadollah doesn’t have many big name fights, he gets a lot of exposure which is mostly due to his spectacular performance on The Ultimate Fighter under the tutelage of Forrest Griffin. He boasts some of the welterweight division’s strongest and most versatile muay thai, leading to lopsided wins over Phil Baroni, Brad Blackburn, Peter Sobotta and DeMarques Johnson. What he lacks in finishing power, Sadollah makes up with relentless combinations that attack his opponents head, body and legs with equal prejudice.
Duane Ludwig is the definition of veteran. He has fought for a handful of fight organizations and has a respectable record to show for it. In his current UFC stint, he’s only 1-2 but his past record shows him recording wins over esteemed veterans such as Yves Edwards and Tony Fryklund. As shown in his recent fight against Nick Osipczak, Duane Ludwig has serious power in his hands and holds numerous American Muay Thai and Kickboxing championships.
Even with Duane Ludwig’s impressive resume, the fact is that he’s a veteran struggling to find relevance among the new wave of fights. Unlike Osipczak, Sadollah will not tire easily and chances are that his muay thai powered by youth will overcome the muay thai powered by experience. What we are guaranteed, however, is a hell of a kickboxing battle with neither fighter leaving the Octagon unmarked.
Amir Sadollah via unanimous decision
Charles Oliveira (14-1-1) vs. Donald Cerrone (15-3-1) at 155 lbs.
Charles Oliveira is still somewhat of a no name in the UFC . . . and he shouldn’t be. With the exceptions of his recent loss to title contender Jim Miller and a No Contest against Nik Lentz, Oliveira had won 14 straight fights . . . with 13 of those being finishes. I could throw out the talented fighters that Oliveira beat during this streak, but the most telling indicator of his talent is his win against TUF winner Efrain Escudero in which he out-submitted the submission specialist in the 3rd round. Oh by the way, he’s only 21.
Unlike the other fighters to this point, Donald Cerrone needs no introduction. He has long been one of the WEC’s lightweight division’s premier fighters and fought in an all-time classic match in his first title fight against Ben Henderson (also on this card). Cerrone has a unique physique, being a lightweight that stands over 6 feet tall without sacrificing any athleticism. This means he’s just as fast as most other lightweights, but has extended range on his brilliant muay thai strikes and can tangle up his opponents on the ground for submissions. It’s no wonder that his only true losses in the UFC are to the then-champion Ben Henderson.
This matchup is definitely interesting. Charles Oliveira is 5′ 10″ and also boasts an exceptional ground game, so Cerrone may not have too much luck in taking Oliveira down. Oliveira is no slouch in the muay thai department either, recording several wins via knockout and technical knockout during his impressive streak, so Cerrone may not want to go that route either. However, Cerrone definitely has more experience on the big stage and I think he will find the opening he needs and finish the fight with a powerful knee.
Donald Cerrone via TKO 2nd Round
Jim Miller (20-2) vs. Ben Henderson (13-2) at 155 lbs
Oh man, too much to say about Jim Miller. As of this moment, he is riding a 7 fight win streak in the UFC, which was preceded by an 8 fight win streak that crossed over several promotions before his loss to Gray Maynard. He is, in essence, a jack of all trades. He isn’t a knockout artist, but his boxing is crisp enough to the point where he can fight talented strikers such as Mac Danzig and still hold his own. At the same time, he has several submission wins. Most of his wins however, are through good old decisions where he uses his versatile skills and limitless stamina to grind down his opponents.
Ben Henderson was the face of the WEC’s lightweight division with good reason. With the exception of BJ Penn, many MMA pundits would agree that Henderson is the 2nd best Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in the lightweight division. His only loss in the WEC came in what is considered one of 2010’s greatest fights against Anthony “Showtime” Pettis. He quickly avenged that loss with his first win in the UFC, utterly dominating Mark Bocek with his BJJ and boxing.
Jim Miller was due a title shot long before this, and it’s unfortunate that he’s running into Ben Henderson. Henderson is strong and powerful, and does everything that Jim Miller does a little bit better. Miller is definitely tough enough to survive against Henderson, but he doesn’t have the tools to win.
Ben Henderson via choke 3rd Round
Dan Hardy (23-9) vs. Chris Lytle (30-18-5) at 170 lbs
Dan Hardy is on a 3 fight losing streak . . . and he’s still one of the most exciting fighters on the planet. Boasting some of the flashiest striking (and hairstyles) around, Hardy rode a 4 fight win streak into his title shot against Georges St. Pierre, in which he beat seasoned veterans such as Akihiro Gono and Mike Swick. 10 of his finishes have been due to strikes while many more opponents have had the fights stopped due to the absurd damage they took from Hardy’s fighting style. The last man to out-strike Hardy was a man by the name of Carlos Condit, who is possibly one step away from fight Georges St. Pierre for the title, and other opponents have been forced to basically lay on top of Hardy in order to stand a chance against him.
Chris Lytle is a fan favorite with good reason; he works full time as a firefighter and still finds time to fight professionally. He has an unbelievable EIGHT post fight bonuses, meaning that he has made more money fighting in mixed martial arts than higher profile fighters. He had a four fight win strike that was capped by a dominating stand up war against ex-UFC champion Matt Serra. Simply put, the nickname “Lights Out” does not do him justice.
The reason this is the fight I’ve been looking forward to all year, even though neither of these men are title contenders, is that they are guaranteed to be exciting. Chris Lytle has long said that he prefers to be an exciting fighter to a successful fighter, and luckily he has mixed both. Dan Hardy’s exciting style has been hampered by wrestlers who want nothing more than to lie on top of him. With two fighters who would like nothing more to put on a show for the fans, everybody wins.
Dan Hardy is by far the hardest hitter Chris Lytle has ever fought but the fact is that Lytle is tough as nails; he has only been finished ONCE in his career when he was forced to stop by the ringside doctor. Also, Lytle is far more well-rounded and has several submission finishes to his credit and will be more than willing to maul Lytle on the ground if he starts losing the standup. This is the upset I call on fight night.
Chris Lytle via split decision
