Some meaty under-card action -- hopefully --awaits all you pay-per-view purchasers out there with the highlights including arguably the most competitive bout on the entire card.
This one ends with Kampmann showing the world just how healthy his knees are by driving one into Rivera's skull for a one-sided KO victory.
No thai plum exhibitions are expected in the lightweight clash between Thiago Tavares (Pictures) (13-1) and "Handsome" Matt Wiman (Pictures) (9-3) but as with any lightweight bout, a quality scrap is bound to break out. As Wiman continues to take on stiffer competition, it'll become apparent that the UFC has been protecting the "Handsome" one for the sake of selling a few tickets to the estrogen crowd. Tavares puts an end to that nonsense in a hurry with a first round submission win.
More of the same could be in store when Roan "Jucao" Carneiro (12-6) takes his suffocating jiu-jitsu game on the road against short notice replacement Kevin Burns (5-1). Burns is taking a huge step up in competition on short notice against an opponent who thrives on stifling offense and turning MMA matches into grappling seminars. The script will play true to form as "Jucao" takes an uneventful first round win via anaconda choke.
Moving away from the animated world, next up on the docket is a light heavyweight showdown between Jason Lambert (Pictures) (23-7) and Luis "Banha" Cane (7-1, 1 NC), who is undoubtedly desperate to make up for his star-crossed UFC debut. Coming into the UFC with plenty of hype and an undefeated record to match, Cane promptly got disqualified against James Irvin (Pictures) for landing an illegal knee. It won't be the night's most aesthetically pleasing affair but bank on Lambert notching a top control fueled unanimous decision win.
Making up for that one is a potential fight of the night contender in the All-Europe special featuring native Englishman Paul Taylor (Pictures) (8-1) and adopted Englishman Jess "The Joker" Liaudin (12-9). This one starts out even but turns in a hurry as Taylor scores a high kick KO win to send "The Joker" packing. Quite frankly, I don't want to see Liaudin again until he starts showing up in full Joker regalia and shocking over-eager fans with joy buzzers. MMA needs a guy like that.
MMA also needs some heavyweights to start doing something other than appearing positively mediocre every time out. Hope floats for talented European buzz saw Antoni Hardonk (Pictures) (6-4) who fits the role of heavyweight ace right up until you see his ground game. While Eddie Sanchez (8-1) may not have Hardonk's striking pedigree, he does at least give his all come fight time and has just enough of a well-rounded edge to his game to take care of one-dimensional marks like Hardonk.
With that, keep in mind that all prognostications are for entertainment purposes only. In other words, don't go calling me when you bet the mortgage payment using my picks and a bowl of alphabet soup.