Fight Forum - MMA - UFC - Boxing - K1 - More - View Single Post - Interesting fight breakdown for the upcoming Strikeforce event

Jras0001 · 06-21-2007, 07:30 PM

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Click above for the entire article. Below are the two sections concerning the Rua and Buentello fights. I thought it was interesting that they are predicting both Rua and Buentello to lose their fights. I know that Buentello's opponent is a beast. He has had some very good and brutal wins in K1. Im interested in seeing how he adapts to MMA rules.

Quote:

ELITEXC MIDDLEWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP BOUT:
JOEY VILLASENOR VS. MURILO “NINJA” RUA

In the co-main event, Pride veterans Joey Villasenor and Murilo “Ninja” Rua face off to decide the first ever EliteXC Middleweight Champion. Villasenor has a 23-5 record in MMA and trains out of Jackson’s Submission Fighting with Diego Sanchez. Rua has a 13-7-1 record in MMA and trains out of the Chute Boxe Academy with his brother, Mauricio “Shogun” Rua. Villasenor comes off a dominating decision victory over David Loiseau at EliteXC: Destiny, while Ninja quickly dispatched of Alex Reid at Cage Rage 21.

This fight has fireworks written all over it. With about a week left until the event the fight was called off due to medical reasons, but now that those issues are resolved, the fight will go on as scheduled even after another opponent was secured for Villasenor. Rua’s record is at an even five hundred since dropping down to middleweight, but it seems that he is now comfortable at his new weight and looks to bring the fight to Villasenor. Villasenor was coming off two losses in Pride before he dominated David Loiseau and earned his shot at becoming the EliteXC Middleweight Champion.

Both fighters match up evenly as neither seems to have much of an advantage over the other. Ninja will try to keep a high paced fight, while Villasenor will look to make it into a technical battle. As long as Villasenor can effectively counter Ninja’s wild strikes with precise counters, I see him eking out a close decision in what should be an all out war.

Prediction: Joey Villasenor by decision.

Quote:

Heavyweight Bout: Paul Buentello vs. Carter Williams

Former UFC heavyweight contender Paul Buentello meets former K-1 U.S. Champion Carter Williams. Buentello has a 22-9 record in MMA and trains out of the American Kickboxing Academy with Cain Velasquez. Williams has a 3-1record in MMA and trains with Team Voodoo in California. Buentello comes off a destruction of last minute replacement Ruben “Warpath” Villareal at Strikeforce: Triple Threat. Williams last fought in MMA at Rumble on the Rock 6, stopping Tom Howard with strikes.

This fight is going to be an all-out slugfest. Buentello is one of the best heavyweights in the world that isn’t in the UFC, with his only hiccup being a loss to Andrei Arlovski. Williams is one of K-1’s best young talents, but has yet to fulfill his potential.

No doubt that the edge on the feet goes to Williams, as he is a world-class kickboxer that has been in the ring with some of the best. Buentello needs to get the fight to the ground before taking too much punishment, but I see him having a hard time in doing so. Williams will slowly be able to pick apart Buentello with precise strikes before ending it late in the first.

Prediction: Carter Williams by KO in the first round.