IFL Heavyweight Title Match: Roy Nelson vs Fabiano Scherner

Roy Nelson Scouting Report:

vs Brian Vetell


vs Shane Ott



vs Antoine Jaoude



Analysis: Calling Roy Nelson well rounded may come off as an endomorphic pun-nery , but it truly is a good description of his skills. Nelson's base is in BJJ, but he has made a name for himself with his outstanding stand-up skills. Nelson entered most folks radar when he engaged in a slugfest with IFL KO specialist Ben Rothwell. Nelson took some heavy blows but came back with even more, losing the fight in a controversial split decision.but gaining fans and respect in the process. In addition to his ground and stand up, Nelson adds in a good clinch game. Watch his fight with Ott and you'll se good clinch work, getting underhooks, nice pummelling from the clinch and even some decent Muay Thai work. The Brian Vetell fight highlighted Roy's wrestling and ground and pound skills...Roy was able to work the takedown against a guy that is on the US Grappling Team and landed some bombs from the guard to TKO Vetell. In the Jaoude fight, faced a guy with better BJJ but was able to sprawl and clinch to keep the fight standing up, eventually leading to the KO victory. In viewing Nelson's fights, he does a good job of not letting his opponent get into his gamplan and fight his fight (Jauode, Ott)... or in some cases letting his opponent fight his game and then beating him at it (Vetell, Rothwell). Nelson's BJJ Experience and superior grappling should favor him if this one goes to the ground and he also has much better stand-up. May want to stay out of the clinch where Scherner has a Muay Thai Edge

Fabiano Scherner:

Scouting Report:

vs Gabriel Gonzaga about 1:30 in

Analysis: Scherner has been in with some big names in the heavyweight ranks (Assuerio Silva, Gabe Gonzaga, Brandon Vera, Gilbert Yvel), but has yet to get a signature win to get his career a jumpstart. Competed in submission and jiu-jitsu competitions then transitioned to MMA. Scherner has recently been in Thailand brushing up on his Muay Thai game, looking to round out his game a little more. In watching his UFC fights, he seemed a bit slow with his hands which lead to him losing the stand-up game. His fight with Gonzaga also showed he needs to work on his takedown defense as Gonzaga was able to get it to the ground when he wanted it. Would be best served in the Nelson fight to close the distance, lean on Nelson with his large frame, and look to use the Muay Thai he has spoken of.

Note to MMA Websites

If you are gonna do a preview of the IFL show coming up, it might help to get the card right. Someone call Mark Miller, tell him to stop training for Jay Hieron and get to the nearest all you can eat buffet....you gotta put on 15 lbs and get to Vegas to take on Matt Horwich.

IFL Lightweight Title Match: Ryan Schultz vs John Gunderson

IFL Hype Piece for the fight:



Ryan Schultz Scouting Report:

vs Chris Horodecki 2


Analysis: Schultz is Team Quest fighter, cutting his teeth in the sport in many of Matt Lindland's SportFight events. Schultz opened up a lot eyes with his big win over the formerly unbeaten Chris Horodecki in the IFL Lightweight GP, but it really shouldn't have been that shocking. Prior to fighting in the IFL, Schultz had a big win over Roger Huerta and fought to a draw with JZ Calvacanti, who now comfortably resides in the Lightweight Top 5. He had also fought but lost to some other higher profile guys like Hermes Franca and Rich Clementi. The perception of Schultz as a Quality Fighter took a hit when he was "highlight reel-ed" in two devastating Ko losses in his early fights in the IFL, once to Bart Palaszewski and once to Chris Horodecki. Schultz didn't take the losses to heart, went on a three fight winning streak and was able to get a re-match with Horodecki when injuries necessitated a repalcement in the GP Final.

Analysis: Schultz is a wrestler, with a nice ground and pound as evidenced by the clip above. Mainly a grappler, lacks the submission skill of his trainer Lindland. He will also be the larger, physically bigger guy in the match-up with Gunderson and will look to use these tools. He generally looks to press the fight and initiate the action. Schultz has good but not great stand-up, he's not the kind to end a fight with one punch or even a flurry of punches. As evident by his two big KO losses in the IFL, tends to get a little sloppy when the exchanges start flying, but Gunderson doesn't really have the heavy hands to exploit this. Having a few submission losses on his record, Ryan may be reticent to take it to the ground with the sub specialist Gunderson. Could use his better stand-up and clinch to control the fight for the decision win. If he does get the takedowns, it will be mainly to score points.... I don't think that he will get to aggressive with the GNP.

John Gunderson Scouting Report:

vs Wagney Fabiano


Analysis: Fights for Ken Shamrock's Lion's Den. Lacks the resume of his opponent Schultz, with his highest profile win being over the fantastically uneven Krazy Horse Bennett. Is a very well versed submission fighter, two-thirds of his 15 wins coming via submission. Has average stand-up. Has good grappling skills, but not on par with Schultz. Best chance in the fight is to pull guard and work for a sub or press the pace and look for a sub in the scramble.

Ryan McGivern talks IFL 29th Fight

Ryan talks with Bodine at ZSportsLounge.com.

Little Nog

Sherdog did an interview with Lil Nog mainly dealing with his recent win over Todd Gouwenberg. Toward the end of the clip he says he will fight again in April or May. They offered a fight with Renato "Babalu" Sobral, but lil Nog begged out of it, saying they were friends.

This is a pet peeve of mine. There is a lack of professionalism that permeates the MMA camps that handcuffs the hands of promoters. Babalu and Rogerio are two of the few name guys on the market outside of 205 and when of the few attractive matchups that can be made. These guys need to be businessmen and realize that this attitude hurts the business. The same issue is pervasive in the UFC. Paulo Filho ducked out of the UFC entirely rather than fight Anderson Silva. AKA teamates Jon Fitch, Josh Koscheck and Mike Swick tie up a good chunk of welterweight spotlight, but also tie up the hands of UFC foof Joe Silva. Same with the Greg Jackson wonder twins of Rashad Evans and Keith Jardine.

MMA Girls UFC 82 Predictions

And in the Battle of the Internet Prognosticators for 2008:

MMAGirls(entire card via her MMAPredictions page): 22-5
Luke Thomas(via Bloodyelbow.com):17-10
robnashville: 17-10

Dream Middleweight GP Fantasy Draw

Sakuraba
Tamura

Akiyama
Misaki

lindland
Bustamante

Kang
Nishijima

Dong Sik Yoon
Takimoto

Manhoef
Kondo

DAvid Terrell
Minowa

Rodrigo Gracie
Nino Schembri

Karo breaks it down

"I’d like to say right now is, who in the hell is Jon Fitch? All of a sudden he’s beaten Diego Sanchez that I lost to and that makes him mister tough guy, like he can challenge me and if I don’t take the challenge that means I’m afraid? These guys were in there mom’s stomach when Karo Parisyan was fighting in MMA…I’d like to clear this up with everybody, there is no way in my life I’ve ever ducked or dodged any opponent…”

Read more here

Listen to the interview here

Dangerous Dan Media Blitz

Dream: The more things change....

As we come to about three weeks away from the initial Dream card, it seems the old Pride practice of last second matchmaking has endured to this new creation. While we have a general idea of who will be on the card, we still have no concrete matchups on the card other than the headlining JZ vs Aoki match. The folks over at Sengoku seem to be much more on the ball in this respect.