a hefty submission savvy ADCC veteran with solid hands in Barnett. On the other hand, Nelson was getting ready to fight Buentello, who is predominantly a striker that likes to sprawl and brawl, which allows him to load up for the big KO, which earned him his nickname "The Headhunter".

Arlovski, however, is a different animal. This is evident in his 15 second KO win over Buentello in 2005. He has more refined boxing skills, which have only improved after spending the past several months training with world-famous boxing coach Freddie Roach in Los Angeles. The fruits of his labor were obvious in his third round destruction of Ben Rothwell in July. Arlovski, also has a more dangerous ground game than Buentello due to his Sambo background, which has netted him an ankle-lock victory over Tim Sylvia in the past. However, that is a null point considering that Big Country is the much more polished and accomplished submission grappler.

On paper and in the minds of many, Arlovski is the heavy favorite coming into this bout with a potential January showdown with heavyweight kingpin Fedor Emelianenko on the horizon. That however, could be the deciding variable that goes in Nelson's favor. Big Country has nothing to lose and everything to gain. If he loses, it's expected and he still has a potential showdown with Buentello or a rematch with Rothwell to look forward to in Affliction. If he wins, he will have secured the biggest win of his career on primetime national television over a Top 5 heavyweight. This should bring a calm approach to Big Country's already tactical fighting style. I predict that Big Country will hold his own standing, just long enough to out-wrestle Arlovski, where he will control the fight on the mat. This will be a grueling chess match that goes to the judge's scorecards that will all be in favor of Big Country via Unanimous Decision.

Predicition: Roy "Big Country" Nelson via Unanimous Decision.



Gina Carano vs. Kelly Kobold (Women's Bout)

Gina Carano, like Kimbo Slice, was added to this third CBS televised card to repeat the magic formula that brought CBS record-breaking ratings on May 31st. Since defeating Julie Kedzie on the first women's MMA bout on Showtime in February of 2007, Gina has quickly become "The face of women's MMA". Her good looks and fearsome Muay Thai fueled fighting style quickly caught the attention of NBC executives when they were looking to launch a new modern version of their early 90's television hit "American Gladiators" in late 2007. Gina has since resigned for the second season of "American Gladiators", was cast in the celebrity-studded video game "Command & Conquer: Red Alert 3", was featured on ESPN's weekly television show "E:60", as well as "The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson". As much good as this has done for promoting MMA and women's MMA to the mainstream masses, it has also come with the added pressure of being the woman that the rest of the women in the sport are gunning for, which is a challenge that the Muay Thai expert openly welcomes.

The latest challenger looking to put a blemish on Gina's flawless 6-0 MMA record comes in the form of the 6-year MMA veteran Kelly Kobold. Kelly has amassed an impressive 16-2-1 record over the course of her career with all 16 wins coming one after another, until she hit a bump in the road last summer by dropping consecutive bouts to Tara LaRosa and Julie Kedzie one month apart from each other in the now defunct BodogFight organization. She hasn't fought since losing to Kedzie in August of last year, but trains at the Minnesota Martial Arts Academy with Gina's last opponent Kaitlin Young. This should allow Kelly's trainers time and firsthand knowledge to devise a more effective gameplan, but unfortunately knowing what you need to do and being able to do what you need to do are two completely separate issues. Ring rust combined with lesser technique and athleticism will lead to Kobold's demise. Julie Kedzie is an easy indicator used to determine how Carano and Kobold will measure up. Kobold has a lot of experience with a proven ability to finish fights, but Carano will be too much for her as I predict a second round stoppage due to strikes.

Prediction: Gina Carano via TKO.



Benji Radach vs. Murilo "Ninja" Rua (Middleweight Bout)

This middleweight bout has the potential to follow up or possibly surpass the war that Robbie Lawler and Scott Smith had on the first CBS broadcasted event in May. Benji Radach is a UFC and IFL veteran that has won in both organizations and has put together an impressive 18-4 record. Most recently known as a pivotal part of the dominant Los Angeles Anacondas squad in the now defunct IFL, Radach has earned the respect of his teammates and opponents alike for his aggressive fighting style and work ethic, which was punctuated by the way he fought back from a scary neck injury at the beginning of the year. Now that he's healed, it's merely a question of whether he's back to full strength and can put his IFL Grand Prix finals upset loss to Matt Horwich behind him.

Radach's first opponent back is a daunting task to say the least. It is in the form of former EliteXC champion and former PRIDE star Murilo "Ninja" Rua, who is the brother of PRIDE and UFC star Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. Ninja made a name for himself in the now defunct PRIDE organization as a main force within the once dominant Chute Boxe team that redefined MMA for several years. Since the Zuffa buyout of PRIDE in March of 2007, Ninja and his brother Shogun have left Chute Boxe to start their own MMA academy called Universidade da Luta. Ninja has notable wins throughout his career over the likes of Mario Sperry, Akira Shoji, Daijiro Matsui, Mark Weir, Joey Villasenor, and Tony Bonello. Their experience is just about even, but win or lose, Ninja has been in the ring with the best, time and time again. I see that valuable high-level experience combined with Radach's ring rust as the deciding factor in the outcome of this fight. I also forsee this fight going the distance in what looks to be the "Fight of the Night" on CBS.

Prediction: Murilo "Ninja" Rua via Split Decision.


EliteXC – Heat on CBS (October 4, 2008)

-Bank Atlantic Center in Sunrise, Florida


Main Card Bouts:

-Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson vs. Ken Shamrock (Heavyweight Bout)

-Jake Shields vs. Paul Daley (Welterweight Title Bout)

-Andrei Arlovski vs. Roy "Big Country" Nelson (Heavyweight Bout)

-Gina Carano vs. Kelly Kobold (Women's Bout)

-Benji