A famous last name in Boxing is both a blessing and a curse. For Matthew Hatton, it has opened doors, provided a fanbase, and afforded him matchmaking more favourable than a fighter of his ability could usually expect. It has, however, also meant that he has spent a career lost in his big brother’s shadow. Dismissed by those in the fight game – the conversation quickly transitioned from “he’s not Ricky” to “he’s nobody” – a sentiment reiterated until it was recognized as fact.
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This is the UFC’s return to Japan since UFC 29, which featured the likes of Tito Ortiz, Matt Hughes, and Chuck Liddell. The main event of this go-around is Frankie Edgar defending his lightweight title against Benson Henderson. It’s also Rampage Jackson’s return to Japan and the card features many Japanese fighters.

We’re going to do this preview a little differently than usual. We have one writer breaking down every fight on the live card.

The FGB crew along with Stevie J from Angrymarks and friend of the website, JP, have all the predictions.

Joe Lauzon vs. Anthony Pettis

Alan: Pettis by decision
Duan: Lauzon by decision
Stevie: Lauzon by 2nd round submission
JP: Pettis by 2nd round TKO
Big D: Pettis by decision
Cactus Jim: Pettis by 3rd round submission
GG: Pettis by decision

Big D says:

Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon both have something in common. At one or two times in their career, they were seen as possible serious championship contenders. In 2007, J-Lau went on a win streak before being stopped by Ken Flo. He’s tried to bounce back but stayed in the midcard. Anthony Pettis delivered the kick heard round the world on Ben Henderson and went on to take his title (Ben is ironically getting a TITLE shot on this show). Pettis then went on to lose to Clay Guida and derail his push for lack of a better term. This fight is about redemption. Pettis is the more athletic but J Lau has always been headstrong. He fights til the end. I’m very excited to see if he can withstand Pettis’ speed and creativity in the octagon. I like Mr. J L (Not Jerry Lynn), but J is taking the L here.

Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski
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Originally scheduled to be Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz, and then Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz, and then Georges St. Pierre against Nick Diaz, and then finally, Carlos Condit vs. Nick Diaz, there have been issues after issues with this fight.

Originally, Nick Diaz was pulled from his fight at UFC 137 against GSP because he failed to show up for the media. Condit was put in Diaz’s place, but then GSP hurt himself. Diaz went on to face BJ Penn, beating him up for three rounds. Condit was scheduled to face GSP on this card, but Dana White flipped the script and said that GSP wanted Diaz and he’d get Diaz. Then St. Pierre was hurt again and Condit slid into the mix yet again. If I was Carlos Condit, I’d feel a bit disrespected over this entire thing.

The FGB crew along with Stevie J from Angrymarks, have predictions for this fight, as well as Big Country Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum.

Roy Nelson vs. Fabricio Werdum

Alan: Nelson by 1st round TKO
Duan: Werdum by decision
Stevie: Werdum by 2nd round submission
Big D: Nelson by 2nd round TKO
Cactus Jim: Werdum by decision
GG: Werdum by decision

Alan says:

Would love to see these guys go hold for hold on the ground but I think Roy will try to keep this standing where he has the power to finish the Brazilian. I think he does it early too.

Duan says:

I honestly feel Werdum is the most overlooked heavyweight in MMA. The guy snapped the most legendary win streak in the sport’s history and most people barely even took notice – come on! Outside of the big three of Velasquez, Dos Santos and Overeem, he’s probably the division’s next best. Since 08, he has lost only to the UFC heavyweight champion and the current number one contender. That’s not bad company to be keeping.

He will beat Nelson because he’s better. Better in the stand up, better on the ground, just plain and simply better. Big Country is game; he will hang in there, but he will do so with a punchers chance only. Werdum cruises to a 30-27 in a mostly striking battle.

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And now the time of year where everything gets put on hold for one Pay Per View. An event I have watched many more times than any number of the WWE WrestleManias.

I’m talking the Royal Rumble. Two men enter the ring, and approximately two minutes later somebody else comes in. If you get tossed over the top rope and BOTH of your feet touch the floor, you’re eliminated. After 30 people (man, woman, rooster, tugboat, or mantaur) have entered the ring, the last person with both feet solidly in the ring gets a promise of a title shot at WrestleMania.

The Royal Rumble match itself usually lasts over an hour long, and has a cavalcade of gimmicks, feuds, and moments all rolled into one. If you haven’t yet, be sure to check out FGB’s Royal Rumble Preview, of our writer’s Favourite Moments, Most Surprising Moments, and our pick for who’s going to win.

The 2012 Royal Rumble has a surprisingly strong undercard, with both the WWE and World Heavyweight Title being defended. Also John Cena will face off against “The Prophet of Hate” Kane in a match not unlike Professor Moriarty trying to convince Sherlock Holmes to join him, so they can rule London together. Because we’re all tired of the Star Wars references.

Oh, and I’m sure there’ll be a few other undercard matches that haven’t been announced yet.

Let’s run down this sucker match by match.

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The second UFC on Fox doesn’t have the same promotion as the first. So while it may not be the same ratings juggernaut that the first was, it should still be a fun night of fights. An injury to Mark Munoz has given us the fight many expected to see in the first place when Michael Bisping takes on Chael Sonnen. And in the main event, Rashad Evans faces Phil Davis.

The FGB crew along with friend of the site JP and Stevie J from Angrymarks, have predictions for the the top two fights of this show.

Michael Bisping vs. Chael Sonnen

Duan: Refuses to predict Sonnen fights on principle
Stevie: Sonnen by 2nd round TKO
JP: Sonnen by decision
GG: Sonnen by decision

Stevie says:

I’m not in the camp that thinks Michael Bisping has no chance – in fact I believe his takedown defense is probably underrated – but there’s no chance he’s on Sonnen’s level and Sonnen’s level is often called “Olympic” by those in the know. On a good day he might stuff a takedown or 2, but not 9 or 10, and much like Anderson Silva he’ll be taken down with ease. A lucky punch is his only hope.

JP says:

This fight has been robbed of its rightful place in trash talk history. Given a full 8-10 weeks of prep, these two could have provided some classic quotes and soundbites for fans to repeat infinitely online. Instead an injury to Mark Munoz created this fight and the two middleweights have been borderline respective of each other. As for the fight itself, the outcome seems very predictable: Bisping will have three rounds to try and triangle choke Sonnen or otherwise eat ground and pound for 15 minutes. Bisping doesn’t have the power to stop Sonnen so his only hope is to try and catch a submission while fighting off his back. He won’t. Sonnen wins and Sonnen-Silva II is lined up for this summer.

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We’ve listed our favorite moments and our most surprising moments in the first two parts of our Royal Rumble preview.

Now, we’ll go through who we think is going to win. In our most recent edition of FGB Radio, Jason and I broke down who had a chance to win and who didn’t. We decided that there were really only a few guys who could realistically win the match (Jericho, Orton, Barrett, and Sheamus), unless there was a complete surprise winner. WWE TV has recently been pushing that everyone is eligible to join the Rumble, but they haven’t really said what that means. In the early years, everyone was eligible, including champions, so I’m not sure what the big deal is.

I’m going to guess that this means CM Punk and Daniel Bryan can be in the match even if they are still champs. I don’t really see what good that would do being that the stipulation is still that the winner gets a title shot at WrestleMania. The only way a current champion winning makes sense is if they want to go back to having one undisputed champion and I don’t see that happening.

Possible wrestlers returning at the Rumble may be Alberto Del Rio and Christian, just based on them being on the WWE Superstars page. I’m not sure who can be a “surprise” these days.

Alan: I’m really thinking it’s Jericho. We’ve had 29 men enter the Rumble, there’s 4 guys left – Wade Barrett, Sheamus, and two others. The two others get eliminated by Wade and Sheamus. Then those two start battling it out – hell for leather. The clock comes up for No. 30. The countdown starts: 10, 9, 8, 7, 6. They are beside the ropes, going at it. 5. Sheamus hits a big clothesline and both men go over. 4. It’s ruled that BOTH are eliminated. 3, 2, 1 – BUZZZZZZZZZZZZZ!!!! BREAK THE WALLLLS DOWWWWWN!!!! Jericho makes his big spectacular entrance, jacket a-glowing and he walks to the ring as the WINNER of the Rumble without having to touch anyone. It would be unforgettable.

Duan: I’m also leaning towards Jericho as winner. I was actually saying to my brother on Tuesday it would be good if they brought back Rikishi as a surprise entrant. I expect Foley to be in there as well. Not sure if that constitutes a surprise or not though.
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