#teamfaber

[Note: If I feel a match-up is too close to predict, I'll give a prediction for how each fighter would win, should they be victorious]

•Michael Chiesa vs Al Iaquinta >Iaquinta via KO in the 2nd or Sub in the 3rd >Chiesa via TKO in the 2nd or 3rd This really is either man's fight. Iaquinta has serious power in his hands and a relentless work ethic and, while he's known for his stand-up, he does have a couple of submissions on his record so when, not if, Chiesa takes the fight to the ground Iaquinta will have options to keep the scrap going long enough to either submit or sweep to avoid Chiesa's notorious ground and pound. As for Chiesa, anyone who's followed the show knows he's dealt with some serious inner turmoil but, rather than letting the death of his father break him, he's used his circumstances to fuel himself through one upset win after another. He may not have the caliber of stand-up game that Iaquinta does, but he's an exceptional grappler who knows how to trap his opponents and force them to curl up while he unleashes a relentless stream of punches, forcing the ref to stop the fight whether his opponent has gone lights out or not. Fueled by the desire to honor his father's memory and make worthwhile his absence from his family at this difficult time, Chiesa is a man possessed and he's proven time and time again that this is just another reason that makes him a force to be reckoned with. Do not underestimate Michael Chiesa's will to win.

•Justin Lawrence vs John Cofer >Lawrence via KO in the 2nd Not to underestimate John Cofer but, having not really seen his true colors in the octagon yet, I've got to go with Lawrence on this one; he's got one-punch knock out power, aggression, and more experience than just the three fights on his record prior to this TUF Live stint. (He's been kickboxing since he was a kid and has a fairly fundamental knowledge of wrestling that serves him quite well.) For that matter, he's got an impressive fight IQ for someone with only a handful of amateur and pro fights under his belt. He's a young guy with a very long and undoubtedly successful career ahead of him.

>•Daron Cruickshank vs Chris Tickle >Cruickshank via KO/TKO in the 1st >Tickle via KO/TKO in the 2nd This one's hard to call. Cruickshank has the extremely impressive amount of experience on his side, having been raised by two martial artists and growing up in this environment. Admittedly, his KO loss against James Vick could be seen as an accident but the only person who'll ever really know is Vick. That loss stopped us from really seeing Cruickshank showcase his skills outside of his qualifying fight to get into the house. Chris Tickle, whom showed real promise in his qualifying fight to get into the house by KOing Austin Lyons, slid downhill in the first weeks of the show. His work ethic was inexplicably lackadaisical and he seemed too content and too comfortable, which is why it was no surprise when Joe Proctor submitted him almost effortlessly in their first fight since getting into the house. Tickle didn't listen to his corner, apparently thinking he knew better, and he payed for it in the end. That said, he has done a complete 180 turn since that loss to Proctor. Coach Dominick Cruz, the first to call Tickle out on this bullshit, confirmed on the show that the kickboxing and wrestling specialist is more determined and focused than ever before. Even if this turn around is a little too late, Tickle is obviously set on proving to Cruz and the world that he has heart and that he deserves a shot at the UFC. With his talent and his newfound fire to show the world what he's made of, Tickle has as good a chance as anyone to win this fight. Overall prediction: This fight is going to be a war, no doubt.

•Myles Jury vs Chris Saunders >Saunders via KO or Sub in the 2nd or Unanimous Decision >Jury via TKO or Sub in the 1st Making the case for Saunders: The man is more well rounded than his opponent, Jury. With kickboxing, jiu-jitsu, wrestling, kickboxing, and standup specialties to Jury's wrestling, expect Saunders' fight IQ to be far more developed than Jury's. Making the case for Jury: He may not be as well rounded as Saunders, but their experience in competition is almost equal. Additionally, while Saunders' victories have mostly come by way of decision, Jury's wins have come mostly by submission and KO/TKO in the first round. None of Jury's fights had gone past the 1st round before he stepped into the TUF gym on the very first episode to fight for his spot in the house, where he defeated Akbarh Arreola by decision then later lost via decision to Al Iaquinta in a two-round war that was so even that it called for a sudden victory 3rd round. Look for Jury to try to put Saunders away in the 1st round, but expect Saunders to use his multi-faceted game to neutralize Jury and draw it into the 2nd and 3rd rounds where he can use his experiences in long bouts to stay sharp against a tiring Jury and draw out a decision or a late submission. However, if Jury can do what he does best and finish the bout by submission or KO in under a minute into the fight, expect a slow-burning Saunders to be neatly put away by this firecracker, flash-bang Michigan native.

•Cristiano Marcello vs Sam Sicilia >Marcello via Sub in the 1st >Sicilia via KO in the 1st The short and sweet of it is that this bout pits the BJJ equivalent of a sharpshooter against the heavy-handed fighter who earned what is possibly the fastest KO in The Ultimate Fighter history at 8 seconds. While Sicilia, who has 4 submission victories alongside his 5 KO victories (all pre-TUF stint), may be able to survive on the ground with Marcello that's not a risk he should take in this fight. Marcello is a BJJ machine and going to the ground with him would be an unwise idea even for fighters with more ground experience than Sicilia. Likewise, Marcello doesn't want to stand & bang with Sicilia, as we've already seen what happens when he does that with somebody possessing one-punch knockouts (see Marcello vs Lawrence preliminary bout). Expect to see both guys try to impose their will on the other as always happens in striker vs grappler events but, rather than two styles neutralizing each other, expect fireworks; heavy handed jabs and hooks, elaborate BJJ maneuvers, sweeps, passes, and great footwork.

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