Head to Head

UFC Fight Night 18 touches down at the Sommet Center in Nashville, Tenn., on Wednesday, April 1, airing live on Spike TV at 8 p.m. ET. In the main event, former WEC welterweight champion Carlos Condit jumps into the UFC fray to take on Martin Kampmann. Also on the show, TUF 8 winner Ryan Bader fights returning UFC veteran Carmelo Marrero and Junie Browning locks horns with Cole Miller.

To help you get ready for UFC Fight Night 18, CBSSports.com gives you a complete look at each fight on the card, with analysis from our knowledgeable MMA writers. Take a look, and then discuss your own predictions on the message board at the bottom of this page.

Fighter photos courtesy of UFC.

Welterweight Bout:
	CARLOS CONDIT	vs.	MARTIN KAMPMANN
	"Natural Born Killer"	Nickname	"The Hitman"
	24	Age	26
	6-2	Height	6-0
	22-4-0 (UFC debut)	Record	14-2-0 (5-1-0 UFC)
	9	KO/TKOs	7 (1 UFC)
	13	Submissions	5 (3 UFC)
	8 wins	Streak	1 win
	def. Hiromitsu Miura WEC 35 8/3/2008	Last Fight	def. Alexandre Barros UFC 93 1/17/2009

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: To the casual MMA fan, this is not a star-studded main event. But to those who have followed each fighter's career, this is a very promising fight, very much worth a look on free TV. Condit transitioned into the UFC after Zuffa dissolved the 170-pound division of WEC, with Condit its reigning champion. Kampmann is a tough and versatile opponent on his way back up the ladder from a loss to Nate Marquardt last year. A loss to Condit here would set him back, but it's a very real possibility. Condit is a gutsy performer who finished every opponent he ever beat, and has only gone to a decision once -- against Jake Shields, no less. Expect fireworks, expect action, and look for Condit to succeed here with a split decision victory.	Todd Martin: UFC did a tremendous job in booking this fight. I always love watching Condit and Kampmann fight, and it’s for pretty much the same reason. Whether the fight is standing or on the ground, each man is always looking to finish. Kampmann has 14 wins, with 7 TKOs, 5 submissions and 1 decision. Condit has 22 wins, with 9 TKOs, 13 submissions and no decisions. They don’t wait for the judges, and they don’t give up when the fight isn’t going the way they want. That also makes this a tough fight to call, because either man could get caught wherever the fight takes place. I give Condit the very narrow edge because this is Kampmann's first tough fight since a brutal loss to Nate Marquardt, and concerns about how his chin will hold up could play right into Condit’s hands.	Ben Fowlkes: Condit has a lot of heat behind him since he’s coming into the UFC as the last WEC welterweight champ, but I think Kampmann is seriously underrated at 170. The drop in weight was the best thing for him, and now that he’s fighting guys his own size he’s a dangerous young fighter. Beyond that, Kampmann has been in the UFC for a while now and his only loss was to Nate Marquardt – one of the best middleweights around. He’s at home in the Octagon, and Condit isn’t yet. Kampmann is going to put himself on the map big time with a decision victory here.	Gary Herman: By placing Condit in the main event in his debut, the UFC clearly believes Condit has a ton of potential. He was undefeated (5-0) in the WEC, and he generally delivers exciting fights. Condit has great submissions and underrated power. He also has a tremendous heart and is very difficult to stop. On the other hand, Kampmann is a very dangerous opponent. He is an experienced kickboxer and is also well versed at submissions. Kampmann has never gone past the second round – in his entire career (sixteen fights). He also boasts a 5-1 UFC record. But it his lack of going past the second round that will hurt him against Condit. A win here for Condit really legitimizes his WEC title reign as well as his standing as a top ten welterweight. In a good fight, Condit wins by third round submission.

Light Heavyweight Bout:
	RYAN BADER	vs.	CARMELO MARRERO
	"Darth"	Nickname	"The Fury"
	25	Age	28
	6-2	Height	6-0
	8-0-0 (1-0-0 UFC)	Record	10-2-1 (2-2-0 UFC)
	4 (1 UFC)	KO/TKOs	2 (0 UFC)
	3 (0 UFC)	Submissions	4 (0 UFC)
	8 wins	Streak	3 wins
	def. Vinny Magalhaes TUF 8 Finale 12/13/2008	Last Fight	def. Steve Steinbeiss WEC 36 11/5/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Marrero is primarily a wrestler, which automatically puts him behind the 8-ball in this fight since he's facing an even better wrestler. Marrero has experience against solid competition and even owns a UFC win over Cheick Kongo. Bader is a ground-and-pound guy, but he's actively working on diversifying his game. Marrero is probably best served to work submissions on Bader and avoid striking. In the end, though, I expect Bader to win via decision by controlling Marrero on the ground and outscoring him with his fists.	Todd Martin: This is a familiar matchup for followers of the UFC. When UFC has a promising young fighter with potential as a star and a strong background in wrestling, he will frequently be matched up with a fellow, but less accomplished, wrestler. The younger wrestler will be able to dictate where the fight takes place and neutralize the veteran’s greatest strength. That’s the story here. Bader via TKO.	Ben Fowlkes: I’ve got enough respect for Marrero’s ability to think of him as a credible opponent for Bader, but he’s not a serious threat, which shouldn’t surprise us. No TUF winners get stiff competition right off the bat. Marrero has skills, but they’re mostly wrestling skills, and Bader has that part of the game down. As long as he doesn’t try to get too cute, Bader wins this via ground-and-pound TKO.	Gary Herman: The UFC is not doing Bader any favors by matching him with Marrero as his first non-Ultimate Fighter opponent. Marrero is a good stand-up fighter with a notable victory over Cheick Kongo. However, Marrero’s biggest weakness is his ground skills. That is definitely where the former collegiate wrestler, Bader, will look to bring this fight. In what will turn about to be a very boring match-up, Bader grinds out a unanimous decision victory.

Lightweight Bout:
	TYSON GRIFFIN	vs.	RAFAEL DOS ANJOS
	n/a	Nickname	n/a
	24	Age	24
	5-6	Height	5-9
	12-2-0 (5-2-0 UFC)	Record	11-3-0 (0-1-0 UFC)
	5 (0 UFC)	KO/TKOs	1
	3 (1 UFC)	Submissions	6
	1 loss	Streak	1 loss
	lost to Sean Sherk UFC 90 10/25/2008	Last Fight	lost to Jeremy Stephens UFC 91 11/15/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Dos Anjos looked very impressive against Jeremy Stephens in his UFC debut until getting demolished by a late KO. Until that point, Dos Anjos showed good leg kicks and excellent submissions, at one point locking in a very tight omoplata. Dos Anjos has real upset potential in this bout, but ultimately, I don't expect him to be able to take down Griffin the way he did Stephens. If Griffin tries to ground and pound, Dos Anjos has a shot at pulling off a submission from the bottom, but Griffin is also strong enough to power out of a hold if he reacts quickly. I think Griffin wins this via decision, but it won't be easy.	Todd Martin: After a string of high level opponents, Griffin gets a little bit of an easier time with Dos Anjos. Dos Anjos is far from a joke, but I don’t see him being able to submit or control Griffin. That means that more than likely Griffin will be scoring the victory via TKO or decision.	Ben Fowlkes: This is Griffin’s fight to lose. If he’s smart he’ll keep the pressure on Dos Anjos while protecting his neck and keeping his arms in tight. He should be able to outwrestle and outstrike him, and as long as he doesn’t get careless Griffin is taking this via decision.	Gary Herman: Thankfully, this fight was put onto the main show. The match-up has the potential to be fight of the night. Griffin always puts on a great show, and Dos Anjos looked fantastic before being caught by a devastating uppercut against Jeremy Stephens. The fight will likely go the distance, but there will be plenty of close calls on both sides. In the end, Griffin’s wrestling will be too much for Dos Anjos. Griffin wins by unanimous decision.

Lightweight Bout:
	JUNIE BROWNING	vs.	COLE MILLER
	"The Lunatic"	Nickname	"Magrinho"
	23	Age	24
	5-9	Height	6-1
	3-0-0 (1-0-0 UFC)	Record	14-3-0 (3-1-0 UFC)
	1 (0 UFC)	KO/TKOs	3 (1 UFC)
	2 (1 UFC)	Submissions	9 (1 UFC)
	3 wins	Streak	1 win
	def. Dave Kaplan TUF 8 Finale 12/13/2008	Last Fight	def. Jorge Gurgel UFC 86 7/5/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: This one ought to be fun. For as much as Browning came across as a brawler on TUF 8, he did show marked improvement in submissions against Dave Kaplan in December. But Cole Miller is a gigantic step up in competition from Kaplan, particularly in submissions. Browning may have to resort back to his striking if he wants to win this, and Jeremy Stephens is the only guy to beat Miller with strikes. Is Browning capable of doing it? Maybe someday, but not yet. Miller wins, submission, Round 1.	Todd Martin: Did you miss Junie Browning? No, me neither. But he’s back, and this is the most important fight of his career. He talks a big game, but it’s time to see if he can hang on the big stage against a very solid opponent. My bet is that he can’t hang with well-rounded Cole Miller who will likely be better than him both standing and on the ground.	Ben Fowlkes: We’ve only seen a brief glimpse of Junie Browning since he stopped drinking and raising hell and started training with a real group of professionals, but that glimpse was fairly impressive. If you’re thinking he’s going to come into this fight out of shape, you can probably forget that. His biggest problem will be Miller’s range and his submissions, but I think he’s prepared for it. I think Browning is the more explosive fighter overall, and I think he takes this one via late TKO.	Gary Herman: We all saw what we saw on The Ultimate Fighter with Browning so there’s no point rehashing. Upon leaving the show, Browning’s done the right thing and that’s move to Las Vegas to train at Xtreme Couture. He looked much improved in his win against David Kaplan, but I don’t think Kaplan has any place near a UFC cage. His opponent, Miller, is a talented fighter that is very good at submissions. He has a 3-1 UFC record, and Miller will likely improve to 4-1. Miller is much better than Browning at this point in their careers. Browning’s peak is likely a few years down the road. Miller wins by second round submission.

Lightweight Bout:
	GLEISON TIBAU	vs.	JEREMY STEPHENS
	n/a	Nickname	"Lil' Heathen"
	25	Age	22
	5-10	Height	5-9
	16-6-0 (4-3-0 UFC)	Record	14-4-0 (3-3-0 UFC)
	2 (0 UFC)	KO/TKOs	10 (2 UFC)
	8 (2 UFC)	Submissions	2 (0 UFC)
	1 win	Streak	1 loss
	def. Rich Clementi Fight Night 17 2/7/2009	Last Fight	lost to Joe Lauzon Fight Night 17 2/7/2009

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: There shouldn't be many surprises in this fight. Stephens will look to steamroll Tibau with strikes, and get the KO win. Tibau will try to counter Stephens' forward motion and eventually grapple his way to a submission victory. So who is more likely to succeed? Well, Stephens has lost four fights in his career, three by tapout and one by decision. Tibau's not immune to KOs, but it's been a few years since it has happened. Tibau should win via submission, Round 3.	Todd Martin: This is an interesting match. You’ve got a gritty battler who will come right at you in Stephens against a crafty submission expert who will look to capitalize on your mistakes in Tibau. It also seems like a crossroads fight where both men would greatly benefit from the win. My natural inclination is to favor the man with the better ground game, so I’m going with Tibau.	Ben Fowlkes: Give both these guys points for staying active. Neither one has had much time off, which either means they’re still sharp and in shape or else they’re banged up and worn down. My money’s on the former, and as long as they both come into the fight in relatively the same condition I think Tibau has every advantage. Stephens is a tough kid who’s learning fast, but Tibau is too far ahead of him in the submissions game right now, and that’s what will make the difference.	Gary Herman: As a lightweight, Stephens fights like a heavyweight. He’s always looking to connect with the big knockout punch. That has made him a very one-dimensional fighter albeit an exciting one. Tibau is the exact opposite. He’s looking to grind out a win and try for a few submissions along the way. Tibau’s style will frustrate Stephens. Unless Stephens connects with one of his wild punches, he’s destined for a loss here. Tibau wins the fight by unanimous decision.

Middleweight Bout:
	RICARDO ALMEIDA	vs.	MATT HORWICH
	"Big Dog"	Nickname	"Suave"
	32	Age	30
	6-0	Height	6-2
	9-3-0 (2-3-0 UFC)	Record	22-11-1 (0-1-0 UFC)
	0	KO/TKOs	2
	4 (2 UFC)	Submissions	18
	1 loss	Streak	1 loss
	lost to Patrick Cote UFC 86 7/5/2008	Last Fight	lost to Dan Miller UFC 90 10/25/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Unless Horwich can pull another freaky knockout from his bag of tricks, he's in for a bad night vs. Almeida. While Horwich has a wealth of experience and strong submissions, Almeida should outclass him relatively easily on the ground. That leaves standup as Horwich's ace in the hole, but I just don't believe he'll knock out Almeida. Almeida takes it via submission in Round 2.	Todd Martin: This is a bad matchup for Horwich. He’s an experienced competitor who has competed against quality opposition throughout his career, but his calling card has always been his ground game. I can’t see him winning a ground battle with Almeida, which doesn’t speak highly for his chances in this fight. Almeida is the pick.	Ben Fowlkes: This is a difficult match-up for Horwich, who desperately needs a win in his second UFC outing. His specialty is submissions, but that’s the one area where Almeida is strongest. Horwich has to put him on the defensive and find something else with which to threaten him if he hopes to pull this one out. I don’t see it happening. Almeida via submission.	Gary Herman: Almeida against Horwich should not take very long. Even though Almeida lost to Patrick Cote, he’s much better than Horwich. Outside of his surprising KO win against Benji Radach, Horwich has won most of his fights by either decision or submission. That’s the wrong route against Almeida. Even though Almeida also has won a lot of his fights by decision, he’s much more skilled on the ground than Horwich. I’m not sure how Horwich makes it out of the first round. Almeida wins by first round submission.

Welterweight Bout:
	BROCK LARSON	vs.	JESSE SANDERS
	n/a	Nickname	"Iron Jaw"
	31	Age	28
	5-11	Height	6-0
	24-2-0 (1-1-0 UFC)	Record	20-4-0 (UFC debut)
	5 (0 UFC)	KO/TKOs	6
	16 (0 UFC)	Submissions	12
	3 wins	Streak	6 wins
	def. Carlo Prater WEC 35 8/3/2008	Last Fight	def. John Schwering Extreme Challenge 108 10/4/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: The debuting Sanders has fought 24 times in three years, amassing an impressive record against largely anonymous opponents. His four losses (also to relatively unknown fighters) were all via submission. In contrast, Brock Larson was in line for a WEC welterweight title shot before the UFC welcomed him back along with other WEC 170-pounders. Larson is tough, well-trained, very experienced, and great with submissions. Larson will welcome Sanders to the UFC by tapping him out in Round 1.	Todd Martin: I think Larson has the potential to make waves in the UFC at 170 pounds. He’s a strong wrestler with a dangerous ground game, and the division isn’t as deep as others in the UFC. It’s hard to know how much he’ll be tested in this fight, because Sanders has built his career beating weak opposition in a hurry on small time shows. He isn’t likely to beat Larson in a hurry, and over time Larson will likely prove too much.	Ben Fowlkes: Larson deserves to be the heavy favorite in this one. Sanders has a good record, but not against the same caliber of opponents that Larson has been facing. He seems more like a fighter who looks good on paper that the UFC has brought in to help ease Larson’s re-entry into the Octagon. Larson shouldn’t have any problems putting him away.	Gary Herman: After signing a contract to receive a WEC welterweight title shot against Condit, Larson saw the opportunity go away due to injury. Then, the WEC disbanded the division. However, the good news for Larson is that Zuffa quickly transferred his contract over to the UFC, and his first fight should be an easy one. Sanders has been a very busy fighter as he’s had 24 fights in a little over three years. He’s won 20 of those fights, but they were against mostly lower tier competition. This is a big step up for Sanders – one that he’s not ready for. Larson wins the fight by first round submission.

Middleweight Bout:
	TIM CREDEUR	vs.	NICK CATONE
	"Crazy"	Nickname	n/a
	31	Age	27
	6-3	Height	6-0
	11-2-0 (2-0-0 UFC)	Record	6-0-0 (1-0-0 UFC)
	4 (2 UFC)	KO/TKOs	3 (0 UFC)
	7 (0 UFC)	Submissions	2 (1 UFC)
	5 wins	Streak	6 wins
	def. Nate Loughran Fight for the Troops 12/10/2008	Last Fight	def. Derek Downey Fight Night 17 2/7/2009

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Credeur and Catone are both on significant winning streaks, but I think the momentum is on the side of the undefeated Catone here. If it goes to the ground, Credeur has a much better chance of winning. But if they stand and trade, I think it's a matter of time before Catone finds the mark and puts Credeur to sleep. Credeur's two losses were both due to strikes, and I think Catone will try and make it three. Catone via TKO, third round.	Todd Martin: Credeur is one of the few UFC caliber fighters to come out of the seventh season of the Ultimate Fighter. Catone should provide him with a formidable challenge, but I think Credeur’s submission game will be the difference in a Credeur win.	Ben Fowlkes: Considering the great potential for fireworks in this fight, I’m a little surprised to see it so far down on the card. Credeur looked like a buzzsaw in his last fight and Catone is a minor prospect at 7-0. There’s no reason to think these two won’t turn in an exciting performance. In the end, however, I think Credeur’s experience and overall ability in every aspect of the sport will make the difference. Credeur by TKO.	Gary Herman: Catone is stepping back into the cage less than two months after his last fight (a submission victory over Derek Downey). Fortunately for Catone, he is taking on Credeur. Credeur won a very uninspiring fight over Nate Loughran, but he showed little in the fight as Loughran looked like he wanted out as soon as possible. Catone is undefeated and will stay that way. Catone wins by first round TKO.

Middleweight Bout:
	JORGE RIVERA	vs.	NISSEN OSTERNECK
	"El Conquistador"	Nickname	n/a
	37	Age	28
	6-1	Height	6-2
	15-7-0 (4-5-0 UFC)	Record	5-1-0 (UFC debut)
	10 (2 UFC)	KO/TKOs	1
	2 (0 UFC)	Submissions	4
	1 loss	Streak	1 loss
	lost to Martin Kampmann UFC 85 6/7/2008	Last Fight	lost to Jake Rosholt WEC 36 11/5/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Rivera is somewhat unpredictable in the sense that he's inconsistent. Sometimes he looks great, and other times -- usually without a major difference in the level of his competition -- he just doesn't bring it. Osterneck is best known for teeing off on Jake Rosholt with his fists last year in the WEC, once it became apparent that Rosholt wasn't interested in dodging or blocking his punches. Typically though, Osterneck is probably better off fighting on the ground. I'm betting on a motivated Osterneck finding a way to surprise the aging Rivera and win via submission.	Todd Martin: Osterneck gave Jake Rosholt a lot of trouble in the standup game in their recent fight, but Rosholt isn’t exactly a world class kickboxer. Rivera is a tough veteran who always comes ready for a war, and Osterneck may need to take this fight to the ground. I see Rivera defending the takedown and overwhelming Osterneck with strikes.	Ben Fowlkes: If Rivera isn’t feeling like this might be a do-or-die fight for him, he hasn’t been paying attention. He’s lost two of his last three and the UFC’s middleweight division has no shortage of mid-level guys, so if he can’t win this there’s no reason for them to keep him around. Osterneck has a lot of potential, but still lacks experience. I think Rivera can edge him out based on that alone.	Gary Herman: Osterneck is one of the top prospects in the middleweight division. His last fight was a spirited loss to another top prospect, Jake Rosholt, in the WEC. Osterneck has good submissions and underrated power. He will certainly get a good test of exactly where he is when he takes on Rivera. Rivera has been up and down in his career. He wins some of the fights he’s supposed to lose (Kendall Grove and Dennis Hallman) and then loses some of the fights he’s supposed to win (Terry Martin and Chris Leben). One thing is guaranteed in every Rivera fight, and that is Rivera will come out swinging. He’s got good power and is always looking for the knockout. He won’t get one here though. Osterneck continues his ascension up the UFC ranks with a second round submission.

Middleweight Bout:
	ROB KIMMONS	vs.	JOE VEDEPO
	"The Rosedale Reaper"	Nickname	"The Doctor"
	28	Age	26
	5-10	Height	6-0
	21-4-0 (1-2-0 UFC)	Record	7-2-0 (0-1-0 UFC)
	5 (0 UFC)	KO/TKOs	3
	13 (1 UFC)	Submissions	3
	1 loss	Streak	1 loss
	lost to Dan Miller Fight Night 15 9/17/2008	Last Fight	lost to Alessio Sakara Fight Night 15 9/17/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Kimmons has a huge experience advantage. There's also the fact that Vedepo's wins are all against lesser-known competition and he prefers to win with his fists. The only person to beat Kimmons that way was Joe Riggs in 2005, and until he shows otherwise, I'm going to assume Vedepo's not at that level. Kimmons wins via submission, Round 1.	Todd Martin: Vedepo lost his UFC debut against Alessio Sakara, and that’s usually a pretty good barometer for whether you belong in the UFC. He gets another shot here in a battle of well-rounded fighters who are most comfortable in the ground game. Kimmons has demonstrated more against quality opposition, so I see him scoring the win.	Ben Fowlkes: Vedepo hasn’t been heard from since his highlight reel KO loss to Alessio Sakara back in September, and while he gets an easier assignment this time it isn’t by much. Kimmons is an experienced fighter still looking for a win over a name opponent. He has a good chance to submit Vedepo, and that’s how I see it ending.	Gary Herman: I still love the highlight of the ring announcer accidentally reading Kimmons’ name after Marvin Eastman dominated him for 25 minutes on a smaller show. If you haven’t seen, it is definitely worth looking up. Nevertheless, Kimmons is a below average UFC fighter at best. He’s had some decent submission victories on a smaller scale but no truly notable wins. For Vedepo, he’s been fighting for three years but doesn’t boast any significant wins either. Can both of these guys lose? Probably not – so I’ll take Kimmons’ experience as the tiebreaker. Kimmons wins the fight by third round submission.

Middleweight Bout:
	TIM McKENZIE	vs.	AARON SIMPSON
	"Wrecking Machine"	Nickname	"A-Train"
	26	Age	34
	6-0	Height	6-0
	12-5-0 (UFC debut)	Record	4-0-0 (UFC debut)
	7	KO/TKOs	4
	4	Submissions	0
	1 win	Streak	4 wins
	def. Jeremy Lang WEC 34 6/1/2008	Last Fight	def. David Avellan WEC 36 11/5/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: A lot has been said about the wrestling credentials of Ryan Bader, C.B. Dollaway and Cain Velasquez. Well, Aaron Simpson used to be one of their coaches at Arizona State. So he's got the wrestling, plus the hands -- with all four of his wins coming via KO -- to hang with a guy like McKenzie, who has tons more MMA experience. McKenzie will be a great test, but look for Simpson to come out of this one with a Round 2 TKO victory.	Todd Martin: These are two of the lesser stars moving from WEC to UFC. McKenzie has the greater experience in mixed martial arts, but Simpson has powerful fists and a strong wrestling game. I see Simpson remaining undefeated here.	Ben Fowlkes: Despite McKenzie’s awesome Mohawk, it’s hard for me to pick a guy who was been beaten soundly by just about every good ground fighter he’s faced. It gets even harder when he’s going up against a two-time All-American wrestler like Aaron Simpson. I think Simpson gets this to the mat right away and pounds McKenzie out for an early TKO victory.	Gary Herman: McKenzie against Simpson is a battle of former WEC fighters making their debuts in the UFC. McKenzie is a journeyman with a decent all around game but nothing that overly stands out as excellent. On the other hand, Simpson has a chance to become very good fighter. He’s undefeated in four fights – all ending in knockout. Only one fighter even made the third round. The fight is set to make sure Simpson looks good. He will. Simpson stays undefeated with the first round TKO.

Middleweight Bout:
	STEVE STEINBEISS	vs.	RYAN JENSEN
	"The Hooligan"	Nickname	n/a
	27	Age	31
	6-3	Height	6-1
	4-2-0 (0-1-0 UFC)	Record	13-5-0 (0-3-0 UFC)
	3	KO/TKOs	5
	1	Submissions	8
	1 loss	Streak	1 loss
	lost to Carmelo Marrero WEC 36 11/5/2008	Last Fight	lost to Wilson Gouveia Fight Night 15 9/17/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: It's not often that you can look at a guy with an 0-3 record in the UFC and say that all three losses are excusable. But in Ryan Jensen's case, he lost to Wilson Gouveia, Demian Maia and Thales Leites. Those are some tough opponents. If any 0-3 UFC fighter deserves another shot to secure a win, it's Jensen. Steinbeiss looked pretty good in losing a close decision to Carmelo Marrero at WEC 36, but I think this is the fight where Jensen finally turns his fortunes around. Jensen via submission, Round 3.	Todd Martin: This is Ryan Jensen’s fourth UFC fight, but the tough luck fighter is still searching for his first UFC win. Luckily for Jensen, he has shown flashes of his ability already matched against three quality UFC opponents, and Steinbeiss is a decided step down in competition. Jensen should pick up his first UFC W.	Ben Fowlkes: Jensen is a better fighter than you’d think just from looking at his record. He was giving Wilson Gouveia the business before getting sloppy and giving up the armbar, so I have high hopes for his performance against Steinbeiss, who’s still relatively inexperienced in MMA. Jensen via submission.	Gary Herman: Steinbeiss is likely in the UFC due to his association with Condit, Bader and CB Dalloway as they all train at Arizona Combat Sports. Besides that, there is not too much to Steinbeiss’s credentials. He’s a decent stand-up fighter who is tough to finish. Jensen’s had a bunch of big fights (Thales Leites, Demian Maia, Joey Villasenor, and Wilson Gouveia), but they’ve all ended in losses. Still, Jensen should have enough to get by the unproven Steinbeiss. Jensen wins by second round TKO.

About the writers:
Denny Burkholder is the MMA and boxing producer and staff writer for CBSSports.com.
Sam Caplan is an MMA contributor for CBSSports.com and the publisher of FiveOuncesOfPain.com.
Todd Martin has covered mixed martial arts for the Los Angeles Times, Wrestling Observer, SI.com and CBSSports.com.
Ben Fowlkes is an MMA contributor for SI.com, CagePotato.com and CBSSports.com.
Gary Herman is an MMA contributor for CBSSports.com and other publications.