Originally entering the UFC with an undefeated record, Keita Nakamura has stumbled out of the gate with two straight losses to both Drew Fickett and Brock Larson. Despite the two losses, Keita Nakamura is a multiple time Shooto Champion and has an excellent submission game the could ground Rob Emerson. Rob Emerson is known to most UFC fans as the fighter who fought Gray Maynard at UFC Ultimate Fighter 5 Finale to a Draw, after both fighters knocked each other out. Rob Emerson is a superb stand up fighter that has Chuck Liddell-esque takedown defenses.

My Prediction: Keita Nakamura

David Heath is on the silver lining right now in the UFC, with this fight determining his future as a UFC Light Heavyweight Division fighter. David Heath dominated his early UFC encounters with wins over Cory Walmsley and Victor Valimaki, but stumbled in his next two fights with losses to Lyoto Machida and Renato Sobral. David Heath has the skills to keep the fight either standing up or to keep his opponent on his back and on the ground. Tim Boetsch is making his UFC debut against David Heath, so the “Octagon Shock” could become a factor in this fight. Tim Boetsch has a solid wrestling background, but his striking defense is questionable and could be the determining factor in this fight.

My Prediction: David Heath

UFC Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback cast member Marvin Eastman is entering the UFC on a three fight UFC losing streak. Despite the losing streak, Marvin Eastman has fought some of the best UFC fighters like Vitor Belfort, Travis Lutter and Quinton Jackson. Marvin Eastman is a strong wrestler with vast MMA experience, but his lack of UFC victories doesn’t make him a threat in the UFC. Terry Martin has had an interesting run in the UFC fighting the likes of James Irvin, Jason Lambert, Jorge Rivera, Ivan Salaverry and Chris Leben. Terry Martin needs a victory at UFC 81 over Marvin Eastman or his current tenure in the UFC could come to an end. Terry Martin is known for his incredible punching power, which has knocked out both Jorge Rivera and Ivan Salaverry in under two minutes.

My Prediction: Terry Martin

Chris Lytle, like Marvin Eastman, is an alumni of UFC Ultimate Fighter 4: The Comeback and has just about as much UFC experience as most of the top name stars in the company. In his UFC career, Chris Lytle has fought the likes of Robbie Lawler, Tiki Ghosn, Ronald Jhun, Karo Parisyan, Joe Riggs, Matt Serra, Matt Hughes and Thiago Alves. Chris Lytle is a very powerful striker and has deceptive wrestling ability that even kept Matt Hughes at bay at UFC 68: The Uprising. Kyle Bradley is making his UFC debut, but has trained under UFC Ultrimate Fighter 4: The Comeback alumni Rich Clementi. Kyle Bradley does has the punching power to match that of Chris Lytle, but his lack of experience compared to Chris Lytle could be the determining factor.

My Prediction: Chris Lytle

The UFC Lightweight Division is currently stacked with big name fighters and a new UFC Lightweight Champion in BJ Penn. The division is currently wide open and the two fighters who could take advantage is Gleison Tibau and Tyson Griffin. Gleison Tibau is a definite rising star in the UFC with fights against Nick Diaz, Jason Dent, Jeff Cox and Terry Etim, amassing a UFC record of 3 - 1. Gleison Tibau is primarily a ground fighter who has vast Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu and submission experience. Despite a loss to Frankie Edgar at UFC 67: All Or Nothing, Tyson Griffin has become a top contender to the UFC Lightweight Title. Tyson Griffin is very Matt Hughes like in that he uses wrestling mixed wrestling ground and pound to destroy his opponents.

My Prediction: Tyson Griffin

Rob Yundt is a late replacement for Rob MacDonald, who was pulled out of the fight after coming down with a serious illness. Rob Yundt is an excellent striker with some good wrestling ability, but should the fact that he is a late replacement and hadn’t had proper training time hinder his chances of winning? Ricardo Almeida is a highly touted fighter who has gone 6 - 0 in recent MMA fights, but hasn’t fought a professional bout in nearly two years. Ricardo Almeida is an experienced UFC fighter, but hasn’t fought in the UFC since UFC 35: Throwdown, which is a 46 event absentee streak. Ricardo Almeida has a seriously good ground game that can easily destroy any opponent put in front of him.

My Prediction: Ricardo Almeida

After nearly a two year absence, Jeremy Horn is making his UFC return to face former UFC Middleweight Title top contender Nate Marquardt. Jeremy Horn has fought the best the UFC has to offer like Frank Shamrock, Chuck Liddell, Eugene Jackson, Elvis Sinosic and Trevor Prangley. Jeremy Horn is one of the most experienced MMA fighters in the world and he is a well rounded fighter who could win the fight standing up or on the ground. Nate Marquardt is coming off a loss to UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva at UFC 73: Stacked. Until the loss, Nate Marquardt defeated Ivan Salaverry, Joe Doerkson, Crafton Wallace and Dean Lister in subsequent fights. Like Jeremy Horn, Nate Marquardt is a well rounded fighter who can end a fight standing up or on the ground.

My Prediction: Nate Marquardt

Frank Mir is a former UFC Heavyweight Champion who only dropped the belt after being injured in a motorcycle accident. In his UFC career, Frank Mir has fought Pete Williams, Ian Freeman, Tank Abbot, Wes Sims, Tim Sylvia, Marcio Cruz, Brandon Vera and Antoni Hardonk. Frank Mir is an ever improving striker with some great submission skills, the same submission kills that broke the arm of Tim Sylvia. Brock Lesnar has taken four letters to all new heights, those four letters are H-Y-P-E and his debut and UFC career is just that…hype. Brock Lesnar is an accomplished professional/amateur wrestler and former NFL player with the Minnesota Vikings. Despite his athletic accomplishments, Brock Lesnar is not experienced enough to defeat a major UFC contender like Frank Mir.

My Prediction: Frank Mir

For those who attended or watched UFC 74: Respect, they all saw the final UFC Heavyweight Title defense of Randy Couture, who defeated Gabriel Gonzaga. Now with Randy Couture and the UFC at odds, the UFC has decided to create the UFC Interim Heavyweight Title. Tim Sylvia is a former two time UFC Heavyweight Champion, who has fought Wesley Correira, Ricco Rodriquez, Frank Mir, Andrei Arlovski, Jeff Monson, Randy Couture and Brandon Vera amongst others in the UFC. Tim Sylvia is a very dangerous striker with a seven inch height advantage heading into this fight against the former PRIDE FC star. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira can make history by winning the UFC Interim Heavyweight Title because he could become the first MMA fighter to hold both UFC and PRIDE FC titles. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has only had one fight so far in the UFC, a victory over Heath Herring at UFC 73: Stacked. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira has decent stand up skills, but it will be his ground game that can defeat the bigger Tim Sylvia.

My Prediction: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira