Lawler vs Shields Predictions

Andrei Arlovski vs. Brett Rogers



Former UFC heavyweight champion Andrei Arlovski faces off with Team Bison heavyweight slugger Brett Rogers. The winner of this fight will more than likely get a chance to lock horns with Strikeforce heavyweight champion Alistair Overeem. Don’t expect much ground work out of these two, as they will both be looking to put the other man to sleep.



Arlovski has the advantage on the feet when it comes to pure striking technique and is the faster of the two. For Rogers, he will have the strength and power advantage over the smaller Arlovski. Although unlikely, if the fight were to go to the ground, Arlovski would have the edge with his submission grappling background based in Sambo.



Arlovski has all the tangibles to win the fight and he should win the fight, but his chin will be the question mark. He was winning the fight with Fedor Emelianenko up until his chin failed him and what is there to say that it won’t happen again. Rogers has tons of power in his punches and could very well put Arlovski out. Arlovski needs to stay on the outside and use his speed to get in and out, not staying on the inside where Rogers will have his best chance to end the fight.



Nick Diaz vs. Scott Smith



Brash Cesar Gracie trained fighter Nick Diaz faces off with heavy-handed slugger Scott Smith. Both are coming off impressive stoppages in their last fights on the same night. Diaz finished Frank Shamrock, while Smith knocked out Benji Radach. Smith will be a good test for Diaz at middleweight, while Smith will face a quality ground fighter for the first time in ages.



Diaz will have the advantage on the feet when it comes to speed and technique, which helps to make up for the lack of power in his strikes. Smith has tremendous power in his hands. He proved it when he came back to stop Benji Radach. So he’ll look to get in range to land one of his big shots. Obviously, if the fight goes to the ground then Diaz will have the advantage with his excellent jiu-jitsu pedigree.



Diaz has stated his intention to stay at middleweight and this fight should be a good way to test his potential in the weight class. Smith on the other hand is looking to work his way up to a title shot sometime in the near future and another impressive knockout will do a lot to help him. He will need to turn the fight into a brawl and avoid getting taken down. Diaz will look to turn the fight into a technical one as that favors him, whether it be on the feet or the ground.