UFC on Versus 5 : Hardy vs Lytle preview.

For the convinence of those who cannot afford to fork over 60 dollars for a pay per view card,  Dana White invented the UFC on Versus series.  Well actually, I think it had more to do with the UFC acquiring (and then subsequently folding) the WEC, but regardless....The first UFC event ever held in the wonderful state of Wisconsin, home of Miller Beer and Cracker Barrel Cheese, comes to us from the Bradley Center in Milwaukee, airing Sunday evening at 9 pm on Versus (and Sportsnet in Canada).  I've struggled recently in my picks, so let's up we can right the ship this time :

Dan Hardy vs Chris Lytle -  The main event features two out and out sluggers in American Chris Lytle and incumbent Brit Dan Hardy.  Hardy is riding a 3 fight losing streak, and hasn't fought since losing to Anthony Johnson in March by unanimous decision, while Lytle is fighting for the first time since losing to late replacement Brian Ebersole (who replaced Carlos Condit) in the UFC's foray into Australia last January at UFC 127.
Lytle and Hardy are "Fight of the Night" Candidates.  Expect a flurry of punches early on, with whomever getting tagged on the chin right away being the aggressor.  While I do expect Lytle to have "The Outlaw" in trouble early,  Hardy will survive the storm only to fall for the superior wrestling of "Lights Out".
The Pick : Lytle by decision.
Ben Henderson vs Jim Miller -  The co-main event of the evening features a pair of Americans, UFC mainstay Jim Miller vs former WEC lightweight kingpin "Bend it like" Ben Henderson.  Henderson is fighting for the first time since dispatching of Marc Bocek at UFC 129 in Toronto, while Miller is fighting for the first time since flooring Iranian (and another WEC alum) Kamal Shalrous in March.
Miller's Jiu-Jitsu is exactly the kind of problem that presents itself to an opponent.  However, Henderson is no ordinary opponent, having weathered Donald Cerrone's BJJ with a superior performance in WEC.  I expect the same thing to happen in this one,  with Henderson getting better of the standup and ultimately having his hand raised.
The Pick : Henderson by decision.
Those are my picks.  I know I only pick 2 fights for UFC lives, but that's because these cards are usually smaller in scale.  Dan Hardy would never main event a pay per view in my estimation, but...then again, Tito just main evented, and he hadn't won in 5 years prior!
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Until next time, fight fans!