There will be no, “Hey, hey, hey! You see me ride out in the sunset on a color TV screen…” in your TV screen this Sunday. Well, at least that would be his entrance music in Japan, no artist’s royalty laws in Japan.

Whoever planned the upcoming Pride middleweight tournament seems to have left out half the competition. This could have easily been a sixteen-man tournament, and even then it would have been very difficult to pick from the heavy pool of talented fighters.
And just when I ask myself, where is Murilo Bustamante, or Murillo Ninja for that matter, it seems Ricardo Arona (who defeated Mark Kerr in this year's ADCC) is now officially out of the tournament (fractured heel), which opens the way perhaps for another Brazilian Top Team member, or maybe even a Gracie. Where is Renzo? As a matter of fact I would love to see a rematch between him and Dan Henderson. Their first encounter was rather odd. Even more, the hyper dynamic Murillo Ninja once again against Henderson. Their only encounter was super explosive and quite exciting. I think Royce could take all these bigger men, a good ole’ fashion tournament, which is incidentally split in to two events. Round one to be followed by Two and Three the next time in November.

Despite Alistair Overeem's KO knees (21 Knee KO’s), he will most likely try to take Liddell to the ground, or it’s a stand-up fight. Liddell's odds as a striker are very high, can the veteran kick boxer/ wrestler strike out his young and cocky opponent? Seems like Alistair “the young boy” of the tourney, has been dissing the “old man” from the UFC. Says that he “won’t be a problem.” He’s thinking ahead, that if he doesn’t win it, it’ll be his buddy Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. A lot of other people think Jackson will go all the way; he’s been unstoppable lately. Chuck Liddell on the other hand, is here to prove that, “the UFC has superior fighters than Pride.” Unless Murilo Bustamante (UFC dissenter) enters the tournament, Chuck and Sakuraba are the two oldest roosters in the pecking order.
Arona thinks that either Sakuraba or Yoshida will win it. Someone with superior grappling skills who can get Wanderlei Silva down and control him, such as himself.

You have to be a hell of a wrestler to outwrestle Mark Kerr. Wanderlei meanwhile assumes that he will get past Sakuraba, who put on about ten pounds to increase his power. Silva too is beefed up and already looking forward to encountering Quinton, who is temporarily without a partner, an opponent that is. This is the first time in Sakuraba’s MMA career that he requested his opponent, and like Sakuraba, I think this third time will be “the one.”

Now one of the big controversies is the issue of days between weigh-ins and the first round of fights. It was originally supposed to be only one day apart, but it seems someone is trying to sway the scales to two days between. This would make it easier for the big men, like Yoshida to put on two days worth of weight. He could come back 10 kilos/ 22 lbs heavier than the slighter Tamura, who is my pick for this particular encounter. Tamura is a contemporary of Sakuraba, who consistently out wrestled Saku (39) throughout their pro-wresling careers at UWF International. He sent his much larger “master Takada” for an “unintentional tumble/KO” on his retirement fight, and has never lost in MMA to another Japanese fighter in 7 encounters. The only thing that could upset the result here is an ugly rumor I heard. Tamura is going to KO Yoshida, but I shouldn’t curse him. He is at a disadvantage if they allow two days between weigh-ins and fights. He weighs 85 kilos, and needs at least 3 more months to gain even 6 more (limit is 93k).

My philosophy for this one is root for the smaller fighters and the old boys as well. Yoshida coming down to this weight class (if he makes the weigh ins) took a spot away from a true light-heavy weight.
“Women to the left of me, women to my right…” but no Dan Henderson. No Murillo Ninja, Renzo Gracie, Royce Gracie, Vitor Belfort, Randy Couture, Tito Ortiz, Pele., etc… “Hey Hey Hey. TNT Dynamite”

Okay, as I finish writing this little preview, the word is now official that Murilo Bustamante is officially in. I predict that the veteran will shock those who believe Quinton will take this tournament. It will be Bustamante by submission, while Quinton could pull of a good slam or power strikes.

"Watch me explode!"