<B>By MATT MOLGAARD<BR>
MMANEWS.COM Staff Writer</B><BR><BR>
The Consol Energy Center will play host to the upcoming UFC Live 4 this Sunday, as the promotion heads for Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Headlining the event will be the welterweight debut of longtime middleweight contender Nate ?The Great? Marquardt, who will lock horns with red-hot prospect Rick Story.<BR><BR>
If the main event itself isn?t compelling, you may find interest in a pair of heavyweight bouts that will help outline the upper echelon and legitimate prospects of the division. First up, fans will be treated to a collision between rising Roufusport product, Matt Mitrione, who meets the unpredictable Christian Morecraft. In the evening?s co-headlining bout Cheick Kongo will tangle with fellow striker Pat Barry for a chance to make a solid advancement in the heavyweight ranks.<BR><BR>
Check out a breakdown of the full main card below:<BR><BR>
<B>Matt Mitrione vs. Christian Morecraft:</B><BR><BR>
This here is a battle to earn genuine respect amongst the promotions fellow big men. Both men are big, powerful strikers, and both show up to finish fights, often putting themselves at risk in search of the big stoppage victory. Mitrione is the technically superior of the two men, and he?s also the more athletic of the two. That said, he?s a little more cautious and methodical in his approach than Morecraft, which could spell doom for the former TUF contestant.<BR><BR>
If Morecraft can force Mitrione into some fast-paced early exchanges, he could land a big fight finishing shot, or take this fight to the ground where he likely holds a slight edge in positional control as well as jiu-jitsu.<BR><BR>
Having noted Morecraft?s positive attributes, I don?t favor him in this encounter. Mitrione improves with each trip to the octagon, and I expect to see that progression continue forth Sunday night. Matt will keep his distance and utilize fast, powerful straight punches to catch the lumbering Morecraft coming in.<BR><BR>
Many critics are predicting a long drawn out battle between these two, but I see a conclusion in the first frame. Matt Mitrione by technical knockout midway through round one.<BR><BR><!--more-break-->
<B>Matt Brown vs. John Howard:</B><BR><BR>
There are a handful of fights on this card that look like potential ?fight of the night? candidates. This one however, may prove to be the true barn burner of the night.<BR><BR>
Most analysts are eyeing Howard as the more dangerous man in this contest, and while I?ll admit he?s got legitimate knockout power, I?m not completely convinced he?s the superior fighter. Matt Brown shows up confident 100 percent of the time, and he aims to finish from the opening bell. Thus far, ?The Immortal?s? poison appears to be his jiu-jitsu defense, and Howard isn?t exactly known as a submission machine.<BR><BR>
I expect to see both of these men land some massive shots, and both will likely stare a finish in the face more than once. Howard holds a big edge in the wrestling department, but Brown has a dangerous guard.<BR><BR>
After numerous near finishes I?m picking Matt Brown to shock fans with a third round triangle choke victory to ensure another appearance inside the octagon.<BR><BR>
<B>Cheick Kongo vs. Patrick Barry:</B><BR><BR>
Should these two choose to stand and trade, fight fans are in for a highlight reel finish without a doubt. Who lands the ?lights out? strike is questionable, but both of these men possess the power and technical refinement to render top flight opposition unconscious.<BR><BR>
All that mumbo jumbo said, this one will not remain on the feet long.<BR><BR>
Cheick Kongo has a natural knack for wrestling, and although he doesn?t bring a very impressive pedigree to the table, he?s developed some pretty good takedowns; his ground and pound has also become absolutely vicious over the last five years. Coupled with a significant size advantage, these are all the tools Kongo will need to exit the cage with his ninth UFC victory.<BR><BR>
The end comes after a barrage of brutal punches from the top position open up a gnarly gash on the face of Barry, who the ref kindly saves late in round two.<BR><BR><!--more-break-->
<B>Nate Marquardt vs. Rick Story:</B><BR><BR>
Predicting the outcome of this fight feels near impossible; there are just too many variables to form a logical analysis of the fight.<BR><BR>
The facts of the matter are simple: Marquardt has been an elite competitor at 185 pounds for years, while Rick Story is riding a wave of momentum at welterweight that have him positioned on the verge of a title bid. But, we?ve never seen Nate compete at 170 pounds, we have no idea how he?ll respond to the weight cut, and the biggest hole in his game happens to be Story?s greatest strength: wrestling.<BR><BR>
If Marquardt handles the cut well, he?ll likely appear the crisper fighter, as his striking is superior to Story?s, as is his submission game. He holds a massive edge in experience and a superior fight IQ, but again, the divisional drop could potentially negate those advantages.<BR><BR>
My brain tells me Nate makes the cut with relative ease, and isn?t too depleted come fight time. My gut tells me Story seizes another massive opportunity, and leapfrogs the majority of the division with a decision win over the Greg Jackson product.<BR><BR>
This one is a tough, tough call for me, but I?m going with my gut here; Story grinds out a three round decision victory that looks similar to his bout with Thiago Alves. The win aligns him for a shot at the winner of the upcoming Georges St. Pierre vs. Nick Diaz championship fight.<BR><BR>
Leave your feedback on my predictions/analysis and the UFC Live 4 event in general by posting a comment directly below! You can also chat about the card in the <A HREF="http://www.mmanews.com/forums" target="_Blank"><B>MMANEWS.COM Forums</B></A> and/or the <A HREF="http://www.facebook.com/mmanewsdotcom" target="_Blank"><B>MMANEWS.COM Facebook</B></A>. If that wasn't enough, MMANEWS.COM is now on Twitter as well <A HREF="http://twitter.com/mmanewsdotcom" target="_Blank"><B>@mmanewsdotcom</B></A>.<BR><BR>
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Andre Amade Dean Amasinger Jimmy Ambriz Matt Andersen