UFC 148 Predictions with write-ups

Cung Le vs.   Patrick Cote  
Main Card | Middleweight | 185 lbs (83.9 kg)

Cote (5’11) 75” reach | 18-7-0

Cote is a French-Canadian fighter who got started in MMA through the Canadian Army. He was able to take up boxing, kickboxing and wrestling while serving in the military. Cote left the army in 2005 to begin training full time. Cote trains at a number of gyms, his BJJ is handled by Fabio Holanda at BTT Canada, he trains with friend and fellow French-Canadian George St. Pierre at Tri-Star gym in Montreal as well as honing his Muay -Thai with Mark DellaGrotte at Sityodtong in Boston.  Cote is known for having a kitchen sink for a chin, knockout power in his hands and above average cage movement and Fight IQ. Cote has never been stopped with strikes (unless you count his knee blowing out as a TKO), has heart for days and is pretty good at pushing the pace.

Le (5’10) 69’’ reach | 7 – 2

Le was born in Saigon, South Vietnam. At age 3, Le and his mother were forced out of Vietnam by helicopter. In America Le encountered racial bullying which inspired him to take up Taekwondo at the age of 10. At age 14 Le picked up wrestling and earned All-American Honors in his junior year. He would then win a California Junior College State Championship in 1990 while wrestling for West Valley College in Saratoga, CA.  Later on in life Le would become a multiple time undefeated Sanshou (kick boxing with trips, throws, take-downs) champion (1994, 1995, and 1996). Le would then try his hand at K-1 kickboxing, going 3 – 0 with 1 knockout.  Cung would then make the jump to MMA going undefeated in his first 6 fights, capping the run off with a 3^rd round TKO of MMA legend Frank Shamrock (this was towards the end of Frank’s legendary career to put it into perspective) to win the Strikforce Middleweight championship. At 40’s years old there are concerns about Cung’s gas tank and chin but he also has some of the best kicks, footwork, balance and timing in MMA. In an era where we are seeing more football players and even NHL enforcers turning to professional MMA it’s a breath of fresh air to watch a true Martial Artist perform inside the cage.

Prediction - Cung Le by collar bone breaking axe kick in the second. Wishful thinking much? Cote could potentially land often and hard enough to either stop Le or win a decision, the fan in me wants to see Le go all crazy Kung-Fu for one last Harrah before possibly leaving the sport to get his $$$$ on in Hollywood.