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Here's UFC 98 fight card and predictions from NewsDay:

Rashad Evans vs. Lyoto Machida: UFC light heavyweight championship

Tough call here. Both are undefeated and have looked dominant in recent fights. Machida (14-0) is a 2-1 favorite and that just doesn't look right. So we're taking the 18-0-1 Evans to successfully defend his title.

The prediction: Evans by knockout in the 3rd round.


Matt Hughes vs. Matt Serra

Serra (16-5) has been talking plenty of trash in the build up to this welterweight grudge match. Hughes (43-7) has kept up his end of the bargain, and it's refreshing to see two fighters genuinely dislike each other and speak freely about it. Ordinarily, I'd favor the guy who talks less, just on principle. But Serra is an Italian guy from Long Island and since I too am an Italian guy from Long Island, I have to stick with my roots. P.S. Hughes hasn't fought in a year and hasn't won a fight in more than two years. Same goes for Serra.

The prediction: Serra by submission in third round.
Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam

Foupa-Pokam (20-10) caught a beating from middleweight Denis Kang a month ago at UFC 97, and I'm guessing he's not fully ready to fight again. At least not at a high-enough level to win.

The prediction: McFedries (7-5) by TKO in the second round.


Dan Miller vs. Chael Sonnen

Welterweight Sonnen (23-10-1) has four losses in the UFC, all by submission. Miller (11-1) is 3-0 in the UFC, with two wins by submission. Jiu-jitsu and wrestling are two of Miller's strengths and Sonnen seems susceptible to getting submitted.

The prediction: Miller by submission in 1st round.


Sean Sherk vs. Frankie Edgar

Edgar (9-1) has gone the distance in his last three fights, and I'll say the streak continues against lightweight Sherk (37-3-1).

The prediction: Edgar by unanimous decision.


Brock Larson vs. Chris Wilson

Larson (26-2), a former WEC force at welterweight, wants to attack Wilson (13-6). I'll say he does just that, along with whatever else he wants to do in the Octagon.

The prediction: Larson by knockout in the first round.


Pat Barry vs. Tim Hague

Hague (9-1) makes his UFC debut. That's an instant bet-against, especially when it's a fight that "May not be broadcast." Barry is a big hitter who won with ease at UFC 92.

The prediction: Barry by TKO in second round.


Phillipe Nover vs. Kyle Bradley

Nover(6-1-1) seems to be more focused and determined now that he's not headlining the event, as he did in December with the "TUF" 8 finale. Can Nover channel some of the Filipino energy Manny Pacquiao injected Las Vegas with a few weeks ago? Bradley (13-6) appears to be the bigger lightweight here, but that might not be enough.

The prediction: Nover wins by decision.


Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Andre Gusmao

I picked against "The Polish Experiment" in UFC 97 because I didn't want to have to remember how to spell "Soszynski" on deadline. Well, he submitted Brian Stann in the first round, and the short turnaround between fights here shouldn't matter since Soszynski didn't expend too much energy or take too much punishment. Could Gusmao (5-1) suffer the same fate?

The prediction: Yep. Soszynski wins via submission in the 2nd round.


Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Brandon Wolff

Last time we saw Yoshida (10-3), he was busying getting his face flattened by Josh Koscheck at UFC Fight for the Troops. Of course, Wolff (7-3) also got TKO'd that night, so this is basically the loser's bracket match.

The prediction: Wolff via decision.

Dave Kaplan vs. George Roop

Kaplan (3-2) lost to Junie Browning in The Ultimate Fighter finale. I don't even care what skills Roop (8-5) has or doesn't have, I'm picking him to win this fight. I won't even read his bio until after he wins.

The prediction: Roop wins by submission in first round.