Head to Head

UFC Fight Night 13 takes place on Wednesday, April 2 at the Broomfield Events Center in Broomfield, Colo., airing live on Spike TV from 7-10 p.m. ET. In the main event, Kenny Florian battles Joe Lauzon in a fight pitting two of the 155-pound division's top fighters against one another. The loaded card also includes Karo Parisyan vs. Thiago Alves, Houston Alexander vs. James Irvin and nine other bouts.

To help you get ready for UFC Fight Night 13, CBSSports.com gives you a complete look at each fight on the card, with analysis from our knowledgeable MMA writers. Take a look, and then discuss your own predictions on the message board at the bottom of this page.

Fighter photos courtesy of UFC.

Lightweight Bout:
	KENNY FLORIAN	vs.	JOE LAUZON
	"KenFlo"	Nickname	"J-Lau"
	31	Age	23
	5-10	Height	5-10
	8-3 (6-2 UFC)	Record	16-3 (3-0 UFC)
	2 (2 UFC)	KO/TKOs	3 (1 UFC)
	6 (4 UFC)	Submissions	13 (2 UFC)
	3 wins	Streak	6 wins
	def. Din Thomas Fight Night 11 9/19/2007	Last Fight	def. Jason Reinhardt UFC 78 11/17/2007

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Florian will be the biggest test of Lauzon's career thus far. Lauzon's recent wins have been impressive, but Florian is at the top of his game and looks better with every fight. On top of that, Florian seems to have a killer instinct now that he didn't have earlier in his UFC tenure. Lauzon has a bright future, but Florian is on too much of a roll. Florian by TKO.	Gregg Doyel: Joe Lauzon does everything well. His BJJ is solid even by the standards of the BJJ-savvy lightweight division. He had enough power to knock out Jens Pulver. The problem is, Kenny Florian does everything just a little bit better. Florian is among the two or three most gifted BJJ practitioners in his weight class, and he has a mean streak on his feet. Ken-Flo finishes J-Lau, one way or the other, in the third round.	Todd Martin: I get the feeling that one of these men is going to prove to be clearly better than the other. The only problem is I’m not sure who it will be. Both have similar skill sets, and have improved rapidly over the past couple years. I’m expecting a decisive win via KO or submission, and I think Florian is more likely to pull it off.	Ben Fowlkes: Joe Lauzon has improved steadily in the UFC, but he’s been fairly sheltered since leaving The Ultimate Fighter. That ends with Kenny Florian. Florian’s skill-set has grown by leaps and bounds and he now has so many weapons at his disposal that it’s tough to see where Lauzon might get an edge. Look for Florian to overwhelm him on the feet and on the ground en route to a decision victory.

Welterweight Bout:
	THIAGO ALVES	vs.	KARO PARISYAN
	"Pitbull"	Nickname	"The Heat"
	24	Age	25
	5-9	Height	5-10
	13-3 (6-2 UFC)	Record	18-4 (9-2 UFC)
	8 (5 UFC)	KO/TKOs	0
	1 (0 UFC)	Submissions	9 (2 UFC)
	4 wins	Streak	3 wins
	def. Chris Lytle UFC 78 11/17/2007	Last Fight	def. Ryo Chonan UFC 78 11/17/2007

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Talk about a couple of tough dudes. Alves has some of the most ferocious kicks in the UFC. He's a serious knockout threat, normally. But Parisyan has not proven to be especially vulnerable to knockouts. Parisyan has not finished an opponent in two years, and against Alves, it will be hard for him to break that trend. Parisyan will eat some nasty strikes in the process, but he'll eventually neutralize Alves' striking game and win via decision, again.	Gregg Doyel: Strange fight. Alves finishes people off. Parisyan grinds out decision victories. While I'd love to see this fight get finished early, which would mean an Alves victory, what I really see is Parisyan using his superior size and experience to win this fight in three rounds on the basis of the dreaded octagon control. When it's over, let's change Parisyan's nickname to "The Lukewarm."	Todd Martin: If Karo Parisyan doesn’t come in focused for this fight, it will be Thiago Alves’ coming out party. Alves is a top 10 caliber fighter, but like Memphis Bleek he’s one hit away. This is a perfect opportunity for Alves. Parisyan is looking for a welterweight title shot, and the Colorado air will test Parisyan’s sometimes suspect conditioning. But I think that Parisyan is too hungry for a title shot and too aware of Alves’ skills to come into this fight unprepared. A fully motivated Parisyan will score the win.	Ben Fowlkes: Besides being known as the only man to make judo throws a serious weapon in MMA, Parisyan also excels at making even exciting opponents look bad. Alves is the kind of aggressive fighter that puts on great shows, but Parisyan should be able to use that against him and grind away at him over the course of three rounds. Parisyan wins this by decision, and immediately starts complaining about not being offered a title shot.

Light Heavyweight Bout:
	MATT HAMILL	vs.	TIM BOETSCH
	"The Hammer"	Nickname	"The Barbarian"
	31	Age	27
	6-1	Height	6-1
	3-1 (3-1 UFC)	Record	7-1 (1-0 UFC)
	2 (2 UFC)	KO/TKOs	4 (1 UFC)
	0	Submissions	3
	1 loss	Streak	1 win
	lost to Michael Bisping UFC 75 9/8/2007	Last Fight	def. David Heath UFC 81 2/2/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: I don't think Hamill's standup is strong enough to compete with Boetsch, which means he'll once again need to rely on his superior wrestling if he wants to win. Hamill's other big advantage is in conditioning, which is the case with most top-level wrestlers. Boetsch is a major threat standing, and I think he'll catch Hamill for a TKO before the fight reaches the point where fatigue becomes a factor.	Gregg Doyel: I'm a big Hamill guy -- I still think he beat Michael Bisping -- but Boetsch destroyed a pretty good David Heath the last time out, a result I didn't see coming. Hamill might have a better future than Boetsch, and if they fight again in three years I might predict a different result. For this fight, I see Boetsch seeking out Hamill's face with one too many knees and ending it in the second round.	Todd Martin: I’m looking forward to this fight more than any other on the card. Tim Boetsch looks like he’s made for fighting, with a thick skull, powerful frame and tough disposition. Hamill is likewise a natural for the sport, with a strong wrestling base and powerful hands as well. This fight is going to answer questions about both men. I’ll take Hamill to use his wrestling to score the win.	Ben Fowlkes: As much as everyone loves to drone on and on about Hamill’s wrestling ability, you’d think they might want to stop and take a look at Boetsch’s. He lasted three rounds with IFL champ Vladimir Matyushenko, which is an accomplishment in itself, and then brutalized David Heath. Unless Hamill has developed a great standup game, he could have a tough night here. Boetsch by TKO.

Lightweight Bout:
	KURT PELLEGRINO	vs.	NATE DIAZ
	"Batman"	Nickname	n/a
	28	Age	22
	5-8	Height	6-0
	11-3 (4-2 UFC)	Record	8-2 (3-0 UFC)
	2 (1 UFC)	KO/TKOs	2 (0 UFC)
	8 (2 UFC)	Submissions	6 (3 UFC)
	1 win	Streak	3 wins
	def. Alberto Crane Fight Night 12 1/23/2008	Last Fight	def. Alvin Robinson Fight Night 12 1/23/2008

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: While Pellegrino is great with submissions, Diaz could be a notch or two better. Of the three losses on Pellegrino's record, two were via submission, although only one of those losses was within the past two years. For a UFC newcomer, Diaz has remarkable Octagon presence and looks downright comfortable while fighting. It will be a struggle, but look for Diaz to gut out another submission win here.	Gregg Doyel: This should be the headliner, because this will be the best fight of the night. Stylistically it's a lot like the Lauzon-Florian fight, with Diaz being Lauzon (very good at everything) and Pellegrino playing the part of Florian. If it's still possible to submit Diaz -- Hermes Franca did it, but that was several fights ago -- Pellegrino will find a way. Diaz doesn't have the experience, not yet anyway, to beat this guy.	Todd Martin: UFC sure isn’t giving Nate Diaz an easy path following his success on The Ultimate Fighter. Diaz had his jiu jitsu tested in his last fight with Alvin Robinson, and came through with an impressive win. Now his wrestling will be tested against a guy who also has an excellent submission game. I’m a big believer in Kurt Pellegrino, but I can’t bring myself to pick against Diaz again.	Ben Fowlkes: Diaz continues to surprise with his slick submissions game, and despite his relative inexperience he’s starting to look pretty savvy in the Octagon. His only gripe is that he doesn’t get enough chances to show it. Pellegrino has been around, but he’s never won the big fights. He has a ground game to rival Diaz’s, though he’s still got some holes in his overall arsenal. Diaz by submission, but it won’t come easy.

Light Heavyweight Bout:
	JAMES IRVIN	vs.	HOUSTON ALEXANDER
	"The Sandman"	Nickname	"The Assassin"
	29	Age	36
	6-2	Height	6-0
	13-4-1 (3-3 UFC)	Record	8-2-1 (2-1 UFC)
	9 (3 UFC)	KO/TKOs	5 (2 UFC)
	2 (0 UFC)	Submissions	1 (0 UFC)
	1 win	Streak	1 loss
	def. Luis Cane UFC 79 12/29/2007	Last Fight	lost to Thiago Silva UFC 78 11/17/2007

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: The two questions surrounding this fight are 1) is Alexander mentally recovered from his loss to Silva, and 2) will Irvin leave his comfort zone and try to take Alexander to the canvas? The latter is a long shot. While ground fighting is clearly Alexander's major weakness, Irvin is no Thiago Silva and is not likely to make Alexander look as helpless as Silva did. Besides, Irvin likes a brawl. He'll indulge Alexander here, and he'll eat a KO for his trouble. Alexander wins in Round 1.	Gregg Doyel: When this fight comes on television, assuming you're not watching your favorite CBS show, do not get up. Do not go to the bathroom. Do not turn your friggin' head. This thing will be over within two minutes, because Irvin has the knockout power and the confidence to bang with Alexander -- who will give Irvin the fight he wants until putting him to sleep.	Todd Martin: UFC clearly wants Alexander to look good here. Alexander looked like he had star potential going into his last fight against Thiago Silva, but he suffered a bad loss that made many question his ground ability. Luckily, Irvin likes to stand and bang and this fight will probably end quickly and spectacularly. Alexander via KO.	Ben Fowlkes: The question for Alexander is, was he exposed in his last fight, or did he simply freeze up? The overblown story about the state athletic commission messing with his head before his bout with Silva doesn’t explain away anything, so he needs this to prove he’s no flash in the pan. Irvin has a ground game, but it’s no gem. Expect him to stand trade, and expect Alexander to knock him out.

Lightweight Bout:
	GRAY MAYNARD	vs.	FRANKIE EDGAR
	"The Bully"	Nickname	"The Answer"
	28	Age	26
	5-8	Height	5-6
	4-0-1 (2-0-1 UFC)	Record	8-0 (3-0 UFC)
	1 (1 UFC)	KO/TKOs	2 (1 UFC)
	0	Submissions	2 (0 UFC)
	2 wins	Streak	8 wins
	def. Dennis Siver Fight Night 12 1/23/2008	Last Fight	def. Spencer Fisher UFC 78 11/17/2007

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Maynard is capable of hanging with Edgar wrestling-wise, plus he is bigger and will have a strength advantage. Edgar has more experience, against better opponents. Neither guy has lost yet, but Maynard could steal Edgar's momentum in the 155-pound class for himself with a win here. I think he can pull it off. Maynard via TKO.	Gregg Doyel: Edgar has wrestled his way to an undefeated record, including the only loss on Tyson Griffin's record, but he's about to face a comparable wrestler in Gray Maynard. And even in the confines of the same weight class, Maynard will be the bigger, stronger fighter. Edgar will have the edge in experience, but this thing will come down to power, and Maynard has more of it. Give him the decision victory.	Todd Martin: Edgar has been rolling in the UFC, and may be a few wins away from a title shot. But stylistically, he faces a big test here. Maynard is a big, strong guy who can match if not better Edgar’s wrestling ability. Edgar will likely need to utilize a more well rounded skill set to win this fight. I don’t think he’ll submit or knock out Maynard, so I’m taking Maynard in an upset.	Ben Fowlkes: This could be the battle of the bad game plans. Maynard says he wants to outwrestle Edgar, and Edgar says he hasn’t given much thought to adjusting to the altitude in Denver. Which is the worse idea? Altitude does matter, especially when you’re coming from New Jersey, but trying to outwrestle a guy like Edgar smacks of hubris. If he doesn’t gas out, Edgar should take this one by decision or late TKO.

Welterweight Bout:
	JOSH NEER	vs.	DIN THOMAS
	"The Dentist"	Nickname	"Dinyero"
	25	Age	31
	5-11	Height	5-10
	23-6-1 (2-3 UFC)	Record	20-7-0 (5-3 UFC)
	10 (0 UFC)	KO/TKOs	5 (0 UFC)
	10 (1 UFC)	Submissions	11 (2 UFC)
	2 wins	Streak	1 loss
	def. Nick Sorg C3 10/27/2007	Last Fight	lost to Kenny Florian Fight Night 11 9/19/2007

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Din Thomas has looked downright brilliant in the Octagon at times, including a win over Clay Guida last year. And a win over Guida does not come easy. Neer is inconsistent, but a threat regardless. After a brush with the law and recovering from injury, I look for a highly motivated Thomas to impress once again and submit Neer in Round 2. Welcome back, Din.	Gregg Doyel: If this were baseball, Josh Neer would be a great Triple A player who isn't quite good enough for the big leagues. He dominates smaller MMA outfits, but in the UFC he's simply not good enough. Din Thomas? He's good enough. He's still one of the best in the world, assuming his knee has healed since his Florian fight. I figure the knee is 100 percent, which makes me 100 percent convinced Thomas will submit Neer.	Todd Martin: Neer is a tricky fighter to evaluate. At times the 25-year-old has looked like a top flight prospect for the sport and a potential future champion. At other times, Neer has turned in surprisingly ineffective performances. Thomas has also been an inconsistent fighter, so a lot will depend on the mentality each fighter brings to the fight. I’m picking Thomas just because Neer doesn’t have a good track record against high caliber opponents.	Ben Fowlkes: Neither of these guys is Mr. Consistency, but Thomas may have the better all-around game. Neer’s a tough guy who doesn’t quit, though he’s also known to make too many mistakes when he tries to solve every problem with simple aggression. Thomas will have to weather an early storm and then he’ll grab a late submission.

Lightweight Bout:
	RYAN ROBERTS	vs.	MARCUS AURELIO
	"Are You Ready?"	Nickname	"Maximus"
	29	Age	34
	5-7	Height	5-10
	8-2-1 (UFC debut)	Record	15-5 (1-1 UFC)
	4	KO/TKOs	3 (1 UFC)
	3	Submissions	9
	2 wins	Streak	1 win
	def. Joe Doherty Victory FC 2/29/2008	Last Fight	def. Luke Caudillo UFC 78 11/17/2007

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: It's hard to handicap a UFC fight with a newcomer like Roberts, not only because of limited exposure, but because other UFC rookies have proven that a string of wins in smaller promotions doesn't necessarily mean you'll win on the biggest MMA stage of all. On top of that, he's fighting Marcus Aurelio, who is a battle-tested vet of PRIDE and King of the Cage. I have to pick Aurelio by submission.	Gregg Doyel: Ryan Roberts is a complete mystery. None of his wins is that good, but neither of his losses -- to Alonzo Martinez and Donald Cerrone -- is that bad. The UFC sees something in him, and in Marcus Aurelio, the UFC has given Roberts a beatable opponent. Thing is, I don't see him beating Aurelio. Not if Aurelio gets this thing to the ground, where his BJJ is light years ahead. Aurelio submits him in the third round.	Todd Martin: Marcus Aurelio may be the most underrated fighter in the entire 155 pound division. He is a tough, well-rounded fighter who has given many of the division’s best all they can handle. Roberts is going to have a tough time of it against Aurelio, who is likely to finish via submission or TKO.	Ben Fowlkes: Marcus Aurelio is a tough guy to have to face in your UFC debut. Roberts likely hasn’t been up against any comparable opponent, so this could be a real wake-up call. If Aurelio’s smart, he should go right after Roberts and try to finish him before he has a chance to get his bearings. If he does that, he should submit Roberts in the first round.

Lightweight Bout:
	JEFF COX	vs.	MANNY GAMBURYAN
	"The Grinder"	Nickname	"The Anvil"
	39	Age	26
	6-4	Height	5-5
	9-4 (0-1 UFC)	Record	7-2 (1-1 UFC)
	4	KO/TKOs	2 (0 UFC)
	4	Submissions	4 (1 UFC)
	1 win	Streak	1 win
	def. Joe Cronin IFO 12/28/2007	Last Fight	def. Nate Mohr UFC 79 12/29/2007

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Gamburyan is a rugged, aggressive fighter who never backs off. Cox, at age 39, is still looking for his first UFC win. He's not going to find it here. As long as Gamburyan's shoulder remains properly assembled, look for him to submit Cox in Round 1 and continue pressing for a rematch against Nate Diaz.	Gregg Doyel: The politics of the UFC are obvious here. Cox is a nice fighter who loses every time he faces anybody of note. Gamburyan is a former TUF finalist who needs to win to uphold the honor of that reality show. If the UFC thinks Gamburyan is going to win this fight, who am I to argue? Gamburyan grounds and pounds until the referee calls it off in the second round.	Todd Martin: Gamburyan is a tenacious action fighter, and it takes a strong fighter to withstand his pressure. I don’t think Cox is up to the task. Gamburyan should win via tapout.	Ben Fowlkes: Gamburyan proved his worth on TUF, and probably still feels that if not for his trick shoulder he would have been the victor. That may be true, but it only highlights why a trick anything is bad news for a pro fighter. Cox is out of his element here, and even he has to suspect he’s being brought in as a jobber to help make Gamburyan look good. Gamburyan wins this by first-round submission.

Lightweight Bout:
	SAMY SCHIAVO	vs.	CLAY GUIDA
	"The Dog"	Nickname	"The Carpenter"
	32	Age	26
	5-8	Height	5-7
	10-4 (UFC debut)	Record	22-9 (2-3 UFC)
	4	KO/TKOs	3 (0 UFC)
	5	Submissions	11 (1 UFC)
	6 wins	Streak	1 loss
	def. Paul Jenkins Cage Rage 9/29/2007	Last Fight	lost to Roger Huerta TUF 6 Finale 12/8/2007

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: This fight was designed to beef up Guida's record so that it more closely resembles his lofty status with UFC fans. You won't find a more popular fighter with a losing UFC record than Guida. He seldom gets an easy opponent, but even when he loses, he is never boring to watch. You know it's a deep fight card when Guida can't get on the TV broadcast. Guida by submission, Round 2.	Gregg Doyel: Another fight card, another Clay Guida appearance. Good grief. Is it the hair? It's not the actual outcome, because Guida has lost six of his last 10 fights. Schiavo has won six in a row, but he didn't beat a single guy with a winning record in that stretch. What does it mean? It means he's about to face his first big-time opponent, whereas Guida does this sort of thing every few months. Guida wins. Decision. Now get a haircut.	Todd Martin: After a string of fights against top of the line opposition, UFC is finally throwing Clay Guida a bone. Schiavo sports a middle of the line record and has never fought in America. Guida for once may be able to avoid a back and forth war and I expect him to score the victory here.	Ben Fowlkes: Clay Guida in a fight that “may not be broadcast”? That’s a crime. Guida is too exciting for a dark match. Schiavo is not appropriate competition, even considering Guida’s run of bad luck. Guida far outclasses Schiavo, which may be the point, though it seems unfair for him to have to take a step back after his war with Huerta. Guida by submission.

Welterweight Bout:
	ROMAN MITICHYAN	vs.	GEORGE SOTIROPOULOS
	"The Emperor"	Nickname	n/a
	29	Age	30
	5-10	Height	5-10
	5-1 (1-0 UFC)	Record	8-2 (1-0 UFC)
	1 (0 UFC)	KO/TKOs	0
	4 (1 UFC)	Submissions	5 (1 UFC)
	3 wins	Streak	2 wins
	def. Dorian Price TUF 6 Finale 12/8/2007	Last Fight	def. Billy Miles TUF 6 Finale 12/8/2007

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Mitichyan has six fights on his record, but only three of them happened within the past five years. He's won all of his recent endeavors, but I'm going to need more convincing before I pick him above Sotiropoulos, who should be able to take this fight via submission.	Gregg Doyel: Behind the scenes, everyone seemed to think Sotiropoulos was a rising star when he was on TUF. I didn't see it then, and I don't see it now. Mitichyan might not be a lot better, but I'm not yet convinced I don't like him. I'm sure I don't like Sotiropoulos. That's as good as my analysis on this fight's going to get. Mitichyan submits him in the second round.	Todd Martin: Both men have strong submissions, but Mitichyan is still mostly unproven in MMA. Sotiropoulos has tested himself against superior competition, and I’m expecting that experience to make the difference in this fight. Sotiropoulos via second or third round submission.	Ben Fowlkes: This is a matchup of two former TUF contestants that actually makes sense. We didn’t get to see enough of either guy, and they both seem like warriors. Sotiropoulos has the tools to really be something in the UFC, and a quality win over a game, but relatively limited Mitichyan is a good start. Sotiropoulos by submission.

Welterweight Bout:
	ANTHONY JOHNSON	vs.	TOMMY SPEER
	"Rumble"	Nickname	"The Farmboy"
	24	Age	23
	6-2	Height	5-10
	4-1 (1-1 UFC)	Record	9-2 (0-1 UFC)
	2 (1 UFC)	KO/TKOs	6
	0	Submissions	2
	1 loss	Streak	1 loss
	lost to Rich Clementi UFC 76 9/22/2007	Last Fight	lost to Mac Danzig TUF 6 Finale 12/8/2007

Writers' Picks
Denny Burkholder: Speer couldn't handle Mac Danzig in December, but he's still a great prospect with a whole lot of upside if he continues to learn. Johnson, for that matter, also could be a future player. Right now, I like Speer's punching power to decide the fight. Speer via KO, Round 2.	Gregg Doyel: This smells like another UFC set-up. If TUF alumnus Tommy Speer has any game at all, he should be able to beat a young, nondescript fighter like Anthony Johnson. And if you watched Speer on TUF, you know he has all kinds of power and aggression. He'll take the sting of that Mac Danzig loss out on Johnson, finishing him in the first round.	Todd Martin: Both Johnson and Speer are solid prospects for the sport. Johnson looked good in a spectacular first UFC win, and then gave problems to solid veteran Rich Clementi. Speer was the biggest surprise in the most recent season of The Ultimate Fighter, utilizing his strength and wrestling ability. It’s hard to say where either man will end up, but at this point in their careers I give the edge to Speer because I think he’s the better grappler.	Ben Fowlkes: If Speer has gained any polish at all since his time on TUF, this is his fight to lose. Johnson is inexperienced and lacking in the kind of submission game that could pose a threat to Speer. This is the perfect opportunity for the country boy to show off an improved game with (hopefully) a little more technique against a hand-picked opponent. Speer by early TKO or submission.

About the writers:
Denny Burkholder is the MMA and boxing producer and staff writer for CBSSports.com.
Sam Caplan is an MMA contributor for CBSSports.com and the publisher of FiveOuncesOfPain.com. He is also a writer/editor for ProElite.com.
Gregg Doyel is a CBSSports.com national columnist who has covered three UFC main cards and boxes out of UFC lightweight Jorge Gurgel's gym in Ohio.
Todd Martin has covered mixed martial arts for the Los Angeles Times, Wrestling Observer, SI.com and CBSSports.com.
Ben Fowlkes is an MMA contributor for CBSSports.com and the publisher of TheFightingLife.com. He is also the editorial manager for the International Fight League.