Junior Dos Santos vs Frank Mir

An awesome fight, even though Mir had to be shuffled into the main event with Overeem testing positive for high testosterone levels. But, we still got a good one in which JDS is one of the baddest men on the planet, and holds solid boxing skills with what seems like unlimited power. His ground game is still a question mark, given he’s never hit the mat but he trains with top notch BJJ black belts, so i’m sure he can hold his one. As for Mir, I think he has an underrated striking game. He’s hung in their and tagged some good fighters, and doesn’t get enough credit. Where he is best though, is the ground where he is the best BJJ black belt in the octagon, I’ve ever seen. The tale of this fight though will be if JDS can keep it standing, he should knock out Mir or if Mir can get it to the ground, in that he should submit JDS. I’m going with the first option, But I think it last 3 rounds until Mir finally is put away. JDS by knockout! 

Cain Velasquez vs Antonio Silva

A solid co-main event that features one of the best heavyweights in the world/ex UFC champion, and the man who’s head is equivalent to an Easter Island head (Not kidding either). Anyways Cain will look to avenge his only defeat to JDS, which cost him his belt. Cain features a solid striking game but an even better wrestling/top game. He is very well rounded which is why he is at the top of the heavyweight division. An impressive fashion defeat here could catapult him back into the title picture. As for Bigfoot, he is finally in the UFC, and is coming off a loss in which Daniel Cormier knocked him out. But, Cormier is solid, so I don’t take anything away from Silva. Silva features a pretty good striking game but on the ground is where he is a killer. If he can manage to get Cain on the ground, and is in top control. Hammer fists will land, and that face will get messed up. Although the smart choice says go Velasquez here, I think Silva sweeps Velasquez, gets some ground and pound in, and then submits Cain at some point. I’m going upset here, Silva via submission!

Roy Nelson vs Dave Herman

Boy do the fight keep on getting better! Even for a card that has been shuffled more time then a card deck (bad joke), it’s still an awesome card. I love this fight too because whenever Roy’s in the cage, it’s a war. Although I do believe Roy is the better fighter here, I like Herman’s height and reach advantage here. Although it might not appear as much, I think Herman utilizes it along with some of his knee strikes. Roy can take everything including the kitchen sink, so i’m not sure Herman can knock him out. BUT, I hate to against Roy here because clearly he is the better fighter, but something about Herman excelling in short notice fights I like. I’m taking the upset and going Herman via decision.

Shane Del Rosario vs Stipe Miocic

An early contender for fight of the night here, as two of Zuffa’s top prospects will be swinging away at each other. I really like Del Rosario, and I think he has a bright future but between the car accident, and the year lay off I don’t think he will be 100%. Del Rosario’s muay thai is dangerous but Stipes wrestling game I believe can cancel it out to a degree. Stipe features a solid chin, power in his hands, and he can wrestle. I think he has the perfect base to take the Heavyweight division by storm, and I think he will put away Del Rosario in the second round.

Lavar Johnson vs Stefan Struve

What a way to start off this all heavyweight main card! You have in one corner, the fast rising KO machine in Lavar Johnson. In the other, the tallest UFC fighter standing at 6’11 that features an awesome submission game. I understand that so many people are going with Struve here because he should easily be able to put Johnson on his back and submit him, BUT Struve has always loves to fight and often inflicts too much damage. If he would implement a gameplan to utilize his submission game, he’d be at the top of the division but he doesn’t. I think Struve is going to fall into Johnson’s game, and once one of those uppercuts lands…it’s one big fall. Johnson by knockout in round 1!

PRELIMS!!!!

Diego Brandao vs Darren Elkins

This is either a feast or famine type fight. We have the explosive Brandao who is carries some power in his hands, and is very well adapt to work off his back. Elkins meanwhile is mostly a wrestler, and usually is able to grind down his opponents. During his UFC stint, his wins are all by decision with the exception of the TKO victory over Ludwig due to the ankle injury. I really think that Brandao is way too much for Elkins to grind away at, and Brandao is going to swarm him early for a good night.

Jamie Varner vs Edson Barboza

Possible fight of the night right here, as this one should be all over the place. Barboza has taken the UFC lightweight division by storm, winning 4 straight, and winning in spectacular fashion over Terry Etim. Varner returns to the UFC on short notice but is still very dangerous. Varner features a good striking and wrestling game, where as Barboza is mostly noted as a solid striker. I like Barboza and his wide arsenal of strikes but I’m going with Varner here by decision as he will steal the fight with multiple takedowns. 

Mayhem Miller vs CB Dolloway

I’m not going to over analyze this fight because I feel that Mayhem should easily be able to submit Dollaway. That’s no disrespect to Dollaway’s game but Mayhem looks like he seriously put in the work this camp, and I know how good he can be when he’s serious. His striking game is awful but based off some videos I’ve seen, it has improved somewhat. I like Mayhem to submit Dollaway in the second round after overwhelming him early.

Dan Hardy vs Duane Ludwig

A very fan friendly fight, in which it features two stand up bangers who will be looking to knock each others head off. Hardy will look to save his career in the UFC by avoiding 5 straight defeats, and Ludwig will look to bounce back after being overwhelmed by Josh Neer. I like Dan Hardy in this one, based off training with Mir, and his job is on the line. I got Hardy to end Ludwig’s night early.

Jacob Volkmann vs Paul Sass

An interesting fight, but also has the potential to be the most boring fight. Volkmann uses his wrestling often and well, but usually blankets his opponents. Sass is a submission artist, in which 11 of his 12 wins are via submission. Both don’t feature a strong striking game in which this one will mostly likely take place on the ground. The typical Wrestler vs the Grappler matchup, and I like Sass via submission at some point in the fight. Reason, I like Sass here is that Volkmann gasses late in fights, and leaves himself open to sweeps/submissions. Escudero almost had Volkmann, if that was Sass…it probably would have been over.

Glover Teixeira vs Kyle Kingsbury

Boy am I excited for Glover Teixeira to finally be in the UFC! It’s been a long time coming, and he is going to be a monster in his debut here. He’s got extreme power in his hands, is a BJJ black belt, and is a finisher. Kingsbury is pretty good striker and does most his damage in the clinch. Kingsbury though, slows down in the later rounds, and has a limited ground game. Besides the size advantage Kingsbury has, Glover is all around the better fighter here. Glover is going to knock out Kingsbury in round one, lock it in!

Mike Brown vs Daniel Pineda

A tough fight to call, considering how far Mike Brown has fallen. Once the very best Featherweight in the world, until Aldo beat him up, and since then he hasn’t been the same. Pineda is now 2-0 in the UFC, both wins coming by submission in the first round. While he is a decent grappler, and has a pretty good submission game, I think he has feasted on his opponents who have weaker ground games. Brown is still good enough, to cancel out Pineda’s game. Im going with Brown via decision.

Josh Barnett vs Daniel Cormier

One of the most anticipated Heavyweight bouts is finally going to happen, and boy are we in for an absolute WAR. Barnett and Cormier in recent years have climbed and cemented themselves into the upper tier of MMA’s Heavyweight division. Both men are top notch wrestlers, and I’d slightly give the edge to Cormier on the feet. Both hold power in the hands, but Cormier is more effective with his strikes. Barnett is a solid if the fight goes to the ground though, as his top game features some good ground and pound, and a deadly arsenal of submissions. On paper this fight is dead even, and I think we are in for a brawl. I’m going to take Barnett here though to finish Cormier in the championship rounds, as Cormier is taken down due to fatigue. 

Gilbert Melendez vs Josh Thomson

The rubber match that everyone expected to happen, considering the lack of lightweight competition in Strikeforce. It should be a good one though, as these two guys have lock horns before in 2 great fights. Melendez is widely considered as a top 3 lightweight in the world, and will try to make a claim to that number one spot. Melendez features a good standup game but is most noted for his deadlier top game. Thomson is more of a wrestler, and will look to use the cage to pick apart Melendez. Although the odds say Melendez will clearly win, I’m going with the upset here and picking the more focused/injury free Thomson to edge out a decision.

Rafael Cavalcante vs Mike Kyle

This fight definitely should be for the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Championship, but it’s not. The light heavyweight division is depleted, and this is the two best guys in it, going at it. But despite that, this fight should be a really good one, and a rematch in which Kyle KO’d Cavalcante back in 2009. Kyle since that fight has gone 6-2-1, while going back and forth between fighting at heavyweight and light heavyweight. Kyle carries some heavy power, as well as a decent all around MMA game. He is mostly noted as a striker though. Cavalcante since that fight is 4-1, and once held the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Belt. Cavalcante is the better all around fighter, and has some devastating power in his hands. I expect Cavalcante to knock out Kyle at some point in the fight, as Kyle gasses and succumbs to “Feijao’s” standup. 

The Korean Zombie vs Dustin Piorier

AND, the main event of the evening which has the looks to be a solid one. The Korean Zombie has picked up steam by winning 2 fights in a row, and both by impressive fashion. Known for a solid chin, and always coming forward…it appears Dustin will need to not be discouraged if he can’t potentially knock him out. Dustin is regarded as the 3rd or 4th best featherweight, so a potential title shot is on the line for him in this fight. Wherever this fight goes, both fighters are very well adapted, which is why this is so intriguing. I’m going with the Korean Zombie here though, to put away Dustin in round 3 as I see a very good counter attack game coming from Jung. 

Donald Cerrone vs Jeremy Stephens

The Fights keep on getting better, as two gritty veterans will lock on horns in what looks like a lock in a potential fight of the night. Both guys display a well rounded MMA game, and can certainly strike with the best. Cerrone would much rather get this one to the ground though where he can implement his dangerous submission game (13 of his 17 wins are via submission). Meanwhile Stephens would probably like to keep it standing, but could use his wrestling to get some ground and pound in their. This fight technically should be the co-main event but a hometown boy will covet that slot. Anyways, I like Cerrone to take this one by decision in a brawl.

Fabio Maldonado vs Igor Pokrajac

Another fun fight, that could also lead to someones lights being turned off or into a 3 round war. Maldonado is an exciting fighter, with technical and powerful striking. I’ve never seen someone go after the body via striking like he does. Meanwhile Pokrajac is starting to build up some momentum after beating his last 2 opponents via TKO/KO. This should be a solid fight, an it will be interesting to see if Pokrajac implements some wrestling in this one. But regardless, I’m going with Maldonado and his technical striking to knockout Pokrajac in the second round.

Brad Tavares vs Dongi Yang

An early candidate for a slugfest here, as both men are by nature are strikers. Brad Tavares carries a record of 7-1 (4 KO’s), with the only defeat coming from Aaron Simpson who smothered him the entire fight. Dongi Yang carries a record of 10-2 (9 KO’s), and has struggled in his UFC tenure. I expect this one to stay on the feet, and either someone is going to sleep or we are in for an early candidate for fight of the night. Both fighters can bring it, and have dangerous power. I’m going with Yang though to eek out a close decision.