Urijah Faber vs Renan Barao

This has fight of the night, fight of the year, and everything that a fight fan would want to see all over it. A five round war is what I fully expect and believe we will get, and boy am I pumped. This is one of the few fights where it’s a tough call on who is going to win, because with both fighters skill sets there is not that much to doubt about each other. I really like that Barao is a stablemate of UFC featherweight champ Jose Aldo who battered Urijah Faber’s legs in there encounter in the WEC. But, it’s a different fighter, and Faber has evolved since than as well. Tough call here but I really like Barao’s ground skills although Faber’s is second to none. And I like Barao’s striking arsenal that featurs some heavy knees and kicks. I think this fight is gonna deliver, and I have Renan Barao winning by decision in a back and forth brawl. 

Hector Lombard vs Tim Boetsch

Finally! Lombard is in the UFC and has a tough task in front of him in the Boetsch. Gonna make this short and sweet though, when Lombard hits someone they usually are done. Lombard hits 500 times harder than Okami, and although I love Boetsch’s heart…it’s going to night night in the first round after Lombard connects.

Cheick Kongo vs Shawn Jordan

An underrated fight here due to people not knowing the skill set that Shawn Jordan holds. He is very well verse to wherever the fight goes, and is a very game opponent. He is stepping up to the plate here, and I think it’s a bit of quick jump in competition but if there’s one top guy that’s beatable it’s Kongo. I’m not saying that in a bad way because Kongo features some of the best ground and pound, and is a legit striker with serious knockout power. BUT, I called this in the Hunt fight, and I really took notice of it in the Mitrione fight is that Kongo after exchanges resets by turning his back. Why O, WHY Kongo! Anyways, I think Kongo is going to strike a bit but find a way to grind out a win over a game Shawn Jordan. 

Brian Ebersole vs James Head

While Head has some striking skills with some real power, his main weapon is his jui-jitsu. Unfortunately Ebersole is a solid grappler, and will use his wrestling to gain the upper advantage. Ebersole is a very unorthodox striker, I mean how many guys throw cartwheel kicks and actually knock them out? The Hairow is awesome as well, oddly no one can crack that riddle. Ebersole will get Head down at some point, and in top position rain down elbows in route to a TKO win.

Chris Clements vs Matt Riddle

I thought I’d never see the day where Matt Riddle would be on the main card but after three fighters fell victim to injuries from the original fight of Akiyama vs Alves…we got Clements vs Riddle. It should be a stand up battle where Clements is best suited, and Riddle thinks he is too but his striking is horrid. If Riddle is smart, he uses his takedowns to set up some ground and pound. But, it’s not always like that for the crowd pleaser Riddle who apparently likes to get hit while hitting air in the process. Anyways, something tells me Riddle after falling behind a round starts to implement takedowns and wins by decision.