Now on to the next card! The undercard Jared Rosholt versus Josh Copeland An interesting affair for a division that desperately needs some new names and matchups. This one depends on where the fight happens as Copeland is far better on the ground. But I think he tries to stand and bang and if that happens, Rosholt will knock his lights out. Rosholt by TKO
Daron Cruickshank versus Beneil Dariush Another pretty even undercard fight. I don't know much about Dariush but I know that Cruickshank is heavy handed and doesn't care. He's too smart to get caught in this matchup. Cruickshank by TKO
Elias Theodorou versus Roger Navarez Theodorou is an intriguing prospect who I want to see against a higher level of competition but as he is young and undefeated, I think the UFC will take some time in bringing him along. He's just too much of an athlete for Navarez here and while I don't think a finish is in order, Theodorou is going to outclass him. Theodorou by decision
Ross Pearson versus Sam Stout Stout hasn't strung together back to back wins since 2010/2011, but he also hasn't had consecutive losses since 2008 which is what he is looking to avoid here. He throws heavy and takes punches and this fight could be a war. Pearson is 3-2-1 in his last six fights, but the no-contest with Guillard and the loss to Diego Sanchez should be wins. This could go either way and someone will get clipped, but in 2015, I just see Pearson as the better fighter. Pearson by TKO The main card Chris Cariaso versus Henry Cejudo Cariaso should have never been in a title fight and Cejudo will prove why. This is the biggest no brainer on the card to me. Cejudo by decision Roy Nelson versus Alistair Overeem See Pearson v. Stout. Heavy hands, big throwing bombs. Who has the weaker chin? Clearly the Reem. Nelson by KO Johny Hendricks versus Matt Brown This will be an interesting fight because of how Hendricks is post-weight cut. He looked and seemingly felt horrid when he lost the title to Robbie Lawler and making 170 consistently is taking its toll. Brown has only fought one guy Hendricks' caliber in the past and needs to step his game up here. Upset pick: Brown by TKO Women's Straw Weight Title Carla Esparza (C) versus Joanna Jedrzejczyk I have become a fan of Jedrzejczyk. Her demeanor, her fighting style, her confidence are all championship level. This will be a brawl and possibly the best fight of the night. Esparza is dangerous anywhere, but clearly excels on the ground as seen in her win over Rose Namajunas. Can Jedrzejczyk use her reach (2 inches) and height (5 inches) advantages to keep the champion away and turn this into a boxing match? Jedrzejczyk by decision Lightweight Title Anthony Pettis (C) versus Rafael dos Anjos I will respect dos Anjos enough to say that he will present some challenges that will push Pettis past the opening round. And Pettis can be beat and beat in this division. But this isn't the guy, not now. Pettis by TKO
Past Predictions (UFC 100-102, 104-111, 113-114, UFC on VERSUS 1-2): 82-76-1 Last Card: 7-3
PRELIMS Ben Saunders vs. Dennis Hallman Hallman has crazy experience, but Saunders is just plain crazy. A guy like Hallman is either going to charge forward or lay back too much. He's experienced and that means he will be able to pick apart most fighters. But who can predict Ben Saunders? In his two losses, people got lucky. Crazy + Reach = Victory number 9. Saunders by 2nd Round TKO
Stefan Struve vs. Christian Morecraft Struve's reach isn't as much as you'd think it would be cracked up to be. Morecraft is not slouch either in height and his weight, record and mystery are enough to outdo Struve's hesitance. Morecraft by Unanimous Decision
Johny Hendricks vs. Charlie Brenneman Such an even matchup where the fighters have a combined 20-1 record. This could be a match that helps shape the future of the welterweight division long after the clog at the top straightens itself out and the mid-level guys (Hughes, Serra, etc.) finally retire. This could be the fight of the night and that is saying alot. Hendricks by 3rd Round TKO
Tim Boestch vs. Todd Brown Not much here, I just don't think Brown has the ability to outduel his counterpart. Sadly, Boestch needs sometone to push him. Boestch by Unanimous Decision
Phil Davis vs. Rodney Wallace This is the fight that will really show that Wallace's potential time has already passed him by. He's powerful, but Davis is closer to today's prototypical light heavyweight. He stays unbeaten. Davis by 1st Round Submission
Dustin Hazelett vs. Rick Story Quick one here again. Story lucked out against Nick Osipczak and Hazelett won't give him the time of day to sneak by. Hazelett by 1st Round KO
MAIN CARD Junior Dos Santos vs. Roy Nelson All conventional wisdom says that Junior Dos Santos will knock the shit out of Big Country. He has powered his weigh through opponents and became the heavyweight division's next big thing (no easy task among the world of next big things: Lesnar, Carwin, Duffee, Velasquez). Then a funny thing happened: along came Roy Nelson, the former IFL champion, and all conventional wisdom has gone away. Conventional wisdom said that Kimbo Slice would pound this fat guys' face in. Conventional wisdom said that the younger, far more athletic Brendan Schaub would just go to town on Nelson. Conventional wisdom even said that Stefan Struve's reach was gonna be way too much. But somehow, Roy Nelson has been plowing through the UFC. I've picked against Roy...and I've been wrong...somehow. I like JDS, I really do, and I expect good things to happen in his career. Nelson by 2nd Round KO
Matt Hughes vs. Ricardo Almeida I hate Matt Hughes. But really, why are the experts picking him to lose. The UFC considers this guy the greatest welterweight of all-time. I rank him 2nd. Either way, Ricardo Almeida isn't in the top 15 ever, if even close to that. Hughes by Ground and Pound in 3rd Round
Clay Guida vs. Rafael Dos Anjos If Frankie Edgar gets back in the cage and beats BJ Penn again, then I see Penn going up to welterweight. Why is that important here? Because Clay Guida has always had a ceiling in the division. But with the likes of Diego Sanchez, Nate Diaz and perhaps Penn moving on up, Guida has the chance of a lifetime if he can win here. The man can fight with inspiration and fire that I don't know if Dos Anjos has. Guida by Split Decision
Jon Fitch vs. Thiago Alves The rematch. The same result. Alves, I believe, has rushed back too much from the injuries, failed to make weight at the official weigh-ins and is just not mentally in this from what I saw at the press conference. Fitch by 1st Round TKO
UFC Middleweight Championship Anderson Silva vs. Chael Sonnen The consensus is that Sonnen's only hope is to take down and lay on top of Silva five times. But Sonnen has noted that he plans to swing at Silva. So here is how it really will go: Sonnen tries to swing in round one, but realizes he can't swing with The Spider. The round is close, could go either way. In round two, he goes with the lay and pray theory, takes Anderson down a minute in and lays there for the 10-9. In round three, Anderson gets restless and makes Chael look like Forrest Griffin. All that, or Anderson actually nuts up and knocks Chael out in round one. My heart and my cheers Saturday night go to Chael Sonnen, who I enjoy as a fighter and as a comedy act...but my brains stills works and so do Anderson Silva's limbs. Silva by 3rd Round TKO to RETAIN the UFC Middleweight Championship
