The UFC makes its was to the United Center in Chicago, Illinois for its second (or third if you include last weeks fight night on fx) installment on Fox. I am sure that plenty of you guys are a bit disappointed Mark Munoz was taken off the card due to injury I still feel like that with the reshuffle of fights it will be very exciting to watch.
Last night in my post I said that you (Aussie fans) could watch the preliminary card on facebook, well the Camozzi-Jacoby fight will be on there and the rest of the prelims you can watch on UFC.tv. Enough of the chatter from me on to some predictions.
Damien Maia vs Chris Weidman
Even though Weidman has taken the fight on short I see him being just as hard of a fight for maia. Maia striking has improved alot since when he first entered the Octagon but I feel that Weidman has the better boxing of the two. While you expect it to be one way traffic on the ground since Maia is a black belt and Weidman is a purple belt but Weidman is a very accomplished wrestler being a two time Division 1 All-American. As well as two impressive submission victories including a D’arce choke over tough fighter Tom Lawlor, Weidman actually qualified for the prestigious ADCC submission grappling tournament with only one year of Jiu Jitsu training. With all that Maia has submitted and defeated some very tough wrestlers in the past and I think that he will have the goods here but I am happy for Weidman to prove me wrong. Maia by submission.
Chael Sonnen vs Michael Bisping
This is the time for Bisping to perform or forever be stuck in the almost rans. While he has faced top notch wrestlers like Matt Hamill, Rashad Evans and Dan Henderson, Evans is the only one to really use wrestling against Bisping and that was a couple of years ago so I am keen to see takedown defence against Sonnen. Sonnen’s wrestling is great and he is not just a lay and pray type of wrestler he is always throwing strikes and making the person on the bottom feel as uncomfortable as possible (ask Nate Marquardt and Anderson Silva). While I know that Sonnen is the favourite here I am taking Bisping because I am sure that he will go the extra mile with what is on the line here. Bisping by split decision.
Rashad Evans vs Phil Davis
This should be a good fight as both men are very good fighters. Davis has come along way in a short time and impressed in his appreances in the octagon with some excellent submissions including a modified kimura against Tim Boetsch. While all this is on his resume Davis is yet to face a fighter the calibre of Evans. Evans showed that he has not lost a step since leaving Greg Jacksons camp when he disposed of Tito Ortiz, I believe that he has found a new drive in himself and I think that has something to do with not only regaining the Light-Heavyweight title but giving Jon Jones his first proper loss. Both men are known for there wrestling are while it seems that Davis got more accolades in college I believe that DEvans wrestling for MMA is better and I feel that his striking is really good where as Davis is still developing his. I have got Evans by unanimous decision.
Ok peeps I hope that you guys enjoy UFC on Fox and that your favourite fighter wins and comes through the fight unscathed and until next time take care.
The Fight Writer