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What a set of fights we have here. First, a super fight for a main event and a card filled with blockbuster match-ups, including the return of heavy weight contender Alistair Ovreem and a light-heavyweight showdown between two of the division’s elite veterans.
So before you grab your beverage of choice, put your feet up and settle in for an afternoon of action, get the lowdown on what to expect at UFC 156 with the latest edition of The Roaring Predictions.
Jose Aldo (21-1)(c) v Frankie Edgar (15-3-1)
Despite the fact that Edgar is no longer lightweight champion, this one has the sniff of a super fight. Rarely do we get to see two of the top ten pound-for-pound fighters in the world step into the ring with one another on such level footing.
As far as the actual fight works out, there isn’t much between either of the fighters and in the end a lot could rely on a few small things.
Firstly, Edgar’s takedown ability against Aldo’s takedown defence. The Brazilian has had one of the best sprawls in the game but for years however, Edgar has been dragging down far bigger guys than Aldo has ever had to deal with.
Before he can wrestle him down though, Edgar has to answer the riddle of Aldo on his feet. What will he do with the leg kicks which are bound to flow thick and fast? If Aldo clips him early, as Grey Maynard and Benson Henderson did, Edgar will not get the chance to come back.
The Brazilian’s raw striking power is just too potent.
If the fight wears on Edgar will begin to gain an advantage, as the Brazilian’s cardio has been left wanting in the championship rounds in the past. However as great as Edgar’s boxing is (and it is among the best), I think Aldo’s pure muay thai skill will reign supreme.
Prediction: Aldo by TKO in round 2
Rashard Evans (17-2-1) v Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (20-5)
This fight is billed as two of the light-heavyweight division’s elite veterans squaring off but in reality this is Evan’s fight to lose. He is younger, faster and more skilled than Nogueria.
In MMA though, any dog can have his day and Lil’Nog could well turn back the clock and show us all why he was once one of the most feared fighters in the world with wins over Dan Henderson, Alistair Ovreem and more recently Tito Ortiz.
However Rashard will be motivated to step back into the ring in style after his loss to Jon Jones and could even (rightly or wrongly) earn a middleweight title shot with a win here.
Prediction: Evans by decision.
Alistair Ovreem (36-11) v Antonio Silva (17-4)
Anyone who caught the intense staredown between these two knows this fight is going to be brutal. Unfortunately the brutality is destined to be one sided with Ovreem simply at another level to ‘Bigfoot’.
Don’t get me wrong, Silva is a completely under-appreciated heavyweight but The ‘Reem is better in every facet of the game and will simply be using this one as a warm up for a title shot later this year.
If Daniel Cormier could knock Silva down then it is safe to say Ovreem will bulldoze right over him.
Prediction: Ovreem by TKO in round 1
Jon Fitch (24-4) v Demian Maia (17-4)
For some this will be one of the most boring fights ever witnessed. For other this fight is a grapple-fest straight from heaven.
One of the world’s most dangerous submission artists against one of the best grinding wrestlers in the business.
Personally I am excited for this one which could end up being a pure display of technique and skill.
Expect a lot of minor manoeuvring looking for just a slight positional advantage all throughout the fight.
Fitch has the defensive game down pat and has stamina to keep going until this time next year but I’m calling the upset, with Maia’s aggressive submission game ruling at the end of the day.
The only other possibility is that their ground games rule each other out and they wind up swinging for the fences, but who knows?
Prediction: Maia by submission in round 3
Joseph Bendidez (16-3) v Ian McCall (11-3-1)
Both these guys are coming off a loss to current flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson so will be looking to push their case for a rematch with the champ and avoid being relegated to the fringe of the division.
Bendidez would appear to have the edge when it comes to strength, speed and is just an all round better package than ‘Uncle Creepy’.
Excluding a lucky knockout I think McCall is destined to quickly become a division journeyman after this one.
Prediction: Bendidez by decision
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