UFN 24

Light-Heavyweight 205 lbs.

#11 Phil Davis vs. #14 Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

Welterweight 170 lbs.

#15 Dan Hardy vs. #18 Anthony Johnson

Welterweight 170 lbs.

#33 Amir Sadollah vs. #41 DaMarques Johnson

Featherweight 145 lbs.
#18 Leonard Garcia vs. #24 Nam Phan
prelims after the jump...

Pearce prediction and analysis

Rua rd 3 tko

-I am really hoping that Shogun shines through with some great Muay Thai, I expect to see (and hear) some nasty leg kicks.  I made my pick thinking Shogun will capitalize on experience and veteran game planning.

Faber rd 1 sub

-Faber should come into this fight with a fire burning inside.  He likes the spotlight, he likes fighting under pressure, and wants to become a household name.  Look for Faber to take some chances to win this early to build his highlight resume.

Kamal rd 3 tko

-I made this pick more due to trends then who I think is the better fighter.  WEC guys have been doing well coming into the UFC, and recently top ten UFC lightweights have been losing ground. (i.e. George Sot., Dunham)  I think Jim Miller's win streak will come to an end. 

Nate descs

-As long as Nate hasn't psyched himself out he should win this one.  Nate is one of the best middleweights there is, but he sometimes doesn't "show up" for fights.  Unfortunately even Nate's B-game is a lot to handle for a late replacement in Dan Miller. 

Mirko rd 1 tko

-Yesterday at weigh ins Mirko CroCop showed up absolutely shredded.  I went back and looked at previous pictures of CroCop and this is physically the best shape I have seen him in.  If CroCop shows up prepared to fight at the level he showed up physically this one will be a tough night for the inexperienced Schaub.

prelims after the jump...

Volkart prediction and analysis

Champ Mauricio "Shogun" Rua via TKO, Rd 2

-          Jones has the wrestling and the reach, but Shogun has the superior striking and the slick jiu-jitsu.  It isn’t Jon Jones’ time yet.  WAR SHOGUN.

Urijah Faber via Sub, Round 1

-          Wouldn’t be surprised to see an upset KO here however.  Faber has too much to lose here, should fight smart and end it quickly.

Jim Miller via Decision

-          Dangerous fight for Miller’s career, I think Joe Silva screwed the pooch with this matchmaking.  Jim  barely has anything to gain so much more to lose with this fight.  I had the same opinion of the Siver-Gsots fight, especially when the fighter upsetting the contender isn’t yet in a position to be automatically shot up to the top.  I would have much rather had number one contenders matched up against each other from the get-go, but of course timing will always make that tough to do as well.  Regardless, Miller should take this decision I just hope he doesn’t get clipped by Kamal’s wild punches.  Hopefully Jim can keep his nerves knowing that his brother had just lost to Marquardt.

Nate Marquardt via TKO, Round 2

-          Dan Miller can’t beat top tier middleweights.  He’ll likely keep his job for a bit longer doing the UFC a solid, but I don’t see how he can win this fight even in front of his hometown crowd.

Brendan Schaub via TKO, Round 2

-          I’m sick of waiting for the CroCop of 2006 to re-emerge. This fight is the equivalent of taking old yeller out behind the barn, shotgun in hand.  KO of the night.  

Prelims after the jump...

UFC 128 Fight Card

Light-Heavyweight Championship

#1 Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs. #5 Jon Jones

Bantamweight
#5 Urijah Faber vs. #7 Eddie Wineland
Lightweight

#5 Jim Miller vs. #34 Kamal Shalorus
Middleweight

#12 Dan Miller vs. #3 Nate Marquardt
Heavyweight

#10 Mirko "Cro Cop" vs. #9 Brendan Schaub

Prelims after the jump

135 Lbs. Bantamweights 03/08/11

Rank, Name, Overall Record, (past 5 fights), Win/Loss streak

1. Champion Dominick Cruz 17-1 (5-0) 8W
2. Brian Bowles 9-1 (4-1) 1W
3. Joseph Benavidez 13-2 (3-2) 1W
4. Miguel Torres 39-3 (3-2) 2W
5. Urijah Faber 24-4 (3-2) 1W
6. Scott Jorgensen 11-4 (4-1) 1L
7. Eddie Wineland 18-6-1 (4-1) 4W
8. Renan Barao 25-1 (5-0) 14W
9. Takeya Mizugaki 14-5-2 (3-2) 1W
10. Wagnney Fabiano 14-3 (3-2) 1L
11. Brad Pickett 20-5 (4-1) 1W
12. Demetrious Johnson 9-1 (4-1) 3W
13. Chris Cariaso 11-2 (4-1) 1W
14. Charlie Valencia 12-6 (3-2) 1L
15. Michael McDonald 11-1 (4-1) 4W

145 Lbs. Featherweights 03/08/11

Rank, Name, Overall Record, (past 5 fights), Win/Loss streak

1. Champion Jose Aldo 18-1 (5-0) 11W
2. Chad Mendes 10-0 (5-0) 10W
3. Mark Hominick 20-8 (5-0) 5W
4. Diego Nunes 16-1 (4-1) 3W
5. Dustin Poirier 9-1 (4-1) 2W
6. Josh Grispi 14-2 (4-1) 1L
7. Manvel Gamburyan 11-5 (3-2) 1L
8. Erik Koch 11-1 (4-1) 2W
9. Pablo Garza 10-1 (4-1) 1W
10. Kenny Florian 12-5 (3-2) 1L
11. Javier Vazquez 15-5 (2-3) 1L
12. Raphael Assuncao 15-3 (3-2) 1W
13. Cub Swanson 15-4 (3-2) 1W
14. Rani Yahya 16-6 (3-2) 1W
15. Zhang Tiequan 13-1 (4-1) 1W

155 Lbs. Lightweight 03/08/11

Rank, Name, Overall Record, (past 5 fights), Win/Loss streak 

1. UFC Champion Frank Edgar 13-1-1 (4-0-1) 1draw
2. WEC Champion Anthony Pettis 13-1 (4-1) 4W
3. Gray Maynard 10-0-1-1nc (4-0-1) 1draw
4. Sean Sherk 34-4-1 (3-2) 1W
5. Jim Miller 19-2 (5-0) 6W
6. Clay Guida 28-11 (3-2) 3W 
7. Melvin Guillard 27-8-2-1nc (4-1) 4W
8. Dennis Siver 18-7 (4-1) 3W
9. George Sotiropoulos 14-3 (4-1) 1L
10. Kurt Pellegrino 15-5 (4-1) 1L
11. Takanori Gomi 32-7 (3-2) 1L
12. Nik Lentz 20-3-2 (4-0-1) 3W
13. Jeremy Stephens 19-6 (3-2) 1W
14. Evan Dunham 11-2 (3-2) 2L
15. Joe Lauzon 19-6 (3-2) 1L

170 Welterweight 03/08/11

Rank, Name, Overall Record, (past 5 fights), Win/Loss Streak

1. Champion George St. Pierre 21-2 (5-0) 8W
2. Jon Fitch 23-3-1-1nc (4-0-1) 1draw
3. B.J Penn 16-7-2 (2-2-1) 1draw
4. Jake Shields 26-4-1 (5-0) 15W
5. Carlos Condit 26-5 (4-1) 3W
6. Thiago Alves 18-7 (3-2) 1W
7. Josh Koscheck 15-5 (3-2) 1L
8. Diego Sanchez 23-4 (3-2) 2W
9. Matt Hughes 45-8 (3-2) 1L
10. Ricardo Almeida 13-4 (4-1) 1W
11. Rick Story 12-3 (5-0) 5W
12. Dong-hyun Kim 14-0-1-1nc (4-0-1nc) 3W
13. Mike Pierce 12-3 (4-1) 3W
14. Dan Hardy 23-8 (3-2) 2L
15. Martin Kampmann 17-5 (2-3) 2L

185 Lbs. Middleweight 03/08/11

Rank, Name, Overall Record, (past 5 fights), Win/Loss streak

1. Champion Anderson Silva 28-4 (5-0) 14W
2. Yushin Okami 26-5 (4-1) 3W
3. Nate Marquardt 30-10-2 (3-2) 1L
4. Demian Maia 14-2 (3-2) 2W
5. Wanderlei Silva 33-10-1-1n.c. (2-3) 1W 
6. Michael Bisping 21-3 (4-1) 3W
7. Rousimar Palhares 12-3 (4-1) 1W
8. Mark Munoz 10-2 (4-1) 2W
9. Vitor Belfort 19-9 (4-1) 1L
10. Brian Stann 10-3 (4-1) 2W
11. Chris Leben 25-7 (3-2) 1L
12. Dan Miller 14-4-1n.c. (2-3) 2W
13. Maiquel Falco 26-3(1) (5-0) 8W
14. C.B. Dollaway 11-3 (3-2) 1L
15. Yoshihiro Akiyama 13-3-2n.c. (3-2) 2L

205 Lbs. Light-Heavyweight 03/08/11

Rank, Name, Overall Record, (past 5 fights), Win/Loss Streak

1. Champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua 19-4 (3-2) 1W
2. Rashad Evans 15-1-1 (4-1) 2W
3. Quinton Jackson 31-8 (3-2) 1W
4. Lyoto Machida 16-2 (3-2) 2L
5. Jon Jones 12-1 (4-1) 3W 
6. Forrest Griffin 18-6 (3-2) 2W
7. Thiago Silva 15-2 (3-2) 1W
8. Randy Couture 19-10 (3-2) 3W
9. Rich Franklin 28-6-1nc (2-3) 1L
10. Vladimir Matyushenko 25-5 (4-1) 1W
11. Phil Davis 8-0 (5-0) 8W
12. Matt Hamill 10-2 (5-0) 5W
13. Ryan Bader 12-1 (4-1) 1L
14. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira 19-4 (4-1) 1L
15. Alexander Gustafsson 11-1 (4-1) 2W

265 Lbs. Heavyweights 03/08/11

Rank, Name, Overall Record, (past 5 fights), Win/Loss Streak

1.      Champion Cain Velazquez 9-0 (5-0) 9W 

2.      Junior Dos Santos 12-1 (5-0) 7W

3.      Brock Lesnar 5-2 (4-1) 1L

4.      Shane Carwin 12-1 (4-1) 1L

5.      Frank Mir 14-5 (3-2) 1W  

6.      Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira 32-6-1-1 (3-2) 1L

7.      Cheick Kongo 15-6-2 (2-2-1) 1draw

8.      Roy Nelson 15-5 (2-3) 1L

9.      Brendan Schaub 7-1(4-1) 3W 

10.  Mirko Filipovic 27-8-2-(1) (3-2) 1L

11.  Stefan Struve 21-4 (4-1) 2W

12.  Matt Mitrione 4-0 (4-0) 4W

13.  Jon Madsen 7-0 (5-0) 7W

14.  Mike Russow 13-1-(1) (5-0) 9W

15.  Patrick Barry 6-2 (3-2) 1W