This Saturday UFC 155 will go down in Las Vegas, featuring a headlining bout to determine the "Badest Man on the Planet". Velasquez v Dos Santos II is set to headline a rather intriguing fight card. We could see a few contenders for titles emerge or see them fade away into the middle of their respected weight divisions. I'll take some time here to break down and give predictions on all 5 main card fights.
Cain Velasquez vs. Junior Dos Santos (Heavyweight Championship)
The first time these two met just over a year ago and we were left wanting more after only 65 seconds of fight before Dos Santos knocked out Velasquez to earn the Heavyweight Championship. They say styles make fights. This fight falls into that category. You have arguably the best boxer in MMA in JDS and one of the best heavyweight wrestlers in Velasquez. So what style is going to win?
When it comes down to it, JDS has got the ability to finish this fight with one punch. Velasquez will try to take this fight to the ground, and his best chance at a win will be to grind down JDS, take him to the ground and assert some ground-and-pound. I just don't see Velasquez being able to do that long enough to not get tagged. JDS hits hard, he throws accurate and you don't get up afterwards. This fight will be much longer but the result will be the same.
Junior Dos Santos via TKO Round 3
Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller
Two men who have toiled in the middle of the Lightweight division for years but have never quite got over that hump to challenge for a belt will meet in the co-headliner at UFC 155. It's an interesting matchup because both men have shown potential to break into the upper echelon of the division but ultimately fall short. Miller's only losses have been to the last 4 title challengers (Edgar, Maynard, Henderson, Diaz) while Lauzon just doesn't seem to show up in his biggest fights.
What are we going to see in this fight? A lot of grappling. A lot of technical manoeuvring on the ground, and a fight that will probably bore some people. With a combined 30 wins by submission (9 submission of the night awards) it shouldn't surprise anyone how this fight turns out. Tough to pick a winner as Miller has only been submitted once, but Lauzon is a whole different threat on the ground.
Jim Miller via Decision
Tim Boetsch vs. Constantinos Philippou
After a tough loss to Phil Davis, Tim Boetsch dropped to middleweight and has since gone on a nice 4 fight win streak. He was originally supposed to face top prospect Chris Wideman in what was regarded as a number one contender fight, but he shouldn't look past Philippou. After losing his UFC debut Costa has also rung off 4 straight wins. Without Wideman in this fight it's tough to call it a title eliminator any more but it should be an excellent stand up battle.
The difference in this fight will come down to wrestling, and Boetsch's ability to control the fight. I see him wearing down Costa and landing some tough shots followed by some take downs and some good ground-and-pound. Each has gone the distance in 3 of their last 4 fights so I just don't see a finish happening.
Tim Boetsch via Decision
Alan Belcher vs, Yushin Okami
The two both made their UFC debuts WAAAAY back at UFC 62 against each other in a fight that went the distance with Okami getting the unanimous nod. Both have come a long way since then. I haven't been too impressed in the few times I have watched Okami fight. He is a great technical fighter but is far from thrilling to watch. Belcher on the other hand has shown his ability to finish fights and willingness to take the fight anywhere. The man had his leg locked up by Rousimar Palhares and lived to tell about it. In fact he went on to win that fight. I think he lands the better shots here and earns himself a win and a chance to maybe fight in a title eliminator after this.
Alan Belcher via 3rd round TKO
Derek Brunson vs. Chris Leben
After battling some addiction and drug problems its great to see Leben back in the Octagon. The man is arguable the most entertaining fighter on the UFC roster. I don't think I have seen a boring Leben fight. The man will take 6 punches to throw one. He is never out of a fight either. I am not too familiar with Brunson so don't know quite what to expect. Coming off losses to Kendall Grove and Ronaldo Souza doesn't scream elite fighter, and you are always in tough against the veteran Leben.
Chris Leben via 1st round KO (because why not)
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