UFC on Fox 3 Main Event Preview & Predictions

• Jim Miller -225 vs. Nate Diaz +201

Nate Diaz (15-7) and Jim Miller (21-3) are fighting for the #1 contender role in the lightweight division. Jim Miller has an incredible record of 10-2 in the UFC with his only losses coming against Benson Henderson and Gray Maynard (2009). Nate Diaz is going to be confident heading into this fight, as he’s won his last two fights against Takanori Gomi and Donald Cerrone.

Diaz can beat you standing up or on the ground, but against Miller he’s going to need to win the fight on his feet with his boxing this weekend at UFC on Fox 3. Miller is a strong wrestler, but I’m betting on Diaz to win. This fight is 5-rounds and I think that the length of the fight will play a role in Miller’s endurance. Diaz should be able to keep a fast pace going and win by decision.

UFC on Fox 3 Main Card Preview & Predictions

• Johny Hendricks -116 vs. Josh Koscheck +105

Johny Hendricks (12-1) has surprised more than a few people with his 3-fight win streak. Hendricks is coming off of a paralyzing knockout victory where he sent Jon Fitch to the mat in just over 10 seconds. Josh Koscheck (17-5) has won his last two fights in the UFC and should be riding lots of momentum. I like Koscheck, but I think Hendricks wants to prove himself and knocking off Koscheck would be a big victory for the 28-year old big man.

• Rousimar Palhares -272 vs. Alan Belcher +241

Rousimar Palhares (14-3) proved in his last fight why he’s so deadly on the ground. Palhares won by Heel Hook in his last fight and now has 10 career submission victories. Alan Belcher (17-6) can knock you out or submit you, but fighting Palhares is going to be very tough. Palhares will win this fight if he can take it to the ground and I have no reason to believe he won’t be able to do that, so I’ll be throwing Palhares into some parlays and looking at the odds on Palhares to win by submission.

• Pat Berry -191 vs. Lavar Johnson +172

Pat Berry (7-4) hasn’t impressed me at all in the UFC and Lavar Johnson (16-5) looks like a live underdog. I’m betting on Johnson at +172 to win the 1st main card fight at UFC on Fox 3. One of these two fighters will end up getting knocked out, as both of these fighters love to swing and rarely go to decision. In fact, Johnson has never gone the distance in his career while Barry has only gone the distance once. The safe bet in my mind is that the fight will end by stoppage although I also think Johnson has value.

UFC 145 Main Event Preview & Predictions (Light Heavyweight Championship)

• Jon Jones -466 vs. Rashad Evans +397

Jon Jones (15-1) has an incredible 9-1 record in the UFC with his only loss coming to Matt Hamill in 2009 because of a DQ. Noone has been able to beat Jones in the cage yet and in my opinion Evans isn’t going to come close. Rashad Evans (17-1-1) has won his past four fights including a 5-round decision against Phil Davis in his last fight. Evans isn’t going to get gassed in this fight, but he will take a lot of damage. I’m not fond of betting into huge lines, so I’ll most likely be betting Jones to win by TKO/KO.

UFC 145 Main Card Preview & Predictions

• Rory MacDonald -489 vs. Che Mills +415

Rory MacDonald (12-1) should have an easy time beating Che Mills (14-4) this weekend at UFC 145. I don’t know too much about Mills although I did see him beat Chris Cope by TKO in his UFC debut last year. MacDonald is one of the best welterweights in the UFC right now and is riding a 2-fight win streak with wins over Nate Diaz and Mike Pyle. Mills hasn’t fought anyone like Rory yet and this should be an easy win for Rory. Rory can knock fighters out or submit them, but I think we’ll see a submission from him.

• Brendan Schaub -265 vs. Ben Rothwell +2355

Brendan Schaub is 8-2 in his young fighting career, but he’s coming off a loss against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. Schaub loves to bang it out, which is evident by his 7 TKO/KO victories. Ben Rothwell (31-8) has a ton of experience, but in the UFC he hasn’t had anything going for him. Rothwell is 1-2 in the UFC with his only win coming against Gilbert Yvel and there is just no way I see him being able to beat Schaub. Rothwell will swing with Schaub and one of these guys will get knocked out, but I’m betting Schaub.

• Miguel Torres -110 vs. Michael McDonald +100

Miguel Torres (40-4) is a fighting machine that is absolutely deadly with submissions. Torres is 2-1 in the UFC and all of his fights have gone to decision in the UFC, but he definitely has the talent to submit Michael McDonald (14-1). McDonald is 3-0 in the UFC already and he has been impressive although this will be his toughest test. McDonald has better striking than Torres, but Torres is better on the ground and has way more experience. This fight will be close, but I’ll take Torres.

• Mark Hominick -525 vs. Eddie Yagin +442

Another Canadian fan favourite Mark Hominick (20-10) will be in the cage taking on Eddie Yagin (15-5-1). Yagin lost his UFC debut against Junior Assuncao and should lose against Hominick. I really like Hominick, but he definitely needs a win this weekend, as he’s currently riding a rough 2-fight losing streak. Hominick came into his last fight and got knocked out in 7 seconds, but that should mean he’s focused for this fight regardless of who his opponent is.

• Mark Bocek -417 vs. John Alessio +359

John Alessio (34-14) has bounced around from promotion to promotion in his career, but the guy loves to fight. The 32-year old will be fighting Mark Bocek (10-4) in what should be a fairly uneventful fight. Bocek is the way better fighter and Bocek has a very boring style of fighting. Bocek gets the job done against most of his foes in the cage, but it isn’t pretty. Alessio is back in the UFC again after making brief stints in the promotion earlier in his career, but to start with a fight against Bocek isn’t ideal.

UFC on Fuel TV 2 Preview & Predictions

• Alexander Gustafsson -230 vs. Thiago Silva +190

The main event on the main card is going to be Alexander Gustafsson (13-1) vs. Thiago Silva (14-2-1). Silva is coming back from a suspension so we don’t have any recent form, but Silva has fought with the best of the light heavyweight division. Silva is a good striker, but Gustafsson is also a great striker and even better than Silva is. Gustafsson will be fighting in front of his home crowd and already has 9 career TKO/KO wins. I like Gustafsson to pick up his 5th win in a row plus the under in round betting.

• Brian Stann -425 vs. Alessio Sakara +340

Brian Stann (11-4) is a huge favourite coming into his fight this weekend against Alessio Sakara (15-8). Sakara has been in the UFC for years now, but for the most part he has been an undercard fighter that never gets much attention. Sakara falters against his tougher competition thus far in his career and that should happen against the very tough/athletic Stann. Both fighters will want to bang it out and since that’s the case I’m not betting the fight. Either fighter could connect and win, but I like Stann to win.

• Paulo Thiago -165 vs. Siyar Bahadurzada +135

Siyar Bahadurzada (20-4-1) will be making his UFC debut this weekend against Paulo Thiago (14-3). Thiago has been anything but consistent in his recent fights. Thiago is 3-3 in his last 6 fights with losses against Fitch, Kampmann and Sanchez. Siyar has won 6 fights in a row and will get a shot to prove to the UFC that he’s ready to step up in the middleweight division. Bahadurzada has 10 TKO/KO wins while Thiago has 8 submission wins, so it should be an interesting fight, but I’ll take the newcomer Bahadurzada.

• Diego Nunes -155 vs. Dennis Siver +135

Diego Nunes (17-2) is an excellent featherweight fighter that can beat most fighters on any given night. Dennis Siver (19-8) has had a much less consistent career than Nunes, but Siver is still an excellent fighter. Siver had strung 4 wins together before he lost his last fight against Cerrone. Siver has now jumped down to featherweight, but fighting Nunes isn’t going to be easy. I’m worried about Siver’s age and the fact he will have to cut a lot of weight. Nunes will wear Siver down and pick up a decision.

• John Maguire -170 vs. DaMarques Johnson +140

John Maguire (17-3) made his UFC debut last year at UFC 138 and beat Justin Edwards to notch his 6th win in a row. Maguire is now a favourite in his 2nd UFC fight against DaMarques Johnson (15-9). Johnson has been very inconsistent and I think we’re getting a bit of value on Maguire because many people still don’t know about him. This is going to be a boring fight most likely, but I think Maguire will be able to pick up a decision or submission victory after wearing Johnson down.

UFC on FX 2 Main Event Odds & Predictions

• Thiago Alves -135 vs. Martin Kampmann +115

Thiago Alves (19-8) and Martin Kampmann (18-5) are both looking to reenergize their careers and will meet in the main event at UFC on FX 2 this weekend. Both fighters have battled with inconsistent results, but they both have won their last fight. Thiago was able to beat Abedi by submission in the 1st round and Kampmann beat Story by split decision. Kampmann’s last four fights have gone to a decision and Alves has gone to decision 5 of his last 6 fights.

Both of these fighters have knockout power, but I think Alves is going to win the fight. Alves seems like he’s getting on track and I think he’ll get back into contention in the division. Kampmann is going to be tough due to his technical striking style and Alves will have to make sure he doesn’t get popped. I also like this fight going to decision.

UFC on FX 2 Main Card Odds & Predictions

• Demetrious Johnson -320 vs. Ian McCall +260

• Joseph Benavidez -950 vs. Yasuhiro Urushitani +625

• Court McGee -125 vs. Costantinos Philippou +105

Demetrious Johnson (14-2) should be able to beat Ian McCall (11-2), but it’s going to be close. Look what happened at UFC 144 with big favourites getting smoked. This is going to be a Flyweight division fight and should be interesting. Johnson has a bit more experience and both fighters have a loss against Dominick Cruz. McCall could win, but I’m on Johnson to get the decision victory after utilizing his ground game.

Joseph Benavidez (15-2) should have no problem beating Yasuhiro Urushitani (19-4). These two fighters have also jumped into the new Flyweight division to determine the 1st Flyweight champion. The winner of this fight and the Johnson vs. McCall fight will fight for the new Flyweight belt. Benavidez should easily win and to tell you the truth I don’t much about Urushitani. The problem is the odds are brutal and definitely not even worth betting.

Costantinos Philippou (9-2-1) is one of my favourite middleweight fighters and I’m betting on him to beat McGee. I need a dog on the main card and I like Philippou. I had him when he knocked out Hamman in his last fight and I’ll take him again. McGee is 14-1 in his career and is going to be a tough test for the big Greek fighter. If Philippou can connect he can do damage and I think he’s hungry to continue moving up the middleweight division.