UFC on Fox2 Preview and Predictions
Jan 28th, 2012 by dmack
UFC on Fox2
The United Center: Chicago, Illinois
Saturday, January 28, 2012
The UFC tries again to garner a mainstream TV with their second prime time event on Fox. Their first try, a heavyweight super fight between champion Cain Lelasquez and Junior Dos Santos, ended in 64 seconds and left people wondering if the unpredictability of MMA does in fact translate on the small screen. It should be an action packed program tonight with three televised bouts featuring six pretty good fighters. The UFC hopes more action and less build will continue the meteoric rise in popularity of the sport over the last five years.
All odds current as of 10:00 AM EST Saturday at Bovada
Rashad “Suga” Evans (16-1-1, -210) vs Phil “Mr Wonderful” Davis (9-0, +170) Light-Heavyweights
Two ex-Big Ten wrestlers square off here. Evans was an All-American out of Michigan State. Davis was a four-time All-American and 2008 NCAA champ out of Penn State. For Rashad Evans, this is a championship eliminator. If he wins and escapes unscathed, he’ll get a title shot with Jon Jones in April. For Phil Davis, it’s a move to the top of the 205 pound foodchain. Both fighters have excellent ground games but that’s where all similarities end. Evans has excellent stand up with fast hands and knockout power in both hands. Davis’ striking is basic at best. Mr Wonderful has only been in the sport two years and his best wins (Stann, Gustaffson, Boetsch) are nowhere near the quality and experience he faces tonight. Too much, too quick for Phil Davis.
Prediction: Evans by Unanimous Decision
Michael “The Count” Bisping (22-3, +300) vs Chael Sonnen (26-11-1, -400) Middleweights
This is a middleweight eliminator between two of the best trash talkers in the sport with the winner getting the legedary Anderson Silva in early summer. Bisping stepped in on short notice after Mark “The Filipini Wrecking Machine” Munoz had to have a gravel quarry removed from his elbow. This week he’s also claimed that Sonnen has just one testicle in reference to the Oregonian’s PED positive for testosterone. Sonnen is a killer that has come on in the latter part of his career. At this stage of the game, the only way tp beat him is a with a sledgehammer strike game or submit him after a mistake. Bisping is a talented technical boxer but can’t break an eggshell and out of his element when taken to the mat. Sonnen is on a mission and will look to make a point here.
Prediction: Sonnen by second round submission
Chris “All American” Weidman (7-0, -150) vs Demian Maia (15-3, +120) Middlewights
Weidman took this fight on short notice when he replaced Bisping who was bumped up to face Sonnen. He had to lose 32 pounds in 17 days to make weight and we’ll see if that comes into play here. The ‘All American” is an excellent wrestler but it is doubtful he’ll want to take this to the mat with one of the deadliest Brazilian Ju-Jitsu practioners in the sports. In fact Maia, has picked up four “Submission of the Night” bonuses in his 12 appearances in the octagon. Maia has faced the best in the sport and the best analogy to use here would be an open horse dropping into a Non-Winners to steal a purse and regain some swagger.
Prediction: Maia by second round submission
Other bouts
Evan Dunham (12-2, -375) over Nik Lentz (+290): Lentz is tough but on a 1.5 fight losing streak (loss changed to no decision) after going unbeaten since 2007. Dunham looks to regroup after first-round loss to Melvin Guillard in a fight taken on short notice. The Extreme Couture fighter rolls.
Mike Russow (14-1, -160) over John-Olav Einemo (6-2, +130): Russlow is a big banging Chicago cop in real life. Einemo had all kinds of travel problems getting here from Holland. Russlow gets major energy boost from the locals and sends the faithful home happy by knocking out “The Viking”.
Cub Swanson (15-5, -120) over George Roop (12-8-1, -110): Both fighters are extremely entertaining and this could certainly be a fight of the night candidate. Neither fighter has won or lost two-in-a-row since 2008 so with both fighters coming off losses, something has to give here. Prefer Swanson’s all around game here.
Charles Oliveira (15-2, -500) over Eric Wisely (19-6, +350): “Do Bronx” will be giving up some size here but has a much better resume. Oliveira’s two losses were to Jom Miller and Donald Cerrone, no shame there. Wisely won’t be confused with either one of thos two. Oliveira easy.
Shane Roller (10-5, -240) defeats Michael Johnson (9-6, +190): Both fighters fighting for their UFC lives. Johnson was GSP’s first pick at TUF 12. He made it to the final where he lost. MJ has been plagued by having big first rounds and then folding late. Roller has only to show some patience to take this guy out late.
Lavar Johnson (15-5, +170) defeats Joey Beltran (13-6, -225): Lavar Johnson is one tough SOB. He was shot twice at a family reunion in 2009 and has two wins by knockout on the comeback trail. LJ was submitted in both 2011 fights but needs only to brawl with the all brawl “Mexicutioner” here. Calling for a minor upset here.
Chris Camozzi (15-5, -170) over Dustin Jacoby (6-1, +140): Jacoby won his first six fights, the first five by stoppage before crapping out to a replacement fighter who dominated him on the ground for almost the entire fight. Carmozzi is tough, well rounded, and has been in with much better and now has a blueprint to an easy win.