UFC 172 is quickly approaching, as the card marks the UFC’s return to pay-per-view this month. Headlined by a light heavyweight championship bout between Jon Jones and Glover Teixeira, the card is absolutely stacked from top to bottom.
The card also co-features another pair of top light heavyweights, as Phil Davis welcomes Anthony Johnson back to the company. The winner of this bout moves himself closer to a title bout, though one has to believe Alexander Gustafsson and Daniel Cormier are still ahead of either man.
With that, let’s take a look at the fights on the card and make some predictions on who will take home the bonuses of the night. The performance bonuses will be based on the knockout and submission of the night.
Performance of the Night No. 1: Jon Jones
Jon Jones is taking on a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt in Glover Teixeira who loves to throw heat in the stand-up department. It sounds like fighters he has faced and beaten before.
Jones has submitted two good grapplers in Vitor Belfort and Lyoto Machida in recent memory. He has the wrestling and submission skills to compete with anybody in the light heavyweight division.
That’s why he will likely take home a bonus in the aftermath of UFC 172. He will ground Glover Teixeira, grab a submission and laugh all the way to the bank.
Also in the running: Phil Davis, Jim Miller
Performance of the Night No. 2: Luke Rockhold
Remember Luke Rockhold‘s latest performance? If you don’t, he basically outgunned a pure boxer in Costa Philippou in dominating fashion on the feet and put him down with extreme prejudice.
Now, he has Tim Boetsch, who is not as good on the feet as Philippou and doesn’t have the wrestling pedigree to put the former Strikeforce champ on his back.
Boetsch has steaming punches, but Rockhold is technical and quick enough to stay away from a death blow. He will stay technical, light Boetsch up, get an impressive finish and be well-compensated for it.
Also in the running: Joe Ellenberger, Takanori Gomi
Fight of the Night: Max Holloway-Andre Fili
The minute Andre Fili-Max Holloway was announced, I was metaphorically salivating over how great this fight is on paper. When they turn this fight into reality, it has a chance to really dazzle fans.
Both Fili and Holloway are aggressive, hard-nosed strikers with a knack for being in fire fights. They are both rarely in boring fights, which allows them to warm up fans and gain respect in the aftermath.
These two are a perfect match for one another. They will punch and kick each other in the face a bunch of times, which will allow them to earn a little extra cash for their effort in Baltimore.
Also in the running: Joseph Benavidez-Tim Elliott, Jessamyn Duke-Bethe Correia
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