Ronda Rousey and Liz Carmouche headline a loaded card at UFC 157, and the landmark event is certain to attract a high level of public interest. It’s the first time the UFC has featured a fight between two women, and Rousey is one of MMA‘s biggest stars.
Rousey vs. Carmouche isn’t the only fight that will generate buzz, though.
Lyoto Machida will take on Dan Henderson in a matchup between two of UFC’s most popular fighters, and Ivan Menjivar will fight Urijah Faber in a rematch from 2006—a fight that saw Menjivar get disqualified for an illegal upkick.
All three fights will certainly be worth the price of admission.
Menjivar vs. Faber
Faber used to be the main man in the featherweight division, but he’s fallen on hard times of late, losing two of his last three matches.
Menjivar has been on a tear since joining the UFC, winning four of his five matches.
My heart wants to believe Faber can pull out of his slump and beat Menjivar on Saturday, but my mind won’t let my heart rule the day.
Menjivar rebounded from his loss to Mike Easton with a sick submission victory over Azamat Gashimov in UFC 154—an impressive arm bar that earned him his second “Submission of the Night” in his last three fights.
Bold Prediction: Menjivar will defeat Faber in Round 2 with another big-time submission.
Machida vs. Henderson
“The Dragon” takes on “Hendo” in a matchup between two of the biggest stars the UFC has to offer.
Since it’s not a title fight, these two warriors won’t have to conserve their strength for a five-round bout, which should mean more excitement for fans.
Henderson is coming off a 15-month layoff after a knee injury kept him away from competition. He’ll be as fresh as ever, and I hardly expect him to look old out there.
Machida has hit a bit of a rough patch of late, losing four of his last six matches, though he did show up in style against Ryan Bader at UFC on Fox 4, knocking him out in the second round.
Bold Prediction: Hendo will knock Machida out in Round 3.
Rousey vs. Carmouche
Rousey hasn’t hardly broken a sweat since becoming a pro, winning all six of her matches by arm-bar submission early in Round 1.
Every time someone steps up to the plate to take her on, they get squashed like a bug on a windshield.
Carmouche is a stand-up fighter who brings a level of unpredictability to every fight, and she has been highly successful in her career, winning eight of her 10 fights.
Rousey is used to getting her way, and she’s determined to make a huge statement in her first-ever UFC title fight.
Bold Prediction: Rousey wins by arm bar…in Round 2.
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