UFC has put together one of its strongest cards in months, with Anderson Silva defending his middleweight championship belt in the main event against Chael Sonnen on Saturday night. The undercard also features several big names.
Let’s take a look at three fighters who will emerge victorious at UFC 148. Since there are so many marquee matchups on the card, there will be huge audience tuned in to watch. That makes it a perfect opportunity to make a major statement.
Griffin and Tito Ortiz are two guys in desperate need of a win. Griffin will be entering the octagon for the first time in 11 months after injuries suffered in a loss to Mauricio Rua. Ortiz, meanwhile, has lost two straight bouts and six of his last eight.
It’s the third time they have fought each other, splitting the first two. Although it’s tough to get a good read on Griffin’s match fitness, it’s hard to have any faith in Ortiz at this point. He simply hasn’t been the same since losing to Chuck Liddell.
Both of the previous meetings have been close, and this one shouldn’t be any different, since each should have plenty of motivation. Ultimately, Griffin has been in better form over the last few fights and should escape with the win.
Anderson Silva
Sonnen actually held his own the first time he faced off with Silva before the champion was able to earn a late submission victory. Neither fighter has lost since then, which adds a lot of intrigue to main event, as they both continue to show no signs of slowing down.
What makes Silva so tough to beat and has allowed him to set the record for most consecutive title defenses is his ability to win any type of fight. Just in his last four bouts, he’s won by knockout, submission and decision. That makes him special.
He can’t take Sonnen lightly, because the challenger will be out to prove his narrow loss in the first fight wasn’t a fluke. That said, Silva still has the overall advantage and should figure out a way to come out on top when the dust clears.
Chad Mendes
Even though Mendes failed in the biggest fight of his career against Jose Aldo back in January, there’s still a lot to like about his future. He has showcased the ability to survive grueling fights and has improved his approach in recent years.
He’ll battle Cody McKenzie, who ended a short losing streak with a win over Marcus LeVesseur the last time out. Both guys have shown flashes out potential early in their careers, so it all comes down to becoming more consistent from fight to fight.
The key for Mendes will be showing a little more aggressiveness early. He has established his ability to go deep in fights. If he can start earning some early knockouts, that’s when he’ll take his game to the next level and become a star. He can do that against McKenzie.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com