As an opinion piece, I’m sure this article will catch flak for being so harsh on the UFC. The sad truth is that the UFC just isn’t putting together shows like they used to. As we realize more injuries and events become more tightly scheduled for the sake of profits, the ones who suffer end up being the fans.
It is you and I who pay for UFC, who buy into the image and the feel of a sport that was once so great who end up losing out. The UFC has grown in popularity, but through poor fights and poorer fighters putting together lackluster shows.
UFC 153 is evidence of this sort of event. You can read up and down the card without any real knowledge of the sport and would likely come out with a pretty good idea who is going to pull these things out.
The UFC should be putting together bigger PPV cards and leaving cards like this one on FX or Facebook or Spike… or wherever they want to put them. They aren’t worth the money.
With that said, let’s take a look at this card and see what we can come up with.
Anderson Silva vs. Stephan Bonnar
The main event. I’m pretty sure just about anybody would be shocked to see Bonnar take this. To give credit where it is due, Bonnar did step up to take this fight. The problem is, he’ll likely not be leaving it standing.
This will be a rout, and while Bonnar will come out hyped up and swinging, Silva will pick him apart until his corner scrapes him up off the mat with a squeegee.
Minotauro Noguiera vs. Dave Herman
I get that Herman has some skills. The kid has some talent when it comes to strikes, but his ground game is too weak and Minotauro far too rounded to let this striker get away with just beating him up.
He’s old, and that may be his downfall, but I think Noguiera has this one on the mat or in a landslide decision.
Glover Teixeira vs. Fabio Maldonado
This one is gonna hurt. Teixeira is the GSP of 205. Pretty much a perfect combination of strike, submission and takedown, he is going to manhandle Maldonado. Few people know much about Teixeira, but fewer still know Maldo-what’s-his-name.
At 205, Teixeira is a beast of a man while Maldonado is carrying a fair bit of extra weight. Expect a stoppage by the second round here.
Jon Fitch vs. Erick Silva
Most casual fans will know Jon Fitch. He’s a fairly well liked and experienced UFC vet. Erick Silva is less known, but I suspect will be more recognizable after this fight. He’s got good takedown defense, and if Fitch wants this, it will be a decision of whether he can take Silva down. Coin Flip: Silva in the second.
Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado
A close second for FOTN contender, this is a rematch from an Aug. 4 match-up on FOX. Phil Davis has a handful with Prado, but I think the reach advantage and relentlessness of Mr. Wonderful (Davis) is going to overshadow the skill of Prado. Expect a slow start and exciting finish in the second round.
Demian Maia vs. Rick Story
This one could go the distance, and with a lot of energy. If Davis/Prado is a close second, this is the fight it will be close to for FOTN. These guys are equal on paper and off. They fight the same, have the same high energy, and both have good defense.
Like Fitch/Silva, this is a coin flip, but not because they are each good at one thing. In fact, they are both good at so much that it’s hard to call. Very cautious prediction: Story by decision.
Rony Jason vs. Sam Sicilia
I really (really!) enjoy watching Sicilia. This guy has some power in those fists of his. Jason is no slouch, and while I do think he has talent, I don’t think he’s going to take this one.
Sicilia is too big, too powerful, too quick and has too much cardio for Jason to overcome. KO in the second round here for Sicilia.
Gleison Tibau vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Tibau has some takedowns and good takedown defense, but Trinaldo will want to keep this one standing. Trinaldo has some good power, but I don’t think he has the experience in the octagon yet to match up well with someone like Tibau. Expect a takedown and submission late in the first round.
Diego Brandao vs. Joey Gambino
Brandao has some skills, but with a 19-8 record, he just doesn’t match up against the 9-1 Gambino the way one might hope for. First round, Gambino with the win.
Sergio Moraes vs. Renee Forte
On one hand, Moraes is a good fighter with skill in all areas of MMA. On the other, Forte will dominate this fight no matter where it ends up. Not a lot to talk about with these two, Forte has Moraes beat anywhere in the Octagon.
Luiz Cane vs. Chris Camozzi
This will probably be a slug-fest. A couple of strikers just throwing ’til the victor walks out, arms raised. After his last fight, Cane has something to prove and sometimes that gets the better of him.
He is usually either knocked out or lands a winning blow in the first round. Unfortunately for him, that tradition will continue with Camozzi pulling out a very late first-round victory. Expect some blood.
Cristiano Marcello Vs. Reza Madadi
No doubt someone from this match will take the Submission of the Night title. I suspect it will probably be Marcello, but this is a pretty decent match-up and Madadi could certainly pull it out. The more aggressive Marcello will likely see the victory in the end via decision.
No matter how you slice it,there will definitely be some interesting fights at UFC 153, but they aren’t the blockbuster events one might grow to expect from this sport. The UFC just hasn’t been able to piece together a solid front-to-back show in a few years.
Let’s hope this card is better than it looks at first glance. I am certainly not expecting great things, but there should be a couple fights in here worth watching at least.
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