UFC 160 will be live Saturday night, May 25, from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, and with such a wonderful venue for the show, the card had to be just as amazing.
With Cain Velasquez fighting Antonio Silva for the UFC Heavyweight Championship and two possible No. 1 contender’s fights, Dana White and the company’s officials have done an amazing job building a card worthy of the venue.
Now let’s hope fight night goes off without a hitch.
Facebook Preliminaries
Starts at 6:35 p.m ET
|
Matchups |
Weight (lbs) |
My Pick |
|
Jeremy Stephens vs. Estevan Payan |
155 |
Stephens via Sub. |
|
Brian Bowles vs. George Roop |
135 |
Bowles via TKO. |
|
Stephen Thompson vs. Nah-Shon Burrell |
170 |
Thompson via Dec. |
FX Preliminaries
Starts at 8 p.m. ET
|
Matchups |
Weight (lbs) |
My Pick |
|
Khabib Nurmagomedov vs. Abel Trujillo |
155 |
Trujillo via Dec. |
|
Colton Smith vs. Robert Whittaker |
170 |
Whittaker via Dec |
|
Dennis Bermudez vs. Max Holloway |
145 |
Bermudez via TKO. |
|
Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story |
170 |
Pyle via KO |
Main Card
Only on PPV, starts at 10 p.m. ET
|
Matchups |
Weight (lbs) |
My Pick |
|
Donald Cerrone vs. KJ Noons |
155 |
Cerrone via KO* |
|
T.J. Grant vs. Gray Maynard |
155 |
Maynard via Dec.*** |
|
Glover Teixeira vs. James Te Huna |
205 |
Teixeira via Dec. |
|
Mark Hunt vs. Junior dos Santos |
265 |
Dos Santos via Sub.** |
|
UFC Heavyweight Title Cain Velasquez (c) vs. Antonio Silva |
265 |
Velasquez via TKO |
* Knockout of the Night
** Submission of the Night
*** Fight of the Night
Fights You Can’t Miss
PPV Main Card: T.J. Grant vs. Gray Maynard
While the two heavyweight main events will steal all the hype on the PPV card, the best fight of the night will be the war between T.J. Grant and Gray Maynard.
Both men love to exchange heavy shots in the middle of the ring and abuse their opponents, but it will be the stellar wrestling of Maynard that makes the difference in this even matchup.
As arguably the most decorated wrestler in the division, look for Maynard to shoot early and often, and if he gets Grant to the ground, expect plenty of elbows and ground strikes.
Grant has the power and the speed to knock Maynard out—something Frankie Edgar proved was possible at UFC 136—and will be looking to stop the wrestling onslaught coming his way Saturday night.
This is a top Fight of the Night candidate and can’t be missed.
Predicted Winner: Gray Maynard
FX Prelims: Mike Pyle vs. Rick Story
If you are looking for the best fight on the FX Prelims, look no further than the all-out war between veterans Mike Pyle and Rick Story.
While Story hasn’t been fighting as well as he should—lost three of his last five fights—he will be facing off with the 37-year-old Pyle who is coming off three straight TKO or KO victories.
As much as Pyle’s age looks like a disadvantage, the in-ring smarts of the older fighter allows him to conserve energy and not waste any of his motions. As talented as Story is inside the Octagon, Pyle will win this fight in convincing fashion.
Predicted Winner: Mike Pyle
Facebook Prelims: Brian Bowles vs. George Roop
While this bout has been relegated to the Facebook Prelims, there is no doubt that this is a marquee fight that will undoubtedly steal the show on the social media platform.
Both George Roop and Brian Bowles are MMA veterans, and at over 30 years old each, this could be one of their last chances to make a huge impact on UFC officials and prove they deserve higher billing.
As talented as Roop is—beat Reuben Duran in his last fight at UFC 158—Bowles is a wild striker that can knock out almost any fighter he faces. Bowles hasn’t fought since 2011, but the more talented fighter will begin his ascension back to the top of the division Saturday.
Predicted Winner: Brian Bowles
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