UFC 172 promises to be one of the more memorable cards in recent history thanks to impressive depth throughout the event, which is headlined by the highly anticipated Jon Jones vs. Glover Teixeira bout.
While Jones and Teixeira will put on a show after a boatload of hype and overanalysis, some of the lesser matches on the card may provide the best action of the night. After all, it’s hard to imagine anyone topping Jones in his current form.
The other fights on the card aren’t as predictable. Here’s a look at the full list, followed by a breakdown of two bouts that are sure to entertain.
Luke Rockhold vs. Tim Boetsch
There’s an underlying chance for major entertainment value when Luke Rockhold and Tim Boetsch step into the Octagon on Saturday.
Yes, Boetsch has been on a skid of epic proportions, losing to Costa Philippou and Mark Munoz before somehow getting the controversial split decision at UFC 166 against C.B. Dollaway. He’s ranked No. 13 and gets yet another shot at a Top 10 opponent.
Rockhold is fresh off a loss to Vitor Belfort and a major win over Philippou in his UFC debut, so it’s easy to write this off as a major blowout win for the former Strikeforce middleweight champion, who seems to want another stab at Belfort sooner rather than later.
But Boetsch has tapped once and been knocked out just twice in his career. If he can get the fight up against the cage to negate Rockhold’s length advantage, things may just swing in his favor. He can also grab a highlight win if Rockhold leaves himself open for a counter, which he does rather routinely.
Regardless, both men have something to prove, as one may be released from the promotion with a loss, while the other may fail on his effort to get back at Belfort.
Jim Miller vs. Yancy Medeiros
Yancy Medeiros emphatically put himself on the map in his first UFC win last November via a first-round knockout of Yves Edwards.
Then he was busted for marijuana.
That experience is in the rearview mirror, as Medeiros wants to set a better example, per Marc Raimondi of Fox Sports. “I made a big change,” Medeiros said. “I’m sober now. I want to be a good image, to especially Hawaii. I want to be a representative, an ambassador. That was a big change for me.”
To advance even further in an extremely stacked division, Medeiros has to move past annual lightweight contender Jim Miller, who most recently scored a first-round victory over Fabricio Camoes.
It’s a war of contrasting styles on Saturday. Medeiros is known as a finisher via strikes, with six of his nine victories coming in that fashion. Miller is the opposite, as evidenced by his 13 submission wins.
The decisive factor? Experience. Miller is an Octagon veteran with a strong jaw. He won’t have to do much more than avoid the big swings and get Medeiros on the mat to earn another victory. For Medeiros, he has to seize a fleeting chance at glory to prove he belongs in the promotion.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com