We’re now only a day away from “UFC on Fox 2.”
In the main event, top light heavyweights clash as the undefeated Phil Davis meets former UFC light heavyweight champion Rashad Evans.
The co-main event will also be an interesting matchup, as Michael Bisping fights Chael Sonnen, with the winner getting a shot at Anderson Silva’s UFC Middleweight Championship.
As is customary, here is my official “picks and predictions” post for “UFC on Fox 2.”
Chris Weidman vs. Demian Maia
I have a lot of respect for Chris Weidman.
I respect him for being undefeated. I respect him for putting on some good fights in his short time with the UFC. I respect him for taking this fight on such short notice.
But to this day, Demian Maia continues to display flashes of brilliance that make me believe that one day he could become the next Mark Munoz. Maia’s stand-up has been consistently improving on a fight-by-fight basis, and we all know how good his ground game is.
With Munoz taking that final big step out of gatekeeper status and into legitimate championship relevancy, I think Maia stands tall as the best gatekeeper in the UFC’s middleweight division.
It’ll be a war, but Maia’s experience and expanding versatility will be too much for Weidman, especially since he’s coming in on ultra-short notice. Demian Maia wins by unanimous decision.
Chael Sonnen vs. Michael Bisping
Hate me if you must, disagree with me if you like, but I still think Michael Bisping isn’t submitting Chael Sonnen.
Bisping could damage Sonnen over three rounds, and he may even be able to TKO him if given the perfect opportunity, but my official prediction is that Sonnen spends much of this fight taking Bisping down and having his way with him on the ground.
It’ll be “pillow hands” this and “lay and pray” that from the Sonnen cynics, but I respect Sonnen’s smothering, dominant top game too much to give Bisping the nod in this fight.
Chael Sonnen is coming off of one of the best performances of his career, and he is as motivated as he has ever been. Chael Sonnen wins by dominant unanimous decision.
Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis
I haven’t seen Rashad Evans this motivated since he knocked out Chuck Liddell.
I think Evans is truly angry at not only his situation, but at himself. The UFC isn’t blameless here, either, but Evans has had an active role in what has become a saga revolving around the constant game of “so close and yet so far away” for his shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.
I have nothing against Phil Davis, and I think in a year or two he’ll be right at Rashad’s level and ready to compete for the title. But right now, going up against a motivated and angry Evans, I think Davis is going to crumble under the pressure.
Rashad is going to attack and he won’t stop attacking, and eventually he’ll blow past any and all of Davis’ defenses and finish him. Rashad Evans wins by TKO in Round 2.
And that’s what I think, fans and friends.
Oliver Saenz, also known as PdW2kX, is a freelance journalist, opinion columnist, hardcore MMA fan and lifelong video game nerd. For more news, views, previews and reviews on all things Mixed Martial Arts as well as video games, be sure to visit FightGamesBlog.net.
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