The upcoming UFC on Fox 3 event is going to be full of exciting action, with the biggest fights resulting in title shots.
Nate Diaz and Johny Hendricks will both be hoping to win their respective matches against Jim Miller and Josh Koscheck to earn the chance at a title fight.
There are 11 matches on the docket, but I’m going to focus on the top three fights and determine the winners for each of them.
Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
There was some speculation that both fighters would have a shot at a title fight with a win, but Dana White has squashed the notion that Miller is ready for such an honor (h/t Yahoo! Sports).
It’s a shame, too, because Miller has a much better record (21-3) compared to Diaz (15-7). Miller just isn’t a flashy guy; he wins, but his wins aren’t that interesting to watch.
Diaz has only won five out his last nine fights, making this decision even more questionable in my eyes. That being said, it is what it is, and the two men will duke it out to the max no matter what’s at stake.
Diaz will try and keep himself from ending up on the ground. He will attempt to make it a striking match, but Miller will be focused on taking him down from the get-go.
I have to go with Miller in this one. He is going to get Diaz on the ground and will go to work early and often.
Prediction: Miller wins by submission in the third round.
Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks
These two fighters won’t spend much time on their feet. Both of them are top-notch wrestlers, and if watching two men grapple for 15 minutes is your idea of a good time, then you’re going to love this fight.
Koscheck is a long-standing member of the UFC. He’s had his ups and downs, but in the end, he’s always hanging around. Most people either love him or hate him for his brash nature, but nobody can argue the fact that he’s a dangerous fighter.
Hendricks is more of a newcomer, but he’s taken the UFC by storm by compiling a record of 12-1. He was an elite college wrestler at Oklahoma State, winning the 2005 and 2006 Division I wrestling title at 165 pounds.
In the end, this match will be about Hendricks’ power vs. Koscheck’s athleticism. Hendricks has a chance to earn a title fight with a victory, as I already mentioned, and he has momentum after winning his last three fights.
Prediction: Hendricks wins via unanimous decision.
Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher
Palhares is an interesting fellow. His nickname is “Toquinho,” which means “little tree stump” in Portuguese. He seemingly always tries to break his opponents’ legs by utilizing his vast array of leg locks and is known for his erratic behavior during fights (h/t mixedmartialarts.com).
Belcher, on the other hand, doesn’t rock the boat in any way, shape or form. He’s just a silent assassin who knows how to win in any number of ways.
Both men are coming off three-fight winning streaks and look to be in peak condition for their upcoming duel.
Prediction: Palhares wins by leg lock in the second round.
Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com