UFC 125 is set for New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2011 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States. Main card Lightweight Championship bout: Frankie Edgar (current champion) vs Gray Maynard The fact that Frank Edgar outboxed and beat BJ Penn twice says a lot. I’ve always respected Edgar’s game way […]
UFC 125 is set for New Year’s Day, January 1st, 2011 at The MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, United States.
Main card
Lightweight Championship bout: Frankie Edgar (current champion) vs Gray Maynard
The fact that Frank Edgar outboxed and beat BJ Penn twice says a lot. I’ve always respected Edgar’s game way before he was a champion and that his wrestling translated extremely well to MMA very early in his career. Gray Maynard is not as good on the feet, but still very good. There are very few MMA fighters that have Edgar’s equal foot work.
One advantage Gray will certainly have is power. Maynard is big for the division, while Edgar doesn’t even cut weight. Its been said that Maynard’s wrestling is the best in his division. Edgar imo is on par in this department.
Gray Maynard has already beaten Frankie Edgar once before and its the only loss on his record. I think Gray Maynard is going to win…again.
Middleweight bout: Chris Leben vs Brian Stann
Chris Leben too much experience, too many ways to win. Stann can win if he overwhelms Leben early, but then again, Leben has that durability and zombie chin that will be difficult to finish.
I think Leben wins inside 3 rounds.
Light Heavyweight bout: Brandon Vera vs Thiago Silva
Interesting fight here. Could be excellent. I like Vera here due to being more well rounded overall. Not only that, but Silva usually wins in the first two rounds. Vera is very good at nullifying damage.
I like Vera for the win.
Welterweight bout: Nate Diaz vs Dong Hyun Kim
As much as I am a fan of the Diaz brothers I like watching the Stun Gun fight. I think the durability of Kim and his submission defense will be enough to take a decision from Nate. Kim is very durable fighter who is a good striker although he hasn’t been able to showcase against the excellent talent in the UFC.
I’m going with The Stun Gun, Dong Hyun Kim.
Lightweight bout: Clay Guida vs Takanori Gomi
Guida is favored here, at -165 on Bookmaker.com, but I think this fight can be Gomi’s. His wrestling his almost as good as Guida’s. The Fireball Kid will have a reach advantage and hits hard. Guida has been stunned before and his hair is not going to help, but get in the way of his vision against Gomi’s hooks.
I think Gomi has all the advantages to beat Guida in this one.
Preliminary card
Lightweight bout: Marcus Davis vs Jeremy Stephens
Awesome fight – could be fight of the night. Both fighters throw caution to the wind in order to put on a show and both fighters strengths are excellent stand up punchers. Davis does have a nasty low leg kick as well too.
Stephens will win.
Featherweight bout: Josh Grispi vs Dustin Poirier
Poirer is coming off a KO of Zach Micklewright and Grispi is still winning. I think Grispi is better overall.
I’m going with Grispi.
Middleweight bout: Phil Baroni vs Brad Tavares
Two stand up fighters. Should be exciting. Gotta go with the younger fighter here in Brad Tavares.
Featherweight bout: Mike Brown vs Diego Nunes
Mike Brown.
Welterweight bout: Daniel Roberts vs Greg Soto
Going with the Ninja, Daniel Roberts.
Lightweight bout: Jacob Volkmann vs Antonio McKee
A fight of two good wrestlers whose primary game is wrestling. Antonio who has been accused of being boring his entire career for basically dominating a fight, but getting a decision in the end. Never finishing a fight. However, in his last fight in the MFC he dominated with the takedown got top control then mount and KO’d the guy. He said if he didn’t finish the fight he would retire. McKee is up there in age. UFC fans are not going to know McKee, but this guy has fought in smaller shows for years now. I’m glad he’s finally getting a shot to fight in the UFC. McKee will be too much for Volkmann.
LAS VEGAS — Many people have taken a short look at the life and times of Chris Leben and drawn their own conclusions. Brian Stann is no different. Except Stann’s judgment was as simple as five words: “I want to fight him.”
It’s been a year full of headlines for UFC middleweight 
November is a month without any title fights, which makes it a good time to take a long view of the future title picture in each weight class. Today we look at the middleweight division.