The second UFC event in August kicks off this Saturday night in California, with a very impressive fight card that should have fans very excited. A Middleweight title fight headlines the card as legendary Anderson Silva takes on challenger Chael Sonnen. A welterweight rematch involving Jon Fitch and Thiago Alves, as well as a heavyweight fight between Junior Dos Santos and Roy Nelson to determine the next contender for the title complete a impressive fight card. Let's preview the main card fights and look into predictions:
UFC 117 - Silva vs. Sonnen
Oracle Arena,
Oakland, California, United States
Junior "Cigano" Dos Santos
Junior Dos Santos comes into this fight riding a very impressive six fight win streak, with Cigano finishing all six opponents. The impressive win streak includes victories over Stefan Struve, Gabriel Gonzaga, Mirko Filipovic, Fabricio (the Fedor beater) Werdum and Gilbert Yvel. Dos Santos sports a fantastic skill set, and his best weapon is his amazing stand up. He has very heavy hands, very quick boxing and the ability to finish just about anyone.
VS
Roy "Big Country" Nelson
If you have ever seen Roy Nelson, you understand where exactly his nickname came from. His surprisingly un-athletic looking body seems to clash with the idea that he is an MMA fighter (and a successful one at that). Looking past how Nelson looks, he carries a lot of power in his hands, and is a competitive grappler. His two fights in the UFC so far were both KO victories over the likes of Stefan Struve and Brendan Schuab.Nelson might not have the gas tank that some fighters have but his weight advantage can be helpful from the top position.
Analysis: Both Dos Santos and Nelson have the power to knock out most MMA fighters, but against each other, Dos Santos has the advantage of faster hands,better boxing and counter punching. Both fighters have the obvious puncher's chance but it seems more likely that Dos Santos will overwhelm Nelson sometime in the fight.
Prediction: Junior Dos Santos 2nd Round TKO
Matt Hughes
Matt Hughes, one of the greatest veterans of the sport, rides a two fight win streak into this bout, with wins over Renzo Gracie and Matt Serra. Despite his last two victories, Hughes is not as dominant as he once was. He sports a excellent 44 - 7 record, but is probably closer to retiring then ever. His signature slams are long gone, and his take downs have looked lack luster as of late. Hughes is a two time Welterweight champion and sports the kind of experience few other fights have earned.
VS
Ricardo Almeida
Ricardo Almeida sports a 3 fight win streak coming into this match, with wins over Kendall Grove and Matt Brown. Almeida is a very successful BJJ practitioner and wrestler with good take-downs and top game. This is Almeida's second stint in the octagon and a win over Hughes could give him some big name recognition on his way up towards the title.
Analysis: Hughes is one of the best Welterweight fighters of all time, but clearly his best years are behind him at this point. The fight is not impossible for him to win, but it is highly likely he will fall victim to Almeida's wrestling and BJJ Saturday night.
Prediction: Ricardo Almeida 2nd Round Submission
Clay "The Carpenter" Guida
Clay Guida is coming into this bout with a victory in his last fight over Shannon Gugerty, but being 1 - 2 in his last 3 UFC fights. Guida has the advantage of having cardio superior to most MMA fighters, and can keep a ferocious pace throughout the entire fight. he employs a ground and pound style that takes advantage of his good top control, cardio and explosiveness. He also has a very solid chin, and has never been finished via TKO or KO in his career.
VS
Rafael Dos Anjos
Rafael Dos Anjos comes into Saturday night's fight with a 3 fight win streak in the octagon. His grappling and BJJ are excellent (BJJ Black Belt) and he has won half his fights by submission and has never been submitted.He won submission of the night in his last victory by arm bar over Terry Etim. A win over Guida would likely help Dos Anjos climb up the lightweight division.
Analysis: Guida has the cardio and chin to force any fighter to wear out and go the distance, but he loses some of his advantage to Dos Anjos because of his superb BJJ and grappling. Guida will look to take Dos Anjos down and control and pound him, but could easily fall prey to the black belt Brazilian fighter.
Prediction: Rafael Dos Anjos 3rd Round Submission
Jon Fitch
Jon Fitch is a superior force in the lightweight division and rides a four fight win streak into his rematch with Thiago Alves.The only downfall of Fitch's win streak, maybe only according to fans, is that they all were decision wins.He holds tremendous wrestling ability, but lacks a superb stand-up or finishing power of other fighters.He beat Thiago in their first fight, thought that was four years ago.
VS
Thiago "The Pitbull" Alves
Thiago Alves last fought in 2009 when he challenged GSP for the Welterweight title, losing a unanimous decision. He has vicious power, winning 10 of his fights by (T)KO, including finishing opponents Chris Lytle(won fight of the night) ,Matt Hughes (won knock out of the night), and Karo Parisyan. He has good take down defense, cardio, and the ability to finish any opponent.
Analysis: Jon Fitch is a great MMA fighter, and uses his specific strategy to neutralize opponents and grind out wins, but this might not work on Alves. The Pitbull's stand up is far better than that of Fitch, and his TDD has improved vastly since the last time they fought.
Prediction: Thiago Alves 2nd Round TKO
Anderson "The Spider" Silva
Anderson Silva is one of the best fighters to ever come into the UFC, if not the best. He is undefeated in the octagon, and is the longest reigning champion in the promotion's history. He has defeated numerous talented fighters such as Rich Franklin (twice), Chris Leben, Forrest Griffin, and Dan Henderson. He has amazing striking ability and some of the best counter punching in the business and has won knock out of the night and fight of the night twice each. As of late though, he has seemed a little complacent in the cage, even forcing Dana White to reprimand Silva harshly in his last fight, telling him that if he repeated such a performance, he would be cut from the promotion.
VS
Chael Sonnen
Chael Sonnen is currently the #2 Middleweight in the UFC and is stepping up to fight Anderson Silva for the belt this Saturday night. Sonnen rides a three fight win streak into the title match, with victories over Nate Marquardt, Yushin Okami, and Dan Miller. Sonnen is also the only fighter ever to defeat Paulo Filho, a former WEC Middleweight champion. Sonnen employs superior wrestling in his fights (NCAA Division I All-American wrestler at the University of Oregon), and a good top game. In the months leading up to the fight, Sonnen has been incredibly open about his views of the fight and Anderson Silva, letting immense amounts of trash talk fly.
Analysis: Realistically, Silva is leagues above Sonnen in ability (though Silva is leagues above everyone), and will most likely take this fight easily. But Sonnen does provide an interesting match up in that his wrestling is very good, and time and time again the key to beating Silva is believed to be taking him to the mat and controlling him for the fights entirety. Sonnen has the wrestling to take him down and keep him there, but he lacks the stand up to mess around much on the feet, and is also very susceptible to submissions.Big money would be put on Silva's head, but with Silva's complacency and desire for octagon dance-offs, Sonnen's hilarious and ridiculous trash talk and being the underdog of the ages; I'm going to bite the bullet and believe the impossible.
Prediction: Chael Sonnen Unanimous Decision
Results to follow event
Result: Guida and Dos Anjos fought a primarily stand up, back and forth slug fest with Guida landing the heavier and more accurate shots. Guida notriously fast pace was matched by Dos Anjos for the most part until Guida caught him with a big hand to the chin that injured Dos Anjos. Later in the fight as Guida took Dos Anjos down and grinded him into the mat, he pressed down with his shoulder on the recent jaw injury and Dos Anjos ended up submitting.
