UFC on FX 4: Who Will Win the Post-Fight Bonuses?

UFC on FX 4 is set for Friday, June 22, in Atlantic City. The card will feature a main event between lightweight contenders Clay Guida and Gray Maynard.

Beyond the show's headliner, UFC on FX 4 possesses a bevy of fights that look to be very competitive and have the potential to both excite and awe in large measures.

The card promises to display exhilarating knockouts, masterful submissions and back-and-forth action guaranteed to satisfy all of your MMA desires.

Let's take a look at where the best of Friday night's entertainment will come from. Let's see who will take home knockout, submission and fight of the night honors.

Knockout of the Night Candidates

Matt Brown

Despite his inclinations to take the action to the mat in his most recent fight against Stephen Thompson, Brown is a guy who likes to keep it standing more often than not.

On Friday night Brown will take on Luis Ramos, whose sole contribution to the UFC thus far has been providing fuel for the Erick Silva hype train. And though Ramos' 40 second defeat by Silva marked just the second time he has been stopped by strikes, the pieces look to be adding up to a Matt Brown knockout. 

Brown is an aggressive striker and will look to blast away at Ramos early and often. If he can sneak a few right hands past the Brazilian's defenses he should be able to finish the fight and throw his hat into the ring for the Knockout of the Night bonus.

Brian Ebersole

Ebersole is an extremely well-rounded fighter, though his greatest strength is undoubtedly wrestling, ground-control and submissions. However, his excellence on the ground should not belie his abilities on the feet—abilities he may look to rely on more heavily than usual against a submission machine like T.J. Waldburger.

In six losses, Waldburger has been (T)KO'd five times, most recently by Johny Hendricks. Although Ebersole may not have the raw power that Hendricks wields, he can do some damage—just ask Chris Lytle, who was stunned more than once by Ebsersole's strikes.

Look for Ebersole to attempt to keep this contest standing and blast away at Waldburger with punches and knees.

Sam Stout

A slightly more sentimental forecast would have included Spencer Fisher as well, but realistically the chances of a knockout win for Stout dwarf those of the King.

Stout and Fisher have already had two absolute wars together and have each proven that they can eat the other one's best punches. But, Fisher has looked a bit past his prime since 2009, so expecting the same level of competitiveness in the rubber match may be wishful thinking.

At 36-years-old, Fisher's ability to defend himself and take damage are not what they used to be. At this point, I don't think he can have another battle with Stout without suffering a decisive defeat.

Knockout of the Night Winner

Sam Stout

Spencer Fisher is a reasonably well-rounded fighter, but the allure to preserve the legacy of the Fisher-Stout trilogy will likely draw him into a striking match. While this was once a solid strategy for Fisher, it will not fly this time around.

At 28-years-of-age, Sam Stout is in his prime. He hits as hard as ever, he strikes as quickly as ever and he can keep a fast pace as well as ever. The same cannot be said for Fisher.

One-and-four over his last five, Fisher is clearly in the backslide of his career. He will not be able to take the damage Stout can dish out, he will not be able to match the hand speed of Stout and his body will not allow him to keep up with the Canadian striker.

It may happen quickly as a one-punch knockout, or it may be the culmination of two-and-a-half rounds of consistent damage, but eventually Sam Stout will knockout Spencer Fisher, and he will do so in impressive fashion.

Submission of the Night Candidates

Joey Gambino

Joey Gambino will take on Steven Siler this Friday in what will be his debut with the UFC. Gambino enters the promotion with a 9-0 record, owning five submission victories.

Gambino's forte is gaining top position then working for a knockout or submission, and he especially likes to look for an opponent's arm. 

Gambino's opponent, Steven Siler, is certainly submission prone, so the formula equates to a possible Gambino submission win.

Steven Siler

Ok, I'm going to give you the old flipperoo. Yes, there is a good chance that Gambino forces Siler to tap, but the inverse is also possible.

Though he is susceptible to falling into submissions himself, Siler is an adequate grappler. In 20 career victories Siler has amassed 12 submission wins and will not loathe the idea of going to the mat against Gambino, where he will pose a legitimate threat to his opponent.

T.J. Waldburger

Though Brian Ebersole is an extremely well-rounded fighter, he has been susceptible to the submission during his career. Though he has most definitely shored up that area of his game over the past few years, only time will tell if his submission defense can match the smothering ground assault of T.J. Waldburger.

Waldburger is a submission whiz who has garnered 12 submissions in 15 career victories. He will certainly have his work cut out against Ebersole, but if he gets the grizzled vet to the ground he undoubtedly has the ability to stop the fight.

Submission of the Night Winner

Joey Gambino

Steven Siler was able to thwart the takedown attempts of Cole Miller in his last contest, but I don't think that will be the case against Gambino. Eventually this fight will hit the mat, and both guys will be looking for the finish.

Siler is capable of sinking in a submission of his own, but his inability to defend submission attempts will be his demise in the bout.

Look for Gambino to gain top control, fend off Siler's choke attempts and move into a dominant position where he can secure an armbar, arm triangle or rear-naked choke.

Fight of the Night Candidates

Brian Ebersole versus T.J. Waldburger

This fight should be very intriguing because it will likely be one of those matches that seamlessly transitions through the striking, wrestling and grappling realms. Though Waldburger will want to fight on the ground and Ebersole will push for a standup battle, the aggressiveness of each fighter should lead to a very nice mix.

Of course, Waldburger could score a quick submission or Ebersole a quick knockout; but if there is no quick finish, this will be one you won't want to miss.

Spencer Fisher versus Sam Stout

I have already voiced my prediction for this fight via my Sam Stout for Knockout of the Night award forecast. Here, however, I will qualify it: Sam Stout will win the Knockout of the Night award if his fight with Spencer Fisher does not go the distance.

If this fight does go the distance, there is no reason to believe it will be anything but another classic.

If you do not believe that this fight at least deserves consideration for the FOTN award, go find videos of the first two times these guys hooked em' up inside the Octagon.

That is all.

Hatsu Hioki versus Ricardo Lamas

Both Hioki and Lamas looked extraordinary last time out. If each guy can replicate the performance he put on in the previous match, this one will be a barn-burner.

The likelihood for a slugfest is quite limited, but Hioki and Lamas may just put on a back-and-forth battle, displaying exciting clinch work and fantastic grappling along the way.

Fight of the Night Winner

Brian Ebersole versus T.J. Waldburger

Ebersole could conceivably score a quick knockout over Waldburger. 

Waldburger may reasonably make Ebersole tap out in the first round. 

But, if neither of those things becomes a reality, this fight should be a very fun 15 minutes.

Expect this bout to contain a cornucopia of all the best elements of mixed martial arts. There should be some nice striking, aggressive takedowns, high-level grappling, threatening submission attempts and a fast pace to keep it all moving. 

Schedule a bathroom break before this one starts because you won't want to miss even a minute of the action.