Aldo vs Edgar: Odds and Predictions for the UFC 156 Main Card

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After having their bout canceled last year, Jose Aldo and Frankie Edgar will finally meet in the main event of UFC 156. 

For both men it will be their seventh straight title fight, with Edgar making his featherweight debut. 

Fighting in the co-main event will be former light heavyweight champ Rashad Evans taking on Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. 

In a heavyweight battle, Alistair Overeem will be returning after being out a year to take on Antonio Silva. 

Elite welterweights Jon Fitch and Demian Maia will go at it in what could be a great grappling duel. 

Opening the main card will be flyweight title contenders Joseph Benavidez and Ian McCall. 

Here is a look at tonight's final main card predictions and odds. 

 

Fight odds taken from Sportsbook.eu

Ian McCall (+210) vs. Joseph Benavidez (-260)

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Opening the night of fights will be flyweights Joseph Benavidez and Ian McCall. 

Both Benavidez and McCall are coming off of close losses to flyweight champ Demetrious Johnson. 

Both Benavidez and McCall are good grapplers and good at stand-up moves. 

Benavidez should be the quicker of the two, while McCall should have the size advantage. 

But I believe Benavidez has the better skill set and should take this fight by a close decision in a can't-miss fight. 

Prediction: Benavidez

Jon Fitch (-215) vs. Demian Maia (+175)

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Although this bout could go very wrong, Jon Fitch and Demian Maia could also put together a very intriguing grappling duel. 

Maia is often promoted as one of the best submission artists in the UFC today. 

But Fitch is one of the hardest fighters to submit. In 30 fights Fitch has only been submitted once, which came in his MMA debut back in 2002. 

Although Maia has looked good since dropping down to welterweight, Fitch fought like a man possessed in his last fight against Erick Silva. 

This fight could either be a great ground war, or one of the most boring fights of the night. While I think it could go to decision, I hope it at least has some exciting moments. 

If Fitch can fight like he did against Silva, he should pull out the decision. 

Prediction: Fitch

Alistair Overeem (-400) vs. Antonio Silva (+300)

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In a heavyweight fight with title implications, Alistair Overeem will face Antonio "Big Foot" Silva. 

Overeem missed all of 2012, partially thanks to a failed drug test. 

Before the failed test, Overeem was well on his way to a title fight with Junior dos Santos.

The same night Overeem was suppose to meet dos Santos, Silva suffered a major beatdown at the hands of current champion Cain Velasquez.

Silva would redeem himself by giving Travis Browne his first career loss.

Although Silva looked good against Browne, I still believe Overeem will have the advantage.

Overeem's striking will prove to be too much for Silva, and he will get the KO in the first or second round. 

 

Prediction: Overeem

Rashad Evans (-575) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (+425)

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The co-main event of the night will feature two light heavyweight vets in Rashad Evans and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira. 

Besides Evans considering a drop to 185 to challenge Nogueira's teammate Anderson Silva, this fight does not make much sense. 

It's not that Nogueira is a bad fighter. 

He just has not beaten the same level of competition that Evans has since coming to the UFC. 

Although Nogueira poses a threat on the ground if Evans chooses to wrestle him, Evans has never been submitted. 

Like a majority of other people, I believe Evans will take this fight by decision. 

Prediction: Evans 

Jose Aldo (-215) vs. Frankie Edgar (+175)

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The night's main event will feature featherweight champion Jose Aldo taking on former lightweight champ Frankie Edgar. 

It is hard to pick a winner in this one. 

On the one hand you have Jose Aldo, the long-reigning UFC featherweight champion. 

Although Aldo has been dominant, he has been injury prone since being promoted to UFC featherweight champion. 

Aldo will be fighting for the first time in a year after being involved in a vehicular accident. 

Edgar, on the other hand, will be making his featherweight debut after two straight losses to Benson Henderson. 

Edgar is fighting at what many consider his natural weight class and should bring speed and power down with him. 

But Aldo's striking is so dangerous and could be just as fast as Edgar. 

Edgar is such a tough fighter and has done the unthinkable before. 

But this will be Aldo's night, as he will take the fight by decision after punishing Edgar in the early rounds of the fight. 

Prediction: Aldo