UFC 134 Fight Card: Bleacher Report MMA Staff Predictions

John HeinisAug 25, 2011

It's been almost 13 years since the UFC has hosted a card in Brazil, and UFC 134 in Rio de Janeiro marks the company's return.

The UFC refused to make the return a half-hearted one, as Aug. 27 boasts a stacked main card.

In a light heavyweight showdown, Luiz Cane takes on Stanislav Nedkov. This fight could exhibit some high level jiu-jitsu once the bout goes to the ground, as both fighters have a black belt in BJJ.

At 155 pounds, Ross Pearson will go toe to toe with the undefeated Brazilian striker Edson Barboza.

Also on the main card, in a heavyweight bout that has serious title implications, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira will square off with Brendan Schaub. The winner will establish themselves as a true contender, while the loser will likely be relegated to gatekeeper status, at least temporarily.

Then, in a rematch from UFC 76, Mauricio Rua takes on Forrest Griffin. This is a must-win situation for both fighters if they want to remain a top contender at light heavyweight.

Finally, in the main event, middleweight champion Anderson Silva has a chance to avenge his 2006 Rumble on the Rock loss to Yushin Okami.

Okami's precise striking, high-level wrestling, and solid submission defense make him an intriguing match up for Silva, but is it really wise to bet against the Spider at this juncture?

Dale De Souza, Jeffrey McKinney, Jordy McElroy and I are here to tell you whose going to pick up the "W" on Saturday night.

Luiz Cane vs. Stanislav Nedkov

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John Heinis: Cane, the heavy-handed Brazilian, heads to his backyard to take on the relatively unknown, but undefeated (11-0), Stanislav Nedkov.

Not to rain on Nedkov’s parade, but his undefeated record doesn’t mean much when eight of his 11 victories occurred in AAA type promotions in his homeland of Bulgaria.

He did beat Kevin Randleman via split decision in 2009, but honestly, when’s the last time Randleman won a fight?

Just as a fun fact, also note that Nedkov is yet to fight in the United States.

Both men have a black belt in Brazilian Jiu Jitsu, so hopefully some interesting exchanges are in store when the fight goes to the ground.

While Cane has the heavier hands, he has shown to have a bit of a glass jaw in recent outings, getting knocked out in two of his past three fights.

Nedkov is a solid boxer and has a better boxing acumen than Cane, so while I don’t think he’ll get the finish, I bet that he wins in comfortable fashion.

Stanislav Nedkov via unanimous decision

Dale De Souza: I look at fights like this, and it reminds me why I can’t stop salivating at the sight of this card.

UFC 134 is Brazil vs. The World basically, with a few cases of US vs. Brazil, and one case of US vs. Canada.

Cane vs. the newcomer Nedkov is Brazil vs. Bulgaria—something you might only see in the Olympics and it’s certainly intriguing in its own way.

Fans of Mixed Martial Arts outside of the Zuffa umbrella might know Nedkov from his two-fight stint in Sengoku, where he beat UFC veterans Travis Wiuff and Kevin Randleman to further his current unbeaten streak, which is only 11-0 at the moment.

Cane, on the other hand, is only four fights deeper as a pro combatant, and for a Black Belt level Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu expert, it’s his Muay Thai and his Boxing that stand out the most.

He loves going for the knockout, so much so that he’s only submitted one person in his whole career.

That could either be a blessing or a brutal reality check for the Bulgarian, who does have a comfy mix of Wrestling and Jiu-Jitsu for his base, and his only real problem on the feet is that his striking isn’t refined to where it’s realistic to expect him to take at least one round against Cane.

As a matter of fact, it’s the fact that we know very little about Nedkov apart from what his record shows that makes this bout actually quite intriguing.

Nedkov is a prospect and will be someone to keep a lookout for in the months to come, but put Luis Cane in front of one of the fastest-selling crowds in this calendar year 2011, and Aug. 27 grows to be less of Nedkov’s night to survive the crushing power strikes of the ATT beatdown machine.

Luiz Cane by mid-Round 1 KO (Knee to the body)

Jeffrey McKinney: Luiz Cane 11-3 (1) and Stanislav Nedkov (11-0) are two guys who hardly go the distance.

Cane’s fights usually end in TKO, while Nedkov has a nice balance of knockouts, submissions, and decision wins.

Cane scored a big TKO victory in his last bout against Eliot Marshall at UFC 128. Although Nedkov is a perfect 11-0, he will have some trouble keeping that record going as he faces his toughest opponent to date.

Nedkov also hasn’t fought in over a year thanks to an injury and his fight against Steve Cantwell getting canceled.

I believe the Brazilian will get the better of him and win by KO.

Luiz Cane by TKO in the first round

Jordy McElroy: From top to bottom, this is great matchmaking by Joe Silva. The vast majority of MMA fans aren’t familiar with Stanislav Nedkov, a Bulgarian berserker with strong wrestling and relentless striking.

Nedkov’s striking can somewhat be compared to Wanderlei Silva’s, as he forces the action, ducks his chin and swings for the fences. Luis Cane should have the technical advantage in the standup.

While Nedkov tends to be overaggressive in an attempt to lure opponents into wild exchanges, Cane is slower and more methodical with his striking.

With that said, this is the first time we’ll see Cane’s ground game tested against a strong wrestler. Most pundits will point to Nedkov’s wrestling as the deciding factor in this bout.

While this could prove to be true, people shouldn’t underestimate the Bulgarian’s chances on the feet. Cane has shown a tendency to lose patience when the exchanges aren‘t going his way.

If Nedkov can force the Brazilian to become overzealous, he’ll have a chance to crack that shaky chin, which was exposed in bouts against Antonio Rogerio Noguiera and Cyrille Diabate.

Stanislav Nedkov by Round 2 KO

Ross Pearson vs Edson Barboza

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John Heinis: Not exactly household names, but this one has the makings of a quality fight. The Brazilian, Barboza, comes in with a perfect 8-0 record which boasts seven finishes.

Meanwhile, the Brit, Pearson, is best known for his unanimous decision win over Dennis Siver in March 2010.

He lost almost all of the momentum he built up by losing to Cole Miller in his next fight, but went on to defeat Spencer Fisher after that.

Pearson brings a unique style to the cage, as he has a black belt in Taekwondo, a brown belt in Judo, and is a pretty decent boxer.

“The Real Deal” also has a pretty nasty armbar when the fight stays on the ground for a bit.

However, Barboza is more well rounded and practical with his BJJ, wrestling and Muay Thai, and while I expect some entertaining sequences, I don’t think Pearson is strong enough in any one area to win this fight.

Being that Barboza is 25-3 as a professional kickboxer, I expect him to get the KO here.

Edson Barboza via 2nd Round TKO (head kick and punches)

Dale De Souza: To be honest, there were a few fights on this card that I either wanted to fence or put a Decision onto because I found them tough to call.

Edson Barboza’s undefeated streak vs. Ross Pearson’s rise to the bigger picture of the UFC Lightweight division in a battle of two pulverizing strikers is one of those fights, but can you blame me?

I have to say, both guys encourage insomnia, and although it could be that Pearson is probably more willing to let his hands fly, Barboza might be the much more diverse striker.

One has to wonder if the Judo of Pearson will take hold over the undefeated prospect, who has not been tested on the ground in his past few UFC bouts.

Don’t expect this one to show us an obvious winner, and if you’re thinking Pearson actually uses his Judo to wear Barboza out, you’re fooling yourself.

Pearson is one type to put on entertaining fights, as is Barboza, and although this one might go all three rounds, this one will cause one judge to say that the fans won this one.

While the others note the little things one man will do to beat the other, and although Pearson has what it takes to turn the tide in his favor, it will be a mission and a half to earn the nod in Brazil while facing off with arguably the most punishing fighter he’s faced in some time.

Edson Barboza by Majority Decision (29-28 x2, 28-28)

Jeffrey McKinney: TUF season 9 winner Ross Pearson comes into this fight 4-1 in his UFC career. This includes wins over Dennis Siver and most recently Spencer Fisher.

The Englishman will have a tall test ahead of him as he faces Edson Barboza.

Barboza is a perfect 8-0 and has nearly won all of his fights by KO or submission. The only one that his has not finished was his three-round war with Anthony Njokuani at UFC 128.

Ross Pearson is as tough as they come, but Barboza is such a good striker that I can’t see him losing this fight.

Edson Barboza by unanimous decision

Jordy McElroy: In what should be an early favorite for fight of the night, the "Ultimate Fighter" Season 9 winner Ross Pearson and undefeated Muay Thai specialist Edson Barbosa should provide this already loaded card with some extra fireworks.

After losing to Cole Miller at UFC Fight Night 22, Pearson got back to his winning ways with a big win over longtime UFC veteran Spencer Fisher at UFC 127.

Barbosa is coming off a unanimous decision victory over talented striker Anthony Njokuani. It’s easy to like a guy like Pearson in this fight. He’s a hard-nosed MMA veteran with a decent chin and solid boxing.

There is no mystery surrounding Pearson. He’s going to come into every fight and push the action for three hard rounds.

On the other hand, Edson Barbosa is mostly backed by hype. He has shown flashes of brilliance, but a bout against Pearson is a big step up in competition.

Still, Barbosa should be able to overcome the challenge, as long as he stays outside the pocket and uses his kicks. Pearson is predominantly a boxer, and Barbosa should be able to use his reach advantage to frustrate the English native.

Even though Pearson is the better boxer, his one-dimensional approach will be his downfall, as Barbosa mixes things up on the feet and takes a unanimous decision.

Edson Barbosa by Unanimous Decision

Brendan Schaub vs. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

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John Heinis: Nogueira is 4-3 since November 2006, which is also a bit discomforting since it means Minotauro has only fought seven times since late 2006.

The former Pride standout has always been somewhat injury prone, but it has just gotten unbelievably bad recently.

He hasn’t been in the Octagon since being soundly knocked out by now reigning heavyweight champion Cain Velasquez in February 2010.

No doubt that Nogueira can still give some top 10 guys trouble, but this fight is make or break time for him.

On the other hand, Schaub has won four in a row and is knocking on the door of a title shot with a victory here.

Schaub actually has a purple belt in BJJ, so it’s not like he has no jiu jitsu skills, but Nogueira is one the most decorated BJJ fighters in the sport.

If Big Nog is going to win, it’s going to be with a submission. While I’m not going to hate on anyone who predicts the fight to end this way, I wholeheartedly disagree.

Schaub can take a punch and has great KO power; the same cannot be said about Nog, especially at this juncture.

Also, Schaub will be able to easily put Minotauro on his back with his takedowns, and Nogueira hasn’t won by sub since he guillotined Tim Sylvia at UFC 81.

Nog used to have a pretty nice sub game off his back working armbar and triangle sequences, but he hasn’t done anything like that since 2006.

I wouldn’t say Nog has nothing left, but I can’t see him beating a guy like Schaub; it’s just a bad stylistic match up for him.

Brendan Schaub via unanimous decision

Dale De Souza: Antonio Rodrigo “Minotauro” Nogueira is one of the four names that automatically arises in the MMA diehard’s mind when he thinks of MMA’s greatest Heavyweight fighter.

Arguably he’s the greatest Heavyweight Jiu-Jitsu practitioner in the game, and his fight with Brendan Schaub is nothing different from what he’s faced recently.

Sure, Randy Couture is a Hall of Famer—something Frank Mir and UFC Heavyweight Champion Cain Velasquez are not—but he didn’t have any less of a chance to knock out—let alone beat—Nogueira than did Mir before him or Velasquez after him, both of whom actually did knock Nogueira out.

Does Schaub have just as much chance of knocking Nogueira out as Mir and Velasquez did?

Re-watch Schaub’s UFC 128 bout with Mirko Cro Cop, and then try to convince me that it’s not at least possible that Nogueira suffers the same fate.

Nogueira knows people are quick to give Schaub the quick win, even though there’s a 99 percent (hilarious but somewhat facetious) certainty that any non-Brazilian that prevails in Rio does not make it out without one life-threatening injury.

Now my brain says Schaub will knock out Nogueira before the end of Round 3, and the reality is that his finish over Nogueira—much like his UFC 128 win over Cro Cop—is more expected than his ability to finish the legend in the first five minutes of the bout.

Is it nearly a foregone conclusion that Schaub knocks Nogueira out?

Absolutely, it is a foregone conclusion.

Does that mean Nogueira won’t prove the ring rust theory wrong, despite not having fought since fighting Velasquez at UFC 110?

Don’t bank on it.

Yes, it may look like Schaub wins the fight in some aspect, and it’s also possible that most people give Schaub at least two rounds, but somehow, Nogueira’s Jiu-Jitsu and Boxing arsenal will find a way to convincingly outshine and outclass “The Hybrid.”

Minotauro by Unanimous Decision (29-28 x3; don’t be surprised if you find yourself disagreeing with the decision)

Jeffrey McKinney: This could either turn out to be a case of be careful what you ask for, or yet another MMA great fighting past their prime.

Brendan “the Hybrid” Schaub (8-1) will be looking to continue his rise in the heavyweight division as he takes on former former Pride Heavyweight and UFC interim Heavyweight champion, Antonio “Minotauro” Nogueira (32-6-1 [1 NC]).

Nogueira has been recovering from injuries and surgeries for over a year. His last fight was a No. 1 contender’s match with Cain Velasquez.

Schaub, on the other hand, is riding a four-fight win streak which includes wins over Gabriel Gonzaga and Mirko Cro Cop.

Nogueira was once known for having an iron chin. But considering only one of Schaub’s fights have gone the distance and Nogueira has been knocked out in two of his last three fights, he may want to consider trying to take this fight to the ground.

As much of a feel-good story as it would be for Nogueira to comeback after being out so long and when his first pro fight to take place in Brazil, I believe Schaub will get the better of him.

Brendan Schaub by TKO

Jordy McElroy: Fans haven’t seen Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in action since his shellacking by Cain Velasquez in February 2010.

Meanwhile, Brendan Schaub, a finalist on the "Ultimate Fighter" Season 10, is riding a wave of momentum after securing consecutive wins over Mirko Cro Cop, Gabriel Gonzaga, Chris Tuchscherer and Chase Gormley.

This is a really tough fight for Nogueira, and unfortunately, most will see this bout as nothing more than a passing of the torch by the MMA legend.

Schaub is the bigger, stronger and more explosive fighter. When breaking down a fight with a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu ace like Nogueira, the possibility of a submission has to always be accounted for.

If Schaub gets sloppy, Nogueira has the tools to make him pay. It’s great to see the former Pride champion compete in front of his home country under the UFC banner, but this isn’t the same fighter from the Pride era.

Years of injuries and hard-fought battles have taken a toll on Nogueira, who is coming off multiple knee surgeries in addition to hip surgery.

A young lion like Schaub, who has great boxing skills and a solid sprawl, should be able to rough Nogueira up in the exchanges and avoid the ground altogether.

There is nothing more telling than getting smacked right in the face with a cold dose of reality. The upper-echelon ranks of the heavyweight division no longer belong to MMA greats like Nogueira, Fedor Emelianenko and Cro Cop.

Look for Schaub to take another legendary name in devastating fashion with a first-round knockout.

Schaub by Round 1 KO

Mauricio Rua vs. Forrest Griffin

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John Heinis: Griffin has had some odd things to say leading up to UFC 134, all but stating that his best days in the cage are behind him.

Rua has been the opposite, stating that he is 100 percent for the first time in a long time, and guaranteeing that he will avenge his UFC 76 loss to Griffin.

Coming into this one, I’m really not too sure what to think. Will Shogun actually be on his “A” game? Is Griffin really still a relevant light heavyweight?

The first time they met, Shogun injured his knee during the fight. Nevertheless, his cardio looked horrible, and that’s one thing that has never plagued Griffin in the past.

Both guys are 2-2 in their past four fights, so this battle is truly make-or-break time.

Aside from his bout with Stephan Bonnar, I never found Forrest the most fun guy to watch, but he’s tough as hell and knows how to use his skills and size to a tee.

Shogun is very talented and well rounded as a fighter, but the guy just never seems to get to peak physical condition anymore.

I’m really scratching my head trying to predict this one, but I’d have to say Griffin’s nostalgia-laced interviews lately make me think his mind isn’t right for this one.

I don’t recall Shogun ever saying he’s 100 percent when he’s not, so I’m going to take his word at face value.

I say Rua avenges the first fight in definitive fashion, but this is a very tough one to call.

Mauricio Rua via 3rd round TKO (strikes)

Dale De Souza: One of two rematches on the main card, and I’d say this rematch’s backstory is about as well known as the main event’s backstory.

The difference is that when Mauricio “Shogun” Rua got submitted by Forrest Griffin, there was no controversy to whether Rua had tapped.

All there was in the MMA world were a bunch of vocal people who chalked Griffin’s win up to Shogun’s knee.

Some did the same thing with Jon Jones’ UFC 128 dethroning of the former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, but that’s neither here nor there.

Him being the UFC “People’s Champion” he is, Griffin showed strong takedowns and a somewhat revamped Jiu-Jitsu game in his first fight back in the cage against Rich Franklin at UFC 126, and his mission is to prove that it was pure talent and skill—not Shogun’s knee—that attributed to Shogun’s first defeat.

The well-rounded Griffin puts his skills up against the Chute Boxe Madness—the renowned Muay Thai striking game—of Rua in what should be an entertaining bout.

In a bout that I hope has no excuses in its aftermath, Griffin’s strength and aggressiveness will kick in without relent.

Griffin never claimed to be the pound-for-pound best fighter in the world at all, but for a few good moments, he’ll look like he deserves to make Rashad Evans defend his title shot one more time.

In accordance with Shogun’s UFC history, however, this will be one case in which two things happen.

Forrest gets significantly hurt by Shogun’s striking prowess, and
Shogun finishes in as convincing of fashion as Forrest finished him, and Heaven help us all, a third fight will be talked about.

I will never, for the life of me, find a good reason to ever dislike Forrest, but partially because this could make for a beautiful trilogy, I’m convinced that Shogun will be too hot for Forrest to touch.

Shogun by R3 TKO

Jeffrey McKinney: The Last time Mauricio “Shogun” Rua met Forrest Griffin, he was riding a four-fight winning streak, and was looked at as one of the best light heavyweights in the world.

Griffin (18-6) was a big underdog as he welcomed Rua to the UFC. To the surprise of many Griffin pulled off the upset defeating Rua by submission in the third round of their UFC 76 fight.

It has been four years since that fight, and both men have had their ups and downs.

Both men have been UFC champions, and then lost the title in their next fights.

Rua lost his title in his most recent fight against Jon Jones. Griffin on the other hand is riding a two-fight win streak, getting the better of Rich Franklin at UFC 126.

Rua is not the same Shogun he once was, but he can still be a dangerous fighter. Despite this, I believe Griffin can pull off another victory against Rua.

Forrest Griffin taking this one by Unanimous or split decision

Jordy McElroy: Forrest Griffin’s demeanor heading into this rematch with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua should be monitored. For some odd reason, he doesn’t seem overly excited about this fight.

Sure, he already defeated Rua back in September 2007, but this isn’t the same person. Bypassing injury excuses, Rua is a former world champion and a much better fighter than he was the first time the two fought.

This is Griffin’s opportunity to defeat an upper-echelon light heavyweight and thrust himself back into title contention.

If the idea of competing for a world title doesn’t get you excited, it may be time to take a step back and reevaluate your career.

Coming off a lopsided beatdown at the hands of Jon Jones, Rua is craving redemption. To top it off, he’s facing a guy who has already defeated him and fighting in his home country of Brazil.

It doesn’t get any more motivating than that.

As long as Rua stays upright and away from the cage, he should be able to pick Griffin to pieces in the open.

Griffin will fight through some tough spots, but Rua’s aggressive striking and knees from the Thai plum will be all that’s needed to sing the beloved fighter his lullaby late in the second round.

Mauricio "Shogun" Rua by Round 2 TKO

Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami

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John Heinis: Okami has been given well more than a puncher’s chance in this one, but you know who else was given a real chance against Anderson Silva? Vitor Belfort, Forrest Griffin, and Rich Franklin to name a few.

Also recognize that fact that even Okami said that his Rumble on the Rock win over Silva was a fluke.

I like Okami, but a quick glance at his 26-5 record shows that it’s padded as hell.

His biggest wins (besides the one over Silva) are over Alan Belcher, Evan Tanner, Mark Munoz and Nate Marquardt.

I’ll give him full credit for the win over Munoz, but Marquardt basically gave that fight away to Okami and he has a reputation for choking when it’s a big fight.

Key losses have come at the hands of Jake Shields, Rich Franklin and Chael Sonnen, so in other words, Okami has not been able to beat any elite fighters.

With all that in mind, I don’t see how anyone honestly picks Thunder in this situation. He’s never been submitted, and was only finished once eight years ago, but that doesn’t necessarily mean he gives Silva a real challenge.

I think Okami makes Silva work for three rounds, but the cumulative damage he receives on the feet eventually catches up to him.

I actually am going out on a limb and saying Okami goes the distance, but I don’t think he scores any points from the judges outside of a few takedowns here and there.

Anderson Silva via unanimous decision

Dale De Souza: Anderson Silva is arguably the pound-for-pound best fighter in MMA today and some will not find any fault in arguing that he’s the greatest fighter in MMA history, bar none.

However, he still has the blemish of Rumble on The Rock 8 on his record, and as many recall it, Okami won on a technicality, but Silva truly got the better of Okami before Okami’s lone success at a takedown which eventually led to the illegal (yet possibly misunderstood) upkick.

Many believe training with former UFC 104 foe Chael Sonnen—the pound-for-pound loudest mouth in the sport and the only man to dominate Silva for almost the entire fight, though due to controversial circumstances—has helped Okami out in refining his takedown game, though Okami insists that he will try to make the fight entertaining to where fans will respect both Silva and himself.

I like that attitude from Okami, which is 13 ominous miles away from what I give his chances against Silva, regardless of how much success he find in both the striking and wrestling departments.

Silva doesn’t get much respect for his Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu game, as many like to brush off his career wins by submission as if they came against nobodies, but no MMA fan can deny that Silva has KO power in all eight points of contact.

This could go one of two ways:

The first scenario is that the fight starts technical, and Silva again forces Okami to absorb peppering shots before Okami clinches.

To shorten this first scenario up, Okami tries to inflict serious damage in the clinch, but Silva hurts Okami seriously on the inside and unleashes his Muay Thai, shutting Okami down with his razorblade-like knees.

The second scenario is that Okami does eventually get a takedown again, but rather than working strong top control, Silva controls a wrist on Okami and finds a way to transition to the back mount—more than likely, by sweeping Okami and keeping his body triangle tight while Okami temporarily avoids the ground and pound.

Will it be a rear naked choke?

No, it will not, but Silva will try for it.

Instead, Silva will trap one of Okami’s arms behind his back, drape one leg over to where he has one of his lower shins against the back of Okami’s neck, and he will force the tap by completing the hold in the form of sinking in the choke with a free arm around the front of Okami’s neck.

Ladies and gentlemen, the pound-for-pound best fighter in MMA and the most unorthodox finisher in combat sports will avenge his loss to Okami, retain his Middleweight Championship in front of his home crowd, and pull off the sport’s first successful Gogoplata from the back mount—all in one fell swoop.

Winner and still UFC Middleweight Champion: Silva by second-round KO (Knees) or third-round Submission (Gogoplata from Back Mount)

Jeffrey McKinney: There may not be a bunch of trash talk coming into this fight, but there is a story line.

Yushin Okami is the last man to beat Anderson Silva. That said, the win came by DQ as Silva hit Okami with an illegal upkick.

Their first fight may have been a fluke, but this one will be far from it.

We all know what Silva is capable of. Silva’s arguably the best fighter in MMA today because he is dangerous in almost every aspect of the game.

The only person who has put Silva in significant danger was Chael Sonnen, Okami’s new best friend.

If Okami can put Silva in the same amount of danger that Sonnen put him in, we will be looking at a new middleweight champion.

The only problem is the cards will be heavily stacked against him as Silva fights in his home country of Brazil and it’s hard to go against a guy that has looked almost unstoppable.

Okami may be Japan’s best fighter, but Silva is the best in MMA today.

Anderson Silva by second-round TKO

Jordy McElroy: Contrary to Chael Sonnen’s beliefs, UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva is the deserving favorite against Yushin Okami.

There is an aura surrounding Silva that has yet to be cracked in the octagon. The opportunity to watch one of the greatest fighters of all time is a spectacle in itself for fans. If Muay Thai is considered an art, Silva would be its Picasso.

The otherworldly display of brilliance Silva is able to string together on the feet keeps people on the edge of their seats. Sonnen, Vitor Belfort, Dan Henderson, Nate Marquardt, Rich Franklin and Forrest Griffin have all been finished by Silva.

Does Okami have what it takes to succeed where others have failed? People have seriously underestimated Okami’s chances.

It’s easy to look at all of the names in Silva’s win column and overlook a guy like Okami, but stylistically, this is the type of fight Silva fans should be most worried about.

While his striking is in a league of its own, Silva’s style is somewhat comparable to that of former Strikeforce champion Nick Diaz’s.

Neither fighter’s wrestling has ever stood out in their respective careers, but they are both black belts in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu.

While most fighters work for years to improve their wrestling defense, Silva and Diaz are comfortable fending from their backs, and at times, they invite takedowns.

When you’re a world-class BJJ practitioner, this is a great strategy, but with every plan, there’s always a hole to be exploited.

Okami isn’t just a strong wrestler with shutdown top control. He is also a great BJJ player with fantastic submission defense.

This fight is banking on Silva catching Okami with something spectacular, whether it’s a submission or knockout. Even though Silva is the best at what he does, the finish won’t always be there.

In the biggest upset of the year, Okami will be persistent with his wrestling and grind out a unanimous decision. Silva won’t go quietly, and he’ll likely hurt Okami early in the fight.

In the end, Okami will have his hand raised in front of Silva’s home country as the new UFC middleweight champion.

Yushin Okami by Unanimous Decision