UFC on FX: 10 Predictions You Can Take to the Bank

The Ultimate Fighting Championships will make it's official debut on FX this weekend with UFC On FX 1 Guillard vs Miller. The event is the first one on FX as part of the seven-year agreement between the UFC and Fox, and will be headlined by a very important lightweight contender fight between Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller.

"UFC On Fox" is the second event of 2012 and the card carries some explosive fighters, sure to deliver on some fireworks, as well as some veterans hanging on to their careers in the fight game. It is always hard to predict in any sport, as we found out this past weekend in the NFL, and in fighting, we all know anything can happen at any time.

In taking a close look at the fighters and fights on the UFC On FX 1 card, here are 10 predictions you can take to the bank.

Mike Easton Will Showcase His Skills and Rematch Dodson in 2012

Fighters and fighter histories make matchups, and UFC newcomer Mike Easton has a very interesting win on his resume to recent "Ultimate Fighter" winner John Dodson. Easton was supposed to face Ken Stone in this fight, but Stone had to withdraw due to injury and was replaced by Jared Papazian.

Papazian is primarily a grappler, who is in over his head stepping in on short notice, and this will give Easton the opportunity he needs to showcase his skills and open the eyes of fans in regards to his skills. I believe Easton will win with a fine KO finish and set up a nice match with Dobson later this year.

Win or Lose Jorge Rivera Will Retire After His Fight with Shafer

At 39 years of age, Jorge Rivera continues to fight at the elite level in mixed martial arts. He will be taking on fellow UFC journeyman Eric Shafer on Friday night in what is surely his last professional fight.

Rivera hinted at retirement after his last fight, a loss to Constantinos Philippou and he lost to Michael Bisping before that.

If he loses to Shafer, it will be three in a row and would surely mean his release from the UFC. Rivera is too up there in years and wear-and-tear to make a comeback climb back to the UFC. If Rivera beats Shafer, it will be the perfect opportunity for him to go out with a win.

Eric Shafer Will Lose to Rivera and Be Released from the UFC

Eric Shafer has been fighting in the UFC since 2006 with some very mixed results, and he never seems to be able to deliver in the "big fights" against big-name opponents. He has some good wins in his career, but his most notable name victory is Houston Alexander in 2008.

Meanwhile, he has fought and lost to such notables as Michael Bisping, Stephan Bonner, Ryan Bader and Aaron Simpson. Schafer is now 34 years old, and a loss to Rivera would be his second in a row and fourth loss in five fights. This could be all she wrote for "Red".

Pat Barry Will Once Again Suffer Damage in His Win

Pat  Barry is one of the most dedicated entertainers in the sport and, come hell or high water, he likes to deliver excitement for the fans. Barry is a world class striker who's frame often puts him at a reach disadvantage against many of the men in his weight class.

This weekend is no different as Barry is set to face 6'6" Christian Morecraft, a very worthy opponent. Sometimes, a large reach disadvantage will deter a fighter from wading in, but I never see that in Pat Barry. He wants to put his hands on you regardless of how big you think you are, and he will come straight through your offense to do it; he has to, he has no other way.

Pat Barry will beat Morecraft on Friday night, but he is going to have to plow through long punches and endure some damage to get that shot he is looking for.

Kamal Shalorus Will Get Knockout of the Night

Kamal Shalorus is a fighter to be feared at 155 pounds, and he has faced some of the very best in that division already. The WEC veteran faced contender Jim Miller in his UFC debut where he lost via TKO in the third round. Shalorus has also faced and beaten such notables as Jamie Varner and Bart Palaszewski.

Khabib Nurmagomedov is a 23-year-old Russian newcomer who gets a very tough test on his UFC debut. Of his 16 professional wins, six have come by knockout and six have come by submission, so he is a capable, well-rounded finisher. I just don't think he is ready for this big a step-up yet, and Kamal should get a spectacular KO.

Charlie Brenneman Will Dominate Daniel Roberts

Charlie "The Spaniard" Brenneman needs a bounce back in a big way after his vicious knockout loss to Anthony Johnson in October. Brenneman was riding high off his upset win over Rick Story before Rumble crashed him down to earth again but Brenneman will get a chance at redemption against Daniel Roberts.

I see Roberts as a bit of an overrated fighter right now and he himself is coming off of two straight losses. Any fighter is dangerous with his back against the wall but I see "The Spaniard" being just too good for Roberts in this one. Brenneman will impose his will everywhere in this one and dominate Roberts, sending him out of the UFC.

Duane Ludwig Will Knockout Josh Neer

In the co-main event of the fight card Muay Thai specialist Duane Ludwig will face off against veteran and recent UFC returnee Josh Neer. Both of these men bring a wealth of MMA experience to the cage with them and both are trying to re-establish themselves among the elite in the UFC welterweight division.

Both men have come and gone from the UFC and both have been successful in their return to the UFC. The big difference I see in this one is that Ludwig has had to face much togher oppoenents in his climb back to relevancy most recently defeating Amir Saddolah. Neer faced and beat Keith Wisniewski in his return but i don't think he is as capable as Saddolah.

I see Ludwig showing improved takedown defense and using his Muay Thai skills to get a late knockout. 

Ludwig vs Neer Will Be Fight of the Night

Due to how all the stars are aligned in this one, I am pegging this co-main event to be a war between two experienced fighters looking to gain that one big name pay day fight next in their careers. It may look like a classic match up of striker vs. grappler, but I see Ludwig's improved takedown defense being the tonic that keeps this one a slugfest.

Neer will surely look to get it down where he can control and work his way to a submission, but don't be surprised if Neer wants to showcase himself a bit before he does that. Both of these men have been around a while and realize the importance of entertainment in today's UFC.

Throw in the fact that these two are co-maining the card and will surely want to take advantage of the spotlight neither has had to date in their career's and you have the makings of a no-holds-barred war that will go everywhere in that cage.

The Guillard vs Miller Fight Will Disappoint

Both Melvin Guillard and Jim Miller enter this fight with huge pressure on their respective shoulders. Both men have earned very prestigious positions in the 155-pound division, but both men are also in serious jeopardy of ruining that position with a second consecutive loss on their record.

Both of these men are right in line for a shot at the coveted title that Frankie Edgar currently holds but both men need the win badly to hold that place in line.

Combine the stakes with the fact that Miller is coming off his only loss in three years and may be looking for the win over all things entertaining and you may see a cautious, hesitant fighter. Then you have Guillard coming off a quick submission loss where he was rocked by Joe Lauzon and then submitted and he may not be the most confident fighter himself coming in.

On paper and in skill, this match up looks to be a whirlwind of action and top level skill, but the circumstances and timing of the fight may throw that right on it's head and leave fans watching two fighters hesitant to engage

Guillard Will Lose to Miller and Have Many Excuses for the Loss

There has been a lot of hype and talk in the last year or so about how Melvin Guillard has turned a corner in his dedication, preparation and overall commitment to his career. A quick look at his performances and appearances in that time certainly seems to support that sentiment.

Guillard was always quick to let his emotions get the better of him to his detriment and the Lauzon loss showed me that nothing has really changed with "The Young Assassin". He came into that fight noticeably, emotionaly charged and amped up, and it cost him the fight., a sign that his maturation needed a bit more time after all.

Now he gets an elite, cerebral, tough contender to face in Jim Miller and I don't think Guillard is ready to do what it takes once this fight reaches the deep waters that Miller will surely bring him into. Miller is coming off his only loss in the UFC against number one contender Benson Henderson, and he has many ways he can hurt and beat you in a fight.

I see Miller taking everything Guillard has early, thus breaking Guillard's will to win and then taking over in the remaining four rounds for a decision win. After the fight Guillard will crack under the pressure of two straight losses and make excuses for his loss. 

Dwight Wakabayashi is a Featured Columnist for Bleacher Report MMA and correspondent for MMACanada.net.

Catch him on Facebook and Twitter at wakafightermma.