UFC 144: Early Odds and Predictions

UFC 144 takes place in Japan this weekend, hosting a number of Japanese fighters, as well as several PRIDE fighters.

Headlined by Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson, who are fighting for the UFC Lightweight Championship, the co-main event sees Ryan Bader take on Japanese fan favorite Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Let's take a look at the odds on each fight and break down each individual fight.

(NOTE: Odds makers have not put out betting lines on all but five fights.)

Teiquan Zhang vs. Issei Tamura

Odds: N/A

We kick off the card in the featherweight division, where China's lone UFC star Tiequan Zhang takes on Japanese late replacement Issei Tamura.

Zhang has proven inconsistent in his time under the Zuffa banner, going 2-2 in the WEC and UFC. Zhang holds two guillotine victories over Pablo Garza and Jason Reinhardt, while dropping decisions to Danny Downes and Darren Elkins. The UFC would like to keep this Chinese MMA pioneer to attract more Chinese fans to the UFC.

Tamura, on the other hand, is stepping in on late notice for an injured Leonard Garcia. Tamura comes into the bout with a record of 6-2, with most of his victories coming by decision. A majority of his short career has been spent in the Shooto organization, so he will likely have faced solid opponents leading up to this debut.

Prediction: Zhang def. Tamura via decision, as Tamura's shooto background will help him in ground exchanges to avoid submissions from Zhang.

Takeya Mizugaki vs. Chris Cariaso

Odds: N/A

We then head to the bantamweight division, when Japanese mainstay Takeya Mizugaki meets the always game Chris Cariaso.

Mizugaki has looked stale in his last couple fights, not showing the pop he showed earlier in his career. This fight in his homeland of Japan may be the boost he needs to fight big here. Holding a 4-4 record between the UFC and WEC, Mizugaki has only faltered against the top of the division, which does not include the likes of Cariaso yet.

Mizugaki needs to build off his momentum, which he built in knocking out Cole Escovedo in his last fight.

Meanwhile, Cariaso also looks to build off of his latest victory, which he earned at UFC 138 against Vaughan Lee via spit decision. Cariaso's only two losses under the Zuffa banner have been when he has stepped up in competition, faltering against Renan Barao and Michael McDonald.

Prediction: Mizugaki def. Cariaso via decision in what should be an exciting stand up battle.

Riki Fukuda vs. Steve Cantwell

Odds: N/A

We then go to the middleweight division, where intriguing Japanese prospect Riki Fukuda scraps with a guy on the chopping block in Steve Cantwell.

Fukuda enters this fight with a record of 17-5, but only one fight has been with the UFC. He dropped a controversial debut bout against Nick Ring at UFC 127. In his latest bout, he was forced to withdraw due to a car accident. Fukuda looks to get back on track against a big-fight veteran in Steve Cantwell.

Cantwell is in danger of losing his job with a loss here, as he has dropped his last four fights with the UFC. The former WEC light heavyweight champion has not won a fight since late 2008, when his armbar disfigured the arm of Razaak al-Hassan. A loss here would definitely send Cantwell packing.

Prediction: Fukuda def. Cantwell via decision, as Cantwell is tough to finish.

Norifumi Yamamoto vs. Vaughan Lee

Odds: N/A

We make our way back to the bantamweight division, when Japanese star Kid Yamamoto looks to get back on track versus tough Englishman Vaughan Lee.

Kid Yamamoto is one of the top stars Japan has to offer, but has offered no wins during his time in the Octagon. With an 0-2 start, Yamamoto has faltered in bouts against Demetrious Johnson and Darren Uyenoyama. If Yamamoto wishes to keep his job with the UFC, he must use his superior stand-up to achieve victory.

Vaughan Lee is a well-rounded English fighter, who comes into this bout with an overall record of 11-7-1, but 0-1 in the UFC. He dropped his late notice debut against Chris Cariaso by split decision, a bout in which he was very competitive in. His best chance of victory is to get Yamamoto to the ground.

Prediction: Yamamoto def. Lee via TKO in a bout which Lee cannot get Yamamoto down and takes punishment in the stand-up department.

Takanori Gomi vs. Eiji Mitsuoka

Odds: N/A

We then head to the lightweight division, where legendary Japanese lightweight Takanori Gomi faces late replacement Eiji Mitsuoka.

Takanori Gomi has yet to find his rhythm in the UFC, going 1-3 so far in his tenure. Facing top-notch opponents such as Nate Diaz, Clay Guida and Kenny Florian, Gomi has slowed down since a rapid rise in the ranks of the lightweight division. One has to believe he is fighting for his job here, so he will need to utilize his brutal punching power to achieve victory here.

Eiji Mitsuoka steps in on short notice for George Sotiropolous. Mitsuoka is a 27-fight veteran of the sport, with 11 of his 18 wins coming by way of submission. If Mitsuoka has any chance of victory here, it is by getting Gomi to the mat and submitting him. He does hold notable victories over Gleison Tibau, Brian Cobb and Bruno Carvalho, so he is a skilled fighter.

Prediction: Gomi def. Mitsuoka via (T)KO, returning to vintage form in a tough fought battle with Mitsuoka.

Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon

Odds:

Lauzon: +180

Pettis: -260

We then head to the first bout of a seven fight main card when we pair off American lightweight contenders Anthony Pettis and Joe Lauzon.

Anthony Pettis, the final WEC Lightweight Champion, is looking to get back into title talks with a victory here. At 14-2, his only loss in the UFC thus far has been to Clay Guida, where he was greatly outwrestled. He then showed his improved wrestling in a workmanlike victory over the always tough Jeremy Stephens.

Pettis will need to use his flashy striking against a solid opponent in Joe Lauzon.

Lauzon shocked an over zealous Melvin Guillard in his last bout, dropping and choking out the lightweight star in under a minute. Lauzon continues to impress fans with his brutal submissions and underrated all-around game. Lauzon has taken home eight fight night bonuses, so this fight looks to be a barn burner.

Prediction: Pettis def. Lauzon via decision in an entertaining back and forth bout.

Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski

Odds: N/A

In an important featherweight bout that has possible title implications, Japanese ground maestro Hatsu Hioki takes on the well-rounded Polish-American Bart Palaszewski.

Hioki, considered by many to be a top featherweight in the world, did not impress in his UFC debut against George Roop, taking a razor thin split decision. There is no doubt Hioki is a very gifted submission and ground specialist, as he has defeated such fighters as Ronnie Mann, Takeshi Inoue and Marlon Sandro in his career.

But a victory is needed here to keep his name in the upper echelon of the division.

Palaszewski, on the other hand, looks to build off a crushing knockout victory over Tyson Griffin in his latest bout. Using powerful punching and an underrated ground game, Palaszewski has quietly thrown his name in a sea of contenders in the featherweight division. Palaszewski has 50 career fights to his name, so he will be the more experienced of the two fighters.

Prediction: Palaszewski def. Hioki via (T)KO, as he shocks the world again with a good performance.

Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch

Odds: N/A

We continue in the middleweight division, where Japanese star Yushin Okami looks to rebound from a title loss against a man with momentum in Tim Boetsch.

Okami has an impressive 10-3 record inside the UFC, putting together notable wins over Nate Marquardt, Mark Munoz and Dean Lister. Okami has decent stand-up ability, which allows him to utilize his overwhelming top game on the ground.

Since dropping to middleweight, Tim Boetsch has brutalized both Kendall Grove and Nick Ring with stifling wrestling and ground-and-pound. Boetsch is a huge middleweight, that uses his powerful strength to control opponents. Another win here could elevate Boetsch to contender talks.

Prediction: Okami def. Boetsch via decision in a very close chess match of a fight.

Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields

Odds: N/A

Former welterweight challenger Jake Shields will meet a welterweight newcomer in Yoshihiro Akiyama in the next bout of the evening.

Akiyama drops to welterweight after a disappointing run at middleweight, which saw him earn three "Fight of the Night" awards. Akiyama has powerful hands to go with a solid judo base. Akiyama usually ignores his ground pedigree to engage in fan friendly bouts, but he may need to utilize his striking if he wants to win this fight.

Shields looks to get back on track after two straight losses to Georges St. Pierre and Jake Ellenberger. He will have the advantage on the ground, as he has a great wrestling background and a Cesar Gracie black belt. Shields needs a victory here to stay relevant in the division.

Prediction: Akiyama def. Shields via (T)KO in a match where Akiyama counters Shields wrestling with his judo skills and finds his range on the feet.

Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo

Odds:

Hunt: +200

Kongo: -280

We then head to the heavyweight division, where resurgent Mark Hunt looks to continue his winning streak against the always game Chieck Kongo.

Hunt has made a career revival in the UFC, holding a two-fight winning streak over the likes of Chris Tuchsherer and Ben Rothwell. Holding a less than impressive MMA record of 7-7, Hunt is always in danger of ending the bout with one punch. Hunt looks like a townie at a bar, but hits like freight train.

Meanwhile, Kongo finds himself unbeaten in his last four bouts. A win here could catapult him into title contention talks. In addition to pulling off a huge comeback knockout of Pat Barry, he outworked Matt Mitrione in his latest fight.

Prediction: Kongo def. Hunt via TKO, as Kongo utilizes superior wrestling and ground-and-pound to earn a stoppage.

Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader

Odds:

Bader: +200

Jackson: -240

In the co-main event of the evening, light heavyweight Ryan Bader takes on Japanese PRIDE legend Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Bader likely saved his job in his last fight, knocking Jason Brilz senseless at UFC 139. Bader has failed to live up to his hype as a UFC contender in two important losses to Jon Jones and Tito Ortiz. Bader is likely to need to use his wrestling background in order to be successful here.

"Rampage" Jackson is looking to recover from a title loss to Jon Jones, in which he was submitted for the first time since 2001. Jackson will hold the superior stand-up game, and if he utilizes his outstanding counter wrestling, he will be quite successful in this fight.

Prediction: Jackson def. Bader via (T)KO, gaining his first knockout victory since 2008.

Frank Edgar vs. Ben Henderson

Odds:

Edgar: -125

Henderson: +105

To the main event we go, putting lightweight king Frankie Edgar against top contender Ben Henderson.

A former WEC lightweight champion, Ben Henderson has made a splash in the UFC since his loss in the WEC's final event back in 2010. So far, Henderson has won three convincing decisions over the likes of Mark Bocek, Jim Miller and Clay Guida. He has improved vastly and will be the much bigger fighter in this fight.

Defending champion Frankie Edgar has become one of the toughest fighters in the UFC, especially in terms of being finished by opponents. Edgar, since winning the title, has gone on to defend it against BJ Penn and Gray Maynard twice. His great footwork, boxing and wrestling should allow him to make the fight competitive.

Prediction: Edgar def. Henderson via decision in an exciting back-and-forth bout that sees both fighters in sticky situations.

Fight Night Awards

Fight of the Night: Frank Edgar vs. Ben Henderson

Knockout of the Night: Quinton Jackson

Submission of the Night: Picked no submission wins, so a second "Knockout of the Night" award may be warranted.