UFC 144 Predictions You Can BANK On: Main Card

I am back with the main card predictions, as I promised! Seven fights packed into four hours of intense MMA action. My excitement levels are through the roof!

If you guys read my prelim predictions then you probably know by now that I am the real deal. Also, to my loyal fans, you may notice that the article titles are now changed. As I begin to write my prediction articles with the "take it to the bank" series, I noticed another writer has started using that title. I took a year off so I guess I am at fault, but this is not over....this is not over.

Now, since this is a new beginning, I assure you that my predictions will be on point as usual, and like all my other predictions, they will be flawless.

Let's get this seven fight main card prediction fest under way.

Shall we?

Anthony Pettis (14-2) vs. Joe Lauzon (21-6)

How could I talk about this fight without showing that video? I still do not know how a dunk was number one over this. A DUNK?! Come on SportsCenter...you are better than that.

Both of these guys wanted this fight, and it make sense in the scheme of things. Pettis is the last WEC Lightweight champion and defeated the guy fighting for the UFC Lightweight champion, Ben Henderson. He was in beast mode before he met the long-haired cardio machine Clay Guida. Pettis is a well rounded, exciting fighter who one way or another will be the champion, the kid is that good.

Enter Joe Lauzon, besides having big ears the kid has a big heart and even bigger...well, let's just say he is very brave for taking some of the fights he has in his UFC career. Debuting against Jens Pulver and knocking him out. Beating a Melvin Guillard when he was in full beast mode. Lauzon will always be the underdog.

This fight boils down to cardio and who will end up on top. Lauzon is the better grappler but Pettis showed wrestling in his win over Jeremy Stephens. I think Pettis has a better submission game of his back than Lauzon who is more of an on top orientated fighter. Lauzon has 16 submission wins in his career and a lot of them come from him exploding on his opponents right in the beginning of the fight like they stole his Xbox.

I think if Lauzon does not clip Pettis or take him out in the first round he will have a bunch of trouble later in the fight. I think Pettis withstands and gets it into the second round and puts Lauzon away.

Winner: Anthony Pettis Rear Naked Choke Second Round

Hatsu Hioki (25-4) vs. Bart Palaszewski (36-14)

Japan Vs Poland...The old rivalry from the 1800's!!!

That statement is very much false, but I just need an attention grabber because this fight could very well be the blur of the night.

Hioki is currently on a five-fight winning streak including his UFC debut win over George Roop. The Roop fight was close, I actually had Roop winning the fight, but it was close, and I will not protest outside the Nevada State Athletic Commission on that one.

Hioki is pretty well rounded, and all his wins are fairly spread out between knockouts, decisions and submissions, but he does have a slight edge in the submission department. He has looked good in his previous five fights with the exception of the Roop fight and he is a very tall featherweight to boot.

Enter Bart Paaszewski aka Bartimus. He made the drop down to the Featherweight for his UFC debut, and I still to this day cannot get the image out of my head of him destroying Tyson Griffin along that fence. Pure violence. Bartimus (I am referring to him as Bartimus throughout the article because typing his last night is a nightmare.) is a striker and a veteran of the sport. He has fought at lightweight most of his career so I do not see Hioki's height being a big factor here.

I have been back and forth on this fight since it was announced, and this might be the hardest fight to predict on the card. Hioki has a great submission game but out of 50 fights Bartimus has only been submitted three times. That is an impressive stat for anyone. I just simply have to go with the hometown kid getting a decision by the way of better wrestling and control. I do look for Bartimus to have his moments though and could very well finish on one of his moments. I just think Hioki will win at home by decision.

Winner: Hatsu Hioki Unanimous Decision

Yushin Okami (26-6) vs Tim Boetsch (14-4)

DEUCES!

For some reason that picture of Yushin Okami gives me pure joy.

Ah yes, Tim Boetsch is continuing his assault on the Middleweight division. This guy had a spotty record at Light-Heavyweight and was cut from the UFC. He decided that the pudgy 205-pound guy cannot be consider a world class athlete unless he was winning fights.

Cut to now, he has since dropped down to 185 pounds and dominated both Nick Ring and Kendall Grove. Boetsch has looked very impressive in his two wins and more importantly he has man handled both guys at his new weight.

Boetsch has looked very strong but has not shown me much in the stand up department. He seems content to just grown man strength these guys until they break mentally, and he gets his hand raised.

I do not think he will be able to do that against Yushin Okami.

Yushin Okami is always regarded at the top of the Middleweight division. He only loses when it is top contenders or the champ Anderson Silva who is kind of good. Okami has grown leaps and bounds since he began fighting with the UFC and I see him giving it one more go for the title before it is all said and done.

I think this fight is Okami's to lose really. I think it is all going to depend on how he is mentally after getting smashed by Anderson Silva in his last fight. I think he is the better fighter here with better cardio and an all around better game.

I look for Okami to use his hands and his defensive wrestling to win this fight. Okami is a big middleweight so it will be hard to bully him around. I do think it will be close because Boetsch is big enough and strong enough to have his moments I just think Okami will get this one.

Winner: Yushin Okami Split Decision

Yoshihiro Akiyama (13-4) vs Jake Shields (26-6)

SEXIYAMA!!! I was extremely tempted to put a link to Akiyama modeling pictures, but if you have not noticed from reading my articles, I am a complete professional. But I will, however, just simply suggest you do a Google search and enjoy Sexiyama's perfection.

Okay, now we can talk about this interesting fight.

I usually do not get excited for a Jake Shields fight because I do not find him to be exciting, and I never looked at him as a top ten kind of guy. But I re-thought that and went back to look at his old fights and the dude has some serious skills on the ground.

I already knew that but watching the old videos made me re-evaluate how I viewed him. (I was going for five "re-" words in that sentence; I came up a little short.) Shields is a finisher and is exceptionally good on the ground. He has dropped his last two fights and will be coming out in this fight to either put on a show or finish in devastating fashion.

Akiyama has had a similar road in the UFC as Shields. Akiyama was regarded as top fighter from Japan but besides his debut fight with Alan Beltcher at UFC 100 he has not won a fight. Akiyama has had some memorable fights but has not ended up on the winning side of them.

It should also  be mentioned that this will be the first time Akiyama has cut down to 170 pounds. He has had issues with his cardio in the past, and I do not know how the weight cut will effect him. I look for this fight to play out on the ground with neither guy really dominating. I think this will be a competitive grappling match, which the Japanese fans will love.

I think Jake is just a little bit better on the ground and a little bit hungrier for this fight. I think he will get the decision but it will be very close. This is the pick em fight of the card.

Winner: Jake Shields Split Decision

Mark Hunt (7-7) vs. Cheick Kongo (17-6)

Yes. Mark Hunt did take that head kick from Mirko Cro Cop and lived to tell the story. If that video was not enough, the Japanese announcer going nuts just solidifies how awesome this weekend will be.

This fight seems to be getting a lot of talk because of the possibility of both these Heavyweights standing and trading on their feet. I do not see that happening.

Mark Hunt is on a two fight win streak and so is Cheick Kongo. Both guys come from a kickboxing background but the big advantage in the ground and wrestling goes to Kongo.

I have been fooled before by the French men into thinking he was going to keep the fight standing and then I would proceed to stand up and yell with excitement as two Heavyweights going at it. But I have been let down by Mr. Kongo more times then Santa Claus.

I think this fight is the lock of the night. I think Kongo will take Hunt down over and over again and just beat on him. Hunt is hard to finish and is tough as they come so I do not see a stoppage unless by cut or submission, which Kongo does not have the best submission game himself.

Cheick Kongo wins 30-27.

Winner: Cheick Kongo Unanimous Decision

Rampage Jackson (32-9) vs Ryan Bader (13-2)

Of course I put the video of Rampage power bombing Arona. That will always be shown when Rampage has a fight. Incredible stuff.

This fight has potential to be great. Rampage coming off his loss to Jones and returning to Japan makes me intrigued to see what Rampage shows up. I think we will see an angry Rampage who is ready to slam someone through the mat.

Ryan Bader had the worst skid of his career. Dropping two fights in a row to future champ Jones and former champ Tito Ortiz. Bader rebounded and knocked out Jason Brilz, but I do not think that is going to really hold water in this fight.

I think Bader will try and play it safe by taking Rampage down and will be unsuccessful in those attempts and then forced into a brawl. Bader has good power but he is hesitant to throw with guys who have power. So I see Bader trying his best to avoid and dog fight but that is exactly what he is going to get. a dog fight.

Rampage is motivated and is going to go out there looking to knock Bader's head off his shoulders. I think this will be an aggressive Rampage and a winning Rampage as well.

Winner: Rampage Jackson TKO Second Round

Ben Henderson (15-2) vs Frankie Edgar (14-1-1)

I am known for my witty banter and sarcasm riddled articles but this fight is no joke. This is a main event that I am more than excited to see. Both these guys set such a high pace and are such high level athletes you will have to be a fool, a fool I tell ya to miss this fight!

Ben Henderson has really turned a corner in his career since joining the UFC. He dominated Mark Bocek who is no picnic. He smashed Jim Miller who is no walk in the park. And he had a war with Clay Guida and proved it is not easy beating a caveman. (I used all references when referring to his opponents, I did it mom!) I have been blown away by Henderson since joining the UFC and he is still young and still getting better. Which is scary.

Not to be out done Frankie Edgar just fought a legend twice and a bully twice and came out with the belt all four times. Frankie might be the most over looked champion in the history of the UFC, The guy is small, sure. But he has heart and the skills to make up for the fact that he is a smaller guy.

Frankie has good boxing but better footwork. He has good wrestling but better cardio. Frankie is the champ for a reason. He will not quit in there and if he still breathing you have a fight on your hands.

A lot of hype has surrounded about the size differences, but I do not think that is going to play a big factor here. B.J Penn is a big lightweight and Edgar had no problem. Gray is a huge lightweight and Edgar handled that well.

This fight comes down to pacing. Ben fights at a high pace when he wants too and Edgar fights at a high pace all the time. Henderson will try to slow Edgar down against the cage and look to wear him out. I do not think Henderson can hold Frankie down but I do think he can pin him against the cage.

I have been back and forth on this one and I must say, this is a 50/50 fight and no one is more excited than me to see it. No one.

I have to go with my gut and my gut says there will be a new champion Saturday night.

Winner: Ben Henderson Split Decision