UFC on FOX 3: Predictions You Can Take to the Bank
UFC on Fox is almost here, much to the excitement of MMA fans all over the world. The card will be headlined by lightweight contenders Jim Miller and Nate Diaz.
All the way up and down the card, there is an abundance of exciting fights that will entertain the masses. Here are predictions that you can put your money on, as they are bound to happen.
Karlos Vemola Outwrestles Mike Massenzio to a Victory
1 of 12Both Karlos Vemola and Mike Massenzio are wrestlers. The difference is that Vemola is a multi-time national champion in the Czech Republic.
Another difference in this fight will be size. Vemola is making his middleweight debut after stints in heavyweight and light heavyweight, which will help him in controlling Massenzio to the mat.
Expect this to be Vemola pressuring with his takedowns and holding Massenzio against the cage, where Massenzio where has to dig deep into his counterwrestling.
In the end, Vemola's wrestling attack will be too much for Massenzio, with the fight most likely going to the judges in a decision victory.
Nick Denis Knocks Roland Delorme Unconscious
2 of 12Roland Delorme is stepping up on short notice for this fight, a true testament to his character. He runs into a very dangerous, experienced Nick Denis in this fight, which will test his toughness.
Delorme is a very gifted grappler but is limited on the feet. The judo player will be tested greatly by Denis, who is well-versed in striking, as showcased in his 22-second knockout due to elbows on Joseph Sandoval.
Denis has faced guys like Delorme before, so he should not be shocked at what he faces. Expect Denis to shed a couple takedown attempts before nailing Delorme with a combination that has the referee pulling Denis off Delorme's unconscious body.
Dennis Bermudez Regains Momentum in 'Safe' Performance
3 of 12Pablo Garza is as exciting as they come in the featherweight division. Just ask Fredson Paixao and Yves Jabouin, who fell victim to his highlight-reel finishes.
Dennis Bermudez is a power wrestler with an iron chin and aggressive style. He is able to push through punishment and stay composed long enough to get the fight where he wants it.
Bermudez is in desperate need of a win. He is on a three-fight skid, which started before he came to the UFC. Expect him to fight very safe, fighting not to lose instead of to win.
This style of fight will earn him the win, but a bevy of boos for his effort.
Danny Castillo Continues to Climb the Lightweight Ladder
4 of 12Danny Castillo may very well be the most underrated lightweight in the UFC. Going back to his WEC days, he has proved he can stick around with the best of them.
On the other side, John Cholish, his opponent, may be the best prospect at lightweight, as proved through his UFC debut victory over Mitch Clarke and his Strikeforce win over Marc Stevens.
Cholish is a submission guy, but Castillo has very good submission defense and a powerful top game due to his wrestling. This will be the difference in the fight.
Expect Castillo to grind out a win here and continue his ascent up the lightweight ladder. He will gain an upper- to mid-level opponent following this win.
John Lineker Makes Successful Debut
5 of 12Flyweights are on this card, folks, so do not blink.
John Lineker makes his UFC debut here versus Louis Gaudinot. Lineker is very well rounded, is on a 13-fight win streak and is the Jungle Fight bantamweight champ. He will most likely be bigger than Gaudinot, which will help him in the grappling portion.
In any event, expect Lineker to make a successful debut. Whether he wins by decision or submission, Lineker will win and be a top challenger for the flyweight gold when the dust clears.
John Hathaway Hands Pascal Krauss His First Loss
6 of 12Top European prospects will meet when the UK's John Hathaway meets undefeated German Pascal Krauss.
Hathaway has shown signs of brilliance and signs of floundering. He has big-fight experience, as seen when he upset Diego Sanchez in 2010. For a Brit, he has great wrestling that will give him a top-control advantage.
Krauss is also a skilled grappler, but with less experience than Hathaway. This is just his second fight in the UFC, as well as his first in more than a year. Expect some sort of Octagon jitters to be lingering.
In the end, Hathaway will prove to be too much for Krauss. Krauss will lose but take the loss to keep improving.
John Dodson Wows Us with Another Striking Display
7 of 12Speaking of flyweight title aspirations, when we eventually establish a champion, John Dodson has to be near the top of the list of contenders. That will especially be true with a win over Tim Elliott this weekend.
Originally scheduled to battle Darren Uyenoyama, the elusive and flashy Dodson make his return to flyweight after winning the bantamweight crown on The Ultimate Fighter. Elliott should not be counted out, though.
Elliott is a tough customer, as seen in his last two victories over Josh Rave and Jens Pulver. He is extremely well rounded and a tough out for any fighter.
In the end, Dodson will prove that his flashy striking and elusive defense will be too much for Elliott. Elliott has his moments but will drop to a knockout or decision to "The Magician."
Tony Ferguson Prevails in Battle of the TUF Veterans
8 of 12Tony Ferguson is a former Ultimate Fighter champion, while Michael Johnson is a former Ultimate Fighter runner-up. As proved in the Court McGee-Costa Philippou scrap, the winner of TUF does not always beat a guy that did not win.
Ferguson is going to be the better striker, despite drastic improvements by Johnson while working with the Blackzilians and Tyrone Spong. Both have a wrestling that will most likely cancel each other out, making this a kickboxing match.
Ferguson has higher level experience than Johnson and will not lose a striking battle. If Ferguson stuck around with talented striker Yves Edwards and prevailed, he is not going to falter against a less experienced striker in Johnson.
Pat Barry Outstrikes Lavar Johnson En Route to a 'Fight of the Night' Bonus
9 of 12This fight will be Fight of the Night, you just watch. Two guys with heavy hands and a striking background, Pat Barry and Lavar Johnson know one thing is certain: One man will be knocked out cold.
Johnson has proven power, knocking out the granite-chinned Joey Beltran in his UFC debut. He throws home run punches like they are going out of style, making every strike as dangerous as the next.
Barry has the ability to stay on the outside due to his vicious leg kicks. I have a feeling this will be the difference, keeping Johnson at bay before Barry can attack the crippled Johnson.
From there Barry will hit a huge strike on Johnson's jaw, effectively ending his night.
Rousimar Palhares Continues His Path to Title Shot
10 of 12Rousimar Palhares has to be getting close to a title shot. The heel hook machine is on a three-fight winning streak, with his last loss coming by a mental lapse against Nate Marquardt.
Alan Belcher is not picnic, though, as he is a tough customer. He is more well rounded than Palhares, but if the fight goes to the mat, Belcher is swimming in shark-infested waters.
Expect that to happen, as "Toquinho" drags Belcher down and outworks him in the grappling portion of the fight. He will lock in some sort of submission, winning the fight and moving further up the ladder.
It may just be a matter of time before Palhares is granted a title shot.
Josh Koscheck Derails the Johny Hendricks Hype Train
11 of 12Johny Hendricks instantaneously threw his name into the contenders hat with his 12-second knockout of Jon Fitch. This is all great and dandy, but Josh Koscheck is a different kind of animal that is focused and ready to go in this fight.
Koscheck and Hendricks are similar, as they are power wrestlers with heavy hands. The difference here is the fact that Koscheck has fought the best of the best and Hendricks is just making his way up.
Expect for a classic Koscheck performance (no, not faking a knee to his head while he is down), where he mixes up takedowns and solid combinations. He will look for his home run right hand but probably will not connect with it.
Nate Diaz Earns Title Shot in Impressive Win over Jim Miller
12 of 12This one is going to be a barnburner, I can see it now. The hard-working Jim Miller meets up with the relentless Nate Diaz.
Miller is the better wrestler, which is the only knock in Diaz's game. Expect him to try and get the fight there, being met by the dangerous guard of Diaz.
Eventually, Diaz will tire him out enough that he can start throwing the large volume of punches. This will continue to wear out Miller, but not finish the scrappy lightweight.
In the end, the judges will call Diaz the winner, but we the fans will be thoroughly entertained. It will be a great night of fights that continues to help the growth of the UFC.


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