UFC 148: Who's on the Hot Seat

The biggest event of the year is just around the corner, with the biggest fight gracing the card. 

UFC 148 is headlined by a middleweight title bout between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen. This is the most personal fight in the history of the UFC and will likely attract record numbers.

From this card, who is on the hot seat? Likely, some fighters will be on the chopping block and need to perform to keep their job.

Rafaello Oliveira

Rafaello Oliveira has been given so many opportunities to be successful in the UFC, but he has simply not performed.

In his two stints with the company, Oliveira has gone 1-4, including an 0-2 run since his return. The jiu-jitsu black belt has proven to be raw on the feet, as he has been dominated by the likes of Gleison Tibau and Yves Edwards.

One more loss and there is no doubt in my mind that he will be let go. A 1-5 record in the UFC is not impressive even in the least bit.

Yoislandy Izquierdo

Although he is young in his MMA and UFC career, Yoislandy Izquierdo will likely be fighting for his spot on the UFC roster.

Izquierdo's contract came at a price, as the UFC had to buy out his contract with his previous MMA promotion. Add to that the fact he lost his UFC debut by submission to Reza Madadi, and Izquierdo is walking a tight line.

Shane Roller

Since moving over from the WEC, Shane Roller has looked subpar at best through his four performances.

Despite winning his debut, Roller was being dominated until he hit a home-run punch on Thiago Tavares. He is 0-3 in his last fights, which saw him lose in convincing fashion to Melvin Guillard, T.J. Grant and Michael Johnson.

I figured he would have been cut after his last fight, but he was given one more chance. Should he lose, I doubt he receives another chance.

John Alessio

John Alessio has made several UFC appearances, but he has not been able to win yet. In fact, he is 0-4 through his several stints with the company.

Alessio returned to the UFC in his last fight, where he lost a late-notice fight to Mark Bocek. The lightweight division is a shark tank and it doesn't have room for fighters who can't win fights.

Melvin Guillard

Melvin Guillard is one of the biggest stars of the lightweight division, but come fight night, he will be on the hot seat.

Guillard has been unsuccessful in two straight fights. In both fights, he was finished in the first round against Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller.

Guillard is talented and athletic, but another loss can't be good for job security. He needs to enter the cage Saturday and get it done.

Cung Le

Cung Le is a huge star—there is not doubt about that. Come fight night, he will be looking for his first UFC win in two fights, as he dropped his debut to Wanderlei Silva.

Le, in the past, has shown interests in other ventures, such as movies. Should he lose his fight against late-replacement Patrick Cote, he may be lured back to the silver screen and away from the UFC.

Either way, a loss could lead to his cut. He has a very large contract and he was not signed to lose fights.

Tito Ortiz/Forrest Griffin

Win, lose or draw, Tito Ortiz will retire following his rubber match with Forrest Griffin—this much is certain.

Ortiz will be inducted into the Hall of Fame and then fight one of his biggest rivals of his career in Griffin. This will put both men on the hot seat, as Griffin is pondering retirement soon as well.

Both men put on extremely competitive bouts in their first two fights. Both were split decisions and since their initial meeting, both have talked a lot of smack.

Saturday will resolve their rivalry. Neither of these men will want to lose the rubber match, as the loser may never hear the end of it. 

Either way, Ortiz and Griffin have had great careers and deserve our utmost respect (this is coming from the ultimate Ortiz hater). They have helped build the sport and a company, and for that, we as MMA fans cannot thank them enough.

Chael Sonnen/Anderson Silva

Usually on my edition of "The Hot Seat," I only include guys who are in danger of being cut from the UFC. As you can see, this is the second fight where neither fighter is on the chopping block that I included.

Both champion and challenger, Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen, will be on the hot seat come fight night. It is not only because it is a title match. It is not only because it is a rematch.

It is because the hype and anticipation of this fight is so north of heaven that there is no going back for either man. We got the typical trash talk from Sonnen, who is an absolute legend of the spoken arts.

Meanwhile, a normally tranquil, respectful Anderson Silva has exploded and said that he wants to cause bodily injury to Sonnen. This leaves both men with no direction to go but toward the victory.

This fight is about a title, but that isn't the real story. It's about respect. It's about honor. It's about standing up and putting those around you on your back into the fight.

Silva fights for his family and his friends. Sonnen fights for himself. They both fight for us.