UFC 149: Predictions for the Main Card

UFC 149 has crept up on us and promises to provide intense, exciting action. The event will hold a title bout, an anticipated debut and a number of other interesting contests.

Headlining the card will be an interim bantamweight scrap between Urijah Faber and Renan Barao. The winner will be the champion and have the possibility of throwing down with Dominick Cruz, should they choose to wait.

Also, former Bellator champion Hector Lombard will make his debut on the card, taking on surging middleweight Tim Boetsch. Fans have been patiently waiting for the Cuban star to step foot in a UFC Octagon and they will finally get to see him go.

Here are the final main-card predictions for UFC 149.

Chris Clements vs. Matt Riddle

The pay-per-view kicks off with a potential barnburner, as welterweight counterparts Matt Riddle and Chris Clements meet in a striker-versus-grappler affair.

Riddle is a wrestler who often puts entertainment in front of game plan when he fights. It's not often that he will ditch his wrestling and incite a brawl on the feet with an opponent.

Riddle is 6-3 in the UFC, which happens to account for every one of his career fights. He recently broke a two-fight skid with a decision win over Henry Martinez, which likely saved his job.

Clements, on the other hand, is a powerful kickboxer fighting out of Canada. He has won 10 of his 11 career victories via knockout, which is a testament to his skill on the feet.

He made his UFC debut in his latest fight, a decision victory over Keith Wisniewski. With that, he has won five in a row, including wins over UFC veterans Jonathan Goulet and Rich Clementi.

If Riddle sticks to his strong area, he should win this fight. If he engages in a striking war, he will be picked apart.

Prediction: Riddle def. Clements via decision

Brian Ebersole vs. James Head

In the next bout of the night, fellow Americans Brian Ebersole and James Head will meet in a key welterweight scrap.

Ebersole is a savvy grappler with good all-around skills. Although his striking is not his strength, he trains with Tiger Muay Thai and will occasionally throw a cartwheel kick.

Ebersole's UFC career has opened with a bang. He has gone 4-0 thus far, earning wins over Chris Lytle, Dennis Hallman, Claude Patrick and TJ Waldburger. One has to believe if Ebersole wins here, he could earn a top-level opponent.

Head is a solid jiu-jitsu fighter with decent striking. He is a finisher, as seven of his eight career wins have come by knockout or submission.

Head is 1-1 during his current UFC run. Despite dropping his debut by submission to Nick Ring, he came back in his latest bout against Papy Abedi with a submission win.

Experience will probably be the "X Factor" in this fight. Ebersole has 56 more career fights than Head, which will likely lead him to victory.

Prediction: Ebersole def. Head via submission

Cheick Kongo vs. Shawn Jordan

In the only heavyweight bout of the night, France's Cheick Kongo will meet up with American Shawn Jordan for a chance to move to the top end of the division.

Kongo is a vicious striker with brutal ground-and-pound if he achieves a takedown. He is among the most powerful heavyweights in the world, which often helps him achieve victory.

He recently broke a two-fight winning streak with a knockout loss to Mark Hunt in Japan. Previous to that, he had won three of four, including wins over Matt Mitrione and Pat Barry.

Meanwhile, Jordan, a Strikeforce and UFC veteran, is a former football player turned mixed martial artist. Training with Greg Jackson, he has finished all of his wins but one.

Currently on a two-fight winning streak, Jordan submitted Lavar Johnson in Strikeforce before knocking out Oli Thompson in his UFC debut. Jordan is a good striker, but will be going up against another gifted striker in Kongo here.

Prediction: Kongo def. Jordan via knockout

Hector Lombard vs. Tim Boetsch

In the co-main event, middleweight contenders Hector Lombard and Tim Boetsch are scheduled to scrap, with the winner moving a step closer to Anderson Silva's crown.

Lombard, who is making his debut, comes over from Bellator as its last world champion. Lombard is extremely well-rounded, as he is an Olympic judoka, black belt in Brazilian jiu-jitsu and a bone-crushing striker.

The Cuban has not lost since 2006, meaning he has won 24 fights since then. Since 2011, Lombard has disposed of Joe Doerksen, Falaniko Vitale, Jesse Taylor and Trevor Prangley, all solid opposition.

Boetsch is a different kind of animal, though, so Lombard needs top preparation.

On the other hand, Boetsch is a strong wrestler with decent striking. The powerhouse is good in the clinch and in top control, so he will likely look to go there in this fight.

Boetsch is undefeated since moving down to middleweight. He owns decision wins over Kendall Grove and Nick Ring, while earning a miraculous comeback knockout of Yushin Okami. 

The first round will be huge, as Lombard will come out aggressive and powerful.

Prediction: Lombard def. Boetsch via knockout

Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao

In the main event, gold is on the line, as former WEC champ Urijah Faber meets the hottest fighter in MMA in Renan Barao.

Faber is a legend of the sport, being the first recognizable lighter-weight fighter, which helped put the weight class on the map. Faber is well-rounded, as he is a superior wrestler with powerful hands.

Faber lost out on his latest chance for the belt against Dominick Cruz last year. He stormed back with a submission win over Brian Bowles in his latest bout, using his patented guillotine choke.

Barao has won 18 fights in a row and has not lost since his MMA debut back in 2005. He is a gifted striker with great submission skills, making him a nightmare matchup for most people.

In his Zuffa career, Barao has submitted Anthony Leone, Chris Cariaso and Brad Pickett while decisioning Cole Escovedo and Scott Jorgensen. 

This fight will be hard-fought, but experience and cardio will come into play. Faber will have both advantages, especially in a five-round affair.

Prediction: Faber def. Barao via decision