UFC on FOX 5: Yves Edwards vs. John Cholish Head-to-Toe Breakdown

UFC on Fox 5 will play host to an under-the-radar lightweight bout, as John Cholish meets Yves Edwards in an important upstart fight.

Edwards was supposed to fight at UFC on FX 5, but due to the legal complications that Jeremy Stephens faced the day of the event, Edwards was left ready to fight for no reason. Now he gets another shot to fight against Cholish.

Here is a head-to-toe breakdown of their fight.

Striking

The striking game will be one big difference in this fight for Yves Edwards.

Edwards is a renowned striker and has been for most of his long career. He owns 15 stoppages by knockout, including a highlight-reel head kick over Josh Thomson, a head kick and punches to Rafaello Oliveira and a devastating flying knee over James Edson Berto.

Cholish is still somewhat green in his striking, but he does have good top-game ground-and-pound. He owns three knockout victories, including his UFC debut knockout of Mitch Clarke.

Cholish is definitely a game striker, but Edwards is far superior.

Edge: Edwards

Wrestling

Yves Edwards has been in the game a long time. Through that time, he has picked up some wrestling, but it is not comparable to John Cholish.

Cholish wrestled at the collegiate level at Cornell before taking up MMA. This is visible in his fights, as he will use his wrestling background to ground opponents and look for stoppages.

Edge: Cholish

Grappling/Submissions

Both men are talented grapplers with good submission games, but upon closer examination, one man earns the edge.

Yves Edwards is a solid jiu-jitsu player with 17 career submissions. He has tapped out such men as Cody McKenzie (rear-naked choke), James Warfield (triangle choke) and Kultar Gill (heel hook) in his time as a mixed martial artist.

John Cholish is a purple belt under Renzo Gracie and uses his wrestling to help his submission grappling. Of his four submission wins, he has guillotine choked Jameel Massouh and knee-barred Marc Stevens.

Edwards is vastly more experienced, which gives him the slight edge.

Edge: Edwards

Prediction

Come fight night, a war of attrition will take place with two motivated men looking to win.

I think Edwards has the takedown defense and ability to create distance with his striking to keep Cholish at bay. Cholish is a very good prospect, but he will grow from fighting such a savvy veteran.

I don't think Edwards will finish Cholish, but he will definitely earn a clear-cut decision that keeps his UFC resurgence alive.

Prediction: Edwards def. Cholish via decision