UFC Fight Night 18 Preview

The UFC returns to action this Wednesday night with the UFC Fight Night 18 fight card. This event could be considered a big welcome bash for former WEC fighters are the card is stacked and headlined by former WEC competitors.

Main Card

Carlos Condit vs. Martin Kampmann 

Martin Kampmann is an excellent matchup for Carlos Condit in his first UFC fight. Condit was the reigning WEC welterweight champion when Zuffa chose to disband the weightclass.

Both Condit and Kampmann have technical skill in striking and grappling. Most recently, Condit has enjoyed success with his submission skills winning five of his last seven fights in that manner.

Kampmann will be making his second fight at welterweight after dropping down from middleweight in 2008. Kampmann looked good in his welterweight debut and his speed and quickness seems to have benefited.

Look for both fighters to stand and exchange punches. Both fighters will probably negate each other on the ground so we should be in for a stand-up battle.

Winner: Carlos Condit

Ryan Bader vs. Carmelo Marrero 

While Carmelo Marrero’s first stay in the UFC didn’t go that well, I think he has the skills and experience needed to outlast Ryan Bader.

Bader is still relatively early in his MMA career, and while undefeated at 8-0, he really hasn’t fought high level competition yet. Look for Bader to once again look to use his ground control to smother Marrero.

However, Marrero has been around long enough to know how to attack Bader on the feet and work around his lay-and-pray offense on the mat. I see this fight going to decision with Marrero winning on points.

Winner: Carmelo Marrero

Tyson Griffin vs. Rafael dos Anjos 

Rafael dos Anjos is coming off a brutal KO loss to Jeremy Stephens at UFC 91, while Tyson Griffin is coming off only the second loss of his career at UFC 90 to Sean Sherk.

The simple fact of this fight is that Griffin is simply the better fighter and has faced much better competition than dos Anjos has.

However, as Paulo Thiago proved against Josh Koscheck, anyone can beat anyone else inside the Octagon. When push comes to shove though, Griffin should easily win this fight.

Winner: Tyson Griffin

Junie Browning vs. Cole Miller 

I still don’t understand the interest and hype surrounding Junie Browning. Matched up against Cole Miller, I think Browning is once again going to find out that brashness, arrogance and cockiness mean nothing inside the Octagon. Miller walks away the victor via submission.

Winner: Cole Miller

Gleison Tibau vs. Jeremy Stephens 

This matchup between Jeremy Stephens and Gleison Tibau is probably as even a matchup as you can find. Tibau definitely holds the edge in the grappling and submission games, but Stephens holds the clear edge on the feet.

I see this being a hard fought, back-and-forth battle. If Tibau can avoid getting clipped early, I think he works his way to a submission sometime in round two.

Winner: Gleison Tibau

Undercard

Ricardo Almeida vs. Matt Horwich - Winner: Ricardo Almeida

Brock Larson vs. Jesse Sanders - Winner: Brock Larson

Tim Credeur vs. Nick Catone - Winner: Nick Catone

Jorge Rivera vs. Nissen Osterneck - Winner: Jorge Rivera

Rob Kimmons vs. Joe Vedepo - Winner: Rob Kimmons

Tim McKenzie vs. Aaron Simpson - Winner: Tim McKenzie

Steve Steinbeiss vs. Ryan Jensen - Winner: Ryan Jensen