UFC 167: 3 Underdogs That Have a Chance to Upset

As one of the most stacked cards of the year, UFC 167 has all the potential in the world to deliver historic performances.

From Sergio Pettis' bantamweight debut to the most highly anticipated welterweight showdown in years, tonight could offer fight-by-fight excellence.

Even though some of the names on this card warrant exceptional attention, like Rory MacDonald or Rashad Evans, that doesn't mean the other guys don't have a chance to shine.

Because if there's anything that has been learned this year, it's that absolutely anything can go down inside the cage.  The outcomes that seem most impossible are often the ones that happen more frequently.

With that said, here are three underdogs ready and able to capture victory later on this evening.

Ed Herman

On paper, Herman shouldn't be considered an underdog against any non-ranked UFC middleweight.  But in the eyes of Las Vegas oddsmakers and gambling connoisseurs, "Short Fuse" shouldn't win against Thales Leites.

But sometimes, regardless of their prop bets and head-scratching lines, oddsmakers get it wrong.

The fact of the matter is that Herman is as game as they come.  He's often able to utilize powerful wrestling, timely striking and a bold chin to ward off an opponent.

And when you consider that Leites will only be looking to fight on the ground, Herman has a good chance to catch the Brazilian standing if his wrestling keeps the fight there.

Robbie Lawler

Power is sometimes all you need.  As one of the hardest hitting welterweights in the game today, Lawler has plenty of it.

The only problem is finding a home for that power opposite one of the most athletically inclined and offensively sound fighters the division has ever seen.

But if there was ever anything to counter Rory MacDonald's takedowns, crisp striking, precise kicks and overall bravado, it would be the power in Lawler's two hands.

Now while a victory over the sport's most evolved prospect would give "Ruthless" ultimate title hopes, he shouldn't look for a knockout.  That's going to leave him open for a mistake and cost him dearly.

Instead, he needs to stay patient, stay in the pocket and stay away from the takedown.  Easier said than done, but Lawler has been around this sport for this long for a reason.

Chael Sonnen

It's crazy to think Sonnen is an underdog against a guy who only has a split-decision victory over his last three fights.  But when you take a second look and see the name Rashad Evans, you understand completely.

The bottom line is that even though Sonnen and Evans are friends outside of the Octagon and often train with one another on the road, Evans is coming to brawl tonight.

As one of the best athletes in the light heavyweight division, one who combines elite wrestling with quick striking, "Suga" is as dangerous as they come.

However, people need to understand how good Sonnen truly is in his own right.  Sure he has talked his way into titles shots and made Brazil's public enemy list over the years, but the fact remains he has only lost to Anderson Silva and Jon Jones since 2009.

That's one heck of a resume when you consider Sonnen isn't as well-rounded as they come.

So don't be surprised if his conditioning and in-your-face pressure fuel yet another victory over an accomplished UFC vet.

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