Silva vs. Diaz: A Complete Guide to UFC 183 Fight Card
UFC 183 comes to you this Saturday night with a middleweight showcase main event between two returning stars of the sport.
Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz both come off long layoffs to entertain the crowd in Las Vegas.
That is not the only good fight on this card. Continuing its fantastic open to 2015, the UFC has stacked UFC 183 from top to bottom. In the co-main event, welterweights Tyron Woodley and Kelvin Gastelum will clash in the hopes of establishing themselves as serious contenders in the division.
Ten more bouts help fill out the card that includes multiple ranked fighters and potential contenders.
Here is your complete guide to UFC 183. Find out where the fights will air, who is fighting and who is predicted to win each contest. Without further ado, let's march forward to the first bout with the UFC's next installment of exciting fights.
Thiago Santos vs. Andy Enz
1 of 12
Division: Middleweight
Records: Thiago Santos (9-3), Andy Enz (7-2)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
The first fight of the night features two fighters who are coming off losses.
Santos dropped his last outing to Uriah Hall and is 1-2 inside the Octagon. Enz is 0-2 under the UFC banner. The loser of this fight could well be on the cut line, and that puts a lot of pressure on them.
This should be Santos' fight to lose.
He has had a tough three-fight start to his UFC career, but he hasn't looked awful. Enz will likely be a punching bag for Santos. Look for the Brazilian to get this night going with a stoppage.
Prediction: Santos, TKO, Round 1
Richardson Moreira vs. Ildemar Alcantara
2 of 12
Division: Middleweight
Records: Richardson Moreira (7-2), Ildemar Alcantara (20-7)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
More middleweight action continues on the fight card when Moreira and Alcantara compete.
Moreira did not make an impact in his UFC debut last year, getting knocked out in just 20 seconds. How much has he improved since then? Not enough to defeat Alcantara.
Alcantara, 3-2 in the UFC, is a more developed fighter than Moreira at this stage in his career. His UFC debut against Wagner Prado was a good showcase, but since then he has alternated wins and losses. Although he has dropped two inside the Octagon, Alcantara took both of the fights to the scorecards.
This is a good matchup for Alcantara to get back in the win column, and it will help send Moreira out of the UFC.
Prediction: Alcantara, Submission, Round 2
Diego Brandao vs. Jimy Hettes
3 of 12
Division: Featherweight
Records: Diego Brandao (18-10), Jimy Hettes (11-2)
See it on: UFC Fight Pass (subscription required)
Don't believe this fight card is stacked? Brandao vs. Hettes is your UFC Fight Pass featured prelim.
Both Hettes and Brandao are coming off losses to true contenders. Hettes was TKO'd by Dennis Bermudez, and Brandao suffered a TKO loss to Conor McGregor in Ireland. These are two talented featherweights who need a victory in a big way.
Hettes should have a good opportunity to stun Brandao in this fight. The Brazilian gets overaggressive and fades during fights. Hettes will have chances to exploit an opening, but can he? I doubt it.
Brandao's aggressive nature will wilt Hettes. The Brazilian is a solid, well-rounded fighter, and following the bout against McGregor, he will be more composed. He touches up Hettes early and often, and that leads to a TKO win for a third straight finish on the UFC 183 card.
Prediction: Brandao, TKO, Round 1
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Rafael Natal vs. Tom Watson
4 of 12
Division: Middleweight
Records: Rafael Natal (18-6-1), Tom Watson (17-7)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
The opening bout of the Fox Sports 1 preliminary card features two middleweight workhorses. They aren't the most athletic and dynamic fighters in the company, but they can be entertaining.
Natal got back in the win column in his last fight over Chris Camozzi via split decision, and Watson ended his losing streak by taking a decision against Sam Alvey. Now, the two mid-tier middleweights look for the second win to begin building a streak.
This one will hit the scorecards.
I like Watson in this matchup. His power advantage will be the difference over the course of 15 minutes, as the judges will weigh his power strikes more heavily.
Watson will wear some damage on his face as well. This won't be a runaway. Natal will get in some offense.
A dogfight gets the first decision on the board for the event.
Prediction: Watson, Decision
Ian McCall vs. John Lineker
5 of 12
Division: Flyweight
Records: Ian McCall (13-4-1), John Lineker (24-7)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
This fight was supposed to happen in 2014, but McCall had to pull out of the contest due to an illness before the weigh-ins. Two top-level flyweights seek another win that may put them in line for a title shot in a shallow division.
No. 6-ranked contender Lineker has had issues making weight in this division, and sometimes that hurts his cardio. He will need every bit of his gas tank against McCall. Lineker is a fan favorite in this division because of his power, which is scary for a flyweight.
McCall, ranked No. 3, is the more complete fighter between the two. He is coming off back-to-back wins as he seeks another date with Demetrious Johnson.
Lineker has a chance to land the KO blow, but I have to side with McCall. His movement and wrestling will negate the power of Lineker. It'll be yet another decision for McCall, but that's because he is facing excellent competition.
The flyweights thrill the crowd with a 15-minute battle between Top 10 fighters.
Prediction: McCall, Decision
Ed Herman vs. Derek Brunson
6 of 12
Division: Middleweight
Records: Ed Herman (22-10, 1 NC), Derek Brunson (12-3)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
We go back to the middleweight division with Brunson and Herman. Both men are coming off a victory.
Herman dropped a fight to Thales Leites in 2013, but he came back strong with a decision win over Rafael Natal in 2014. Brunson was knocked out by Yoel Romero before returning to win against Lorenz Larkin. These men are fighting excellent competition, and it continues on Saturday.
Herman plays the role of spoiler well, and the UFC understands that his skill set and style of fighting push others to be better. He is a great litmus test for Brunson—one he will pass.
Brunson will find it difficult to finish Herman, but he picks up the victory on the scorecards. He will be successful both on the feet and with his wrestling. He will force Herman to go on the defensive in this fight and will win the opportunity to impress the judges.
Prediction: Brunson, Decision
Miesha Tate vs. Sara McMann
7 of 12
Division: Women's Bantamweight
Records: Miesha Tate (15-5), Sara McMann (8-1)
See it on: Fox Sports 1
The featured preliminary contest on Fox Sports 1 is interesting both in terms of the actual fight and what it means for the division.
McMann is ranked No. 3, and Tate comes in at No. 2, but Ronda Rousey has defeated both of them soundly. Tate has lost twice to the champion.
Will a win on Saturday earn either of them a title shot? It is a shallow division, but it will be hard to convince fans that they deserve it.
McMann is a talented wrestler, but we have yet to see her other skills develop at a high level. She very nearly lost her last outing against Lauren Murphy from top position. Murphy was active from the bottom with elbows.
Tate has picked up back-to-back wins as she continues her path back to Rousey. She is the more complete fighter, but she likes to wrestle. That will be a losing bid against McMann. Tate will have to win the striking or submit McMann off her back.
This is a big fight for McMann to show the world that she has advanced her other skills and deserves the Rousey rematch. Tate is a great test for that and a good foil for all her plans.
I want to pick Tate in this matchup but cannot. McMann's deficiencies are glaring, but her wrestling and top game should be enough to stifle Tate for at least two rounds. It will be a grind.
Prediction: McMann, Decision
Jordan Mein vs. Thiago Alves
8 of 12
Division: Welterweight
Records: Jordan Mein (29-9), Thiago Alves (20-9)
See it on: Pay-Per-View
The first fight of the PPV card is an exciting battle of two welterweights who want to move into the Top 10 of the division.
No. 13-ranked contender Mein was getting a lot of praise when he entered the UFC with a TKO over Dan Miller. His hype train derailed when Matt Brown brutalized him in his next bout. He since returned to pick up wins over Hermani Perpetuo and Mike Pyle.
Alves was away for two years after losing in the last minute to Martin Kampmann and returned in a fun fight against Seth Baczynski, which he won by decision. The fight against Mein will be his statement that he is back as a serious threat or has fallen into a gatekeeper role after years in the UFC.
Mein is more disciplined on the feet, and with his range, he can touch Alves up from the outside. Alves struggles when he can't get inside. However, his leg kicks will play a big part in what Mein can and cannot do. They are hard and almost tough to watch when they land flush.
He will land a few of his vicious leg kicks before hurting Mein with his hands.
Look for the former title contender to put an end to Mein's hopes of ever being an elite welterweight with a big TKO stoppage to open the card. The Pitbull returns to action in a big way.
Prediction: Alves, TKO, Round 1
Thales Leites vs. Tim Boetsch
9 of 12
Division: Middleweight
Records: Thales Leites (24-4), Tim Boetsch (18-7)
See it on: Pay-Per-View
Leites looked fantastic after he left the UFC after UFC 101, and he continues to look fantastic since returning to the organization. His striking has developed from a technical and power standpoint. He has won seven straight with his last two coming by way of KO/TKO.
No. 13-ranked Boetsch was nearing a title fight, but losses to Costas Philippou and Mark Munoz halted that. After losing to Luke Rockhold, Boetsch came back with a win over Brad Tavares by TKO.
This is a good stylistic matchup for Leites. He is an exceptional jiu-jitsu talent. That will make Boetsch think twice about utilizing his wrestling. On the feet, while Boetsch possesses more power, it is Leites who is grown into a more polished striker.
Leites gets another stoppage to his credit and will move past his No. 11 ranking straight into the Top 10 following UFC 183.
Prediction: Leites, TKO, Round 2
Joe Lauzon vs. Al Iaquinta
10 of 12
Division: Lightweight
Records: Joe Lauzon (24-9), Al Iaquinta (10-3-1)
See it on: Pay-Per-View
Exciting lightweights Lauzon and Iaquinta help continue the action before moving onto the main events of the evening.
Iaquinta has won back-to-back fights by TKO and takes a step up against a UFC veteran in Lauzon.
Lauzon returned to the UFC after nearly a year away last September with a TKO over Michael Chiesa.
Iaquinta has solid skills, but he is susceptible to submissions, which is an area where Lauzon excels. And that will likely be the end outcome for this fight.
Lauzon has been in the cage with the cream of the crop. He has seen everything in Iaquinta's arsenal before and will use his veteran savvy to get this to the canvas, where he will finish the fight. Make it three straight for Lauzon.
Prediction: Lauzon, Submission, Round 1
Tyron Woodley vs. Kelvin Gastelum
11 of 12
Division: Welterweight
Records: Tyron Woodley (14-3), Kelvin Gastelum (10-0)
See it on: Pay-Per-View
The co-main event pits No. 3-ranked Woodley against No. 7-ranked Gastelum in a pivotal welterweight tilt. A title shot is unlikely to happen in this stacked division for the victor, but he will have a case to be in the next title eliminator.
Woodley is coming off an emphatic win over Dong Hyun Kim, and Gastelum is still undefeated after dispatching Jake Ellenberger in Mexico City.
Woodley poses many of the same issues for Gastelum that Ellenberger did; he is a powerful wrestler with knockout power. Woodley will be able to take what didn't work for Ellenberger and avoid that for this fight, but will it be enough? I don't think so.
Gastelum is a potential international star for the UFC, and he backs it up in the cage. The way he took Ellenberger's back to finish the fight was awesome. He is an elite fighter, and a victory over Woodley cements that fact.
Woodley has been touched up on the feet before, and Gastelum will be able to find the target. Woodley needs to make this a grinding fight and wear down Gastelum. He just won't get the chance as Gastelum ices him in the second frame.
Prediction: Gastelum, KO, Round 2
Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz
12 of 12
Division: Middleweight
Records: Anderson Silva (33-6), Nick Diaz (26-9, 1 NC)
See it on: Pay-Per-View
This is a fight fans that have been waiting on for some time. Not because it pits a No. 1 vs. a No. 2, but because the styles that Silva and Diaz employ inside the cage are special, albeit in much different ways.
Silva excited fans throughout his career with stellar knockouts, including back elbows, front kicks and an exceptional ability to defend with flair. Diaz excited fans with a nonstop boxing attack while trash-talking his opponents. They both achieved a high level of success.
On paper, this looks to be a clear-cut victory for Silva. Stylistically, he should dominate. Diaz is not a typical power puncher. Silva is a bigger, more lethal fighter. However, Silva's depreciation as a fighter makes this much more interesting. He is knocking on 40. His chin may be the victim.
Diaz will find out where Silva stands. He will come forward and strike with the dangerous Spider. Will Silva back up to the fence and eat Diaz's offense, or will he stick and move before unleashing another vicious knockout? These are questions we cannot answer because we just don't know.
I have to lean toward Silva. His chin may be gone, but we don't truly know. We have only seen that happen once against Weidman, and with Diaz not being known for his outright power, this is a tailor-made fight for the former champion to shine in. He will put on a show, and Diaz will yap, but Silva ends up stopping the former Strikeforce titleholder from the clinch.
Prediction: Silva, TKO, Round 2
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