UFC 183 Bleacher Report Main Card Staff Predictions

UFC 183 is scheduled for Saturday. The event features a strong main card highlighted by an intriguing middleweight showdown between two mixed martial arts icons, Anderson Silva and Nick Diaz.

Silva is often cited as the sport's most accomplished figure. He holds the record for most UFC title defenses and, at the summit of his career, cultivated an aura of invincibility that few other greats have so much as approached.

Back-to-back losses to current champ Chris Weidman and a gruesome leg injury have since pushed Silva out of the spotlight…until now. He'll look to reascend the 185-pound ranks and reclaim his title. First stop on the rebound is Diaz.

Diaz is an enigmatic fighter who has shown the skills and grittiness to compete at the highest level. Suspect focus and inconsistency have stunted his career, but a win over Silva, even now, would do much for bolstering his legacy.

Beyond the headliner, the UFC 183 main card features an additional four bouts that range from lightweight to middleweight. As always, the Bleacher Report crew is ready to supply you with our forecasts for the upcoming show.

Read on for predictions by Riley "Rahvin" Kontek, James "Machin Shin" MacDonald, Sean "Sammael" Smith, Scott "Shai'tan" Harris and Craig "Aginor" Amos.

2015 Records

Jeff Chiu/Associated Press

We are still in the early stages of 2015, so there is plenty of time for our current records to balance out. At least, I have to tell myself that, since a few of us (including me) have gotten off to unspectacular starts.

I've seen auspicious signs in bird flocks and snowfalls lately, so I'm confident that UFC 183 will be a rousing success. Or maybe UFC 183 will just end up being an entertaining card. Reading the omens is tough.

Here are the standings for 2015:

• Riley Kontek: 12-1
• James MacDonald: 10-3
• Craig Amos: 8-5
• Scott Harris: 8-5
• Sean Smith: 8-5

With that unpleasant business out of the way, here are the picks.

Jordan Mein vs. Thiago Alves

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Riley Kontek

This is an exciting way to start off the main card. Can Thiago Alves stay healthy, and is he healthy enough for a challenge like this? His kicks and knees are brutal, while he has the ability to stay off his back in most fights. Jordan Mein is known to bang on the feet but also has a solid ground game. This is a toss-up in my mind, but I will take Alves by a slight nod. 

Alves, unanimous decision

James MacDonald

This is a fun fight. Mein is underrated and has a fan-friendly style, while Alves never ceases to draw both smiles and winces from the crowd in equal measures. The Brazilian is the more complete striker, and the power of his kicks should eventually wear Mein down.

Alves, TKO, Rd. 3

Sean Smith

Still only 25 years old despite all his experience, Mein is bound to break out soon. Following a knockout win over Mike Pyle, the time is now. These days, given all his recent setbacks, Alves is arguably a step down from Pyle. Despite facing a skilled striker, Mein should use his reach to his advantage in this one and end it with strikes.

Mein, TKO, Rd. 2

Craig Amos

I've been thinking Alves for a few weeks now, but I'm pulling a last-minute switch and jumping over to Mein's corner. Alves is a dangerous opponent, but it has been a long time since he's beaten anyone as good as Mein. 

Mein, unanimous decision 

Scott Harris

I've been a Mein fan well before his time in the UFC. His stand-up has been sharp and smooth since he first joined the pro ranks, when he was like seven years old or some ridiculous number. Like Mein, Alves has had his share of setbacks. He's still a huge guy with a fast and powerful muay thai arsenal. If he's really 100 percent, what we have here is a good fight that could swing the way of the veteran.

Alves, TKO, Rd. 2

Thales Leites vs. Tim Boetsch

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Riley Kontek

This is actually an interesting matchup. On one hand, you have a revived Thales Leites who has looked impressive since his return. On the other end, you have a caveman power-puncher in Tim Boetsch with good wrestling and physical strength. Although I have a feeling Leites is the favorite, Boetsch's sprawl-and-brawl ways will be tough for a grappling-oriented fighter like Leites.

Boetsch, unanimous decision

James MacDonald

Leites’ striking has come on leaps and bounds since his first stint with the UFC. Combined with his outstanding ground game, the Brazilian is now starting to look the part. Boetsch is always a tough out, but he has his limitations. I expect Leites to get the better of Boetsch wherever the fight goes.

Leites, unanimous decision

Sean Smith

Not too long ago, I would have said Boetsch should have no problem using his defensive wrestling to stay away from Leites' elite grappling and bully the Brazilian in the stand-up. With two straight knockout wins, Leites' striking has come a long way, though. Leites will come out firing, force Boetsch to attempt a takedown and take advantage with a quick submission. This is a guy who's ready to make a run at a second middleweight title shot.

Leites, submission, Rd. 1

Craig Amos

Boetsch loves to get in close and dirty it up with his opponents, which will only make trouble for him against Leites. The Brazilian is comfortable falling to his back, savvy enough to complete the occasional trip and rounded enough to hold his own on the feet. Leites is better than ever, and he'll get his fifth straight UFC win on Saturday night.

Leites, submission, Rd. 2

Scott Harris

Leites is better than he was when he fought Anderson Silva. He has more dimensions that just the…you know, one. But I'm not sure it's enough for Boetsch, a bear of a man who knows how to get his paws on guys and bang them with uppercuts and other heavy stuff. Something tells me Leites won't like that.

Boetsch, TKO, Rd. 2

Joe Lauzon vs. Al Iaquinta

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Riley Kontek

How this made the main card over Ian McCall-John Lineker, I don't know. Regardless, this will be a decent fight. Joe Lauzon has been a little more inconsistent as of late, but he consistently fights top guys. However, Al Iaquinta's wrestling and movement are what will lead to a Lauzon loss here. Ragin' Al just has too many superior tools to fail here.

Iaquinta, TKO, Rd. 3

James MacDonald

This should be an outstanding fight. I can’t imagine how these two could possibly disappoint. Both men are aggressive and creative. Lauzon may just be slightly on the slide, though. The younger Iaquinta has shown a lot of promise and should get it done on the feet.

Iaquinta, unanimous decision

Sean Smith

Lauzon is so hard to pick against because he can take matchups that look so lopsided on paper and turn them into competitive contests through sheer grit and determination. That said, he'll have a tough time getting his hand raised against Iaquinta. The Serra-Longo Fight Team member has the defensive wrestling to avoid grappling with Lauzon, which will be key, and the striking to end this bout early against a tough adversary.

Iaquinta, TKO, Rd. 2

Craig Amos

Lauzon can win this fight if he makes a concerted effort to take Iaquinta to the mat. He has an edge there. Iaquinta is better on the feet though, and even when Lauzon goes to his grappling, he usually indulges in some exchanges first. Iaquinta wins on points.

Iaquinta, unanimous decision

Scott Harris

I know this bird is singing from the depths of the pay-per-view card: blood and lots of it. It's unfair to paint Lauzon into that corner, but that's what's been done. He's almost the Necro Butcher of the UFC. We'll see if he breaks out his spidery jiu-jitsu to confound the more meat-and-potatoes Iaquinta, or if he just says "screw it" and goes for more glory and bonus money. I think the latter.

Iaquinta, TKO, Rd. 3

Tyron Woodley vs. Kelvin Gastelum

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Riley Kontek

Consider the fact that Tyron Woodley is still limited on the feet (powerful, not technical) and that he has a small gas tank, and he could be on the receiving end of an upset here. Gastelum can match his MMA wrestling chops and has improved his hands. Seeing that he demolished Jake Ellenberger like he did, I can see Gastelum getting after this fight in equally impressive fashion. He won't finish Woodley, but he'll outhustle him.

Gastelum, unanimous decision

James MacDonald

I’m not convinced Woodley will have much success against Gastelum. The Ultimate Fighter veteran has a lot of tools and moves well. Look for Gastelum to stuff Woodley’s takedowns and win this fight on the feet with his more refined striking.

Gastelum, unanimous decision

Sean Smith

I hesitate to pick against Gastelum because he keeps on proving everybody wrong, but this is a bad matchup for him. In terms of wrestling, Woodley is a step up from Ellenberger and will be difficult for Gastelum to take down, which has been a keep to the TUF winner's recent success. Even if the wrestling matchup turns into a stalemate, Woodley seems to be the competitor with more power, given that his past four wins have come via knockout.

Woodley, unanimous decision

Craig Amos

I foresee a close contest here, but Gastelum will gut out the victory. Woodley is a strong starter, and Gastelum will have to be careful in the early going. But once he settles in, he should win the majority of exchanges and take over late in the fight.

Gastelum, unanimous decision

Scott Harris

Woodley has a bomb for a right hand, but I don't think that and wrestling will buy him much against the ever-improving, ever-impressive Gastelum. The TUF winner will win the striking exchanges, land more in the clinch and even mix in an off-balance takedown or two. He'll do more stuff, and as it is written, so shall stuff get you the win.

Gastelum, unanimous decision

Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz

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Riley Kontek

Despite all of our concerns about Anderson Silva's leg, he won't need to use it too much for this fight from a kicking perspective. He will use it to set things up and keep Diaz at a distance, and knowing the Diaz brothers have a kryptonite for leg kicks, he may use them more than we think. Silva is technically superior and more creative. Add that to Diaz fighting up a weight class and we should see Diaz get finished.

Silva, TKO, Rd. 2

James MacDonald

It’s difficult to know what to expect from either man. I strongly suspect that Silva’s punch resistance is severely compromised at this point, but I’m not sure it’ll matter. He’s just a bad matchup for Diaz, who employs a more limited striking style. One of the most compelling aspects of this fight will be whether Diaz decides to taunt and slap Silva at some point. Now, that would be something to see.

Silva, TKO, Rd. 4 

Sean Smith

I have so many questions about Silva, but none of them will lead me to pick against him in this matchup. This one will be fun, but The Spider should win by virtue of being the more diverse striker. I'm most interested in seeing whether Silva can make a statement by becoming the first opponent to stop Diaz since K.J. Noons did so in 2007. Given that the Brazilian hasn't gone to a decision in seven straight appearances, he'll be able to put Diaz away inside five rounds.

Silva, TKO, Rd. 2

Craig Amos

It's tempting to go with Diaz since injuries and long layoffs usually don't do any favors for older fighters. And if Silva has lost a step (or two), Diaz has the hand speed to make him pay for it. But Silva is the bigger guy, and so long as he is close to what he was a couple of years ago, he'll still get it done.

Silva, unanimous decision

Scott Harris

Heart says Diaz, head says Silva. I don't think we'll ever see A-plus Anderson Silva again, but at UFC 183, we'll see enough of a stylistic mismatch for Silva to get over the first hurdle on his road back to relevance, which is win a big fight.

Silva, unanimous decision