UFC 128 Fight Card: Predictions You Can Take to the Bank

Saturday night cannot come soon enough. This card is going to be the event of the year. There are fights all over this card that I am excited for.

You have Cro Cop fighting as the first fight of the main event. That should say a lot right there.

After Cro Cop, you have Nate Marquardt, and then Jim Miller.

Then we get to see the UFC debuts of Urijah Faber and Eddie Wineland.

Then we have perhaps the most anticipated fight of the year so far. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs Jon "Bones" Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship.

So here are the predictions for the whole card that you can take to the bank.

Catchweight (195)- Nick Catone vs Costantinos Phillipou

In the first fight of the night, Nick Catone takes on former TUF 11 contestant, Costantinos Phillipou in a catchweight matchup.

Catone comes into this fight with a record of 8-2, and was last seen at UFC Fight Night 20, where he won a split decision over Jesse Forbes.

On the other hand, Phillipou is a UFC newcomer with a record of 7-1 (1 NC), and the last time he was seen anywhere near the UFC, he was losing in the qualifying fights on season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter.

Prediction- Catone via 2nd round TKO

Featherweight- Raphael Assunção vs Erik Koch

The second fight is a featherweight showdown with Raphael Assunção (15-3) and Erik Koch (11-1).

Assunção comes into this fight making his UFC debut. He last fought at WEC 52, where he defeated LC Davis by unanimous decision.

Erik Koch is also making his UFC debut, and was also last seen at WEC 52. In that fight, he TKO'd Francisco Rivera with a head kick and punches, and won knockout of the night for his efforts.

Prediction- Koch via 1st round KO

Bantamweight- Joseph Benavidez vs Ian Loveland

In the last of the untelevised fights, Joseph Benavidez makes his UFC debut against Ian Loveland, who is making his bantamweight debut.

Benavidez comes into this fight off a second round submission of Wagnney Fabiano at WEC 52. He holds a professional record of 13-2.

Ian Loveland (14-7) is making his second appearance inside the Octagon. He was last seen taking a fight on short notice for The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale. In that fight, he defeated Tyler Toner via unanimous decision.

Prediction- Benavidez via 1st round submission

Lightweight- Kurt Pellegrino vs Gleison Tibau

The next preliminary fight, and the first one on Facebook, has a lightweight battle between Kurt Pellegrino and Gleison Tibau.

Pellegrino comes into this fight after losing a unanimous decision to George Sotiropoulos at UFC 116. He has a professional record of 15-5, and says that he is not the same fighter he was since his last fight.

Tibau brings in a 21-7 record, and is also coming a unanimous decision loss, only his was to Jim Miller. 

Tibau and Pellegrino both need a win here if they hope to stay relevant in a crowded lightweight division.

Prediction- Tibau via unanimous decision

Welterweight- Ricardo Almeida vs Mike Pyle

The second Facebook fight pits Ricardo Almeida against Mike Pyle in the welterweight division.

Almeida brings in a 13-4 record, and is coming off a unanimous decision win over TJ Grant at UFC 124.

Pyle brings in a 2 fight win streak, and a 20-7-1 record. In his last fight, he defeated John Hathaway by unanimous decision at UFC 120. 

Pyle has 20 wins, and 17 are by submission so...

Prediction- Pyle via 3rd round submission

Lightweight- Edson Barboza vs Anthony Njokuani

The next preliminary fight, and the first one on Spike TV, is a lightweight battle between Edson Barboza and Anthony Njokuani. I'm very excited for this one.

Barboza comes into the fight at 7-0, and brings with him a devastating muay-thai kickboxing game. He has won his last two fights via TKO due to leg kicks. Pretty bad ass.

Njokuani is making his UFC debut, and he brings in a record of 13-4 (1 NC). Also notable is the fact that he won 3 straight knockout of the night awards. Unfortunately Barboza will handle him.

Prediction- Barboza via 2nd round TKO

Light Heavyweight- Luiz Cane vs Eliot Marshall

The last preliminary fight of the night has a light heavyweight bout between heavy-handed Luiz Cane and a BJJ black belt, Eliot Marshall.

Cane comes into this fight with a record of 10-3 (1 NC) and is on a two fight losing streak. His last win was at UFC 97 over Steve Cantwell, and since then he has lost to Antonio Rogerio Nogueira and Cyrille Diabate. If he wants to keep his job, he needs a win.

Marshall is making his return to the Octagon after nearly a year fighting elsewhere. He has a professional record of 10-2. 

Prediction- Marshall via unanimous decision

Heavyweight- Mirko Cro Cop vs Brendan Schaub

What a way to start off the main card. Two knockout artists who both want to take the other's head off.

Mirko Cro Cop comes into this fight with a professional record of 27-8-2 (1 NC). In his last fight at UFC 119, Cro Cop and Frank Mir put on a dud of a fight. Although in the end, Cro Cop was knocked out in the third round. Many people are saying that if Cro Cop loses, he will retire.

Brendan Schaub is on the other side of the spectrum as Cro Cop. Schaub is still an up-and-coming prospect, and a finalist on season 10 of The Ultimate Fighter. Schaub has a pro record of 7-1, and his only loss was to Roy Nelson. Schaub hopes that a win over Cro Cop will bring him up from prospect to contender.

This one is really hard for me to decide. I'm a huge Cro Cop fan, but I also want to see Schaub do well.

My heart says Cro Cop, but I have to go with my head.

Prediction- Brendan Schaub via 2nd round KO

Middleweight- Nate Marquardt vs Dan Miller

The second fight of the main card has Dan Miller pitted against Nate Marquardt in a middleweight matchup.

Dan Miller (13-4 (1 NC)) was originally set to fight Nick Catone on the undercard, but once Yoshihiro Akiyama pulled out, Miller jumped at the opportunity to fight Marquardt. Miller is currently on a two fight win streak, and his last fight was a split decision win over Joe Doerksen at UFC 124.

Nate Marquardt (30-10-2) is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Yushin Okami in a number one contender bout. Marquardt has lately been called a "choker" by Dana White, and if Marquardt wants an opportunity to prove him wrong, then he's going to have to get back to a top contender bout. It starts on Saturday where he needs to defeat Miller.

Marquardt has far more experience than Miller, so...

Prediction- Nate Marquardt via 2nd round TKO.

Lightweight- Jim Miller vs Kamal Shalorus

Up next is a lightweight fight between Jim Miller and UFC rookie, Kamal Shalorus.

Jim Miller is on a tear in the lightweight division. He has a pro record of 19-2, and his only two losses were unanimous decisions to Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard. In his last fight, he submitted highly touted prospect and BJJ black belt, Charles Olivera. Miller has made it clear that he wants his shot, and impressive showing over Shalorus should get him one step closer.

Kamal Shalorus has a pro record of 7-0-2 and is making his UFC debut. In his last fight at WEC 53, he won a split decision over Bart Palaszewski. If Shalorus can beat Miller, he will make a huge statement about his ability, and how strong the WEC lightweight division was.

Prediction- Jim Miller via unanimous decision

Bantamweight- Urijah Faber vs Eddie Wineland

The Co-Main Event of the evening is a bantamweight title eliminator featuring WEC poster boy and former featherweight champ Urijah Faber, and former bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland.

Urijah Faber is making his UFC debut and he brings with him a 24-4 record. In his last fight at WEC 52, he choked Takeya Mizugaki unconscious with a rear-naked choke in the first round. Faber is one of the most well rounded fighters in the UFC, and he will be comfortable no matter where this fight goes.

Eddie Wineland is also making his UFC debut, and he brings in an 18-6-1 record. He is also on a 4 fight win streak, and a 2 fight "knockout of the night" streak. In his last fight, he slammed Ken Stone for the knockout win at WEC 53.

I think Faber will just take Wineland down and tap him out.

Prediction- Faber via 2nd round submission

Light Heavyweight Championship- Mauricio "Shogun" Rua vs Johnny "Bones" Jones

And finally, the Main Event of the evening. A fight between Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and Jon "Bones" Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship of the world.

Shogun Rua comes into this fight with a record of 19-4, and is coming off a devastating knockout of Lyoto Machida back at UFC 113. Shogun Rua is known as a devastating muay-thai kickboxer with one punch knockout power. Shogun is a legend of the sport, and has won 16 of his 19 fights via knockout. In addition to being the current UFC Light Heavyweight Champion, he is the former Pride Middleweight Grand Prix Champion. He won that championship when he was 23. Do you know who else is 23 and going for their first major title?

Jon Jones comes into the fight with a professional record of 12-1, and is on a 3 fight win streak. In his last fight at UFC 126, he submitted Ryan Bader with a guillotine choke in the second round. Jones was offered the title fight while in the cage after that win. He accepted, Shogun was brought into the cage, and it was on. Many people have pegged Jones as the future of the division, and the future of the sport. Nobody thought it would be happening this soon though.

There are two ways this fight could go. One would be Jones blowing through Shogun as he has blown through everyone else. The other is that this turns into a war that could go either way. I'm hoping for a war.

Prediction- Jones via 4th round TKO

UFC 128: Shogun Rua vs. Jon Jones: Results, News and More