UFC 128 Fight Card: Key To Victory for Every Fighter on the Main Card

Every fighter is confident that they will go in and achieve victory, but being able to go out and do it is an entirely different matter.

At UFC 128, we will see some of the best talent in the world of mixed martial arts clash.

Despite all the training and preparation, only one man can walk away from the fight victorious.

For all of the main card fighters, these are their keys to victory.

Brendan Schaub

Key to victory: Stay patient and pick your shots.

Trying to overwhelm a veteran like Mirko Cro Cop right out of the gate has a higher chance at back-firing than working in your favor.

Cro Cop is an excellent striker, but his defense is not perfect.

Schaub should have the more powerful punches, so getting in and landing a good punch on the button will be what can tun the fight in Schaub's favor.

Mirko Filipovic

Key to victory: Using kicks more frequently.

Mirko Cro Cop has the best kicks in the history of the sport, but has not used them to their full extent in the UFC.

Much of that had to due with lingering injuries, but Mirko claims to be fully healthy now.

Schaub has a boxing style and if Cro Cop can use his kicks like he used to, then that could be his biggest advantage in the fight.

Dan Miller

Key to victory: Fight with urgency.

One of Dan Miller's best qualities has been his ability to remain composed in the midst of battle, and he never seems overly aggressive.

Miller lost three straight fights to top contenders, now he is getting another chance at a top ranked guy.

He needs to learn from his mistakes and really make this fight his own, because we do not know how many more chances he will get.

Nate Marquardt

Key to victory: Keep the fight standing.

Nate Marquardt is a great grappler, but that is also Miller's territory and his best chance to win the fight.

Marquardt should mix in takedowns to score points and keep Miller off balance, but should pop up afterwards.

While on the feet, Marquardt should swarm if he sees that Miller gets hurt.

Kamal Shalorus

Key to victory: Land takedowns.

Jim Miller is a good fighter in all areas, and I think Shalorus's best chance is to do what he does best and out-wrestle him.

It might be hard for Shalorus to maintain top position for the entire three rounds, but if he mixes it up a little, Shalorus has a pretty decent chance to win this fight based on points. 

Jim Miller

Key to victory: Go for submissions/leg-locks.

Miller's last fight was his most impressive, as he submitted Charles Oliveira with a kneebar.

It showed that Miller has some elite level submissions. Wrestlers, like opponent Shalorus, are susceptible to various leg-locks if they have not properly adapted their game.

Eddie Wineland

Key to victory: Stay patient/do not rush.

Urijah Faber is a handful for anyone under 155lbs. 

In order for Wineland to win, he needs dictate the stand-up game. If he can hurt Faber on multiple occasions, he might be able to pull out the upset a la Siver vs. Sotiropoulos.

Urijah Faber

Key to victory: Go for the kill after the first round.

This fight is a big opportunity for Eddie Wineland and he is probably going to enter the ring in the best shape of his career.

Faber needs to stay busy and dictate the action in the first round, but wait until the second or third round before going in for the kill.

Jon Jones

Key to victory: Use wrestling.

Jones said that Ryan Bader uses wrestling as a safety blanket, but Jones might want to consider the same thing if he finds himself in trouble for the first time in his career.

Rua might not let Jones do whatever he wants, so it could be crucial for Jones to use wrestling, which is his biggest advantage over Rua.

Mauricio Rua

Key to victory: Ride momentum.

Jon Jones has never really been in a tough situation in his career. If Rua finds Jones on his heels, he needs to swarm and keep Jones out of his comfort zone.

If Rua can get Jones out of his comfort zone, Jones might not know how to recover.

Jones has never fought anyone with a pace like Shogun, so he needs to use that to his advantage.

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