UFC 133 & UFC 134: Early Predictions, Power Ranking the 12 Best Announced Fights

With the UFC scheduling UFC 133 and UFC 134 in the same month, August 2011 is shaping up to be a huge one for the sport.

Both events feature blockbuster matchups that should produce loads of excitement.

At least one UFC title will be on the line, as Anderson Silva is scheduled to defend the UFC Middleweight Championship against Yushin Okami at UFC 134. The event will also mark the UFC's first trip to Brazil in more than a decade.

With loads of great bouts already scheduled for these two cards, let's take a look a the 12 best fights that have already been announced for UFC 133 and UFC 134.

12. Johny Hendricks vs. Mike Pierce

For the last couple of years, Johny Hendricks and Mike Pierce have been demolishing the lower-tier fighters in the extremely deep welterweight division, but both have fallen short when given the opportunity to make a significant move up the 170-pound ladder.

Now, one of the two will finally get a chance to separate themselves from the other at UFC 133 and earn a chance to swim with the bigger fishes in the UFC's welterweight division.

Pierce's game is fairly one-dimensional, based primarily on taking his opponents down and maintaining top control. All three of Pierce's career losses have come against fighters with a stronger background in amateur wrestling (Jon Fitch, Mark Munoz and Nathan Coy).

Having earned two national championships while wrestling for Oklahoma State, Hendricks certainly fits the mold for a fighter that can beat Pierce at his own game.

Prediction

Hendricks defeats Pierce by unanimous decision.

11. Vladimir Matyushenko vs. Alexander Gustafsson

With all the former champions clogging up the top of the UFC's light heavyweight champion, it can be difficult for new 205-pound contenders to emerge. However, the winnner of a UFC 133 fight between Vladimir Matyushenko and Alexander Gustafsson could find themselves fighting a contender in their next fight, as both fighters are currently sitting on solid two fight winning streaks.

With both fighters being fairly well-rounded, this fight could go in many different directions. Most likely, though, Matyushenko is going to want to put Gustafsson on his back and work some ground-and-pound.

Gustafsson may have the advantage in the striking game, but he will find difficulty in keeping the fight standing by having to defend against Matyushenko's world-class wrestling.

Prediction

Matyushenko defeats Gustafsson by unanimous decision.

10. Dennis Hallman vs. Brian Ebersole

Fresh off of his monstrous upset win over Chris Lytle in his UFC debut, Brian Ebersole will have a chance to defeat another notable veteran in Dennis Hallman at UFC 133.

Based on his fight with Lytle, you can be sure that Ebersole isn't going to give up to Hallman easily. However, Hallman is likely to fight a much smarter and more technical fight against Ebersole than Lytle did.

Ebersole thrives on getting into mindless slugfests and scrambles with opponents who are more talented than himself. So as long as Hallman avoids doing just that, he should be able to take a lopsided decision or win with a late submission. 

Prediction

Hallman defeats Ebersole by submission in the third round.

9. Edson Barboza vs. Ross Pearson

True fans of MMA appreciate all aspects of the sport, but that doesn't mean everyone doesn't enjoy a good stand-up war every once in a while. This fight between Edson Barboza and Ross Pearson is sure to feature plenty of flashy striking, but both fighters are also very technical strikers at the same time.

Both most well-known for the stand-up games, Barboza and Pearson also are very underrated on the ground. Each fighter is capable of ending the fight in several different ways, but a back-and-forth battle for three rounds seems more likely.

Prediction

Barboza defeats Pearson by unanimous decision.

8. Vitor Belfort vs. Yoshihiro Akiyama

After being added to the long list of Anderson Silva victims in his last fight, Vitor Belfort will now meet Yoshihiro Akiyama at UFC 133.

Akiyama has excellent Judo, but that doesn't mean he will be afraid to stand and trade with the quick hands of Belfort. Akiyama has an excellent chin, but that won't help him score points against Belfort in the striking game.

Belfort will land some heavy shots during this fight, but Akiyama will remain standing, whether in victory or defeat.

Prediction

Belfort defeats Akiyama by unanimous decision.

7. Mike Pyle vs. Rory MacDonald

At 35 years old, Mike Pyle is making a late-career run at becoming a contender in the welterweight division. However, a rising star in 21-year-old Rory MacDonald will stand between Pyle and a fourth straight victory at UFC 133.

Pyle has a solid ground game, but nothing that will surprise MacDonald, who has already been pegged as a possible future champion by some.

Expect MacDonald to take the fight to the ground quickly and immediately get to work on finishing the fight with a submission.

Prediction

MacDonald defeats Pyle by submission in the first round.

6. Rich Franklin vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira

At UFC 133, two veteran light heavyweights will go at it to determine which could still be a threat in the 205-pound division.

Antonion Rogerio Nogueira put up a tough fight against a talented young fighter in Phil Davis in his last appearance. In that fight, Nogueira showed excellent takedown defense and his usually solid boxing.

If Nogueira can display the same ability to stifle takedowns against Rich Franklin as he did against Davis, then he should be able to outscore Franklin in the stand-up and walk away with a decision victory at UFC 133.

Prediction

Nogueira defeats Franklin by unanimous decision.

5. Chad Mendes vs. Rani Yahya

Obviously, Rani Yahya wasn't Chad Mendes' top choice for his next opponent, but the match-up should still produce a decent fight.

Mendes, who had been expected to fight UFC Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo, is undefeated in 10 professional fights and is looking to separate himself from the rest of the 145-pound division. Yahya rebounded from back-to-back losses with a win over former champion Mike Brown in his last fight.

Yahya, a dangerous jiu-jitsu blackbelt, could cause problems for Mendes on the ground. Still, don't expect Mendes to stray from his usual gameplan of taking his opponent down and griding out a one-sided fight with ground-and-pound.

Mendes might have to fight off a submission scare or two on the way, but this fight is his to lose as long as he doesn't get too sloppy on the ground.

Prediction

Mendes defeats Yahya by unanimous decision.

4. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Brendan Schaub

After knocking out a legend in Mirko Filipovic, Brendan Schaub will now fight another one of the great competitors in the sport's history at UFC 134.

Facing one of the most respected jiu-jitsu practitioners the world has ever seen in Antonio Rodrigo Nogeuira, Schaub will most likely try to keep this fight standing. Nogueira's boxing makes him a threat on his feet as well, but his once-granite chin has become questionable as of late.

Additionally, Nogueira has been out of action for well over one year, and ring rust could very well play a factor early on in this fight.

Prediction

Schaub defeats Nogueira by knockout in the third round.

3. Rashad Evans vs. Phil Davis

Phil Davis will attempt to capitalize on a golden opportunity at UFC 133, when he will meet Rashad Evans, who was originally scheduled to fight UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones.

Because Jones was forced out of that fight due to injury, Davis was offered a bout with Evans and a chance to become one of the top contenders in the division.

Both Evans and Davis come from strong amateur wrestling backgrounds, but Davis was much more succesfull in that realm by capturing an NCAA Championship. On the other hand, Evans is the much mroe experienced and well-rounded mixed martial artist. 

If Davis can turn this fight into a wrestling match and take advantage of some potential ring rust from Evans not fighting in more than one year, he could pull off what would certainly be considered an upset and become a top contender in the division.

Prediction

Davis defeats Evans by unanimous decision.

2. Mauricio Rua vs. Forrest Griffin

In a rematch of one of the most memorable fights in UFC history, Forrest Griffin and Mauricio Rua will meet once again at UFC 134.

Expect Rua to come out agressive in this fight, much like he did in his rematch with Lyoto Machida. Unless Griffin can take Rua to the ground early on, we may see a similar result to Rua's second fight with Machida as well.

Prediction

Rua defeats Griffin by technical knockout in the first round.

1. Anderson Silva vs. Yushin Okami

In another rematch at UFC 134, Anderson Silva will defend the UFC Middleweight Championship against Yushin Okami. In their first fight, Okami defeated Silva due to disqualification via an illegal upkick. Since then, Silva has not lost.

While Okami is sure to be a significant underdog in this fight, he actually matches up well with Silva stylistically. Historically, Okami has only struggled against strong wrestlers, which Silva is certainly not.

Silva will need to remain elusive in order to avoid a repeat of the first four round of his fight with Chael Sonnen at UFC 117. As long as he can do that, Silva will defend his belt for an incredible ninth consecutive time and avenge his only loss in the last six years.

Prediction

Silva defeats Okami by technical knockout in the second round.

UFC 133: Fight Card, News, Predictions, Results, and More!

UFC 134: Fight Card, News, Predictions, Results, and More!

Sean Smith is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report MMA. For the latest insight and updates on everything MMA, you can follow Sean on Twitter @seansmithMMA.