UFC on Versus 4: Predictions for the Entire Card

This year has given us more quality fights on free TV than I can remember, and the streak continues in two weeks at UFC on Versus 4: Marquardt vs Story.

With a number of well known fighters on the prelims (including a former Ultimate Fighter winner fighting for his job) and a main card stacked with exciting fights, this could end up being the best free card the UFC has ever put on.

Michael Johnson vs Edward Faaloloto

The UFC usually gives their former Ultimate Fighter contestants a few winnable fights after they leave the house, and Johnson is getting the same treatment in this fight.

Expect Johnson to throw his opponent to the mat and grind him out, winning a clear cut UD.

Ricardo Lamas vs Matt Grice

A weird matchup, as both fighters will be making their featherweight debut.

When two wrestlers with similar skills go at it, it seems like a striking battle is inevitable. I like Grice’s aggressiveness to be the difference in the fight, earning him a close decision.

Nik Lentz vs Charles Oliveira

This might be the toughest fight to call on the card.

Lentz is 5-0-1 since joining the UFC in 2009, taking out everyone from Andre Winner to Tyson Griffin, while Oliveira is one of the top prospects in the lightweight division and has gone 2-1 since entering the Octagon.

Lentz is the king of control, but Oliveira is one to force the action and cause his opponents to fight out of their comfort zone.  The pick is Oliveira by submission in the second, but it will be close for the duration.

Charlie Brenneman vs TJ Grant

A welterweight fight between two fighters likely competing for a job might be the theme of this event as this is the first of three such fights.

Brenneman won’t be able to stop the takedown from the get go, and Grant will somehow keep his job in the UFC. The dude has had six fights inside the Octagon, and you have to try really hard to remember any of them. Not a good sign.

Daniel Roberts vs Rich Attonito

The second fight in the mediocre welterweight trilogy features a battle between a former TUF contestant and the newest prospect out of the Cesar Gracie Fight Team.

Roberts is the pick here, as the fight will end up on the ground one way or another, and Roberts will grab a limb and slap on a submission in the second.

Joe Lauzon vs Curt Warburton

Joe Lauzon has been extremely inconsistent as of late, going 1-2 since an 11-month hiatus in 2009, with his only win during that period coming against Gabe Ruetiger.

Warburton on the other hand looked good for a round against Spencer Fisher before gassing out at UFC 120 and won for the first time in the Octagon back at UFC 127.

Neither fighter has a very good gas tank, so if this one isn’t over by the midway point of the second it might get boring quickly. And since I hate boring fights, I’m taking Lauzon by first-round submission.

Joe Stevenson vs Javier Vazquez

This fight seems to be Joe Stevenson’s last shot at sticking around in the UFC.

Cutting to 145lbs for the first time, Stevenson is on a three-fight losing streak and needs a win over Vazquez badly.

Vazquez is no push over though and has wins over Mackens Semerzier and Jens Pulver on his resume.

The pick is Stevenson by UD, if only because I think he is a UFC caliber fighter and will find a way to survive.

Tyson Griffin vs Manny Gamburyan

Like Stevenson, Tyson Griffin is a former contender at 155 who is in serious danger of being cut by the UFC.

Also like Stevenson, Griffin will be making his debut at 145, but his matchup is far tougher.

Manny Gamburyan is coming off a loss to featherweight champion Jose Aldo in his last fight, after going on a three-fight winning streak since dropping to featherweight.

This is an insanely close fight to call, but I think Griffin is a little too big to make 145, and the cut will hurt him. Manny by a close split decision. 

Matt Mitrione vs Christian Morecraft

Two heavyweights with an asinine amount of power in their hands are going at it to kick off the night’s main card.

Mitrione has won all but one of his professional fights by knockout and is slowly climbing the ladder in the heavyweight division.

Morecraft is a game opponent for Mitrione, going 1-1 in the UFC so far, but his one loss came due to one of Stefan Struve’s monster comebacks.

This fight probably won’t last long and both fighters can end it in an instant, but the pick is Mitrione by first-round TKO.

Matt Brown vs John Howard

The third and final fight in the mediocre welterweight trilogy!

Matt Brown has lost three straight, which is usually the death sentence in the Zuffa organization, but he has somehow avoided the firing squad (pun intended). Or maybe he’s just "Immortal."

Sorry, I’m done with the bad jokes from now on.

Howard is on a two-fight losing streak of his own and is taking a drastic step down in competition as his original opponent, Martin Kampmann, was forced to drop out due to injury.

I’m taking Howard by third-round KO, but somehow, Matt Brown won’t get cut.

Cheick Kongo vs Pat Barry

Two heavyweights with technical striking and knockout power in their hands and feet? Count me in.

Kongo has been around for what seems like forever and has had an up and down UFC career, winning the fights he’s supposed to win and losing when he’s supposed to lose. He recently fought to a draw with Travis Browne at UFC 120, so I’m not sure if he was supposed to win that one.

Pat Barry has the stand up to hang with anyone in the sport but has been inconsistent throughout his UFC tenure. He last fought Joey Beltran, who he bested by decision.

The pick is Barry but by decision. These two are too good to leave a fight ending opening.

Nate Marquardt vs Rick Story

This wasn’t the original main event, but it’s definitely a fight that has a huge impact on the welterweight division.

Marquardt is making his debut at 170 after years of being a top contender at middleweight. His entrance into the division has added a much needed top contender, even though it is unlikely that he would fight teammate Georges St-Pierre.

Rick Story just took out a former title challenger in Thiago Alves a few weeks ago at UFC 130 and is riding a six fight win streak into this bout with Marquardt. Wins over two top opponents in less than a month would put Story on the short list for a welterweight title shot.

While Marquardt is always a game opponent, Story is the younger, hungrier fighter and has no chance of showing any ring rust. Fifteen pounds is also of extra weight to cut, and I think it affects "The Great" for his first fight at welterweight. Story wins by decision.