UFC 135 Fight Card: Predictions for Main Card and Prelims

The UFC will be traveling to Denver, Colorado, on Saturday, September 24 to host UFC 135 at the sold out Pepsi Center. With one of the greatest pay-per-view's in the history of the sport at UFC 134, Dana White looks to continue the hot streak.

The event is featured around the Light Heavyweight Champion Jon "Bones" Jones who will take on challenger and former UFC Champion, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson.

Also featured in the fight card is UFC favorite Matt Hughes who will look to get his career back on track against Diego Sanchez. Along with UFC 134, this fight card has potential to be one of the greatest of all time.

The following slides are predictions for the Main Card and Prelims at UFC 135.

Let's take a look.

Takeya Mizugaki vs. Cole Escovedo

Takeya Mizugaki and Cole Escovedo will square off in a Bantamweight matchup at UFC 135. Both fighters lack a great deal of experience and both are desperate for a win to get their careers back on track.

Mizugaki will come out and test the waters early and attempt to take Escovedo down. Escovedo was exposed in his last bout being took down six times.

Escovedo will attempt to end the fight early by knockout or submission. The only problem is Mizugaki usually takes his opponents the distance.

In fact, Mizugaki has gone to the judges scorecards six of his last seven fights. Look for history to repeat itself at UFC 135.

Prediction: Mizugaki by R3 Unanimous Decision

James Te Huna vs. Ricardo Romero

James Te Huna enters UFC 135 looking to rebound from his loss at UFC 127 to Alexander Gustafsson. His opponent is Ricardo Romero who also looks to bounce back from a defeat against Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 126.

Te Huna will make every attempt to stay on his feet throughout the fight. He has four losses in his career all coming by submission.

Romero will attempt to take Te Huna to the ground and submit him early in the fight. In fact, five of Romero's last six wins have come from submission.

If Te Huna can't defend the submission attempts by Romero, he will find himself on a two fight losing streak.

Prediction: Romero by R2 Submission

Nick Ring vs. Tim Boetsch

Nick Ring enters UFC 135 never having lost a fight in his mixed martial arts career. He will face Tim Boetsch who recently made the transition from the Light Heavyweight to the Middleweight Division.

Ring will more than likely attempt to submit Boetsch as he won't be able to overpower him. Boetsch, who has been trained by Ryan Matter, is in the best shape of his life.

Boetsch is coming off the biggest win of his career in which he defeated Kendall Grove at UFC 130 by unanimous decision.

If Boetsch can defend Ring's submission attempts, the chances of this fight going to the judge's scorecards is very likely.

Prediction: Boetsch by R3 Unanimous Decision

Tony Ferguson vs. Aaron Riley

Tony Ferguson will try and win his fifth straight fight against his opponent Aaron Riley at UFC 135. The only thing that stands in the way of that is in fact, Riley himself.

Riley's career is quickly heading downhill as he's lost two of his last four fights which were by way of TKO.

Ferguson, a TKO specialist, will certainly look to test Riley's weakness early in the fight. Riley, who used to be a submission artist, hasn't submitted an opponent since 2006.

Fans can expect a striking battle as both opponents display an overwhelming threat on the ground.

Prediction: Ferguson by R2 TKO

Ben Rothwell vs. Mark Hunt

Ben Rothwell has fought just two fights since October of 2009 and will look to restart his career against opponent Mark Hunt.

Hunt, a kick boxer will be a threat to Rothwell as we haven't ever seen him successfully defend the kick. This will be one of the most exciting fights of the evening if these two fighters stick to their game plans.

Expect these two to come out firing away in front of a sold out Pepsi Center. Hunt will more than likely look to test Rothwell's conditioning if the fight goes past the first round.

If Rothwell can prove he's better conditioned than in past fights, Hunt may be in some trouble. Then again, that's a big if.

Prediction: Hunt by R2 TKO

Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi

Nate Diaz and Takanori Gomi will square off in one of the most anticipated fights of UFC 135. Both fighters are completely different in the way they go about their fights.

Diaz is a submission artist while Gomi usually takes his opponents to the judge's scorecards or knocks them out. Diaz will enter this fight and try to end it as soon possible. His career record is 1-6 when it goes to a decision.

Look for Diaz to be the aggressor early but also look for Gomi to handle the pressure well. Gomi needs to be on the lookout for Diaz's submission attempts.

If Gomi can prevent being submitted, look for this fight to be a candidate for "Fight of the Night."

Prediction: Gomi by R3 Unanimous Decision

Travis Browne vs. Rob Broughton

Travis Browne will look to keep his unbeaten streak alive when he meets Rob Broughton in a Heavyweight matchup. Both fighters are coming off the biggest wins of their career and have hopes of not slowing down anytime soon.

Browne has never lost a fight in his mixed martial arts career and Broughton has won five straight fights.

Something's got to give in this exciting matchup. Both fighters haven't felt the feelings of defeat as of late and both fighters are knockout specialists. Browne will begin the fight looking to put an end to Broughton's win streak by overpowering him with strikes.

Broughton must prove he can stand toe to toe with Browne and defend his stand up game. If he can't, he'll certainly be in for a long evening.

Prediction: Browne by R2 TKO

Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck

Matt Hughes enters UFC 135 as one of the greatest Welterweight fighters in the history of the sport. Hughes will try and add to his legacy by defeating his opponent, Josh Koscheck.

This will be one of the more interesting fights of the night as many feel Hughes has nothing left to prove. On the flip side of things, Koscheck wants to begin another run towards a title shot and a win over Hughes wouldn't hurt his case.

This fight is the most unpredictable fight of UFC 135. Hughes and Koscheck are both excellent in the knockout and submission game but they can also both go the distance.

Koscheck, like usual, will enter this fight looking to make a statement immediately. Hughes will rise to the occasion and take Koscheck down early. The question is whether or not Koscheck can respond to the ground and pound ground game.

Prediction: Hughes by R3 Unanimous Decision

Jon Jones vs. Rampage Jackson

In the main event of the evening, Jon "Bones" Jones will put his title up for grabs against his challenger, Quinton "Rampage" Jackson. This is by far the most anticipated matchup of the evening.

Jones has established himself as the best fighter in the Light Heavyweight Division and will look to win his fifth straight fight. There is absolutely no possibility of this fight going the distance.

Everything points to a knockout and that is exactly what we are going to see. Jones will come out early and attempt to land kicks on Jackson and overwhelm him with his quickness. Jackson absolutely must exchange strikes with Jones early to gain some early points.

While many aren't giving Jackson much credit, he does have the ingredients to land a knockout blow on Jones and take back his title. Jackson also isn't happy about the rumored spies in his camp sent by Jones himself.

This fight will be one of the most exciting of the evening. Jones will more than likely have the upper end when it's all said and done, but look for this one to go down as one of the best matchups ever.

Prediction: Jones by R3 TKO