UFC 136 Fight Card: Info and Predictions for Every Fight in Houston, TX

In one of the most anticipated fight cards of the entire year, UFC 136 will be live in front of a soldout Toyota Center in Houston Texas on October 8th, 2011.

The main card is featured around UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar will who take on No. 1 contender Gray Maynard for a third time.

Also looking to defend his title in Houston is featherweight champion, Jose Aldo who will square off with Kenny Florian in a 145-pound showdown.

The entire fight card consists of four main card fights and seven preliminary bouts.

The following slides display info and predictions for every fight at UFC 136.

Let's take a look.

Steve Cantwell vs. Mike Massenzio

Steve Cantwell

Career Record: 7-4

UFC Record: 1-3

Key Wins: Brian Stann

Key Losses: Brian Stann, Luiz Cane

Mike Massenzio

Career Record: 12-5

UFC Record: 1-3

Key Wins: Drew McFedries

Key Losses: C.B. Dollaway, Brian Stann, Krzysztof Soszynski

Both Cantwell and Massenzio enter UFC 136 with their careers on the line. Cantwell has lost three consecutive fights and Massenzio four of his last six.

If history repeats itself, Cantwell will be the aggressor looking to end Massenzio's night early. Massenzio needs to prove he can stand with Cantwell as his stand-up striking has been questioned in the past.

If Massenzio can get out of the first round and settle down, look for this fight to go the distance.

Prediction: Cantwell by Unanimous Decision

Aaron Simpson vs. Eric Schafer

Aaron Simpson

Career Record: 9-2

UFC Record: 5-2

Key Wins: Ed Herman, Tom Lawlor, Brad Tavares

Key Losses: Chris Leben, Mark Munoz

Eric Schafer

Career Record: 12-5

UFC Record: 3-4

Key Wins: Houston Alexander, Antonio Mendes

Key Losses: Michael Bisping, Stephan Bonnar, Ryan Bader

Soon after Simpson and Schafer touch gloves in Houston, look for numerous takedown attempts from both fighters.

While both Simpson and Schafer are exceptional in taking their opponent down, Simpson holds the slight edge.

In order for Schafer to remain in this fight he'll have to prove he can defend Simpson's takedowns and ground attack.

However, Schafer specializes in the submission and opposes a huge threat as eight of his 12 victories have come by way of submission.

Prediction: Simpson by Unanimous Decision

Tiequan Zhang vs. Darren Elkins

Tiequan Zhang

Career Record: 13-1

UFC Record: 1-0

Key Wins: Jason Reinhardt, Pablo Garza

Key Losses: Danny Downes

Darren Elkins

Career Record: 12-2

UFC Record: 2-1

Key Wins: Duane Ludwig, Michihiro Omigawa

Key Losses: Charles Oliveira

In one of the more predictable bouts of the evening, Elkins will be entering the UFC Octagon for just the second time in the 145 weight class.

Zhang, who will attempt to take Elkins to the ground and submit him, is one of the most dangerous fighters in the UFC today.

Nearly every single victory of Zhang's has ended by way of first-round submission. Elkins needs to keep the fight in the stand up and prevent from being taken down.

Prediction: Zhang by Round 1 Submission

Joey Beltran vs. Stipe Miocic

Joey Beltran

Career Record: 13-5

UFC Record: 3-2

Key Wins: Rolles Gracie, Tim Hague, Aaron Rosa

Key Losses: Pat Barry, Matt Mitrione

Stipe Miocic

Career Record: 6-0

UFC Record: 0-0

Key Wins: Bobby Brents

Key Losses: N/A

Don't be surprised if Miocic comes out and attempts to protect his unbeaten record by feeling out Beltran early.

Beltran, on the other hand, will more than likely try to overwhelm Miocic in his UFC debut with his quickness and knockout power.

The longer the bout goes on, the more Miocic will become comfortable. Eventually Miocic will enter in on Beltran looking to test his leg kick defense.

This bout has knockout written all over it as 16 of their combined 19 wins have come by way of knockout.

Prediction: Miocic by Round 2 TKO

Anthony Pettis vs. Jeremy Stephens

Anthony Pettis

Career Record: 13-2

UFC Record: 0-1

Key Wins: Ben Henderson, Shane Roller

Key Losses: Clay Guida

Jeremy Stephens

Career Record: 20-6

UFC Record: 7-5

Key Wins: Sam Stout, Marcus Davis

Key Losses: Melvin Guillard, Joe Lauzon, Spencer Fisher

In what has potential to be the Fight of the Night, Pettis and Stephens will square off in a Lightweight showdown.

Look for fireworks early as both fighters will look to send the other packing early and often.

With exceptional takedown skills, Stephens may attempt to take Pettis to the ground but needs to protect himself from the submission attempts.

One thing's for certain, this bout won't make it to the judge's scorecards.

Prediction: Pettis by Round 2 TKO

Demian Maia vs. Jorge Santiago

Demian Maia

Career Record: 14-3

UFC Record: 8-3

Key Wins: Chael Sonnen, Nate Quarry, Kendall Grove

Key Losses: Anderson Silva, Mark Munoz

Jorge Santiago

Career Record: 23-9

UFC Record: 1-3

Key Wins: Kazuo Misaki, Mamed Khalidov

Key Losses: Brian Stann, Chris Leben, Alan Belcher

Maia will look to bounce back after a heartbreaking loss to Mark Munoz at UFC 131 and his opponent Santiago will attempt to win the first UFC fight of his career.

Santiago will push the tempo in attempts to knockout Maia down early. Santiago is also a threat on the ground as 12 of his MMA victories have come by way of submission.

On the other side of the spectrum, Maia has never been submitted and has demonstrated exceptional grappling skills.

If Maia can avoid being submitted, he should have no problem leaving Houston the victor.

Prediction: Maia by Unanimous Decision

Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan II

Leonard Garcia

Career Record: 15-7-1

UFC Record: 2-3

Key Wins: Jens Pulver, Nam Phan

Key Losses: Mark Hominick, Chan Sung Jung

Nam Phan

Career Record- 16-9

UFC Record: 0-2

Key Wins: Rodney Rhoden

Key Losses: Leonard Garcia, Mike Brown

Garcia and Phan will meet in arguably the most underachieving bout of the evening in Houston.

Phan has yet to win a bout inside the UFC Octagon, and Garcia's posted a mediocre 2-3 record including a victory over Phan at The Ultimate Fighter 12 finale in December.

In light of their subpar careers thus far, both fighters have shown glimpses of greatness in their submission skills combining for 14 career victories.

While many felt Phan was robbed a victory in a split decision the last time these two met, Garcia will prove it wasn't a fluke.

Prediction: Garcia by Unanimous Decision

Melvin Guillard vs. Joe Lauzon

Melvin Guillard

Career Record: 29-8-2 (1)

UFC Record: 10-4

Key Wins: Jeremy Stephens, Dennis Silver, Shane Roller

Key Losses: Nate Diaz

Joe Lauzon

Career Record: 20-6

UFC Record: 7-3

Key Wins: Jeremy Stephens, Curt Warburton

Key Losses: Sam Stout, Kenny Florian

Guillard will once again get the chance to prove to the world why he is worthy of a lightweight title shot.

The only thing he'll have to do is get through his opponent in Lauzon who opposes a threat in nearly every aspect of mixed martial arts.

Lauzon will test Guillard's take down defense and ground grappling skills frequently throughout the evening.

If Guillard can keep the fight on his feet, Lauzon may be in for a short night going up against one of the UFC's best knockout artists.

Prediction: Guillard by Round 1 TKO

Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann

Chael Sonnen

Career Record: 25-11-1

UFC Record: 4-4

Key Wins: Nate Marquardt, Dan Miller, Yushin Okami

Key Losses: Demian Maia, Anderson Silva

Brian Stann

Career Record:11-3

UFC Record: 5-2

Key Wins: Chris Leben, Jorge Santiago

Key Losses: Phil Davis

Sonnen and Stann will be fighting for a title shot against the world's greatest fighter in Anderson Silva when they enter the Octagon at UFC 136.

Based upon his bout at UFC 117, Sonnen is the favorite for most. But, since dropping to the middleweight division in February of 2010, Stann has posted a perfect 3-0 record.

Stann needs to prove early that he can't be taken down time and time again similar to what Sonnen did to Silva.

The longer the bout remains in the stand-up, the more likely it is Stann leaves the victor. But, the chances of that actually happening are slim.

Prediction: Sonnen by Unanimous Decision

Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian

Jose Aldo

Career Record: 19-1

UFC Record: 1-0

Key Wins: Urijah Faber, Mike Brown, Mark Hominick

Key Losses: Luciano Azevedo

Kenny Florian

Career Record: 15-5

UFC Record: 12-4

Key Wins: Clay Guida, Takanori Gomi, Diego Nunes

Key Losses: Gray Maynard, BJ Penn

In the first of two title fights Aldo will face his toughest opponent to date in Florian who recently dropped to the featherweight division.

Florian, who holds a three-inch height advantage and four-inch reach advantage will have to take Aldo to unfamiliar territory by taking him down.

Aldo, a knockout artist will certainly attempt to land body strikes and kicks on Florian's thin legs.

It will interesting to see if Aldo can land the knockout shot on Florian who's only been knocked out one time in his career.

Prediction: Aldo by Round 4 TKO

Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard III

Frankie Edgar

Career Record: 13-1-1

UFC Record: 8-1-1

Key Wins: BJ Penn (2), Sean Sherk

Key Losses: Gray Maynard

Gray Maynard

Career Record: 10-0-1 (1)

UFC Record: 8-0-1 (1)

Key Wins: Frankie Edgar, Kenny Florian, Nate Diaz

Key Losses: N/A

In arguably the most anticipated bout of the entire year, Edgar and Maynard will square off for a third time in front of a soldout Toyota Center.

While it will be hard to live up to their previous bout at UFC 125, expect to see fireworks the second these two fighters touch gloves.

Maynard, who appears to be much larger and stronger than Edgar will look to hurt him early and take him to the ground. However, Edgar has shown improvement in not only his takedown defense, but his own takedowns as well.

This bout is almost certain to go the distance as neither fighter has ever been knocked out or submitted.

Prediction: Maynard by Round 5 Unanimous Decision