At GuysNation.com, I do predictions for each and every UFC event – not just the pay per view fights on a given card, but the entire thing – preliminaries and all. My analysis might not be on par with some of the top MMA analysts, but I enjoy making my predictions nevertheless. I welcome you to join me in making predictions and leaving any comments you might have.
Preliminary card
* Lightweight bout:
United States – Pat Audinwood vs. Canada – John Makdessi
Don’t know much about either, but Makdessi is an undefeated Canadian and Audinwood lost his UFC debut.
Prediction: John Makdessi
Canada 1, World 0
* Welterweight bout:
Canada – TJ Grant vs. Brazil – Ricardo Almeida
Ricardo Almeida has done well against some tough opponents. The same can’t be said for Grant.
Prediction: Ricardo Almeida
Canada – 1, World – 1
* Welterweight bout:
United States – Matt Riddle vs. Canada – Sean Pierson
Pierson seemed to figure something out two years ago; he was 5-4 up until that point, and since then he is undefeated – winning five straight fights, all in the first round with punches (knockouts and a submission by punches). Matt Riddle has too many “decisions” for a fighter like that.
Prediction: Sean Pierson
Canada – 2, World – 1
* Middleweight bout:
Canada – Jesse Bongfeldt vs. Brazil – Rafael Natal
For a virtual unknown, Bongfeldt has a ton of experience and some decent wins over guys on this card. Not all that impressed by Natal.
Prediction: Jesse Bongfeldt
Canada – 3, World – 1
Preliminary card
(UFC.com live stream)
* Middleweight bout:
Canada – Joe Doerksen vs. United States – Dan Miller
Doerksen can’t seem to do anything when he’s in UFC despite having success elsewhere, and Dan Miller stands strong against some of the top UFC fighters in his division.
Prediction: Dan Miller
Canada – 3, World – 2
* Lightweight bout:
Canada – Mark Bocek vs. United States – Dustin Hazelett
Similar fighters in that they’re good with submissions but neither has impressive victories against known competitors on their resume. Hazelett has impressed me more, and he’s returning to lightweight.
Prediction: Dustin Hazelett
Canada – 3, World – 3
Main card
* Welterweight bout:
Brazil – Thiago Alves vs. United States – John Howard
Thiago Alves has lost two straight, though both were quality opponents (GSP and Jon Fitch). Howard was on a four fight tear before losing his last one by doctor stoppage. Assuming his eye is alright, I expect the streak to start again for Howard… and continue for Alves (who should make the move to Middleweight already).
Prediction: John Howard
* Lightweight bout:
United States – Joe Stevenson vs. United States – Mac Danzig
Two guys whose fights I almost never correctly predict. The most recent few losses Stevenson has suffered all came against some of the top in his weight class (Sotiropoulos, Penn, Florian, Sanchez). The same can’t be said for Danzig (Wiman, Neer, Guida), who is a quality fighter who doesn’t have a stellar record.
Prediction: Joe Stevenson
* Lightweight bout:
United States – Jim Miller vs. Brazil – Charles Oliveira
Really like Jim Miller, becoming a big fan of Oliveira’s. Gotta go with the undefeated Oliveira, who has won Submission Of The Night honors for both of his UFC fights. Miller going to decision his last two fights doesn’t help his cause at all.
Prediction: Charles Oliveira
* Heavyweight bout:
Netherlands – Stefan Struve vs. United States – Sean McCorkle
Struve has grown on me a bit, but I really liked what I saw from McCorkle at UFC 119 when he got Mark Hunt to tap out.
Prediction: Sean McCorkle
* Welterweight Championship bout:
Canada – Georges St-Pierre (c) vs. United States – Josh Koscheck
His last three fights have certainly caused me to respect Koscheck’s ability more than I did before, and while I realize he claims to have become a more well-rounded competitor leading up to this fight, I just don’t think Josh is going to be able to get the job done. GSP has beaten some great opponents since he last fought Koscheck, and in a defense against Dan Hardy back at UFC 111 in March, GSP stated that he wanted to finish the fight, not have it end by decision. I think GSP is going to be more motivated now than he was for the prior fight and he has eight fights worth of additional footage on how Koscheck fights to help him prepare for this title defense, including two fights Josh lost, helping GSP with his gameplan.
Prediction: Georges St Pierre
Canada 4, World 3
