 "Rumble" |  |  |
Anthony Johnson (7-2, 6"2, 170 lbs) is considered to be one of the biggest welterweights in the UFC. In the off season he goes way up to 220lbs. He's a strong wrestler but prefers to strike. I find his striking ability is at a level same as GSP and Thiago Alves. Very powerful and lands most of his shots. Yoshiyuki Yoshida (11-3, 5"11, 70lbs) is a Judo fighter from
Japan. Over 50% of his wins are (T)KO mostly from GnP. With his Judo, he has sick take downs and strong take down defence. His last fight against Josh Koschek, he suffered a brutal knock out that had him taken out of the octogon on a stretcher. This is hard to judge but I'll have to go with Anthony Johnson. He's too explosive for Yoshida and eventually, he'll clip him and ref will have to step in. Probably in the second round.
Joe Stevenson vs Spencer Fisher
 "Daddy" | |  |
Both these fighter have impressive stats and both have lots of experience. I think this will be more a battle of the training camps between Greg Jackson and Pat Miletich. Joe Stevenson (30-10, 5"7, 155lbs) is a submission ace with a black belt in BJJ and Judo. He's improved on his stand up game alot but many of the fighters seem to have figured out his timing which even Diego Sanchez said publically before his fight with Stevenson. But, the good part is, he changed camp and is now training with the elite of the elite at Greg Jackson's camp in New Mexico. Greg Jackson trains fighters such as GSP, Rashad Evans, Keith Jardin, even Andrei Arlovski just went up to train there for his upcoming return. Stevenson already won his first fight since joining the camp against Nate Diaz who is not easy to beat. Greg Jackson is the Guru of MMA and with him in your corner, the odds are in your favor. Spencer Fisher (23-4, 5"11, 155lbs) is from Pat Miletich's Miletich Fighting System. They've trained fighter from Matt Hughes, Tim Sylvia, Jens Pulver and Robbie Lawler. See the difference? They are more brawlers. Bullies in a cage. They train rough and they are cocky. They push the past and love to trade blows. Fisher has some impressive wins under his belt and is considered an all around MMA fighter although almost 50% of his wins come by (T)KO.
I see this fight being a possible fight of the night with Joe Stevenson walking out with his hand raised. He's stronger and can control the ground game cuting off one option for Fisher. My main reason for chosing Stevenson is also that he's training with Greg Jackson. The man creates the perfect games plans for all his fighters and I don't see Spencer Fisher being hard to figure out. I say this can end in three ways, doctor stoppage by cut to Spencer Fisher's head, Stevenson Guillotine choke second round or decision for Stevenson.
Cain Velasquez vs Ben Rothwell
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This is hard to judge. Ben Rothwell (30-6, 6"5, 265lbs) has a tune of experience and fought some of the best fighter in the world, most recently Andrei Arlovski where he got beat up pretty bad but kept fighting to earn a fight of the night bonus and a standing vasion. He has 17 wins by (T)KO and 10 by submission so he's pretty well rounded. He fights for the Miletich's camp as well. I watched several of his fights and find he has a brawlers style, almost a little sloppy but better then average. Cain Velasquez (6-0, 6"2, 245lbs) is a NCAA Division 1 wrestler with fantastic GnP. I think he's much more technical and will take Rothwell down at will. I don't see Velasquez doing very well in the stand-up game but I don't think it will be as easy for Cain to keep Rothwell down as it was against Cheik Kongo. This is a hard one for me because I really want Ben Rothwell to win but Cain Velasquez is peaking right now. I think i'll have to go with Velasquez by decision.
Lyoto Machida vs Mauricio Rua
 "The Dragon" | |  |
This one will be quick. Machida wins by either TKO or KO with Ref stoppage. I don't see much difference in Shogun compare to Thiago Silva and Silva got knocked out cold. They push the paste, Shogun and Silva are both from Chute Box, and they both take big risks by leaving their chin open to commit to a punch. Machida is too focused, to accurate and has better reflexes then any fighter in the UFC. Machida destroys.
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