Here we go again. The UFC heads to Abu Dhabi, and boasts two title fights, and a scrap with a pair of legends squaring off. This should be good.
Terry Etim vs. Rafael Dos Anjos
lightweight (155)
Etim is a high energy striker with solid submission skills who has compiled a professional record of 14-2, with both losses coming by decision. Dos Anjos had a rough go of his first few fights in the UFC, getting tossed to Jeremy Stephens, and budding title contender Tyson Griffin. This should be a heck of a fight.
Etim has been very impressive in his past few fights, and is riding a four fight win streak. He's tall for 155, and has a massive reach advantage over almost anyone he fights. Where he gets in trouble is when he tries to go toe to toe and engage in more of a brawl than utilizing good footwork and angles to pick his shots. If he falls back into bad habits against Dos Anjos, it may get him into a position his considerable grappling skills can't get him out of.
A bjj black belt with a solid takedown game, and nasty leg kicks to back it up, Dos Anjos has rebounded well from his 0-2 start to bring his UFC record to an even 2-2. Dos Anjos has shown he can control a fight with his grappling, andleg kicks, but gets in trouble with his takedown defense, and suspect chin. The first isn't a problem against Etim, but the second could get him a quick trip to the canvas courtesy of an Etim flurry.
Dos Anjos is a more methodical, tactically minded fighter, who will not get caught in bad situations unless he can't impose his will and dictate the pace of the fight. Etim is great at frustrating opponents, and his durability and determination will knock the brazilian out of his gameplan, and Etim will walk away after putting Dos Anjos to sleep with a vicious flurry of punches.
Etim via TKO, Rd. 2
Kendall "Da Spyder" Grove vs Mark "The Philipine Wrecking Machine" Munoz
middleweight (185)
This is an interesting fight for many reasons. Munoz is still trying to find his way in the UFC, and is making his second fight at 185, after his debut at 205. This will be the second fight in a row for Grove where he is matched up against a stellar wrestler, with little more to offer.
Munoz does possess nasty knockout power in his hands, but likes to wing them overhand, instead of setting up his punches. His best bet is to use his superior wrestling, and try to grind out a decision win, OR, hurl his right hand over his shoulder repeatedly until his arm falls off, or he knocks Grove into next week.
Grove has a ridiculous reach, a more refined striking game, and a world of submissions to call upon. In his fight against All American wrestler Jake Rosholt, Grove wore him out on the feet, and tapped him early with a triangle choke. It wont be too different here.
Munoz has the size advantage, and the ability to dominate almost any fighter on the ground. Grove isn't any fighter though, and will outpoint Munoz on the feet, and pull a fantastic submission out of where ever he wants from his back, late in the first round.
Grove via submission, (armbar) Rd 1
Matt Hughes vs Renzo Gracie
welterweight (170)
Former welterweight champion, Matt Hughes, welcomes Renzo Gracie (yes, THAT Gracie) who is making his UFC debut after having last fought over three years ago. This fight could very well be a repeat of Hughes dominance of Renzo's cousin Royce, but could still be a compelling fight.
Hughes is a product of a time long past when being extremely proficient in one aspect of fighting meant win after win after win. Nowadays, that is a great way to lose a few fights in a row, and get sent packing. All that in mind, Hughes is bigger, stronger, and younger than Gracie, all factoring against the brazilian in a big way.
Gracie has fantastic submission skills, but against Hughes they will be almost for naught, as the Illinois native has shown an almost superhuman ability to defend submissions. This will be a dominant, if not particularly exciting fight, with all three judges giving Hughes the nod after three rounds.
Hughes via Unanimous Decision
BJ "The Prodigy" Penn vs Frankie "The Answer" Edgar
lightweight championship fight (155)
Edgar is the latest lamb the UFC is throwing to the 155 champ Penn, and though it will be an exciting fight, nobody can hang with Penn at lightweight. Lets just get that out of the way right now.
"The Answer" is a constant overachiever, and a lot of fun to watch fight. With a solid wrestling base, and fantastic boxing, he's a handful for anyone at 155 pounds. This fact was brought to light when he completely outclassed and outworked former champ Sean Sherk last summer. Penn cannot sleep on Edgar, but it's going to be very difficult for Edgar to win this fight.
"The Prodigy" is as close to unbeatable in his weight division as anyone in the world. He has great footwork, a very heavy jab, ridiculous takedown defense, and perhaps the best grappling at 155 in the UFC. Edgar is fighting uphill every step of the way.
The boxing is close, but Penn has the advantage there. The fight will be a lot of feeling out by both guys, until BJ decides to make an example of Edgar. "The Answer" will fight with all the heart, and skill he can bring to muster, but it just wont be enough, as Penn puts him away early in the third round.
Penn via TKO, Rd. 2
Anderson "The Spider" Silva vs. Demian Maia
middleweight championship fight (185)
The second title bout of the evening puts perhaps the pound for pound best fighter in all of mma, against the premier practioner of mma bjj. Silva is making his seventh title defense, and going for his UFC record eleventh consecutive victory. Maia is stepping in for an injured Vitor Belfort, and hoping he can get the fight to the ground, where he can utilize his nearly flawless grappling game to gain what no other fighter has managed to do, defeat Silva for the UFC middleweight title.
Silva has lost one round in his UFC career, and followed that by choking out his oppponent in the next round. "The Spider" has woven two dominating lightheavyweight bouts into his middleweight scraps, and has faced two opponents who were supposed to be his kryptonite, submission specialists, and dispatched them without breaking much of a sweat. Silva will respect the submission skills of Maia, but he will also look to make an exaple out of him. Maia will try to close the distance between them, but wont be able to do it fast enough to avoid the sniper like precision of Silvas strikes. If Maia makes it out of the first round, I'll be surprised. If he makes it out of the second round, I'll be shocked. If he makes it out of the third...... he wont make it out of the third.
Silva via TKO, Rd. 1
