UFC Fight Night 22

This Wednesday, the fight card that the UFC is putting up for their 22nd Fight Night is full of fights that will have some significance down the road, but for now, will just be a lot of fun to watch. The main event may have some title relevance for the middleweight division down the road, but with Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen heading for a rematch early next year, and the Vitor Belfort/ Yushin Okami winner getting the next title shot, all other challengers for the 185 pound strap will just have to continue to prove their worth. The other three main card scraps are all up and coming lightweights, who are scrambling for the right to prove they deserve a shot at new division king, Frankie Edgar. Will we see the next lightweight contender emerge on Wednesday? Perhaps, but until then, lets hope for some great fights.


Ross "The Real Deal" Pearson vs. Cole "Magrinho" Miller
lightweight (155)

Since winning season 9 of The Ultimate Fighter, Pearson has rattled off two more wins against very tough opponents. He'll look to keep his UFC record unblemished against jiu jitsu expert, Miller, and continue his rise to the top of the lightweight division. Miller, also a veteran of the UFC's reality show, has beaten some of the 155 pound stalwarts, and is going to need to keep that up, if he expects to get by Pearson.

"The Real Deal" brings the fight to his opponents, and doesn't let up. With constant pressure, be it in the striking department, or with his heavy top control on the ground, Pearson likes to wear out the other fighter and force them to make mistakes. Against Miller, Pearson is going to need to find a way to get inside the long reach, and do damage from in close. If the fight goes to the ground, Pearson will need to proceed with caution from the top or bottom, due to Miller's extensive submission savvy.

Miller is quite tall for the lightweight division. At 6'1", he stands quite a bit taller than the average 155 pound fighter, and likes to mix up kicks and punches to take advantage of the height, and reach advantage he enjoys. Though far from a novice on his feet, "Magrinho" really excels on the ground. With an extensive array of submissions from both top and bottom positions, he is dangerous everywhere on the ground. Pearson will look to negate the reach by darting in and out with his strikes, and making Miller leave himself open to counter shots. Though the more experienced submission artist, Miller does need to be cautious of the ground and pound of Pearson, which is hard and relentless.

Miller may be the more technically sound fighter, but his ability to absorb damage is not nearly as proven as Pearson, as the UK fighter has been through several three round wars, and come out as the victor. Pearson will want to make this an ugly fight, and drag it into the later rounds. Miller needs to avoid the bulldog-like ability of Pearson to dictate pacing, and keep the fight where it benefits him the most, instead of getting baited into exchanges with Pearson, where the ability to take a punch is definitely not in Miller's favor. This will be a back and forth battle, with Pearson doing more in the standup, but Miller getting the best on the ground. In the end, Pearson's stock continues to rise with a hard fought, well deserved split decision.

Pearson, via Split Decision

Jim Miller vs Gleison Tibau
lightweight

This fight is going to be a clash of two fighters who like to make the fights less than technical, and then take advantage of mistakes by their opponents during scrambles. Tibau is an absolute monster at 155 pounds. I don't know how he makes the weight cut, but he looks like he weighs well over 175 pounds come fight day, yet has never really shown that it affects him too much during his fights. Despite the size advantage he enjoys, along side his wrestling background and bjj black belt, Tibau has never really put it together and strung together wins over quality opponents. Currently on a two fight winning streak, he looks to get a quality win under his belt against the very tough Miller.

Miller has been fighting quality opponents since he first stepped foot in the octagon. With his only loss coming to current number one contender Gray Maynard, Miller is only a few wins away from perhaps getting a title shot of his own. With more than a few similarities to Tibau (strong wrestling experience, and submissions) Miller will need to find a way to overcome the size and strength advantage Tibau enjoys, and continue his own ascent up the lightweight ladder.

Fighting out of the always tough American Top Team, Tibau likes to use his physical tools to bully his opponents, and pressure them into making mistakes he can take advantage of. Having won four of his last five fights, and the lone loss coming via a controversial split decision loss to Melvin Guillard, it seems that Tibau is finally combining mental strength with his already prodigious physical talents. Against Miller, he's going to need to keep calm, and dictate where the fight takes place. When he gets too anxious, he tends to rush things and get sloppy, something he cannot do against a fighter of Miller's level.

With a wrestling background that includes D-1 level college experience, and a bjj black belt of his own, Miller is fighting an opponent who's skill set closely mirrors his own. Where they differ though, is in between the ears. Miller is a very cerebral fighter, and incredibly tenacious. Miller has quick, accurate striking, and quick, vise-like submissions. In this fight, he's going to want to put pressure on Tibau, and force him into scrambles where the Brazilian doesn't usually keep his calm. Provided he can keep the fight where he wants, Miller should be able to do what he wants, when he wants. With someone as big and strong as Tibau, he will need to be very cautious, because a knockout, or submission is right around the corner, if you let your guard down.

This fight has a decent chance of being Fight of the Night. Both fighters like to impose their will on opponents, and break them mentally. If they continue with how they've been fighting, Tibau will come out fast and hard, but Miller will weather the storm. If Tibau can't force Miller to make a mistake early, he may falter, something that Miller is unlikely to do. Tibau will most likely take the first round due to aggression, and pressure, but Miller will use octagon control and striking precision to win the next two, and take the unanimous decision.

Miller via Unanimous Decision

Efrain "Hecho in Mexico" Escudero vs. Charles "do Bronx" Oliviera
lightweight

Escudero has been very impressive in the UFC since winning The Ultimate Fighter almost two years ago. Winning thee of his four UFC fights, he looks to continue his rise through the lightweight ranks against the undefeated, but unproven Oliviera. With only one fight in the UFC under his belt, Oliviera is going to try and keep his undefeated record intact, and prove that he belongs in the upper echelon of lightweights in the world.

Oliviera posted his first 11 wins in smaller brazilian shows, frequently competing in one night tournaments where he would fight multiple opponents in one evening. He holds the rank of brown belt in bjj, and uses his long, lanky frame to lock submissions in tight on the ground, and keep his opponents at bay with his reach, on his feet. When he made his debut in the UFC, it took him only 41 seconds to submit his opponent with an armbar, and now will try and do the same against much stiffer competition.

Escudero burned through season 8 of The Ultimate Fighter, and dominated Phillipe Nover in the final. With a strong wrestling background, and improving stand up, Escudero is going to prove to be the toughest opponent Oliviera has faced to date. Escudero has very good submission defense, and if necessary, has the ability to keep the fight standing, if he doesn't like how the fight is going on the ground. Much like Ross Pearson in his fight against Cole Miller, Escudero is facing a much taller opponent, and will need to get inside the reach of Oliviera to strike effectively, but that may leave him open to getting taken down. The 'X' factor here is how Oliviera deals with being shut down, if the fight stays standing. Escudero is the better wrestler, and will have an easier time keeping the fight where he wants it. How Oliviera deals with that could be the turning point of the fight.

Ultimately, Escudero will decide where this fight takes place, and that could make for a long night, for Oliviera. Escudero has more experience with higher levels of competition, and is unlikely to lose his head if things don't go his way. Oliviera, on the other hand, is less experienced, and there is no way to tell how he'll deal with adverse situations. Expect Escudero to proceed with caution, but pick his spots well, and eventually catch Oliviera with a punch midway through the second round, and pounce on him until the referee calls for the stoppage.

Escudero via TKO, Rd. 2

Nate "The Great" Marquardt vs. Rousimar "Toquinho" Palhares
middleweight (185)

In the main event, we have the only main card fight that is not a lightweight bout, and the winner could very well be headed towards a title shot, should they win convincingly. Palhares, has won four of his five UFC fights, three via submission, and only losing to Dan Henderson. Marquardt has three times the MMA experience that Palhares has, and holds wins over notable fighters such as Martin Kampmann, Jeremy Horn, and Demian Maia. With both men looking to rebound from their last fight, albeit in different ways, this bout should be spectacular.

Even though he won his last fight, Palhares was subsequently suspended for 90 days, due to not releasing the heel hook that forced his opponent to tap out to, in a timely fashion. While his striking game is ever improving, and his takedown offense and defense is strong, his bread and butter remains his grappling and submissions. A bjj black belt, and an incredibly strong fighter, Palhares has a technical wizardry on the ground, that is matched by few in the 185 pound weight class. Against Marquardt though, he may not even get a chance to use that submission acumen.

A former seven time champion of Pancrase in Japan, Marquardt has been fighting professionally since 1999, and is a black belt in bjj as well, though not nearly on the level of Palhares. Marquardt is one of the most well rounded fighters in MMA, with stellar wrestling, strong stand up, and very good grappling skills. A very strong individual, and fairly big for the middleweight division, Marquardt uses crisp stand up, excellent footwork and head movement, to keep his opponents off balance, and when he can work from the top on the ground, has nasty ground and pound. He struggles off his back when on the ground, as evidenced by his fight against Chael Sonnen, and if Palhares can get Marquardt down, it may be a short night for Marquardt.

Palhares is the better submission fighter than Marquardt, but Marquardt is better in every other aspect of the fight game. I expect Marquardt to do everything he can to keep the fight standing, and try to negate the grappling of "Toquinho". With his five inch reach advantage, Marquardt should be able to dictate the stand up, and pick his spots standing. At some point, Palhares will get the fight to the ground, but if it's later, and he's on the bottom, it may not even matter. Marquardt takes this fight, and may even get a stoppage late, by battering Palhares after frustrating him for the majority of the first two rounds.

Marquardt via TKO, Rd. 3