Man, this is a sneaky card. Six fights on the main portion, but they seem on the surface to be somewhat pedestrian in comparison to the main event. Don't be surprised if one of those five leading up flash some highlights, I'm just sayin....
Mark Bocek vs. John "The Natural" Alessio
lightweight
After a six year absence from the UFC spent fighting for just about every other promotion under the sun, Alessio returns on short notice to replace the injured Matt Wiman. I like Alessio, and he is a solid fighter, but it will be tough for him to find any footing against the extremely submission savvy Bocek. This fight will get to the ground, and the grappling-centric style Bocek employs will likely lead to a grinding decision. Look for Alessio to get another shot with the promotion, they love guys who step in and help out on short notice.
Bocek by Unanimous Decision
Mark "The Machine" Hominick vs. Eddie "The Filipino Phenom" Yagin
featherweight
After his stunning upset loss to Chan Sung-Jung, Hominick is looking to avoid his first ever three fight losing streak, and though he was supposedly a sure fire win against "The Korean Zombie" Yagin should be no trouble. Hominick lost because he fought outside of his game, but when he is on it and throwing crisp, clean combos, stalking his opponent, they are in big trouble. Yagin is tough, but has wilted when facing even slightly tougher opponents. I expect Hominick to get back on track with a late TKO, or lopsided decision. It may not be flashy, but it will be very dominant either way.
Hominick via TKO, Rd. 3.
Miguel Torres vs. Michael "Mayday" McDonald
bantamweight
This is an early candidate for fight of the night, as former champ Torres looks to get back to title contention, while the uber prospect McDonald tries to continue his rapid ascension through the ranks of the 135 pounders. Torres is a tall, lanky, smart fighter who uses his length very well in his stand up, but also possesses an incredibly aggressive ground game from top or bottom, and will always hunt for a submission. McDonald has shined so far in the UFC, going 3-0, and making a big impact so far, in spite of his youth (21!) With a very well rounded game, and the ability to start and maintain an impressive pace, he will bring the fight to Torres for sure. All signs point to Torres having the advantage in this fight, even if only slightly. It's going to be a war from the get go, with the fight taking place everywhere, and neither fighter giving any ground. After the dust settles, expect Torres to have his hand raised, in what I expect will be an awesome fight.
Torres via Split Decision
Brendan "The Hybrid" Schaub vs. Ben Rothwell
heavyweight
Both fighters are coming off losses, so they're likely to be fighting with the feeling that their backs are up against the cage, so to speak. Schaub is a big physical specimen, who is quick, agile, and frighteningly powerful. He's had a hard time really putting it together against tougher opponents though, so how he does here could be telling about where his future in the promotion will go. Rothwell has four times the experience, a very similar unexpected athleticism for a big man, along with an extremely durable chin. My heart says Rothwell, but my head says Schaub, so I'm going to say "The Hybrid" ekes out a close decision, that will likely have a very lackluster third round, as neither fighter looks particularly dominant.
Schaub via Unanimous Decision
Rory "Ares" McDonald vs. Che "Beautiful" Mills
welterweight
McDonald looks to continue his ascension towards the top of the welterweight division, while Mills is looking to put his own stamp on 170 pounds. At 22, McDonald is already emerging as the "next big thing" and he will have a tough customer in Mills, who has already been at the fight game for ten years. Mills has a solid striking game, but if he gets to the mat, submission defense has been a weakness. McDonald, though young, has already been fighting since he was 16, and has been training in all aspects of MMA his entire career. He seems to be the prototype of what future champions will be doing, and he seems equally comfortable in all aspects of the game. If the stand up is not to his liking, he should have no issue getting the fight to the mat, where he can flex his grappling muscles, and coax a tap from Mills, early to mid way through the second round.
McDonald via submission (rear naked choke) Rd. 2
LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP FIGHT
Champion Jon "Bones"Jones vs. Rashad "Suga" Evans
This fight has been in the works for far too long, and the back story aside, it is still a fantastic match up. The freakishly athletic and physical gifts that Jones possesses, combined with his thoroughly unorthodox style make him an extremely tough puzzle to solve. Combined with him being one of the biggest light heavyweights out there, and having roughly the same wing span as a pterodactyl, well, it's easy to see why he won the title and has been the first person to defend it more than once in over five years. Evans is fast and explosive, with fantastic wrestling. He is somewhat undersized for the division, and has a questionable chin. He supposedly got the better of Jones in the gym when they were still training together, but it remains to be seen if that will give him the mental edge or not. In any event, this fight will be hard fought, but Jones is simply too good. I see stoppage in this fight, possibly in the third round due to strikes, but I have a feeling that there will likely remain some bad blood, and we may see a rematch down the road. For now, Jones will remain the champ, and in dominant fashion.
Jones via TKO, Rd. 3
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