UFC 128: Please Have a Healthy Knee, Shogun Predictions

Mauricio Rua vs. Jon Jones: Shogun by TKO, rd. 2

I could say something about Jones never fighting someone on Shogun’s level, but with every fight he’s had, he’d never fought an opponent on that level and he leap frogged right to the next level. He’s bigger, stronger, he might be faster and he excels at the one thing the Champ isn’t any good at (wrestling). Rua’s coming off of another knee surgery as well, and we all know how that went last time. Also, if history’s taught us anything, it’s that the light heavyweight strap doesn’t like to sit around one man’s waist for too long. But I have to go with Shogun. PRIDE, never die. WAR SHOGUN.

Uriah Faber vs. Eddie Wineland: Faber by UD

I love how Wineland’s having a career renaissance of sorts, but he’s just a stepping stone to the inevitable Faber vs. Cruz II.

Nate Marquardt vs. Dan Miller: Marquardt by UD

Marquardt’s probably too much for Dan after a full camp. He’s way too much on short notice. Also, Nate may look lacklustre against the truly elite at 185lbs, but he’s always impressive against just-shy-of-top-flight competition.

Mirko Filipovic vs. Brendan Schaub: Schaub by TKO, rd. 2

If by the grace of the MMA gods we see some old school “right kick, hospital, left kick, cemetery” action, I’m not afraid to say that I’ll squeal with delight like Rebecca Black on Friday (fun! fun! fun!)… but I think it’s going to be more of a silent swig of beer and a sigh when a TUF runner up (and that’s no disrepect to Schaub, who’s looked great in his last few) finally sends a legend of the sport to pasture.

Jim Miller vs. Kamal Shalorus: Miller by UD

Miller’s better on the feet and on the mat. I think this is where we see definitively that at LW, the middle of the pack in the UFC is just that much better than the middle of the pack in the WEC.

Looking Back (last 5):
UFC 122 3/4
UFC 123 3/5 
UFC 124 4/5
UFC 125 2/5 
UFC 126 6/8 

Total: 116/187~62.0%