SILVA VS VITOR, PICK A WINNER

                                           STACKED SATURDAY


     UFC 126 will kick off tomorrow night with the headliner showcasing the two most explosive and precise strikers put together in the cage in a long time.  The rest of the main card is also dynamite, and the under card is no water cooler joke either.  I'll be doing several more picks than the last Strikeforce, so sit back and read some breakdowns and predictions, or skip straight to the comment box and post your own picks.  Take a side note that you can all watch the under card fight with KID and Johnson on facebook and only facebook as it will not be aired with the prelims on spike.  DON'T MISS THAT FIGHT.

                                         PHENOMENAL SPIDER     


     Vitor's nickname doesn't apply as much as it did at the begining of his career, much like BJ penns nickname.  He has had a circus ride of an MMA career with many highs and many lows, rivaling careers such as Randy Couture and Tito Ortiz.  The thing is, out of the three, he is at the peak of his career at the age of 33.  His other high points were peaks too, but he has never had an oppurtunity as big as to fight the biggest current fighting legend in the making in the sport.  If Vitor pulls off a victory tomorrow night, his win will propel his own legacy to superstar status and there is no denying that.

    Anderson comes into the bout with a slightly different view on the matter.  While he knows of Vitor and his whole story(Anderson was watching Vitors success years before he was fighting himself), this fight for him is about solidifying everything he has already achieved himself.  He holds the record for most consecutive wins, and most consecutive title defenses in the UFC, and he wants to stretch these streaks as far as he can as well as leaving highlight footage to never be forgotten.  I'd say he is doing a pretty good job so far.  The only question for Silva coming into this fight, is "will he underestimate Vitor?"  I don't think so.

     I'm picking this fight to be one of three possible 'fight of the night' fights.  It's also a three way tie in my mind between the same bouts for 'knockout of the night'.  I think Silva is going to surprise Vitor badly here.  Everyone is saying that Silva will have to be on the defensive this time around, and that he can't try that 'crap' that he did with all his other fights.  If there is something I have learned watching Anderson, it is that he hates hearing what he should or will do.  I think he is going to come out trying to be the aggressor after a minute or two of feeling out Vitor.  I'm picking this fight late first or early second round KO in brutal highlight reel fashion.

        


                         
                                 BONES FOR BADER

 
     Ryan Bader and Jon Jones is the second of the three (KOOTN, FOTN) front runner bouts.  They are both on hype trains  from hell on a crash course head on collision with each other.  This fight reminds me of when they squared up undefeated fighters Rashad Evans and Michael Bisping, and later on still unblemished Rashad Evans versus Lyoto Machida.  Talk trash on the UFC all you want for them 'feeding' potential stars early in their careers, but when they get somewhat recognized they are thrown into fights that we all want to see, whether they like it or not.  This was the case more so for Bader.  I think that Baders only chance in this fight is to get inside QUICK and land a heavy shot or land a power double takedown.  This is a lot easier for me to type then it is for Bader to execute, seeing as how Jones is easily faster, and has the longest reach in the UFC.  Bader has promised 'flashiness' in multiple interviews, and as a fan I love it.  Look for Bader to put up more of a fight then people are giving him credit for, but coming up short and getting caught in the third round.  Prediction is Jones stunning him then hopping on top for the kill mid-late third round for a TKO stoppage.

            
       FORREST FRANKLIN AND RICH GRIFFIN. HUH?



     Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin are the correct names respectively, but the way this fight has been built up the past month would lead you to believe these fighters are mirror images of each other.  And I have been lead to that belief strongly.  They might not have the same styles exactly, but as a person their characteristics are identical.  The both are very laid back, respective fighters with huge nice guy fan bases and are both willing to fight anybody they are fed too and will both fight til a brutal KO and forget thinking about gassing when it comes to them.  It makes this fight hard to call, but fun to watch.  Look for them sharing just about every single round throughout the score cards.  I think Griffin fighting at his natural weight has the slight advantage, and I see him grinding this one out.  Griffin by 3 round split decision.

                                             KIDS IN THE CAGE

                                                                                     



     The last fight on my list of potential bonus bouts is Norifumi 'KID' Yamamoto versus Demetrious 'mighty mouse' Johnson.  Lighter weightclasses have always been more exciting as far as pace goes.  These guys are coming in at 135 pounds, think about it.  After seeing this fight you will thank the stars that UFC brought over the UFC and signed KID over from Japan organization.  Kid has a career and youtube footage to make people stop and awe.  He should be focused to put on a dominant performance and lay his hands into Johnson.  The porblem KID will run into is Johnsons extreme speed.  Johnson is 5'3 and is lightning quick.  I expect kid to bring his A game from the past and put to rest the discussion on Japans lack of mma talent.  I'm calling for this fight to end in the third round, but not by the way I'd hope.  Look for KID to get a submission on an outclassed Johnson in the final three minutes of the third frame.


    

                                  QUICKEST PICKS


     There are multiple other noteworthy bouts filled with eye candy, but I will just leave them with quick picks.  Feel free to pick just the main bout(Vitor, Silva) or anywhere up to all 11 bouts.  Here are my quick hits.

-Carlos Rocha over Jake Ellenberger via first round submission
-Miguel Torres over Antonio Banuelos via majority decision
-The cowboy Cerrone over Paul kelly via first round KO*
-Michihiro Omigawa over Chad Mendes via split decision*


*Make sure to watch these two prelims on spike, and the KID fight on facebook live tomorrow night.  Tune in for the weigh-ins tonight for a couple humorous stare downs.
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