Darren Elkins (11-2, 1-1 UFC) vs Michihiro Omigawa (12-9-1, 0-3 UFC)
Recent Fights
Elkins: Submission loss to Charlie Oliveira, TKO win over Duane Ludwig, decision win over Gideon Ray
Omigawa: Decision loss to Chad Mendes, submission wins over Cole Escovedo and Young Sam Jung
Strengths
Elkins: Good record in the minors
Omigawa: Great judo, lots of experience
Weaknesses
Elkins: Haven't seen much from him
Omigawa: Can be outwrestled,
Prediction
Elkins, after two quick fights in the UFC, makes his featherweight debut against one of the best in the world in Michihiro Omigawa. It might not look like it from his record, but Omigawa is an outstanding featherweight, who UFC losses are to top contender Chad Mendes and two previous losses years ago at lightweight. I really don't know much about Elkins - both of his fights have lasted less than two minutes, and his win only came by injury. I think Omigawa is going to show how experience makes a difference by easily taking the fight to the mat and submitting Elkins. Omigawa by armbar in the first.
Joey "The Mexicutioner" Beltran (12-5, 2-2 UFC) vs Aaron Rosa (16-3)
Recent Fights
Beltran: Decision losses to Pat Barry and Matt Mitrione, decision win over Tim Hague
Rosa: Submission win over Abe Wagner, decision win over Devin Cole, TKO win over Jay Peche
Strengths
Beltran: Tough, decent wrestling
Rosa: Well rounded
Weaknesses
Beltran: Not particulairy good at anything
Rosa: Has not faced the same level of competition
Prediction
I'll be brief because I'm not at all interested in this fight. Rosa makes his UFC debut on short notice after the heavyweight fights on the card got switched following Brock Lesner being injured. Beltran isn't anything special, so this fight could go either way, and the loser will likely get cut.
Dustin "The Diamond" Poirier (9-1, 1-0 UFC) vs Jason "Shotgun" Young (8-3)
Recent Fights
Poirier: Decision win over Josh Grispi, TKO win over Zachary Micklewright, decision loss to Danny Castillo
Young: Decision wins over Jorge Britto and Sergej Grecicho, submission loss to Paul Sass
Strengths
Poirier: Strong striking
Young: British, so he's probably fine with sloppy kickboxing
Weaknesses
Poirier: Haven't seen him on his back
Young: Has not faced same level of competition
Prediction
Jason Young replaces Rani Yahya on short notice, and I think he will be overwhelmed here by Dustin Poirier. I don't know much about Young, but nothing on his record stood out to me, and Poirier has some excellent striking. I'm picking Poirier by second round TKO.
James Head (7-1) vs Nick "The Promise" Ring (11-0, 1-0 UFC)
Recent Fights
Head: Decision win over Gerald Harris, TKO win over Bill Albrecht, decision win over Jesse Forbes
Ring: Decision win over Riki Fukuda, submission win over Yannick Galipeau, TKO win over Chester Post
Strengths
Head: Never been finished
Ring: Well rounded, good submissions
Weaknesses
Head: Not much known about him
Ring: Needs work defensively
Prediction
Jame Head makes his UFC debut coming off the biggest win of his career in ex-UFC fighter Gerald Harris. He gets a stiff test in Nick Ring, a former Ultimate Fighter contestant who recently returned from a lengthy layoff to win a very close decision over Riki Fukuda. Now that Ring has a fight under him, I think were gonna see a much better version of him, and I think Ring will submit Head in the first round.
Mike Massenzio (12-4, 1-2 UFC) vs Krzysztof "The Polish Experiment" SoszynskiRecent Fights
Massenzio: TKO win over Nate Kittredge, submission loss to Brian Stann, TKO loss to CB Dollaway
Soszynski: Decision win over Goran Reljic, TKO loss to Stephan Bonnar, TKO win over Stephan Bonnar
Strengths
Massenzio: Well rounded
Soszynski: Strong striking and submissions
Weaknesses
Massenzio: Not amazing in any one area
Soszynski: Conditioning isn't great, striking defense isn't great either
Prediction
Massenzio steps in on short notice to take on Soszynski, and I don't think this fight will go well for him. Massenzio will be taking on someone who is both much larger then him, and who also can finish him standing or on the feet. I see Soszynksi wasting no time pushing forward, and him knocking Massenzio out in the first round.
Jesse "Water" Bongfeldt (15-4-1, 0-0-1 UFC) vs Chris "All American" Weidman (5-0, 1-0 UFC)
Recent Fights
Bongfeldt: Draw with Rafael Natal, submission win over Nolan Clark, TKO win over Chris Fontaine
Weidman: Decision wins over Alessio Sakara and Valdir Araujo, TKO win over Uriah Hall
Strengths
Bongfeldt: Well rounded, hasn't lost in more than four years
Weidman: Very strong wrestling
Weaknesses
Bongfeldt: Wrestling isn't great
Weidman: Needs to improve non-wrestling skills
Prediction
Weidman, one of the top prospects in the middleweight division, should be able to put another victim on his list, as I see him quickly taking the fight to the mat, where he can work submissions and punches on route to a decision victory.
Yves "Thugjitsu Master" Edwards (40-16-1, 8-4 UFC) vs Sam Stout (16-6-1, 5-5 UFC)
Recent Fights
Edwards: Submission win over Cody McKenzie, decision wins over John Gunderson and Luis Palomino
Stout: Decision win over Paul Taylor, decision loss to Jeremy Stephens, decision win over Joe Lauzon
Strengths
Edwards: great striking, solid submissions
Stout: great striking, improved sprawl
Weaknesses
Edwards: Wrestling has always been weak part of game
Stout: No real ground game
Prediction
With neither fighters looking to take the fight to the ground, we should get an all striking affair, though Edwards could try to take the fight to the ground as he should have the advantage in submissions. I don't see that happening, with both fighters preferring to sling leather for three rounds, with Edwards just pulling ahead for a very close decision win.
Donald Cerrone (14-3, 1-0 UFC) vs Vagner Rocha (6-1)
Recent Fights
Cerrone: Submission wins over Paul Kelly and Chris Horodecki, decision win over Jamie Varner
Rocha: Submission win over Jacob Clark, decision loss to Bret Bergmark, TKO win over Francisco Soares
Strengths
Cerrone: Strong striking and submissions
Rocha: Strong submissions
Weaknesses
Cerrone: Wreslting needs work
Rocha: Hasn't fought anyone near Cerrone's caliber
Prediction
Vagner Rocha step in on short notice, and Cerrone should have absolutely no problem taking care of him. I'm picking Cerrone by first round TKO. Why this fight is one the main card is beyond me.
Demian Maia (14-2, 8-2 UFC) vs Mark "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" Munoz (10-2, 5-2 UFC)
Recent Fights
Maia: Decision wins over Kendall Grove and Mario Miranda, decision loss to Anderson Silva
Munoz: KO win over CB Dollaway, decision win over Aaron Simpson, decision loss to Yushin Okami
Strengths
Maia: Elite level ju jitsu, great grappler, improving striking
Munoz: Strong wrestling, some power in hands
Weaknesses
Maia: Striking still needs improving
Munoz: Striking still needs improving
Prediction
Both these guys have put together back to back wins since suffering losses to the champ and the top contender. In wins over Grove and Miranda, Maia showed improved striking, though it was submission prowess that got him to the top of the contenders list. Munoz has picked up solid wins over Aaron Simpson and CB Dollaway, but has not yet beaten any one at the top of the ladder. This could be the biggest win of the career of either guy, and would put either guy a win or two away from a title shot. I see Munoz trying to keep the fight on the feet, and being able to keep the fight standing as well. I think Munoz pulls ahead standing, but it remains close right up until Munoz wins the decision.
Jon Olav Einemo (6-1) vs Dave "Pee Wee" Herman (20-2)
Recent Fights
Einemo: Submission win over James Thompson, decision loss to Fabricio Werdum, submission win over Mindaugus Kulikauskas
Herman: Decision win over Yoshihiro Nakao, submission win over Michal Kita, DQ loss to Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou
Strengths
Einemo: Strong grappling
Herman: KO power, well rounded
Weaknesses
Einemo: Hasn't fought in almost 5 years
Herman: Conditioning needs improvement
Prediction
Jon Olav Einemo was originally scheduled to make his debut against Shane Carwin, but after Brock Lesnar's injury, he was instead matched up with fellow newcomer Dave Herman. Einemo was pretty much counted out of his fight against Carwin, and while Herman is a signifigant step down from Carwin, I still think he is the favourite in the fight. Einemo hasn't fought in 5 years, and when he was fighting he wasn't of particular note. I think the five years off will really show, and Herman picks up a first round KO in his debut.
Kenny Florian (13-5, 11-4 UFC) vs Diego "The Gun" Nunes (16-1, 1-0 UFC)
Recent Fights
Florian: Decision loss to Gray Maynard, submission wins over Takonori Gomi and Clay Guida
Nunes: Decision wins over Mike Brown, Tyler Toner and Raphael Assuncao
Strengths
Florian: Strong muay thai, excellent ju jitsu, always looking to finish
Nunes: Strong kicks, strong grappling
Weaknesses
Florian: Wrestling is good but not great
Nunes: No finishes in UFC or WEC
Prediction
Florian, the middleweight runner up on the 1st season of the Ultimate Fighter, makes his featherweight debut, and does get an easy first fight in Diego Nunes. Florian had proven to be a Top 5 (even Top 3) lightweight, but had lost his three best chances at the title. I don't know how the cut will affect him, but if he can fight the same as he did at 155, then he will be a real force in the division. My pick in Kenny Florian by decision, in one of the best fights of the night.
Junior Dos Santos (12-1, 6-0 UFC) vs Shane Carwin (12-1, 4-1 UFC)
Recent Fights
Dos Santos: Decision win over Roy Nelson, TKO wins over Gabirel Gonzaga and Gilbert Yvel
Carwin: Submission loss to Brock Lesnar, KO win over Frank Mir, KO win over Gabriel Gonzaga
Strengths
Dos Santos: Elite level boxing skill, power to spare, strong wrestling
Carwin: Elite level wrestling, power to spare, strong boxing, finished all his wins in the first round.
Weaknesses
Dos Santos: Has slowed in the third, really haven't seen him off his back
Carwin: Gas tank failed him against Brock Lesnar
Prediction
I'm really excited for this fight - in the 11 UFC fights these two have combined for, only one has gone to decision, and 8 have ended with a first round KO (4 each). Carwin could have been awarded the stoppage in the first round of his fight against Brock Lesnar, and seemed to have blown his gas tank going for it. This fight really could go either way, but I'm picking Dos Santos for two reasons - hes shown better conditioning and has shown a slightly better chin. I think he survives an early onslaught to score a TKO in the second.
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