It’s been a while, but the Morning After Pill is back! UFC 157 is in the book’s and Ronda Rousey has established herself as a legitimate star in the UFC. 

According to the UFC, this is the highest attendance ever at an event at the Honda Center. Previous fights here include Lesnar vs. Velasquez, dos Santos vs. Velasquez, and Hughes vs. Penn. Those are some heavy hitters and the Women topped them all. UFC 157 delivered exciting finishes and a few great performances, let’s take a look at the winners and losers of the nights.

Winners

Ronda Rousey –

Most people assumed that Rousey would defeat Liz Carmouche by a 1^st round arm bar, and they would be correct. That did happen, but how she pulled off the win was most impressive. Rousey has six professional fights and has spent a total of 7 minutes and 39 seconds in the cage. This fight lasted 4 minutes and 49 seconds and she was in trouble. Midway through the 1^st, Carmouche took Rousey’s back and applied a rear naked choke. Carmouche wasn’t able to lock it in, but did have it right across the chin of the Champion. The crowd was shocked as the possibility of an upset loomed. Rousey was able to defend the choke and get Carmouche on her back. She eventually was able to position herself for the arm bar and she got the tap with 11 seconds left in the round.

Carmouche showed why she deserved to be in the cage with Rousey, but Ronda proved why she is the face of WMMA. It sounds like the winner of Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano on April 13 will get their chance at the UFC Women’s Title.

Urijah Faber –

After losing to Renan Barao and Dominick Cruz, Faber needed a statement win to get back in the UFC title picture for the third time. Faber looked good against Ivan Menjivar and was able to execute his game plan. Faber had Menjivar in scarecrow/crucifix position and followed it up by taking Menjivar’s back that ultimately was how he got the choke.

The commentary this week was that Faber hadn’t evolved with the sport and could no longer keep up with the sports elite fighters. With his win over Menjivar tonight he showed that he is still looking for that UFC gold and can hang with upper echelon of the division.

Faber all ready holds victories over multiple fighters ranked in the Bantamweight top ten and if Barao and Cruz are really going to fight this summer, I would like to see Faber step in there against Michael McDonald, who despite losing, is still a tough win in the division.

Robbie Lawler –

Lawler hasn’t fought in the UFC since 2004 and has made his way back after fighting in both EliteXC and Strikeforce. In his return to Welterweight, Lawler looked impressive, as he was able to earn the TKO victory over Josh Koscheck. After his win, twitter was buzzing about the fight and whether it was a quick stoppage by Herb Dean. Both Lawler and UFC President Dana White are happy with the stoppage and thought Koscheck was out.

While not calling anyone out, Lawler is looking for another ranked opponent that can help him move up the stack in the welterweight division. Maybe a fight against a fellow striker like Martin Kampmann could be next for him.

Losers

Lyoto Machida –

While not technically a loser tonight, nobody wants to see Machida back in the cage to fight Jon Jones for the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship. His fight against Dan Henderson lacked the action that most fans expected from the two veterans. Machida was elusive and was able to avoid the takedowns from Henderson, but he didn’t drive a ton of offense on his own. In the end, he earned the split decision victory, but not looking impressive at all.

In the post fight press conference, White declared Machida the new number one contender and he would be facing the champion after Jones fights Chael Sonnen in April.

Josh Koscheck –

Koscheck is now 2-3 in his last five fights and was a close split decision to being 1-4. Perhaps he is in for the same future as former teammate Jon Fitch. Koscheck was able to find early success in the fight, taking Lawler to the ground, but was unable to keep him there. Towards the end of Round 1, Lawler slipped out from under Koscheck and was able to get in a standing position to deliver the TKO. Koscheck attempted to defend himself, but replays showed a dazed Koscheck as ate multiple shots.

I am not sure what the future will hold for Josh Koscheck. The guy makes a ton of money and I am not sure the UFC wants to pay a fighter on a prelim that amount. My guess is that Koscheck gets his walking papers and takes a fight or two away from the UFC. 

There were other losers from tonight, but now is not the time to discuss them. Women’s MMA showed everyone tonight that they are relevant and they are here to stay. Ronda Rousey proved that she is a dominant force in MMA and everyone else is just trying to catch up.

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It is always excited when the heavyweights get in the Octagon and fight for a title. Tonight UFC 155 is live on PPV from Las Vegas and Junior dos Santos defends his title against former Champion Caiin Velasquez. Both of these Heavyweights looked unstoppable in their last fight and hopefully this time it last longer the 64 seconds. UFC 155 also features the return of Chris Leben and a co-main event that should be a great fight between two top Lightweights in Joe Lauzon and Jim Miller. Here are official picks for the fight tonight, feel free  to add yours in the comments section below.

Middleweight Fight: Chris Leben vs. Derek Brunson

Brian: He’s baaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaack. And he’ll be impressive.  Leben’s not the kind of guy to take a situation like being off for so long lightly.  He’ll be ready, and come in to make a statement. Leben by first round KO.

Brendan: I’m a big fan of Chris Leben, the guy is all heart and just moved forward like a rock’em-sock’em robot. He will take 3 shots to deliver his trademark overhand left that has been his saving grace in so many fights. I think he gets back to his winning ways in his return from another suspension. Leben by overhand left KO in the 2^nd…it will take him a few minutes to get back into his groove.

Jordan: I am happy to see Chris Leben back in the cage after a year layoff. Chris has been battling some personal demons so it is great to see him fighting. I am great to see Derek Brunson make it to the UFC. The former Strikeforce fighter has had a few setbacks along the way, but this should be a good way to start the PPV. Leben needs to prove that mentally he can do this, and I think he gets the job done. It may take a bit for him to get adjusted to the cage, but give me Leben via 2^nd round  KO.

Mark: I’m always skeptical when a fighter comes off such a long layoff, but Chris Leben is no newcomer to the Octagon.  Brunson will be making his UFC debut and the first fight jitters could likely play a factor.  Though he’s been stopped in his last few fights, I think Leben’s chin will hold up and his granite left hand will not fail him.  I like his chances for redemption so I’ll go with the Crippler.  Leben via 1^st rd KO.

Middleweight Fight: Yushin Okami vs. Alan Belcher

Brian: Okami has been looking big and strong lately, but 2012 was strong comeback for Alan Belcher, and I see a title shot run coming for him in 2013.  Look for Belcher to dominate all aspects of this fight and come away with a TKO win in the second.

Brendan: Belcher will pick “Thunder” apart on the feet and keep this fight standing just long enough to send a statement to the upper echelon of middleweights that he’s back and ready to contend for the title. Belcher via T/KO in the 3^rd.

Jordan: Belcher is riding a 4 fight win streak and is looking to put his name atop the rankings in the Middleweight division. Belcher has looked impressive since coming back from eye surgery. Okami is coming off a victory over Buddy Roberts back in August. Okami is the better wrestler, but I would leery of Belcher on the ground. I am taking Belcher via 2^nd Round Submission.

Mark: Okami was able to right the ship in his last fight after dropping his previous two, but he’ll be stepping in against one of the hottest fighters going in Alan Belcher.  Okami will have an advantage wrestling which he can use to control the fight, but if he fights at range or allows Belcher to put him on his back, he’ll be in deep trouble.  I see Okami controlling the fight early, but think it’s only a matter of time before Belcher puts together a combination to end the fight.  Give me Belcher via 2^nd rd TKO.

Middleweight Fight: Tim Boetsch vs. Costa Phillipou

Brian:  Costa Phillipou is heavy handed, and he is going to need to be against the Barbarian.  Boetsch has been solid since moving down in weight, and impressive at times.  While my mind says “Boetsch”, my gut is telling me ‘upset’. Phillipou is going to come out a man possessed and land one of those awkward shots behind the ear that puts everyone down for a second.  Upset special!!! Phillipou by second round TKO.

Brendan: Boetsch will have to force his way inside Phillipou’s solid boxing defense and try to put him on his back, no easy task. Boetsch will need to avoid another lackluster performance and I see him being the aggressor in this fight but unable to finish. Boetsch by unanimous decision.

Jordan: After a great comeback victory against Yushin Okami back in February, Boetsch failed to impress in a tight victory over Hector Lombard in July. If Boetsch wants to be considered among the elite in the Middleweight division he will need to look impressive in this fight. Both of these fighters enter the fight after a four fight win streak. Phillipou will try to keep this fight standing, but I see Boetsch taking this fight to the ground and grounding out the unanimous victory. This will not be the impressive victory that Boetsch is looking for.

Mark: After a lackluster performance vs. Hector Lombard in his last outing, Tim Boetsch will surely be looking to impress especially in the crowded Middleweight title hunt.  Phillipou has made great strides over his last few fights and is very dangerous at range, but Boetsch’s best will be clinching and overpowering the Cypriot.  Expect the Barbarian to smother Phillipou throughout and cruise to a one sided dominant victory. Boetsch by Unanimous Decision.

Lightweight Fight: Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller

Brian: Jim Miller’s strengths play right in to where Joe Lauzon can be most effective.  I don’t see Miller getting in close to land a big shot, and I actually don’t see him being able to take Lauzon down in this fight.  Lauzon will keep his distance, get some points here and there, before a Miller takedown attempt turns into a Lauzon submission win late in the 2^nd.

Brendan: Miller should look to work his way inside and pepper the body of Lauzon in order to take control and force the fight to the ground. I think these two will battle back and forth with Lauzon getting the better of the early exchanges just enough to rock Miller and create the opening to slap on a submission attempt that falls short. As the fight goes on, Miller will gain momentum and force the decision to swing his way. Miller by split decision.

Jordan: Let’s go ahead and pencil Joe Lauzon in for one of the fight night bonuses right now. I am really looking forward to this fight with Jim Miller, who also is no stranger to fight bonuses. This is my pick for fight of the night, and possibly sub of the night as well. Both of these guys are great on the ground, but I have to give the edge to Lauzon. Miller is tough, but I see him getting caught in one of the many submissions that Lauzon is capable of. Give Lauzon by 2^nd round sub.

Mark: On paper, this fight is extremely even.  Lauzon is rangier and likes to set up his submission attempts with volume strikes, but Miller holds the power advantage and has proven a tough man to finish (Nate Diaz notwithstanding).  This one will be high paced and I can see the momentum swinging back and forth a few times before J-Lau finds his opening.  I’ll go with Lauzon via 2^nd rd shoulder lock.

UFC Heavyweight  Championship: Junior Dos Santos vs. Cain Velasquez

Brian: Velasquez has been looking awful beastly as of late, and JDS is proving to round out his striking game more and more as his fights progress.  The champ has yet to show off his jiu jitsu, so it will be interesting to see if Cain can take him down and force a heavyweight grappling match.  I see Can coming in here much more determined to fight smart and aggressive rather than scared, and take Junior down, where he will wrestle and GNP his way to a decision victory.  New champ folks.

Brendan: I don’t care who wins, I just want to see a fight! No 60sec dancing and one-punch KO. JDS and Cain will battle for at least 2.5 rounds, and I see “Cigano” landing another devastating overhand right to repeat and retain his title. JDS via T/KO in the 3^rd.

Jordan: I have high expectations for this fight; the first is that it lasts longer than 64 seconds. Both of these guys looked sharp in their last fight at UFC 146 in May. Velasquez destroyed Antonio Silva and showed the world that a healthy Cain Velasquez is still a force in the Heavyweight division. Dos Santos was also injured in their last fight so I am looking forward to seeing both of these guys at full strength. I have a hard time picking a winner for this fight, but I am going with dos Santos catching Velasquez in the 3^rd round and putting him to sleep. JDS by 3^rd round KO.

Mark: How hard is it to pick against JDS at this point?  He’s been absolutely untouchable and dispatched Cain Velasquez in their first meeting without breaking a sweat.  That said, my gut still tells me Velasquez is the baddest man on the planet and he’ll have learned from his previous fight.  It’s clear from his absolute thrashing of Bigfoot Silva that once Velasquez sees an opening, he’s a relentless finisher.  I believe JDS will land some power strikes throughout the fight, but think Velasquez will keep his wits and eventually get the fight to the ground where it will be a heavy dose of punches and elbows.  It feels strange to pick against the champ, but I’ll go with the challenger.  Give me Velasquez via 2^nd rd TKO.

Submission of the Night

Brian:  Joe Lauzon

Brendan: Phil de Fries

Jordan: Alan Belcher

Mark: Joe Lauzon

Knock out of the Night

Brian: Chris Leben

Brendan: Chris Leben

Jordan: Junior dos Santos

Mark: Chris Leben

Fight of the Night

Brian: Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller

Brendan: Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller

Jordan: Joe Lauzon vs. Jim Miller

Mark: Melvin Guillard vs. Jamie Varner

Overall Rankings

Brian (104-83) – Co-host of the MMANonstop Podcast and author of the series “The Book On…” exclusively at MMANonstop.com, follow him at twitter.com/bchurchin

Brendan (104-83) – Examines the Top 5 fighters in each weight class and is featured exclusively on MMANonstop.com. Follow him at twitter.com/bchurchin48

Mark (109-70 – Chief Editor and lead contributor to the MMANonstop Podcast, follow him attwitter.com/mmanonstopmark

Jordan (117-7-) – Runs the MMANonstop twitter feed and co-host of the MMANonstop Podcast, follow him at twitter.com/nonstopmma

Georges St. Pierre is back, and the UFC is bringing their number 1 PPV draw to the Bell Centre in Montreal to unify the Welterweight Championship. A win for GSP brings on the super fight everyone has been clamoring for the past few years. A win for Carlos Condit brings a whole new dynamic to the Welterweight division. Check out our picks below and feel free to leave yours in the comments below.

Featherweight Fight: Mark Hominick vs. Pablo Garza

Brian: Mark Hominick starts his climb back up the ladder with this one. These fighters are a collective 1-6 in their last 3 fights…so something’s gotta give. Look for Hominick to be a little tentative in his striking at first (to avoid a repeat of the Korean Zombie “fight”), but open up in the 2^nd and 3^rd rounds and win 29-28 across the board.

Brendan: Both guys need a win or risk catching the boot from the UFC, I think Hominick will have to work his way inside Garza’s reach to find a striking groove. I see Garza pulling guard and trying to use his long limbs and slick submissions to create an opening, but ultimately Hominick will get the UD through having a heavy top game and not getting too aggressive.

Jordan: Both of these guys are trying to get back on the win column after multiple losses. Hominick has earned Fight of the Night in two of his last three fights, (all losses) and Garza has some slick submissions. I see Hominick keeping this fight on the ground and earning the 2^nd round KO.

Mark: This will be an interesting opener as both of these fighters are riding multiple loss streaks currently. We know that both are capable of putting on exciting fights and with the added pressure of another loss, both should come out determined. The biggest factor in my mind in this fight will be patience. I give Hominick the striking advantage and believe that if he is disciplined in his attacks, he’ll eventually get Garza to make a mistake. It won’t be easy for him, but I like the Canadian to get back to his winning ways Saturday night. Hominick by Unanimous Decision

Middleweight Fight: Nick Ring vs. Costa Phillipou

Brian: This is a fight with two legitimate prospects in the middleweight division…not necessarily title shot prospects yet, but definitely long term gate keeper prospects. Costa Phillipou is a solid striker, Ring wants this going to the ground…the latter will end up happening. Ring via split decision.

Brendan: This should be a good stand-up battle with both men trying to land the knock-out shot throughout. I see it going the distance and Ring will get the nod in the end by split decision.

Jordan: Both of these guys have fought and beat similar competition so it makes sense that these two are fighting. This fight is going to decision and I am giving this to the Canadian. Ring wins in unanimously.

Mark: Both fighters have victories over a common opponent (Court McGee) and have looked very tough as of late. I like Ring’s versatility and toughness, but I give Phillipou a heavy advantage in the power department. I expect this to play out mostly on the feet with Ring landing a higher volume of strikes, while Phillipou lands the heavier shots. Consequently, the judges will have a tough call. In a coin flip, I’ll go with Costa Phillipou by Split decision.

Middleweight Fight: Francis Carmont vs. Tom Lawlor

Brian: If Filthy Tom can put together a fight that is on par with his entrances, look for fireworks from Lawlor. He’s a well-rounded fighter that can win any way he sees an opening. In this case, though, his weakness is his opponent’s strength. Lawlor will need to use his wresting to avoid takedowns and then finish the fight standing. He’ll do it, and earn a little bonus check along with it.

Brendan: Tom Lawlor will get careless trying to land the early haymayker and Carmont will stay disciplined and tight in the pocket landing counter strikes until he ultimately turns out those Filthy lights in the 2^nd.

Jordan: Besides Rory MacDonald, Carmont is supposed to be the next big thing coming out of Tristar. Carmont has looked impressive in his wins and deserves the opportuntity to fight on the main card. Lawlor is coming off big victory after knocking out Jason MacDonald back in May. This has potential to be good fight and I have Carmont taking this to the ground and pulling out a submission victory.

Mark: Georges St. Pierre has been very vocal about the untapped potential in teammate Francis Carmont. He’s definitely cut from the same ultra-athletic mold and has been very disciplined in his UFC run thus far. Lawlor is a fighter who is anything but disciplined. He loves to throw haymakers and brawl, but we can’t discount his underrated ground game either. I see early aggression from Lawlor, but after a few counters, Carmont will take control of this fight and wear down the American with ground and pound until he breaks. I’ll take Carmont by 2^nd RD TKO.

Welterweight Fight: Martin Kampmann vs. Johny Hendricks

Brian: This fight should be a 5-rounder. We know Johnny Hendricks can start out fast (12 seconds kind of fast), and that Martin Kampmann is not one to give up. This fight should play out exactly like we expect it to with one little hiccup: Kampmann is gonna start fast, too. Hendricks will tire out in the 3^rd round, and Kampmann’s bloody self will slap on a sub and vault him into the title picture.

Brendan: This is one hell of a fight. I’m not going to sugarcoat anything here, Hendrix has crazy power and Kampmann has an insane will to keep fighting. I think Hendrix will land a few too many of those heavy left hands and send Kampmann into dreamworld just a bit too long for the referee to let it slide any longer. Hendrix takes this by T/KO in the 1^st.

Jordan: After all the injuries that took place in 2012, every title fight should be co-main evented with a #1 contender’s match, just in case there is an injury. Fortunately, the title fight didn’t get ruined by injury and we get to see this fight take place. Martin Kampmann and Johny Hendrix have earned there way to the top of the Welterweight division and taken out top competition on the way. Contenders like Jake Ellenberger, Jon Fitch, Thiago Alves and Josh Koscheck have all been victim to these two fighters. Both of these fighters can strike and we should see this fight last the first few rounds on their feet. Kampmann is strong on the ground and will no doubt be looking to pull off a submission. I have this fight going to decision, I will take Hendrix via split decision.

Mark: What I like most about this fight is that both Kampmann and Hendricks have quieted their detractors in showing that their weaknesses are anything but. The knock on Kampmann was that he would wilt under the pressure of a strong wrestler. Knocking out Jake Ellenberger proved that was dead wrong. Hendricks was thought to be too one dimensional and could only win using wrestling to control the action. Knocking out John Fitch with a single punch told us otherwise. Though both have evolved, I think Kampmann will not be able keep Hendricks’ take down attempts at bay. If Hendricks tries to stand with Kampmann, he loses, but if he can get the fight to the ground, he’ll cruise. I’ll go with Johny Hendricks by Unanimous Decision.

Welterweight Fight: Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit

Brian: Finally, we see GSP again, and questions will be answered. Will he be rusty? How will his knee hold up? Will Condit be able to combat GSP’s speed with his unique and imaginative striking skills? Rusty? A little. Knee? Fine. Speed? Speed Kills. Takedowns and ground and pound will be the story of this one. 5 rounds, back and forth, and GSP wins 49-46, 48-47 and 48-47….but the fight isn’t really that close. Welcome back, Georges!

Brendan: Condit has nothing to lose here and absolutely everything to prove, but then again so does GSP as he comes back from ACL surgery and hopes to perform at his old levels. This fight will go the distance with both men battering each other on their feet and GSP landing takedowns and delivering some of his usual ground-n-pound. In the end, GSP will take the decision victory in his backyard, where Anderson Silva will then challenge him to the superfight of the century. Book it…

Jordan: How will GSP look after recovering from an ACL injury and a lengthy time away from the cage? We know ring rust is a real thing, but GSP is a freak athlete, and I have already seen one freak athlete come back from an ACL injury (see Peterson, Adrian). I think we are going to see the same old GSP in the cage that we have come to known. I don’t expect a finish, but I do see him pulling out the unanimous decision. Condit will push the pace, but I don’t see GSP being in too much trouble in this one.

Mark: When is Carlos Condit going to earn the respect he deserves? His career is full of impressive finishes against top competitors and it seems like few people are giving him much of a chance in this fight. Georges St. Pierre has been untouchable since winning the title back at UFC 83 more than four years ago. But a rebuilt ACL and 19 month layoff raise very plausible doubts. Will he be able to explode into his take downs like before? Will his timing be sharp with his jab? I think Condit’s aggression will win the first and maybe second rounds, but eventually St. Pierre will find his rhythm and take control of the fight with his wrestling. I like GSP winning rounds 3, 4, and 5 and earning a comeback Unanimous Decision victory.

Submission of the Night

Brian: Martin Kampmann

Brendan: John Maguire

Jordan: Francis Carmont

Mark: John Maguire

Knock out of the Night

Brian: Tom Lawlor

Brendan: Johnny Hendrix

Jordan: Mark Hominck

Mark: Francis Carmont

Fight of the Night

Brian: Georges St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit

Brendan: Sam Stout vs. John Makdessi

Jordan: Martin Kampmann vs. Johny Hendrix

Mark: Sam Stout vs. John Makdessi

Overall Rankings

Brian (103-80) – Co-host of the MMANonstop Podcast and author of the series “The Book On…” exclusively at MMANonstop.com, follow him at twitter.com/bchurchin

Brendan (101-82) – Examines the Top 5 fighters in each weight class and is featured exclusively on MMANonstop.com. Follow him at twitter.com/bchurchin48

Mark (106-69) – Chief Editor and lead contributor to the MMANonstop Podcast, follow him at twitter.com/mmanonstopmark

Jordan (114-69) – Runs the MMANonstop twitter feed and co-host of the MMANonstop Podcast, follow him at twitter.com/nonstopmma

“What I realized the most is how much I missed it. It’s like when you’re in love with your girlfriend. When you’re with her, sometimes you don’t realize you love that person. But when you’re away for a long time,

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you realize you love that person, you miss her.”

—Georges St-Pierre

This Saturday night, the world of MMA will welcome back one of it’s pound for pound bests. Georges St. Pierre returns to the Octagon after 568 days, mostly stemming from an ACL injury that required a lengthy rehab. A reinvigorated and fired up St. Pierre finds a welterweight division that has transformed in his absence, and takes on an opponent ready to shock the world; Carlos Condit. And although no one wants to be injured, St. Pierre and the UFC has seemingly benefited greatly from his extended time off.

At the end of April 2011, St. Pierre defeated Jake Shields via unanimous decision. In what many thought would be GSP’s greatest test to date; the champion imposed his will and outclassed his opponent at every turn. It was business as usual for the UFC’s biggest pay per-view draw. GSP’s career advanced like clockwork. New opponent, more domination. Even the buildup to a St. Pierre bout seemed to take on the same tone.

After his gaffe in the cage with Matt Hughes, GSP has always endeavored to carry himself with the utmost professionalism. For the most part, this has also carried over to his opponents. Most pre-fight press coverage of any GSP fight contain some variation of “I respect my opponent.” If Chael Sonnen is the undisputed king of talking trash, GSP is the flip side of that coin. No one ever heard GSP speaking negatively about any of his opponents. In fact, on a recent conference call, St. Pierre was at the very least annoyed, if not angry that reporters were asking him questions about a potential Anderson Silva fight rather than about Carlos Condit. Not only will he not be disrespectful towards an opponent, but he will not tolerate anyone else being disrespectful towards them either.

Before the long layoff, GSP had defeated a who’s who of MMA: Matt Hughes, Matt Serra, BJ Penn, Jon Fitch, and Jake Shields among others. Most began to wonder if anyone would ever be able defeat GSP, possibly including St. Pierre himself. After beating Shields, the division seemed to be bereft of any legitimate challengers. Condit had not yet strung together the wins he has now, and there didn’t appear to be anyone left for GSP to fight. What a difference 19 months makes. St. Pierre now has a list of potential opponents a mile long. Whether or not the champion wins Saturday night, the matchmaking possibilities are endless. The winner of the Martin Kampmann vs. Johny Hendricks fight seems like the next likeliest opponent, but there is also the enigmatic Nick Diaz, and even possibly Nate Marquardt depending on how the Strikeforce champions are folded into the UFC. All fights that are sure to please fight fans, and in the case of Diaz, St. Pierre himself. 19 months ago, GSP saw a division that was empty of challenge, and whatever sports adage you want to use, challenges always bring out the best in champions.

One other potential match looms on the horizon for St. Pierre, and that is a catch weight match with the only other fighter one can argue is the pound for pound greatest; Anderson Silva. Though a potential superfight between the two seems far from a done deal, one has to believe Dana White can get the bout agreement signed. White desperately wants to hold a stadium show in the United States, specifically at Cowboys Stadium in Arlington. No other fight has the potential to sell out the over 100,000 seat stadium, and White knows this. Both fighters seem lukewarm on the fight at best, and Silva even going as far as saying he does not want to fight for a whole year. Despite this, and agreeing on a weight limit for the much larger Silva, one has to think that the kind of money White will throw at each will be enough to change their minds.

Whether or not GSP does move up for a superfight with Silva, or sticks around in the welterweight division, it is good to have one of the all time greats back in the sport we love. And although St. Pierre lacks the consistent highlight reel knockouts of Silva, GSP is no less dominant. Being able to impose your will, and not allow an opponent to ever fight using their strengths, is not any less artistry than comparing the work Picasso and Da Vinci. And with a division full of challengers chomping at the bit to get a shot at the Canadian champion, fight fans should sit back and be grateful not only for the fights we are about to see, but also that a true artist has found his fire again.

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While Las Vegas may be the fight capital of the world, Dana White and Co. should heavily consider relocating to Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. The UFC patched together another card for the HSBC Arena in Rio Saturday nig

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ht after another main event in the works fell apart due to injuries. After some quick maneuvering, the end result matched UFC Middleweight Champion and Brazil’s favorite son, Anderson Silva against long time UFC veteran Stephan Bonnar in a Light Heavyweight showdown. And taking billing in the Co-main Event, former UFC Heavyweight Interim and Pride FC champion Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira faced Dave Herman. Both Brazilians came in as heavy favorites, and Saturday night, they would prove odds makers correct in a big way.

Leading up to the fight, the UFC promoted Stephan Bonnar as someone who would present a unique challenge to the #1 ranked pound for pound fighter in the world, in that he would have a distinct size advantage. Once the bell rung, Silva quickly proved that size would not play a factor.

In the opening frame, Bonnar came out quickly looking to pressure Silva and was able to clinch with him against the fence early on. He landed a few short strikes and was able to lean on Silva before breaking and resuming the action standing. Except after breaking, Silva dropped his hands and receded from the center of the cage back to the fence and allowed Bonnar to throw his strikes from directly in front of him. Several landed, but most missed as the Spider showed his impeccable head movement and launched a few counter strikes of his own. Each time Silva would land and Bonnar would retreat, the Champ would return to the fence, hands at his side allowing Bonnar to cut off the cage and resume his offense.

Midway through the first, Silva fully engaged and clinched with Bonnar, knocking him off balance with a trip attempt of his own. Bonnar stumbled and as he regained his stance, Silva launched a flying knee that landed flush and dropped Bonnar to the mat. From there, Silva threw a few ground strikes before the referee intervened and awarded the Middleweight champion the TKO victory. In the process, he continued his record run in the UFC with his 16^th consecutive victory in the organization.

In the Co-main event, Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira looked no less impressive. In the first round, he was able to work his bottom half guard prowess to sweep Dave Herman after a takedown and eventually move into mount. An unsuccessful arm bar attempt allowed Herman to get back to his feet where the two continued to exchange until the bell.

In the second round, Nogueira took full advantage of a Herman mistake and resumed mount off of a takedown. He quickly transitioned into another arm bar though Herman defended well. Eventually, Herman would forward roll which allowed Nogueira to reposition his hips and tighten his grip which he used to sweep the American back into a beautiful arm bar finish with the tap coming midway through the second.

While neither victory did much to change the landscape of Anderson Silva’s and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira’s careers, their performances sent an already raucous HSBC arena crowd into a frenzy. With a fan base as passionate about MMA as Brazil possesses, the number of events held in the birthplace of MMA will only continue to rise. And if fighters like Anderson Silva and Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira continue to put on vintage performances like they did Saturday night, we may have a new fight capital of the world in Rio de Janeiro sooner rather than later.

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UFC 153 is finally here and although the change looks drastically different from when it was first announced (Aldo vs. Koch, Teixiera vs. Rampage, Belcher vs. Belfort then Aldo vs. Edgar) the card has come together and the Best Pound for Pound fighter in the world, stepped up to save the card. UFC 153 should deliver a lot of exciting moments, especially for the Brazilian fans in attendance. UFC 153 boasts at least one Brazilian fighter in each fight. Check out our picks below and feel free to leave your picks in the comments section.

Welterweight Fight: Demian Maia vs. Rick Story

Brian: Rick Story was on his way up the UFC ladder in a big way, and then a surprising loss to Charlie Brenneman was followed by defeat at the hands of Martin Kampmann. Now…he’s trying to retool his game.  He’s a good wrestler that lets too many fights go the distance, and while I go back and forth as to who will win…I’m going to settle on Maia via 3rd round submission.

Brendan: Tough fight to call, Story’s got major power and solid wrestling but Maia’s BJJ is a whole different story altogether. We will also need to see how Maia makes the cut to WW. I think Story grinds out a majority decision.

Jordan: Although it didn’t last long, Maia looked good in his debut at 170 pounds. Story is a strong wrestler, but Maia has shown good defense against better wrestlers at 185. I see Maia outpointed Story and winning this one unanimously.

Mark: Unlike some, I’m high on Demian Maia’s prospects at 170.  Fighting in his own backyard will certainly help Saturday too, but I think Story’s pressuring style plays well into Maia’s strength.  Maia was able to hold his own against larger opponents like Chris Weidman and Mark Muñoz when it came to MMA grappling and I think he’ll be able to eventually clinch with Story or even sweep from off his back to take dominant position and work his BJJ wizardry.  I like Maia via 2^nd rd RNC. 

Light Heavyweight Fight: Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado

Brian: In a rematch from an eye poke 2 months ago, Davis and Prado will do their best to make this one count.  Prado will try to finish it, and Davis needs to get this one to the ground….fast. The Brazilians, and especially the Nogueiras, seemed to figure out how to stop Davis’ takedowns, so look for Prado to do the same. Prado in the 2nd via TKO.

Brendan: Should be a great fight, Davis will have to find a way through Prado’s superior striking abilities to get him on his back, while Prado will look to be the first man to stop Davis via vicious TKO in the first round. Look for Davis to play this one safe and use his takedowns to nullify Prado for a 15 min dump-n-hump. Good time to refill your drinks…

Jordan: Wagner Prado is a great prospect and we are all disappointed when their last fight ended in a no-contest. Before losing to Rashad Evans in January, Davis was a hot prospect in the 205-pound division. The former Penn State wrestler takes this fight to the ground and grinds out the win. While this won’t be the most exciting fight, Davis picks up the unanimous decision.

Mark: Hopefully this one has the chance to play out. We were all disappointed when an errant eye poke ended the first go round between these two before the action even began.  Prado is a great prospect with plenty of cage experience outside of the UFC, but Phil Davis is already a top tier fighter.  His striking still has room for improvement, but his wrestling base is so strong that he should be able to smother the Brazilian once he closes the distance.  I think the Brazilian fans will be disappointed in this one Saturday.  I’ll take Phil Davis by Unanimous Decisio

Welterweight Fight: Jon Fitch vs. Erick Silva

Brian: Erick Silva is fast fast fast.  But Jon Fitch is at an inflection point in his career.  He’s going to have to hang it up or head up to the top in spectacular fashion.  I don’t think he can hang with a guy like Silva. Silva via TKO in the 1st. 

Brendan: Make sure your drinks are filled for this one because I don’t see it lasting long. Silva is a dangerous striker with wicked speed and an even better ground game. Fitch had trouble with Penn before getting knocked out of contention by Johnny Hendricks, so look for him to try and enforce his old ways. I don’t see this ending well for Fitch; I think Silva takes this by T/KO in the first round.

Jordan: Silva has a very bright future, and if he isn’t a top ten WW yet, a win will propel him into the top 10. Silva is fast and I see him out-striking Fitch.  Fitch obviously will want to take this fight to the ground and wrestle his way to victory, but I don’t see him being able to keep Silva down. Give me Silva via 2^nd round TKO.

Mark: It’s amazing how one punch can alter a fighter’s career.  Going into his last fight, Jon Fitch was listed as probably the #2 Welterweight in the world.  Johny Hendricks’ left hand burst that bubble and now Fitch has taken a precipitous plunge in the rankings.  The UFC did him no favors by matching him against rising star Erick Silva either.  Silva looked very solid against a strong wrestler in Charlie Brenneman and his striking is certainly more diverse than Fitch’s. I see Fitch winning a round, but I like Silva’s game and see bigger things for him down the road.  I’ll take Silva by Unanimous Decision.

Light Heavyweight Fight: Glover Teixeira vs. Fabio Maldonado

Brian: Glover Teixeira is a bad man. And Fabio Maldonado is a little unlucky.  Lucky for Rampage, he pulled out of this fight, because it would have been bad for him.  Teixeira by TKO in the first.

Brendan: I like Maldonado’s style of working his opponents with body shots to setup the big hooks and uppercuts, but with what I’ve seen from Teixeira guys don’t last more than a punch or two from that range – regardless of their professional boxing experience or granite chins…this guy brings everything he has, and then some more. I like Teixeira in this one and I think it ends with a slugfest. Teixeira by TKO in the 1^st.

Jordan: Teixieira looked great in his first UFC fight against Kyle Kingsbury at UFC 146 back in May. Maldonado is coming off a two fight losing streak that includes a loss to Kingsbury. Maldonado has no business in this fight, but he stepped up and you have to respect him for that. Glover is on the fast track in the 205 lbs division and I see him one or two fights away from a title shot (especially if the top guys in the division don’t want to fight him). Give me Glover by 1^st round submission.

Mark: Based on his reputation, you’d think Glover Teixeira is the scariest dude on the planet.  No one wants to fight him.  He’s got 1 UFC fight under his belt, but there is no question about his abilities.  Maldonado has an incredible chin and fantastic boxing, but I like Teixeira to show off his grappling chops here.  I think he’ll get a takedown early and after landing some stout ground and pound, grab and arm and slap on an arm bar.  It’ll be a clinical performance and will only further his reputation.  Teixeira by 1^st rd arm bar.

Heavyweight Fight: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Dave Herman

Brian: Dave Herman didn’t look too hot in his last bout against Roy Nelson, and he looked exhausted in the second round against Stefan Struve. Granted, those guys are some of the top fighters in the heavyweight division, Big Nog is not a step down in competition.  Last time Big Nog fought in Rio, he put Brendan Schaub to sleep.  Second verse, same as the first.  Nogueira via KO in the 1st. 

Brendan: After what happened in his last fight with Mir and despite Herman’s cries that he’s never been tapped, I think Big Nog’s got something to prove. I see him using his elite boxing to get inside on Herman for the takedown, working to a dominant position and slapping on an arm bar…old school PRIDE style.

Jordan: When in Brazil, Big Nog knows how to rise to the occasion and I see that happening again. The big question will be, how has he recovered from the injury he suffered last December against Frank Mir. Big Nog doesn’t have a ton of fights left in his career, but he will give the Brazilian fans something to cheer for, give me Big Nog by 2^nd Round KO.

Mark: The last time Minotauro fought in Rio, he looked outstanding against Brendan Schaub.  I don’t think Herman will be any more of a challenge for the former champ.  Nogueira should dominate the standup, but I expect him to show a glimpse of his former glory days by taking the fight to the mat and finishing with an arm bar from mount.  Give me Minotauro via 2^nd rd arm bar.

Light Heavyweight Fight: Anderson Silva vs. Stephan Bonnar

Brian: Anderson Silva is fast and elusive for a middleweight. At light heavyweight, he’s probably untouchable for someone not named Machida. This one will end in Round 2, simply because that’s when Anderson wants it to end.  Silva via TKO in the second.

Brendan: I love the story line for Bonnar, but I just don’t see him being able to out strike the Spider. Anderson will have to finish Bonnar in this one and I think he does it in striking fashion with a TKO sometime in the 1^st round.

Jordan: A ton of respect has to go out to Anderson Silva for stepping up to save UFC 153, and although Stephan Bonnar is going to take a beating, he did step up to save the fight and take a nice pay day. I have been previewing this fight in my head, and I can’t see a way this fight ends in a Bonnar victory. I have the Brazilians going 5-6 on the main card and this fight will leave them happy when Anderson Silva scores a 3^rd Round TKO.

Mark: While this fight makes little sense to the PPV viewing population, his presence on this card will ensure that the Brazilians will be turning up in droves cash in hand to watch their favorite son put on a show.  I love Bonnar for taking this fight, but he’s not quick enough to catch or evade Silva.  I foresee the champ taking his time with dominating striking without pushing too hard for a quick finish.  If the fight goes beyond five minutes, it will be because Silva allows it.  With that, I’ll take the Spider with another 2^nd rd KO and the resultant cheers will blow the roof off the stadium. 

Submission of the Night

Brian: Gleison Tibau

Brendan: Big Nog (arm bar)

Jordan: Glover Teixiera

Mark: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Knock out of the Night

Brian: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Brendan: Erick Silva

Jordan: Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira

Mark: Anderson Silva

Fight of the Night

Brian: Demian Maia vs. Rick Story

Brendan: Fabio Maldonado vs. Glover Teixeira

Jordan: Anderson Silva vs. Stephan Bonnar.

Mark: Diego Brandao vs. Joey Gambino

Overall Rankings

Brian (99-78) - Co-host of the MMANonstop Podcast and author of the series “The Book On…” exclusively at MMANonstop.com, follow him at twitter.com/bchurchin

Brendan (97-80) - Examines the Top 5 fighters in each weight class and is featured exclusively on MMANonstop.com. Follow him at twitter.com/bchurchin48

Mark (101-68) - Chief Editor and lead contributor to the MMANonstop Podcast, follow him at twitter.com/mmanonstopmark

Jordan (109-68) - Runs the MMANonstop twitter feed and co-host of the MMANonstop Podcast, follow him at twitter.com/nonstopmma

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Amidst the boos Saturday night, Jon Jones further cemented his legacy as one of the most talented mixed martial artists of all time. According to the odds makers, that should have been no surprise, but the fact of

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the matter is that Jones is on perhaps the most remarkable winning streak the sport has ever known.

Much has been made of the highly publicized DWI that Jones was charged with back in May, but he suffered even greater fallout after refusing to face Chael Sonnen on short notice in a bout that would have salvaged UFC 151. At the weigh-ins as well as walking to the cage Saturday night, the fans let him know just how they felt.

While his opponent was former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Vitor Belfort, it felt like all of Toronto was facing the champion. Despite the jeers, Jones handled his business like he always does; coolly and calculating.

In the opening frame, Jones was able to close the distance on Belfort and secure a takedown early on. In a dramatic sequence of events, Belfort opened his guard and transitioned into a full armbar catching the champion by surprise. The early lapse of concentration almost resulted in a massive upset, but Jones was able to shake free of the submission attempt and land his own damaging blows.

Belfort’s attack was very tight and the wily veteran had positioned himself perfectly for a beautiful finish, but Jones would not be denied. Even with a damaged right elbow, Jones escaped and dropped a barrage of left elbows to Belfort’s face that opened up several gashes.

Though patient, his attacks were constant and first round finished with Belfort badly wounded.

Each of the following rounds would follow the same pattern. Jones would attack Belfort’s knee with straight kicks and follow with punch combinations. In the second, he landed a body kick that floored Belfort and took top position again where his ground and pound assault resumed.

In the third and fourth rounds, Jones’ takedowns came from the clinch and Belfort did his best to tie up the long arms of Jones. He was able to survive for a time, but eventually in the fourth round, Jones used a slick guard pass to move into side control where he trapped Belfort’s left arm in a modified crucifix. He transitioned his attack to the challenger’s isolated right arm and applied the finishing Americana shoulder lock to illicit the tap.

Belfort showed a tremendous amount of heart, but the skill of Jones was too much. He controlled the pace, won the striking battle on the feet, scored takedowns at will, and finished the fight with a submission from side control.

And so the historical run continues. Shogun Rua, Rampage Jackson, Lyoto Machida, Rashad Evans, and now Vitor Belfort make up five consecutive former UFC champions that Jones has dispatched. Tito Ortiz currently holds the record for the most consecutive Light Heavyweight title defenses at five, but Jones has made it known that since he already holds the belt, history is what is motivating him to aspire to greater heights.

Looking back over the last few months, Jones will surely regret some of the decisions he made, but through them, he’s shown that he can deal with the adversity and still come out victorious. For anyone else in the Light Heavyweight division, that’s a scary thought. Dan Henderson still has some unfinished business with the champion and there will be other challengers who will make their run, but if Jon Jones continues to grow and evolve as most expect, history could certainly be his.

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After six weeks without a PPV, we are finally back and we have two title fights on tonight’s card. Jon “Bones” Jones defends his title against Vitor Belfort and Demetrious Johnson and Joseph Benavidez look to beco

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me the first ever Flyweight Champion. Brian Stann and Michael Bisping should also be a great fight and can have a large impact on the Middleweight Division. Check out our picks below and be sure to leave your picks for the five main fights in the comments section. Good Luck!

Featherweight Fight: Cub Swanson vs. Charles Oliveira

Brian: Finally a fight…and a good one to start off UFC 151/152/Post Hendo-Jones-gate. Swanson is a tough guy, and can take a punch. He’s going to try to get his hands on Oliveira in a very aggressive way…if he does, this could end the fight. But he won’t. Oliveira by submission in the 2^nd.

Brendan: Love this fight to kick off the PPV card, these two are going to meet in the center of the cage and throw fire until one gets rocked. I see most of this fight as a ground battle and ultimately I see Oliveira pulling out the UD based on his more dominant ground game.

Jordan: Both of these fighters are riding 2-fight win streaks coming into this fight. With a win, either fighter can cement their place in the Featherweight top 10. Oliveira will look to take this fight to the ground and show off his BJJ skills. We have seen great submissions from him in the past and expect him to get the finish again. Swanson will get his shots in early, but eventually Oliveira gets it to the ground and he pulls off the submission in the 2^nd.

Mark: In the PPV opener, I expect to see quite a bit of action, but the key to me will be patience. Cub Swanson loves to go full speed right out of the gate and his aggression can be an advantage early. On the flip side, if he can’t cause enough damage, he opens himself up to counters and Oliveira won’t need much space to work his slick BJJ game. I like Swanson to take RD 1, but see Oliveira getting the fight to the ground and taking the W with a slick submission in RD 2. Oliveira by RD 2 armbar.

Light Heavyweight Fight: Matt Hamill vs. Roger Hollett

Brian: Let’s hope, for Hamill’s sake, that the Hammer is reinvented and he doesn’t come out as plodding and slow as he was pre-retirement. I give the Hamill the edge here in most categories, wrestling being the most important. Snoozer – Hamill by UD.

Brendan: Hamill’s 35 years old, coming out of retirement and likely to experience some cage-rust. Hollett is making is UFC debut, was booked for this fight on 11 days’ notice, and has been caught up in contract disputes with Bellator which are sure to affect his ability to focus on the task at hand. These factors make this a questionable fight for the PPV card, and difficult to predict; that said, I’ll take Hamill to use his outstanding wrestling pedigree to grind Hollett into making a mistake and getting TKO’d in the 2nd.

Jordan: As the only man to previously beat Jon Jones, Matt Hamill is probably wondering why he didn’t get the title shot. But seriously, not my favorite fight of the night, this one goes the distance, and in his return from retirement, Hamill picks up the win. I agree with Brian on this one, I might go get some food during the next 15 minutes.

Mark: The crowd should love this fight. Matt Hamill has one of the best stories in MMA and is making his return from his brief retirement against Canada’s own Roger Hollett. Hollett should face some UFC debut jitters and I expect Hamill to face his own ring rust, but I’ll go with experience in this one. Give me the Hammer by Unanimous Decision.

Middleweight Fight: Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann

Brian: Bisping has been fun to watch ever since moving to middleweight back in 2008. This is the right place for him, and his only losses (besides the Hendo KO) have been decisions, and in two cases…he arguably won the fight. I always pick against him, and I am always wrong. Bisping by Unanimous Decision.

Brendan: This fight can’t come soon enough. Since UFC on FOX 3 back in May, Bisping has been pushing for this fight which he thinks is his best chance at getting to Anderson Silva. Stann could end things at any moment with his power, but Bisping will likely jump on his bicycle and try counter punch his way to victory. Tough call – I’ll take the Brit to ride his invisible bicycle to a split decision victory.

Jordan: For years we have been critical of Michael Bisping that he can’t defeat a top 10 contender and tonight he will have his chance to once again prove us wrong. Stann is a beast and can finish this fight standing or on the ground. Bisping is durable and I see him showing off the take down defense that he last displayed against Chael Sonnen to keep this fight standing. I typically pick against Bisping, but tomorrow night I see him coming out the victor. He will need an impressive win to be next in line for a title shot.

Mark: In the middleweight division, the #1 contender list seems to shift by the day. It’s not only good enough to win, you have to win impressively. Bisping has been lurking around the top of the division for years, but really needs a definitive, signature win to cement his place among the elite. Stann will give him that opportunity. I see Bisping using his footwork to move in and out and will rely on his take down defense to keep Stann at bay. Stann will land his share of damaging blows, but I think Bisping’s volume attack will sway the judges. I like Bisping by Unanimous Decision.

Flyweight Fight: Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson

Brian: Vin Diesel might as well make an appearance, this fight will be fast and furious. Benavidez will try to end it with a haymaker, but Mighty Mouse is so fast I am not sure he can land a finishing blow. 5 rounds of uncanny speed…Joe B wins the belt in impressive fashion.

Brendan: There’s a good chance I’ll have to watch this fight more than once…in slow-motion, just so I can see all of the action these two bring to the cage. Both fighters are incredible wrestlers who use their speed and angles to pick opponents apart, which could create a bit of a stalemate but isn’t likely. These two will beat the living tar out of each other for the full 5 rounds (smiling and laughing throughout), ultimately going to a decision. Benavidez will take the judges nod becoming the UFC’s inaugural Flyweight Champion.

Jordan: It’s too bad this fight is for a title because it would be a great way to kick off the PPV. These fighters are both exciting and will be all over the place during this fight. Although Mighty Mouse is fast, I don’t see him being elusive enough to stay away from a big shot from Benavidez. The Beefcake takes down Johnson throughout the middle rounds and finally gets the finish somewhere in the championship rounds. Give me Benavidez via 4^th Round TKO.

Mark: This fight will be an absolute blur. We’ll need slow motion to see exactly what’s happening when these two get into range. Mighty Mouse will try to get Benavidez to the mat, but that will be easier said than down. I think Benavidez will move and counter well enough to slap on a guillotine that won’t finish Johnson, but will make him think twice about shooting in. From there, Benavidez will control the action and cruise to a dominant win while at the same time making history as the first UFC Flyweight Champion. Benavidez by Unanimous Decision.

Light Heavyweight Fight: Jon Jones vs. Vitor Belfort

Brian: UPSET alert. Vitor Belfort will win…….the first round. He will overwhelm the champ with aggression and tenacity, but will ultimately tire. He will land a few shots, but none will be enough to put Jones away. After Joe Rogan praises Vitor for having been the first guy since Lyoto Machida to win a round from Jon Jones, he’ll step into a Jones elbow and the lights go out. Jones by KO in the 2^nd.

Brendan: I don’t see this as a major test for Jon Jones’ fighting ability, more so I see this as a test for his character. Will he be able to rise above all of the fan criticisms and the pressure to defeat Belfort in exciting fashion? I sure hope so. I think Belfort will start strong as he always does, but he will have a difficult time getting inside Jones’ reach to do any damage. I see Jones taking this fight into the 3^rd round and finishing “the Phenom” via T/KO.

Jordan: Can Vitor Belfort win this fight? I guess anything is possible. Will Vitor Belfort win this fight? Absolutely not. I obviously didn’t go out on too much of a limb with that prediction, but Jones is going to have his way with Vitor. I have been listening to Vitor’s interviews and I don’t think even he believes he can beat him. Jones hasn’t finished a fight in the first round in any of his last 5 fights, but I have this streak ending. Jones picks up the win via 1^st round submission.

Mark: Vitor Belfort is absolutely overmatched here. Physically, Jones have every advantage at his disposal. But don’t count out the challenger here. Jones is coming off of a PR nightmare and the boos will rain down louder than any cheers we’ll hear Saturday night. For someone as image conscious as the champ, that might have a tremendous negative impact on him. Vitor claims he’ll only need 5 minutes to finish the champ and if he does, it will rank up there with Matt Serra’s victory over GSP as one of the greatest upsets in MMA history. Belfort will certainly add to his legions of fans Saturday night, but it will be in a losing effort. Like we’ve seen before, Jones will be ever methodical and eventually find his spot for the finish. Give me Bones by 2^nd RD TKO.

Submission of the Night

Brian: Charles Oliveira

Brendan: Charles Oliveira

Jordan: Jon Jones

Mark: Vinny Magalhaes

Knock out of the Night

Brian: Jon Jones

Brendan: Jon Jones

Jordan: Joseph Benavidez

Mark: Jon Jones

Fight of the Night

Brian: Michael Bisping vs. Brian Stann

Brendan: Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson

Jordan: Joseph Benavidez vs. Demetrious Johnson

Mark: Cub Swanson vs. Charles Oliveira

Overall Rankings

Brian (96-76) - Co-host of the MMANonstop Podcast and author of the series “The Book On…” exclusively at MMANonstop.com, follow him at twitter.com/bchurchin

Brendan (94-78) – Examines the Top 5 fighters in each weight class and is featured exclusively on MMANonstop.com. Follow him at twitter.com/bchurchin48

Mark (98-66) - Chief Editor and lead contributor to the MMANonstop Podcast, follow him at twitter.com/mmanonstopmark

Jordan (106-66) – Runs the MMANonstop twitter feed and co-host of the MMANonstop Podcast, follow him at twitter.com/nonstopmma