Craig Zablo

UFC 159 was held last night. 

Here are my predictions and the results:

• Jim Miller vs. Pat Healy
  Prediction: Miller with a decision win.
  Result: Healy defeated Jim Miller with a rear-naked choke submission in the 3rd making me 0 -1 for the night.

• Phil Davis vs. Vinny Magalhaes
  Prediction: Davis with a decision win.
  Result: Davis won by Unanimous Decision making me 1 – 1 for the night.

• Roy Nelson vs. Cheick Kongo
  Prediction: Nelson wins via KO.
  Result: Nelson won with a first round KO making me 2 – 1 for the night.

• Michael Bisping vs. Alan Belcher
  Prediction: Bisping wins via decision.
  Result: Bisping defeated Alan Belcher by Technical Decision after an accidental eye poke in the 3rd. This made me 3 – 1 for the night.

• Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen
  Prediction: Jones wins via stoppage.
  Result: Jones won by TKO in the first taking me to 4 -1 for the night.

Final Thoughts:

– As expected, Jones was the dominate fighter.  Although Jones won, during the post fight interview Jones looked down and realized his big toe had been badly broken.  If the fight had made it to the second round, there is no doubt that it would have been stopped due to the injury’s severity.

To his credit Sonnen had this to say: “If they would have called the match [in Sonnen’s favor because of Jones’ broken toe], I wouldn’t have had any illusions. I knew in those first five minutes who the better fighter was.”

– Jones will need some time to heal before his next fight, but who can challenge him?  Anderson Silva?  I don’t think so.  I think Jones will have to move to heavyweight if he really wants to test himself.

– Sonnen hinted at retirement.  I don’t see that happening.  He enjoys the challenge of a good fight too much.

– Roy Nelson is back in the title hunt with his third straight KO.  Who doesn’t love Big Country… well, except for Dana White?

UFC 159 takes place tonight.

Starting at 8pm EST we have the UFC Prelims on FX.  This portion of the card includes:

• Erik Perez vs. Johnny Bedford
• Gian Villante vs. Ovince St. Preux
• Sara McMann vs. Shiela Gaff
• Rustam Khabilov vs. Yancy Medeiros

Then at 10pm EST we move over to pay-per-view for the main event fights.

• Jim Miller vs. Pat Healy
• Phil Davis vs. Vinny Magalhaes
• Roy Nelson vs. Cheick Kongo
• Michael Bisping vs. Alan Belcher
• Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen

While I’ll be watching the prelims, my interest is in the main event.  So, let’s take a look at my predictions:

• Jim Miller vs. Pat Healy
  Thoughts: I give the edge to Miller in both striking and grappling.
  Prediction: Miller with a decision win.

• Phil Davis vs. Vinny Magalhaes
  Thoughts: Davis is the better striker.  If it goes to the mat it will be Davis’ wrestling vs Magalhaes bjj.
  Prediction: Davis with a decision win.

• Roy Nelson vs. Cheick Kongo
  Thoughts: Anything can happen when heavyweights bang.  Nelson has a better chin and one punch KO power.  You do the math.
  Prediction: Nelson wins via KO.

• Michael Bisping vs. Alan Belcher
• Thoughts: This fight has generated the most trash talk and should be a very interesting and competitive fight.  I give the edge to Bisping’s grappling, and he may need to rely on that.  Belcher has KO power and Bisping may discover that if they stay standing.
  Prediction: Bisping wins via decision.

• Jon Jones vs. Chael Sonnen
• Thoughts: If Sonnen wins it will be the greatest upset in MMA history.  After tonight Matt Sierra will still hold that record.
  Prediction: Jones wins via stoppage.