SPIDER SILVA & BJ PENN BOTH DEFEND UFC BELTS
Las Vegas, NV– Two titles will be at stake as the UFC heads to the United Arab Emirates on another overseas venture. This was initially a card I was excited about until Vitor Belfort (19-8, 13 KOs, 2 SUBs) had to pull out of the middleweight (185 lbs) title fight due to injury. Now, with much of the excitement taken out of the card, Anderson Silva, 185, Curitiba, Brazil will instead be defending his crown against submission fighter Demian Maia, 185, Sao Paulo, Brazil. Silva (25-4, 15 KOs, 4 SUBs) should have relatively little trouble against Maia so long as he keeps it on his feet. However, even as good as Maia (12-1, 2 KOs, 8 SUBs) is on the ground, Silva probably would still avoid any danger if it ends up there. The last time we saw Silva in against a supposed superior grappler in Travis Lutter (10-5, 1 KO, 7 SUBs) it was Silva doing the submitting. Silva by eventual KO here.
“POUND FOR POUND” CANDIDATE IS PENN
The second title up for grabs will be the lightweight (155) belt held by the prodigy B.J. Penn, 155, Hilo, HI. Standing across the cage will be the tough and proven Frankie Edgar, 155, Toms River, NJ. For Penn (15-5-1, 6 KOs, 6 SUBs), this will be just another day at the office and for Edgar (11-1, 2 KOs, 3 SUBs), it very well might be a day in hell. Penn by domination in this one.
MATT HUGHES MEETS ANOTHER GRACIE
After almost a year out of the cage, former champion Matt Hughes, 170, Hillsboro, IL will make his return. He will be doing so against a fellow veteran and aging warrior Renzo Gracie, 170, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil. Hughes (43-7, 15 KOs, 18 SUBs) is now 36 and has 50 fights under his belt while his opponent recently turned 43. Although entering his mid forties, Gracie (13-6-1, 2 KOs, 7 SUBs) is one of the latest new additions to the UFC roster. Renzo has not fought in over three years and it will be interesting to see what kind of condition he shows up in. I would love to see Gracie pull out a win in his UFC debut but it is highly unlikely- I see Hughes winning a decision.
The up and down career of Kendall Grove, 185, Maui, HI will continue as he faces a powerful wrestler in Mark Munoz, 185, Sacramento, CA. Grove (11-6, 2 KOs, 7 SUBs) will need to utilize his height and reach to keep Munoz (7-1, 3 KOs, 1 SUB) at bay. However, if Munoz can shoot in quick enough on the long legs of Grove, he will likely get the win so long as he avoids Grove’s sneaky submissions.
PRELIMINARY BOUTS
Terry Etim, 155, Liverpool, England will take on Rafael dos Anjos, 155, Rio De Janeiro, Brazil in a less than intriguing lightweight bout. Both Etim (14-2, 2 KOs, 11 SUBs) and Dos Anjos (13-4, 1 KO, 6 SUBs) are known for their submissions and this will likely be a chess match and may come down to who makes the first mistake. The more likely scenario however will probably be a decision win for whoever can control position and tempo better throughout the three rounds.
Matt Grizzle