Kingdom MMA: UFC on FX 8 Main Card Predictions
by Chris Houten @KingdomMMAChris, Tommy Strong @Strong_tea and Jack Broadey @J3cK_b
On Saturday night we will see a middleweight battle with potential title implications as Vitor Belfort and Luke Rockhold fight in Arena Jaragua in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil.
A lot of the talk before this fight has been about Vitor fighting again outside the USA and using TRT, something which if he was to fight in the USA probably would not be approved. On top of this both Luke Rockhold and Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza make their UFC debuts and Chris Camozzi gets to test his skills against a top 10 ranked opponent for the first time, all in all it makes for an interesting night of fights.
Below you will find the predictions from some of the guys at Kingdom MMA for the main card.
Vitor Belfort (22-10) #2 MW vs Luke Rockhold (10-1) #5 MW
Jack: I see this being very similar to Belfort-Bisping. If it goes past the 1st round or 2nd Rockhold should take over and have the gas tank to win a comfortable decision. Can he stay away from the Vitor flurry though. I don't think he can. When Vitor lands he hurts you. When he hurts you he moves in for the kill.
Prediction: Belfort by TKO Round 2
Tommy: Just to say from the off, this event really isn't floating my boat! As I slap my face to keep myself awake, not just because of the lack of sleep from a new born child, but mostly due to the underwhelming card.
This is a massive step up for Luke, he hasn't fought anyone with the class of Belfort before. His last win was a decision win over Tim Kennedy, this will be like day and night in calibre of fighters. I was slightly amazed to see Luke being a slight favourite for this fight, I feel he has it all to do come Saturday night.
That being said, I written off a lot of ex-Strikeforce fighters before and they have made a massive impact in the UFC already. As much as i would like to see Belfort lose , I just don't see it. Belfort for me is better in pretty much every department, if Luke can keep it at range and wait for Belfort to tire he stands a chance, though that's easier said than done. Bisping tried the same tactics and ended up TKO'd.
Prediction: Belfort by KO Round 2
Chris: Is Vitor Belfort the best middleweight in the world right now? No, Anderson Silva is, but at this point it's really hard to argue against Vitor at number 2.
In his last 4 fights be destroyed Akiyama, submitted a solid opponent in Rumble Johnson, knocked out a top 5 middleweight in Michael Bisping and came the closest anyone has come to beating Jon Jones.
His opponent Luke Rockhold is an athletic guy and as a fighter he is pretty good at everything. While he holds a win over a fighter with a similar style as Belfort in Jacare, Belfort represents Rockhold's biggest test to date, and to win this fight he will need to stick and move, avoid the big shots and berserker style Belfort employs, and drag Belfort in to the later rounds...... All that while not letting the nerves of being in the main event in his UFC debut, or the crowd get to him.
That being said i think it will all be a little too much for Rockhold, and I like Belfort here. I think the quality he has produced recently has been overshadowed by his TRT use in recent fights, and he ends this fight early, much to the pleasure of the crowd.... And god.
Prediction: Belfort by TKO Round 2
Ronaldo 'Jacare' Souza (17-3-1) #8 MW vs Chris Camozzi (19-5)
Jack: This is a tough fight for Camozzi. Souza on paper is better wherever the fight goes. Look for Souza to make a name for himself and put himself into contention talks
Prediction: Souza by Submission Round 1
Tommy: Disappointed that Costa Philippou had to withdraw from the fight, this would've been a great match up with Souza. Now I feel its going to be a damp squid! Souza really impressed me with his win over Ed Herman back in January.
Camozzi isn't a fighter that impresses me and I thought he was lucky to get the decision win over Nick Ring in his last fight. Souza has excellent Brazilian Jiu Jitsu and vastly improved striking which will make it a bad night for Camozzi.
Prediction: Souza by Submission Round 3
Chris: I like to think a man is most dangerous when he has nothing to lose, which will be the case for Camozzi on Saturday night. He is fighting a BJJ legend in his homeland who is better in every department.
If Camozzi pulls off the upset fair play to him, and fair play to you if you get him at the general price of 9/2, but I see this one ending in an early night for Chris Camozzi.
Prediction: Souza by Submission Round 2
Rafael Dos Anjos (18-6) #10 LW vs Evan Dunham (14-3)
Tommy: I really like this match up, this could be FOTN. I'm really struggling to pick a winner in this fight. Both are very good fighters and I favour Rafael slightly especially if he can get the fight to the ground.
You know with Dunham, he will come to fight and it will take a good performance by Rafael to get the win.
I keep changing my mind over the outcome of this fight, but I will go with my head and and not my heart pick Dos Anjos to get a narrow win.
Prediction: Dos Anjos by Submission Round 3
Jack: Dunham is tough but he's a slow starter. Always picks it up and appears in exciting match ups. This should be no different. Dos Anjos is a gamer as well and I think he has enough about him to win at least 2 of the 3 rounds.
Prediction: Dos Anjos by Decision
Chris: Put your hands up if you don't this this will be fight of the night.... yeah, didn't think there would be any. As with every Evan Dunham fight this battle has war written all over it.
This fight is pretty much a pick em to be honest but I'm siding with Dos Anjos.
I have been impressed with the radical improvements he is making between fights, and I expect him to come out more aggressive (wouldn't you if you were fighting to the sound of 15k Brazilians chanting "Tu vai morrer") and keep Dunham on the back foot most of the fight.
Prediction: Dos Anjos by Unanimous Decision
Rafael Natal (15-4-1) vs Joao Zeferino (13-4)
Tommy: Zeferino (13-4) will be making his UFC debut this weekend and not knowing much (well anything) about him he's coming into the fight on the back off a 7 fight win streak, with 9 of his 13 of wins coming via submission.
Natal himself also has a impressive win percentage of submissions. 8 of his 15 wins coming via sub. So I expect we will have a stand up battle on our hands. In that case I'm picking Natal to get a stoppage with the knowledge I have on him.
Prediction: Natal by TKO Round 2
Jack: I don't know a whole deal about Zeferino. After a bit of research he has excellent BJJ. I haven't been impressed with Natal's ufc career to date. There could be a shock on the cards here.
Prediction: Zeferino by Submission Round 2
Chris: Like Jack I can't say I'm particularly blown away by Natal either, although I do think he is reasonably well rounded, and has the still set to stop take downs and avoid submission attempts from grappler Zeferino.
Prediction: Natal by Unanimous Decision
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