D. Mandel/Sherdog.com
Leben may have the big name, but Silva has the hype. He showed a solid skill set in his loss to C.B. Dollaway and seems to only need experience in order to develop into something special. Look for Leben to be the man on whom Silva builds his reputation, as Leben’s increasingly predictable brawling techniques will be a poor match for Silva’s flashy yet undeniably effective striking arsenal. More importantly, Leben’s notoriously tiny gas tank has betrayed him several times before, and it will happen again if he cannot starch Silva early. Watch for a competitive fight to turn in Silva’s favor once Leben starts gasping for whatever oxygen his lungs can suck in.
Rick Story vs. Jesse Lennox
Sometimes, a fight just makes perfect sense. Consider this one a fine example. Story and Lennox work torrid paces and will maintain the tempo anywhere the fight goes. Lennox’s submission defense has looked vulnerable before, and Story jumps on submission openings like a zombie to brains. Lennox may be far from a free takedown, but Story has proven the smoother striker and does an excellent job of setting up his takedowns with strikes. A buck fight turns in Story’s favor midway through the second round, as he rocks Lennox on the feet and seamlessly transitions into a guillotine choke for the finish.
Thiago Tavares vs. Nik Lentz
After a successful UFC debut, Lentz heads into the far end of the ocean against Tavares, a man who was basically tailor-made to beat him. Ideally, Lentz would use his wrestling to mix it up between striking and ground-and-pound, but Tavares is a talented wrestler and striker, along with being one of the division’s better submission artists. This will serve as a stern reminder for Lentz on what it takes to make the cut in the Octagon, as Tavares will simply outclass him in every area of the game. An increasingly mismatched fight comes to a long overdue end with Tavares cinching an almost merciful rear-naked choke in the second round.
Michael Guymon vs. Rory MacDonald
Already one of Canada’s most heralded prospects, MacDonald makes his long-awaited UFC debut against Guymon, the longtime King of the Cage standard bearer. A true study in versatility, MacDonald has proven surprisingly slick for a relative rookie, and his dominating top game will be poison to Guymon. Struggles follow Guymon whenever smooth grapplers force him to work off his back, and MacDonald fits that archetype to a T. A brilliant introduction to the world at large awaits MacDonald, as he puts the exclamation point on his evening with a beautiful armbar transition from mount late in the first round.
Kyle Bradley vs. Rafael dos Anjos
One of the more lopsided matches of the night pits Bradley against Dos Anjos, who looks a lot like a younger version of the guy from those Dos Equis commercials. Simply put, Bradley does not have much to offer Dos Anjos beyond pure physical ability, which will not help him much once the disparity in technical acumen comes into play. Dos Anjos’ whole style seems to cancel out anything his opponents do, as his versatility and composure make for a frustrating combination. It may not be the most interesting fight in the world, but Dos Anjos will stay thirsty via unanimous decision.
Gerald Harris vs. John Salter
His return long overdue, Harris will get a chance to make it memorable one at Salter’s expense. Let us not tell any lies; Salter, a sacrificial lamb, is severely overmatched. Watch any of Harris’ fights, and you can see a dynamic fighter who has finally started to take his talent and turn it into skill. That evolution will be on display as Harris pounds out Salter late in the first round following a Mount Everest slam.
Nick Catone vs. Jesse Forbes
In the WrestleMania fight on the card, Catone and Forbes will live or die on their wrestling in this one. The difference? Forbes has been touring the local circuit and fighting no-names, while Catone has been busy cutting his teeth in the Octagon. Jumping back into the UFC with no real preparation might be the worst idea since Zubas pants, and Catone will be chomping at the bit to exploit that weakness. Forbes will not have an answer for Catone’s ground-and-pound and will end up losing a decision for his troubles.