The Doggy Bag: Sprechen Sie UFC 122?

I am interested in UFC 122 because it seems like an eclectic mix of newcomers and guys fighting for their contracts. I'm just as interested in what “Cacareco” can do as I am if Goran Reljic can stay in the UFC. When it's all said and done, who do you think has a breakout performance, and who will be handed their walking papers?
-- Nathan from Toronto

Chris Nelson, assistant editor: I couldn’t agree more. This is the type of sleeper card that winds up having great fights and finishes, in part due to the reasons you mentioned: all of these guys are really fighting for something, whether it’s to make a big splash or just hold on to a job.

While it’s good to see Alexandre Ferreira finally getting his chance on the big stage, I think UFC 122 could be the coming-out party for another Brazilian. Buried deep on the undercard, Carlos Eduardo Rocha makes his UFC debut against TUF 11 finalist Kris McCray and although McCray was born in Germany, it should be Rocha who feels right at home.

The 29-year-old has won all eight of his professional MMA bouts in Deutschland and UFC 122 will take place almost exactly one year after his vicious run through the one-night Manto Cup tournament. On top of that, Rocha possesses tenacious jiu-jitsu with which to neutralize McCray’s wrestling advantage. I expect “Ta Danado” to score a quick submission and begin his campaign in Zuffa’s ever-deepening welterweight division.

On the opposite end of the spectrum, the loser of another 170-pound prelim bout seems ripe for exile from the UFC ranks. Like Reljic, Duane Ludwig and Nick Osipczak are both coming off of back-to-back losses, and with Zuffa, three strikes almost always means you’re out. Fortunately, both guys being true gamers and willing to bang it out, we should be in for a good scrap before one of them is possibly shown the door.