By Dwight Wakabayashi
The UFC is back in Brazil this weekend for UFC on Sportsnet where Brazilian fighting legend Vitor Belfort will face the last standing Strikeforce middleweight champion, Luke Rockhold, in his UFC debut. This event will be held in Jaragua, a smaller town in Brazil, in an attempt to reach new areas of the MMA-crazed country.
Belfort will be looking to defeat Rockhold in front of his home fans and possibly secure a second shot at the UFC middleweight title later this year.
Here is my complete main card breakdown with predictions.
Rafael Natal (15-4) vs. Joao Zeferino (13-4) – middleweight
Veteran Rafael Natal was originally set to face Chris Camozzi, but Camozzi got bumped up the card to replace the injured Costa Philippou against Ronald (Jacare) Souza. Natal gets promotional newcomer and grappling ace Zeferino.
Natal is not exceptional in any one area, but he is a very solid all-around fighter. Zeferino is a very aggressive and smothering grappler, but he lacks polish in all other areas of the fight. Natal should be able to use his takedown defence and stand-up to take a decision.
Natal by decision
Rafael dos Anjos (18-6) vs. Evan Dunham (14-3) – lightweight
This one could be a show stealer as both these men bring a plethora of skills to the cage and are hungry to climb into the mix with the top contenders of the division.
Dos Anjos is on a three-fight win streak that includes an absolute clinic in athleticism against Mark Bocek last November in Montreal. His elusive explosiveness and lightning-fast strikes have him right on course to be a top contender heading into next year. Dunham is no slouch in his own right, and although he may not be as flashy and explosive as the Brazilian, he is every bit as tough and aggressive.
In the end, dos Anjos will be the quicker to get off, and that will cause problems for Dunham all night.
Dos Anjos by decision
Ronald Souza (17-3) vs. Chris Camozzi (19-5) – middleweight
Souza will be making his long-awaited debut in the UFC, although his last fight in Strikeforce was against established UFC veteran Ed Herman. Souza destroyed Herman in quick order to serve notice that he is ready for the best of the best in the division right on the hop.
Philippou was set to be his first test but now Camozzi gets his chance to fill in and pull off an unlikely upset and catapult himself up the rankings. Credit to him for taking this challenge on short notice, however, I see these two fighters as very far apart on the skill and polish meter and Souza should be able to dictate this fight easily, no matter where it goes. He should get a finish here.
Souza by second-round submission
Vitor Belfort (22-10) vs. Luke Rockhold (10-1) – middleweight
There is a lot at stake in this one and Belfort will look to come out and blitz Rockhold before he can shake any debut jitters. He will fire fast and hard and look for the dramatic knockout early to serve notice that no newcomer is going to take his place in the pecking order.
Rockhold is the real deal. He will be ready for Vitor’s initial barrage, and if he can escape with all his faculties intact, he will use his hunger and high-paced approach to stay in Belfort’s face and slowly take over the fight. Rockhold is less experienced but he is the better conditioned athlete, and that will be the difference in this one.
Rockhold by decision
