By Dwight Wakabayashi
UFC 160 is set to go off with four of the best heavyweights on the planet ready to sort out the title picture from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas. Champion Cain Velasquez will defend his title against Brazilian contender Antonio (Bigfoot) Silva and Junior Dos Santos will attempt to secure another shot at the big crown with a win over the “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt.
Velasquez and dos Santos are both favoured to win and set up a much anticipated rubber match between them later this year. However, if Bigfoot can pull of the upset and Silva and dos Santos both come out victorious, it could set up one of the biggest title fights between friends in the history of the UFC later this year.
Here is a complete main card breakdown with predictions for each fight.
Donald Cerrone (20-5) vs. KJ Noons (11-6) – lightweight
Fan favourite Donald Cerrone has come up short against the very elite of the division lately, so now he gets this bounce-back fight against the always tough K.J. Noons. Cerrone is the better all-around fighter and he may want to take this one to his biggest advantage right away, the ground. Noons will have one advantage in there and that is with his boxing, so if Cerrone can keep this fight in kickboxing range or take it down, he should be able to get the win.
Noons has more to gain with a victory in this fight, and may be the hungrier of the two, but I just don’t think his game is on Cerrone’s level.
Cerrone via decision
Gray Maynard (10-1) vs. TJ Grant (20-5) – lightweight
This fight has already been pegged as the No. 1 contender fight for the lightweight title and whoever comes out on top should secure a title fight later this year.
Maynard has been at the very top of the division for years now and is coming off a win over Clay Guida in June of last year. That fight was Maynard’s only fight in 2012 and cage rust could be an issue for the man they call “The Bully.” Maynard has only lost once in his entire career and uses his strength and wrestling to try to dictate the fight and drain his opponents of their will and energy.
Cole Harbour, N.S.’s T.J. Grant has put together the most impressive run of his career and he gets this opportunity at Maynard because of it. Grant has gone 4-0 since he moved down to lightweight and has impressed in wins over Evan Dunham and Matt Wiman. Grant made his name with his grappling and jiu-jitsu, but he has evolved his game to include some devastating knees and elbows in his arsenal that have made him a threat on his feet as well.
Grant via decision
Glover Teixeira (20-2) vs. James Te-Huna (16-5) – light heavyweight
This is a battle between two surging big men, and one will remain standing as the hottest prospect in the division when all is said and done.
Teixeira has been the more dominant recently, with his decision win over Quinton (Rampage) Jackson proving he belongs in the big fights. Teixeira is a punishing puncher, with a surprising grappling game for a man of his size. He has used that all-around game to take out the likes of Fabio Maldonado and Kyle Kingsbury. I think he will hurt Te-Huna early, and then follow him to the mat and tap him out.
Te-Huna has gotten to this point as a bit of an underdog and he will remain in that spot when he faces Teixeira. The 31-year-old from New Zealand has only lost once in his last eleven fights, and his chin and toughness cannot be overlooked. He will not be as technical as Teixeira, but he will be every bit as willing and this one should be a slugfest while it lasts.
Teixeira submission, Rd 1
Junior dos Santos (15-2) vs. Mark Hunt (9-7) – heavyweight
This one will see two very popular fighters take the centre of the cage for a future shot at the heavyweight title.
Dos Santos is the heavy favorite, with is boxing and footwork being some of the best in the entire world. He moves like a featherweight for a man of his size and that will be the difference in this fight. Dos Santos will be fluid throughout the fight and Hunt will be eating shots while stalking straight ahead.
Hunt has the power to knock out anyone in the world and he has a puncher’s chance against Junior and that’s all he has. That puncher’s chance has carried him during this resurgence in his career as he was able to pull off mild upsets over Cheick Kongo and Stefan Struve to get him this big fight.
Dos Santos is simply too good and too hungry to lose to Hunt.
Dos Santos via TKO, Rd 2
Cain Velasquez (11-1) vs. Antonio Silva (18-4) – heavyweight championship
This fight is a bit of a surprise rematch as Velasquez battered and bloodied Silva only one fight and one year ago. There was no title on the line in that one as it was being held by Junior dos Santos, so the stakes are raised in this one.
Velasquez took Silva down and cut him right away in their last fight, and the blood pouring into his eyes was the beginning of the end for Silva. This time, things should be very different as Silva has some nice momentum on his side with back-to-back finishes over Travis Browne and Alistair Overeem. Silva will need to stay off his back if he wants any chance of winning this fight, but if Velasquez is on his game, I don’t see Silva being able to stop him.
If Silva can stuff the takedown and stay at a distance, then he may be able to preserve his gas tank and point his way to victory.
Velasquez via decision
