A group of sportsnet.ca MMA contributors give their predictions for Saturday’s highly anticipated UFC 148 that includes a middleweight title bout between Anderson Silva and Chael Sonnen and three fights featuring Canadians.
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CHAEL SONNEN VS. ANDERSON SILVA
Jason MacDonald: Silva. He’ll be much better prepared. You know what Sonnen brings to the table, in your face, trying to put pressure, close distance. But Silva will be ready.
Mike Johnston: Silva by KO. The champ doesn’t have a broken rib this time around and he has had enough of Sonnen’s talk. This one won’t get out of the second round.
Dwight Wakabayashi: Silva by KO. It will be a close and tough fight for three rounds, right up until Silva lands a big shot to end it
Carlin Bardsley: Silva by TKO. Sonnen will learn you don’t tug on Superman’s cape.
Matt Carson: Sonnen by decision. The man from the mean streets of West Linn, Ore., is going to bring the fight to Silva once again, and this time take home the belt.
Ryan Young: Silva by TKO. In such an unpredictable sport the one constant has been Anderson always getting his hand raised.
POLL:
Who do you think will win?
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TITO ORTIZ VS. FORREST GRIFFIN
Jason MacDonald: Griffin. Obviously the end of line for Tito, who wants to go out on a good note, but I don’t see it going that way. I think Forrest will just outwork him.
Mike Johnston: Ortiz by TKO. Tito will leave it all in the cage and surprise Forrest with his tenacity.
Dwight Wakabayashi: Ortiz by decision. I don’t think Forrest will be as sharp as he was in the last two, while Ortiz is extremely motivated to go out with a win.
Carlin Bardsley: Ortiz by decision. Tito will go out on a high note over a disinterested Forrest.
Matt Carson: Griffin by decision. Tito had his time in the sun; it’s time for him to go quietly into the night.
Ryan Young: Griffin by decision. Ortiz has won one of his last eight fights. Enough said, no?
POLL:
Who do you think will win?
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CUNG LE VS. PATRICK COTE
Jason MacDonald: Cote. Le is at the end of his career and Cote is extremely motivated to get back to the UFC. He won’t let it slip away.
Mike Johnston: Cote by KO. This is a good stylistic matchup for the Canadian and he should take advantage.
Dwight Wakabayashi: Cote by KO. Le’s weapons will continue to fade with age and his chin won’t be able to handle Cote’s right hand.
Carlin Bardsley: Cote by TKO. After eating Cote’s punches, Cung will decide acting’s a better idea.
Matt Carson: Le by KO. No brainer here, Le by Gou Shouryuu Ken.
Ryan Young: Le by decision. Cote has one-punch knockout power but he’ll have a tough time getting into range to apply it with Le’s diverse kicks.
POLL:
Who do you think will win?
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DEMIAN MAIA VS. DONG HYUN KIM
Jason MacDonald: Maia by submission. Demian has been dominating the top middleweights for a long time. We know that size is not going to be an issue and that’s one of Kim’s best attributes.
Mike Johnston: Maia by decision. This could be the first time we see Kim lose a battle of cage control.
Dwight Wakabayashi: Kim by decision. Maia is a monster on the ground but Kim is stronger and resilient and should be able to use that to keep this one in his world.
Carlin Bardsley: Kim by decision. Judo will beat BJJ in a ground war.
Matt Carson: Maia by submission. Snooze fest here unless Maia can pull off the submission, which he will.
Ryan Young: Maia by decision. Kim is the favourite but I’m not sure why. Maia’s striking has improved leaps and bounds and if he winds up on his back he can always pull off a submission.
POLL:
Who do you think will win?
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CHAD MENDES VS. CODY MCKENZIE
Jason MacDonald: Mendes. I think Chad wins this one for sure. I just don’t think McKenzie is going to be able to pull a guillotine off on a guy of Mendes’ calibre.
Mike Johnston: Mendes by Submission. No disrespect to McKenzie but this is a major mismatch. If he doesn’t win by KO, Mendes will lock up a choke.
Dwight Wakabayashi: Mendes KO. Mendes is too smart and compact to get caught in McKenzie’s one trick, and he will land the big shot from the top
Carlin Bardsley: McKenzie by submission. McKenzie-tine!
Matt Carson: McKenzie by submission. McKenzie by guillotine… again.
Ryan Young: Mendes by decision. Could just as easily be a TKO as Mendes is on another level but I’ll go the safe route since he’s not much of a finisher.
POLL:
Who do you think will win?
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IVAN MENJIVAR VS. MIKE EASTON
Jason MacDonald: Menjivar. He’s quickly putting himself in the title contention picture. I’ve always believed Ivan has been one of the best fighters in Canada.
Mike Johnston: Easton by decision. This could easily end up being Fight of the Night, but Easton’s speed will be the difference.
Dwight Wakabayashi: Easton by KO. I think Easton is a bit too young, fast and hungry for Ivan to handle.
Carlin Bardsley: Menjivar by decision. Ivan will derail the Easton hype train.
Matt Carson: Easton by submission. Should be an easy one for Easton.
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Ryan Young: Menjivar by decision. Easily the hardest fight on the main card to predict. I’m leaning towards Menjivar because he has more offensive weapons and Easton didn’t look very impressive in his last bout.
POLL:
Who do you think will win?
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JOHN ALESSIO VS. SHANE ROLLER
Jason MacDonald: Alessio by decision. Tough fight but Alessio has been around the block. I’ll go with Alessio over Roller by decision for his first win in the UFC.
Mike Johnston: Alessio by TKO. If Alessio can stay off his back look for the Canadian to land some decent strikes.
Dwight Wakabayashi: Alessio by decision. I think John is the bigger and stronger grappler in this one and he will use that to grind out a decision.
Carlin Bardsley: Alessio by TKO. Look for “The Natural” to take it to Roller.
Matt Carson: Alessio by decision. Gotta stick with the Canuck on this one.
Ryan Young: Roller by decision. When two grapplers meet it usually comes down to who has the better striking which in this case is Roller.
POLL:
Who will win this fight?
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Jason MacDonald is a Canadian UFC middleweight and a regular sportsnet.ca blogger.
Mike Johnston is a Digital Content Editor for sportsnet.ca and an MMA blogger.
Dwight Wakabayashi is a featured columnist for BleacherReport.com and a writer/analyst for MMACanada.net.
Carlin Bardsley is a writer for MMASucka.com and the host of a daily MMA radio show on NextSportStar.com.
Matt Carson is an MMA writer for TheCheapSeats.ca and the host of Split Decision.
Ryan Young is the lead reporter for mma360.ca.
