UFC 162: Silva vs Weidman

Weidman's win over Munoz put him in this spot.

Whenever Anderson Silva enters the Octagon it truly is a treat.  He is getting up there in age but he is still the most dominant fighter in UFC history.  Is Chris Weidman finally going to be the guy to get a win and end Anderson's unbeaten streak?  Or is he just a good wrestler receiving too much hype?  Throw in a bunch of great fights at 145 (despite losing Zombie and Lamas from the card) and a top 10 middleweight bout you have a great night of fights.

As always, we start on Facebook:

• Dave Mitchell began his UFC career 0-2 before winning in Chicago.  Pierce on the other hand, has only 3 UFC losses in 11 fights.  With losses to Fitch, Hendricks, and Koscheck (2 of those were split decisions) you could argue that Pierce is actually a top of the food chain welterweight.  Pierce is has no wins over top competition, but has handled anyone else with relative ease.  I see Pierce keeping his winning ways going with a decision over Mitchell.
• Seth Baczynski in his last fight was one of Mike Pierce's victims.  However, Baczynski also was the last person to best the red hot Matt Brown.  His opponent Brian Melancon is a guy that I know very little about.  He is another Strikeforce guy looking to win his UFC debut.  He looked good in his split decision loss to Isaac Vallie-Flagg but I don't know that he is good enough to best Seth.  I will take Baczunski via submission. (triangle choke)

On the FX the night only gets better:

• Edson Barboza was given an easy opponent for the second time in a row since his only loss to Jamie Varner.  Rafaello Oliveira is not the toughest opponent and Barboza should make quick work of him.  Edson Barboza via first round KO.
• Dave Herman was once a man who did not believe in jiu jitsu until Big Nog had something else to say about that.  Gonzaga is not only a power puncher, but a BJJ black belt as well.  He has been putting his submission game to good use lately despite the loss to Browne in his last fight.  I am taking the bigger man to sink in a choke.  Gonzaga via guillotine choke.
• Norman Parke was the British winner or TUF the Smashes and he is looking to build off that.  Kazuki Tokudome had an impressive win in his UFC debut and is looking to build off that as well.  I am predicting Parke to keep his 7 fight unbeaten streak alive for at least one more win.  Parke via decision.
• Chris Leben has had ups and downs in his professional fighting career.  His last fight against Brunson, he really laid an egg.  The much taller Andrew Craig could be able to pull off an upset and send Leben his packing papers.  Craig is my horse in this fight, although I am not incredible set on this.  I would like to see Leben return to his former self.  Either way, Craig via decision.

Onto the PPV the event really heats up:

• Fight of the Year honors so far belong to either Stann/Silva, Brown/Mein, or Grice/Bermudez right now.  Cub Swanson vs  Dennis Siver could be joining that list of amazing fights after tonight is over.  Cub is one of those guys that will beat you even when you do everything right.  Dustin Porier fought a great fight and still ended up on the short end of a decision against Cub.  Siver is a hell of a kickboxer but Cub is on a mission to get a title shot.  Swanson is known for submitting blackbelts with ease.  I fully expect a crazy submission of the night to seal this fight for Cub.  Cub Swanson via awesome submission.  (gogoplata? d'arce choke?)
• Mark Munoz and Tim Boetsch actually were originally scheduled for prelims.  That is a joke because this fight has fireworks written all over it as well.  Two of the more exciting and powerful middleweights will be going at it in this one.  I love Munoz and his savage ground and pound, but I have to go with The Barbarian in this fight.  Boetsch is a monster looking to bounce back from a weird loss to Costa in his last fight.  Munoz might be the next guy like Fitch, Hominick, Evans, or Stevenson that cannot bounce back from a tough knockout.  Boetsch via TKO.
• Tim Kennedy is a good fighter and should give Roger Gracie fits in this fight with his wrestling.  That said, 3rd round trangle choke win for Gracie.  Huge comeback win for him.
• Frankie Edgar 30-27 decision win on all 3 scorecards in his first non-title fight in years.
• Anderson Silva is the best fighter of all time.  He is the unbeatable, unflappable champion of the UFC middleweight division.  Since defeating Chris Leben followed by Rich Franklin, Anderson Silva has never looked back.  He has but one weakness, and that is pure wrestling.  Chael exposed this only to be submitted in the 5th round of their title fight.  Weidman is good, and I do have to admit the UFC did such a good job hyping him.  I am buying the hype to a degree, but I still know that Chris Weidman is no better than men like Henderson or even Chael that Silva has beaten before.  I actually consider Weidman to be a lot like Nate Marquardt, a man who was knocked out in the first round by Silva.  Will he at least make it interesting, I can only hope.  Nevertheless, Silva via 4th round Knockout.