UFC 125 Predictions

It's the new year motherfuckers!

Main Card:

Lightweight Championship: Frankie Edgar (c) vs. Gray Maynard
Middleweight: Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann
Light Heavyweight: Brandon Vera vs. Thiago Silva
Welterweight: Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim
Lightweight: Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi

Shawn's Predictions:
Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi: Gomi via Decision
- Both of these fighters are aggressive lightweights trying to climb their way up to the title. Gomi is coming off of a huge KO victory over Tyson Griffin and Clay Guida is coming off of a win over Rafael Dos Anjos as UFC 117. Guida will do what he always does and he will start this fight like a bat out of hell, coming at Gomi with wild fists and takedowns. Gomi will use his wrestling background to defend Guida's takedowns. I believe Gomi will gain confidence in his stand up because of his last fight, and keep the majority of the fight on the feet. Gomi will prove more technical as he drops Guida once or twice in the fight, but wont be able to finish him. He will do just enough damage to Guida to take the Decision. 

Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim: DHK via Decision
- Undefeated "Stun Gun" Kim will try to climb higher through the welterweight ranks in this fight when he fights the well-known, articulate, and well-mannered (sarcasm) Nate Diaz. Diaz known for his great jiu-jitsu and his trash-talking style. DHK is known for his great Judo, wrestling, technical stand-up, and Ground n' Pound. In this fight, DHK will have a huge advantage. His stand up is more technical, he will be able to throw Diaz around, and will be able to neutralize Diaz's subs with his GNP. Diaz is tough, but doesn't have very technical stand-up and he will pay because of it. Expect DHK to walk away with a fairly one-sided decision victory.

Brandon Vera vs. Thiago Silva: Vera via Decision
- Vera and Silva are still trying to remain relevant in the Lightweight division, let alone the UFC in general. I believe this fight will take place mainly on the stand up. Silva will be trying to pressure Vera against the fence to land some big shots, while I think Vera will try to break down Silva with his powerful leg kicks. Honestly, I think Thiago Silva is somewhat overrated and it will show in this fight. Vera will prove more technical than Silva as he pounds him with kicks, breaks him down, and grinds him out to a decision. If not, its looking like Vera's days in the UFC are winding down.

Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann: Leben via Decision
- This fight is very hard to predict for me. I'm very torn as to who will win this fight because I believe both guys have a chance. We arent guaranteed the winner, but I can guarantee that this will be a stand-up war. We know Leben loves using his left and the majority of Stann's victories are via KO/TKO. Stann is very technical, while Leben is a straight up brawler. Leben might pull some tricks out and try to go for a submission on Stann. Stann will prove he is a tough opponent for Leben by showing off his good striking. It wont be very easy for either of these guys to get knocked out or get the KO themselves but I believe Leben will push the pace, and start throwing at Stann. This will be an all out war and I think it could possibly be FOTN. I expect Leben to walk away with a razor-thin decision victory, but I'm not counting Stann out and I wont be surprised if Stann takes this one.

Frankie Edgar (c) vs. Gray Maynard: Maynard via Decision
- As most of us know, this is rematch of a fight back in 2008, where Maynard took away a clear-cut decision victory. Both fighters have evolved greatly since that fight and are going to prove exactly that tomorrow night. On paper, Maynard and Edgar are basically identical. Both have great striking, and both have tremendous wrestling. I believe the main difference in this fight will be size. Although Edgar is known for defeating opponents bigger than him, this will not be the case come tomorrow night. Edgar can use his boxing very effectively like he did to BJ at 112 and especially 118. Weaving in and out, and using his speed will help Edgar. But, Maynard is more powerful, bigger, and more explosive that Edgar. The majority, if not all, of the rounds will go Maynard's way. Expect the "Bully" to use his powerful striking to set up many, many takedowns in this fight to lead him to yet another one-sided decision victory.

Yeah I know, I'm predicting all decisions. These fights better be fucking good if I'm right.