Post by Kliquid on Jan 19, 2011 1:56:59 GMT -5
UFC 126 Preview: Predictions for Silva-Belfort and Each of the 11 Fights
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UFC 126 is nearing as Anderson Silva prepares to defend his UFC Middleweight Championship against “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort.
“The Spider” hopes to rebound after a near-disastrous performance in his last title defense against Chael Sonnen while Belfort is looking to be the first man to defeat Silva in The Octagon.
Other big fights on the card include a light heavyweight battle between Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin, a bantamweight bout between Miguel Torres and Antonio Banuelos, and a light heavyweight contenders showdown between Ryan Bader and Jon “Bones” Jones.
Also making his UFC debut will be Japanese superstar Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto as he faces former WEC competitor Demetrious Johnson.
The event will take place on Feb. 5 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Read on for the full event breakdown and a prediction on each of the exciting matchups on this very important card!
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Silva / Belfort Breakdown
The main event for UFC 126 features the much-hyped bout between UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and veteran challenger Vitor Belfort. The fight was originally scheduled for UFC 112 in April 2010 but had to be rescheduled due to a shoulder injury suffered by Belfort.
During the wait, Silva fought once and is coming off the most challenging title defense of his career when he was pushed to the limit—and then some—by Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen dominated the fight for the first four and a half rounds, winning nearly every aspect of the contest. Things looked grim for the pound-for-pound king, Silva, but it all turned around when Silva slapped on a triangle late in the fifth round which eventually won him the fight in dramatic fashion.
While Sonnen was eventually suspended for violations regarding his drug-test for the fight, there were suddenly questions on whether Anderson Silva had been exposed by a fighter whom very few gave a chance to going into the battle.
It was later found out that Silva had been nursing a rib injury and while Sonnen’s wrestling did most of the dirty work, perhaps the most surprising aspect of the fight overall was that Sonnen actually out-struck Silva throughout most of the fight.
Enter perhaps the most vicious striker in the world at 185 pounds, Vitor Belfort. The term “punches in bunches” doesn’t do the man justice.
Belfort’s past is absolutely stacked with highlights of him completely hammering him his opponents with some of the most incredible, explosive furies of punches that we have ever seen.
“The Phenom” is on a five-fight win streak that started back in 2007, four of which have been finished with impressive knockouts. He fought twice in 2009, winning both fights in first round knockouts against world class fighters Matt Lindland and most recently Rich Franklin at a catch weight of 195 pounds.
If anyone in the world has the ability to knock Anderson Silva out right now, it may be Vitor Belfort. Belfort’s speed and accuracy on his feet may prove to be the kryptonite to the Superman that is Anderson “The Spider” Silva.
Belfort is a tough challenger but he may be playing right into the strengths of Anderson Silva who has proven on many occasions that he is not only great on his feet but that he may be the best striker in the world.
While Belfort uses a fast-paced style, Silva will likely look to find a mistake and exploit it with his own vicious kicks and punches.
Silva is on a 12-fight UFC winning streak and will look to make it 13 against perhaps the most dangerous fighter he has ever faced.
Prediction: Anderson Silva (c) defeats Vitor Belfort by Technical Knockout in the third round
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Click here for all of my UFC 126 Predictions!
---------------
UFC 126 is nearing as Anderson Silva prepares to defend his UFC Middleweight Championship against “The Phenom” Vitor Belfort.
“The Spider” hopes to rebound after a near-disastrous performance in his last title defense against Chael Sonnen while Belfort is looking to be the first man to defeat Silva in The Octagon.
Other big fights on the card include a light heavyweight battle between Forrest Griffin and Rich Franklin, a bantamweight bout between Miguel Torres and Antonio Banuelos, and a light heavyweight contenders showdown between Ryan Bader and Jon “Bones” Jones.
Also making his UFC debut will be Japanese superstar Norifumi “Kid” Yamamoto as he faces former WEC competitor Demetrious Johnson.
The event will take place on Feb. 5 at the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nev.
Read on for the full event breakdown and a prediction on each of the exciting matchups on this very important card!
--------------------
Silva / Belfort Breakdown
The main event for UFC 126 features the much-hyped bout between UFC Middleweight Champion Anderson Silva and veteran challenger Vitor Belfort. The fight was originally scheduled for UFC 112 in April 2010 but had to be rescheduled due to a shoulder injury suffered by Belfort.
During the wait, Silva fought once and is coming off the most challenging title defense of his career when he was pushed to the limit—and then some—by Chael Sonnen.
Sonnen dominated the fight for the first four and a half rounds, winning nearly every aspect of the contest. Things looked grim for the pound-for-pound king, Silva, but it all turned around when Silva slapped on a triangle late in the fifth round which eventually won him the fight in dramatic fashion.
While Sonnen was eventually suspended for violations regarding his drug-test for the fight, there were suddenly questions on whether Anderson Silva had been exposed by a fighter whom very few gave a chance to going into the battle.
It was later found out that Silva had been nursing a rib injury and while Sonnen’s wrestling did most of the dirty work, perhaps the most surprising aspect of the fight overall was that Sonnen actually out-struck Silva throughout most of the fight.
Enter perhaps the most vicious striker in the world at 185 pounds, Vitor Belfort. The term “punches in bunches” doesn’t do the man justice.
Belfort’s past is absolutely stacked with highlights of him completely hammering him his opponents with some of the most incredible, explosive furies of punches that we have ever seen.
“The Phenom” is on a five-fight win streak that started back in 2007, four of which have been finished with impressive knockouts. He fought twice in 2009, winning both fights in first round knockouts against world class fighters Matt Lindland and most recently Rich Franklin at a catch weight of 195 pounds.
If anyone in the world has the ability to knock Anderson Silva out right now, it may be Vitor Belfort. Belfort’s speed and accuracy on his feet may prove to be the kryptonite to the Superman that is Anderson “The Spider” Silva.
Belfort is a tough challenger but he may be playing right into the strengths of Anderson Silva who has proven on many occasions that he is not only great on his feet but that he may be the best striker in the world.
While Belfort uses a fast-paced style, Silva will likely look to find a mistake and exploit it with his own vicious kicks and punches.
Silva is on a 12-fight UFC winning streak and will look to make it 13 against perhaps the most dangerous fighter he has ever faced.
Prediction: Anderson Silva (c) defeats Vitor Belfort by Technical Knockout in the third round
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Click here for all of my UFC 126 Predictions!
ed to a decision loss, which sucks because I'm rooting for him. 
