May 4, 2012 – The Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) returns to network television for the third time this Saturday night with UFC on Fox: Diaz vs. Miller taking place this Saturday, May 5th, at the IZOD Center in East Rutherford, New Jersey.It should be an exciting event all the way around with an exciting welterweight matchup headling the card and several other potential barn burners on the main draw.
Check out our predictions below and then offer up your own picks on our TXMMA Facebook page.
UFC on FOX 3 – Main Card Predictions
Lightweight bout: Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller
My natural instinct is always to pick against Nate Diaz for some reason because I usually envision the guy that’s lost to Joe Stevenson and Dong-Hyun Kim. Then he goes out and dominates Donald Cerrone and Takanori Gomi in his last two fights. Definitely a little harder to pick against him now but I’m going to do it again. Miller is plenty more well-rounded than either of those guys when you factor in his wrestling acumen and no way he loses a fight in his home state.
Prediction: Jim Miller over Nate Diaz by decision.
Welterweight bout: Josh Koscheck vs. Johny Hendricks
A lot of people will be expecting Johny Hendricks to come back down to earth in this one after his career highlight performance so far against Jon Fitch. I’m not one of those people. I think he’ll outwrestle Koscheck if he needs to and definitely has the power edge – making him the fighter that could end the fight on a moment’s notice. Look for Johny to frustrate Koscheck into making a mistake before making him pay for it.
Prediction: Johny Hendricks over Josh Koscheck by TKO.
Middleweight bout: Rousimar Palhares vs. Alan Belcher
Rousimar Palhares in not just an internet meme. The myth is true. He might be the best BJJ finisher in the UFC and can permanently injure his opponents with his dangerous heel hooks. Belcher isn’t a rookie on the ground himself but he’s nowhere near his opponent’s level down there no matter what he believes. Once “Paul Harris” secures a hold of one of his four limbs, it’s just a matter of tme.
Prediction: Rousimar Palhares over Alan Belcher by submission.
Heavyweight bout: Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson
First and foremost, I predict violence in this fight. Now that fact is out of the way, my main pick in this likely standup war will be the fighter who can tee off first and set the tone. Lavar may very well be the harder hitter but Pat is not unfamiliar with people that hit hard. After all, he’s faced guys like Mirko CroCop and Cheick Kongo in the recent past. Look for “Hype or Die” Barry to draw on his experience to nullify Johnson’s offense and fight a smart fight on the way to victory… unless he gets knocked out first, in which case I never said any of this.
Prediction: Pat Barry over Lavar Johnson by decision.
UFC on FOX 3 – Undercard Quick Picks
Tony Ferguson over Michael Johnson by decision.
John Dodson over Tim Elliott by TKO.
John Hathaway over Pascal Krauss by decision.
John Lineker over Louis Gaudinot by TKO.
Danny Castillo over John Cholish by decision.
Pablo Garza over Dennis Bermudez by submission.
Nick Denis over Roland Delorme by submission.
Mike Massenzio over Karlos Vemola by decision.