UFC 162 goes down this Saturday at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas. If pre-fight hype is of any indication this is certainly one of the most highly-anticipated cards of the year. Headlined by Anderson Silva going for his eleventh middleweight title defense against top challenger Chris Weidman, the PPV event also a host of equally interesting bouts including former 155 lbs. champ Frankie Edgar taking on Charles Oliviera in a featherweight bout and Austin, TX-based Tim Kennedy taking on BJJ world champ Roger Gracie, and Mark Munoz taking on Tim Boetsch in middleweight action. Featherweights Cub Swanson and Dennis Siver complete the pay-per-view lineup for fans all over the world.
Not stopping there, the UFC 162 undercard set for broadcast on FX and Facebook also boasts a strong lineup anchored by Texan Andrew Craig (Houston, TX) taking on TUF 1 vet Chris Leben in the last free cable TV bout of the evening. Meanwhile another Texan and Houstonian Brian Melancon makes his UFC debut in one of the first bouts of the evening aganst “Polish Pistola” Seth Baczynski.
Here’s the complete UFC 162 lineup below along with some of our TXMMA staff predictions for the UFC 162 pay-per-view card.
185 lbs.: Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman <Title>
145 lbs.: Frankie Edgar vs. Charles Oliveira
185 lbs.: Tim Kennedy vs. Roger Gracie
185 lbs.: Mark Muñoz vs. Tim Boetsch
185 lbs.: Cub Swanson vs. Dennis Siver
UFC 162 – Preliminary card (FX)
185 lbs.: Chris Leben vs. Andrew Craig
155 lbs.: Norman Parke vs. Kazuki Tokudome
265 lbs.: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Dave Herman
155 lbs.: Edson Barboza vs. Rafaello Oliveira
UFC 162 – Preliminary card (Facebook)
170 lbs.: Seth Baczynski vs. Brian Melancon
170 lbs.: Mike Pierce vs. David Mitchell
UFC 162 Main Card Predictions
185 lbs.: Anderson Silva vs. Chris Weidman (TITLE FIGHT)
Mike: Part of me says all the pre-fight hype about Weidman is just par for the course and when fight time comes Silva will knock him out in spectacular fashion like he’s done so many times in the past. But then again, every story has to peak sometime. Anderson Silva is now 38 years old and dealing with the toughest challenger he’s faced arguably since choking out Dan Henderson in 2008. Chris Weidman is undefeated, one of the best wrestler/grapplers in the world, and is coming into his own as a mixed martial artist. Anderson Silva is the GOAT but come Saturday night, Chris Weidman will be the new UFC middleweight champion. (Weidman, unanimous decision)
Felix: Everybody’s got to lose sometime and I smell upset. Chris Weidman wins this one. (Weidman, RD4 TKO)
Patrick: Chris Wiedman wins in round two, cuts due to elbows. (Weidman, TKO, RD2)
Diego: Anderson Silva wins by unanimous decision. (Weidman, unanimous decision)
145 lbs.: Frankie Edgar vs. Charles Oliveira
Felix: This is Frankie Edgar’s fight to lose. Charles Oliveira has been looking great, but I think that Edgar is a little bit too much too soon for Do Bronx to bounce back from a devastating loss to Cub Swanson. (Edgar, unanimous decision)
Mike: At this point Charles Oliviera is the prospect who still hasn’t panned out (2-3-1 in his last six bouts) while Frankie Edgar is the former champ who’s fought a brutal gauntlet of fights non-stop since 2010. I have some concerns over the wear-and-tear Frankie has taken in his fights against Aldo, Henderson, Maynard, and Penn but I also won’t disrespect all those efforts by saying “do Bronx” will beat him. I just can’t see it happening. (Edgar, TKO, RD1)
Patrick: I’m routing for Oliveria but think that Edgar will get the decision. (Edgar, unanimous decision)
185 lbs.: Tim Kennedy vs. Roger Gracie
Felix: I’m curious to see how Kennedy will work around the huge height and reach difference between him and Roger. Look for Kennedy to exploit his speed advantage over Gracie and stick and move his way to victory. Kennedy (Kennedy, unanimous decision)
Patrick: I think Austin’s Tim Kennedy wins a close decision in this one. (Kennedy, unanimous decision)
Diego: Tim Kennedy is going to use his excellent cardio and ground defense to grind out the decision here. (Kennedy, unanimous decision)
Mike: I’m going to go against all you guys here and pick Roger Gracie and I’ll tell you why. For one, at 6’4″ Roger should have about 5+ inches of reach on his opponent, meaning picking him off from the outside will be a challenge and Kennedy will have to come in and engage with Roger. Two, Tim is historically a guy who likes to mix things up and is strongest when he can use his wrestling and ground-and-pound to wear on his opponents – not a good idea here. And lasrt, in the bouts where Tim has went up against “superior” grapplers (Rockhold, Jacare, Miller) he’s come up 0-3 so far. I have a lot of respect for Kennedy as a fighter and DO think he is the favorite here because of experience but my gut tells me Roger will pull out the win. (Gracie, unanimous decision)
185 lbs.: Mark Muñoz vs. Tim Boetsch
Felix: Munoz is the favorite here, but I think Boetsch is better on the feet. If Munoz can get Boetsch on his back I like his chances, but people forget that the Barbarian is also a high level D1 wrestler. This is a pick ‘em fight, but I like Boetsch. If this fight goes to the cards expect some controversy. (Boetsch, split decision)
Mike: I’m going to have to agree and say this fight is the closest thing to a “pick’em fight” on the main card. Ever since dropping to middleweight Tim has beat some good guys, including Hector Lombard and Yushin Okami. Meanwhile, Mark has done the same thing and beat some good ones, including Demian Maia since dropping downto 185 lbs. himself way back in 2009. Both guys are coming off a loss and need a win in this fight here to regain lost momentum. I’ll be rooting for Munoz but I like the Barbarian’s chances. (Boetsch, split decision)
Patrick: Tim Boetsch is a big boy. (Boetsch, TKO, RD2)
Diego: Boetch by submission in the first round. (Boetch, submission, RD1)
145 lbs.: Cub Swanson vs. Dennis Siver
Mike: Aside from a hiccup in his UFC debut, to another streaking fighter in Ricardo Lamas, Cub Swanson has been on one hell of a tear and has beaten Charles Oliviera and Dustin Poirier in his last two fights. A win here would take him to the upper echelon of the division and a potential title shot. Siver has been pulling out wins lately himself but I like Cub’s chances. (Swanson by unanimous decision)
Felix: Cub Swanson has been on a tear lately. Siver is stronger and stockier, but his famed spinning back kick will not be enough to topple the more explosive and dynamic Swanson. (Swanson, TKO, RD1)
Patrick: I like Cub Swanson by submission here, first round triangle choke. (Swanson by submission, RD1)
Diego: I like Swanson here also, but I think it goes to the scorecards. (Swanson by unanimous decision)