By TXMMA Staff
Benson Henderson vs. Josh Thompson highlights 10th UFC on FOX card
Also up at UFC on FOX 10 is climbing heavyweight contender Stipe Miocic. He looks to build off his dominant win versus “Big Country” Roy Nelson when he takes on another streaking big man in Brazilian finisher Gabriel Gonzaga. They’re joined on the main card by a pair of bouts featuring lightweight Donald Cerrone vs. Adriano Martins along with Jeremy Stephens taking on Darren Elkins in a featherweight contest.
UFC on FOX 10 – Fight-by-Fight Preview and Predictions
155 lbs.: Ben “Smooth” Henderson (19-3) vs. Josh “The Punk” Thomson (20-5)
Most people have Ben Henderson winning this fight and I guess that’s only fair considering the impressing run he went on (beating Gilbert Melendez, Nate Diaz, Frankie Edgar x2, etc. etc.) before losing his belt to Anthony Pettis. One thing to consider though is that his veteran opponent is no pushover. Josh Thompson has been around as a pro since 2001 but he’s only lost 5 times in that 13 year span – all to great fighters. He also doesn’t have as many miles on his odometer as most fighters with his amount of years in the sport so he’ll likely come into Saturday night in top shape despite being 35 years old.
Stylistically, and this is cliché, but both guys are well-rounded. Henderson is an excellent dynamic standup fighter and Thompson is no pushover as a striker himself. Both guys also have the wrestling ability and ground skills to do well in those aspects of this fight but this one will probably be more of a five-round kickboxing match. In that type of fight Henderson is still the favorite but I wouldn’t be surprised if this one came down to a split decision either way.
Prediction: Ben Henderson over Josh Thomson by split decision
265 lbs.: Gabriel “Napao” Gonzaga (16-7) vs. Stipe Miocic (10-1)
If there was ever a fight on this card that was guaranteed NOT to go to the judges it would be this one. These guys have 33 fights between them and only 3 have gone to a decision.
Stipe Miocic walks into this one as the prohibitive favorite. With an NCAA wrestling background and Golden Gloves boxing experience he’s part of that new breed of fighter than can fight anywhere and succeed. He mostly likes to win using his hands though and he’ll be going against a similar fighter in Gabriel Gonzaga. The BJJ black belt has some submissions on his record but like his opponent he definitely prefers to win standing up. The different between these two would be cardio. Stipe can fight the same pace for 15 minutes where Gonzaga might be the one to slow down and that’s where he’ll get caught.
Prediction: Stipe Miocic over Gabriel Gonzaga by TKO, RD3.
155 lbs.: Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (21-6) vs. Adriano Martins (25-6)
We’ll see a battle pitting grizzled veteran versus up-and-coming UFC fighter in this one with Donald Cerrone taking on Adriano Martins.
“Cowboy” should try to use this one to build some consistency after alternating wins and losses all of last year. He only lost once in the 2 years prior and is looking to get back to that level where he’s considered a legitimate contender in the division rather than fall to tough gatekeeper status. He’ll be taking on hungry opponent eager to climb the charts in this bout against Martins. The Brazilian debuted impressively in submitting Daron Cruickshank last November and also has wins over the likes of Jorge Gurgel and Ronys Torres prior to making it into the UFC.
Now who wins this one? Well it all depends on which Donald Cerrone shows up. He has all the tools but is he mentally there? Seems like he’s had some distractions lately and that’s something he can’t afford against a motivated opponent like the one about to be in front of him.
Prediction: Adriano Martins over Donald Cerrone by submission, RD2.
145 lbs.: Jeremy “Lil’ Heathen” Stephens (22-9) vs. Darren “The Damage” Elkins (17-3)
The final bout on the UFC on FOX 10 main card pits longtime UFC veteran Jeremy Stephens against another vet in Darren Elkins. This will be Stephens’ third featherweight bout after spending the bulk of his career at lightweight. He’s won his first two and finished his last opponent but neither of his past two opponent were world beaters. Meanwhile Darren Elkins has split his last two, losing to Chad Mendes but subsequently beating Hatsu Hioki.
This should be a close fight. If there’s a difference between these two it’s that Stephens should come in as the stronger fighter. These two are very closely matches everywhere else so that could be the difference.
Prediction: Jeremy Stephens over Darren Elkins via unanimous decision
UFC on FOX 10 – Preliminary Undercard Predictions
135 lbs.: Alex Caceres (9-5) vs. Sergio Pettis (10-0)
Sergio Pettis looked okay in his UFC debut versus Will Campuzano, earning a unanimous decision win. Meanwhile Alex Caceres has gone 3-0-1(NC) in his last four, only losing out on 4 in a row as a result of failed drug test. Interesting fight in this one… Pettis is highly touted but “Bruce Leeroy” has the 3-inch height advantage. Should be a close fight but Sergio might win this one by a slight margin, again.
Prediction: Sergio Pettis over Alex Caceres unanimous decision
135 lbs.: Eddie Wineland (20-9-1) vs. Yves Jabouin (19-8)
Former WEC bantamweight champion Eddie Wineland has been around awhile. Yves Jabouin has also managed to stick around but doesn’t have any significant wins I can think of. Yves is flashy at times but Eddie should be the more skilled fighter of the two when these guys hit the cage.
Prediction: Eddie Wineland over Yves Jabouin by TKO, RD2.
135 lbs.: Chico Camus (13-4) vs. Yaotzin Meza (20-8)
Neither one of these guys strike me as real contenders in the UFC bantamweight division but Chico Camus should be able to utilize his wrestling ability to gain the edge against Yaotzin Meza long enough to win on the judges’ cards in this one.
Prediction: Chico Camus over Yaotzin Meza unanimous decision.
135 lbs.: Ramiro Hernandez (13-5) vs. Hugo Viana (7-1)
It seems that Hugo Viana has been battling injuries for the entirety of his UFC stint so far (including a cancelled bout versus Texan Johnny Bedford) but he’s back in this one against a guy still looking for his first UFC win in Ramiro Hernandez. All things considered, this should be the Brazilian’s fight to lose.
Prediction: Hugo Viana over Ramiro Hernandez by TKO, RD1.
155 lbs.: Daron Cruickshank (13-4) vs. Mike Rio (9-3)
Once more highly-touted than he is now, Daron Cruickshank is looking for a slumpbuster against fellow TUF 15 cast member Mike Rio. Though he’s no Renan Barao, Daron should prove to be a lot better on his feet here and Rio’s wrestling won’t be enough to keep him down long enough to score the requisite amount of points the other way to get the win.
Prediction: Daron Cruickshank over Mike Rio unanimous decision.
170 lbs.: George Sullivan (14-3) vs. Mike Rhodes (6-1)
Two fighters make their UFC debuts in this second bout of the night at UFC on FOX 10. It’s kind of hard what to expect in this type of bout considering we don’t know how either fighter will react or suffer “octagon jitters.” One thing we do know is George Sullivan owns about six years more MMA experience than the upstart Mike Rhodes. With that being said one would think Mike would be more of the blue chip prospect, training out of Roufusport with guys like Eric Koch.
Prediction: Mike Rhodes over George Sullivan by TKO, RD1.
265 lbs.: Walt Harris (5-2) vs. Nikita Krylov (15-3)
A former basketball player, Walt Harris looks to rebound following his debut loss to Texas based Jared Rosholt. He’s a heavy hitter when not on his back so that should be his goal here, to stay on his feet. Meanwhile his opponent Nikita Krylov will also be looking to rebound after gassing and losing to Soa Palelei in his own UFC debut. Harris should be a better fighter than Palelei, or at least a bigger more athletic one and that should be enough here.
Prediction: Walt Harris over Nikita Krylov by TKO, RD1.