UFC on Fox 4 - August 4th @ 8PM ET

[TOP]

Mauricio Rua(21-6) defeats Brandon Vera(12-6) - TKO

Lyota Machida(18-3) vs. Ryan Bader(14-3) - KO

Joe Lauzon(28-7) defeats Jamie Varner(20-7-1) - Submission

Mike Swick(15-4) defeats DeMarques Johnson(16-11) - KO


UFC on Fuel TV - @ 5PM ET

Nam Phan(18-10) defeats Cole Miller(18-6) - Split Decision

Phil Davis(9-1) vs. Wagner Prado(8-0) - No Contest

Rani Yahya(17-7) defeats Josh Grispi(14-4) - Submission

Phil De Fries(9-1) defeats Oli Thompson(9-4) - Submission

Manvel Gamburyan(12-7) defeats Michihiro Omigawa(13-12-1) - Unanimous Decision

John Moraga(11-1) defeats Ulysses Gomez(9-3) - KO

[TOP]

Hopefully the card is as awesome as it looks.


Phil Davis is on the preliminary card which will be shown on Fuel TV. Kind of weird that going 9-0 and losing to Rashad Evans by decision gets him dropped to a preliminary card on Fuel TV. He'll be facing first time UFC fighter Wagner Prado who is 8-0. Never heard of any of the competition he has faced to get to 8-0 so I'm assuming Phil Davis will make quick work of him.

[bentenn]

This looks like a good card. Prolly could make more on this one than last nights if they put this on ppv.

[VOLtage]

Originally Posted by The_Orange_Pearl

Mauricio Rua(20-6) vs. Brandon Vera(12-5)

Lyota Machida(17-3) vs. Ryan Bader(14-2)

Travis Browne(13-0-1) vs. Ben Rothwell(32-8)

Jamie Varner(20-6-1) vs. Joe Lauzon(21-7)

Predictions:
Machida - KO
Ben Rothwell -TKO
Lauzon - decision
Rua- TKO

I love Rua and Machida fights. Hoping they deliver.

[shelbyvillevol]

I really think Vera could beat Shogun. I may pick him in an upset. I think Machida is going to wreck Bader. I also, like Browne and Lauzon.

[TOP]

Originally Posted by shelbyvillevol

I really think Vera could beat Shogun. I may pick him in an upset. I think Machida is going to wreck Bader. I also, like Browne and Lauzon.

Hope not. Shogun is one of my fav. fighters.

Gotta love a fighter that has 17 knock outs in 20 wins.

Although, it does concern me that Vera has a 5 inch reach advantage. That 5 inch reach could be a huge factor. Hopefully Shogun can blow through it and KO him.

[Blake25p]

I would rather pay for this than that crap Saturday.

[TOP]

Mauricio Rua-Brandon Vera fight will decide No. 1 contender - ESPN



This fight just got so much bigger.

Don't really think beating Vera is worthy of a title shot but Shogun's history is so I see nothing wrong with him getting the next title shot if he gets the W. Vera on the other hand... his quote is perfect.

"Dana throwing (the title announcement) out there," Vera said. "This is almost like winning the lottery twice.

This was a good fight for Vera already but if he wins, it doesn't seem like it should warrant a title shot given his track record. This is an unbelievable opportunity for Vera.

With that being said... I think Shogun is primed for a knock out. This was already a fight he needed but with a title shot at stake, this would probably be the worst loss of Shogun's career if he loses.

[VOLtage]

I agree this shouldn't automatically mean a title fight for Vera. Lets say Vera just lands a lucky shot on Rua, but Machida destroys Bader, I think Machida should get the opportunity again. I've always thought that out of all the people Jones has faced already Machida has the best skill set and style to possibly beat Jones.

[shelbyvillevol]

Dana backed off that statement, and said that the Machida-Bader winner could also get a title shot, pending their outcome. The crappy part is Bones has already destroyed all 4 of these guys. I know he probably isn't ready or deserving, but I say go ahead and give Gustafsson the next title shot. That appeals to me more than anyone of these.

[TOP]

That's good Dana backed off the statement since I don't think Vera deserves a title shot even if he wins.

And although Machida beat Shogun last time they fought, Machida went from 16-0 to 17-3. Shogun's recent fights are a bit sketch but 1-3 in your last 4 fights is hard to look past as far as getting a title shot goes. Then you look at Gustaffsson's only loss being to Phil Davis and Phil Davis's only loss being to Rashad Evans.

Keep in mind, Shogun fought Jones coming off a major injury which is why I think he deserves a shot over Evans/Machida if he wins his next fight. Maybe that injury was his undoing but I have to believe his injury made a difference. If I were making a list of fights I want to see it would be something like...

1. Shogun(If he's fully healthy)
2. Gustafsson/Machida
3. Davis/Evans

For all I know, maybe Davis could somehow upset Jones. Evans might even be Jones biggest challenge but I do know that I didn't enjoy Evans last fights against both Jones and Davis. It's pretty weird how Davis dropped out of favor big time with a loss to Evans. At this point though, I'd like to see Weidman or a healthy Shogun against Jones. Hopefully Shogun puts on a strong showing against Vera and leaves no doubt he's back to full health. Unless he just dominates in a decision against Vera, I think Shogun needs to finish Vera. Otherwise I'll question his health because he's had multiple surgeries on his knees. He still looks solid enough but he hasn't looked the same.

Should add that everything changes if Henderson were to somehow beat Jones. I'm not a Bones fan(I was against Rashad) but there is no denying that he's special. If and when he loses that title, he should be the first to get a rematch but if someone else gets the shot, all bets are off. The division has amazing talent that's pretty even. After Bones that is. A handful of guys below him could split every other fight but the problem is taking the title from Jon Jones. Good luck...

[n_huffhines]

I've got a non-title fight match up for Bones Jones....how about Stefan Struve at 235 lbs catch weight?

[TOP]

That would be something. I think what people really want is Silva vs. GSP or Silva vs. Jones.

Most think Silva would destroy GSP but I'm not completely convinced if Silva moves down in weight. I could easily see Silva owning him but I'm not certain. GSP is pretty good and rangy with a good build. The people talking about him moving up to fight Bones though.... I don't see it. Bones would move up before he moves down and if Silva wants to move up, I think Jones would tear Silva a new one.

If weight classes are being changed, I want Silva and GSP. I'm fairly certain I know the outcome of Silva vs. Bones. Then again, my opinion is no better that Bones will crush Silva as the people that believe Silva would crush GSP. Silva very well may crush GSP but I think GSP would give Silva a better fight than Silva would give Jones. jmo

Edit: This is assuming Silva were to move down or move up. Silva would crush GSP if GSP moved up but it could be a fight if Silva moved down. No way Jones moves down though. Bones would move up before down and I don't see Silva winning if he moves up.

[n_huffhines]

I agree that Silva/GSP is a better matchup than Jones/Silva, but I want to see Silva lose.

[TOP]

Originally Posted by n_huffhines

I agree that Silva/GSP is a better matchup than Jones/Silva, but I want to see Silva lose.

Me too.

I'm not sure you need Bones for that though if Silva moves up. I know he's the best P4P fighter but he's also aging and the guys above him might be the best division in MMA. If we wants to move up, I believe others could beat him. He just a freak of nature for his weight class. Kind of like Jones is for light heavyweight. As much as I think Jones is great, how could he even move up in weight and face a guy like Brock Lesnar? Guys like that would be a terrible matchup for Jones if he moved up.

Silva has basically run out of opponents and Jones is about to as well. That's why changing divisions is so interesting. But damn... Silva jumping to Jones or Jones jumping to JDS in their arrival to a new weight class, I don't know about that. I'd think the current champion would own them if they move up.