Demetrious Johnson vs. Joseph Benavidez
The first fight was a lot closer than most people remember, and this fight could be a lot different even though it has been a little over a year from the original. SInce the original fight, Benavidez has fought three and Johnson twice. In his fights Benavidez decisioned Ian McCall in more dominant fashion that Johnson, and knocked out top ranked opponents Darren Uyenoyama and Jussier Formiga. Johnson on the other hand barely made it past John Dodson and took out an overmatched John Moraga. Benavidez seems to have upped his game but Johnson has only stayed the same. Benavidez takes the second in what is sure to be a trilogy of fights someday.
Urijah Faber vs. Michael McDonald
This is the hardest fight to predict on this card, because both are such talented fighters that have showed minimal weakness. The one x-factor in this fight is the cardio of McDonald. He showed to tire in his fight with Barao, and has only hit the third round very few amount of times. Unless Faber is finished early look for him to steal round one or two while putting punctuation on it in the third round for a decision win.
Chad Mendes vs. Nik Lentz
Lentz is a tough fighter, but losses to Mark Bocek and Evan Dunham shake a lot of people’s confidence in him. No one has ever outwrestled Mendes and do not expect Lentz to be the first. Add into the situation Mendes’ power and you have a cocktail for a knockout of the night performance. That may be the ultimate outcome of this fight, but look for Mendes to come out ahead in this fight.
Joe Lauzon vs. Mac Danzig
Lauzon and Danzig are both fighters who have floated around the lightweight division of the UFC for some time, but the problem is that Danzig has few places to win this fight. Unless he hurts Lauzon it will be hard for him to even control him on the ground. Danzig puts up a good fight until getting taken out in the second or third round of this fight by TKO.
Danny Castillo vs. Edson Barboza
Castillo is a good fighter, but he has been prone to slip up in some fights. He should have won the fight against Michael Johnson and Jacob Volkmann, but he slipped up and lost those fights. Barboza has only ever lost in his late replacement fight with Jaime Varner, but it looks like those that has spurred him to step up and fight all that much harder. Castillo does not have the striking to stick will Barboza which will cause his ultimate downfall.
Bobby Green vs. Pat Healy
Green proved he can put up with good wrestlers when he faced off with Jacob Volkmann, but Healy has better tools than Volkmann. This fight relies on Green being able to not only contend with Healy on the ground but attack as well. That will not happen and Healy will be able to finish this fight ont he ground in the third round after a back and forth beginning to the fight.