UFC 131: Dos Santos vs. Carwin
UFC 131 goes down in beautiful Vancouver British Columbia on Saturday night and although injuries have watered down the card a little bit, the night should still provide us with plenty of entertainment. There are contenders, prospects and respected veterans fighting for their UFC lives – it should be fun!
Date/Time: June 11, 2011, 9pm ET/6pm PT
Venue: Rogers Arena, Vancouver, BC, Canada
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
Betting: Bet on UFC 131 at BetOnline.com
Main Card
Heavyweight (265lbs)
Junior dos Santos (12-1-0): -190
Shane Carwin (12-1-0): +155
The Main Event was supposed to feature Brock Lesnar but his well documented health problems (damn Canadian Health Care System!) has led to Shane Carwin having to fill in. The Main Event now features two of the best strikers in the Heavyweight Division – chances are that this fight won’t the full three rounds! 
Junior dos Santos knew that he was going to have to face an enormous man – his training with Team Black House will have prepared him for anywhere that this fight happens to go. Shane Carwin is certainly a dangerous man but his last fight against Brock Lesnar exposed his only apparent weakness – conditioning! Although Greg Jackson will have Carwin as ready as he could be, dos Santos’s superior boxing should ensure that this fight will be dictated by the Brazilian.
Carwin is a very good fighter but dos Santos is right on the cusp of elite status. Expect dos Santos to continue on his path toward Heavyweight Gold – Cain Velasquez had better be ready because the dos Santos train is firmly on a Championship track. Pick: Junior dos Santos -190
Heavyweight (265lbs)
Jon Olav Einemo (6-1-0): +200
Dave Herman (20-2-0): -260
In another tremendous Heavyweight tilt, Brazilian jiu-jitsu Black Belt Jon Olav Einemo returns to action after five years away to take on prospect Dave Herman in a battle of the UFC virgins. Herman has finished 19 of his 20 combatants during a stellar career and should be able to have his way with the inevitably rusty Einemo. Don’t expect a long fight but expect a Herman win! Pick: Dave Herman -260
Lightweight (155lbs)
Vagner (6-1-0): +300
Donald Cerrone (13-3): -400
Vagner Rocha replaces injured Mac Danzig
Former WEC Lightweight Champion Donald Cerrone takes on Strikeforce and Bellator veteran Vagner Rocha on the Main Card of UFC 131. While the jiu-jitsu Black Belt Rocha is a serious threat on the mat, the all around skills of Donald Cerrone will prove too much for the injury replacement Rocha. Cerrone is the real deal and will prove it on Saturday night. Pick: Donald Cerrone -400
Middleweight (185lbs)
Mark Munoz (10-2-0): -130
Demian Maia (13-2-0): +100
Demian Maia, to me is one of the toughest fighters to figure out. Sure his standup is emerging but he is still exclusively a submission specialist. Mark Munoz, a former NCAA Div 1 wrestler has adapted well to MMA – he is effective in using his wrestling base to keep the fight standing and inflict immense damage in his strikes. I like the fact that Munoz trains at Team Black House with a fighter (Anderson Silva) who made Maia look silly inside the Octagon. Better striking and a superior training camp should be the difference in this one. Pick: Mark Munoz -130
Featherweight (145lbs)
Kenny Florian (13-5-0): -300
Diego Nunes (15-1-0):+220
This could be a #1 Contender match in the Featherweight Division. The prize for winning? A bout against possibly the most dominant Champ in the UFC – Jose Aldo. Both Florian and Nunes have fought and beaten some top notch competition but Florian’s experience against some of the best the UFC has to offer will be the difference. Florian’s record may not be impressive but the caliber of his competition certainly is! Pick: Kenny Florian -300
Preliminary Card
Lightweight (155lbs)
Yves Edwards (39-16-1): +120
Sam Stout (16-6-1): -150
Two MMA veterans meet in what could easily be another in a long line of Fight of the Night for Sam Stout. Yves Edwards will step into the Octagon for the 57th time and is coming off impressive wins against John Gunderson and Cody McKenzie. He will have to be prepared to go the distance in this fight – Sam Stout has gone three rounds in nine of his last ten bouts. Edwards will also have to be prepared to eat some leather – Stout is a relentless striker whose will is the only thing better than his chin. Pick: Sam Stout -150
Featherweight (145lbs)
Jason Young (8-3-0): +250
Dustin Poirier (9-1-0): -350
Jason Young replaces injured Rani Yahya
Well rounded rising Featherweight prospect Dustin Poirier catches a bit of a break on Saturday – “C+ level fighter” Jason Young will provide the opposition. Young is a one dimensional fighter, striking is his game. Poirier should be able to use his immense all around skills to cement his Top 10 Featherweight status. Poirier won’t be denied! Pick: Dustin Poirier -350
Light Heavyweight (205lbs)
Krzysztof Soszynski (22-10-1): -240
Igor Pokrajac (23-8-0): +190
Igor Pokrajac replaces injured Anthony Perosh
In a potential “loser gets cut match” two journeyman Light Heavyweights do battle. Krzysztof Soszynski takes on Croatian Igor Pokrajac. Take the underdog in this one – Pokrajac despite being an injury replacement has the take down defense and the type of striking prowess that has given Soszynski fits in the past. Pick: Igor Pokrajac +190
Featherweight (145lbs)
Michihiro Omigawa (10-9-1):
Darren Elkins (12-2-0):
Michihiro Omigawa will try to impose his incredible Judo skills on Darren Elkins, a fighter that hasn’t gone more than one minute in either of his UFC appearances (1-1 over that span). Omigawa’s record certainly isn’t all that impressive but we just haven’t seen enough of Elkins to give him the nod. Pick: Michihiro Omigawa
Middleweight (185lbs)
Jesse Bongfeldt (21-7-1): +220
Chris Weidman (5-0-0): -300
Two grapplers meet in Middleweight action on Saturday night. Canadian submission specialist hopes to build on a terrific career in Canada (wins over TJ Grant and Sean Pierson) against wrestler/grappler Chris Weidman. Weidman was impressive in defeating a tough Alessio Sakara in his UFC debut but I like the experience and home crowd to carry Bongfeldt to victory. Pick: Jesse Bongfeldt +220
Heavyweight (265lbs)
Aaron Rosa (16-3-0): -180
Joey Beltran (12-5-0): +150
Aaron Rosa will attempt to build on an impressive four fight win streak when he takes on the durable Joey Beltran who is feeling the heat in the UFC. I like Beltran’s ruggedness and desperation to prevail in this one – a loss could mean the end of his UFC career. Pick: Joey Beltran +150
Middleweight (185lbs)
Nick Ring (9-0-0):
James Head (7-1-0):
Undefeated “The Ultimate Fighter 11” alum looks to build upon his wave of success when he takes on UFC newcomer James Head in Middleweight action. While Ring is coming off a controversial decision win against Riki Fukada, Head left no doubt in his last fight – defeating a very tough Gerald Harris. That’s good enough for me! Pick: James Head
