Change is a reality in sports and UFC 146 has not been immune to alterations to its main card because of injury and positive drug tests. A revamped Card comes our way from Las Vegas on Saturday night and amid all of the changes, there is still an impressive lineup of fights that you won\u2019t want to miss! <\/p>\n
Let\u2019s take a look at this most impressive lineup and what we can expect.<\/p>\n
UFC 146: Dos Santos vs. Mir<\/strong> Junior dos Santos (14-1-0): -550<\/strong> Frank, Mir, a former champion himself takes on current champ Junior dos Santos in the Main Event on Saturday night with the oddsmakers not giving Mir much of a chance. There is a reason for that \u2013 Mir has traditionally had his issues with elite level strikers \u2013 his chin and his stand-up defense is definitely his weakness.<\/p>\n Mir\u2019s only chance is to somehow get this fight to the mat where he can use his jiu-jitsu Black Belt. Nobody has been able to do this to dos Santos so far and I can\u2019t see Mir being the first. Mr. dos Santos will have his way in this fight \u2013 he will strike his way to an easy win.<\/p>\n Don`t let the lopsided odds scare you \u2013 dos Santos is the class of this fight!<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Junior dos Santos -550<\/p>\n Cain Velasquez (9-1-0): -400<\/strong> Two big men coming off KO losses look to place their names firmly on the Heavyweight landscape in the co-main event on Saturday. Velasquez is a former UFC Heavyweight champion \u2013 Silva is a former Elite XC Heavyweight champ. One huge advantage that is overlooked for Velasquez ahead of this bout is the fact that two of his training partners have already faced Silva (and lost).<\/p>\n Cain has the all around skills to get it done in this fight \u2013 elite wrestling and a superior striking game. The odds aren\u2019t all that appealing but Velasquez deserves to be a lofty favorite. Silva is good but his recent showings have been less than scintillating. Velasquez is too hungry and to well rounded to be denied.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Cain Velasquez -400<\/p>\n Roy Nelson (16-7-0): -230<\/strong> Roy Nelson, owner of one of the best chins in MMA takes on the very tough Dave Herman in yet another Heavyweight showdown on the Main Card of UFC 146. Nelson was originally set to fight Bigfoot Silva, then Gabriel Gonzaga \u2013 no doubt he is happy to see the less dangerous Dave Herman. Herman last lost to Stefan Struve \u2013 Roy Nelson destroyed Struve! [ad-3573245]<\/p>\n With better conditioning and a very underrated all around game, Nelson is almost a lock to win this fight. He is tough as nails and is as dangerous a big man is there is in the sport.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Roy Nelson -230<\/p>\n Shane del Rosario (11-0-0): +125<\/strong> Heavyweight prospects will be on display in a match between two undefeated fighters when Shane del Rosario takes on Stipe Miocic. Miocic is certainly well rounded \u2013 he owns a NCAA Division I wrestling championship and in his MMA career he has seven stoppages in eight career fights. Del Rosario on the other hand will be returning after what was believed to be a career ending injury in a car accident last year.<\/p>\n Miocic is definitely in shape and is in the zone while del Rosario has more questions than answers ahead of this fight. Ring rust, a sketchy wrestling background and a questionable desire to compete at a very high level will be del Rosario\u2019s undoing. Take Miocic to continue his impressive streak.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Stipe Miocic -155<\/p>\n Stefan Struve (23-5-0): -120<\/strong> Lavar Johnson will step into the Octagon for the second time in a month as a late injury replacement for Mark Hunt to take on \u201cthe Skyscraper\u201d Stefan Struve. Struve has won four of his last five fights including an impressive submission win over Pat Barry \u2013 Johnson is coming off a stoppage of Barry last month.<\/p>\n Of Struve\u2019s 23 wins, 15 have come by submission while of Johnson\u2019s five losses, four have come by submission. The all around game of Struve, along with the height and reach will likely be too much for Lavar. Johnson does have a brawling style that has given Struve fits in the past but Struve is just too crafty and has too many tools to be denied in this one.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Stefan Struve -120<\/p>\n Preliminary Card<\/strong><\/p>\n Edson Barboza (10-0-0): -550<\/strong> Very impressive Brazilian Lightweight prospect Edson Barboza returns to action when he takes on former WEC Lightweight champion Jamie Varner in what has all the makings of Fight of the Night. Varner has struggled of late, losing four straight fights while Barboza is on quite a role. Varner represents a big step up in competition for Barboza \u2013 I think he will rise to the occasion.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Edson Barboza -550<\/p>\n Dan Hardy (23-10-0): -120<\/strong> In what promises to be an intriguing bout of two elite strikers, Dan Hardy and Duane Ludwig will attempt to avoid the UFC axe when they clash in Welterweight action on Saturday night. Dan Hardy\u2019s enormous weakness \u2013 his ground game will likely be his undoing in this one. Ludwig should be able to hold his own in the standup but when this fight hits the mat, Ludwig will show that he is in a different class.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Duane Ludwig -110<\/p>\n Darren Elkins (13-2-0): +210<\/strong> Former TUF winner Diego Brandao will look to keep his roll going when he takes on the very tough Darren Elkins in Featherweight action. Elkins has a very strong wrestling background but Brandao has proven that he can avoid the takedown. That said; look for Brandao\u2019s elite striking to result in a highlight reel knockout in this one. Knockout of the Night anyone?<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Diego Brandao -280<\/p>\n CB Dollaway (11-4-0): +120<\/strong> Mayhem Miller will try to erase an embarrassing loss at the hands of Michael Bisping when he takes on former Light Heavyweight prospect C.B. Dolloway in what is a crucial fight for both men. Dollaway\u2019s wrestling should be the determining factor on Saturday. Miller was once a top Light Heavyweight in the world but he has clearly lost a step or two. Dollaway is young and hungry and will be prime for victory.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> CB Dollaway +120<\/p>\n Glover Teixeira (17-2-0): -220<\/strong> Highly regarded Glover Teixeira will make his long-awaited UFC debut on Saturday against TUF alumnus Kyle Kingsbury. Teixeira is widely regarded as the most dangerous Light Heavyweight yet to fight in the UFC. His heavy hands and elite grappling should be too much for Kingsbury who had his issues on the ground in his last fight against Stephan Bonnar.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Glover Kingsbury -220<\/p>\n Paul Sass (12-0-0): +175<\/strong> Undefeated British submission ace Paul Sass will look to take another step up the Lightweight ladder when he takes on the very tough, well rounded Jacob Volkmannn on the undercard of UFC 146. Sass may have met his match with the terrific wrestling and great submission game of Volkmann however. Sass is impressive by not Volkmann is even more slick!<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Jacob Volkmann -220<\/p>\n Mike Brown (25-8-0): -170<\/strong> Former WEC Bantamweight champion Mike Brown takes on Daniel Pineda in a Featherweight battle to kick things off on Saturday night. Pineda has been on quite a role having won two straight in a combined 3:42 while Brown has struggled since his title fight with Jose Aldo \u2013 losing two and winning a razor close decision. Pineda has the confidence and the skills to give Brown fits in this one \u2013 the streak continues Saturday!<\/p>\n
\nDate: May 26, 2012
\nTime: 10pm ET\/7pm PT
\nLocation: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
\nBroadcast<\/strong>: Pay-per-view, FX (Prelims)<\/p>\n
\n Frank Mir (16-5): +375<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Antonio Silva (16-3-0): +300<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Dave Herman (21-3-0): +180<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Stipe Miocic (8-0-0): -155<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Lavar Johnson -110<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Jamie Varner (16-5-1): +375<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Duane \u2018Bang\u2019 Ludwig (21-12-0): -110<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Diego Brandao (14-7-0): -280<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Jason \u2018Mayhem\u2019 Miller (23-8-0): -150<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Kyle Kingsbury (11-3-0): +175<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Jacob Volkmann (14-2-0): -220<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Daniel Pineda (17-7-0): +140<\/strong><\/p>\n