Headline: The Rematch \u2013 dos Santos defends Heavyweight Title Against Velasquez at UFC 155<\/strong><\/p>\n It seems that it has been a long time since we saw any UFC action but the wait will certainly be worth it when the Dana White and Joe Silva put on their latest MMA event. UFC 155 comes our way this weekend from Las Vegas and it features a long awaited rematch between two of the young studs of the Heavyweight Division. <\/p>\n The fun doesn\u2019t stop there however \u2013 the card is chalk full of terrific fights, many of which have Title implications. Lets\u2019 break it down.<\/p>\n UFC 155: Dos Santos vs. Velasquez 2<\/strong> Junior Dos Santos (15-1): -190<\/strong> In a rematch of one of the most anticipated Heavyweight fights of 2012 Junior dos Santos will look to employ a similar fight plan against Cain Velasquez and retain his Heavyweight belt. The first fight ended in 64 seconds! Striking was the difference in that fight and in all likelihood will be this weekend as well.<\/p>\n dos Santos has anointed himself as one of the best strikers the UFC has ever seen \u2013 his boxing is like no other in the Heavyweight division. He also has the ability to avoid getting hit himself and to snuff any sort of takedown attempts by his opponents. If and when a fight hits the ground, which has become increasingly unlikely as Junior\u2019s career has gone on, dos Santos can use his strong grappling to maintain control or simply get back on his feet where he is the most dangerous man in the world.<\/p>\n Velasquez is a wrestler first and foremost. That\u2019s not to say that he does not possess a good striking game. But for Cain to be successful the fight has to hit the mat and he has to employ his ground and pound game. As mentioned, getting Junior to the ground and keeping him there has proven nearly impossible for any Heavyweight he has faced including Velasquez a year ago.<\/p>\n The fact remains ahead of this fight that Junior\u2019s strength play right into Cain\u2019s weaknesses and vice versa. Dos Santos uses power punches and Velasquez has shown that his chin isn\u2019t exactly in the upper echelon. On the flip side, Velasquez is a takedown artist \u2013 dos Santos has some of the best takedown defense on the planet. It all adds up to a similar fate for Velasquez \u2013 his game just doesn\u2019t stack up against the Champ. In knockout fashion\u2026.<\/p>\n Pick<\/strong>: Junior dos Santos -190<\/p>\n Joe Lauzon (22-7): +180<\/strong> Two of the more exciting Lightweights do battle in the second last fight on Saturday. Jim Miller, a former Title Contender will look to get back in the win column after a loss to Nate Diaz when he takes on the exciting finishing machine, Joe Lauzon. Both these fighter can finish a fight anywhere it happens to go but Miller is a notch or two above Lauzon in just about every aspect of MMA.<\/p>\n Look for Lauzon to come out quickly, establish his good overall striking game and try for a few slick submissions. But like a true professional, Miller should be able to weather the storm, wear Lauzon down, utilize his elite submission defense and pounce on an inevitable Lauzon mistake.<\/p>\n Miller himself is quite a submission fighter \u2013 I like him to get it done on Saturday against a fighter who is not as good as the UFC has built him up to be. Miller puts his name right back in the thick of the Lightweight Title conversation with a nice win. [ad-3573245]<\/p>\n Pick<\/strong>: Jim Miller -230<\/p>\n Tim Boetsch (16-4): -110<\/strong> Two fighters that have been streaking lately meet in Middleweight action at UFC 155. Both Tim Boetsch and Costa Philippou have been on nice runs lately but a closer look reveals the fact that both have barely won their last few fights. Boetsch has the wrestling and power edge along with the distinction of having the bigger heart while Philippou will have a slight boxing advantage and OK takedown defense.<\/p>\n In a battle of \u201cC+ Level\u201d fighters, I like the power to prevail in this one. Boetsch\u2019s win against Yushin Okami in his last fight certainly opened my eyes enough to give him the edge in this one. While I think the fight goes the distance, I think the power shots of Boetsch and his \u201cnever say die\u201d attitude wins out.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Tim Boetsch -110<\/p>\n Alan Belcher (18-6): -110<\/strong> Yushin Okami and Alan Belcher will try to get their names into the Middleweight Title conversation when they meet on Saturday night. Okami is terrific in almost all aspects of MMA \u2013 only a monumental comeback in his last fight against Tim Boetsch kept him from remaining in the top tier of UFC Middleweights. Belcher is a fairly well rounded fighter that has beaten the likes of Wilson Gouveia, Patrick Cote and Rousimar Palhares recently \u2013 he is on quite a roll.<\/p>\n The problem that I see with Belcher ahead of this fight is his lack of defense \u2013 he got tagged repeatedly against Gouveia and he nearly succumbed to a leg lock against Palhares. All told, Belcher appears to have some serious hole in his defense \u2013 not a good trait when facing a methodical, experienced Okami. Belcher\u2019s previous three opponents failed to make him pay for his mistakes \u2013 against Okami he won\u2019t be so lucky!<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Yushin Okami -120<\/p>\n Chris Leben (22-8): -160<\/strong> Chris Leben brings his legendary toughness back to the Octagon on Saturday against Derek Brunson, a former Strikeforce Middleweight. While Brunson has his supporters, I am not one of them. He was KO\u2019d in his last fight against Jacare Souza \u2013 a fighter that had not recorded a Knockout in his previous 18 fights. Leben is twice as powerful as Souza!<\/p>\n Leben is an absolute beast \u2013 he has proven that someone has to finish him in order to win \u2013 Brunson is not exactly a UFC caliber finisher just yet. Take the Crippler to foot stomp his way to victory!<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Chris Leben -160<\/p>\n Jamie Varner (20-7-1): +100 vs. Melvin Guillard (30-11-2): -130<\/strong> Brad Pickett (22-6): -110 vs. Eddie Wineland (19-8): -120<\/strong> Byron Bloodworth (6-2): +325 vs. Erik Perez (12-4): -450<\/strong> Michael Johnson (12-6): -240 vs. Myles Jury (10-0): +190<\/strong> Leonard Garcia (15-9): +300 vs. Max Holloway (6-1): -400<\/strong>
\nDate\/Time: December 29, 2012, 10pm ET\/7pm PT
\nLocation: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
\nBroadcast<\/strong>: Pay-per-view, FX prelims<\/p>\nMAIN CARD<\/strong><\/h3>\n
\n Cain Velasquez (10-1): +155<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Jim Miller (21-4): -230<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Costa Philippou (11-2): -120<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Yushin Okami (27-7): -120<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Derek Brunson (9-2): +130<\/strong><\/p>\nUFC PRELIMS LIVE ON FX<\/h3>\n
\nPick: Melvin Guillard -130<\/p>\n
\nPick: Brad Pickett -120<\/p>\n
\nPick: Erik Perez -450<\/p>\n
\nPick: Myles Jury +190 in an upset<\/p>\n
\nPick: Max Holloway -400<\/p>\nUFC PRELIMS LIVE STREAM ON FACEBOOK<\/h3>\n