Chris Weidman (9-0-9): +190<\/strong><\/p>\nWeidman is perceived as an absolute stylistic nightmare for the Spider but a look at his resume reveals the lack of true competition that the challenger has been in against \u2013 Mark Munoz is his toughest competitor to date \u2013 a far cry from what Weidman is about to see Saturday night.<\/p>\n
We all know what Anderson Silva brings to the Octagon \u2013 the best standup game in the sport, good takedown defense, an unparalleled creativeness and a very underrated submission game. Simply put, Silva can beat you anywhere the fight happens to go. Silva will have the added motivation of a legion of fans that believe his status as the best that ever lived is overstated and that he is bound to lose at some time.<\/p>\n
Weidman is the best ground fighter in the Middleweight division \u2013 hands down. He brings a wrestling ability second to almost none, a terrific submission game and a way of getting a fight to the ground and keeping it there. Weidman is a far better version of Chael Sonnen who was the closest man to defeating the legend. Long story short – Anderson\u2019s weaknesses are Weidman\u2019s strengths.<\/p>\n
While you absolutely have to love Anderson Silva and what he did for the sport, you have to think that he may have met his match in Chris Weidman who matches up almost too well with the champ. Weidman is a smart guy (he has a degree in psychology) and will use that cerebral edge to study the things that Chael Sonnen did against Anderson. Nobody has been able to keep Weidman from taking them down and once on the ground this will be the challenger\u2019s fight. Silva\u2019s streak and reign as undisputed champ comes to an end Saturday!<\/p>\n
Pick:<\/strong> Chris Weidman +190<\/p>\nFrankie Edgar (14-4-1): -550<\/strong>
\n Charles Oliveira (16-3-0): +375<\/strong><\/p>\nFrankie Edgar will be looking to put an end to an uncharacteristic three fight losing streak Saturday night when he takes on Charles Oliveira. It\u2019s not that Edgar has been bad \u2013 he\u2019s lost to Benson Henderson and Jose Aldo, it\u2019s just that he has come up a tad short against the best the sport has to offer.<\/p>\n
Charles Oliveira ain\u2019t quite the best the sport has to offer. Edgar is still one of the most talented, most dedicated and hardest working non-champions in the UFC right now. He may not quite be at that A+ level anymore but he is certainly an A- at worst. Oliveira is a B fighter at best. Oliveira finds out what it takes to be a Top 5 fighter as Edgar takes a lopsided unanimous decision.<\/p>\n
Pick:<\/strong> Frankie Edgar -550<\/p>\nRoger Gracie (6-1-0): +125<\/strong>
\n Tim Kennedy (15-4-0): -155<\/strong><\/p>\nMiddleweights looking to jump into the top 10 in the division square off Saturday night when newcomer to the UFC Roger Gracie takes on former Green Beret Tim Kennedy who had two shots at the Strikeforce Middleweight Title and lost both in unanimous decisions \u2013 Kennedy certainly isn\u2019t scared of the big stage!<\/p>\n
Gracie will have the height and reach advantage as well as an edge on the ground but Gracie has shown to be vulnerable against strikers \u2013 something that Kennedy should be able to exploit. Kennedy\u2019s submission defense will be the key here as well \u2013 I think it\u2019s good enough. Kennedy\u2019s striking advantage will lead to the necessary points to claim victory \u2013 Gracie won\u2019t be able to handle the power nor the pressure of Mr. Kennedy.<\/p>\n
Pick:<\/strong> Tim Kennedy -155<\/p>\nDennis Siver (21-8-0): +190<\/strong>
\n Cub Swanson (19-5-0): -240<\/strong><\/p>\nFeatherweights looking for a shot at Jose Aldo will be looking to make a statement Saturday when Cub Swanson takes on Dennis Siver. Siver drops another weight class for this fight hoping to find a comfort zone. He does bring a varied skill set to the Octagon however – BJJ, Tae Kwon Do, Sambo, Kickboxing and Judo.<\/p>\n
Swanson on the other hand looked very impressive in beating a very tough Dustin Poirier in his last bout. That makes him 4-0 in his last four fights with three KOs during that span. He is a very dangerous dude indeed.<\/p>\n
Although I love Swanson\u2019s aggressiveness, I think that it his undoing in this fight. At +190, I am willing to take a shot on an underdog who is more well rounded and has seen about everything there is to see in the world of fighting. In a coin flip, I\u2019ll take the dog!<\/p>\n
Pick:<\/strong> Dennis Siver +190<\/p>\nTim Boetsch (16-5-0): +110<\/strong>
\n Mark Munoz (12-3-0): -140<\/strong><\/p>\nTwo of the top 10 fighters in the Middleweight Division do battle Saturday \u2013 both looking to rebound after a loss in their last fights. Munoz has not fought in over a year and there were whispers of him letting himself go physically and psychologically after his devastating loss to Chris Weidman. The question is \u2013 can he get back his mojo after seeming to lose his will? [ad-3573245]<\/p>\n
Tim Boetsch hasn\u2019t been all that impressive as of late either \u2013 a loss to Constantine Philippou last time out followed a rather unflattering win over Hector Lombard. Boetsch will have the striking edge in this one and perhaps the psychological advantage as well and I think that is where the fight will be won.<\/p>\n
The wrestling chops between the two is awash, but Munoz\u2019s sketchy chin will be tested and will eventually fail him again as Boetsch wins this one by TKO.<\/p>\n
Pick:<\/strong> Tim Boetsch +110<\/p>\nPRELIMINARY CARD<\/h3>\n
(FX, 8 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n
Andrew Craig (8-1-0): -145 vs. Chris Leben (22-9-0): +115
\nPick:<\/strong> Andrew Craig -145<\/p>\nNorman Parke (17-2-0): -190 vs. Kazuki Tokudome (12-3-1): +155
\nPick:<\/strong> Norman Parke -190<\/p>\nEdson Barboza (11-1-0): -600 vs. Rafaello Oliveira (16-5-0): +400
\nPick:<\/strong> Edson Barboza -600<\/p>\nGabriel Gonzaga (14-7-0): -240 vs. Dave Herman (21-5-0): +190
\nPick<\/strong>: Dave Herman +190<\/p>\nPRELIMINARY CARD<\/h3>\n
(Facebook, 7 p.m. ET)<\/p>\n
Seth Baczynski (18-9-0): -260 vs. Brian Melancon (6-2-0): +200
\nPick:<\/strong> Seth Baczynski -260<\/p>\nDavid Mitchell (12-2-0): +350 vs. Mike Pierce (16-5-0): -500
\nPick:<\/strong> Mike Pierce -500<\/p>\n