UFC On Fox 3: Breakdown and Predictions

UFC On Fox 3

UFC on Fox 3 goes down this Saturday live and free on Fox/Fuel TV. I will be interested to see how the UFC matches up against the Floyd Mayweather vs. Miguel Cotto with a strong line up but one lacking “Star Power”.

But that’s not why we are here. We are here to talk some fights and some predictions, so without further ado:

Danny Castillo vs. John Cholish

Danny Castillo is a fun guy to watch and the stronger fighter overall.   I would be willing to be he’d give up just about anything to switch places with fellow WEC’er Anthony Pettis.  Cholish is a finishing machine whose only loss was in his professional debut. 

Strictly going with my inner fandom here:

Castillo TKO Rd.2

Pat Barry vs. Lavar Johnson

This is one of those potentially ultra-violent matches put on for the hell of it.

I’m cool with that.

Johnson hits hard and Barry gets hit quite a bit. Legs kicks may change things slightly but Barry has gotten away from those.

Lavar Johnson by decapitation TKO Rd. 1

Check out the rest after the jump:

Alan Belcher vs. Rousimar Palhares

If Belcher can avoid the floor he may save his knees and ankles from “Paul Harris” and his nasty, almost illegal submission game.  Belcher has the skills to keep things upright and score from a variety of angles, but I don’t see him putting Palhares away and therefore his survival chances are low.

Rousimar Palhares Via submission Rd. 2

Johny Hendricks vs. Josh Koscheck

Hendricks did all of us a favor by taking Jon Fitch out in :12 seconds and for that I will be forever grateful.  I’m a little torn on this one.  Koscheck is a hard guy to predict because sometimes he shows up really flat and other times he looks like the most dominant fighter in the division.  Hendricks is a wrestler with punching power.

I think Hendricks hits harder and that will be the difference.

Johny Hendricks via decision

Nate Diaz vs. Jim Miller (five-round main event)

For all intents and purposes here Nate Diaz is the more interesting fighter. Miller’s game is played high and tight with little room for error or excitement.  His striking is above average and his top game smothering.  Diaz needs Miller to play into his game to win and I doubt that’s going to happen.  So aside from a stray punch or a Hail Mary submission from the bottom Nate’s going to get bullied for 5 really long rounds.

Jim Miller via Decision