Time to preview UFC 125 on New Year’s Day
Music to listen to: Vicarious by Tool
Let’s get to the fights:
Grey Maynard vs. Frankie Edgar: This is a rematch of a fight from April 2008 when Maynard used his superior size, strength and wrestling skills to ride out Edgar for a decision victory. However, since that fight, Maynard has maintained his skills while Edgar has improved drastically, even showing off excellent striking and speed that wasn’t even present in the earlier contest.
This contest will most likely go to a decision because neither man has shown the ability to finish fights, especially Maynard which is disappointing because the man has the physical ability to achieve that.
This is also going to be a closely contested fight in relation to scoring because you’re going to probably see five rounds of Edgar staying outside, using his jab and speed, to counter Maynard’s continued takedown attempts. Those are tough to judge.
Prediction: Edgar by decision
Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann: This will be a standup fight where if it ends up on the ground, someone made a mistake. Leben has been on a nice win streak with triumphs over Aaron Simpson and Yoshihiro Akiyama earlier this year. We all know that he’s going to come forward and look for the knockout.
Stann has made some improvements in his wrestling, but he’s going to use his new found power through a drop to middleweight and try to knock out Leben as well.
Prediction: Stann by decision
Thiago Silva vs. Brandon Vera: Most MMA fans are tired of hearing about the talents of Brandon Vera and the excuses that he has used when he loses a fight. The reality is that Vera was one of the top prospects in all of MMA a few years ago but is 2-3 in his last five fights including two consecutive losses to Randy Couture and Jon Jones. Vera still has some of the top standup in the light heavyweight division based on his muay thai skills but mentally seems to falter once the fight starts.
Silva is a solid fighter who will bring the action to Vera in the standup game as well. The Brazilian has some of the better hands in the division and can knock out anybody.
Vera has a better ground game than Silva has power.
Prediction: Silva by TKO
Takanori Gomi vs. Clay Guida: This will probably be fight of the night because both men go at it from the start and it won’t be boring. I think that Guida’s work with Greg Jackson will show an improved fighter that will add some skill to his relentless effort.
Prediction: Guida by decision
Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim: Give Nate Diaz credit. Its rare in this day and age of MMA when someone decided to move up a weight class but that’s exactly what Diaz has decided to do. This has been a successful move because he’s now 2-0 as a welterweight.
Kim is the physically more imposing fighter between the two but Diaz uses technique anyway so that’s not an issue for the Stockton, Calif. Native.
If it goes to the ground, Diaz has the clear advantage.
Prediction: Diaz by decision
Those are my thoughts, what are yours?
The Sports Inquirer 
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