Middleweights Chael Sonnen (25-11-1 Samson Ebukam Jersey , 4-4 UFC) or. Brian Stann (11-3, 5-2 UFC)
The Matchup: With a middleweight dividing nearly cleaned beyond marketable challengers, Sonnen-Stann could develop a viable one, and each guy is known for a compelling backstory to provide the effort. Inside Stann’s case, this is a certifiable marketer’s goal: he was given the Silver Star like a Marine, graduated from the Naval Academy and also shown slow-but-steady improvement as he’s marched up that 185-pound ranks.
Sonnen remains the only real title challenger to win a couple of round against champ Anderson Silva, and his epic showing into their first bout — ahead of his being submitted within the final round — manufactured all the more impressive everytime Silva steamrolls some sort of challenger. “The Spider” could definitely enjoy a Sonnen rematch.
Unbeaten inside three outings considering dropping to middleweight, Stann’s slower and precise solution has dispatched foes, making waves along the way. He is not similar fighter that appeared to be blitzed standing in his second WEC coordinate with Steve Cantwell, as well as the drop in fat fits his body better. Gifted with solid strikes and athleticism — he she played linebacker during Navy — he showed the guy can put the injured on opponents along with his knockouts of the actual notoriously durable Chris Leben and original Sengoku Raiden Championship titleholder Jorge Santiago.
Sonnen, relationship, is the best wrestler inside middleweight division, and among the best wrestlers in the sport in a pure MMA context. He’s great timing at transitioning from attractive to takedowns, top-notch conditioning and the ability to control opponents on the top, staying active enough to keep the referee through restarting the steps. He represents MMA’s model of three yards and also a cloud of particles, and it provides proven brutally powerful. Past opponents, which include Nate Marquardt, Yushin Okami and Dan Miller have been able to complete little but get sound thumpings in the way.
Sonnen’s glaring weakness remains submission protection, and previous foes have been more successful there than somewhere else; eight of her 11 losses are generally by submission. However, this matchup depends on factors of which ride in Sonnen’s favour, as Stann is just not likely to protect a submission and will not have the high-level jiu-jitsu pedigree on the Silva, Paulo Filho or Jeremy Horn. Stann’s fight of choice involves standing along with forcing Sonnen to interact and bang. Thus, it has proven difficult to appeal the Team Pursuit veteran into a great match. He merely lures foes towards exchange range, tries for a takedown and takes these individuals down.
It will administer a near-perfect operation for Stann for you to win, and he will have to remain on his feet for many of us of at smallest two effective rounds to try and do so. Sonnen’s standup is just not of the world-beating variety, but it is beneficial enough, as he can lace foes having straight, basic one-twos and the occasional kick to keep them honest before bursting directly into tie them upwards and take these folks down. Sonnen’s ability to acquire the fight within the mat and get smart with body gives off, headshots and elbows aplenty as well tires out opponents.
Lightweights Melvin Guillard (29-8-2, a single NC, 10-4 UFC) vs. Joe Lauzon (20-6, 7-3 UFC)
This Matchup: Riding a five-bout succeeding streak that includes some destructive, high-profile stoppages throughout his last two outings, Guillard may be a hot property at lightweight. Gifted using explosive power and unmatched physical resources, he brings a rare sort of striking to your 155-pound division: the ability to get people in lightning barrages.
That offensive power is duplicated by excellent takedown defense, footwork and spry sides, which mean any individual facing Guillard will ruin your day getting the fight for the mat and preventing his big bombs in the way. In past actions, Guillard has usually had the natural edge in obvious tools available, although mental mistakes as well as conditioning have hampered him in key performances. That is ostensibly in past times, as he is now training with Greg Jackson and has build some career-defining performances considering that two joined forces.
Lauzon presents an appealing test. “The Ultimate Fighter” Season 5 alum is just not a strong takedown artist but relies on aggression, conditioning and outstanding jiu-jitsu to make use of positions and push opponents with a point where many people make mistakes that he can cash in on. In the stacked lightweight division, where close decisions will often be the rule throughout deciding fights, a victory within the distance can go a long way to helping help make one’s case for moving up this ranks. On pieces of paper, this one appearance precisely like upon bout where a conclusion is not in all likelihood. Lauzon is as well game to downshift in the event Guillard proves a lot of of a handful for the feet and far too dangerous to make it possible for “The Young Assassin” lag if they can get it around the ground. Something is required to give.