August 7th, 2010, was a day that mixed martial art fans will never forget. Chael Sonnen was two minutes away from beating the best fighter to ever step inside the Octagon. Then, the unexpected happened. Anderson Silva locked in a triangle choke that forced Chael Sonnen to tap. This was the closest, and really the only fighter, who ever gave Anderson Silva a competitive fight inside the Octagon. Finally, almost two years later, we get to see one of the most anticipated rematches in UFC history. Anderson Silva is looking to defend his UFC middleweight belt for the 10th straight time.
Furthermore, this is not the only fight on the card to pay close attention to. UFC 148 features two former UFC champions in Forrest Griffin and Tito Ortiz. They are fighting for the third time and this one is for all the bragging rights. Former middleweight title-challenger, Patrick Cote, is facing off against one of the most dynamic strikers in Cung Le. Dong Hyun Kim, one of the best judo fighters in the world, faces off against Demian Maia, one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioners in MMA. Chad Mendes welcomes Cody McKenzie to the featherweight division. Mike Easton and Ivan Menjivar round up the main card, squaring off in a bantamweight fight that will put the winner that much closer to a title shot.
Also, there are some intriguing matchups on the preliminary card that features the likes of Melvin Guillard, Gleison Tibau, Shane Roller, and Constantinos Philippou that we will take a quick glance at.
THE MAIN EVENT
ANDERSON SILVA (31-4, 14-0 UFC) vs. CHAEL SONNEN (27-11-1, 6-4 UFC)
Everybody has been waiting eagerly for this rematch. The first fight was one of the most bizarre fights we have ever witnessed. Anderson Silva has never looked in danger in any of his 14-career UFC fights, except for one time.
Chael Sonnen dominated Silva for four-and-a-half rounds. Sonnen landed 320 strikes in the fight compared to Silva's 64. In Silva's previous 11 fights before UFC 117, his 11 opponents landed a total of 166 strikes. Sonnen landed nearly double the amount of strikes than all of Silva's previous opponents. Chael Sonnen's 31 significant strikes in the first round were more than any other fighter has landed in an entire fight against Silva. Sonnen put Silva on his back for nearly 20 minutes of the fight, which is double the amount of time Silva has spent on his back in his UFC career.
Too bad none of that mattered on August 7th, 2010. With 1:50 left in the fifth and final round, Chael Sonnen tapped when Anderson Silva locked in a triangle choke. It was the latest stoppage in UFC history, and Silva showed why he is still the baddest man on the planet.
Since losing to Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen has beaten two top-ten opponents to get his second crack at Silva. He submitted Brian Stann at UFC 136 with an arm-triangle choke and took out Michael Bisping at UFC on FOX 2 via unanimous decision.
Anderson Silva has dominated his last two opponents since almost losing his belt to Sonnen. He front kicked Vitor Belfort in the face and knocked him out at UFC 126 in the first round. At UFC 134, Silva squared off against Yushin Okami, one of Sonnen's training partners, and had no problem with Okami. He knocked him out in the second round and defended his middleweight belt for the ninth consecutive time.
Anderson Silva is a perfect 14-0 inside the Octagon and has finished 12 of his 14 fights. Nine have been via (T)KO and three have been submission finishes.
Chael Sonnen is 6-4 in the UFC, but is 5-2 during his second stint inside the Octagon. He improved dramatically since his first time around in the UFC. He became a complete fighter when he spent time in the WEC between his two stints in the UFC.
This is one of the biggest rematches in UFC history and it ranks right up there with Liddell vs. Ortiz II and Liddell vs. Couture II.
Anderson Silva was battling a rib injury during the first encounter, so we will find out if that played a part in his slow performance. That was the only time Anderson Silva has ever looked sluggish in the UFC. Chael Sonnen showed he is a very underrated boxer and knocked down Silva on two different occasions at UFC 117. I don't think a lot of people realized that Sonnen is a former golden gloves boxer. He displayed this against the best striker the UFC has ever seen. Anderson Silva is the most accurate striker in UFC history and has the most career knockdowns inside the Octagon. Chael Sonnen is the least hit middleweight fighter in UFC history and his 34 takedowns are the most by any middleweight inside the Octagon.
These guys are clearly the top-two middleweight fighters in the world. On Saturday, July 7, 2012, we will find out who is the best. Sonnen had the perfect gameplan last time around. He smothered Silva and didn't allow him to find his range. That is Silva's bread and butter. If he can find his range and use his three-inch reach advantage, Sonnen will be in serious trouble. Sonnen did a good job of staying close to Silva and not allowing him to find his comfort zone in the first fight. Sonnen controlled the majority of the fight and won two rounds, 10-8, on the judges scorecard. Sonnen controlled the Octagon and will need to do the same if he wants to beat the best fighter in the history of the UFC.
I really believe Anderson Silva overlooked Sonnen the first time they met up. Silva probably figured it would be another easy fight and Sonnen caught him by surprise. This will not happen this time around. I see a different Anderson Silva showing up for this fight, and he is not dealing with a nagging rib injury. Chael Sonnen is a game opponent, and is a top-ten fighter in the world, but Anderson Silva is the best pound-for-pound fighter for a reason. It will be tough for Silva to knock out Sonnen, because the only two times Sonnen has lost via TKO in his MMA career (39 fights) was because of cuts. However, Sonnen's weakness is his submission defense, all four of his career UFC losses have been via submission.
There has been a ton of trash talk before this fight, mainly from Sonnen. Sonnen has been calling out Silva's family, country, and character for over two-years now. Silva finally heard enough. Anderson Silva said he is going to knock out Sonnen's teeth, break his arm, and basically every bone in his body on Saturday. He stated Sonnen will not be able to walk out of the Octagon on his own. We will have to wait and see if this is good or bad for Silva by letting his emotions get the best of him for once. We will either see an even more dangerous Silva, or one that is not focused to follow his gameplan. Also, let's not forget Silva has not fought in nearly a year, so this might be something to pay close attention to.
CO-MAIN EVENT
FORREST GRIFFIN (18-7, 9-5 UFC) vs. TITO ORTIZ (16-10-1, 15-10-1 UFC)
Tito Ortiz is looking to go out with a bang before he hangs them up after this fight. Ortiz has stated he is retiring from MMA after this encounter and he has been one of the best fighters in UFC history. Tito Ortiz is one of the main reasons why the UFC is where it is today and changed MMA for the best. If it wasn't for Ortiz, who knows where the UFC would be today.
Forrest Griffin is also a centerpiece for the success of the UFC. His encounter with Stephan Bonnar was the biggest fight in the history of the sport. The Ultimate Fighter season one winner put the UFC on the map. On April 9, 2005, the UFC was hoping for a great show, and they got more. Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar were fighting for a six-figure contract to join the UFC, and the fight was so good they both received six-figure contracts. People were calling all of their friends telling them to turn on Spike TV to watch these two men go mano-y-mano for three full rounds. It was an epic fight, and the UFC has not looked back since. The popularity of the UFC soared after this fight. If it wasn't for Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar the UFC would have never reached a seven-year deal worth over $700 million with FOX.
Now two of the most important fighters in UFC history will meet up in the middle of the Octagon for the rubber match. Tito Ortiz won the first via split decision. It was one of the most exciting fights of 2006. On November 21, 2009, they met for a second time and Forrest Griffin pulled out a unanimous decision victory. Both of these fights were extremely close and very competitive.
This one is for all the bragging rights. Tito Ortiz wants to retire on a winning note. Forrest Griffin needs a much needed victory to get back into the top-ten in the light heavyweight division.
Griffin has lost three of his previous five fights since beating Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to win the light heavyweight belt at UFC 86.
Ortiz has dropped five of his last six fights inside the Octagon.
This should be a very intriguing fight as both fighters need a win badly. Griffin wants to stay relevant in the 205-pound division. Ortiz wants to go out with a win before he enters the next chapter of his life. I see this being a very competitive fight like the first two. Ortiz will look to establish his wrestling and put Griffin on his back. Griffin will try to keep the fight on the feet so he can land his jab and leg kicks. Griffin has some of the best leg kicks in the UFC and he will look to land some leg kicks to slow Ortiz down. Ortiz was one of the best ground and pound strikers back in his prime, and he will try to finish one more opponent with his vicious ground and pound.
This fight will more than likely go the distance (like their first two fights) and whoever executes their gameplan will leave the Octagon victorious.
MAIN CARD
CUNG LE (7-2, O-1 UFC) vs. PATRICK COTE (17-7, 4-7 UFC)
Patrick Cote makes his Octagon return after winning four-fights in a row in lower MMA organizations. He is replacing Rich Franklin, who took the place of Vitor Belfort, in the UFC 147 main event against Wanderlei Silva. Patrick Cote was once regarded as one of the best middleweight fighters in the world. He challenged Anderson Silva at UFC 90 and was the first fighter to ever make it to the third round against the middleweight champ. Cote busted his knee in the third round and tore his ACL. He was never the same fighter for the next two years following this injury. Things have changed for Cote over his past four fights and he looks to continue his recent success against one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA.
Cung Le was one of the best fighters to fight in Strikeforce. Le dismantled Frank Shamrock to win the Strikeforce middleweight belt in 2008. Le had other things on his mind though, and starred in multiple movies to build his acting career. However, he still had that itch inside to get back to MMA. He made his UFC debut on November 19, 2011, and went toe-to-toe with Wanderlei Silva. Silva won via TKO in round two, but Le showed he can hang with one of the best strikers in the world. Le gassed in that fight, and Silva took advantage of it. If Le comes in shape and doesn't gas out after round one, Patrick Cote will have his hands full.
This is a huge fight for both of these men. Cote needs a win so he can stay in the UFC. Le needs a victory so he can keep getting big fights inside the Octagon to make the big paydays. Cung Le is one of the most dynamic strikers in MMA. You never know what he is going to throw. Patrick Cote brings heavy hands to the table and if he connects you are in deep trouble. This should be a very exciting fight with both guys keeping the fight on the feet. Cung Le is the favorite entering the fight, but Patrick Cote has a ton to prove and he wants to make a statement that he is here to stay in the UFC. I could see this one stealing fight of the night honors along with the knockout of the night bonus.
MAIN CARD
DONG HYUN KIM (15-1-1, 6-1 UFC) vs. DEMIAN MAIA (15-4, 9-4 UFC)
Both of these fighters are two guys that continue to go under the radar. Kim is one of the best judo fighters in the world. Maia is one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters in MMA history. Whoever can control the pace of the fight will walk away victorious.
Kim's only loss in his career was to the current interim welterweight champ, Carlos Condit. Kim has beaten the likes of Nate Diaz, Sean Pierson, Amir Sadollah, T.J. Grant, and Matt Brown during his UFC career. He is the reason why Nate Diaz moved down a weight division. Kim dominated Diaz for three rounds, and we know that is rare.
Maia is capable of being one of the best fighters in the welterweight division. This will be his first fight at 170-pounds after dropping down from 185. He is hoping a change in weight class will help him get to a title shot quicker. However, he has gotten away from what he is best at. His boxing has improved since his UFC debut in 2007, but he depends on it too much. His submission game is off the charts. Eight of his career fifteen wins have been via submission. Maia has fought the best of the best, and earned a title shot against Anderson Silva at UFC 112. He lost via decision, but showed he can take some shots.
This will be an interesting fight. Both of these guys are the best at what they do and it will come down to who can implement their gameplan. If Maia can find a way to get it to the ground he will have a good chance to lock up a submission. Kim wants to keep the fight standing so he can put his judo-attack in full effect. This fight will be like a chess match and whoever is patient with their attack will have a good chance at getting checkmate.
MAIN CARD
CHAD MENDES (11-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. CODY McKENZIE (13-2, 2-2 UFC)
Cody McKenzie has his hands full as he makes his featherweight debut against Chad Mendes. The only time Mendes has tasted defeat was against current featherweight champ, Jose Aldo. Mendes trains with Team Alpha Male, one of the better camps in the world. Cody McKenzie is a very game opponent, and was a fan favorite when he was a member of Team GSP during season 12 of the The Ultimate Fighter.
Everyone knows what Cody McKenzie is going to try. 11 of his 12 wins have been via guillotine choke. He is not the most well-rounded fighter, but he has an excellent chin and can take some big shots. He won't mind when the former "Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year" takes him down. Expect McKenzie to try and sneak in a choke when Mendes tries to put him on his back. McKenzie can lock in a guillotine from any position and won't be scared if he gets put on his back.
Chad Mendes is arguably the second best featherweight in the world. His wrestling pedigree speaks for itself. He wrestled for Cal-Poly State University and finished second in the 2008 NCAA National Championship. He compiled a 30-1 record during his senior year at Poly. He continued his wrestling dominance in his WEC career as he went through the likes of Cub Swanson, Javier Vasquez, Erik Koch, and Anthony Morrison. Mendes is one of the best fighters in the UFC at controlling were the fight goes.
Cody McKenzie trained with Mendes' camp for a few months, Team Alpha Male, after his stint on The Ultimate Fighter 12, and I think this will help Mendes avoid the guillotine choke. That is McKenzie's only real way of pulling out this fight, and Mendes will stay out of harms way. Mendes should be able to control the pace of this fight and dominate McKenzie for all three rounds. Chad Mendes needs to have a good showing if he wants to be in consideration for getting a second crack at Jose Aldo's 145-pound belt in the near future. He is two great performances away from getting another shot at the featherweight belt.
MAIN CARD
MIKE EASTON (12-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. IVAN MENJIVAR (24-8, 3-1 UFC)
This is going to be a very entertaining fight. Not many people have heard of these two men because the bantamweight division is a fairly new division in the UFC. Ivan Menjivar and Mike Easton will look to jump into the top-ten in the 135-pound division.
Ivan Menjivar was close to getting an interim title shot with Urijah Faber after Dominick Cruz tore his ACL. That shot went to Renan Barao instead. Menjivar wants to showcase he should be considered for a title shot in the near future, and he will get his chance on Saturday night against a very good opponent. In Menjivar's 24 wins, he has finished 18 of them. Nine by (T)KO and nine by submission. He has a very well-rounded game and is always looking to finish the fight. Menjivar trains with one of the best camps in the world. Tristar Gym is home for George St. Pierre, Rory MacDonald, and many other top fighters in the world. Expect Menjivar to come in with an excellent gameplan to make sure he inches closer to the next title shot in the bantamweight division.
Mike Easton has been on a tear of late and has won his last seven MMA fights. He has a well-rounded attack and is comfortable wherever the fight ends up. He is the underdog heading into this fight with Menjivar, but I would not be shocked to see him pull off the upset. Both of these guys need this fight bad to catapult into the top-ten in the bantamweight division. Easton trains with Alliance MMA, which is one of the top camps in the United States. Dominick Cruz, Phil Davis, Brandon Vera, and Eddie Yagan are just some of the names helping Easton prepare for Saturday nights fight.
This is going to be a very competitive fight and I really would not be shocked to see either one of these guys pull it out. Ivan Menjivar is a more well-rounded fighter, but Easton is not too far behind. Both of these guys should put on a great fight. Dana White always tries to put on an exciting fight to open the pay-per-view card, and he was right on the money electing these two to start it off.
QUICK GLANCE AT THE PRELIMS
KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV (17-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. GLEISON TIBAU (25-7, 10-5 UFC)
This is a huge fight for both of these guys. Gleison Tibau has won his last three fights inside the Octagon and five of his last six. He is working his way up into the top-ten in the lightweight division. If he puts on a good fight and dominates Nurmagomedov, expect Tibau to get a top-ten lightweight in his next fight. This is a huge step up in competition for the Russian native, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who will look to make a name for himself in his second career UFC fight. If he can pull off the upset he could be a name to pay attention to down the road.
MELVIN GUILLARD (29-10-2, 10-6 UFC) vs. FABRICIO CAMOES (14-6-1, 1-1-1 UFC)
This fight is tailor made for whoever executes their gameplan. Melvin Guillard is known for his knock out power and Fabricio Camoes is a dangerous submission artist. Guillard has shown horrible submission defense in his past. If Guillard can keep the fight on the feet, it is trouble for whoever his opponent is. 19 of his 29 MMA victories have been via knockout. In nine of his 10 losses he has lost via submission. Camoes does not want to stand toe-to-toe with Guillard. If he can find a way to get this fight to the ground his chances skyrocket. Guillard has been training with the Blackzilians, and spent time in Greg Jackson's Camp, so he should know he has the experience and should be able to execute his gameplan. Guillard has faced off against some of the best fighters in the 155-pound division and this should play a factor in this fight.
CONSTANTINOS PHILIPPOU (10-2, 3-1 UFC) vs. RIKI FUKUDA (18-5, 1-1 UFC)
Constantinos Philippou has quietly been on the rise in the middleweight division. He has won his last three fights against three very solid opponents. He beat Jorge Rivera, Jared Hamman, and Court McGee (winner of season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter.) If he wins his fourth straight fight inside the Octagon convincingly, his next opponent will be a top-ten fighter in the middleweight division. Riki Fukuda is looking to make a splash inside the Octagon. This is a big fight for Fukuda. He knows a victory over Philippou will skyrocket him in the middleweight division. Expect an exciting fight as both fighters are trying to stay relevant in the 185-pound division.
SHANE ROLLER (10-6, 1-3 UFC) vs. JOHN ALESSIO (34-15, 0-4 UFC)
This fight is a big fight in the sense that the winner gets to keep fighting in the UFC, and the loser will more than likely get cut. Shane Roller was one of the top names coming into the UFC when they merged the WEC into the organization. He won four of his last five fights in the WEC, with the only loss coming to Anthony Pettis. Since joining the UFC, he has compiled a 1-3 record, and a loser of three straight. Roller was close to being in the top-ten before his three-fight skid. Now he is just hoping to stay in the UFC. He needs a good performance and a win against Alessio on Saturday. John Alessio has fought all around the world during his 14-year MMA career. The guy knows how to put on a fight. He will be looking for his first win inside the Octagon, and it might be the last chance he gets. The winner stays under contract in the UFC, while the loser will receive their pink slip.
YOISLANDY IZQUIERDO (6-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. RAFAELLO OLIVEIRA (14-5, 1-4 UFC)
This is the only fight on the card that will be on the facebook prelims. So if you are a die hard MMA fan you will be logging into your facebook account and tuning in. All of the other 10 fights will be airing on pay-per-view and FX. Both of these guys are looking to make a name in the lightweight division. This is a big fight for Izquierdo because he has more of an upside than Oliveira and he will get his chance to display this on the facebook prelims. If Oliveira drops this contest, it might be the end of the road for Oliveira. This is his second-stint for the organization and this could be his last shot to stay in the UFC.
Also, there are some intriguing matchups on the preliminary card that features the likes of Melvin Guillard, Gleison Tibau, Shane Roller, and Constantinos Philippou that we will take a quick glance at.
THE MAIN EVENT
ANDERSON SILVA (31-4, 14-0 UFC) vs. CHAEL SONNEN (27-11-1, 6-4 UFC)
Everybody has been waiting eagerly for this rematch. The first fight was one of the most bizarre fights we have ever witnessed. Anderson Silva has never looked in danger in any of his 14-career UFC fights, except for one time.
Chael Sonnen dominated Silva for four-and-a-half rounds. Sonnen landed 320 strikes in the fight compared to Silva's 64. In Silva's previous 11 fights before UFC 117, his 11 opponents landed a total of 166 strikes. Sonnen landed nearly double the amount of strikes than all of Silva's previous opponents. Chael Sonnen's 31 significant strikes in the first round were more than any other fighter has landed in an entire fight against Silva. Sonnen put Silva on his back for nearly 20 minutes of the fight, which is double the amount of time Silva has spent on his back in his UFC career. 
Too bad none of that mattered on August 7th, 2010. With 1:50 left in the fifth and final round, Chael Sonnen tapped when Anderson Silva locked in a triangle choke. It was the latest stoppage in UFC history, and Silva showed why he is still the baddest man on the planet.Since losing to Anderson Silva, Chael Sonnen has beaten two top-ten opponents to get his second crack at Silva. He submitted Brian Stann at UFC 136 with an arm-triangle choke and took out Michael Bisping at UFC on FOX 2 via unanimous decision.
Anderson Silva has dominated his last two opponents since almost losing his belt to Sonnen. He front kicked Vitor Belfort in the face and knocked him out at UFC 126 in the first round. At UFC 134, Silva squared off against Yushin Okami, one of Sonnen's training partners, and had no problem with Okami. He knocked him out in the second round and defended his middleweight belt for the ninth consecutive time.
Anderson Silva is a perfect 14-0 inside the Octagon and has finished 12 of his 14 fights. Nine have been via (T)KO and three have been submission finishes.
Chael Sonnen is 6-4 in the UFC, but is 5-2 during his second stint inside the Octagon. He improved dramatically since his first time around in the UFC. He became a complete fighter when he spent time in the WEC between his two stints in the UFC.
This is one of the biggest rematches in UFC history and it ranks right up there with Liddell vs. Ortiz II and Liddell vs. Couture II.
Anderson Silva was battling a rib injury during the first encounter, so we will find out if that played a part in his slow performance. That was the only time Anderson Silva has ever looked sluggish in the UFC. Chael Sonnen showed he is a very underrated boxer and knocked down Silva on two different occasions at UFC 117. I don't think a lot of people realized that Sonnen is a former golden gloves boxer. He displayed this against the best striker the UFC has ever seen. Anderson Silva is the most accurate striker in UFC history and has the most career knockdowns inside the Octagon. Chael Sonnen is the least hit middleweight fighter in UFC history and his 34 takedowns are the most by any middleweight inside the Octagon.
These guys are clearly the top-two middleweight fighters in the world. On Saturday, July 7, 2012, we will find out who is the best. Sonnen had the perfect gameplan last time around. He smothered Silva and didn't allow him to find his range. That is Silva's bread and butter. If he can find his range and use his three-inch reach advantage, Sonnen will be in serious trouble. Sonnen did a good job of staying close to Silva and not allowing him to find his comfort zone in the first fight. Sonnen controlled the majority of the fight and won two rounds, 10-8, on the judges scorecard. Sonnen controlled the Octagon and will need to do the same if he wants to beat the best fighter in the history of the UFC.I really believe Anderson Silva overlooked Sonnen the first time they met up. Silva probably figured it would be another easy fight and Sonnen caught him by surprise. This will not happen this time around. I see a different Anderson Silva showing up for this fight, and he is not dealing with a nagging rib injury. Chael Sonnen is a game opponent, and is a top-ten fighter in the world, but Anderson Silva is the best pound-for-pound fighter for a reason. It will be tough for Silva to knock out Sonnen, because the only two times Sonnen has lost via TKO in his MMA career (39 fights) was because of cuts. However, Sonnen's weakness is his submission defense, all four of his career UFC losses have been via submission.
There has been a ton of trash talk before this fight, mainly from Sonnen. Sonnen has been calling out Silva's family, country, and character for over two-years now. Silva finally heard enough. Anderson Silva said he is going to knock out Sonnen's teeth, break his arm, and basically every bone in his body on Saturday. He stated Sonnen will not be able to walk out of the Octagon on his own. We will have to wait and see if this is good or bad for Silva by letting his emotions get the best of him for once. We will either see an even more dangerous Silva, or one that is not focused to follow his gameplan. Also, let's not forget Silva has not fought in nearly a year, so this might be something to pay close attention to. CO-MAIN EVENT
FORREST GRIFFIN (18-7, 9-5 UFC) vs. TITO ORTIZ (16-10-1, 15-10-1 UFC)
Tito Ortiz is looking to go out with a bang before he hangs them up after this fight. Ortiz has stated he is retiring from MMA after this encounter and he has been one of the best fighters in UFC history. Tito Ortiz is one of the main reasons why the UFC is where it is today and changed MMA for the best. If it wasn't for Ortiz, who knows where the UFC would be today.
Forrest Griffin is also a centerpiece for the success of the UFC. His encounter with Stephan Bonnar was the biggest fight in the history of the sport. The Ultimate Fighter season one winner put the UFC on the map. On April 9, 2005, the UFC was hoping for a great show, and they got more. Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar were fighting for a six-figure contract to join the UFC, and the fight was so good they both received six-figure contracts. People were calling all of their friends telling them to turn on Spike TV to watch these two men go mano-y-mano for three full rounds. It was an epic fight, and the UFC has not looked back since. The popularity of the UFC soared after this fight. If it wasn't for Forrest Griffin and Stephan Bonnar the UFC would have never reached a seven-year deal worth over $700 million with FOX. Now two of the most important fighters in UFC history will meet up in the middle of the Octagon for the rubber match. Tito Ortiz won the first via split decision. It was one of the most exciting fights of 2006. On November 21, 2009, they met for a second time and Forrest Griffin pulled out a unanimous decision victory. Both of these fights were extremely close and very competitive.
This one is for all the bragging rights. Tito Ortiz wants to retire on a winning note. Forrest Griffin needs a much needed victory to get back into the top-ten in the light heavyweight division. Griffin has lost three of his previous five fights since beating Quinton "Rampage" Jackson to win the light heavyweight belt at UFC 86.
Ortiz has dropped five of his last six fights inside the Octagon.
This should be a very intriguing fight as both fighters need a win badly. Griffin wants to stay relevant in the 205-pound division. Ortiz wants to go out with a win before he enters the next chapter of his life. I see this being a very competitive fight like the first two. Ortiz will look to establish his wrestling and put Griffin on his back. Griffin will try to keep the fight on the feet so he can land his jab and leg kicks. Griffin has some of the best leg kicks in the UFC and he will look to land some leg kicks to slow Ortiz down. Ortiz was one of the best ground and pound strikers back in his prime, and he will try to finish one more opponent with his vicious ground and pound. This fight will more than likely go the distance (like their first two fights) and whoever executes their gameplan will leave the Octagon victorious.
MAIN CARD
CUNG LE (7-2, O-1 UFC) vs. PATRICK COTE (17-7, 4-7 UFC)
Patrick Cote makes his Octagon return after winning four-fights in a row in lower MMA organizations. He is replacing Rich Franklin, who took the place of Vitor Belfort, in the UFC 147 main event against Wanderlei Silva. Patrick Cote was once regarded as one of the best middleweight fighters in the world. He challenged Anderson Silva at UFC 90 and was the first fighter to ever make it to the third round against the middleweight champ. Cote busted his knee in the third round and tore his ACL. He was never the same fighter for the next two years following this injury. Things have changed for Cote over his past four fights and he looks to continue his recent success against one of the most dangerous strikers in MMA. 
Cung Le was one of the best fighters to fight in Strikeforce. Le dismantled Frank Shamrock to win the Strikeforce middleweight belt in 2008. Le had other things on his mind though, and starred in multiple movies to build his acting career. However, he still had that itch inside to get back to MMA. He made his UFC debut on November 19, 2011, and went toe-to-toe with Wanderlei Silva. Silva won via TKO in round two, but Le showed he can hang with one of the best strikers in the world. Le gassed in that fight, and Silva took advantage of it. If Le comes in shape and doesn't gas out after round one, Patrick Cote will have his hands full.This is a huge fight for both of these men. Cote needs a win so he can stay in the UFC. Le needs a victory so he can keep getting big fights inside the Octagon to make the big paydays. Cung Le is one of the most dynamic strikers in MMA. You never know what he is going to throw. Patrick Cote brings heavy hands to the table and if he connects you are in deep trouble. This should be a very exciting fight with both guys keeping the fight on the feet. Cung Le is the favorite entering the fight, but Patrick Cote has a ton to prove and he wants to make a statement that he is here to stay in the UFC. I could see this one stealing fight of the night honors along with the knockout of the night bonus.
MAIN CARD
DONG HYUN KIM (15-1-1, 6-1 UFC) vs. DEMIAN MAIA (15-4, 9-4 UFC)
Both of these fighters are two guys that continue to go under the radar. Kim is one of the best judo fighters in the world. Maia is one of the best Brazilian jiu-jitsu fighters in MMA history. Whoever can control the pace of the fight will walk away victorious. Kim's only loss in his career was to the current interim welterweight champ, Carlos Condit. Kim has beaten the likes of Nate Diaz, Sean Pierson, Amir Sadollah, T.J. Grant, and Matt Brown during his UFC career. He is the reason why Nate Diaz moved down a weight division. Kim dominated Diaz for three rounds, and we know that is rare.
Maia is capable of being one of the best fighters in the welterweight division. This will be his first fight at 170-pounds after dropping down from 185. He is hoping a change in weight class will help him get to a title shot quicker. However, he has gotten away from what he is best at. His boxing has improved since his UFC debut in 2007, but he depends on it too much. His submission game is off the charts. Eight of his career fifteen wins have been via submission. Maia has fought the best of the best, and earned a title shot against Anderson Silva at UFC 112. He lost via decision, but showed he can take some shots. This will be an interesting fight. Both of these guys are the best at what they do and it will come down to who can implement their gameplan. If Maia can find a way to get it to the ground he will have a good chance to lock up a submission. Kim wants to keep the fight standing so he can put his judo-attack in full effect. This fight will be like a chess match and whoever is patient with their attack will have a good chance at getting checkmate.
MAIN CARD
CHAD MENDES (11-1, 2-1 UFC) vs. CODY McKENZIE (13-2, 2-2 UFC)
Cody McKenzie has his hands full as he makes his featherweight debut against Chad Mendes. The only time Mendes has tasted defeat was against current featherweight champ, Jose Aldo. Mendes trains with Team Alpha Male, one of the better camps in the world. Cody McKenzie is a very game opponent, and was a fan favorite when he was a member of Team GSP during season 12 of the The Ultimate Fighter.
Everyone knows what Cody McKenzie is going to try. 11 of his 12 wins have been via guillotine choke. He is not the most well-rounded fighter, but he has an excellent chin and can take some big shots. He won't mind when the former "Pac-10 Wrestler of the Year" takes him down. Expect McKenzie to try and sneak in a choke when Mendes tries to put him on his back. McKenzie can lock in a guillotine from any position and won't be scared if he gets put on his back. 
Cody McKenzie trained with Mendes' camp for a few months, Team Alpha Male, after his stint on The Ultimate Fighter 12, and I think this will help Mendes avoid the guillotine choke. That is McKenzie's only real way of pulling out this fight, and Mendes will stay out of harms way. Mendes should be able to control the pace of this fight and dominate McKenzie for all three rounds. Chad Mendes needs to have a good showing if he wants to be in consideration for getting a second crack at Jose Aldo's 145-pound belt in the near future. He is two great performances away from getting another shot at the featherweight belt.
MAIN CARD
MIKE EASTON (12-1, 2-0 UFC) vs. IVAN MENJIVAR (24-8, 3-1 UFC)
This is going to be a very entertaining fight. Not many people have heard of these two men because the bantamweight division is a fairly new division in the UFC. Ivan Menjivar and Mike Easton will look to jump into the top-ten in the 135-pound division.
Ivan Menjivar was close to getting an interim title shot with Urijah Faber after Dominick Cruz tore his ACL. That shot went to Renan Barao instead. Menjivar wants to showcase he should be considered for a title shot in the near future, and he will get his chance on Saturday night against a very good opponent. In Menjivar's 24 wins, he has finished 18 of them. Nine by (T)KO and nine by submission. He has a very well-rounded game and is always looking to finish the fight. Menjivar trains with one of the best camps in the world. Tristar Gym is home for George St. Pierre, Rory MacDonald, and many other top fighters in the world. Expect Menjivar to come in with an excellent gameplan to make sure he inches closer to the next title shot in the bantamweight division.
This is going to be a very competitive fight and I really would not be shocked to see either one of these guys pull it out. Ivan Menjivar is a more well-rounded fighter, but Easton is not too far behind. Both of these guys should put on a great fight. Dana White always tries to put on an exciting fight to open the pay-per-view card, and he was right on the money electing these two to start it off.
QUICK GLANCE AT THE PRELIMS
KHABIB NURMAGOMEDOV (17-0, 1-0 UFC) vs. GLEISON TIBAU (25-7, 10-5 UFC)
This is a huge fight for both of these guys. Gleison Tibau has won his last three fights inside the Octagon and five of his last six. He is working his way up into the top-ten in the lightweight division. If he puts on a good fight and dominates Nurmagomedov, expect Tibau to get a top-ten lightweight in his next fight. This is a huge step up in competition for the Russian native, Khabib Nurmagomedov, who will look to make a name for himself in his second career UFC fight. If he can pull off the upset he could be a name to pay attention to down the road.
MELVIN GUILLARD (29-10-2, 10-6 UFC) vs. FABRICIO CAMOES (14-6-1, 1-1-1 UFC)
This fight is tailor made for whoever executes their gameplan. Melvin Guillard is known for his knock out power and Fabricio Camoes is a dangerous submission artist. Guillard has shown horrible submission defense in his past. If Guillard can keep the fight on the feet, it is trouble for whoever his opponent is. 19 of his 29 MMA victories have been via knockout. In nine of his 10 losses he has lost via submission. Camoes does not want to stand toe-to-toe with Guillard. If he can find a way to get this fight to the ground his chances skyrocket. Guillard has been training with the Blackzilians, and spent time in Greg Jackson's Camp, so he should know he has the experience and should be able to execute his gameplan. Guillard has faced off against some of the best fighters in the 155-pound division and this should play a factor in this fight.
CONSTANTINOS PHILIPPOU (10-2, 3-1 UFC) vs. RIKI FUKUDA (18-5, 1-1 UFC)
Constantinos Philippou has quietly been on the rise in the middleweight division. He has won his last three fights against three very solid opponents. He beat Jorge Rivera, Jared Hamman, and Court McGee (winner of season 11 of The Ultimate Fighter.) If he wins his fourth straight fight inside the Octagon convincingly, his next opponent will be a top-ten fighter in the middleweight division. Riki Fukuda is looking to make a splash inside the Octagon. This is a big fight for Fukuda. He knows a victory over Philippou will skyrocket him in the middleweight division. Expect an exciting fight as both fighters are trying to stay relevant in the 185-pound division.
SHANE ROLLER (10-6, 1-3 UFC) vs. JOHN ALESSIO (34-15, 0-4 UFC)
This fight is a big fight in the sense that the winner gets to keep fighting in the UFC, and the loser will more than likely get cut. Shane Roller was one of the top names coming into the UFC when they merged the WEC into the organization. He won four of his last five fights in the WEC, with the only loss coming to Anthony Pettis. Since joining the UFC, he has compiled a 1-3 record, and a loser of three straight. Roller was close to being in the top-ten before his three-fight skid. Now he is just hoping to stay in the UFC. He needs a good performance and a win against Alessio on Saturday. John Alessio has fought all around the world during his 14-year MMA career. The guy knows how to put on a fight. He will be looking for his first win inside the Octagon, and it might be the last chance he gets. The winner stays under contract in the UFC, while the loser will receive their pink slip.
YOISLANDY IZQUIERDO (6-1, 0-1 UFC) vs. RAFAELLO OLIVEIRA (14-5, 1-4 UFC)
This is the only fight on the card that will be on the facebook prelims. So if you are a die hard MMA fan you will be logging into your facebook account and tuning in. All of the other 10 fights will be airing on pay-per-view and FX. Both of these guys are looking to make a name in the lightweight division. This is a big fight for Izquierdo because he has more of an upside than Oliveira and he will get his chance to display this on the facebook prelims. If Oliveira drops this contest, it might be the end of the road for Oliveira. This is his second-stint for the organization and this could be his last shot to stay in the UFC.
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