UFC 139, UFC's 4 event in a 4 week period is quite possibly the best card out of all of them with 6 former UFC, Strikeforce and WEC champions fighting on the main card as well as another former WEC champion on the prelims. Taking place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose California the main event is years in the making as Mauricio Rua is taking on Dan Henderson. Strangely enough during their time in Pride the 2 legends never faced out against each other just narrowly missing the matchup in the 2005 Grand Prix and well as in 2007 when Henderson won the Pride Middleweight champion from Rua's then teammate and fellow UFC 139 competitor Wanderlei Silva. Cung Le makes his return to MMA, his hometown and his debut in the UFC as he takes on fellow striker and legend Wanderlei Silva. The trio of bouts on the main card featuring former champions is rounded out with former WEC bantamweight champions Urijah Faber and Brian Bowles who both are looking for a rematch with current champion Dominick Cruz.
Main Event
21-5 Record 28-8
29 Age 41
205 Weight 207
6'0 Height 6'1
76" Reach 71"
-130 Odds +105
Common opponents: Quinton Jackson
Rua won by TKO at Pride: Total Elimination 2005 4/23/05
Henderson lost by decision at UFC 75 9/8/2007
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira
Rua won by decision at Pride Critical Countdown 2005 6/26/05
Henderson lost by decision at Pride Total Elimination 2005 4/23/2005
Renato Sobral
Rua lost by submission at IFC:Global Domination 9/6/2003
Henderson won by decision at Rings:King Of Rings 1999 2/26/00
Henderson won by TKO at Strikeforce: Henderson vs Babalu 2 12/4/10
Ricardo Arona
Rua won by TKO 1st Round at Pride Final Conflict 2005 8/28/05
Henderson lost by decision at Pride 20 4/28/02
Akihiro Gono
Rua won by TKO at Pride: Bushido 2 2/15/03
Henderson won by TKO at Pride: Bushido 9 9/25/05
Kazuhiro Nakamura
Rua won by decision at Pride Shockwave 2006 12/31/06
Henderson won by TKO at Pride 28 10/31/04
Hiromitsu Kanehara
Rua won by TKO 1st Round at Pride 29 2/20/05
Henderson won by decision at Rings: King Of Kings 1999 10/28/99
How they got here: Shogun is coming off his rematch against Forrest Griffin at UFC 134 where he avenged his UFC debut loss at UFC 76 by getting a TKO win over Griffin just minutes into the 1st round. Henderson is returning to the UFC for his 3rd stint with the organization since leaving the UFC after his famous UFC 100 bout against Michael Bisping he went on to loss a Strikeforce Middleweight title fight against Jack Shields. After the loss though Henderson returned to the Light Heavyweight division where he defeated Babalu Sobral for the Strikeforce Light Heavyweight title and then defended it against Rafael Calvancante. Henderson's most recent fight was against Heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko at Stirkeforce: Fedor vs Henderson where he knocked out Fedor in an exciting bout.
What to expect: Years in the making this fight is definitely capable of garnering fight of the year nominations. As we all know Henderson has his huge right hand and his wrestling where Shogun has his muay thai and jiu jitsu when those skills clash against each other it should be fireworks. It's a 5 round fight but with the power both have we most likely won't need more than the usual 3 rounds this fight normally would of had. As mentioned Henderson has all kinds of power in his right hand and if he's not going to knock out Rua with it he can easily use it to set up a takedown. Rua by no means should be counted out if Henderson gets him on his back it may be his "worst case scenario" but he does have great sweeps and even submissions off his back most notable leg locks. Rua will have to be patient and cautious with Henderson standing up but he is more than capable of counter Henderson for a KO victory.
My Prediction: Rua by TKO 2nd Round
Cung Le vs Wanderlei Silva
7-1 Record 33-11-1
39 Age 35
185 Weight 186
5'10 Height 5'11
N/A Reach 74"
-140 Odds +115
Common opponents: noneHow they got here: After a successful Middleweight debut against Michael Bisping at UFC 110 Silva was out for more than a year with injuries and his return was short lived when he was knocked out in 27 seconds by Chris Leben at UFC 132. Le, the former Strikeforce Middleweight champion is making his UFC debut after being out of action for more than a year. His last fight was a rematch against Scott Smith where he avenged his first career loss.
What to expect: We should expect a stand up affair but never count out a surprise takedown from Silva. Silva lost his last fight coming in aggressive and closing the distance, the same strategy may actually play in his favour this time around and it wouldn't allow Le to stay on the outside to set up his deadly kicks. Silva could very well go for that takedown but once the first punches are thrown and knowing his usual style he may just retreat to the usual brawling style until someone goes down.
My Prediction: Silva by TKO 1st Round
Brian Bowles vs Urijah Faber
10-1 Record 25-5
31 Age 32
135 Weight 135
5'7 Height 5'6
70.5" Reach 69"
70.5" Reach 69"
+180 Odds -220
Common opponents:Dominick Cruz
Bowles lost by TKO 2nd Round at WEC 47 3/5/10
Faber lost by decision at UFC 132 7/2/11
Faber won by submission at WEC 26 3/24/07
Takeya Mizugaki
Bowles won by decision at UFC 132 7/2/11
Faber won by submission 1st Round at WEC 52 11/11/10
Charles Valencia
Bowles won by submission 2nd Round at WEC 28 6/3/07
Faber won by submission 1st Round at KOTC: Predator 5/13/06
How they got here: Faber is coming off his Bantamweight title loss to Dominick Cruz at UFC 132 which was one of the best fights of the year. Bowles also lost a title fight to Cruz at WEC 47 but since then has won 2 in a row with both fights being in the UFC. His most recent fight like Faber was at UFC 132 where he defeated Takeya Mizugaki by decision.
What to expect: Faber will want to come out and show he is the stronger fighter and put Bowles down on his back. Bowles does have underrated wrestling and could very well stop the takedowns from Faber while making him pay for coming in close with some strikes.
My Prediction: Bowles by Decision
Rick Story vs Martin Kampmann
13-4 Record 17-5
27 Age 29
170.5 Weight 171
5'10 Height 6'0
71" Reach 72"
-140 Odds +115
Common opponents: noneHow they got here: Kampmann is on a 2 fight losing streak but it could be argued he actually won both fights. His most recent fight was a decision loss to Diego Sanchez at UFC Live 3 which is in the running as one of the best fights of the year. Story is coming off his debacle at UFC Live 4 where his opponent Nate Marquardt was switched to Charlie Brenneman just a day before the fight which he ended up losing.
What to expect: On paper it seems like an even bout that will end up being very competitive. Both are looking to set previous wrongs with a win and will be coming out to make a statement and re-establish their spot in the division. Story could come in with a similar game plan that he did against Thiago Alves which took the striker right out of the fight. Kampmann will want to avoid Story's aggressive takedowns and attempt to make the fight a brawl by staying patient and picking his shots.
My Prediction: Kampmann by Decision
Stephan Bonnar vs Kyle Kingsbury
13-7 Record 11-2
34 Age 29
205 Weight 206
6'3 Height 6'4
80" Reach N/A
+105 Odds -130
Common opponents: noneHow they got here: Bonnar has now won 2 fights in a row after going through a career worse 3 fight losing streak. His last win was over Igor Pokrajac at The Ultimate Fighter 12 Finale. Kingsbury is on a 4 fight winning streak with his last win coming over Fabio Maldonado at The Ultimate Fighter 13 Finale.
What to expect: Kingsbury is going to want to take Bonnar down and attempt to grind on the former Ultimate Fighter finalist. Bonnar on the other hand will want to use his reach to keep this fight standing and turn it into a brawl. Dragging this fight past the 1st round will only benefit Bonnar.
My Prediction: Bonnar by Decision
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