It has been over 10 years since the UFC held an event in Japan with UFC 29 and this will be the first visit to the land of the rising sun since being owned by Zuffa. With it's return to Brazil last year and entrance into other worldwide markets it was only a matter of time before Japan finally made it onto the schedule and the UFC pulled no stops loading up a stacked card featuring 7 fights on the pay per view portion of the event. The main event features a lightweight title fight between champion Frankie Edgar defending the belt against former WEC champion Ben Henderson. The co-main event features former Pride fighter and fan favorite among Japanese fans Rampage Jackson taking on for Ultimate Fighter winner Ryan Bader. The card features many homegrown talent as no less than 8 Japanese fighters will be competing on the card and hoping to send their fans home happy with victories.
Main Event
UFC Lightweight Championship
Frankie Edgar vs Ben Henderson
14-1-1 Record 15-2
30 Age 28
154.5 Weight 156
5'6 Height 5'8
68" Reach 70"
-130 Odds +105
Common Opponents: Jim Miller
Edgar won by Unanimous Decision at Reality Fighting 14 11/18/06
Henderson won by Unanimous Decision at UFC Live 5 8/14/11
How They Got Here: Edgar finally (for now) settled his rivalry with Gray Maynard winning their 3rd fight by TKO at UFC 136 to extend his unbeaten streak to 7 fights. Henderson the former WEC Lightweight champion earned the title shot with his most recent win over Clay Guida at UFC on Fox 1 to go along with his other 2 UFC wins over Jim Miller and Mark Bocek.
What To Expect: What we have learned with Edgar's title run is to never count him out, and all due respect to Gray Maynard and their UFC 125 fight this fight against Henderson could be on paper at least the champs toughest test to date. What Henderson brings to the table that could frustrate Edgar is his size advantage which he will attempt to take full advantage of by wearing down Edgar. What has been Edgar's great equalizer has been his great speed and foot work which will have to be in top form against Henderson to avoid being clinched up against the cage or even taken down.
My Prediction: Edgar by Decision
Quinton Jackson vs Ryan Bader
32-9 Record 13-2
33 Age 28
204 Weight 205
6'1 Height 6'2
73" Reach 74"
-220 Odds +170
Common Opponents:
Jon Jones
Jackson lost by Submission 4th Round at UFC 135 9/24/11
Bader lost by Submission at UFC 126 2/05/11
Keith Jardine
Jackson won by Unanimous Decision at UFC 96 3/7/09
Bader won by TKO 3rd Round at UFC 110 2/20/10
How They Got Here: Rampage's last fight saw his UFC Title fight record evened at 2-2 after being submitted by Jon Jones at UFC 135. Bader snapped a 2 fight losing skid with a 77 second KO over Jason Brilz at UFC 139.
What To Expect: Missing weight by 5 pounds because of an undisclosed injury shouldn't effect Rampage's standing as the favorite going into this fight. Motivated by being back in his "second home" Rampage will be looking to put on a impressive performance in front of the Japanese crowd especially after all the lobbying he did to get onto the card. Bader should be game to play the role of spoiler though and has the wrestling and really power in his hands to do as such.
My Prediction: Jackson by TKO 2nd Round
Mark Hunt vs Cheick Kongo
7-7 Record 17-6-2
37 Age 36
261 Weight 234
5'10 Height 6'4
74" Reach 82"
+245 Odds -295
Common Opponents:
Mirko Cro Cop
Hunt won by Split Decision at Pride Shockwave 2005 12/31/05
Kongo won by Unanimous Decision at UFC 75 9/8/07
How They Got Here: Perhaps perplexing to some that Mark Hunt is not only in the UFC and riding a 2 fight win streak but he continued the unexpected against Ben Rothwell at UFC 135 went to the ground and was the one actually attempting submissions and the fresher fighting in the decision win. Kongo followed up his incredible performance against Pat Barry with a less than stellar decision win over Matt Mitrione at UFC 137.
What To Expect: A battle between 2 kickboxers but it could be Kongo who will be looking to get this fight to the ground. You would think the reach and height advantage would perhaps make this an easy fight for Kongo but against Barry who is a similar sized fighter as Hunt, Kongo was badly hurt and nearly saw the fight stopped before his miraculous comeback. So basically the key for Hunt to pull this fight out is to stay on his toes ready for any takedowns and to put inside of Kongo's reach and look to land one of his devastated uppercuts.
My Prediction: Hunt by TKO 1st Round
Jake Shields vs Yoshihiro Akiyama
26-6-1 Record 13-4-1
33 Age 36
171 Weight 186
6'0 Height 5'10
72" Reach 75"
-320 Odds +260
Common Opponents:
Kazuo Masaki
Shields draw at Pancrase Hybrid 11/30/03
Akiyama lost by TKO 1st Round at Yarennoka 12/31/07
How They Got Here: Both fighters are on extending losing streaks and in desperate need of a win to keep their spot on the UFC roster. Shields is coming off his disappointing TKO lose (and passing of his father weeks prior) to Jake Ellenberger at UFC Fight Night 25. Akiyama is making his debut in the Welterweight division after going 1-3 in the Middleweight division but winning Fight Of The Night in 3 of those fights have possibly earned himself this last chance in the new division to keep his job.
What To Expect: Akiyama could attempt to bait Shields into a brawl but odds are Shields is going to avoid that situation at all costs and look to get Akiyama on his back and work his Jiu Jitsu for a submission. It wouldn't be a complete surprise though if Akiyama looks to use his excellent Judo and actually put Shields on his back and defending ground and pound.
My Prediction: Akiyama by Decision
Yushin Okami vs Tim Boetsch
26-6 Record 14-4
30 Age 31
183 Weight 186
6'2 Height 5'11
72" Reach 74"
-360 Odds +270
Common Opponents: noneHow They Got Here: Okami is coming off his finally earned title shot at UFC 134 against Anderson Silva but came up short falling to the champion by TKO in the 2nd Round. Boetsch is coming off 2nd straight win in the Middleweight division over Nick Ring at UFC 135.
What To Expect: Boetsch is a competent wrestler but will have to bring his A game against Okami who will be looking to get Boetsch on his back. From there Okami will be looking for ground and pound or a submission but to the tough Boetsch's credit he should be able to defend well and make it to the final bell.
My Prediction: Okami by Decision
Hatsu Hioki vs Bart Palaszewski
25-4 Record 36-14
28 Age 28
145 Weight 146
5'11 Height 5'9
73" Reach 70"
-165 Odds +135
Common Opponents: noneHow They Got Here: Hioki's debut against George Roop at UFC 137 wasn't pretty and some even say he lost the split decision but never the less he got through it and extended his winning streak to 5 fights. Palaszweski also was in action at UFC 137 where he made his Featherweight debut against Tyson Griffin and got the impressive TKO win in the 1st Round.
What To Expect: Palaszewski has not be submitted since 2007 but Hioki could be the man to stop that 5 year streak. To get the fight to the ground though Hioki is going to have to negotiate through Palaszewski's knockout power he pocesses in both hands.
My Prediction: Hioki by Submission 2nd Round
Anthony Pettis vs Joe Lauzon
15-2 Record 21-7
25 Age 27
154.5 Weight 155
5'10 Height 5'10
72" Reach 70"
-255 Odds +185
Common Opponents: Jeremy Stephens
Pettis won by Split Decision at UFC 136 10/8/11
Lauzon won by Submission 2nd Round at UFC Fight Night 2/7/09
How They Got Here: Lauzon is coming off one of the biggest wins of his career where he upset Melvin Guillard by Submission at UFC 136 which was his 2nd straight submission win. Pettis, the former WEC Lightweight champion is coming off his first career UFC win over Jeremy Stephens at UFC 136.
What To Expect: A great fight to kick off the pay per view portion of the event as these 2 lightweights are looking to position themselves into a title shot in the near future. Although both fighters have strong submission games it's in the standup were Pettis's strength really is. Lauzon though proved against Melvin Guillard that his standup shouldn't be taken lightly but it really is through his ground game that will be his key to victory. Getting Pettis on his back and grinding out the win is easier said than done as he surely has been working on his takedown defense since his debut with the UFC and even if he does get put on his back he still is a very dangerous threat to throw up submissions.
My Prediction: Pettis by Decision
Prelims
Takanori Gomi vs Eiji Mitsuoka
My Prediction: Gomi by TKO 1st Round
Norifumi Yamamoto vs Vaughan Lee
My Prediction: Yamamoto by TKO 1st Round
Riki Fukuda vs Steve Cantwell
My Prediction: Fukuda by Decision
Takeya Mizugaki vs Chris Cariaso
My Prediction: Mizugaki by Decision
Tiequan Zhang vs Issei Tamura
My Prediction: Zhang by Submission 1st Round
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