Winner: Henderson

This is a very difficult fight to predict but nevertheless a salivating one that should go down as a memorable and exciting lightweight fight. Gilbert Melendez may be relatively unknown to the common fan but he was by far the best fighter outside the UFC for the past couple of years. Benson Henderson is becoming n excellent fighter, with great striking and submission skills. Both fighters have excellent wrestling so expect both to trade until the final horn. Melendez may have more power but Henderson is quicker, able to get on the inside a lot faster. Henderson also defeated Melendez’s training partner Nate Diaz in his last fight – which can work against him if Diaz is dishing out important information on the champion when training with the challenger. Or maybe Henderson could have an idea as to how Melendez will approach this fight. This fight should be as close as Henderson’s fights with Frankie Edgar, if not closer. A complete guess as to who is going to win this fight.

Daniel Cormier vs. Frank Mir

Pick: Cormier

Oddsmakers who have Daniel Cormier as a virtual lock should not overlook former heavyweight champion Frank Mir. His striking is decent but it’s his submission skills that he possesses that make him really special. Cormier is the best heavyweight wrestler in MMA (alongside training partner Cain Velasquez) so it will be difficult for Mir to have his way with him if the fight goes to the ground. With all the hype surrounding Cormier, he should be able to fulfill expectations and defeat Mir in impressive fashion however Mir can never be counted out – he usually shines when nobody gives him a chance to win.

Nate Diaz vs. Josh Thomson

Pick: Diaz

This could be a riskier fight for Josh Thomson since he had a grueling and memorable trilogy with one of Nate Diaz’s main training partners, Gilbert Melendez. Diaz thinks he knows everything there is to know about his opponent. After an unsuccessful title campaign, Diaz will look to bounce back in ferocious fashion and will probably head up to welterweight when he is done this fight, win or lose. However Thomson provided a blueprint on how to beat Melendez (even if it was just once) so expect him to use the same style he did against Melendez – quick on the feet and relentless on the ground.

Matt Brown vs. Jordan Mein

Pick: Mein

Jordan Mein is a top prospect that has already finished Marius Zaromskis, Evangelista “Cyborg” Santos and the incredibly durable Dan Miller. Having fought just over thirty days ago at UFC 158 in Canada, Mein took the fight on short notice and is confident he has what it takes to beat Matt Brown. “The Immortal” is on an impressive four-fight win streak and being unprepared for him will cost you dearly. His standup is very underrated and his ground game isn’t too shabby either. Mein should be able to take the win home with him but is he coming back too soon?

Winner: Faber

Urijah Faber keeps getting title shots because let’s face it; he’s the best fighter in the division who is not the champion. After an amazing submission win over the durable Ivan Menjivar, Faber sees himself pitted against Scott Jorgensen, who should not be taken lightly. Although Jorgensen has had his fair share of ups and downs, he is coming off of a submission win over John Albert and looks to improve his record of 14-6. Jorgensen has good submissions and can pack a fistful of power but Faber is perhaps one of the best well-rounded martial artists in the sport. With the ability to finish his opponent by striking or by submissions, Faber remains one of the best fighters in the sport who has never tasted UFC gold. He should be able to take care of business handily against Jorgensen and challenge for Renan Barao’s bantamweight title once again.

Kelvin Gastelum vs. Uriah Hall

Winner: Hall

These two Team Sonnen teammates will battle in the Ultimate Fighter 17 middleweight finale. The clear favorite is Uriah Hall and despite Gastelum finishing his three opponents in the tournament, Hall does not look like he’s losing this one. If Gastelum can get Hall to the ground by setting up and utilizing takedowns, he has a good chance of putting the favorite in serious trouble with his impressive submissions. However if Gastelum hesitates and shows any sense of nervousness in the opening seconds, Hall will definitely capitalize with his brutal knockout power, that saw him finish all three opponents in dominant fashion.

Miesha Tate vs. Cat Zingano

Winner: Zingano

The pressure of coaching alongside current bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey on next season’s coed TUF shouldn’t be a factor in the promotion’s second women’s fight ever but there is a lot riding on this fight. Miesha Tate has wanted to prove to Dana White for years that women belong in the UFC and this weekend will be her chance to shine. Having already lost to Rousey once, Tate has good striking capable of putting anyone in her division into serious trouble. Cat Zingano is a strong and balanced undefeated fighter who is able to get the best of her opponent anywhere this fight goes. Zingano could very well pull off the upset here, as Tate may be focused on the Rousey rematch and potential coaching job a little more than Zingano is. Look for Zingano to catch Tate with her thunderous power or surprise Tate with submission skills of her own.

Travis Browne vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

Winner: Browne

There’s a decent chance that someone is going to sleep in this fight although don’t be surprised if it is a slow and tactical heavyweight fight. Travis Browne will want to redeem himself after his unfortunate injury cost him a loss against Antonio ‘‘Bigfoot’’ Silva, so look for him to come out and make Gonzaga uncomfortable from the start by pushing the pace. The Brazilian has a lot to prove and with one more title run on his mind, he needs to beat a young and hungry fighter en route to being a title challenger once again. Browne may need this win more than Gonzaga and a finish would be bittersweet for the Jackson’s MMA product.

Robert McDaniel vs. Gilbert Smith

Winner: McDaniel

Why Bubba McDaniel and Gilbert Smith are on the main card is somewhat of a mystery. They were both finished in the elimination round and McDaniel was brutally knocked out by Hall in the quarter-finals. Nevertheless the fight opens the main card and maybe the UFC brass sees an opportunity to start the card off with a bang; it is likely someone is getting finished. McDaniel has a ruthless way of coming forward and his experience should be the deciding factor in this fight. He definitely needs to stay away from Smith’s ground game though.

UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz

Alright, so here’s the deal: Georges St-Pierre kicked some serious ass on Saturday night at UFC 158 against Nick Diaz, and there’s more than one good reason it went down like that. As a packed-to-the-rafters Bell Centre was coming down from the fight-of-the-night Hendricks/Condit battle high, the lights dimmed and Diaz began his walk-out to the sounds of 20,000 boos drowning out his music. The scene was set. The crowd was ready. Bring on the mayhem.

First off, was anyone surprised? I don’t think so. Diaz came into this fight the underdog, and not just because GSP fought in his hometown. There’s a reason GSP is the champ: he knows the sport like few others do and his skill is evident the moment he steps into the Octagon. Diaz on the other hand holds a wild reputation that straddles the line between skilled fighter and all-out psycho brawler. He has his skills (boxing and stand-up as well as Jiu-Jitsu), but GSP’s wrestling game is (and was) clearly stronger.

UFC 158: St-Pierre vs. Diaz

From the beginning, GSP dominated Diaz with his wrestling prowess. Jabs were exchanged, and GSP got some pretty serious leg kicks on Diaz within the first few minutes. Then it was all about the ground game, as GSP smothered Diaz, used his weight and grappling skills and really controlled the fight for all 5 rounds.

Midway through the fight, GSP got rocked by a good hit by Diaz, but quickly recovered and took the battle back to the ground where he wanted it to be, and kept it there.

As Diaz continued to run his mouth the entire fight, egging GSP on, dropping his arms and taunting his talented opponent, the crowd went wild and GSP just looked more determined.

Often criticized for not “finishing” fights, GSP put on a hell of a show, nonetheless, and didn’t escape the bout unscathed. Both fighters looked a little worse for wear at the end, but it was clear that GSP was the winner when it went to decision. Always humble in his success, GSP was sure to thank Diaz for his effort and commend him on his abilities in the Octagon.

While a few of the prelim fights were dry, to say the least, the Hendricks/Condit bout and the main event more than made up for it, and the 20,000-strong GSP fan club left happy that night.

Miranda Lightstone is a Montreal-based contributor with a passion for pretty much anything automotive. She also has an affinity for guys making other guys bleed. She was ringside for UFC 158 and was kind enough to offer her insights to why GSP might not be a stand-up guy, though he is humble.

The UFC’s lightweight division is becoming more fruitful each year, and by no means are the fights getting easier. A handful of title contenders emerge after every card the promotion puts on and it is home to the most promising prospects in the sport.

Rising Canadian prospect John “The Bull” Makdessi (10-2 MMA) has already had his fair share of bright moments. The 27-year-old Tristar Gym product scored one of the most spectacular knockouts in UFC history back in April of 2011, at UFC 129 in Toronto; he finished Kyle Watson in the third round by a spinning back-fist.

For Makdessi, it’s about living for the moment in the present day of his fighting career, which is constantly getting better and enjoying the ride.

“Every fight for me I try not to really focus on my opponent; I try to focus on getting better today… become a better mixed martial artist. I can only control what I can control. Every fight for me is a tough fight. I try to enjoy the journey and try to focus on the process.”

At UFC 158, John Makdessi will showcase his skills on the preliminary card against Daron Cruickshank (12-2 MMA), who is currently riding a six-fight win streak. His most recent performance in the Octagon was at UFC on Fox 5 back in December, where he scored a headkick knockout over Henry Martinez. Confident of his abilities, but wary of the threat his opponent poses, Makdessi focuses on using a strategy that betters himself as a fighter – and worries him less about his opponent’s plans.

“He’s a dynamic striker, background wrestler; every fight is a tough fight for me. We’re all tough fighters; at the end of the day, in my eyes, I can’t underestimate him. I’ve never underestimated my opponent, but at the same time I’m confident in my skills, confident in my training and I believe in myself. I can’t really focus on what he’s going to bring to the table; I can only focus on fighting my fight.”

Perhaps the most bittersweet moment of Makdessi’s career was recently at UFC 154 in Montreal. He defeated Sam Stout in a fight that showcased Makdessi’s skills as well as his overall improvement as a young, hungry fighter using his speed and effective counter-striking. He had lost two fights in a row leading up to the bout and was very emotional in post-fight interviews. He was very humble leading up to the fight and when he won the unanimous decision in front of his home crowd, Makdessi regained the confidence he needed to be one of the world’s best.

“Sam Stout is a tough fighter… I feel like I’m always fighting guys that are more experience than me. Coming from losses, emotionally, I had a lot of stuff inside of me. It gave me back my confidence. I do deserve to be at the top of the lightweight division. I do believe I’m one of the best fighter’s at 155.”

Makdessi will be fighting in Montreal for the third time under the UFC banner and connects with the atmosphere created in the Bell Centre by the city’s faithful, whom he believes deserve to get what they paid for:

“The Bell Centre is a smaller stadium – its more intimate, you really feel the energy. I always try to go out there and give it my all. Not only do I believe that I’m a good fighter, but I want to go out there and give the fans what they paid for. I want to be victorious but at the same time I look at performance. I always try to give it my best… that’s my goal.”

king mo bellator mma – credit: bellator

Bellator MMA 85

“Bellator MMA 85″ kicked off the season with two intriguing title fights. Featherweight Champion Pat Curran successfully defended his title against Patricio “Pitbull” Freire. Although Curran won convincingly, he was awarded a split decision.

Rick Hawn, winner of Season 6’s lightweight tournament was no match for Champion Michael Chandler who dismantled Hawn via rear-naked choke in the second round.

The most exciting performance of the night belonged to M-1 Global vet Mikhail Zayats, who knocked out former Strikeforce Light Heavyweight Champion Renato “Babalu” Sobral by a spinning back-fist followed by punches.

A handful of UFC veterans also tasted defeat on the card, as Seth Petruzelli, Mike Guymon, and Hector Ramirez all lost to Jacob Noe, Savant Young, and UFC vet Jason Lambert, respectively.

Bellator MMA 86

“Bellator MMA 86″ took place in Thackerville, Oklahoma, and fans will forever remember the event for Ben Askren’s finish over Karl Amoussou in the main event. Askren successfully defended the welterweight title and it was only his second finish in eight fights for the company.

Douglas Lima finished Michail Tsarev by brutal leg kicks late in the second round, advancing to the welterweight tournament semi-final. Ben Saunders advanced by defeating Koffi Adzitso on the card as well.

Making his much-anticipated debut, Muhammed Lawal, better known as “King Mo,” beat his opponent Przemyslaw Mysiala by TKO in the first round.

Former Dream Welterweight Champion and Grand Prix winner Marius Zaromskis lost his second straight against Brent Weedman.

Bellator MMA 87

“Bellator MMA 87″ saw Quebec-based fighter Guillaume DeLorenzi lose to impressive lightweight Saad Awad in less than a minute.

The main event and co-main event featured two lightweight tournament bouts, as David Rickels defeated Lloyd Woodard and Will Brooks took home the victory against Ricardo Tirloni. Also on the main card was Alexander Sarnavski, who is also competing in the lightweight tournament, defeating Thiago Michel.

Get refreshed on the remaining three promotions of Bellator MMA after the jump…

Urijah Faber – credit: http://espn.go.com

Urijah Faber, who beat Ivan Menjivar by submission last week at UFC 157, meets Scott Jorgensen in a bantamweight bout. The fight will serve as the main event for The Ultimate Fighter 17 finale, which features coaches Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen.

Also on the card is the second women’s fight in UFC history, featuring Miesha Tate and Cat Zingano. The official fight card follows:

The Ultimate Fighter 17 Finale:

Urijah Faber vs. Scott Jorgensen
The Ultimate Fighter 17 Middleweight Finale (TBA)
Miesha Tate vs. Cat Zingano
Sam Sicilia vs. Maximo Blanco
Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Travis Browne
Cole Miller vs. Bart Palaszewski
Daniel Pineda vs. Justin Lawrence

Winner: Rousey

It doesn’t take an MMA fan, journalist, expert, or a guy writing predictions to know that Carmouche needs to avoid the early armbar attempt at all costs. If Carmouche can make it out of Round 1, that is an upset in itself. Rousey’s work with Head Trainer Edmond Tarverdyan and former female boxing champion Lucia Rijker was showcased on the UFC Primetime episodes, but we have not seen much of her stand-up and it did look slightly suspect against Miesha Tate. This is not to say that Rousey’s stand-up is bad – she may very well knockout Liz Carmouche for all we know. It just has not been seen yet because she had no use for it since her six submission wins were all won early in the first round (with the exception of Tate, which came in the fourth minute of the first round).

There’s nothing to lose for Carmouche in this fight – she needs to come out and utilize her striking power fast, unless the challenger is pestering up a gameplan to shock the world. As a heavy favorite, Rousey can keep her title as the best female fighter on the planet if she continues her brutal armbar streak (or finds another way to win, for that matter).

Lyoto Machida vs. Dan Henderson

Pick: Henderson

This is one of the most exciting matchups in the light heavyweight division in recent memory. Both light heavyweights are good counter-strikers, but Machida may be the better out of the two. It would be beneficial for Machida to drag this fight out as long as possible and drain Henderson as much as he can – the American looks to tire in the later rounds. He needs to be very wary of Henderson’s infamous “Hendo-Bomb,” which has left Michael Bisping, Fedor Emilanenko, and Rafael Feijao all out cold in the past. All it takes is for Henderson to connect and the fight is over. The pressure is certainly on as the winner of this bout will be the next in line for a title shot against Jon “Bones” Jones. The experience could play as a factor in this one, as Henderson has been in the game longer and has had his fair share of grueling fights.

Urijah Faber vs. Ivan Menjivar

Pick: Faber

Dana White reiterated his stance on Urijah Faber earlier this week when said that even “The California Kid” would be cut if he does not leave as the winner on Saturday night. Whether or not this is justified to be one of the most popular personalities in the UFC, Faber is in for the biggest fight of his career on Saturday night – and he needs to look sharp doing it too. Faber should keep this fight standing, look hurt Menjivar with quick strikes and then perhaps try to look for the submission. Menjivar showed improvement in his last fight where he defeated Azamat Gashimov by submission and was on a three-fight win streak until he hit a roadblock in Mike Easton. Hopefully the rematch between these two will not finish by disqualification this time (Faber beat Menjivar by DQ when “the Pride of El Salvador” used an illegal kick to his downed opponent).

Josh Neer vs. Court McGee

Pick: McGee

Both guys know that the loser of this fight is probably on their way out (both have dropped two straight) so they will definitely need a stellar performance in Anaheim. Neer is super tough, however, his mistakes against Pyle and Edwards cost him dearly and McGee could easily capitalize if Neer gives him the chance. McGee should go back to his bread and butter, which is smothering his opponents and eventually catching them in a submission. Neer’s defense is quite good, but if Justin Edwards was able to submit him in less than a minute, there’s no reason why McGee can’t either.

Josh Koscheck vs. Robbie Lawler

Pick: Koscheck

The former welterweight title contender Koscheck welcomes Lawler back to the UFC and it will be interesting to see how Koscheck approaches this fight. Both men are capable of knocking each other out with one blow and they even have the ability to submit each other. Koscheck should use his wrestling throughout the fight and smother Lawler, who has had trouble with both cardio and grapplers (Tim Kennedy, Jake Shields) in the past.

Pick: Barão

The UFC Interim Bantamweight Champion Renan Barão will be defending the title for the first time since his win over Urijah Faber to claim the belt. Michael McDonald was given to the title shot after it was revealed that current champion, Dominick Cruz needed to undergo a second ACL surgery.

Barão is truly an exciting fighter who has an excellent ground-game and his lethal standup can finish a fight at any time. McDonald is one of MMA’s promising blue-chip prospects that has more of a chance than many observers are giving him. His underrated boxing skills that finished both Alex Soto and Miguel Torres consecutively could put Barão in a world of hurt if he is able to catch the Brazilian.

Barão has a slight advantage in speed but his experience and conditioning should be able to help him grind out a razor-thin decision victory.

Dustin Poirier vs. Cub Swanson

Pick: Poirier

This featherweight fight is a pick’em if anybody has ever seen one, plain and simple. Both fighters have excellent standup and there is no distinct submission or ground-game advantage.

Dustin Poirier may want the victory a little more, since he was finished by Chan Sung Jung and lost his opportunity at a title shot. Cub Swanson has looked like a fighter reborn as of late, having finished his last three opponents.

Both guys are extremely tough and even if it sounds intensely cliché, the man who wants it more will win the fight.

Jimi Manuwa vs. Cyrille Diabate

Pick: Diabate

Undefeated Jimi Manuwa will have the home crowd advantage when he faces French striker Cyrille Diabate. Manuwa has the advantage on the ground but since all fights start standing up, it will be a tough task to drag Diabate down with him.

Diabate showcased his sharp, striking skills against Chad Griggs at UFC 154 and is improves every time he steps foot in the Octagon – at the tender age of 39. Diabate should be able to have his way with Manuwa but he desperately needs to keep the fight standing.

Gunnar Nelson vs. Jorge Santiago

Pick: Nelson

Jorge Santiago had an excellent run in Japan that included a Sengoku Middleweight Championship but could not create the same success in his return to the UFC in mid-2011. After winning two fights outside the organization, he hopes to turn some heads in the welterweight division but his plate will be full with the rising Gunnar Nelson.

The Icelandic fighter has ten victories and has finished every single opponent by either knockout or submission. The Renzo Gracie trained Nelson submitted DaMarques Johnson in his UFC debut and it only took him less than four minutes. If Santiago does not come out guns blazing, it could cost him dearly.

James Te Huna vs. Ryan Jimmo

Pick: Jimmo

People should not sleep on Ryan Jimmo and for some reason they still do after his seven-second knockout of Anthony Perosh. The former MFC Light Heavyweight Champion has wins over Wilson Gouveia, Rameau Thierry Sokoudjou and Marvin Eastman – the hype is for real.

Te Huna is no slouch either – he has knocked out Aaron Rosa, Ricardo Romero and Igor Pokrajac – three durable opponents. This fight should not go the distance and you can bet on one man going to sleep. Jimmo should get the nod.

Che Mills vs. Matthew Riddle

Pick: Riddle

Two versatile fighters will meet as England’s own Che Mills will look for a second consecutive victory against Matthew Riddle. These two fighters should be able to cancel out each other’s grappling and keep this fight filled with punches. Mills is able to finish fights with his fists and is fresh off a stoppage victory over Duane Ludwig.

Riddle is getting freakishly stronger after every performance and had a good year minus the suspension due to marijuana in 2012 – he should be able to pull off an upset in hostile territory.

Antonio Rogerio Nogueira had the most bittersweet victory of his career as he beat former UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Rashad Evans in a dull fight. After three rounds of jab-catching, this fight was not exactly decisive but Nogueira was correctly awarded the contest, even though he was not dominant.

After leaving his hands down with absolutely no respect for his opponent, former STRIKEFORCE, DREAM and K-1 champion Alistair Overeem was brutally knocked out by heavy underdog, Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva. The Brazilian caught Overeem with some powerful strikes in the third round and finished the man many believed would be Cain Velasquez’s next opponent.

In a new installment for Yell! Magazine, we look at what’s next for a few main card fighters we saw on Saturday night:

José Aldo

Aldo was brought into the deep waters by Edgar in the fourth and fifth round but never looked seriously damaged. He does have the possibility of tiring in the championship rounds as we saw against Edgar and in the past with Mark Hominick. It has been suggested by many observers that Aldo should move up to lightweight, since he has a difficult time adjusting to the weight cut.

However like his fellow Brazilian training partner, Anderson Silva, Aldo may want to cement his legacy in the division much like Silva has done at middleweight. Even though Aldo looks near impossible to solve, there are still challenges for him. Dana White stated at the post-fight press conference that Anthony Pettis contacted him and that the Roufusport lightweight was willing to drop down to fight Aldo. Although all signs point to Ricardo Lamas, who has been on a tear as of late, having won all four of his UFC fights including the destruction of Erik Koch last week.

Whatever the case may be Aldo still has plenty of work left in the featherweight division.

What’s next for Evans, Silva and Benavidez on the jump…

Pick: Aldo

Nobody has been able to stop Jose Aldo’s featherweight title reign, but Frankie Edgar could be the toughest challenger yet. In his first featherweight fight for the UFC, Edgar has been deep in the championship rounds and has arguably the best cardio in the sport. Edgar may not be able to impose his wrestling skills on the bigger Aldo and needs to watch out for the Brazilian’s lethal striking. This should be a super fight for the ages.

Rashad Evans vs. Antônio Rogério Nogueira

Pick: Evans

Rashad Evans is no stranger to long layoffs, but he has always looked in shape. He must avoid the jiu-jitsu and ground game of the Brazilian veteran who is famous for his and his brothers’ excellent submission skills. Like Ryan Bader previously showed, a Nogueira can be beat with wrestling but this should be a standup war.

Alistair Overeem vs. Antonio “Bigfoot” Silva

Winner: Overeem

“Bigfoot” has overcome the odds before, surprising many when he demolished the legendary Fedor Emilianenko and current UFC heavyweight Travis Browne. His plate may have too much on it with Alistair Overeem though, who is coming off a suspension for banned substances and will likely prove that he is next in line for a heavyweight title bout.

Jon Fitch vs. Demian Maia

Pick: Fitch

In a classic matchup of styles, it will be Jon Fitch’s collegiate wrestling against the black-belt jiu-jitsu phenom Demian Maia. It will be ironic if this fight stays standing, but Fitch’s power should prove the difference here, either on the feet or the ground.

Joseph Benavidez vs. Ian McCall

Pick: Benavidez

This flyweight scrap is sure to ignite fireworks as both Joseph Benavidez and McCall gave current champion Demetrious Johnson problems when they both had their title opportunities. Benavidez can pack in a lot behind his punches and may be too much for McCall to handle.