There won’t be any belt on the line. No title shot either.
The winner between Anderson Silva and Stephan Bonnar on Saturday night at UFC 153 in Rio won’t move up in anyone’s rankings. Not that Silva, the pound-for-pound king, could go any higher.
Silva-Bonnar means very little after UFC 153. But at UFC 153? It means a whole lot.
For one, just seeing Silva, the greatest MMA fighter of all time, is worth the price of admission alone. He’s done unimaginable things in a cage, things you only see in video games. He’s made grown men at the top of the sport look like children. He has the longest title reign and most title defenses in UFC history.
Silva is the best – and there’s very little to argue with there.
In the other corner at HSBC Arena won’t be someone trying to challenge for his middleweight title. This fight doesn’t even take place in Silva’s weight class – it’s at 205. Bonnar is not a world class athlete. He’s never been a championship contender or headlined a pay-per-view like is now. He’s a 7-to-1 underdog or worse at sports books.
Yet there’s something intriguing about seeing someone that no one expects to win take a shot at immortality. No one has ever beaten Anderson Silva in the UFC. Could it possibly be Stephan Bonnar?
There’s something else about Bonnar, too: He’s one of the toughest to ever step into the Octagon. His wild, bloody war with Forrest Griffin in the first “Ultimate Fighter” finale is regarded as the best UFC fight of all time. Bonnar has never been finished by a fighter in the UFC, only by doctors – two stoppages due to cuts.
Silva is known as a knockout artist; Bonnar has never been knocked out.
This fight wouldn’t have happened if Jose Aldo had not have gotten hurt, knocking him out of this main event against Frankie Edgar for the featherweight title. Silva stepped in and on short notice and the rest is history.
UFC president Dana White said last week that sometimes it’s OK to just have “fun fights.” He’s right about that. It’s what separates MMA from other sports.
Silva-Bonnar doesn’t have to mean anything after Saturday night. But when the two step into the cage together, it’ll be hard to take your eyes off it.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Dave Herman
Nogueira is 36 years old, has lost three of his last five fights and is competing for the first time since Frank Mir broke his arm in December. So how again is Nogueira the favorite here? Sure, he might get some energy from his countrymen in Brazil, but he’s going to need more than that against someone eight years his junior.
Not that Herman has proven he can beat an elite heavyweight in the UFC. He’s coming off losses to top-10 guys Roy Nelson and Stefan Struve. What Herman has shown is that he is willing to stand in the middle of the Octagon and trade. Nogueira’s chin is suspect at this juncture of his career and Herman has heavy hands. Don’t expect this one to go too long – Herman’s ability to take punches hasn’t been that impressive either.
Definite Knockout of the Night candidate, especially if Nogueira doesn’t try to take him down and submit him as he should.
Glover Teixeira vs. Fabio Maldonado
Teixeira has to be one of the best 30-somethings in the world to never have competed in the UFC until now. Visa problems kept the Brazilian from plying his trade in the United States after 2008, but now he’s looking to make a run in the UFC light heavyweight division.
The 32-year-old was supposed to face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson here in a fight that would have sent him to the upper echelon of the 205-pound rankings with a win. He’ll have to settle for Maldonado, an exciting journeyman who has lost two straight in the UFC.
This is little more than a showcase bout for Teixeira. Many assume an exciting finish – he hasn’t gone to decision in his last six fights. That means he better win.
Erick Silva vs. Jon Fitch
Outside of the main event, this might be the most interesting fight on the card. There are real rankings implications here. If Silva can beat Fitch, he can no longer be just considered a prospect. The explosive, 28-year-old knockout artist would vault himself right into title contention.
Fitch has been one of the best welterweights in the world for a long time. He’s fought everyone, including the likes of Georges St-Pierre and BJ Penn. He hasn’t stepped in the Octagon since a 12-second knockout loss to Johny Hendricks, though. Considering he’s fighting a guy who makes a living putting guys to sleep with his striking, that could be an issue for Fitch.
Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado
An errant finger to Prado’s eye ruined what looked to be a dominant win for Davis when the two fought in August. The UFC made an immediate rematch after the no contest and Davis is once again a massive favorite. The 28-year-old former Penn State wrestler is one of the top prospects in the light heavyweight division. He’s still trying to get back on track after being outclassed by Rashad Evans in a No. 1 contender fight in January.
Demian Maia vs. Rick Story
Inconsistent as a middleweight, Maia moved down to welterweight over the summer and beat Dong Hyun Kim in July. Though Kim got hurt in that fight, Maia was dominating the fight at the time. He’ll get a bully wrestler type in Rick Story, who rebounded after two straight losses by beating Brock Jardine in June. The winner here will be considered a legitimate threat at 170.
PRELIMS
Rony Mariano Bezerra vs. Sam Sicilia
Gleison Tibau vs. Francisco Trinaldo
Diego Brandao vs. Joey Gambino
Sergio Moraes vs. Renee Forte
Luiz Cane vs. Chris Camozzi
Reza Madadi vs. Cristiano Marcello
Brazilians galore on this preliminary card. That should get the Rio crowd hot right away. Those fans always show up for the first fight anyway.
Keep an eye on Brandao. He’s coming off a loss to to Darren Elkins in May, but at 25 has a bright future in the featherweight division. He’ll be facing upstate New York native Joey Gambino. Tibau and Cane are veterans trying to remain relevant, while Bezerra is the winner of the first “Ultimate Fighter: Brazil.” The 28-year-old is a nice featherweight prospect and fun to watch, too.
PREDICTIONS
Silva
Herman
Teixeira
Fitch
Davis
Story
Bezerra
Tibau
Brandao
Moraes
Cane
Madadi
Fight of the Night: Silva vs. Bonnar
Knockout of the Night: Teixeira
Submission of the Night: Bezerra