Live from Las Vegas, UFC 155 has the potential to be the show of the year and close out 2012 on a high note for mixed martial arts. With a number of important fights across several different divisions and a main event that features the most important weight class in combat sports, this card will give fans something to talk about through the New Year.
At the top of the bill we are getting a rematch between UFC heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos and former champion Cain Velasquez. These two competitors closed out 2011 at the Fox UFC special, in what was a 64-second bout that left many people wanting more. Velasquez earned his way back to a title shot with a bloody victory over Antonio Silva at UFC 146, while dos Santos defended the title against Frank Mir at the same event.
The style of both competitors will make this a captivating bout, because while Velasquez does enjoy striking with his opponents, doing so against dos Santos can prove risky, and he has firsthand experience with the consequences of making that mistake. However, dos Santos has proven to have strong takedown defense, but he has never faced a wrestler of Cain’s stature. Where this fight takes place will be key in determining who comes out on top, and both individuals have the skills to keep it where they want.
On the undercard you have a number of fights that could determine eventual contenders for a few different weight classes. Middleweight fighters Tim Boetsch and Alan Belcher have very tough tests as they face Constantinos Philippou and Yushin Okami respectively. Both individuals have become afterthoughts in terms of who should face champion Anderson Silva next, but their runs towards title contention might not be able to be ignored with quality wins in these bouts. And if both individuals come out on top, you can expect them to be matched against each other sometime in 2013.
Further down the line you have a bout scheduled between Brad Pickett and Eddie Wineland that has the potential to steal the show. Both Pickett and Wineland have been mainstays in the bantamweight division, and while they have not gotten as much press as some of the bigger fighters in the UFC, these two individuals know how to put on shows and finish fights. Pickett vs. Wineland will be featured on the FX Preliminary card, but still has the potential to be a show-stealing contest.
Along with these bouts you have the return of Chris Leben, as he faces UFC newcomer Derek Brunson, as well as the grudge match between Melvin Guillard and Jamie Varner. Young standout Max Holloway will also be featured on the preliminary card, plus we will get the return of heavyweight prospect Todd Duffee. With so many names on one card, UFC 155 has turned into the must watch event to close out the year 2012, and give the MMA community something to be excited about going into 2013.
