Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) is back in action this weekend with another mixed martial arts (MMA) doubleheader, which starts bright and early on Sat. morning (Aug. 23, 2014) on Fight Pass with UFC Fight Night 48: "Bisping vs. Le" in Macau, China.
See the full fight card and line up here.
Later in the day, the promotion returns to the FOX Sports 1 airwaves with UFC Fight Night 49: "Henderson vs. Dos Anjos" in Tulsa, Oklahoma, which also features preliminary bouts on both Fight Pass and FOX Sports 2. See the entire cast and crew slotted to do work in the "Sooner State" right here.
Busy day in combat sports.
With less than 24 hours to go before we get the live results and play-by-play underway for UFC Fight Night 48 (more on that here), let's take a closer look at the main and co-main fights for the promotion's early-morning showcase in the People's Republic of China.
185 lbs.: Michael "The Count" Bisping (24-6) vs. Cung Le (9-2)
Nostradumbass predicts: What's interesting about Cung Le is how irrelevant his age is, despite reaching 42 back in May. In case you haven't seen those photos floating around the web (like this one), the former Strikeforce middleweight champion is JACKED.
But that's not what matters here.
What matters is that Le has been a fighter his entire life, and a good one at that, despite just 11 bouts in mixed martial arts (MMA). There is no ring rust or cobwebs when you have been competing for over 25 years and Le will be just as dangerous tomorrow as he was when he plastered Rich Franklin all over the walls of the Cotai Arena back in 2012.
And just as susceptible to fatigue.
What traditional martial arts does not prepare you for is anther grown man smothering you on the ground, or grinding your body into a steel cage. And nobody is better at wearing you down than Michael Bisping, who claims he's not shooting for a takedown, but I don't believe him.
He said that before the Brian Stann fight, too.
Le was an accomplished wrestler himself way back when, but enters the cage with a significant size disadvantage. His cardio has always been an issue and with his new Le-minator physique, he's probably got a solid four minutes before the wind flees the sails.
If Bisping and his wonky eye can avoid getting creamed in the opening frame, I think he easily takes advantage of an exhausted Le, makes this fight up close and dirty, then pounds on him until the referee invokes the mercy rule. But if he tries to play point fighter, it's nighty-night.
Final prediction: Bisping def. Le via technical knockout
170 lbs.: Dong Hyun "Stun Gun" Kim (19-2-1) vs. Tyron "The Chosen One" Woodley (13-3)
Nostradumbass predicts: It's unfortunate that Dong Hyun Kim still doesn't get the respect he deserves. Probably because his style is like a standing version of Jon Fitch, though he's started to find the finish in recent fights, planishing Erick Silva and John Hathaway.
That said, all the "names" he's beaten have been puffed up lightweights.
It will be interesting to see how his Judo and smothering offense hold up against the collegiate wrestling pedigree of Woodley, who at times looks brilliant. Other times he looks completely lost, like his three-round head scratcher against Rory MacDonald.
Where was the dynamo who was beating up Carlos Condit?
The outcome of this fight largely depends on which version of "The Chosen One" shows up tomorrow in Macau. If the Strikeforce import can stay at range and find a home for that powerful right hand, this one's in the bag. But if he can't pull the trigger and lets "Stun Gun" bully him, it will be the Jake Shields fight all over again.
Please, no.
Final prediction: Kim def. Woodley via split decision
From a matchmaking perspective, this isn't too shabby for a Fight Pass card (especially when you consider this line up).
Now we'll turn our attention to main and co-main event of UFC Fight Night 49 on FOX Sports 1 (get full results here). Considering fight fans have to get up at the ass-crack of dawn to catch the Macau event from start to finish -- and the Tulsa tussles will stretch long past midnight -- we're in for a long day.
DEDICATION!
155 lbs.: Ben "Smooth" Henderson (21-3) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (21-7)
Nostradumbass predicts: This is the perfect match up for Ben Henderson, because he's facing an opponent who is a good (but not great) striker. That means "Smooth" can work his hands for as long as he holds the advantage and when he doesn't, the takedown is there.
Is Rafael dos Anjos great at jiu-jitsu?
Yes, but so is Henderson. I don't put a tremendous amount of stock in his armbar loss to Anthony Pettis, as I believe that error was more mental than technical. And as we learned in the Khabib Nurmagomedov fight -- and 100 other bouts in UFC -- it's hard to sink a sub when a huge, powerful wrestler is mugging you from the top.
Get ready to go all 25 minutes.
Henderson and Dos Anjos have gone to the scorecards a combined 17 times since joining UFC and I don't expect anything different tomorrow night in Tulsa. I do believe "Smooth" will try to make a statement on the feet and if he can't, will just take the Brazilian down and beat him up.
It won't be pretty, but then again, few Bendo wins are.
Final prediction: Henderson def. Dos Anjos via unanimous decision
170 lbs.: Jordan "Young Gun" Mein (28-9) vs. Mike "Quicksand" Pyle (26-9-1)
Nostradumbass predicts: Both fighters have 30-something fights to their credit, but I put the experience of Jordan Mein above that of Mike Pyle because he's compiled that record in a shorter period of time. More importantly, a significant chunk of that experience came when MMA was more evolved than it was when "Quicksand" was mixing it up with guys like Daan Kooiman.
In addition, "Young Gun" is 14 years younger than Pyle and that goes a long way when you start talking about who lands first. Both fighters were wrecked by Matt Brown in 2013, just as both bounced back with wins, though Pyle's was a bit more impressive.
And "Quicksand" has a nasty submission game.
What this boils down to is Pyle's 16 taps against Mein's 15 wins by way of knockout. Since every fight starts on the feet, I'm favoring the wily Canadian, but I was doing that anyway, so expect to see "Quicksand" sink early in the opening frame.
Final prediction: Mein def. Pyle via technical knockout
That's a wrap.
For a complete breakdown of this weekend's "Prelims" fights for UFC Fight Night 48 and 49 click here and here. To check out odds and betting lines for both events click here and remember to come check us out after both shows wrap for all the latest results, recaps and coverage of "Bisping vs. Le" and "Henderson vs. Dos Anjos."
What do you think? Now it's your turn ... let us have it in the comments section and share your thoughts and picks for tomorrow's doubleheader.