It's stunning to see the odds at various sportsbooks for the Heavyweight bout tonight (May 26, 2012) between Stefan Struve and Lavar Johnson at UFC 146, which is scheduled to go down at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada.

Currently, the oddsmakers have pegged late substitute Johnson as a 7-5 favorite.

"Big" boasts one of the inspiring stories in mixed martial arts (MMA), having recovered from multiple gunshot wounds in a senseless drive-by shooting, then rebounding from a bad stretch in Strikeforce to register two impressive stoppage in as many Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) bouts. Knockouts of Joey Beltran and Pat Barry in the last five months have made him an emerging name among promotion's heavyweight prospects.

The problem is, Johnson's ground game hasn't evolved. And it's a huge problem. He was steamrolled on the mat by Barry prior to "HD" gassing horribly and Johnson rallying for a first-round finish. Struve, meanwhile, has decent stand up and a really good submission game, not to mention a ton of Octagon experience.

Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 146 fight between Stefan Struve vs. Lavar Johnson:

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In a battle of unbeaten Heavyweight prospects, the showdown between Stipe Miocic vs. Shane del Rosario at UFC 146 later tonight (May 26, 2012) at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, is definitely a nod toward the future.

Del Rosario made some respectable showings in Strikeforce, showcasing his athleticism and competency with three first-round steamrollings, including one of Lavar Johnson. Miocic is yet another talented college wrestler with athleticism on his side as well.

Something has got to give once the dynamic duo step inside the Octagon this evening.

Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 146 fight between Stipe Miocic vs. Shane del Rosario:

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Roy Nelson is the definition of an enigma, at times showcasing bounteous talent only to look dreadfully average. Gifted with deceptive athleticism, solid core strength, and a big-time right hand and chin, on paper, Nelson should be a top heavyweight contender.

It's really just a matter of putting it all together.

Dave Herman, his opponent later this evening (May 26, 2012) at UFC 146 from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, emerged on the scene last year with a gritty second-round stoppage of Jon Olav Einemo, only to gas and get taken out by Stefan Struve in his next bout. A smallish heavyweight in the 230 to 235-pound range, Herman has some unorthodox moves and tends to make an exciting fight.

When you're a heavyweight his size, that can be great for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) fight fans, if not necessarily for you.

Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 146 fight between Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman:

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Say this for Cain Velasquez: the guy is definitely looking to get back in the cage against whomever is available.

With his original UFC 146 opponent, Frank Mir, promoted to the main event opposite Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos, Velasquez gets a much better match up with Antonio Silva, a massive, at-times-impressive and other times horribly plodding foe.

Silva's Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) debut later tonight (May 26, 2012) in the co main event inside the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, comes largely on the heels of his two-round beating of Fedor Emelianenko in Strikeforce, which was followed by his quick starching at the hands of eventual grand prix winner, Daniel Cormier.

The mixed martial arts (MMA) promotion did him no favors with this booking; then again, Silva can thank Alistair Overeem for the UFC 146 fight card shake up. He is the primary reason "Bigfoot" will fight the American Kickboxing Academy (AKA) stand out rather than his original opponent, Roy Nelson.

Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 146 fight between Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva:

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Frank Mir is facing the same daunting task that Chuck Liddell's opponents did during the reign of terror that was "The Iceman's" prime. How in the hell, exactly, do you deal with an opponent who is far superior standing, with a magnificent stand up game and masterful control of range?

The answer may lie in Randy Couture's first bout with Liddell, because Mir is well-equipped to mimic that gameplan later tonight (May 26, 2012) against Heavyweight champion Junior dos Santos in the UFC 146 main event.

Using quick, high-percentage counters, closing the distance and forcing strength-sapping tie-ups, Couture allowed the fight to play out according to his advantages, assets Mir has in this match up, which will take place at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. He's bigger and stronger than dos Santos, and might be able to muscle "Cigano" in the clinch; if Mir does tie up, it's critical that he plant dos Santos against the fence and work him over because the Brazilian slips off the cage as well as anyone in the game.

He simply refuses to let himself get caught in a bad position.

Dos Santos' tear through the UFC heavyweight division culminated in November's 64-second, title-winning wipeout of Cain Velasquez. Dos Santos' punishing right hand pretty much settled matters, with the brutal follow-up an inevitable formality. Now undefeated (8-0) in the Octagon, nobody's really come close to taking him down and planting him on the mat, which is a scary proposition considering his solid grappling credentials that are rarely if ever showcased.

That said, dos Santos will be giving up about 20 pounds against Mir, a dangerous submission artists whose last performance was an arm-breaking masterpiece against dos Santos' mentor and hero, former champ Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira. It was a startling reminder of what Mir, an exceptionally gifted athlete prone to erratic performances, is capable of at his best.

Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC 146 fight between Junior dos Santos vs. Frank Mir:

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I love it when a plan comes together!

Especially when that plan involves a bout between two fighters who share an insatiable blood lust and an intestinal fortitude that will not allow them to quit.

Sometimes, a fight just has insane implications from the outset. You knew Leonard Garcia and Nam Phan were going to swing for the fences until somebody made them quit. Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz was another similar match up between two fighters who like to inflict punishment -- and aren't afraid to take some in the process.

On Sat., Jan. 28, 2012, the UFC on FOX 2 under card from the United Center in Chicago, Ill., will pit lightweights Evan Dunham and Nik Lentz against each other in a showdown that should net somebody (or both fighters) a big, fat bonus check.

Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 lightweight fight between Evan Dunham vs. Nik Lentz:

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There is just no playing around in the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) lightweight division these days. Win in style and live to fight another night or lose big and end up standing in the unemployment literally over night.

Just ask Brazilian phenom Charles Oliveira. When he was signed by Zuffa in 2010, he boasted a pristine (12-0) professional mixed martial arts (MMA) record. He was garnering tons of hype and it was well deserved.

But, everything started to fall apart on Dec. 11, 2010, when "Do Bronx" found himself on the receiving end of a Jim Miller kneebar submission at UFC 124 in Montreal, Canada.

In his next two fights, he had a similar lack of fortune, getting slapped with a dreaded "No Contest" result for an illegal knee against Nik Lentz, and then was on the wrong end of a brutal Donald Cerrone technical knockout.

Can he get his mixed martial arts (MMA) career back on track when he welcomes UFC newcomer Eric Wisely to the Octagon at UFC on FOX 2 in "Chi-town?"

Follow me after the jump for a complete breakdown of the UFC on FOX 2 featherweight fight between Charles Oliveira vs Eric Wisely:

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It's been a long and winding road for Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) middleweight and former The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) contestant Chris Camozzi.

The 25-year old fighter amassed a record of 12-3 over a period of three years before he finally got his big opportunity to be a part of the hit mixed martial arts (MMA) reality television series that aired on Spike TV.

"Kamikaze" won his fight versus Victor O'Donnell for the TUF 11 auditions, earning himself the right to live in the house and vie for the six-figure UFC contract. Unfortunately for Camozzi, during the epic battle, he suffered a badly broken jaw, causing him to be removed from the show.

Despite his setback, Camozzi was offered a second chance when they placed him on the TUF 11 Finale card opposite James Hammortree, a fight from which he emerged victorious via unanimous decision.

After the jump, we'll take a look into the fight between Chris Camozzi vs. Dustin Jacoby at UFC on FOX 2 later this evening (Sat., Jan. 28, 2012) from the United Center in Chicago, Illinois:

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