Bryan Caraway vs Johnny Bedford: UFC 159 'Fight of The Night' early pick

UFC 159 takes place tonight (Sat, April 27, 2013) from Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., headlined by a Light Heavyweight title fight between division champion Jon Jones and 205-pound No. 1 contender Chael Sonnen.

It's a high-profile mixed martial arts (MMA) match up, however, opening the FX-televised portion of the "Prelims" under card is a Bantamweight clash between Bryan Caraway and Johnny Bedford. And based on their styles, as well as action-packed pasts, it isn't a stretch to predict that the duo could turn in the "Fight of the Night" in "Brick City."

Indeed, Caraway and Bedford sport fan-pleasing styles, and with their constant offense (other than Caraway's poor decision to coast in the third round of his most recent loss to Takeya Mizugaki at UFC on FUEL TV 8), they keep combat sports fans on the edge of their seats with high output and pressure.

Caraway's game focuses heavily on his dynamic and dangerous ground game, but even in the stand up department, he is not one to take lightly. He complements his takedown game with a high volume of strikes, and while they may not be the most technical, they are certainly powerful.

Bedford's game, similarly to Caraway's, focuses heavily on the ground game, though not in the same way. Being a rather large 135-pound fighter, Bedford gives his nickname "Brutal" justice, bludgeoning opponents from the top position with heavy punches and elbows. He complements this ground attack with a strong submission attack, and while he may not be the best at defending submissions, he has proven to be effective at applying them, with eight of his 19 victories having come via that method.

When striking, Caraway and Bedford are both fairly raw, but the latter seems to have the more honed game. Indeed, with powerful, winging punches and a damaging clinch game, Bedford is a tough fighter to beat back, but if there were anyone in the division who has the ability, it would be Caraway.

When these two men engage later this evening, heavy punches will fly as both move forward. Expect Bedford to strike hard and fast, while Caraway -- who seems comfortable in dogfights -- will trade heavy leather in response.

When one of these men engages in a clinch or grappling battle, as one inevitably will, you can expect them to attack constantly, be it from bottom or top, as both possess some very dangerous skills on the mat. Caraway may hold the advantage in a more technical ground match, but Bedford can make the fight ugly and attack with big strikes and submission attempts from any position.

Ultimately, these two men possess very dynamic and exciting styles that can produce some very fun exchanges. This fight won't be a technical showcase, but rather a battle of attrition between two men who would rather take strikes to the face than take a step backward.

When Bryan Caraway and Johnny Bedford touch gloves later tonight, don't expect any niceties inside the Octagon. On the contrary, brace yourselves for a firefight that could very well deliver the UFC 159 "Fight of the Night."