UFC Ultimate Fight Night 29 Roundtable – Main Card Predictions From Staff

Features, Previews

It’s been a while since we had an actual fight card … and now we get one that could be sneaky good. Or sneaky awful. Either way it’s not a PPV, so at least all you have to do is pay for cable. Time to break down the main card.

Joining me is Ryan Frederick … with Jon Kirschner adding a pick for the main event.

Demian Maia vs. Jake Shields

Frederick: This will be a very interesting fight, but one that could be boring if it stays on the feet for an extended period of time. Maia has looked awesome at 170 pounds, and it is the two best jiu-jitsu guys at welterweight. I would love to see a strictly ground battle in this fight as it would be very fun to watch. Shields is difficult to beat but I see Maia getting the job done, probably by decision. Maia

Sawitz: This could be a great fight … or it could be so awful you’ll pray it ends quickly so that you can watch “The Ultimate Fighter.” Not quite praying for a merciful end … but close. I like Maia in this fight; his ground game is better and I think he outlasts Shields to get it done. Plus it’s in Brazil and foreigners don’t tend to do well there. Maia.

Kirschner: Even though this is a bout that will not produce the exciting highlight-reel knockout that many want, I have been secretly wishing this match would happen ever since Jake Shields made the transition to the UFC. Casual fans remember Shields as the champion from the “other promotion” that got dominated and embarrassed by GSP in front of 50,000 fans. It’s easy to forget that he is currently on a two-fight win streak with victories over Tyron Woodley and Yoshihiro Akiyama. He still has what it takes to beat the elite in the UFC, and it just so happens Demian Maia is knocking on the door of the “Elite Club” himself. He’s been undefeated since he made his welterweight debut and is showing no signs of slowing down anytime soon.

These two black belts will put on a grappling clinic. Expect three or four rounds of smart grappling with fast scrambles here and there that will make you want to press the rewind button to figure out how Fighter X ended up on top of Fighter Y. This bout can easily go either way, but I can see Shields gassing late in the third and slipping up, allowing Maia to submit him early in the fourth round. Either way, it’s going to be an exciting fight.

Erick Silva vs. Dong Hyun Kim

Frederick: A big fight for Silva as a win, especially a stoppage win, would establish him firmly in the tough welterweight division. Kim has only lost twice in the UFC, and he has a tough style to beat. Silva can beat it, but it’s just a matter of if he will. His striking is so much better, and his grappling is good. I like Silva in a very close fight. Silva

Sawitz: Silva’s a star on the rise in Brazil and the Donger is potentially a big star in his native South Korea. Kim is a tough out, though, and this won’t be a walk in the park for Silva. I think he gets it done … but it’ll be closer than you think. Silva

Thiago Silva vs. Matt Hamill

Frederick: I question how much Hamill still has left to put into this sport. He just mentally seems done. He retired after taking a beating from Alexander Gustafsson, and if the Thiago Silva that has shown to be a killer shows up, it may send Hamill out of the sport once again. Silva has been excellent in the past, but personal issues have kept him from reaching the top. Silva has the edge standing and will be teeing off on Hamill at every opportunity. Silva

Sawitz: Matt Hamill is a good fighter … but I’m not sure if we’ve seen the best of him in the UFC. We’ve seen the best of Silva and I think he has enough to notch the win here. It all depends: if we get Hamill on the rise, the one that talked his way into a fight with Rampage Jackson, he’ll notch the win. If not, and that’s what I’m guessing, we’ll see Hamill notch a loss.

Fabio Maldonado vs. Joey Beltran

Frederick: This will be a striking battle if there ever was one, and it has a good shot at winning “Fight Of The Night”. The only way this fight could be bad is the fact the loser could be cut, so maybe one, or both, of them will play it safe. If they come out swinging and make for an exciting fight that wins FOTN, it will be hard to cut the loser. Both hit hard and it will come down to volume and precision. Maldonado has crisper hands and better boxing, and that will be enough to win. Maldonado

Sawitz: Got to love the UFC sometimes as we get a “just bleed” fan favorite fight. Maldonado and Beltran are both fun brawlers who swing hard but just aren’t great at MMA. I think Beltran has too much for Fabio here. Beltran.

Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Pierce

Frederick: A big test for Palhares to see if he is going to be able to compete at 170 pounds. Pierce is a tough opponent, and he has only lost to title challengers in the UFC. Despite that, he doesn’t get the same respect as many fighters on win streaks due to his nature of being in boring fights. It took an injury to see him on the main card. Pierce has two knockouts over his last three fights and this is his chance to secure his future on the main card. Palhares has dangerous leg locks and can find a submission from anywhere. I like Pierce in a tough, close fight. Pierce

Sawitz: Mike Pierce is as fun to watch as paint drying, it seems, but he keeps on winning. His only losses were all close and to elite guys; we should be viewing him as a Top Five guy, I think. But Palhares will be in Brazil and I have this sneaky suspicion that he’ll want to keep Mike Pierce’s leg as a souvenir from this card. Palhares

Raphael Assuncao vs. T.J. Dillashaw

Frederick: This is a solid opener for any fight card let alone a free show. Both men are on four-fight win streaks and have the chance to cement themselves as title challengers. If Dominick Cruz can’t fight Renan Barao next and Barao has another fight before a showdown with Cruz, it could very well be against the winner of this fight. Assuncao has been impressive at 135 pounds, but Dillashaw looks to be one of the future cornerstones of the division. Plus, having Duane Ludwig as his coach as brought a lot of momentum to his camp.Dillashaw

Dillashaw: They may have the douchiest name in MMA but Team Alpha Male does one thing better than anyone else as a unit: win. Duane Ludwig has taken the TAM mold of well conditioned wrestlers with tough chins, great all around games and vicious guillotines and has refined their striking to make it work more effectively. The latest off the assembly line is Dillashaw and I think he takes a close fight. Dillashaw