UFC 136: Edgar vs. Maynard III LowKick.com Staff Predictions

Joe Lauzon vs. Melvin Guillard
Top Prediction: Guillard via TKO in Round 1

Ryan Ventura: Two top ranked lightweights will battle it out with a possible title shot on the line! When you watch this fight, both are very quick and dynamic 155ers, so you need to make sure not to blink. J-Lau will want to take this to the ground and use his Jiu-Jitsu, but I believe Melvin has what it takes to keep this fight on the feet where he’ll want to use his striking. Melvin Guillard via 2nd round TKO.

Trent Reinsmith: After struggling with consistency Guillard looks like he has finally pulled everything together into a pretty solid package, winning eight of his last nine, with the last two of those coming via KO and TKO. Lauzon is 10-3 in his last 13, so he’s no slouch, as his five straight Fight Night Bonuses can attest. My feeling is that Guillard’s striking will prove to be too much for Lauzon. – Guillard by second round TKO

Anton Gurevich: I don’t think Joe Lauzon has enough firepower to deal with Melvin Guillard. “The Young Assasin” will look to make a title shot statement, and unfortunately for Joe Lauzon – he stands in his way. Guillard will dominate on the feet before finishing the fight via TKO in Round 3.

Joey Santosus: On paper, Joe Lauzon offers an interesting test for Melvin Guillard, as he excels where "The Young Assassin" is weakest, on the mat. However, to get him there, Lauzon will have to draw Guillard into engaging and shoot for perfectly timed takedowns - something easier said than done. Wrestling has never been Lauzon's specialty and he'll likely be forced to take some shots in order to close the distance. Unfortunately for Lauzon, there aren't too many Lightweights who can take the mind-numbing power Guillard is packing in his hands. Melvin Guillard via 2nd Rnd TKO.

Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan II
Top Prediction: Phan via Decision

Ryan Ventura: In their first fight from the TUF 12 finale was pure robbery that saw Garcia get the decision victory. Both men are coming off losses and will be looking to redeem themselves in this upcoming bout. Phan is a very good well-rounded fighter compared to the forward moving brawling style of Leonard Garcia. Garcia has never been KO’ed in his career and he’s ate shots from the best, but eventually that chin will crack and I think Nam Phan is the man to do it with a 1st round TKO.

Trent Reinsmith: The last time these two fought some said that the decision that went Garcia’s way was one of the worst in UFC history. It’s no secret that Garcia likes to come in and just swing away and that crazy style gets him points. That style is no secret to Phan at this point so I think he exploits that and moves in as Garcia leaves himself open, earning the win by using Garcia’s aggression against him.  Phan by unanimous decision.

Anton Gurevich: Justice will be served at UFC 136, with Nam Phan getting his hand raised against Leonard Garcia. Phan is a well-rounded Mixed Martial Artist, who has more than enough ways to defeat Garcia. I predict this one to end via Submission. Phan via Rear Naked Choke in Round 2.

Joey Santosus: Back in March, Leonard Garcia was pitted in a rematch with Chan Sung Jung, one of two opponents he bested via highly controversial split-decision. Proving that what goes around does, in fact, come around, Jung locked in a spectacular twister to force the tap and even the score. Now, on Saturday night, Nam Phan will get an opportunity to do the same. In their first meeting, last December, the two Featherweights engaged in a stand-up battle that saw Phan display a more technical and varied attack. I expect we'll see a similar war this time around, but with the rightful winner's hand raised at the end of the bout. Nam Phan via Decision.

Chael Sonnen vs. Brian Stann
Top Prediction: Sonnen via Decision

Ryan Ventura: I think we all remember very well the last time Chael Sonnen was inside the Octagon. He was merely seconds away from being the UFC middleweight champion and dethroning Anderson Silva. Which of course would have been eventually reversed but that’s another story for another day. Brian Stann is a very heavy handed fighter and can drop anyone on any given night. However, if Sonnen uses a similar game plan that he used against The Spider he could grind out a decision victory. Chael Sonnen via decision.

Trent Reinsmith: Stann has claimed he has the strength to knock out Chael Sonnen. He has also claimed that Sonnen does not offer him anything he hasn’t seen before and while both of those things are true, seeing what Sonnen brings and experiencing it are two different things. Sonnen has great wrestling skills and if he can get Stann to the ground he can control him and grind out the win.  – Sonnen by Unanimous Decision.

Anton Gurevich: Brian Stann is an incredible fighter who keeps improving with every fight, but sorry guys, I can’t be objective with this this one. Chael Sonnen all the way to a Unanimous Decision victory.

Joey Santosus: Heading into this one, the major question has been whether or not Sonnen will be returning in true form or suffer some degree of ring-rust. While it's not unlikely that the 16-month layoff could put the Team Quest fighter at a disadvantage, he won't be the only one with a deficit to overcome on Saturday night. Though far more refined and patient than he once was, Stann still relies heavily on keeping the fight upright and utilizing the unforgiving power in his hands. If he can succeed in forcing Sonnen to fight his fight, he'll be one big shot away from title contention at all times. With that said, I find it far more likely that Sonnen will do what he does best, using his functional stand-up to set up takedowns before smothering his opponent from top position. Chael Sonnen via Decision.

Jose Aldo vs. Kenny Florian
Top Prediction: Aldo via TKO in Round 3

Ryan Ventura: This will be a very interesting fight and it’ll be Kenflo’s second fight at 145. He’ll want to a similar game plan to the one he used against Diego Nunes at UFC 131. But that’s easier said that done against Jose Aldo. Uriah Faber wanted to put Aldo on his back and grind it out, but he couldn’t get it done. Kenny Florian is just naturally bigger than Jose Aldo, but I do believe Aldo will be able to keep this on the feet and use his superior striking to work the legs and body. Jose Aldo via decision.

Trent Reinsmith: Florian gets credit for doing whatever he has to do to get a shot at any UFC title, but the featherweight title is not going to leave Houston with him. Florian has predicted that he will leave the cage bloody on Saturday and I do believe he is correct in that assumption, as he cannot match the striking prowess of the champ.  – Aldo by TKO in the Third Round.

Anton Gurevich: As some of you may know, I’m not one of Jose Aldo’s biggest fans. I think Aldo is very beatable, especially when Kenny Florian has enough tools in his pocket to defeat Jose Aldo. It’s do or die for Florian, who will have his overall third shot at the title (2 at Lightweight and now one at Featherweight). I think Ken-Flo will look to take Aldo down, where he could utilize his high-level BJJ skills, sharp elbows and punishing GnP. My pick is Florian via Decision.

Joey Santosus: In a last ditch effort to capture UFC gold, Kenny Florian decided to drop down a weight class (again) to pick a fight with the pound-for-pound ranked Featherweight champ, Jose Aldo. Though the veteran looked good in his 145-pound debut, taking a unanimous decision over top-ranked contender Diego Nunes, he was dropped by the Nova Uniao product on multiple occasions. In Aldo, he'll now face an even more dynamic striker, who is both precise and powerful with each of his four limbs. With that in mind, unless Florian can find a way to drag the Brazilian to the mat early and often, I don't like his chances here. Jose Aldo via 3rd Rnd TKO.

Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard III
Top Prediction: Frankie Edgar via Decision

Ryan Ventura: The last fight was really close to call and they’ll be picking up right where they left off from that fight. I do believe Maynard is much more powerful and stronger of course, but Edgar has the speed and the heart. I don’t know if they’ll be able to repeat the same exciting pace they did last fight, but in my mind I think Gray Maynard will use his wrestling to his advantage and overpower the smaller Frankie Edgar to take the title. Gray Maynard via decision.

Trent Reinsmith: Edgar has one professional loss and that loss is to Maynard. Edgar was absolutely dominated by Maynard in the first round of their bout at UFC 125. I think Maynard took more away from that fight than Edgar did as far as knowing what he needs to correct to come back and get the victory.  I’ll look for Maynard to use his strength to do more of what he did in the first round of the UFC 125 bout, wrestling and ground and pound will earn the win for Maynard.  Maynard by unanimous decision

Anton Gurevich: Frankie Edgar proved in the last encounter between the two that he has a heart of a true champion, which at least in my opinion, is the most important thing when fighting someone like Gray Maynard. I expect Frankie Edgar to move a lot, pick his shots and avoid Gray Maynard’s takedowns. More than that, I predict that Edgar’s training with Renzo Gracie will pay off big time in this one. Edgar via Submission in Round 5.

Joey Santosus: Maynard's heavy-hands and size advantage brought him within inches of dethroning the champ back in January, but Edgar's speed and effective footwork allowed him to salvage a draw from the clutches of defeat. In the end, the encounter produced more questions than answers. Some believe Maynard's ability to batter the champ into a state of semi-consciousness should have gotten him the nod, while others feel it was Edgar's heart and determination that ultimately prevailed. Personally, I'm in the latter group. If Edgar was able to take everything "The Bully" had and still persevere, I see no reason to expect anything less this time around. Frankie Edgar via Decision.