UFC 126 Preview: The Main Card

---

Light Heavyweights
Ryan Bader (No. 6 LHW) vs. Jon Jones (No. 7 LHW)

The Matchup: It would not surprise me to see Bader win this one, and part of me figures Jones has looked so incredible lately that eventually someone will have to make him appear human. Bader can score the upset here, so long as he does not get his head handed to him through one of those moves only Jones seems to know how to execute. Bader has a pretty stout punch, to boot.

That said, Jones’ otherworldly performances of late suggest a new breed of fighter rising through the ranks. At 6-foot-4, he exhibits freakish coordination and the ability to create something out of nothing. His bottom game, at least in his UFC fights, remains untested simply because nobody can put him on his back.

Bader reminds one of what Tito Ortiz might have been had the “Huntington Beach Bad Boy” developed his striking. His close decision win over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 119 was a telling performance. He is an exceptionally strong fighter with a big punch, and it would only take one of them to tell us a lot more about Jones than we currently know.

The wrestling matchup is the driver in this one because Jones is likely to outmatch his foe on the feet, unless Bader’s stand-up has evolved to such a degree that he thinks he has a surprise in store. And he might. “The Ultimate Fighter” contestants consistently show new wrinkles in their games, given their development. Bader will have to pick his moment to force a clinch wisely, as Jones’ hands and feet come from all sorts of strange angles. If they clinch, the battle there is a tossup, as both men are explosive, strong, and able to toss opponents with ease.

The Pick: Jones has been dubbed “the next big thing” in the 205-pound division, and he has earned the hype. This is by no means a lock for him, as Bader is very talented, unbeaten, hard-nosed type of guy. If Bader can avoid Jones’ opening-round shock and awe and score a takedown, all bets are off. With that said, Jones does something that seems ridiculously impressive every time out. Hopefully, he will show a new trick or two en route to a hard-fought decision win here.

Continue Reading » Next Fight: Ellenberger vs. Rocha