UFC 142 Quick Recap.

UFC 142 took place in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil this past Saturday. It was a great card for those who like quick finishes, as only one of the five main card fights made it fast the first round, and none went to decision. I will give a quick look over who won, and how many of my predictions beforehand were correct.

Edson Barboza vs. Terry Etim.

This was the first fight of the main card, featuring two up and coming lightweights. Due to Etim's great submission history I predicted him to finish by submission, but it turns out I couldn't have been more wrong. In the only fight to make it to the 3rd (or even 2nd) round, Edson Barboza knocked out Etim with an anbolutely devastating spinning wheel kick. Etim had been a game opponent up until this point, but unluckily for him he will now be remembered as the unfortunate victim of the first spinning wheel kick KO in UFC history.
Prediction: Terry Etim by submission.
Result: Edson Barboza by decapitation (spinning wheel kick).

Erick Silva vs. Carlo Prater.

This welterweight bout is one that will be remembered for all the wrong reasons, as Erick Silva was disqualified after an apparent TKO of Prater 29 seconds into the first round. The DQ came after alleged blows to the back of the head by Silva. Whether you agree or not, Silva will no doubt be considered the real winner by matchmakers in the UFC, so expect this to show in his next fight pick.
Prediction: Erick Silva by submission.
Result: Carlo Prater by DQ (illegal back of the head shots).

Rousimar Palhares vs. Mike Massenzio.

Hindsight is always 20/20, and looking back I probably should have seen this one coming. With six of his 14 career wins now having come via knee bar, Rousimar Palhares is rising through the middleweight ranks as a submissions specialist to be feared. Needing only one minute and three seconds to maneuver Massenzio into a knee bar, I am tempted to make my next prediction as Palhares to win by leg based submission, even before I see who his opponent is.
Prediction: Rousimar Palhares by decision.
Result: Rousimar Palhares by submission (knee bar).

Anthony Johnson vs. Vitor Belfort.

This bout was a serious headache for the UFC, with apparent health issues meaning that Johnson weighed in at 197 pounds instead of the target 185. I said in my prediction that he might not be able to hang with the bigger guys after fighting at welterweight for so long, and it turns out I was right. I won't rag on Johnson too much, since Dana White announced afterwards that he plans to cut him from the UFC, so he got his comeuppance for his lack of professionalism. Vitor Belfort took it to Johnson, and though he ate a few hard shots in the process, he managed to choke out Johnson at 4.49 of the first round.
Prediction: Vitor Belfort by TKO/KO.
Result: Vitor Belfort by submission (rear naked choke).


Jose Aldo vs. Chad Mendes.

I told you that Aldo was going to deliver big, and he certainly has. Any MMA fan who hadn't been interested in him before now certainly will be now, and his celebrity status in Rio must be going through the roof since the event. After showing off what must now be acknowledged as probably the best take-down defense in the business, Aldo scored a lightning quick knee to the chin of Mendes, and followed up with punches for the victory with only one second remaining in the first round. Jose Aldo gave an absolutely incredible performance, and I for one absolutely cannot wait to see what they do with this young prodigy next.
Prediction: Jose Aldo by TKO/KO.
Result: Jose Aldo by KO (knee).