UFC on VS: Break Down and Predictions

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Brandon Vera vs Jon Jones

 The main event we will see UFC vet Brandon Vera (11-4) take on Jon Jones (9-1). Both fighters are coming off losses and are looking to rebound and come into this fight and win in domnitaing fashon. Brandon Vera was last seen at UFC 105 in which he dropped a decision to Randy Couture. Vera has not had an easy time since his return from a contract dispute. Many people are still waiting for the "old" Brandon Vera to show up to a fight, but in this fight it will be interesting to see if the old Vera will be enough to take out the surging Jon Jones.  Jon Jones was last seen in a questionable DQ loss to Matt Hammil in the Ultimate Fighter 10 Finalie. Jones, unlike Vera looked good in his loss. Jones was dismanteling an out matched Hammil and was well on his way to a wIn until he threw some illegal elbows. The elbows prompted the ref to hault the bout and it was called a DQ.

Breakdown of fighters

Brandon Vera is known for a lethal clinch and ability to destroy opponents. Vera is also a very difficult fighter to take down and keep down. Randy had trouble taking Vera to the mat and even more trouble keeping him there. Vera is also good at taking little to no damage while in the clinch on the fence, also able to defend well off his back (see fight with Werdum). Lately he has been critized for not pulling the trigger in the stand up. In the fight with Randy, Vera landed some nice strikes but was unable to finish once he had Randy down. Vera deals well with greco roman wrestlers as we seen in the Randy fight, but seems to be susceptible to being pushed against the cage and kept there. Tim Syliva and Couture both won decisions by utilizing such tactics.

Jon Jones is an explosive greco roman wrestler and unlike Randy, who uses his wrestling to grind and batter, Jones throws fighters around like rang dolls. Jones has also shown a vast array of strikes such as a fake shot to a spinning elbow. Thus far no one has shown an ability to deal with any thing Jones throws. With that said Jones have yet to face a striker the caliber of Vera. Jones has faced primarily graplers thus far in Hammil, Jake O'brien, and Andre Gusmao. The closest thing to a striker Jones has faced is Stephen Bonnar who is average at best. This is the fight to truly test Jones and see how he stacks up against the the top of the division. The only weakness that has been seen in Jones is a possible shallow gas tank, we will have to see how it will affect is if it does at all.

Prediction

i don't see Jones gassing in this fight, a loss should be enough to fuel Jones to train hard. I believe this fight will be settled on how the clinch game will turn out. If Vera starts getting the best on the feet Jones will go for what he knows best which is the greco roman clinch. If Vera can get away to land more shots or land some solid knees it could be game over for Jones. I see this being a Vera fight based on hunger for a win and Jones not wanting to just push him against the cage for a win.

Vera via 2nd round TKO

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Gabriel Gonzaga vs Junior Dos Santos

The co main event pits Gabriel Gonzaga (11-4) against young Ko artist Junior Dos Santos (10-1). Gonzaga most recently put a beating on Chris Tuchscherer. Gonzaga has been one of those fighters who just cannot get past gatekeeper status. Gonzaga has not been able to get past any fighter worth talking about since his highlight KO of Mirko Cro Cop back in 2007. Junior Dos Santos has been knocking out people left right and center and quickly climbimg the heavy weight ranks. In his latest fight, Dos Santos highlight knock out was over Pride vetern Gilbert Yvel.

Breakdown of Fighters

Gabriel Gonzaga is a special fighter in that he is a heavy weight that is quite capable of submissions on the ground. In his UFC career Gonzaga's KO over Cro Cop and his subsaquent beatings have placed him in a position in which some have forgotten about his ability on the ground. Gabe hits like a ton of bricks and is capable of putting any one out with one shot. On the ground Gonzaga is a threat as well. Gonzaga has all the skills to get to the top of the division, but just seems to struggle with that fight that would put in him position for title contention. In the Shane Carwin fight we seen how Gonzaga can rock a fighter and get too exicted and lose his opertunity to finish. If Gabe had to have calmed down he could have picked his spot and finished Carwin. Gonzaga has been knocked out before and some have questioned his chin. I do not see this to be the case, in the heavy weight division any fighter has the ability to put the other out with one shot.

Junior Dos Santos thus far has been only standing and throwing strikes with fighters. Do Santos has fast and powerful hands with amazing counters. in the Werdum fight Junior threw an uppercut from his waist in which put Werdum in LA LA land. If Dos Santos can land some hands on Gabe it will be lights out. Dos Santos has proved he is a force on his feet but what has not been tested is his ground abilities. Junior is a pupil of Big Nog so many assume that his ground game is solid, but a man like Gonzaga isnt the first test to want on the ground. Junior's best hope to to keep it on the feet and try to counter Gabe. 

Predictions

Each fighter holds the ability to Ko the other so if one lands solid its over. Junior has better counters while Gabe holds more power. I believe that if Gabes gets this to the ground its over, Junior just does not have the experance on the ground Gonzaga has. With that said i believe that Gonzagas habbit of getting over excited will cost him in this fight, also his willingness to stand with every one.

Dos Santos via Tko round one.

Prelums

Cheick Kongo VS Paul Buentello

Kongo is better at what Buentello tries to do. Knogo is a better striker and should finish this rather quickly.

Kongo Via 1st round KO

James Irvin vs Alessio Sakara

James is a fighter who pulls fights out of his ass and also has big power. I don't see Sakara winning against Irvin.

Irvin via UD