UFC 112 Preview
By Stan Lisowski
MAIN EVENT
ANDERSON SILVA Middleweight Champion vs. DEMIAN MAIA
Maia wasn't the first choice in this fight, nor was he the second. As opponent for perhaps the greatest middleweight in the world, maybe ever, Maia faces Silva as third fighter in line after Vitor Belfort and then Chael Sonnen had to withdraw from this bout due to injuries. The Spider, as Silva is called is a masterful mixed martial artist that is known for his brutal Muay Thai and powerful striking ability. With 10 consecutive wins since entering the UFC, Silva has the longest winning streak in UFC history while he will be looking to defend his middleweight title for a record 6th time. The Afro-Brazilian's knees are vicious, especially in the clinch. Maia is nowhere near the striker that Silva is, as he has only 2 knockouts amongst his12 wins. He is known for his Jiu-Jitsu submissions and his wrestling takedowns. Silva's long range and improved grappling skills all pose a problem for this opponent. This fight has all the makings of being very one-sided and not lasting very long as Maia has to be absolutely perfect while Silva would have to have a truly off night. PICK SILVA
On the undercard BJ Penn defends his lightweight title against New Jersey fighter Frankie Edgar. While Edgar is an up and coming young fighter with several impressive wins under his belt, he doesn't have the arsenal of weapons Penn possesses. From his submissions, to takedown defense to yes, even his punching power, the veteran from Hawaii has a lot of advantages over Edgar. And while this should make for a competitive fight, Penn's experience in championship bouts with 9, gives him a ridiculous intangible edge as well. PICK PENN