UFC 131 Predictions

The UFC has its third card in three weeks with Saturday's UFC 131 in Vancouver, Canada. The main even between Brock Lesnar and Junior Dos Santos was headlined as the fight of the summer, but due to illness Lesnar dropped out of the fight and was replaced by Shane Carwin.

Although Lesnar vs Dos Santos would be a very exciting fight and a possible candidate for "Fight of the Year", Carwin vs Dos Santos still could be good, very good in fact.

Carwin (12-1, 4-1 UFC) has amazing knockout power, and should have won the UFC Heavyweight Championship against Lesnar last July with his complete destruction of Lesnar in the first round, only to be somehow submitted by a triangle choke in the second round. With respectable wins over Frank Mir and Gabriel Gonzaga, Carwin could very well be a threat for Dos Santos.

Dos Santos (12-1, 6-0 UFC) also has stellar knockout power that he has imposed on every opponent he has face. Roy Nelson, Gonazaga, Mirko Cro Crop, and Fabricio Werdum have all faced the wrath of Dos Santos, and Carwin could easily be next.

This fight will obviously be a stand- up battle where both could find their comfort zone, but I would not be surprised at all to see Carwin try to emphasize his wrestling game and enforce vicious ground and pound. However, I feel that Dos Santos will be able to stop these takedown attempts, win the stand up battle, and more importantly be next in line to face Cain Velasquez for the heavyweight title.

A Technical Knockout (TKO) or a staight-up Knockout (KO) seems likely, but a decision would not surprise me.

Final prediction: Dos Santos by KO in Rd 2

The only other fight on this card that appeals to me is the co-main event, Kenny Florian vs Diego Nunes.

Florian (14-5, 11-4 UFC) once a lightweight title contender debuts in the featherweight division (145lb) in this fight. Already a submission expert submitting lightweights such as Clay Guida, and Joe Stevenson, Florian will not only have his submission game on hand against Nunes, but also will be one of the bigger featherweights which could also improve his knockout power.

Nunes (16-1, 0-0 UFC) is considered to be the seventh best featherweight in the world. Because of his great stamina and heart, Nunes has won many fights that have went to decisions in his career.

I expect this to be a quick and explosive fight, but due to Florian's experience and strength, I give this fight to Florian.

Final Prediction: Florian by decision