Quick thoughts on the card….
- Cain/Silva…….Not much to this fight as the last time they fought (one year ago this week), Cain absolutely destroyed the giant. No reason to believe things will be much different here.
- JDS/Hunt…..outstanding match-up, kind of happier with this than JDS/Reem as it was originally planned. Anyway, Hunt has one of the best stories in the sport going from a guy with a sub-500 record who really only got a shot with the UFC to fulfill his Pride deal (if the story is true). As it turns out, if he upsets JDS here, he has a LEGIT chance to challenge for the championship. Of course, if as expected, JDS beats him up, almost guaranteed to see Cain/JDS 3.
- Glover/Te Huna…..Glover is slowly moving his way into the title mix and was last seen beating Rampage in January. It wasn't the most impressive showing so the hype train has slowed. Te Huna has won his last 4 fights and this is his first big fight against a name opponent (well, I guess since he lost by submission to Gustafsson in 2011. Back to Teixeira, it sounds like Bones/Gustafsson is the next fight (possibly August) so if Glover is going to get a title shot at some point, he'll likely have to beat one of the top 5 guys later this year to get there in 2014.
- Maynard/Grant…..#1 contender fight with winner challenging Bendo for the 155 title. Essentially, Maynard's last shot to get another title fight after his series with Edgar in 2011. His only win since, was the horrible fight with Clay Guida last summer. He fucked up his knee last year, too, but is back for the first time. This is Grant's first chance at the big time and the Canadian is on a four-fight win streak. He impressed by knocking out Matt Wiman in January. Maynard has only one loss (4th round KO to Edgar) on his record so this would be a pretty significant upset IMO if Grant wins.
- Cerrone/Noons….outstanding. Both men are well known for engaging in some of the most entertaining fights anywhere. Cowboy was last seen being painfully finished with a liver kick against Pettis in January. This is Noons' UFC debut despite going 1-4 in his last 5 in Strikeforce….although he was screwed in his last fight losing a split decision to Ryan Couture. If he has a show stealing performance win or lose…I hope he sticks around. Neither guy in title contention, but this is opening up the PPV because it should be awesome.
Things worth noting on the undercard…..
- The return of Dennis Bermudez! The New York native was last in arguably the FIGHT OF THE YEAR when he beat Matt Grice by split decision in February. He's fighting 21-year-old Hawaiian Max Holloway who has won his past 3 fights in the UFC.
- TUF 16 champion Colton Smith is back for his first fight since beating Mike Ricci last year. The active U.S. Army fighter is going up against 22-year-old Aussie Rob Whittaker who won the TUF Smashes championship last year, too.
- Undefeated Russian Khabib Nurmagomedov (out of AKA) is 19-0 and looks to go for his 20th against Blackzilians member Abel Trujillo who debuted in the promotion in December by finishing Marcus LaVessur.
- Nah-Shon Burrell missed weight in his UFC debut in February but still defeated Yuri Villefort by decision. Can't be missing weight again after coming over from Strikeforce (he missed weight once in 2011, too). He's fighting 30-year-old Stephen Thompson who is 6-1 and likely fighting for his spot in the company after losing last April. He missed time due to a knee injury last year.
- Former WEC 135 champ Brian Bowles is BACK! He hasn't been seen since he was choked out by Urijah Faber in November 2011. He's fighting the insane George Roop who's back for his 2nd fight at 135 despite being 6'1. He defeated Reuben Duran in March, so he'll be sticking around as long as he wins.
- Jeremy Stephens's legal case over assault charges (accused of nearly beating a dude to death) has been delayed through July so he's back in the cage now. He's debuting at 145 after losing three in a row at lightweight. He was last knocked out by YVES THUG JITSU EDWARDS in December. He's fighting former Strikeforce fighter Estevan Payan who is 14-3.
