UFC 128: Shogun vs. Jones” takes place Saturday, March 19, at the Prudential Center in Newark, N.J., and features 23-year-old rising superstar Jon “Bones” Jones taking on UFC light heavyweight champion Mauricio “Shogun” Rua in the main event.

In the co-main event, former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber takes on Eddie Wineland in what will be both bantamweights’ UFC debut.

The ProMMAnow.com (www.prommanow.com) staff has come together once again to provide their thoughts and predictions on each of the nine scheduled televised bouts.

Mauricio Rua (19-4) vs. Jon Jones (12-1)

ODDS: Mauricio Rua +150 vs. Jon Jones -180

BRIAN FURBY: Jon Jones. WIN

JACK BRATCHER: What’s gonna happen when “Bones” comes for you? Look for Jones to have some fun on the feet before taking it to the ground. Look for Rua to come forward and go after the legs of Jones. Jones will be prepared for it though. They will clinch, Jones will take Rua down and either pound him out or submit Rua. Jones is the real deal and will seal his fate with a fairly quick first or second round stoppage of Rua. WIN

JOHN BUHL: Don’t count out the champion! That being said, I think he’s going to lose. Jones has a huge wrestling and size advantage. He hasn’t faced a striker the caliber of Shogun (and no, I don’t think Brandon Vera counts, leg kicks aside). The champ’s only chance is a KO, but I see this ending in the third with Jones stopping Shogun via cut courtesy of some brutal elbows on the ground. WIN

KELVIN HUNT: I think Jones will be able to take Rua down with ease…Machida took him down, Griffin, etc. Rua isn’t a huge threat to submit folk off his back…but he has good sweeps. I don’t know if he’ll be able to sweep Jones though. I don’t think Jones will stand with Shogun, even with the reach advantage. Shogun’s standup is just better and Jones can’t afford to do all that crazy stuff he normally does. If the fight stays standing..I think Shogun attacks the legs of Jones, taking away the explosiveness. However, I think Jones takes Rua down…wears on him…Shogun’s conditioning from being off for a long time will become a factor with Jones finishing Shogun with GnP in round 3. WIN

RICHARD MANN: The Jon Jones hype has reached critical mass. In the middle of class, a female professor asked me, “can anyone beat that lanky guy who elbows people in the head?” I don’t want to be a contrarian, but I can’t help it. Jones’ hype is built around how he won fights and not who he has beaten. Before stopping Bader, he had zero wins against the top ten. On top of that, he hasn’t faced anyone who can fight back on the ground or do serious damage with strikes. Now, Jones can clearly win. However, he is far from a proven commodity. He is wild and disjointed on the feet, Shogun should be able to score, especially with leg kicks. If he makes blue-belt mistakes on the ground, like the way he posted his arms out against Brandon Vera, Shogun will make him tap. Pick = Mauricio Rua. LOSE

Urijah Faber (24-4) vs. Eddie Wineland (18-6-1)

ODDS: Urijah Faber -500 vs. Eddie Wineland +300

BRIAN FURBY: Urijah Faber. WIN

JACK BRATCHER: Faber at 135 is a scary proposition for anyone. Wineland is on a nice streak, but I feel Faber is too well-rounded and too strong. Faber will likely be over 150-pounds on fight day. Faber will take this one, likely via submission. WIN

JOHN BUHL: Kudos to Wineland on his resurgence, but it’ll probably come to an end here. Wineland hasn’t faced someone with Faber’s combination of wrestling, submission skills, and athleticism. Faber by second round submission. WIN

KELVIN HUNT: Faber via rear naked choke. WIN

RICHARD MANN: Most Faber fights follow the same pattern. Faber gets a little wild on the feet and throws shots from everywhere. If he gets into trouble, he goes for takedowns and works from the top position. “The California Kid” gets into hot water when he can’t get those takedowns. Wineland has a pretty solid boxing game, which should chase Faber to the ground. However, at 135 pounds, the former featherweight champion should be able to get takedowns and win there. Pick = Urijah Faber. WIN

Mirko Filipovic (27-8-2) vs. Brendan Schaub (8-1)

ODDS: Mirko Cro Cop +190 vs. Brendan Schaub  -240

BRIAN FURBY: Brendan Schaub. WIN

JACK BRATCHER: Let’s face it, Cro Cop is not going to re-live his glory days. As much as we all hoped for it, it was not to be. Schaub’s punches will be the deciding factor in this fight. He will connect hard and big and will finish Cro Cop probably in round one or two. Schaub via TKO. WIN

JOHN BUHL: We saw against Gonzaga, briefly, that Schaub is susceptible to leg kicks. But how much does Cro Cop have left in the tank? Schaub’s boxing is good enough to get it done here and we’ve seen Mirko struggle against bigger, taller UFC opposition with striking skills. Schaub by decision. WIN

KELVIN HUNT: Schaub via TKO. WIN

RICHARD MANN: I like the idea of testing Schaub against a solid striker. Sure, he is 3-1 in the UFC, but the best striker he has faced is Roy Nelson and that fight did not go so well. On the other other side, I don’t think “Cro Cop” will provide much of a stylistic test at this point in his career. Age has taken away a lot of his quickness, and he does not seem to land with the same evaporating power. Expect Schaub to do enough work in the clinch to bring home this victory. Pick = Brendan Schaub. WIN

Jim Miller (19-2) vs. Kamal Shalorus (7-0-2)

ODDS: Jim Miller -245 vs. Kamal Shalorus +195

BRIAN FURBY: Jim Miller. WIN

JACK BRATCHER: Miller’s wrestling is good enough that he should be able to ward off the takedowns of Shalarus. This could turn into a fun slug-fest at points. In the long run though, Miller should be able to put it all together a little better than Shalorus, probably get his own takedowns, and take home the decision. Miller by decision. WIN

JOHN BUHL: Am I the only one that thinks it looks like Miller is almost being punished for something? You’re 8-1 in the UFC! Congratulations! Now you get to fight a guy coming over from the WEC that won’t help you move up the ladder. Oh, by the way, Shalorus is tough as hell, a pretty effective, if sloppy, striker, and an incredible wrestler. High risk, low reward. The difference, though, I think is that Shalorus hasn’t found a way to effectively mix in his wrestling into his MMA game. Miller has. Miller also has better cardio, and if he watches Shalorus’s close split decision win over Bart Palaszewski carefully, he’ll know he just has to weather the early storm than start to take control. Miller by decision, but it won’t be easy. WIN

KELVIN HUNT: I have no idea why Shalorus is a huge underdog. He’s exactly the type of fighter that gives Miller problems. Shalorus via Split Decision. LOSE

RICHARD MANN: A lot has been made about Shalorus’ wrestling game. Without getting off too big of a tangent, I postulate that non-American wrestlers will not have the same level of success in MMA, because Greco Roman and freestyle do not emphasize as much control on the ground. With that being said, Shalorus mostly uses his wrestling to stay on the feet. I am reticent to say that Miller has a cleaner striking game, because he is not exactly “Winky” Wright or anything. However, Shalorus comes forward and swings like a drunken college student. Look for Miller to win the striking exchanges or tap Shalorus with a guillotine. Pick = Jim Miller. WIN

Nate Marquardt (33-10-2) vs. Dan Miller (13-4, 1 NC)

ODDS: Nate Marquardt -325 vs. Dan Miller +250

BRIAN FURBY: Nate Marquardt. WIN

JACK BRATCHER: Fun fight here, but I have to go with Marquardt. Marquardt looks like a world beater against most fighters who aren’t at the elite level and he should be able to run through Dan Miller fairly easily. Marquardt via first or second round TKO. WIN

JOHN BUHL: Before the Okami fight, I’d take Marquardt without even thinking about it. But his performance in that fight was….bleh. In fact, that entire fight, on the heels of a dreadful overall UFC 122, left me wanting to go punch some kittens to relieve some anger. It won’t be easy to get him down, and Marquardt is an athletic freak. I’m calling the upset…Miller by decision. I’m about 70 percent sure I’m going to be proven wrong here, but I can’t pick Marquardt until I see him come out guns blazing and put that Okami fight behind him. LOSE

KELVIN HUNT: Marquardt will be fine here as long as he doesn’t try to knock Miller out with one punch. Miller is very durable and Marquardt goes to the judges often. Marquardt via uanimous decision. WIN

RICHARD MANN: Miller has made it clear he does not coming in on late notice. This is the kind of thing that endears a fighter to the brass at Zuffa. I wonder if they would push him to fight his brother if Jim was a little bit bigger… Marquardt only gets into trouble when he gets planted on his back. He has worked hard to improve his hands, and he will be able to show them off in this fan friendly fight. Pick = Nate Marquardt. WIN

Ricardo Almeida (13-3) vs. Mike Pyle (20-7-1)

ODDS: Ricardo Almeida -175 vs. Mike Pyle +145

BRIAN FURBY: Ricardo Almeida. LOSE

JACK BRATCHER: If I was a betting man, I’d put a few dollars on Pyle. I like the odds on this one. Both guys are great on the ground. Pyle won’t be able to submit Almeida but he should survive and I could see him catching Almeida on the feet with a punch, hurting him and finishing him off via TKO. A good fight for Pyle to display some of his striking if Almeida will stand long enough. Pyle via TKO. WIN

JOHN BUHL: Pyle by decision, though I was tempted to say “DRAW” to make Richard laugh. WIN

KELVIN HUNT: Almeida via unanimous decision. LOSE

RICHARD MANN: The book is pretty much written on Almeida, he is a slick grappler with lackluster cardio. Pyle does pick up a lot of his wins by submission, but he should still be able to pick up a win here. If he comes forward with a physical game, he should be able to grind out a decision victory. Almeida will be a submission threat in the first round, but after that Pyle will be the only fighter left with offense. Pick = Mike Pyle. WIN

Kurt Pellegrino (21-5) vs. Gleison Tibau (31-7)

ODDS: Kurt Pellegrino +135 vs. Gleison Tibau -165

BRIAN FURBY: Kurt Pellegrino. LOSE

JACK BRATCHER: Tibau should be able to put Pellegrino down, it’s just a matter how long he can hold him there. He probably won’t be able to submit “Batman” so, we’re likely to see a pattern of takedown, failed submission, stand-up, takedown, repeat. After the merry go round stops though Tibau should take home the decision. WIN

JOHN BUHL: I’m taking Pellegrino, because Tibau has never seemed impressive other than his ripply physique (he sure is dreamy). Pellegrino’s supposed knee injury has me a bit nervous, but he’s the better all around fighter. Pellegrino by decision. LOSE

KELVIN HUNT: The only thing that concerns me here is the sheer size of Tibau…I think Pellegrino has better standup…dunno if he can stop Tibau from taking him down and keeping him there…but I’m say Pellegrino via unanimous decision. LOSE

RICHARD MANN: Fighters like Tibau make it easy for us prognosticators. All he really does is go out and try to score big slam takedowns. Once he is on top, he does not do a whole lot, thus his fights are very easy to predict. Pellegrino has never shown a strong defensive wrestling game, so he will probably end up riding the Tibau express. However, if he can prevent those takedowns, than Tibau does not have anything else. Pellegrino has more ways to win, but I am still locked in with one of the biggest lightweights in the sport. Pick = Gleison Tibau. WIN

Anthony Njokuani (14-4) vs. Edson Barboza Jr. (7-0)

ODDS: Anthony Njokuani +260 vs. Edson Barboza Jr. -340

BRIAN FURBY: Anthony Njokuani. LOSE

JACK BRATCHER: Barboza has never lost and he’s never been to a decision and he won’t start here. Look for him to try to snap Njokuani’s legs in two with some hard kicks and ultimately keep putting the pressure on Njokuani until he lands the big one and finishes him off via TKO in the first or second round. Barboza via TKO. WIN

JOHN BUHL: Fight of the night or fight of the year? Two incredible and exciting strikers, but Barboza has the better technique. Barboza by second round TKO. WIN

KELVIN HUNT: Going to be a fun fight here…Njokuani via TKO. LOSE

RICHARD MANN: Njokuani might have the flashier knockouts, but overall Barboza is the better striker. He has competed extensively in Muay Thai and could easily control this fight with leg kicks. On top of that, Njokuani is still a liability on the ground. Barboza is not going to wow anyone with his ground game, but he should be able to finish the fight by submission if he stuns his opponent on the feet. Pick = Edson Barboza. WIN

Luis Artur Cane Jr. (11-3-1) vs. Eliot Marshall (8-3)

ODDS: Luis Artur Cane Jr. -200 vs. Eliot Marshall +160

BRIAN FURBY: Eliot Marshall. LOSE

JACK BRATCHER: Props to “The Fire” Marshall for earning his way back to the UFC. But the guys he beat to get back were nothing more than cannon fodder, plain and simple. And too bad for him his return is against a man who might just punch a hole through his head. Cane  hits hard and Marshall’s best bet would be to put him on the ground for some ground and pound or submission. I just don’t see it happening. I see Marshall standing up too long and catching some big shots and Cane finishes him via TKO. WIN

JOHN BUHL: Cane by second round TKO over a late replacement. Cane needs a win badly and Marshall hasn’t faced UFC-level competition in awhile. WIN

KELVIN HUNT: Cane via TKO. WIN

RICHARD MANN: Marshall is the type of guy that I like to stick up for. He gets a bad rap, because he does not light the world on fire with his fights. However, he still has game on the ground and is 3-1 in the UFC. If he can get takedowns, he might be able to ride out a decision. However, Cane has solid power on the feet. Over the course of the 15-minute fight, he should be able to catch Marshall and take the fight. Pick = Luiz Cane. WIN

NOTE: All UFC 128 fight odds provided by ProMMAnow.com site sponsor LinesMaker (www.linesmaker.com).

UFC 128 STAFF PICKS RESULTS:

  1. JACK BRATCHER: 9-0
  2. RICHARD MANN: 8-1
  3. JOHN BUHL: 7-2
  4. BRIAN FURBY: 5-4
  5. KELVIN HUNT: 5-4
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