After a fun and thrilling TUF 20 Finale, it’s time for the boys on the UFC on FOX card to step up.
#2 Junior dos Santos’ journey towards another heavyweight title shot begins tonight against #4 Stipe Miocic. With an impressive win tonight, the journey could be much longer or shorter this time.
But this is Miocic’s big opportunity to leapfrog into the top of the mix with an impressive performance.
Welcome back to The Crossfire.
MMA Crossfire Expert Cassie Wiseman is away, so Kenai Andrews steps in with his thoughts on the main card matchups:
Opponents Junior Dos Santos of Brazil and Stipe Miocic face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in event at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
#12 GABRIEL”NAPAO” GONZAGA (16-8-0) VS #14 MATT MITRIONE (8-3-0)
Opponents Gabriel Gonzaga of Brazil and Matt Mitrione face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in event at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Andrews: The battle of the Super Friends. Gonzaga is always dangerous on the ground and feet and Mitirione still does most of his business on the feet. I think Mitirione somehow avoids the dangerous kicks and stops Gonzaga ala Stipe Miocic.
Andrews Prediction: Matt Mitirione via TKO.
#11 ALISTAIR “THE REEM” OVEREEM (37-14-0, 1 NC) VS STEFAN “SKYSCRAPER” STRUVE (29-6-0)
Opponents Alistair Overeem of the Netherlands and Stefan Struve of the Netherlands face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in event at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Andrews: Overeem is frustratingly inconsistent. He starts off quick and then falls apart. I think Struve absorbs the quick start and then finishes off a gassed Overeem on the ground.
Andrews Prediction: Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve.
#3 RAFAEL DOS ANJOS (22-7-0) VS NATE DIAZ (18-9-0)
Opponents Rafael dos Anjos of Brazil and Nate Diaz face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in event at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Andrews: Dos Anjos’ shocking win over Benson Henderson revealed the work he put into his striking. And his ground game was already solid, so now he mad more tools to win. Nate Diaz came in five pounds heavy, so he’s going to try to play mind games with his boxing and reach, but dos Anjos has come too far to get tricked.
Andrews Prediction: Rafael dos Anjos via unanimous decision.
MAIN EVENT
#2 JUNIOR “CIGANO” DOS SANTOS (16-3-0) VS #4 STIPE MIOCIC (12-1-0)
Opponents Junior Dos Santos of Brazil and Stipe Miocic face off during the UFC Fight Night weigh-in event at the Phoenix Convention Center on December 12, 2014 in Phoenix, Arizona. (Photo by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Andrews: Miocic is solid and smart on the feet. I like his past wins over Roy Nelson and Gabriel Gonzaga. It’s just that dos Santos is the premier striker in the division. All it takes is one shot and he has cardio too. Add in the fact that’s he’s on a mission and sees a window with Cain hurt to grab Werdum’s interim title and I have to go with Cigano.
Andrews Prediction: Junior “Cigano” dos Santos via TKO.
