UFC 154 Main Card Predictions

UFC 154 is set to go down this weekend in Montreal, Canada.  Fans will be treated to some exciting fights.  Chiefly among them, George St. Pierre will be making his long-awaited return to the octagon, and he has his hands full with interim welterweight champ Carlos Condit.

Also on the card, Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann will be looking to move up the welterweight ladder when they square off.  The winner may very well be next in line to fight the winner of the aforementioned St. Pierre vs. Condit fight.  Let’s now take a look at the rest of the main card and make some predictions.

Main Card

Mark Hominick vs. Pablo Garza-Starting off the main card this weekend is a dynamic featherweight bout between Mark Hominick and Pablo Garza.  This fight is interesting in that both fighters desperately need a win.  Hominick is on a three fight loosing streak, and one more may spell the end of his UFC career.  Hominick is the superior striker in this bout, which will allow him to control the distance and pick apart Garza on the outside.  He will be hungry come fight time, which will allow him to do enough to warrant a decision.  Final prediction: Mark Hominick wins via unanimous decision.

Nick Ring vs. Costa Philippou-Next up is a middleweight affair between Nick Ring and Cost Philippou.  Philippou comes into this fight with a lot of momentum behind him.  He possess the power advantage in this bout, which will help him keep Nick Ring on the defensive for much of the fight.  Don’t be surprised if Philippou lands something big early on because he certainly puts his punches together nicely.  Final prediction: Costa Philippou wins via TKO in the first round.

Francis Carmont vs. Tom Lawlor-Another middleweight fight takes place between rising prospect Franics Carmont and the always entertaining Tom Lawlor.  Carmont has been impressive as of late, and has some of the best training partners around in George St. Pierre and Rory McDonald.  Is the hype warranted for Carmont?  My money says yes even though he is going up against a gritty fighter in Lawlor.  Carmont will use his size in order to clinch up with Lawlor, and he will be able to drag this fight to the ground and lock up a submission.  Final prediction: Francis Carmont wins via submission in the first round.

Johny Hendricks vs. Martin Kampmann-One of the most meaningful fights of this weekend takes place between Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann.  Both fighters have looked impressive as of late, which makes this fight hard to pick.  Both fighters can beat each other on any given night.  Johny possess the power and wrestling advantage, and Kampmann possess the technique and submission advantage.

Nine times out of ten I would favor technique over power, but this is not one of those times.  I think Hendricks will catch Kampmann with something early, and Kampmann has been prone to getting hitting.  It just takes one from a fighter like Hendricks, and I think he gets the job done on the feet.  Final prediction: Johny Hendricks wins via TKO in the first round.

George St. Pierre vs. Carlos Condit-A welterweight championship bout takes place this weekend when GSP takes on Carlos Condit.  The main question coming into this fight is how well GSP will do given the fact that he hasn’t competed inside the UFC since April 2011 due to a knee injury.  A lot has changed in the welterweight landscape, which makes this fight very intriguing.

I feel this fight will look exactly like GSP’s fight with Thiago Alves.  Alves was a dangerous striker and was very competent on the ground, but GSP was able to control the stand up and secure take downs to control Avles for the majority of the fight on top.  That is how I think this fight plays out.  GSP will be able to elude any dangerous shots from Condit, and he will be able to get the take down whenever the opportunity presents itself.  Final prediction: GSP wins via unanimous decision.