Jardine is in a tough position. He enters this bout on a three-fight losing streak that has seen him suffer consecutive knockouts to Thiago Silva and Ryan Bader. Considering this, Jardine may be dangerously close to receiving his walking papers should he lose against Hamill. Whether a fourth consecutive loss leads to a cut from the promotion or not, Jardine needs a win to remain relevant in the UFC’s hyper-competitive light heavyweight division.

 

Throughout his career inside of the Octagon, the only thing that Jardine has been consistent with is his inconsistency. He relies primarily on an unorthodox fighting style in which he throws crippling leg-kicks and power-punches from odd angles. This approach has helped Jardine notch victories over the likes of Forrest Griffin, Chuck Liddell and Brandon Vera, but it also leaves him vulnerable to knockout blows, particularly the left hook.

 

Although he is mostly known for his top-notch wrestling skills, Hamill has developed into a lethal striker with clear knockout power. He prefers to keep the fight standing and work from close range, which in this fight will keep him away from Jardine’s stinging leg-kicks. As much as he’s fallen in love with striking of late, Hamill still possesses overwhelming ground-and-pound, which he will end up utilizing against Jardine should he begin losing the battle on the feet.

 

 

 

During their respective runs to the “TUF” season 11 middleweight final, both fighters showed the kind of ability to make any fight exciting. This match-up should be more of the same, as the clash in styles will unquestionably make for a thrilling final bout.

 

McGee is a recovering heroin addict from Utah with a diverse skill set. During the season, he showed a penchant for catching his opponents in an unexpected fight-ending submission. Although he doesn’t have a deep wrestling pedigree, McGee is an experienced grappler who’s capable of controlling his opponents wherever the fight goes. He also has the talent to end the fight at any time, and by any means, something that cannot be said for McCray.

 

McCray’s best shot at victory lies with his powerful ground game. However, if he struggles to get McGee to the mat, he may burn himself out, which will inevitably become a problem as the fight progresses.

 

 

 

This fight is another of the must-win variety for Leben, something he has grown accustomed to at this stage in his career. While Leben has been working on reinventing himself to become a more well-rounded fighter, he has a hard time veering too far away from his brawler mentality. He usually struggles with powerful wrestlers, as evidenced by his submission loss to Jake Roshalt at UFC 102. His status as division gatekeeper already cemented, Leben needs a win to remain significant in the 185-pound class. Against the multi-talented Simpson though, that task will be easier said than done.

 

Simpson is a much-heralded prospect despite making his professional debut in 2007 at 34-years old. Even though he began his career relatively late by MMA standards, Simpson is an incredible athlete with an always-improving skill set. He was a standout wrestler at Arizona State while compiling over 100 wins and earning All-American honors. In his most recent victories over Ed Herman and Tom Lawlor, Simpson showed that he is more than capable of competing with the divisions best.  

 

 

 

At first glance, this bout appears to be a dream match-up for fans, with both Fisher and Siver possessing the type of skills on the feet to put on a striking clinic any day of the week. One might expect the fighters to meet in the center of the Octagon before trading punches and kicks until only one is left standing. Both fighters love to stand in the pocket and bang, however, Siver’s poor takedown defense and weak grappling might be enough to persuade Fisher to take the fight to the mat and work his ground-and-pound, or look for a fight-ending submission. Where Siver may lack an effective ground game, Fisher is more than capable if the fight goes to the floor. Expect to see Fisher working from the inside, particularly in the clinch. Although Siver has more than a punchers chance in any fight, he struggles with opponents who are capable of controlling the fight from close range, something that the crafty veteran Fisher excels at.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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