UFC fans have started to expect one of the best cards of the year annually on Super Bowl weekend and the organization is not letting them down in 2011. Three headline-worthy bouts are scheduled for the Mandalay Bay Events Center Saturday as well as a loaded undercard. Check out a breakdown and predictions for all 11 fights from the Las Vegas Sun's Case Keefer, KSNV's Kevin West and ESPN Radio’s Steve Cofield below. Keefer, West and Cofield are all 5-5-1 in UFC picks through one event this year.
Anderson Silva
- Age: 35
- Height: 6’2''
- Weight: 185
- MMA record 27-4
- Betting line: -280
Vitor Belfort
- Age: 33
- Height: 6’0''
- Weight: 185
- MMA record 19-8
- Betting line: +230
Middleweight Championship Bout
Main Event
Last fight: Fifth round win over Chael Sonnen by submission (triangle choke) at UFC 117.
Punch list: No one can rationally argue against Silva being one of the two best pound-for-pound fighters in the world. He’s crushed everyone who's stood in his path since 2004. Silva will try to break his own record by going for an eighth straight title defense.
Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Silva
West: Silva
Last fight: First round win by knockout against Rich Franklin at UFC 103.
Punch list: Like Silva, Belfort is considered one of the best Brazilian mixed martial artists ever. He’s a renowned striker who has won three straight and four of his last five by knockout. This is only the former UFC light heavyweight champion’s second bout in the 185-pound class.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Silva
Forrest Griffin
- Age: 31
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 205
- MMA record 17-6
- Betting line: +160
Rich Franklin
- Age: 36
- Height: 6'1''
- Weight: 205
- MMA record 28-5
- Betting line: -200
Light Heavyweight Bout
Co-Main Event
Last fight: Split decision win over Tito Ortiz at UFC 106.
Punch list: The fan-favorite Griffin has been a part of some of the most memorable fights in UFC history. The question coming into this one is whether he will be rusty after 13 months off.
Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Franklin
West: Franklin
Last fight: First round win over Chuck Liddell by knockout at UFC 115.
Punch list: Franklin, of course, was a high school math teacher before he turned in his chalk and eraser for a shot in mixed martial arts. He never looked back and was the last man to hold the middleweight championship before Silva
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Franklin
Jake Ellenberger
- Age: 25
- Height: 6’0’’
- Weight: 170
- MMA record 23-5
- Betting line: -320
Carlos Eduardo Rocha
- Age: 29
- Height: 5’10’’
- Weight: 170
- MMA record 9-0
- Betting line: +250
Welterweight Bout
Last fight:Third round win by TKO over John Howard at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko.
Punch list: Ellenberger has one defeat during his three-fight UFC career, but it’s a disputed one. Many feel he won a fight that resulted in a split decision loss against welterweight contender Carlos Condit in his debut.
Staff picks:ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Ellenberger
West: Ellenberger
Last fight: First round win by submission over Kris McCray at UFC 122.
Punch list: Rocha is newer to the mixed martial arts world, as his first fight was in 2008. But he’s a long-time Brazilian jiu-jitsu practitioner who has a black belt. He’s submitted eight of nine opponents in MMA.
Staff picks:Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Rocha
Jon Jones
- Age: 23
- Height: 6’4''
- Weight: 205
- MMA record 11-1
- Betting line: -400
Ryan Bader
- Age: 27
- Height: 6'2''
- Weight: 205
- MMA record 13-0
- Betting line: +300
Light Heavyweight Bout
Last fight: First round win by TKO over Vladimir Matyushenko at UFC Live: Jones vs. Matyushenko.
Punch list: Everyone around mixed martial arts is anointing Jones as the next superstar. He’s practically undefeated as his only loss came by disqualification for illegal elbows after the fight could have already been called.
Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Jones
West: Jones
Last fight: Unanimous decision win over Antonio Rogerio Nogueira at UFC 119.
Punch list: Bader won season eight of “The Ultimate Fighter” and has quickly worked his way up the 205-pound weight division. His last two victories, against Nogueira and Keith Jardine, were particularly impressive and put him close to a title shot.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Jones
Miguel Angel Torres
- Age: 30
- Height: 5'9’’
- Weight: 135
- MMA record 37-3
- Betting line: -400
Antonio Banuelos
- Age: 31
- Height: 5’3’’
- Weight: 135
- MMA record 19-6
- Betting line: +300
Bantamweight Bout
Last fight: Second round win by submission over Charlie Valencia at WEC 51.
Punch list: Torres’ record can be misleading because two of the three losses have come in the last year and a half. But he’s a former WEC champion who defended his belt three times.
Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Torres
West: Torres
Last fight: Unanimous decision victory against Chad George at WEC 51.
Punch list: It’s a great opportunity for Banuelos to catapult his stock against one of the division’s most recognized names. The ground specialist had a up-and-down career in the WEC.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Torres
Donald Cerrone
- Age: 27
- Height: 6’0”
- Weight: 155
- MMA record 13-3
- Betting line: -300
Paul Kelly
- Age: 26
- Height: 5’9’’
- Weight: 155
- MMA record 12-3
- Betting line: +220
Lightweight Bout
Last fight: Second round win by submission over Chris Horodecki at WEC 53.
Punch list: “The Cowboy” from Colorado came painstakingly close to the WEC lightweight belt multiple times, losing in three title fights. He starts his UFC journey against a veteran of the organization.
Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Kelly
West: Cerrone
Last fight: Second round by TKO over T.J. O’Brien at UFC 123.
Punch list: Quick turnaround for the England native, who has gone 2-2 in his last four bouts. Kelly is his most dangerous on the mat where he can wail away with his superior ground and pound.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Kelly
Chad Mendes
- Age: 25
- Height: 5’6’’
- Weight: 145
- MMA record 9-0
- Betting line: -350
Michihiro Omigawa
- Age: 35
- Height: 5’6’’
- Weight: 145
- MMA record 12-8-1
- Betting line: +250
Featherweight Bout
Last fight: Unanimous decision victory against Javier Vazquez at WEC 52.
Punch list: Mende’s stock skyrocketed after he dominated Vazquez last November. He’s now seen as a force to be reckoned with in the 145-pound division.
Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Omigawa
West: Mendes
Last fight: First round win by submission over Cole Escovedo at DREAM 16.
Punch list: The Japanese veteran likes to lock up and engage in dirty boxing. He’s won five straight, which gives him his second shot in UFC after going 0-2 in the organization in 2008.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Mendes
Norifumi Yamamoto
- Age: 33
- Height: 5’4’’
- Weight: 135
- MMA record 18-3
- Betting line: -120
Demetrious Johnson
- Age: 24
- Height: 5’3’’
- Weight: 135
- MMA record 12-1
- Betting line: -110
Bantamweight Bout
Last fight: First round win by knockout over Federico Lopez at DREAM 14.
Punch list: “The Kid” has a huge following in Japan, where he ran through K-1 and emerged as a world-class kickboxer. But has he lost something in losing two of his last three?
Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Yamamoto
West: Yamamoto
Last fight: Third round win by submission over Damacio Page at WEC 52.
Punch list: Johnson is one of the most athletic bantamweights in the world. He said he considered facing Yamamoto an honor.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Johnson
Paul Taylor
- Age: 31
- Height: 5'0’’
- Weight: 155
- MMA record 10-6-1
- Betting line: -210
Gabe Ruediger
- Age: 33
- Height: 5’10”
- Weight: 155
- MMA record 17-6
- Betting line: +165
Lightweight Bout
Last fight: Split decision loss to Sam Stout at UFC 121.
Punch list: The svelte Taylor has lost two consecutive fights and four of his last six. He’s been in the UFC since 2007, but may need a win here to keep his spot safe.
Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Taylor
West: Taylor
Last fight: First round loss by submission to Joe Lauzon at UFC 118.
Punch list: The former WEC lightweight champion has never won a UFC fight, going 0-2. He cleans up competition on smaller cards, but appear to struggle on the sport’s biggest stage.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Taylor
Kyle Kingsbury
- Age: 28
- Height: 6’4’’
- Weight: 205
- MMA record 9-2
- Betting line: -125
Ricardo Romero
- Age: 32
- Height: 6’0’’
- Weight: 205
- MMA record 11-1
- Betting line: -105
Light Heavyweight Bout
Last fight: Unanimous decision win over Jared Hamman at UFC Fight Night: Marquardt vs. Palhares.
Punch list: “The Ultimate Fighter” season 8 alum got a UFC contract despite not winning any bouts on the show. He’s won two straight after dropping his first UFC fight.
Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Romero
West: Romero
Last fight: Second round win by submission over Seth Petruzelli at UFC 116.
Punch list: Romero is a well-rounded fighter with a wrestling background. His armbar submission of Petruzelli in his UFC debut opened some eyes after his long run in the Ring of Combat promotion.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Romero
Mike Pierce
- Age: 30
- Height: 5’8’’
- Weight: 170
- MMA record 11-3
- Betting line: -300
Kenny Robertson
- Age: 26
- Height: 5'10’’
- Weight: 170
- MMA record 10-0
- Betting line: +220
Welterweight Bout
Last fight: Third round win by submission over Amilcar Alves.
Punch list: Pierce has quietly had a nice run since joining the UFC in 2009, going 3-1 with his only loss coming against former welterweight top contender Jon Fitch.
Staff picks: ESPN Radio and KSNV
Cofield: Pierce
West: Pierce
Last fight: Second round win by submission over John Kolosci at Bellator 25.
Punch list: Robertson has seven submissions to his name, but has done it against lesser competition as this is his UFC debut.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun
Keefer: Robertson