The UFC likes to stack cards with big names and native fighters when visiting a new location or one it hasn’t visited in a prolonged period of time. That’s once again evidenced by this Saturday’s UFC Rio card. It’s the promotion’s second trip to Brazil’s second biggest city, but first in 13 years and under the Zuffa ownership. Ten of the 11 bouts slated for the HSBC Arena include at least one Brazilian. Four former champions are included in the event. Brazilian Anderson Silva puts his middleweight belt at risk in the main event against Yushin Okami. Silva is the most famous fighter to ever come out of Brazil and unarguably the best. Below is a breakdown and picks from our panel of Las Vegas Sun’s Case Keefer (62-38), ESPN.com’s Brett Okamoto (47-21), KSNV’s Kevin West (63-37) and ESPN Radio/Cagewriter.com’s Steve Cofield (61-39). Odds are provided by The Venetian/Lagasse’s Stadium and subject to change.
Yushin Okami
- Age: 30
- Height: 6’2''
- Weight: 206
- UFC record 10-2
- MMA record 26-5
- Out of: Kanagawa, Japan
- Betting line: +375
Anderson Silva
- Age: 35
- Height: 6’2''
- Weight: 185
- UFC record 13-0
- MMA record 30-4
- Out of: Curitiba, Brazil
- Betting line: -550
Middleweight Championship Bout
Main Event
Last fight: Unanimous decision over Nate Marquardt at UFC 122.
Punch list: Okami is the opposite of Silva in a lot of ways. He’s a wrestler first with average striking ability. Although he’s not the most exciting performer, he’s consistently found a way to win throughout his career. Other notable victories for Okami — aside from the Marquardt bout and Silva disqualification — include Mark Munoz and Mike Swick.
Staff picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Silva
Cofield: Silva
Last fight: First round knockout of Vitor Belfort at UFC 126.
Punch list: “The Spider” is not his usual antisocial mood leading up to this weekend’s fight. He’s enjoying the UFC visiting his home country and has been very generous with media and fans. His handlers say he’s at his best when motivated. If that’s true, Silva could put on one heck of a performance Saturday.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Silva
Okamoto: Silva
Forrest Griffin
- Age: 32
- Height: 6’3”
- Weight: 205
- UFC record 9-4
- MMA record 18-6
- Out of: Las Vegas
- Betting line: +180
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua
- Age: 29
- Height: 6’1''
- Weight: 205
- UFC record 3-3
- MMA record 19-5
- Out of: Curitiba, Brazil
- Betting line: -220
Light Heavyweight Bout
Co-Main Event
Last fight: Unanimous decision victory over Rich Franklin at UFC 126.
Punch list: A win here would count as Griffin’s third in a row and put him right back in title contention two-and-a-half-years after losing the 205-pound belt. Griffin could have an advantage on the ground, where he submitted Rua in 2006, with his larger frame.
Staff picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Rua
Cofield: Rua
Last fight: Third round TKO loss to Jon Jones at UFC 128.
Punch list: If Shogun is healthy, he deserves the 2-to-1 favorite tag over Griffin. But that’s always a question for the former champion. He’s looked fantastic in four of his last six fights, and downright sloppy in the other two.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Rua
Okamoto: Griffin
Brendan Schaub
- Age: 28
- Height: 6’4’’
- Weight: 240
- UFC record 4-1
- MMA record 9-1
- Out of: Denver
- Betting line: -240
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira
- Age: 35
- Height: 6’3’’
- Weight: 240
- UFC record 3-2
- MMA record 32-6-1
- Out of: Bahia, Brazil
- Betting line: +190
Heavyweight Bout
Featured Fight
Last fight: Third round TKO win over Mirko Cro Cop at UFC 128.
Punch list: Schaub campaigned for the shot at the legend Nogueira on this card. He thinks a win should lead him into a title shot. The former runner-up on “The Ultimate Fighter” has won four straight since losing to Roy Nelson in the show’s finale.
Staff picks:KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Schaub
Cofield: Schaub
Last fight: First round knockout loss to Cain Velasquez at UFC 110.
Punch list: The man with a couple nicknames — “Minotauro” and “Big Nog” — is returning from having surgery on both of his knees. As a former PRIDE champion, Nogueira has compiled an impressive career, but this bout should go a long way in determining how much longer it lasts.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Nogueira
Okamoto: Schaub
Edson Barboza
- Age: 25
- Height: 5’11''
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 2-0
- MMA record 8-0
- Out of: Jupiter, Fla.
- Betting line: -300
Ross Pearson
- Age: 26
- Height: 5’8''
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 4-1
- MMA record 14-4
- Out of: Sunderland, England
- Betting line: +220
Lightweight Bout
Pay-per-view contest
Last fight: Unanimous decision win over Anthony Njokuani at UFC 128.
Punch list: Many are pointing toward Barboza as the next Brazilian champion in the UFC. That’s a lot of pressure to hold, especially when the prospect hasn’t fought any top level competition so far in his career.
Staff picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Pearson
Cofield: Barboza
Last fight: Unanimous decision win over Spencer Fisher at UFC 127.
Punch list: Pearson seems like a forgotten man in the 155-pound weight class, which shouldn’t be the case. He’s impressed ever since winning the ninth season of “The Ultimate Fighter” with his only setback coming via submission to jiu-jitsu ace Cole Miller.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Barboza
Okamoto: Pearson
Stanislav Nedkov
- Age: 29
- Height: 5’11’’
- Weight: 205
- UFC record 0-0
- MMA record 11-0
- Out of: Veliko Turnovo, Bulgaria
- Betting line: +170
Luiz Cane
- Age: 30
- Height: 6’2’’
- Weight: 205
- UFC record 4-3
- MMA record 12-3-1
- Out of: Sao Paolo, Brazil
- Betting line: -200
Light Heavyweight Bout
Pay-per-view opener
Last fight: First round submission win against Helgiy Augustin Eygen at Max Fight XIII: Sofia Grand Prix.
Punch list: The prospect has slammed all comers in Bulgaria and Japan with nine of his 11 wins coming via stoppage. But it’s always hard to tell how a fighter like Nedkov will match up against heightened competition in the octagon
Staff picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Cane
Cofield: Cane
Last fight: Knocked out Eliot Marshall in the first round at UFC 128.
Punch list: He’s either gotten knocked out or done the knocking out in five of his last six fights. Cane looked his best in March when he overwhelmed Marshall and put an end to the bout 2:15 after it started.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Cane
Okamoto: Cane
Spencer Fisher
- Age: 35
- Height: 5’7’’
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 9-6
- MMA record 24-7
- Out of: Davenport, Iowa
- Betting line: +170
Thiago Tavares
- Age: 26
- Height: 5’7’’
- Weight: 155
- UFC record 5-4-1
- MMA record 15-4-1
- Out of: Florianapolis, Brazil
- Betting line: -200
Lightweight Bout
Spike prelim
Last fight: Unanimous decision defeat to Ross Pearson at UFC 127.
Punch list: Fisher is a striker first, but has a sneaky-good Brazilian jiu-jitsu game. He’s submitted nine opponents and only lost by the technique once when he tapped out to Joe Stevenson’s strikes two years ago.
Staff picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Tavares
Cofield: Fisher
Last fight: Second round knockout loss to Shane Roller at UFC on Versus 3.
Punch list: He’s a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt. To do his best work, Tavares has to get takedowns. An up-and-down path has been the story of his UFC career, which is shown with a 1-1-1 record in Tavares’ last three contests.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Fisher
Okamoto: Fisher
Dan Miller
- Age: 30
- Height: 6’1’’
- Weight: 185
- UFC record 5-4
- MMA record 13-5
- Out of: Whippany, N.J.
- Betting line: +200
Rousimar Palhares
- Age: 31
- Height: 5’8’’
- Weight: 185
- UFC record 5-2
- MMA record 12-3
- Out of: Rio de Janeiro
- Betting line: -250
Middleweight Bout
Spike prelim
Last fight: Unanimous decision loss to Nate Marquardt at UFC 128.
Punch list: For the second straight time, Miller worked his way up the card by filling in for a scratched fighter. He takes the place of Alexandre Ferreira, Palhares’ original opponent. Miller is a wrestler who is usually most successful when grinding out decision victories.
Staff picks: KSNV and ESPN Radio
West: Palhares
Cofield: Miller
Last fight: Second round submission victory over Dave Branch at UFC on Versus 3.
Punch list: The ground is where Palhares wants the fight, because it’s where he can work his world-class Brazilian jiu-jitsu. He’s submitted nine opponents, including in his last three victories, throughout his career and specifically looks for heel hooks.
Staff picks: Las Vegas Sun and ESPN.com
Keefer: Palhares
Okamoto: Palhares
