MMA Gospel

The Ultimate Fighting Championship returns to Japan tonight after an 11-year hiatus to present UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson, an event boasting a seven-fight main card featuring some of the promotion's top talent. (Photo courtesy of Zuffa, LLC.)

Tonight the UFC stakes its claim in Saitama, Japan after over a decade-long hiatus in the nation to bring fans in the Saitama Super Arena and around the world an unprecedented seven-fight main card on Pay-Per-View, courtesy of UFC 144: Edgar vs. Henderson. Starting off the landmark event is a lightweight scrap between high-flying WEC veteran “Showtime” Anthony Pettis (14-2) and resilient submission connoisseur “J-Lau” Joe Lauzon (21-6). Former Shooto Lightweight Champion and Sengoku Featherweight Champion Hatsu Hioki (23-4-2) is set to battle with seasoned veteran “Bartimus” Bart Palaszewski (35-14). Former title challenger “Thunder” Yushin Okami (26-6) will meet former 205er “The Barbarian” Tim Boetsch (14-4) in a middleweight contest. Japanese sensation “Sexyama” Yoshihiro Akiyama (14-5) takes on NCAA Div. II wrestler and former Strikeforce 185lbs. king Jake Shields (26-6-1), followed by what is sure to be a striking clinic between heavyweight kickboxers “Super Samoan” Mark Hunt (7-7) and Cheick Kongo (17-6-2). The co-main event sees former PRIDE superstar and UFC light heavyweight champ “Rampage” Quinton Jackson (31-9) face a very determined prospect in “Darth” Ryan Bader (13-2). Capping off the four-hour PPV card, “The Answer” Frankie Edgar (14-1-1) makes his fourth title defense, this time against former WEC Lightweight Champion and multiple-time “Fight of the Night” winner “Smooth” Ben Henderson (14-2). Who will shine at tonight’s UFC 144? Only time will truly tell, but in the meantime, MMA Gospel’s staff members take a stab at predicting how the night will go down. Continue reading »