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.
Dan Griffin, MMA Gospel CEO
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson: Henderson via TKO (Strikes), Round 4
Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader: Jackson via KO (Punches), Round 1
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo: Kongo via TKO (Strikes), Round 2
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: Akiyama via Unanimous Decision
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch: Okami via Unanimous Decision
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski: Hioki via Submission (Armbar), Round 2
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: Pettis via KO (Head Kick), Round 3
Mallory Mejia, MMA Gospel Editor-in-Chief
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson: Henderson via TKO (Strikes), Round 3
Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader: Jackson via Unanimous Decision
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo: Kongo via TKO (Strikes), Round 2
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: Shields via Unanimous Decision
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch: Okami via TKO (Strikes), Round 2
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski: Hioki via Submission (Armbar), Round 2
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Spilled Bag of Ice, MMA Gospel Columnist/MMA Gospel Radio Host
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson: Henderson via Unanimous Decision
Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader: Jackson via KO (Punches), Round 2
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo: Hunt via TKO (Punches), Round 1
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: Akiyama via Split Decision
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch: Okami via Unanimous Decision
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski: Hioki via Submission (Triangle Choke), Round 3
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: Pettis via Unanimous Decision
Patrick Guera, MMA Gospel Staff Writer/MMA Gospel Radio Co-Host
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson: Edgar via TKO (Strikes), Round 4
Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader: Jackson via KO (Punch), Round 1
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo: Kongo via TKO (Strikes), Round 3
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: Shields via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 2
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch: Okami via TKO (Strikes), Round 3
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski: Hioki via Split Decision
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: Lauzon via Unanimous Decision
TJ Martinez, MMA Gospel Staff Writer
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson: Henderson via Unanimous Decision
Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader: Jackson via Unanimous Decision
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo: Kongo via TKO (Strikes), Round 2
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: Shields via Unanimous Decision
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch: Okami via TKO (Strikes), Round 2
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski: Hioki via Submission (Kimura), Round 1
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: Pettis via Split Decision
Cole Moorman, MMA Gospel Staff Writer
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson: Edgar via Unanimous Decision
Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader: Bader via Split Decision
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo: Hunt via TKO (Punches), Round 2
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: Akiyama via Majority Decision
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch: Boetsch via Unanimous Decision
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski: Palaszewski via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 3
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: Pettis via TKO (GNP), Round 1
Matt Homeyer, MMA Gospel Staff Writer
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson: Henderson via TKO (Punches), Round 3
Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader: Jackson via KO (Punch), Round 2
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo: Kongo via Unanimous Decision
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: Shields via Submission (Rear Naked Choke), Round 3
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch: Okami via TKO (Punches), Round 3
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski: Palaszewski via KO (Punch), Round 1
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: Pettis via KO (Head Kick), Round 2
Spilled Bag of Ice’s Randomly Generated Picks
Frankie Edgar vs. Ben Henderson: Henderson via Submission, Round 3
Quinton Jackson vs. Ryan Bader: Bader via (T)KO, Round 2
Mark Hunt vs. Cheick Kongo: Hunt via Decision
Yoshihiro Akiyama vs. Jake Shields: Akiyama via (T)KO, Round 1
Yushin Okami vs. Tim Boetsch: Boetsch via Submission, Round 1
Hatsu Hioki vs. Bart Palaszewski: Hioki via (T)KO, Round 2
Anthony Pettis vs. Joe Lauzon: Pettis via Submission, Round 3
