UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin II Predictions

UFC 147: Silva vs. Franklin II takes place Saturday June 23, 2012 at Estádio Jornalista Felipe Drumond in Belo Horizonte, Brazil. It was originally a pay per view that promised to be one of the biggest selling of the year with a main event consisting of Anderson Silva and his arch nemesis Chael Sonnen. After that fight was moved to UFC 148 the main event became Silva vs. Belfort. This bout would also be struck from the card as Belfort would injure himself in training. Franklin is a very late step in for the main event and there has been very little hype for this pay per view. The card is generally seen as one of the UFC’s weakest to date and is expected to flop massively with its PPV buy rate. However there are some very good fights on it including the Finals from TUF Brazil, a catchweight bout between two legends of the sport and an interesting heavyweight bout. Predictions after the jump.

poster via - Kingdamo

Rich Franklin vs. Wanderlei Silva

The result of this fight is in Franklin’s hands. If Franklin fights smart, keeps the distance, scores points and tries to get the fight to the ground and succeeds then he leaves Brazil a winner. Silva’s jaw is shot and he is in a very similar position to Liddel when he fought Franklin. Win and he’ll get to go again, lose badly and his retirement from the UFC might not be his decision anymore. If Franklin fights sloppy and ends up engaging in a fire fight with Silva or gets caught in the clinch then Silva has a chance of a victory. While the Pride fan in me says Silva has one last brutal KO left in him, my brain tells me that Franklin finishes his UFC career Saturday. Silva’s aggressive nature most likely will be the cause of his demise at UFC 147.

Pick: Franklin by KO.

Fabricio Werdum vs. Mike Russow

Russow did a great job nullifying Jon Olav Einemo's jiu-jitsu with a heavy top game in his last fight. I think that Russow will probably start out this fight standing but once the fight gets to the later stages and Russow begins to tire he will look to take Werdum down. If the fight hits the ground Werdum has the bottom game to trouble any heavyweight. I also don’t see Russow having his way on the feet. Werdum has improved greatly in his stand up and showed great clinch work against Big Country.

Pick: Werdum by Submission.

Cezar Ferreira vs. Sergio Moraes

Moraes is stepping in for the injured Daniel Sarafian who brutally knocked him out on the show. While Moraes is the more decorated jiu-jitsu practitioner of the two, Ferreira is a black belt himself. I don’t see Moraes getting the submission and I think he will struggle on the feet with Ferreira. Expect a few takedowns, maybe scrambles and then Ferreira to finish it on the feet sometime in the second.

Pick: Ferreira by TKO.

Godofredo Pepey vs. Rony Mariano Bezerra

This has the potential to be the fight of the night. Both fighters love to finish fights whether it by submission or TKO. Pepey has looked impressive on the show even winning his semi-final by submission. Bezerra, though, nearly broke his friend and training partner’s arm in the show. He is the more aggressive fighter and he is my pick.

Pick: Bezerra by KO.

Hacran Dias vs. Yuri Alcantara

Dias is a good prospect and may well use his top game tosmother a win off Alcantara. If Alcantara can keep the fight on the feet he should easily win. I fancy that Alcantara’s black belt keeps it standing and he wins by decision.

Pick: Alcantara by Decision.