UFC 128: Shugun vs Jones Predictions

Posted by Joshua Wood (Editor in Chief)

Mar 14

The UFC hits the Prudential Center in Newark, New Jersey on Saturday, March 19, for UFC 128 with a card that has seen some late shuffling, yet still looks to be a solid card. A card that will feature a light heavyweight title fight for the first time in over 10 months as Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (19-4) will make his first title defense against Jon Jones (12-1).

Despite such a deep division, the light heavyweight title has been one of the least defended belts in the UFC having only been put on the line three times is the last 22 months.

Jones stepped in to face Rua for his injured teammate Rashad Evans, who was forced out of the title fight with a knee injury. The top prospect was offered the shot at the title during his post fight interview after defeating another top light heavyweight prospect in Ryan Bader at UFC 126.

The former Pride Grand Prix winner, Rua captured the UFC light heavyweight belt by defeated Lyoto Machida at UFC 113 with a first round knockout. The fight was an immediate rematch of their controversial five round fight at UFC 104 in which many thought Rua had won the fight, but the judges gave the nod to the champion instead.

UFC 128 will also feature the promotional debut of the former WEC featherweight champion Urijah Faber (24-4) as he’ll take on the heavy-handed Eddie Wineland (18-6-1) in the night’s co-main event. The miller brothers will once against be on the same fight card as Jim Miller will face Kamal Shalorus and Dan miller will take on Nate Marquardt. Dan was originally schedule to face Nick Catone on the nights undercard but stepped in to replace Yoshihiro Aikyama due to the massive earthquake in Japan.

What is becoming the norm for the UFC when they are on PPV, there will be aired preliminary bouts on both Facebook and SpikeTV leading into the main card. Here is how we see the fights playing out this Saturday at UFC 128, please feel free to leave your picks below in the comments section.

ON PAY-PER-VIEW AT 10 P.M ET/7 P.M. PT

MAURICIO RUA vs. JON JONES – JON JONES

URIJAH FABER vs. EDDIE WINELAND – URIJAH FABER

JIM MILLER vs. KAMAL SHALORUS – JIM MILLER

DAN MILLER vs. NATE MARQUARDT – NATE MARQUARDT

MIRKO CRO COP vs. BRENDAN SCHAUB – BRENDAN SCHAUB

ON SPIKE TV AT 9 P.M. ET/6 P.M. PT

LUIZ CANE vs. ELIOT MARSHALL – ELIOT MARSHALL

EDSON BARBOZA vs. ANTHONY NJOKUANI – EDSON BARBOZA

ON FACEBOOK AT 8 P.M. ET/5 P.M. PT

RICARDO ALMEIDA vs. MIKE PYLE – MIKE PYLE

KURT PELLEGRINO vs. GLEISON TIBAU – GLEISON TIBAU