Demian Maia has all the tools to be a top contender at welterweight. I think his main problem has been is that he seems to have forgotten what propelled him to the top of the middleweight division. It was his devastating Jiu Jitsu that got him a shot at Anderson Silva and whilst he has made himself a more well-rounded fighter he needs to get back to what it is that makes him so dangerous. Not so long ago Story was a top contender at welterweight although defeats to Charlie Brennaman and Kampmann have halted that rise. He has got decent boxing and usually uses his wrestling to good advantage however I don't expect him to want to go to the mat with Maia. He has also beaten some top quality opponents in the past such as Jake Ellenberger, Thiago Alves and Johnny Hendricks and he's also never been finished. Prediction: I think this will be a close fight but I'm going to predict Maia to win and I'm going to say he is going to be first man to finish Story and win by submission in round three.
Phil Davis vs. Wagner Prado
This is a hard one to call as Prado is such an unknown quantity. He has fought only in Brazil, barring the no contest with Davis, and hasn't fought anyone of note. He trains out of Team Nogueira with current UFC Heavyweight Champ Dos Santos so is obviously a skilled fighter. His record also suggests that he can bang a bit as 7 of his 8 wins have come by knockout. It appears as if his plan is simple: stop Davis' takedowns and try to stop him standing. Phil Davis will be a huge step up in class though and he will never have been in with anyone who has Davis' wrestling pedigree. The safe bet is to go with Davis to control this one and use his superior wrestling to dictate where the fight goes. Prediction: I'm calling a on Davis decision victory. He needs to bounce back after that poor showing against Evans and I'm backing him to do it here.
Jon Fitch vs. Erick Silva
This is the toughest fight to call on the whole card. My head is telling me that I'm just buying into the Silva hype and that Fitch is going to grind this one out and win a three round takedown filled decision. My heart is telling me that Silva remains elusive throughout and stops Fitch standing in an Anderson Silva display of striking. Prediction: Purely because I want the latter to happen and because I can't bring myself to back Jon Fitch I am going to go with Silva to win this one spectacularly. Because I've called a Silva knockout expect to see a Fitch decision victory.