Fearless UFC 134 predictions

Fearless UFC 134 predictions

By JOSE RODRIQUEZ, QMI Agency

Here are the always-dangerous Scrapyard predictions for the UFC's return to Brazil for UFC 134:

- Middleweight champ Anderson Silva vs. challenger Yushin Okami -- Hmmmm ... Okami is big and strong and can wrestle well. Silva is arguably the most naturally talented striker in the game and has a Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt should the fight go to the ground. That, and he's been criticized for some past performaces and needs to make good -- in front of a home-country crowd no less. Wouldn't want to be Okami. PREDICTION: Silva by second-round TKO

- Forrest Griffin vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua -- Rua wants to prove that the first encounter between these two was a fluke win for Griffin. Griffin is a never-say-die scrapper but this is a different Rua he's facing -- one who has hoisted the belt and beat the seemingly unbeatable Lyoto Machida. PREDICTION: Rua by first-round TKO.

- Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Brendan Schaub -- An interesting matchup. Nogueira has great boxing but finishes most of his fights by decision. Schaub is more a freestyle fighter and all but one of his victories have come via TKO. He's also coming off wins over big names such as Gabriel Gonzaga and Mirko "Crocop" Filipovic. I think the Brazilians will be upset over this fight. PREDICTION: Schaub by decision.

- Edson Barboza vs. Ross Pearson: This one is going to be a scrap. Both of these lightweights have great energy. Barboza is undefeated and Pearson is coming off a surprise decision over Spencer Fisher. PREDICTION: Barboza will remain undefeated with a unanimous decision win.

- Luiz Cane vs. Stanislav Nedkov -- Nedkov is undefeated at 11-0 -- but this marks his first fight in the UFC. Cane is a slugger who's lost two of his last three. He has plenty to prove to the hometown crowd. PREDICTION: Cane by third-round TKO

UPCOMING BOUTS

- UFC 134 goes Saturday from Rio de Janeiro and features a middleweight title bout between champ Anderson Silva and Yushin Okami. Forrest Griffin also takes on Mauricio "Shogun" Rua. The event is available on pay-per-view.

- Strikeforce heavyweight Grand Prix featuring semi-final fights between Josh Barnett and Sergei Kharitonov as well as Daniel Cormier and Antonio Silva goes from Cincinnati on Sept. 10. The event airs on Showtime.