*SPoilers*UFC On Fox 5: Henderson vs Diaz. BJ Penn, MacDonald, Rua, Gustafsson

[PizDoff]

UFC On Fox 5: Henderson vs Diaz
Dec. 8, 2012 8PM/5PM
Key Arena
Seattle, WA







Ben Henderson vs. Nate Diaz
Mauricio Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson
BJ Penn vs. Rory MacDonald
Mike Swick vs. Matt Brown
Brendan Schaub vs. Lavar Johnson
Scott Jorgensen vs. John Albert
Mike Chiesa vs. Rafaello Oliveira
Daron Cruickshank vs. Henry Martinez
Ramsey Nijem vs. Joe Proctor
Michael Chiesa vs. Marcus LeVesseur
Bryan Caraway vs. Mike Easton
Tim Means vs. Abel Trujillo
Dennis Siver vs. Nam Phan

So many fights!

Blue is so calming.
Picks?

[Neo Sigma]

Ben Henderson vs. Nate Diaz- This is pretty much guaranteed to be an awesome fight and I wouldn't be surprised if it ends up as a last minute FOTY candidate. Diaz has been looking great in his last few fights, but Henderson has never lacked for skills, and he's physically a monster at LW. I'll give it to Henderson, but it wouldn't be a huge upset if Diaz takes it either. I'm really psyched to see this one.

Mauricio Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson- Outside of smacking down Forrest Griffin, which isn't impressive, Shogun has been looking older and slower every time out since Jones demolished him. That's particularly bad against Gustaffson, who has no problem hanging on the outside and picking his opponents apart. I see Gustaffson playing it safe from a distance and sniping at Shogun until he tries to rush in and gets caught.

BJ Penn vs. Rory MacDonald- I can't help but feel like Penn is going to end up sorry he ever took this fight. Like Shogun and Gustaffson, this is another case of one guy on the decline against one guy approaching his prime. MacDonald takes it.

[ninjawarrior82]

Diaz, Macdonald, Shogun all day!!!

[Gluckmann]

Ben Henderson vs. Nate Diaz
Mauricio Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson
BJ Penn vs. Rory MacDonald
Mike Swick vs. Matt Brown


Henderson v Diaz will be thoroughly awesome - they both have completely different styles that should make for an interesting matchup. I'd love to see Diaz pull it off but I don't think the Stockton slap will work too well against Henderson.

Gustafsson should have this. Like Sigma said, Rua's on the downhill slope. Gustafsson to win convincingly and get a title-shot in the near future.

Kinda hoping MacDonald v BJ is a draw or a NC, cos I don't want either fighter to lose. MacDonald should have it, and hopefully climb the rankings because of it. At the same time, BJ could come out of retirement a new man. He's a fairly unknown fighter in his current state, so there's always the chance that he'll have sharpened up and motivated himself for this one.

[PointyShinyBurn]

Henderson decisions Diaz, Gustafsson survives a first round scare to take a decision over Shogun, BJ looks really amazing for about three minutes and then spends the rest of the fight getting rag-dolled.

[Shawarma]

I agree that Henderson beats Diaz by a clear decision in a nevertheless competitive fight. He's stupidly athletic and I don't think Diaz will be able to keep up with his pace.

I feel that Gustafsson is a bit overrated. Very good, but overrated. I also don't feel that Old Man Rua is all out of bite yet. I'll take Rua via knockout.

BJ gets beat handily. Frankly, I don't even know anything about MacDonald, but BJ's prime is far behind him.

[ADM]

You now this card has potential for one of the best cards this year, some really nice match ups in there.

I just hope BJ Penn has the cardio for 3 rounds, because that fight should be amazing!

[Gluckmann]

You now this card has potential for one of the best cards this year, some really nice match ups in there.

I just hope BJ Penn has the cardio for 3 rounds, because that fight should be amazing!

Agreed. And yet it's not even a numbered event.

Maybe this is premature, but I'm calling it: Rory Mac Donald - future UFC Middleweight Champion. Chalk it down.

[Budo_Brown]

Ben Henderson vs. Nate Diaz - Diaz
Mauricio Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson - Rua
BJ Penn vs. Rory MacDonald - Gotta go with BJ just cuz!
Mike Swick vs. Matt Brown - Swick
Brendan Schaub vs. Lavar Johnson - Johnson
Scott Jorgensen vs. John Albert - Jorgensen
Mike Chiesa vs. Rafaello Oliveira - Chiesa
Daron Cruickshank vs. Henry Martinez - Cruickshank
Ramsey Nijem vs. Joe Proctor - Proctor
Michael Chiesa vs. Marcus LeVesseur - Chiesa
Bryan Caraway vs. Mike Easton - Caraway
Tim Means vs. Abel Trujillo - Trujillo
Dennis Siver vs. Nam Phan - Phan

I'm going to look into getting tickets for this. Is anyone in the Portland area going???

[Tranquil Suit]

Ben Henderson vs. Nate Diaz
Mauricio Rua vs. Alexander Gustafsson
BJ Penn vs. Rory MacDonald