UFC 95 Main Event - Diego Sanchez vs. Joe Stevenson

The main event of Diego Sanchez versus Joe Stevenson.

Like the BetUS Sportsbook has instituted one of the fighters in the Sanchez vs. Stevenson fight as the clear-cut favorite.

But fight fans know that once two men hit the Octagon, things don’t always end up as it should.  Will the Sanchez vs. Stevenson fight be a close one like the Hardy vs. Markham fight is destined to be? or will Sanchez obliterate Stevenson?

Let’s analyze the fight.

Diego Sanchez vs. Joe Stevenson

Joe Stevenson

Strengths:  With a record of 34 and 9, Joe Stevenson is one of the most experienced fighters in UFC.  He’s incredibly good at taking down his opponents and getting submissions.  He’s had to work extremely hard to get from Victorville, CA to where he is right now in the UFC and his heart usually means that he doesn’t go quietly in any fight.

Weaknesses:  Stevenson can lose to a submission almost as easily as he can win by a submission.  In fact, he’s lost two out of his last three bouts.  One of those bouts, to B.J. Penn, was by submission when Penn locked in a rear naked choke in one of the bloodier fights in UFC history.  Another was by submission to Kenny Florian in November.  If Stevenson can’t come out victorious people will really start wondering if he is on the downswing of his career?

Diego Sanchez

Strengths:  Sanchez is 21 and 2 and coming off of two brilliant victories.  One of those, a technical knock-out over Luigi Fioravanti, was an absolute thing of beauty.  Sanchez has incredible speed and terrific grappling ability.  His ground game is also good.  He’s won a few of those 21 bouts by making his opponents submit.  This guy is a very good fighter.

Weaknesses:  The main weakness in Sanchez’s game is that he hasn’t fought since June of 2008.  For boxers, that wouldn’t be a problem, but Sanchez is a UFC artist.  He needs to work in order to keep himself sharp.  Will the lay-off affect him?

Diego Sanchez -350 vs. Joe Stevenson +250

Analysis:  Even though Sanchez hasn’t been in the ring since June of last year, Stevenson isn’t the same fighter he was earlier in his career.  Stevenson has been in the Octagon 43 times already.  That’s a lot of head shots.  I’m not saying that Stevenson has no business fighting in the UFC,  I’m just saying that he probably has no business fighting Diego Sanchez.  Sanchez is a monster in the ring.  He will be able to counter anything Stevenson does with his amazing speed.  I just don’t see Stevenson being able to get Sanchez into a situation where Sanchez has to submit.  In fact, Stevenson fighting for a submission could work against him because Sanchez’s ground game is just as good.  Sanchez all the way in this one.

Pick:  Diego Sanchez at -350 in the sportsbook.