As a fan of fights, I’m excited. As a booster of the sport, I’m excited.

This is going to be a big litmus test for MMA going forward as a mainstream sport. Bumpers and plugs have been airing throughout the MLB playoffs and NFL games on Fox.

That’s a potentially bigger audience than UFC’s ever had.

In spite of its early bare-knuckle days (if that reads as familiar see also: boxing), it has finally achieved some acceptance, including being legal in all but a small number of states, one of them being New York. But if the UFC is looking at November 12th as an accomplishment, they’re wrong. Even though it’s made some strides, MMA is still seen by the mainstream sports media as a fringe freak show, rather than a respected combat sport.

November 12th isn’t the night that the UFC can say they’ve finally made it. It’s actually their biggest test. How that number shapes up will influence everything going forward.

As for the fight, I have Velasquez.

MATT WIMAN vs. MAC DANZIG

ANTHONY JOHNSON vs. CHARLIE BRENNEMAN
Everyone seems to have the young Brenneman inked in for a decision win, which surprises me. Johnson’s had his setbacks, but he’s still a big, dangerous Welterweight with the edge in experience and on his feet. Brenneman deserves props for his upset of Rick Story, but the fight was made literally hours before the event due to Nate Marquardt’s drug test failure and subsequent dismissal (publicly via a Dana White YouTube video) from the UFC. There was a lot of chaos and drama that night, and in that type of a situation it’s very hard to use it to gauge a fighter’s trajectory. Brenneman is giving up a lot of size and experience. His edge may be in grappling, but is he strong enough to take Johnson to the ground and keep him there? I sincerely doubt it.
PREDICTION: Johnson via KO (Round 2)

PAT BARRY vs. STEFAN STRUVE
Pat Barry’s one of my favorite fighters due to his personality and the fact that he always puts on a great show for the fans. But I’m the first to note that he’s the furthest thing from a contender due to his misplaced priorities during fights, his reach disadvantage, and especially his questionable ground game. It’s that last part that will cost him against Stefan Struve, who himself has an incredible advantage in reach at nearly seven feet tall that, due to his style of fighting, he never utilizes. I pick Struve to win here, but he really needs to work out how to maintain a healthy distance with those long arms and legs. He’s a tough kid, but there are diminishing returns in a fighter taking hard shots.
PREDICTION: Struve via Unanimous Decision

DOMINICK CRUZ vs. DEMETRIOUS JOHNSON
As I’ve stated before on this space and to anyone who will listen, I think Cruz is one of the best pound for pound fighters in the world. Demetrious Johnson is quick and tenacious, and he’ll make for an entertaining fight. But he, like everyone else right now at 135 pounds, is woefully outclassed by Cruz’s enigmatic footwork and astounding cardio.
PREDICTION: Cruz via Unanimous Decision

UFC LIVE airs Saturday, October 1st at 9:00pm on Versus.