Event: UFC 154 Matchup: Johny Hendricks (-115) vs. Martin Kampmann (-115), potential UFC welterweight title eliminator Location: Bell Centre, Montreal, Quebec, Canada Time: 10 p.m. (ET) How to watch: Pay-Per-View 
TALE OF THE TAPE: THE FAVORITE Name: Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks MMA Record: 13-1 UFC Record: 8-1 Age: 29 Nationality: American Height: 5-9 Weight: 170 pounds Style: Boxing/wrestling Camp: Team Takedown Strengths: Powerful left hand, excellent wrestling (2-time NCAA Division I champion wrestler), has finishing instincts and knows when to swarm when his opponent is hurt, very tough, can go the distance Weaknesses: Takedown defense, often involved in close decisions Last 5 Fights: W – Josh Koscheck (SD), W – Jon Fitch (KO), W – Mike Pierce (SD), W – T.J. Waldburger (TKO), L – Rick Story (UD) Notable Career Wins: Jon Fitch (KO), Josh Koscheck (SD), Mike Pierce (SD), T.J. Grant (MD) Notable Career Losses: Rick Story (UD) Notable Career Achievements: None Keys to Victory: Land that big left hand, use wrestling to control where the fight goes TALE OF THE TAPE: THE UNDERDOG Name: Martin “Hitman” Kampmann MMA Record: 20-5 UFC Record: 11-4 Age: 30 Nationality: Dutch Height: 6′ Weight: 170 pounds Style: Muay Thai, Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu Camp: Xtreme Couture Strengths: Excellent striking, underrated submissions, very good recovery, very difficult to stop, often comes through as the underdog Weaknesses: Chin, gets hit way too much, often involved in close fights where judges side with his opponent Last 5 Fights: W – Jake Ellenberger (TKO), W – Thiago Alves (SUB), W – Rick Story (UD), L – Diego Sanchez (UD), Jake Shields (SD) Notable Career Wins: Carlos Condit (SD), Jake Ellenberger (TKO), Thiago Alves (SUB), Jacob Volkmann (SUB) Notable Career Losses: Nate Marquardt (TKO), Paul Daley (TKO), Diego Sanchez (UD), Jake Shields (SD) Notable Career Achievements: None Keys to Victory: Mix it up on the feet, stop the takedowns, threaten with submissions FIGHT BREAKDOWN, PREDICTION, PICK & BET A possible title shot is up for grabs when welterweight contenders Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann square off in a three-round fight. Both fighters are coming into this bout riding a wave of momentum, and with each needing a big win to prove they should fight the winner of Georges St-Pierre vs. Carlos Condit next, expect them to be extremely motivated and look for the finish from the opening bell. Kampmann enters this contest fresh off two come-from-behind wins, a TKO finish on Jake Ellebnberger via vicious knees and a submission victory over Thiago Alves via guillotine choke. Kampmann is an extremely well-rounded fighter who possesses both adept standup as well as solid skills on the mat. His biggest issue, though, is that he tends to get hit a lot, and he gets rocked often in his bouts. However, his recovery is second to none, and he’s a guy who is always in a fight for 15 minutes. Kampmann s a fighter who knows what it takes to win in the UFC and really seems to be coming into his own at 30-years of age. Hendricks is also coming off a string of big victories, including a split decision win over Josh Koscheck and a KO win over Jon Fitch. With his mix of high-level wrestling as well as a powerful left hand, Hendricks is a handful for anyone in the UFC welterweight division. He has yet to show any real weaknesses in the UFC outside of leaving too many fights in the hands of the judges, which cost him his unblemished record against Rick Story. Now in the prime of his career, Hendricks needs a win over Kampmann to prove that he’s the true No. 1 contender in the weight class. Adam’s Fight Prediction: This is a very tough fight to predict. Both men are excellent fighters who are both riding waves of confidence right now, and that should make for an excellent fight. If the fight is finished, it’s likely to be either Hendricks TKOing Kampmann with punches or Kampmann submitting Hendricks, possibly with a guillotine choke during a takedown attempt. However, with both guys being so tough and so evenly matched, I’m thinking this one heads to the scorecards, and Kampmann loses another one of the controversial decisions he has dropped so many times in the past. Adam’s Pick: Johny Hendricks (-115) via split decision (click for updated MMA odds). Adam’s Recommended Play: I lean towards Hendricks, but I think this fight should be a pass. Both guys are evenly matched, and each has multiple ways to win the bout. It’s probably best to stay away from this one.
