Breakdown: UFC: Santos vs Teixeira

 Breakdown: UFC: Santos vs Teixeira

Santos vs Teixeira: 205lbs

Santos(-220), MMA Record: 21-7, UFC Record: 13-6, Current Streak: One Loss: Santos is back after his title fight with Jon Jones where he pushed the former champ to the limit. He tore everything in his knee and has been recovering for about a year. He is a thunderous Muay Thai fighter that has some of the best strikes in the sport. His ground game has been coming around the last couple of years and he now has a sneaky good guillotine choke if his opponents go for a takedown on him. A win here would put him right back into the title contention at 205 because of Jones's move to Heavyweight. Grades: Striking=9.25/10, Grappling=8.5/10

*IMPORTANT STATS: 68% Takedown Defense, 4.44 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 47% Striking Accuracy, 57% Striking Defense

NOTABLE WINS: Blachowicz(TKO), Manuwa(TKO), Anders(TKO), Holland(UD), A. Smith(TKO), Hermansson(KO), Meerschaert(TKO), Marquardt(TKO), Theodorou(UD)

Teixeira(+180), MMA Record: 31-7, UFC Record: 14-5, Current Streak: Four Wins: Now in the last quarter of his career at 41 years old, Glover has put together a nice little run here to maybe get one last title shot. His striking is always dangerous and believe it or not, he is tied for first all time in submission wins at 205lbs. One does have to wonder if his chin can take a blast from Santos. We have seen him get knocked out a couple of times with one punch by big power punchers. Whatever happens this weekend, Glover will one of the best fighter to come through the UFC at Light Heavyweight. Grades: Striking=9/10, Grappling= 8.75/10

IMPORTANT STATS: 3.74 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 47% Striking Accuracy, 3.87 Sig. Strikes Absorbed per Minute, 55% Striking Defense

NOTABLE WINS: A. Smith(TKO), Krylov(SD), Cutelaba(SUB), Cirkunov(TKO), Cannonier(UD), R Evans(TKO), OSP(SUB), R Bader(TKO), Q. Jackson(UD), Maldonado(TKO), R. Rodriguez(UD)

Arlovski vs Boser: Heavyweight

Arlovski(+215), MMA Record: 29-19, UFC Record: 18-13, Current Streak: One Win: A true veteran of the UFC and the sport in general, Arlovski just won't go away. I mean that in the best way possible by the way. Right when you think he needs to retire, he wins one or two fighter and looks like he still has some juice left. Now at 41 years old, you have to wonder how long this will last. He has the forth most UFC fights of anyone in any division and the eighth most wins. I really don't know where he goes if he does manage to get a win this Saturday. I do however, wish him all the best as a true legend of the sport. Grades: Striking=8.6/10, Grappling=8/10

IMPORTANT STATS: 3.54 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 44% Striking Accuracy, 2.69 Sig. Strikes Absorbed per Minute, 59% Striking Defense

NOTABLE WINS: Lins(UD), Rothwell(UD,TKO), Struve (UD), Albini(UD), Mir(UD), Browne(TKO), A. Silva(TKO), Schaub(SD), Nelson(TKO),Werdum(UD), Sylvia(SUB)

Boser(-260), MMA Record: 19-6-1, UFC Record: 3-1, Current Streak: Two Wins: One of the up and comers at Heavyweight, Tanner looks like he could be on track to be a contender at that weight. He has lost over ten pounds for his past two fights and has looked very quick in his striking. His footwork has gone up several levels. I think if he gets a win this weekend, you will see him slotted into the top 15 rankings and get only high level opponents from now on. Grades: Striking=8.75/10, Grappling=8/10

IMPORTANT STATS: 100% Takedown Defense, 4.54 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 54% Striking Accuracy, 2.85 Sig. Strikes Absorbed per Minute

NOTABLE WINS: Pessoa(TKO), Lins(KO), Spitz(UD)

Heinisch vs Allen: 185lbs

Heinish(+110), MMA Record: 14-3, UFC Record: 3-2, Current Streak: One Win: Ian is one of the most well rounded fighters at 185lbs. That being said I also don't think he is great at any one thing either. He is tough as nails and will not go away easy no matter the situation. No matter what way the fight goes, Ian will be ready to go. Grades: Striking= 8.5/10, Grappling=8.5/10

IMPORTANT STATS: 1.16 Takedown per 15 Minutes, 52% Striking Accuracy, 3.62 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute, 59% Striking Defense

NOTABLE WINS: Meerschaert(TKO), Carlos Junior(UD)

Allen(-130), MMA Record: 15-3, UFC Record: 3-0, Current Streak: Seven Wins: Allen looks like a future contender. His striking is coming around but is still the weakest part of his game. His ground game on the other hand, is very elite. Whether it be submissions or ground and pound he is very dangerous in that department. At 24 years old he looks pretty polished in many aspects of MMA. I think he will have a long and successful career in the UFC at Middleweight. Grades: Striking=8.5/10, Grappling: 9/10

IMPORTANT STATS: 37% Takedown Accuracy, 1.42 Takedown per 15 Minutes, 60% Striking Accuracy, 2.67 Sig. Strikes Landed per Minute

NOTABLE WINS: Daukaus(UD), Breese(TKO), Holland(SUB)

Under the Radar Fights: Barreios vs Taha, Gadelha(+115) vs Yan(-140), Giles(-105) vs Lewis(-120), de Lima(+230) vs Romanov(-280)

* All stats are from http://ufcstats.com/event-details/41dca66f9dadfc86