Edgar vs. Faber: Crystal Ball Predictions – FOXSports.com

This Saturday brings another breakfast menu of UFC brawls as MMA hits Manila in a big way. In the main event, former world champions Frankie Edgar and Urijah Faber lock up in a dream match up with title implications. In the co-main event, two top 15 middleweights clash when Gegard Mousasi and Costas Philippou meet to decide who moves up the 185-pound ladder.

And, in a featured bout, the “Filipino Wrecking Machine” Mark Munoz fights for the last time ever, and will do so in the land of his forefathers, against the young and hungry Luke Barnatt. Check out our breakdown of the night’s biggest fights and then let us know who you’re picking in the comments section and on Facebook and Twitter!

Frankie Edgar (17-4-1) vs. Urijah Faber (32-7)

Anyone who pretends they know for certain how this fight will go down is either lying or delusional. Both fighters listed intangible qualities (Faber, his creatvitiy and Edgar, his desire to win) to us as their main advantages over the other.

You’d have to go with those more amorphous attributes to get some type of confidence if you were Faber or Edgar, because this fight appears on paper to be completely evenly matched. Edgar has excellent wrestling, but so does Faber.

Faber has very good kickboxing and striking power, but Edgar has some of the best boxing and footwork in the UFC to counter. Edgar is one of the fastest fighters in the world, but Faber scrambles at lightning speed.

Both men have excellent submission games, so it would be tough for either to snatch up and finish a hold. In the end, the first person to make a big mistake may be the one to pay.

Or, we could have a closely-contested bout that ends up difficult to score after five rounds. Either way, the fans are certain to win.

We like Faber’s striking power, here, but also feel that his creative style could leave him open, in spots, to sharp attacks from the technically tight Edgar.

Prediction: It’s a toss-up, but we may have to go with Edgar here because of a slight size advantage and because his of his quick punches and takedowns

Gegard Mousasi (36-5) vs. Costas Philippou (13-4)

Both middleweights are coming into this fight off of impressive wins. Mousasi’s, however, is much more recent, as he stopped all-time great Dan Henderson earlier this year.

Philippou, on the other hand, has not fought in a year. Perhaps the time has done him some good, allowing injuries to heal and skills to improve.

He will have rust working against him, however, against Mousasi. Other than that factor, Mousasi has other factors working in his favor as well.

Though Philippou has real power in his strikes, Mousasi may be a tad more fluid with his, while also possessing pop. Mousasi is also likely the better submission fighter on the ground.

Where Philippou may be able to do well is with his activity — if he gets and stays in the face of Mousasi. If Philippou can get inside on his own terms, land some strikes from the clinch, and get away without getting taken down, he could decide the tempo and make the fight one Mousasi — ever the calm and tempered fighter — is less comfortable with.

Prediction: Mousasi by decision

Mark Munoz (13-6) vs. Luke Barnatt (8-2)

The British Barnatt stormed out of the gates in the UFC with three straight wins but has lost his last two fights. He hasn’t fought since last November and will no doubt be hungry to get the biggest win of his career against the retiring Munoz.

Make no mistake about it, a win over Mark Munoz in the middleweight division still means something. Barnatt has the size, reach and youth in his favor. However, Munoz will come in with a head full of steam after a quick loss at home in February.

Now, the Filipino Wrecking Machine will have a chance to leave the sport of MMA on his own terms, and in the Philippines, of all places. If he can remain calm, that extra energy could serve the long-time contender well.

Should Munoz safely make his way inside against his 6-foot-6 opponent, he should be able to grind him against the fence, take him down, and get to work on the ground with strikes. Barnatt will not let it be easy, but if Munoz is clear-headed and well-conditioned enough to go three straight rounds at a good clip, he’s got the tools to get a win.

Predicition: Munoz by TKO

Neil Magny (14-4) vs. Hyun Gyu Lim (13-4)

Lim has looked great in winning three out of his first UFC bouts, all by finish. On Saturday, however, he’ll happen to be facing perhaps the hottest fighter in the welterweight division in Magny. 

Lim may have the power striking advantage here, but Magny’s combination of size and conditioning make him a tough out. If Lim can’t get off on Magny early, he’s going to have trouble keeping the surging Dolton, IL fighter off of him.

Magny pressures well, especially in the clinch, is smooth in grappling transitions and he also certainly has the power to put you away if you give him a chance.

Lim, on the other hand, is a knockout machine. Of his 13 career wins, 10 are by way of KO. Lim can put opponents to sleep with his hands, shins, knees or elbows, and doesn’t need much space to make it count.

This is one of those great match ups that only cool people know the significance of. These two men are some of the welterweight division’s most exciting and best new prospects, yet they don’t have much name recognition, yet.

Get in on the ground floor, here, by watching this fantastic international main card contest.

Make sure to watch Faber’s battle with Edgar this weekend as part of a special UFC Fight Night card airing Saturday morning live from Manila in the Philippines with coverage starting on FOX Sports 1 at 7am ET and a main card kicking off at 10am ET. 

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