UFC 125 Post-Fight Thoughts and Analysis

Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard

- Edgar vs. Maynard II will go down as one of, if not the best title fight in UFC history. Frankie Edgar showed that he continues to improve by leaps and bounds every time he steps in the cage, shrugging off most of Maynard's takedowns while landing a few of his own. On the feet, Edgar showed the heart of a champion, rebounding from a brutal beating in the first round to push the pace the rest of the fight. Maynard, meanwhile, checked his 'boring' reputation at the door, blitzing Edgar with vicious left hooks and almost finishing the fight early. Both fighters put forth a championship effort Saturday, and the immediate rematch is well deserved.

- Wrestlers are taught to only shoot if you are close enough to touch your opponent. Of course, being close enough to touch your opponent in MMA means you are close enough to get hit. In order to shoot for a takedown in MMA, you must close the distance, or take a shot from far away. We saw the importance of this Saturday night. Edgar and Maynard both succeeded on takedown attempts when they chained their takedowns with strikes, or when they ducked under their opponent's strikes. When they shot from the outside, their takedowns were easily stuffed.

- Maynard's lead left hooks were devastating in the first round. As a result, Edgar's corner instructed him to circle towards Maynard's right. While it's typically taught to not circle towards your opponent's power hand, Edgar was able to use this movement to jam Maynard up and take away his best punch.

- To learn how to throw the lead left hook, check out Dan Hardy's pro training modules on TapouTVTC.com.

Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann

- Chris Leben has built a successful career on his toughness. You can hit him, hit him again, and hit him some more, but he still keeps coming forward. The only problem with this strategy is that, eventually, you will fight someone that hits hard enough to put you out. This happened Saturday, when Brian Stann pulled off the shocking upset and knocked Leben out in the first round -- something that hadn't happened since Anderson Silva's UFC debut in 2006.

- If you want to learn to strike like Brian Stann, check out his coach Mike Winkeljohn's pro training modules.

Brandon Vera vs. Thiago Silva

- What impressed me most about Thiago Silva's performance was that he dominated Vera in the clinch, no easy task against an Olympic-level Greo-Roman wrestler. The UFC broadcast team repeatedly pointed out that this is the first time we've seen a healthy Silva in over a year, and he truly looked like a different fighter. Still just 28, Silva's only two career losses have come to former UFC light-heavyweight champions, Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans.

- Vera has always been a dynamic striker, and he showed those features in brief spurts during the fight, even knocking Silva down with a body kick. Unfortunately, Vera showed little urgency on the ground, and seemed content to ball up and hold on rather than exploding and working to a scramble.

Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim

- Nick Diaz and his brother Nate have both had problems against wrestlers in their careers. This was the case Saturday, where Dong Hyun Kim used his superior takedowns and top control to grind out a decision. Diaz was able to mount some offense on the feet in the third round, but by that point it was too little, too late. Kim is a big and strong welterweight, but I would like to see his limited striking game improve before he really makes waves in the division.

- I love Diaz's guard game, where he is constantly searching for sweeps and submissions. Every time Diaz elevated one of his legs to look for a triangle, though, Kim controlled his opposite hip, essentially nullifying the submission attempt. Kim might have looked like he was near giving up a submission, but as long as he controlled one of Diaz's hips, he was safe.

Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi

- Clay Guida used some of the most bizarre movements I have ever seen in order to confuse Takaori Gomi, and it worked. Gomi was absolutely stifled on the feet and never looked comfortable. Guida also threw some unorthodox striking combinations, like following up a level change with a head kick. This is the most impressed I have been with Guida, who has now won three straight fights.

- To train with Guida's coach, Greg Jackson, click HERE.

UFC 125 Results

Main Card:
Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard fight to a draw (48-46, 46-48, 47-47). Edgar retains the UFC lightweight title
Brian Stann def. Chris Leben by TKO (strikes) at 3:37 of round 1
Thiago Silva def. Brandon Vera by unanimous decision (30-26, 30-27, 30-27)
Dong Hyun Kim def. Nate Diaz by unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Clay Guida def. Takanori Gomi by submission (guillotine choke) at 4:27 of round 2

Ion Television Card:
Jeremy Stephens def. Marcus Davis by KO (punch) at 2:33 of round 3
Dustin Poirier def. Josh Grispi by unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)
Brad Tavares def. Phil Baroni by KO (punches) at 4:20 of round 1

Preliminary Card:
Diego Nunes def. Mike Brown by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)
Daniel Roberts def. Greg Soto by submission (kimura) at 3:45 of round 1
Jacob Volkmann def. Antonio McKee by split decision (29-28, 28-29, 29-28)

UFC 125 Preview - Frankie Edgar vs. Gray Maynard

This article is brought to you by TapouTVTC.com. If you're ready to take your body to another level, visit TapouTVTC.com, the best MMA training website on the net.

The Match:

UFC lightweight champion Frankie Edgar (13-1, 8-1 UFC) vs. Gray Maynard (10-0 (1 NC), 8-0 (1 NC) UFC)

How We Got Here:

Saturday night's UFC lightweight title bout between Frankie Edgar and Gray Maynard offers more for both fighters than simply the label of lightweight champion.

For Edgar, it is a chance to avenge his lone career loss, a chance to prove to odds makers and fans alike that, once again, he has been underestimated.

For Maynard, it is a chance to claim a title that many felt he had already earned but was passed over by Edgar. With a finish, Maynard can also silence the critics who bemoan the fact that his last seven fights --all wins -- have gone to decision.

Two and a half years ago, Edgar and Maynard met in a battle of undefeated prospects at UFC Fight Night 13: Florian vs. Lauzon. Edgar was 8-0 at the time, having won his first three UFC appearances. Maynard, after a failed bid to win The Ultimate Fighter 5, rebounded from a double-KO no contest in his UFC debut to win his next two fights and run his record to 4-0 (1 NC).

That night belonged to Maynard, who used his superior size and wrestling to take Edgar down multiple times. Maynard succinctly summed up his success in the fight, telling Joe Rogan, "I'm bigger."

Since that fight, Maynard has yet to taste defeat. He won his next five bouts -- all by decision -- including a win over Nate Diaz, the fighter that defeated Maynard on TUF 5. A recent decision over former number-one contender Kenny Florian earned Maynard a shot at the belt.

Edgar, meanwhile, rebounded from the loss with three straight wins, which earned him a title shot against the champion, B.J. Penn. In a stunning upset, Edgar outworked and outpointed the champion, even taking Penn to the ground. Penn was granted an immediate rematch, and Edgar turned in an even better performance. The victory cemented Edgar at the top of the lightweight food chain.

The stage has now been set for a match two and a half years in the making.

The Keys for Edgar's Success

Edgar has performed his best when counted out the most. When he steps into the ring against Maynard on Saturday, it will be the fourth time in his last five fights that he does so as the betting underdog. The problem with that, of course, is that Edgar keeps winning.

After his loss to Maynard, questions were raised as to whether or not Edgar had the size to compete with the larger fighters at 155 lbs. Even in his submission victory over Matt Veach, which earned him a shot at lightweight champion Penn, Edgar was bullied by his bigger opponent before locking in a rear-naked choke in the second round.

However, the sentiments about Edgar's weight seemed to changed in his two title bouts with the then-seemingly unbeatable Penn, first when stunning the world at UFC 112, then by affirming his win at UFC 118. In those bouts, Edgar used exceptionally quick footwork, a disciplined and varied striking game, and a perfect game plan to outpoint and outwork the slower Penn. And while some fans disagreed that Edgar won the first contest, he left little doubt in the rematch that he was the better, faster fighter, dominating Penn from bell to bell.

No longer was Edgar looked at as a featherweight masquerading as a lightweight. Instead, he was a streamlined fighter, trading size for speed, sacrificing bulk for the cardio benefits of not cutting weight.

In his first match with Maynard, Edgar looked to be the superior striker. However, he was never able to avoid Maynard's powerful takedowns, and that cost him the fight. In order to beat Maynard, Edgar needs to constantly be on the move, picking his times to engage and fire away with quick combinations, then circling away before Maynard can get hold of him.

Edgar tried to wrestle with Maynard last fight. While he did land one takedown, his double leg attempts were always stuffed, leaving him underneath a bigger, stronger opponent. He will not make that mistake again.

We've seen the discipline with which Edgar and his corner stick to a game plan and they will need to on Saturday. One mistake is all Maynard needs to score a takedown, and that can cost Edgar the round. If Edgar can keep things on the feet, he has the speed and boxing prowess to hand Maynard his first official defeat.

The Keys for Maynard's Success

Maynard's nickname is "The Bully," and it tells you everything you need to know about his fighting style. He is, in a word, relentless.

A three-time All-American wrestler at Michigan State University, Maynard comes equipped with some of the best takedowns in the lightweight division. As is typically the case with wrestlers, Maynard also has an unlimited gas tank, which allows him to pressure and grind on his opponents. These will be his biggest assets against Edgar.

The blueprint for Maynard's success was already written in his first bout with Edgar; take the champion down, do damage, and take him down again if he gets back up. Edgar looked more tired at the end of three rounds against Maynard than he did at the end of either five-round affair against Penn. How tired will Edgar look after twenty five minutes of Maynard's suffocating top game instead of the fifteen he experienced last time?

One predominant story in the media has been Edgar's evolution as a mixed martial artist, but Maynard is quick to point out that Edgar isn't the only one who has gotten better. Maynard's original skill set was good enough to beat Edgar last time, and his continued improvements could be enough to do it again.

Fresh Faces: UFC 125 edition

UFC 125 rings in the New Year with a lightweight title match between champion Frankie Edgar and undefeated challenger Gray Maynard.

The card also features four fighters making their UFC debuts, including three WEC standouts. Meet them in this edition of Fresh Faces.

Name: Josh Grispi

Weight class: Featherweight

Fighting: Dustin Poirier

Record: 14-1 (6 (T)KOs, 7 submissions) for the WEC and various U.S. promotions

Recent body of work: Submitted LC Davis by first-round guillotine choke at "WEC 49: Varner vs. Shalorus" in June

Who he is: Grispi enters his UFC debut riding a 10-fight winning streak, including eight straight first-round finishes and a 4-0 mark in the WEC. Originally, Grispi was scheduled to face Erik Koch at WEC 52, but the UFC decided to grant Grispi a shot at the newly-crowned UFC featherweight champion, Jose Aldo instead. After Aldo was forced to withdraw from the bout with a back injury, Poirier became Grispi's new opponent.

Name: Dustin Poirier

Weight class: Featherweight

Fighting: Josh Grispi

Record: 8-1 (5 (T)KOs, 3 submissions) for the WEC and various promotions in the United States and Canada

Recent body of work: Defeated Zach Micklewright by TKO in just 0:53 at "WEC 52: Faber vs. Mizugaki" in November

Who he is: Poirier will step in to face Grispi after Grispi's original opponent, UFC featherweight champion Jose Aldo, was forced to withdraw due to an injury. A Louisiana native, Poirier rebounded from his first career loss -- a decision to Danny Castillo -- with a 53-second TKO win over Micklewright in November, and will drop from lightweight to featherweight for the first time in his career.

Name: Diego Nunes

Weight class: Featherweight

Fighting: Mike Brown

Record: 15-1 (5 (T)KOs, 6 submissions) for the WEC and various Brazilian promotions

Recent body of work: Defeated Tyler Toner by unanimous decision at "WEC 51: Aldo vs. Gamburyan" in September

Who he is: Hailing from Brazil, Nunes entered the WEC having finished all 11 of his professional fights. After suffering his first career loss to LC Davis, Nunes rebounded with back-to-back victories in 2010 to run his WEC record to 4-1. Since entering the WEC, all five of Nunes' fights have gone to decision.

Name: Antonio McKee

Weight class: Lightweight

Fighting: Jacob Volkmann

Record: 25-3-2 (3 (T)KOs, 4 submissions) for various promotions in the United States, Canada and Mexico

Recent body of work: TKO'd Luciano Azevedo in the first round at "MFC 26: Retribution" in September

Who he is: The 40-year-old McKee has not lost a fight since dropping a decision to Karo Parisyan in 2003, a span that has lasted 15 fights (14-0-1). Long criticized for being a boring fighter (18 of his 25 wins have come by decision), McKee has finished his last two fights in the first round. In his most recent bout against Luciano, McKee stated that he would retire if he failed to finish the fight. He made good on his guarantee, blasting Luciano with elbows that forced a doctor stoppage.

Also, remember to click HERE to sign up for the best MMA training, fitness, nutrition and entertainment, only on TapouTVTC.com.

Mike Brown vs. Diego Nunes in the works for UFC 125

A featherweight bout between former WEC champion Mike Brown and Diego Nunes is in the works for UFC 125 on Jan 1.

Brown (24-6, 6-2 WEC) rebounded from a loss to Manvel Gamburyan with a quick TKO victory over Cole Province at WEC 51. The former champ is 2-1 since losing his title to Jose Aldo last November.

Nunes (15-1, 4-1 WEC) is currently on a two-fight win streak. Prior to entering the WEC, Nunes had finished all 11 of his professional fights. Since then, though, all five of Nunes' WEC fights have gone to decision.

Brown last three fights:
Win (TKO - Punches) Cole Province - WEC 51
Loss (KO - Punches) Manvel Gamburyan - WEC 48
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Anthony Morrison - WEC 46

Nunes last three fights:
Win (Unanimous Decision) Tyler Toner - WEC 51
Win (Split Decision) Raphael Assuncao - WEC 49
Loss (Unanimous Decision) LC Davis - WEC 44

Props: MMA junkie

Jeremy Stephens vs. Marcus Davis in the works for UFC 125

A lightweight bout between Jeremy Stephens and Marcus Davis is in the works for UFC 125 on New Years day.

Stephens (18-6, 5-5 UFC) dropped a close split decision to Melvin Guillard at UFC 119. The loss snapped Stephens' two-fight winning streak.

Davis (17-7, 9-5 UFC) will drop to lightweight for the first time in his career after dropping three of his past four fights at welterweight. Most recently, Davis lost by technical submission to Nate Diaz at UFC 118, earning Fight of the Night honors in the process.

Stephens last three fights:
Loss (Split Decision) Melvin Guillard - UFC 119
Win (Split Decision) Sam Stout - UFC 113
Win (TKO - Cut) Justin Buchholz - UFC Fight Night 19

Davis last three fights:
Loss (Technical Submission - Guillotine Choke) Nate Diaz - UFC 118
Win (TKO - Punches) Jonathan Goulet - UFC 113
Loss (KO - Knees) Ben Saunders - UFC 106

Source: MMA Junkie

Jose Aldo vs. Josh Grispi in the works for UFC 125

The first-ever UFC featherweight title fight is in the works for UFC 125, pitting WEC featherweight champion Jose Aldo against Josh Grispi.

Aldo (18-1, 8-0 WEC) has blazed a path of destruction through the featherweight decision and has garnered serious consideration as the top pound-for-pound fighter on the planet. The 24-year-old Brazilian has finished seven of his eight WEC bouts and most recently knocked out Manny Gamburyan at WEC 51 in September.

Grispi (14-1, 4-0 WEC) is on a ten-fight winning streak and has not lost since 2007. Grispi was originally scheduled to face Erik Koch at WEC 52, but was pulled from the card in favor of the championship bout.

Aldo last three fights:
Win (KO - Punches) Manny Gamburyan - WEC 51
Win (Unanimous Decision) Urijah Faber - WEC 48
Win (TKO - Punches) Mike Brown - WEC 44

Grispi last three fights:
Win (Submission - Guillotine Choke) LC Davis - WEC 49
Win (Submission - Guillotine Choke) Jens Pulver - WEC 41
Win (TKO - Punches) Micah Miller - WEC 35

Props: Heavy.com

Matt Wiman vs. Cole Miller in the works for UFC 125

A lightweight bout between Matt Wiman and Cole Miller is in the works for UFC 125 on New Year's day.

Wiman (12-5, 6-3 UFC) is returning from an arm injury that forced him to withdraw from his UFC Fight Night 22 fight against Efrain Escudero. Wiman had originally been scheduled to rematch Mac Danzig on that card, but Danzig was forced off the card with a back injury.

Miller (17-4, 6-2 UFC) is coming off of a submission win over Ross Pearson at UFC Fight Night 22. Miller has won two straight since suffering a TKO loss to Escudero at UFC 103.

Wiman last three fights:
Win (Technical Submission - Guillotine Choke) Mac Danzig - UFC 115
Win (Unanimous Decision) Shane Nelson - UFC 107
Loss (Unanimous Decision) Sam Stout - UFC 97

Miller last three fights:
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Ross Pearson - UFC Fight Night 22
Win (Submission - Modified Kimura) Dan Lauzon - UFC 108
Loss (TKO - Punches) Efrain Escudero - UFC 103

Props: MMAjunkie

Phil Baroni vs. Brad Tavares in the works for UFC 125

A welterweight bout between Phil Baroni and "Ultimate Fighter 11" semifinalist Brad Tavares is in the works for UFC 125 on New Year's Day.

Baroni (13-12, 3-6 UFC) will look to bounce back from a decision loss to "Ultimate Fighter 7" winner Amir Sadollah at UFC 106. He was then scheduled to face John Salter at UFC 118, but an injury forced him off of the card.

Tavares (5-0, 1-0 UFC) made it to the semifinals of "The Ultimate Fighter 11" before getting eliminated by eventual winner Court McGee. On the show's finale, Tavares defeated fellow cast member Seth Baczynski by unanimous decision.

Baroni last three fights:
Loss (Unanimous Decision) Amir Sadollah - UFC 106
Loss (Unanimous Decision) Joe Riggs - Strikeforce: Lawler vs. Shields
Win (Unanimous Decision) Olaf Alfonso - PFC 10: Explosive

Tavares last three fights:
Win (Unanimous Decision) Seth Baczynski - Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale
Win (TKO - Punches) Jonathan Joao - X-1 - Temple of Boom 4
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Joshua Ferreira - X-1 - Temple of Boom 1

Props: MMAjunkie

Clay Guida vs. Takanori Gomi set for UFC 125

Clay Guida announced on ESPN 1100 radio that he will face Takanori Gomi in a lightweight bout at UFC 125 on New Years' Day.

Gomi (32-6 (1 NC), 1-1 UFC) rebounded from a disappointing UFC debut with a quick and brutal knockout of Tyson Griffin at UFC Live on Versus 2.

Guida (27-11, 7-5 UFC) has won two straight fights after losing back-to-back contests in 2009. Most recently, Guida defeated Rafael dos Anjos by submission at UFC 117 when dos Anjos was forced to tap due to an injured jaw.

Gomi last three fights:
Win (KO - Punch) Tyson Griffin - UFC Live on Versus 2
Loss (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Kenny Florian - UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi
Win (Unanimous Decision) Tony Hervey - Vale Tudo Japan 2009

Guida last three fights:
Win (Submission - Jaw Injury) Rafael dos Anjos - UFC 117
Win (Submission - Arm-Triangle Choke) Shannon Gugerty - UFC Live on Versus 1
Loss (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Kenny Florian - UFC 107

Nate Diaz vs. Dong Hyun Kim in the works for UFC 125

A welterweight bout between Nate Diaz and Dong Hyun Kim is reportedly in the works for UFC 125 on New Year's Day.

Diaz (13-5, 8-3 UFC) has won two straight fights since moving up from lightweight to welterweight (although his win over Rory Markham was technically a catchweight bout due to Markham missing weight). At UFC 118, Diaz battered Marcus Davis on the feet before eventually finishing him with a guillotine choke.

Kim (13-0-1 (1 NC), 4-0 (1 NC) UFC) last fought at UFC 114, using his superior wrestling to control Amir Sadollah for three rounds en route to a unanimous decision.

Diaz last three fights:
Win (Submission - Guillotine Choke) Marcus Davis - UFC 118
Win (TKO - Punches) Rory Markham - UFC 111
Loss (Split Decision) Gray Maynard - UFC Fight Night 20

Kim last three fights:
Win (Unanimous Decision) Amir Sadollah - UFC 114
Win (Unanimous Decision) T.J. Grant - UFC 100
No Contest (Opponent tested positive for painkillers) Karo Parisyan - UFC 94

Props: mfight.co.kr

Shane Carwin vs. Roy Nelson in the works for UFC 125

A heavyweight bout between Shane Carwin Ultimate Fighter 10 winner Roy Nelson is reportedly in the works for UFC 125 on New Year's day.

Neither party confirmed the match, but sources told MMAfighting.com that the UFC is working to put the fight together.

Carwin and Nelson traded barbs over Twitter in August, which left fans hoping that a match up would be made.

Nelson (15-5, 2-1 UFC) is coming off of knee surgery for an injury suffered during his UFC 117 loss to Junior dos Santos.

Carwin (12-1, 4-1 UFC) will look to rebound from the first professional loss of his career, a second-round submission to Brock Lesnar at UFC 116.

Nelson last three fights:
Loss (Unanimous Decision) Junior dos Santos - UFC 117
Win (TKO - Punches) Stefan Struve - UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi
Win (KO - Punch) Brendan Schaub - Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale

Carwin last three fights:
Loss (Submission - Arm-Triangle Choke) Brock Lesnar - UFC 117
Win (KO - Punches) Frank Mir - UFC 111
Win (KO - Punch) Gabriel Gonzaga - UFC 96

Props: MMAfighting

Antonio McKee vs. Jacob Volkmann in the works for UFC 125

A lightweight fight between Jacob Volkmann and UFC newcomer Antonio McKee is in the works for UFC 123 on New Year's Day.

Volkmann (11-2, 2-2 UFC) debuted in the UFC as a welterweight, losing back-to-back contests to Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. Since dropping to lightweight, though, Volkmann has gone 2-0, with decisions over Ronnys Torres and Paul Kelly.

McKee (25-3-2) has not been defeated since dropping a decision to Karo Parisyan in February of 2003. Since then, the now-40-year-old fighter has gone 14-0-1, and is currently on an 11-fight win streak.

Volkmann last three fights:
Win (Unanimous Decision) Paul Kelly - UFC Live on Versus 2
Win (Split Decision) Ronnys Torres - UFC Fight Night: Florian vs. Gomi
Loss (Submission - Guillotine Choke) Martin Kampmann - UFC 108


McKee last three fights:
Win (TKO - Doctor Stoppage) Luciano Azevedo - MFC 26: Retribution
Win (Submission - Kimura) Rodrigo Ruiz - Collision in the Cage
Win (Unanimous Decision) Carlo Prater - MFC 22: Payoff

Props: MMAjunkie

Frankie Edgar to Defend Lightweight Title Against Gray Maynard at UFC 125

Frankie Edgar will defend his UFC lightweight title against Gray Maynard at UFC 125 on New Year's Day at the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas.

Edgar (13-1, 8-1 UFC) dominated B.J. Penn for five rounds to retain the lightweight title at UFC 118. The New Jersey fighter has won five fights in a row, including back-to-back defeats of Penn.

Maynard (10-0 (1), 8-0 (1) UFC) defeated Kenny Florian by unanimous decision at UFC 118 to earn a shot at the title that some felt was overdue. Maynard has never been defeated in his professional career (although he was submitted by Nate Diaz while competing on "The Ultimate Fighter 5").

Maynard is also responsible for Edgar's only career loss, defeating Edgar by unanimous decision at UFC Fight Night 13 in 2008.

Edgar last three fights:
Win (Unanimous Decision) B.J. Penn - UFC 118
Win (Unanimous Decision) B.J. Penn - UFC 112
Win (Submission - Rear-Naked Choke) Matt Veach - Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale

Maynard last three fights:
Win (Unanimous Decision) Kenny Florian - UFC 118
Win (Split Decision) Nate Diaz - UFC Fight Night 20
Win (Split Decision) Roger Huerta - UFC Fight Night 19

Props: MMAfighting.com

Chris Leben vs. Brian Stann in the Works for UFC 125

A middleweight bout between Chris Leben and Brian Stann is in the works for UFC 125.

Leben (21-6, 11-5 UFC) has experienced a resurgence in the Octagon, winning his last three fights, two of which came within 14 days of each other. Leben finished Aaron Simpson by TKO at the Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale to earn a "Knockout of the Night" bonus, then stepped up on short notice to face Yoshihiro Akiyama, who he defeated by triangle choke in "Fight of the Night" fashion.

Stann (9-3, 3-2 UFC) is coming off of a "Fight of the Night" submission victory over Mike Massenzio at UFC on Versus 2.

Leben last three fight:
Win (Submission - Triangle Choke) Yoshihiro Akiyama - UFC 116
Win (TKO - Punches) Aaron Simpson - Ultimate Fighter 11 Finale
Win (Unanimous Decision) Jay Silva - UFC Fight Night 20

Stann last three fights:
Win (Submission - Triangle Choke) - UFC on Versus 2
Loss (Unanimous Decision) Phil Davis - UFC 109
Win (Unanimous Decision) Rodney Wallace - Ultimate Fighter 10 Finale

Brandon Vera vs. Thiago Silva in the works for UFC 125

A light heavyweight bout between Brandon Vera and Thiago Silva is in the works for UFC 125, in a fight that could be a "must-win" for both fighters.

Vera will look to avoid losing his third fight in a row, after dropping contests to Randy Couture and Jon Jones.

Silva has gone 1-2 in his last three fights, and will try and rebound from a unanimous decision loss to Rashad Evans.

Vera last three fights:

Loss (TKO) Jon Jones - UFC on Versus 1

Loss (Unanimous Decision) Randy Couture - UFC 105

Win (Unanimous Decision) Krzysztof Soszynski - UFC 102

Silva last three fights:

Loss (Unanimous Decision) Rashad Evans - UFC 108

Win (TKO) Keith Jardine - UFC 102

Loss (KO) Lyoto Machida - UFC 94

Props: MMA Junkie