UFC 168 preview, predictions for 'Weidman vs Silva 2'.

UFC fights are coming to Facebook and FOX Sports 1 this weekend (Sat., Dec. 28, 2013) when the UFC 168: "Weidman vs. Silva 2" pay-per-view (PPV) event kicks off from MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada. MMAmania.com's Patrick Stumberg continues the UFC 168 "Prelims" party with the second (and final) installment of a two-part under card preview series.

UFC 168: WEIDMAN vs. SILVA 2

Consecutive losses to Myles Jury and Reza Madadi seemed to short-circuit Johnson, who had previously taken out Tony Ferguson and Danny Castillo in impressive fashion. With his back to the wall, though, he turned in perhaps the best performance of his career in August, dominating Joe Lauzon for a wide decision win.

He is now 5-4 in his UFC career, but could sneak into the Top 10 with a win over Tibau.

If they had made this match up before Johnson’s fight with Lauzon, I’d be tempted to take a second mortgage just to bet more on Tibau. Johnson showcased the bottom game of a dead fish against Roller, Castillo, Jury and Madadi. While I’m not as 100 percent certain as I would be after watching him Johnson thrash Lauzon, I’m still leaning toward Tibau.

Tibau is significantly bigger and stronger than Johnson, plus arguably the best takedown artist he’s faced so far. Further, he has the kind of cardio that questions everything we know about weight cutting, meaning Johnson will be dealing with takedown attempts all night. If Johnson can keep distance, he’s got this one, as Tibau is too slow to be a major threat on the feet. I simply find it more likely that Tibau wrangles him down early and often and pummels him for the full 15 minutes.

After washing out of the UFC with a 1-3 record his first time around, Dennis Siver (21-9) quietly emerged as a top Lightweight on his second try, winning seven of his first eight. After a hard loss to Donald Cerrone, though, Siver elected to drop to 145, where he turned in solid performances against Diego Nunes and Nam Phan before being outgunned by Cub Swanson in July.

In a rare change of pace, the 5’7" Siver will actually have a height advantage, standing two inches taller than "The Anvil."

A vicious knockout of Mike Brown in 2010 made Manny Gamburyan (13-7) an unexpected contender to Jose Aldo’s World Extreme Cagefighting (WEC) crown. Unfortunately, that would be as high as he’d go, getting blown out in two by Aldo and losing two straight afterwards. He has since righted the ship somewhat, beating Michihiro Omigawa in 2012 and edging out Cole Miller in controversial fashion this past August.

I’m having a very hard time seeing how Gamburyan wins the fight. Siver developed a very solid offensive and defensive wrestling game out of nowhere, meaning he’s actually the one more likely to dictate where the fight goes. On the feet, Gamburyan’s wild power shots are likely to fall consistently short as Siver pieces him up with long kicks and counter left hooks.

Gamburyan has occasionally demonstrated solid power, but not enough to take Siver out of his game. Provided Siver doesn’t spend too long flinging those wide hooks he’s fond of, expect him to pick apart his man in a long-distance kickboxing clinic.