UFC 148 analysis

A breakdown of the six fights on the main card of UFC 148 today at the MGM Grand:

Anderson Silva (champion, 29-4) vs. Chael Sonnen (28-11-1)

■ CLASS: For middleweight title

■ LINE: Silva minus-270

■ STORYLINE: The bizarre result of the first fight has been rehashed over and over. Sonnen dominated the champion who has walked through just about every other contender that has come through the middleweight division, only to lose by submission in the closing minutes. Silva should be better prepared this time around having actually experienced just how good Sonnen's takedowns can be in live action. Perhaps a bigger factor is that Silva should be fully healthy after he was clearly bothered by a rib injury in the first matchup that certainly appeared to impact his performance. Silva will have to avoid letting his emotions take over after listening to two years of insults from Sonnen. Silva is among the best fighters to walk into the octagon, and he should take far less damage to get the win this time. Still, Sonnen has some of the best takedowns in MMA, and that matches right up with Silva's biggest weakness. Silva is coming off nearly a year layoff, and at 37, age could catch up with him at any time. There may be some value in the dog here, but Silva is one of the best of all time.

■ PICK: Silva by second-round knockout

Forrest Griffin (18-7) vs. Tito Ortiz (17-10-1)

■ CLASS: Light heavyweight

■ LINE: Griffin minus-310

■ STORYLINE: The judges will have to be on their toes for this one. If history has taught us anything, it's that Griffin and Ortiz fight to close decisions. Ortiz won a split verdict from the judges in the first meeting in 2006, only to see Griffin return the favor by similar outcome in 2009. The emotional edge is assuredly with Ortiz, who will be inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame in the morning and fighting for the final time. That might not be enough here. Ortiz has been around a long time, and he has struggled to keep up between age and a variety of injuries, going 1-6-1 in his past eight fights. Ortiz would love to showcase his trademark ground-and-pound in his swan song, and he will succeed in at least one round, but Griffin will do enough to sway the judges in his favor. Well, at least two of them.

■ PICK: Griffin by split decision

Cung Le (7-2) vs. Patrick Cote (18-7)

■ CLASS: Middleweight

■ LINE: Cote minus-220

■ STORYLINE: Cote returns to the UFC as a late replacement for Rich Franklin, and he does so in a big spot on a major card after going 4-0 on the regional circuit in less than a year. Cote lost a title fight to Anderson Silva in 2008 after tearing his anterior cruciate ligament and being unable to continue. He returned after more than 1½ years only to lose two more consecutively and got released. Cote earned his way back into this position by winning four straight outside the UFC, including the past two in the first round. Cote possesses excellent striking skills and has a ton of power in his left fist. Le is an exciting fighter with perhaps the most dazzling repertoire of kicks in the sport. Wanderlei Silva may have handed Cote the game plan for beating the 40-year-old Le in his last fight. Silva essentially waited out the display of kicks in the first round and went on the offensive when Le slowed down in the second round.

■ PICK: Cote by third-round knockout

Dong Hyun Kim (15-1-1) vs. Demian Maia (15-4)

■ CLASS: Welterweight

■ LINE: Kim minus-150

■ STORYLINE: After a disappointing and troubling effort against Chris Weidman on Fox in January, Maia decided to test the waters at welterweight. Kim will not offer a warm welcome. Say what you want about Kim and his somewhat boring style, but he just wins fights. Six straight victories have come by decision, and his only other fight was a first-round knockout loss to Carlos Condit about a year ago. Kim is exceptionally strong and will push Maia around for 15 minutes. Maia's exceptional ground skills can't be discounted, but he will need to look much better than he did in a slow and lackluster performance against Weidman. Dropping a weight class could help Maia's energy, but he also could be completely worn out by the weight cut. Either way, he might be in big trouble.

■ PICK: Kim by decision

Chad Mendes (11-1) vs. Cody McKenzie (13-2)

■ CLASS: Featherweight

■ LINE: Mendes minus-600

■ STORYLINE: This looks like a classic showcase fight to give Mendes a chance to bounce back from the first loss of his career in a title shot against Jose Aldo. Mendes is without a doubt one of the division's best fighters and has an opportunity to steamroll McKenzie, as the line would indicate. McKenzie is essentially a one-trick pony with a strong guillotine choke that he has perfected to the point where even the most prepared opponents can get caught. That's not happening here. Dominick Cruz once joked Urijah Faber and his teammates only practice "overhand rights and guillotines" at their Sacramento, Calif., gym. While it's a funny line, it also tells you Mendes has seen plenty of guillotine attempts in training and is well-versed at defending the tactic. Take "Money" to the bank.

■ PICK: Mendes by first-round submission

Ivan Menjivar (24-8) vs. Mike Easton (12-1)

■ CLASS: Bantamweight

■ LINE: Easton minus-115

■ STORYLINE: This easily could be the "fight of the night." Both fighters have UFC champions at their gym. Easton is a Dominick Cruz teammate, and Menjivar comes from Tristar in Montreal, where he trains with Georges St. Pierre. Easton has won seven straight fights, but was inactive for two years before joining the UFC last year and winning his first two fights in the organization. He has solid stand-up skills and a jiujitsu black belt. Menjivar has fought as high as welterweight in his career, but has found a home at 135, where he has won three straight since dropping his debut. Menjivar has an equal number of knockouts and submissions and can end the fight in a variety of ways. He might have too much experience for Easton.

■ PICK: Menjivar by decision