By: Chris Taylor

UFC 150 is just hours away, the card is headlined by a lightweight championship rematch between Frankie “The Answer“ Edgar and Benson “Smooth” Henderson. The odds makers have weighed in, and the smart money is apparently on Henderson to retain the lightweight title against Edgar.

I caught up with the “New York Bad Ass” Phil Baroni to get his thoughts on the main card. Here are our predictions for the final four fights of the evening:

185 lbs: Yushin Okami vs Buddy Roberts 

Taylor: Yushin is coming off back to back losses against Anderson Silva and Tim Boetsch. He takes on Buddy Roberts who is riding a 6 fight win streak. I see Okami winning this fight via decision. I think his boxing will prove to be to much for Buddy to handle.

Baroni: I like Okami in this one too, he needs the win badly. He has been TKO’d in back to back fights. He looked good against Boetsch right until the final stanza. Roberts is solid and is a good test, as he has a nice win streak going, but Okami has to much experience to let this one slip away. Okami by decision.

185 lbs: Ed Herman vs Jake Shields

Taylor: This is Jake’s return to the middleweight division after defeating Akiyama at welterweight in his last outing. Herman has reeled off 3 straight wins, all of which have been finishes. I see Herman coming out with the win here, I think his stand up is a little bit better than Jakes and that their BJJ skills are close enough to cause a stale mate on the ground. Herman by decision.

Baroni: Shields takes this one. His back is against the wall. He is better at 185, bigger stronger and his lack of speed isn’t as apparent at middleweight. I think he secures a hard fought decision win. Herman is real tough and has a wrestling pedigree but will come up short against Shields. I am guessing a decision win do to Shields controlling dominant position, maybe even securing a win by rear naked choke later in the fight.

155 lbs: Donald Cerrone vs Melvin Guillard

Taylor: Cerrone looked great in his last fight against Jeremy Stephens. Melvin is an explosive fighter but I think that Cowboy has better technical stand-up and will end up tapping Melvin out after knocking him down. I have Cowboy winning this fight via submission in round 2.

Baroni: I like the Italian “Cowboy” in this one. He is solid in all aspects of fighting. He can stand with Guillard and possibly have an edge because he has trained with Melvin and knows the speed factor Guillard brings to the table. I say Cowboy strangles Guillard once Melvin makes a mistake. Not sure when that will be but before the final bell.

155 lbs: Champion Benson Henderson vs Frankie Edgar

Taylor: The first fight was very close and if it wasn’t for the up-kick landed by Henderson, Frankie may still be the champion. I expect this fight to be another close battle. I believe Bendo will prove to be too big and too strong for “the answer” by the end of this one. I see the champ retaining his belt via a hard fought unanimous decision.

Baroni: Frankie is going to have the answer this time around. He takes back his title tonight in Denver!

You have read our predictions. Now it is time for yours.. Lets hear it Penn Nation!

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