The UFC on FOX 12 card scheduled for July 26th, 2014 at the SAP Center in San Jose, California features a Light Heavyweight match between Anthony Johnson and Antonio Rogerio Noguiera. Look for Johnson to be the favorite when the line hits the sport books for this match.
A lot has changed for Anthony Johnson since his January 2012 matchup with Vitor Belfort. In that Match, Johnson was ascending to Middleweight after having trouble getting to the 170 lb welterweight limit, but he failed to make weight for that fight at 185 lbs as well, so the UFC released him. Since then, Johnson has gone 7-0 fighting exclusively as a Light Heavyweight and Heavyweight. This includes wins over UFC veteran Mike Kyle and former UFC Champion Andrei Arlovski under the World Series of Fighting flag, where he established himself as maybe thier best fighter.
Johnson found himself re-inked by the UFC, and he defeated well regarded Phil Davis in his return at UFC 172. Johnson now returns on short notice to continue the winning streak he is on.
Noguiera has strung together two wins in a row but his recent losses to Ryan Bader and to Phil Davis are more indicative of the way this fight is likely to go for Lil Nog. Johnson’s recent defeat of Davis, who had enough wrestling and take downs to win a unanimous decision over Noguiera, should mean that his athleticism and skill set should be enough to dominate the fight.
L’il Nog’s best chance is to keep the fight standing and make it a boxing match. Nog is a skilled boxer, and if he can jab and keep Johnson off of him, he can win the fight. Unfortunately, Johnson is going to have to fight dumb for that to happen, as it would mean shirking the take downs which will almost certainly win him the match.
Noguiera has been slipping a bit as he has aged, and face it, Lil Nog was never his brother when it comes to reputation and actual resume on ground fighting. He cannot get the takedown, and unless Johnson slips up, his ground game is not slick enough t get a submission, meaning he is probably just going to get beat up for three rounds.
