Henderson vs. Melendez: The pros predict the main event of UFC on FOX 7

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By Jorge Hernandez

UFC on FOX 7 will go down this Saturday, featuring a compelling clash between the Former Strikeforce Lightweight kingpin Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez and the reigning UFC Lightweight Champion Benson “Smooth” Henderson for the 155-pound title in San Jose, California. The main card will be broadcast free on FOX.

Before the champ and challenger face off inside the Octagon, lets see how the pros predict the main event unfolding this weekend. Who better to listen to than professional fighters who have done this time after time?

Former two-time UFC Heavyweight Champion Frank Mir will face off with undefeated Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix Champion Daniel Cormier for the co-main event, also  free on FOX. Mir has been a UFC fighter since 2001 and believes the champion will still be “Smooth” on Saturday night.

“I think Gilbert is super tough, great Fighter. But, I think Benson Henderson… I think people are gonna start believing he’s really as good as he really is, I think he’s extremely underrated. Even being the campion that he is the guy just keeps putting together win after win in amazing performances. Hopefully people eventually realize how good he really is.”

Lightweight Contender Anthony Pettis called out Jose Aldo for a Featherweight showdown — and he got what he wished for — even though he was on deck for a rematch with Lightweight champion Benson Henderson. Pettis is also the last man to defeat himm back in 2010 for the WEC title. “Showtime” makes his pick for this Saturday’s main event:

“I’m going with Benson. I don’t think Gil has fought the level of competition he’s fighting coming up April 20th. Ben has been fighting the best in the world. He’s the champ for a reason — and I got a lot of respect for the guy. Been has the better striking and he’s more athletic — he can think on the fly, I mean, he transitions well. You see him do all that crazy stuff. I think athletically Ben Henderson’s better. I mean, Gilbert’s a good fighter, It’s gonna be a good fight, but I’m going with Ben.”

Wanderlei Silva is coming off a knockout win and early fight of the year candidate over Brian Stann in Saitama, Japan last month at UFC on Fuel TV 8, and “The Axe Murderer” expects a great fight for the title:

“50/50. That’s a tough challenge for the champion — great match — it’s 50/50.”

Three-time challenger in the Lightweight and Featherweight divisions, Kenny Florian, breaks down Henderson vs. Melendez:

“Benson really needs to be careful on the inside. Gilbert Melendez has a great knack of getting on the inside and throwing bunches of punches. He’s a high-volume striker when he gets in there, and we haven’t really seen Benson as the counter-striker. I think it’s going to force Benson to wrestle and it’s going to come down to who’s the better wrestler here. I pick Henderson to win this one.”

UFC Bantamweight Champ Dominick Cruz also believes the reigning champion will remain undefeated in the UFC on Saturday evening:

“Gilbert Melendez has power strikes. He has the most significant strikes in Strikeforce history. He doesn’t waste movement and makes you make a mistake and takes a good shot. But I take Henderson with his pace and the way he mixes it up. Gilbert is a beast though.”

Bobby Green is coming off an exciting UFC debut against Jacob Volkmann which won him the submission of the night back at UFC 156. The Lightweight Strikeforce import gives his prediction for the upcoming title-fight taking place this weekend in San Jose:

“Wow! That’s my belt, so I’m definitely going for Gilbert, I really like their style. I’m really not a big fan of Benson Henderson. I feel like it’s not too entertaining, to be  honest with you. I love the guy outside the cage. No doubt about it, though, he’s a great figure outside the cage…I think it’s not too entertaining. I think it’s just getting by, just grinding. There’s a lot of those grinder fighters that hug you and hit you and ‘As long as you hang out I’ll hug you and hit you.’ … I have Gilbert. I always love exciting fighters. Guys that try to win and get out and get it, you know?”

Cub Swanson is a top Contender who has been chipping away in the Feathereight division for a shot at the champion’s 145-pound belt despite a loss to Jose in the WEC. He will be squaring off with Dennis Siver on July 6, 2013 at UFC 162 later this year. Swanson shares his pick for the lightweight championship fight:

“I just think Gilbert hasn’t faced the talent that Ben has and I see Ben winning. I really like Gilbert, but I see Ben just solid everywhere.”

Anthony Njokuani is bouncing back after a nasty hand injury kept him sidelined from action since last July. “The Assassin” will welcome Roger Bowling to the Octagon the same night of UFC on FOX 7 this weekend. The lightweight share his prediction:

“That’s a tough one to call, both are homies of mine and they’re extremely great fighters. But, I think Ben Henderson has a better wrestling game than Melendez, but Melendez he’s a Hispanic guy. Those guys never give up, he’s gonna keep on coming, he’s gonna keep on truckin’ and trying to get that W. So, it’s a really hard one to call.”

Ultimate Fighter Season 14 winner, Diego Brandao, just had an impressive submission win in Sweden over Pablo Garza, and doesn’t believe the belt will change hands this Saturday.

“I hope Ben Henderson wins. I think he’s more exciting. I hope I see a great fight, I’m gonna cheer for both, but I hope Ben Henderson wins the fight.”

Going 11-0 in his career thus far, Myles Jury is aiming to make it twelve-straight with a win this weekend over Ultimate Fighter Season 13 runner-up Ramsey Nijem in a Lightweight fight that evening. Jury makes his prediction for “Bendo” vs. “El Nino”

“Obviously Benson has been on a tear and so has Gilbert. Honestly, that one is still up in the air. I haven’t made my mind up about that one. But, right now if I had to go with somebody, I’m gonna go with the upset, with Gilbert.”

Nate Diaz is Melendez’s close training partner who was just defeated by Ben Henderson for five full rounds. Diaz shares some insight on how he thinks his buddy’s style will fare against Benson’s.

“Benson is a real athletic guy, he’s tough for five rounds. He’s gonna be going hard and strong. I think Gil has got everything he needs to beat Ben Henderson. I think it’s going to be one hell of a fight, a good one for everbody to watch.”

So there you have it! The pros have made their predictions for the marquee matchup between “Bendo” and “El Nino” this weekend.

It looks like everyone thinks that this is “Smooth’s” fight to lose. So does Gilbert Melendez have the tools to take the title from the champion, or is Benson Henderson just that good?

We will find out soon enough.

The 155-pound showdown is all set to take place at the HP Pavilion in San Jose, California on April 20, 2013, for UFC on FOX 7. Main card starting at 8 p.m. ET Live and Free on FOX.

As usual, you can check in at Fighthubtv.com after the event to get full-fight results for the entire UFC on FOX 7 fight card happening this Saturday.