UFC 126 Main Card Predictions!

Silva vs Belfort - Brazilian newspapers are calling this the fight of the century and there's enough of a back story between these two warriors to support it. Vitor Belfort is one of my favorite fighters, but Silva will weather the first 2 rounds of hurricane punching by Vitor with some of the best head movement in mma and as we see so many times Vitor's intensity will fade and Silva will catch him with a kick, knee, or punch to end it. Result: Silva by KO 

Griffin vs Franklin - Love this match up! Tough call. Both fighters are tough as nails but both have been badly beaten by Silva and Franklin by Belfort too. Mental toughness will be tested, being on the same card as guys that are better than you and let's be honest kicked your ass may play as a distraction. Franklin's very tactical, but Griffin is well how do we say it ... some what insane ... he's a huge light heavyweight and he just keeps coming forward like Jason from Halloween. Result: Griffin by Decision  

Ellenberger vs Rocha - Rocha is a submission whiz kid with no fear of getting into a bad position, but the majority of his fights have been in Germany against middle level competition. Ellenberger is a great wrestler with heavy, heavy hands and good habits. Of Ellenberger's 5 losses, he has once lost once by submission. Result: Ellenberger by Decision.  

Jones vs Bader - From the moment Bader beat Lil Nog, the talk has been about this fight. Both fighters undefeated. Bader has been climbing each rung on the ladder to the top, winning through power and great wrestling. The real question is can Jon Jones fight from his back? We haven't seen it - but he's a greg jackson team member so yes he can ... and he's broken almost every fighter he's fought. It my opinion he's the most intimidating fighter in the ufc with the longest reach and some of the most devastating elbows in mma today. Result: Jones by KO   

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UFC 124 GSP, Struve, The Ghetto, Big Daddy and Howard are my picks here's why...

Georges St-Pierre 20-2-0 Josh Koscheck 17-4-0 A great fight to end the year. Can Kos defend the takedown? NO, he's already said he can't. Can he KO GSP? Yes, he has the power. Both fighters are very talented, but if you watched the last press conference GSP looks more stern then ever and a darkness seems to be brewing and bubbling. I'd love to see the PSI on Kos's punches ... does he hit harder than Matt Serra or more like his training partner John Fitch who tested GSP's chin early in their fight. Anything can happen in the UFC but which fighter has fought more and evolved more ... GSP. Kos could take it 5 rounds but will be lucky to take more than a round. Vegas has GSP a 3 to 1 Favorite I don't agree but never the less, GSP wins.

Stefan Struve 24-4-0 vs Sean McCorkle 10-0-0 The Battle of the Giants 6'11 Struve vs 6'7 McCorkle should be a great battle. McCorkle has won the verbal war but Struve has had more fights, has better reach, won't gas early at 22 years old and has been hardened through a couple wars. Take to elevator to the top floor - Stephan "Sky Scraper" Struve will be throwing McCorkle off the roof and on to the pavement below ... muttering "where's your internet savvy now?" Struve wins.


Jim Miller 18-2-0 vs Charles Oliveira 14-0-0 This already has my vote for fight of the night. Yeah, Jim Miller is very good, but Oliveria is from the ghetto and no matter how successful ghetto boys get ... they are always hungrier ... Oliveria fights at a different speed and will surprise Miller. Vegas has this fight pretty much even. Oliveria wins.


Joe Stevenson 36-11- 0 vs Mac Danzig 20-8-1 Fighting to stay relevant both fighters need the win. Both fighters have kids but Mac's are younger and more of a worry, he says he doesn't wanna start his life over again, but taking this fight will be exactly that. Joe will end of Mac Danzig's career with a win on Saturday night. Stevenson wins.

Thiago Alves 22-6-0 vs John Howard 14-5-0
Should be a good fight. Look for Alves to try and reopen that crazy cut under Howard's eye. Howard could give Alves significant problems and Alves will need to be focused and sharp. Howard wins by split decision.

ufc 121 results
Cain Velasquez def. Brock Lesnar via first-round TKO (live blog)
Jake Shields def. Martin Kampmann via split decision (live blog)
Diego Sanchez def. Paulo Thiago via unanimous decision (live blog)
Matt Hamill def. Tito Ortiz via unanimous decision (live blog)
Brendan Schaub def. Gabriel Gonzaga via unanimous decision (live blog)
Court McGee def. Ryan Jensen via submission (arm triangle) (live blog)
Tom Lawlor def. Patrick Côté via unanimous decision (live blog)
Unaired Preliminary Bouts
Daniel Roberts def. Mike Guymon via submission (anaconda choke) (live blog)
Sam Stout def. Paul Taylor via split decision (live blog)
Chris Camozzi def. Dong Yi Yang via split decision (live blog)
Jon Madsen def. Gilbert Yvel via first-round TKO (live blog)

ufc 120 results
Michael Bisping def. Yoshihiro Akiyama by unanimous decision(live blog)
Carlos Condit def. Dan Hardy via first-round KO (live blog)
Mike Pyle def. John Hathaway via unanimous decision (live blog)
Cheick Kongo vs. Travis Browne ruled a draw (live blog)
Claude Patrick def. James Wilks via unanimous decision (live blog)
Alexander Gustafsson def. Cyrille Diabate via submission (rear-naked choke) R2, 2:41
Rob Broughton def. Vinicius Kappke de Quieroz via submission (rear-naked choke) R3, 1:46
Paul Sass def. Mark Holst via submission (triangle choke) - R1, 4:45
Spencer Fisher def. Kurt Warburton via unanimous decision (29-28, 29-28, 29-28)
Fabio Maldonado def. James McSweeney via TKO (punches) - R3, 0:48
Steve Cantwell vs. Stanislav Nedkov fight has been scratched.

UFC 121 Lesnar, Shields and Hamill win ... Here's Why! Plus the rest ...

Brock Lesnar (5-1-0) vs Cain Velasquez (8-0-0). Sorry my Mexican friends ... this match-up is premature Cain needed to beat either Shane Carwin or Junior Dos Antos to solidify a title shot and prove his worth the shot. Even then ... how would he beat Brock - sure Cain was a great High School Wrestler but this is Brock Lensar. The facts are facts .... when your not really the number one contender, chances are you're not gonna win the title. Brock wins.   

Jake Shields (25-4-1) vs Martin Kampmann (17-3-0). Love both these guys. But this is a classic striker vs wrestler match. All the stats are in Jake's corner, Martin has great punching power but if he delivers more then one he'll be on the mat taking far more dangerous punches. It will not be a pretty fight. Jake Shields wins but in ugly fashion.

Diego Sanchez (23-4-0) vs Paulo Thiago (13-2-0). This fight is has such potential to be fight of the night. Let's be honest Diego needs a win. Paulo needs to establish consistency. Diego has losses to Jon Fitch and Josh Koshcheck. Paulo lost to Jon Fitch but KO'ed the number one contender Josh Kos! I wouldn't put money on either fighter ... should be a great fight, but if you put a shotgun to my head Paulo Thiago wins a close one. 

Tito Ortiz (16-7-1) vs Matt Hamill (10-2-0). How is Tito supposed to beat his former wrestling coach and someone who has forged his fists in the fires of an epic battle with Keith Jardine and won! I love Tito or I guess I mean I loved Tito ... it's hard to determine who he is. Is Tiro Ortiz the "The Apprentice" tv star, ex-husband of the most famous star in adult video, an injury plagued athlete, or a guy who lived by the sword and will again die by the sword. I believe the latter - Hamill is a grateful competitor who has the heart, soul and power to speak louder with his hands and he will on Saturday night. Hamill wins. 

Brendan Schaub (7-1-0) vs Gabriel Gonzaga (11-5-0) A real test for Schaub. He is really stepping up in talent. My vote is KO of the night ... problem is I'm not sure who's gonna get it. Wouldn't bet more than 2 bucks on it. Gonzaga has been there before ... the real question is does Schaub  have Coutre or Dos Santos power? I just don't know ... I like giving you fans good solid picks so enjoy the fight ... I'm folding. (and that's how you keep you bank roll, kids!)

Court McGee (11-1-0) vs Ryan Jensen (16-5-0). Now this is a match up! Both fighters have weakness in their game, both fighters are at the same level. Jensen should have just had his second child like within days of this fight ... so is a new born child (your second) motivation or distraction or irrelevant? McGee wins.   

Patrick Cote (14-6-0) vs Tom Lawlor (6-3-1NC) Lawlor's last two losses to Joe Doerksen and Aaron Simpson and Cote's losses to Alan Belcher and Anderson Silva illustrate both fighters need a win to stay on the UFC payroll. All we know for sure is that Cote doesn't bleed or  cut and trains with GSP and that Lawlor is a character in need of the spotlight (and a win) regardless of his good or not so good imitations of other fighters ((Dan Severn and Harold Howard). The stars seem to align with Cote, but for those of you that say those are just stars ... ask Lawlor after the fight if stars are real.... Cote wins by KO.

Mike Guymon (13-3-1) vs Daniel Roberts (10-1-0)  Dan Roberts has never lost except on his first outing in his first UFC - and if you follow the facts (and my blog) you know that means you lose! His jitters are gone. But you do know, that Mike is the current King of the Cage welterweight belt holder, don"t you? And that Mike tried to commit suicide after his wife talked about leaving him? And that he's won his last 5 KOTC fights? Well it's true - but his recent instability makes me wonder about his ability to cope under stress. Dan Roberts win.

  Sam Stout (14-4-1) vs Paul Taylor (10-5-1 1 NC) Should be an awesome prelim. Sam is a 5x fight of the night winner! Paul Taylor has won fight of the night honours 3x. Are you kidding me?! Both fighters wanna stand and throw fists. Guess what they will do it again and someone is getting KO'ed. My heart and my pocket book on Sammy Stout. Sam Stout wins. 

Chris Camozzi (13-3-0) vs Dongi Yang (9-0-0) - Chris is a striker. Dongii seems to be too. Not enought information to make a call on this one. 

Jon Madsen (6-0-0) vs Gilbert Yves (36-15-1 1 NC) - Have you ever thought the UFC heavyweight division is not as deep as we once thought? This is such an opportunity for the more experienced Yves ... yet if Jon wrestles well he could negate any offensive onslaught that Yves may have. But Jon is a wrestler from birth and he can beat Yves. Huge opportunity and win for Jon Madsen.

Happy Winning!

 

UFC 120 Fact-based Predictions - Bisping and Condit WIN!

Bisping (20-3-0) vs Akiyama (13-2-0). Look for this fight to be the fight of the night! With Akiyama having an unblemished record over the last five years before Chris Leben stole beautifully a victory with a late triangle in his last outing - Sexi-yama will be hungry to get back to the winners circle. Unfortunately Michael "the Count" Bisping has never lost on home soil when fighting for UFC and this is Akiyama's first fight across the pond. With the assumption, that Bisping has filled the gaps in his defence that allowed Dan Henderson to KO him, Bisping wins.     

Dan Hardy (23-7-0 1NC) vs Carlos Condit (25-5-0). Tough to pick. Hardy is is the favourite by a small margin, not sure if that's because it's across the pond, or if the bookies think the crowd will affect him in a positive way. I see Dan Hardy having a edge in timing but not in takedown defence or submission. Carlos always seems to have the edge when it's on the line and his losses are all close and against great fighters. I'm picking an upset here. Carlos Condit wins.

John Hathaway (14-0-0) vs Mike Pyle (19-7-1). Some odds makers have Pyle a 6 to 1 underdog and there's a reason for that ... Mike Pyle is a replacement fighter for Kim Dong-hyun, who although plagued with injury is a monster. John Hathaway is quick, smart, young and will have a fun time with Mike Pyle. Hathaway wins.

Cheick Kongo (25-6-1) vs Travis Browne (10-0-0). Classic. Well rounded fighter vs one dimensional fighter. Kongo has more experience, heavier hands and can easily bully opponents on his feet, but he's a fish out of water on his back. Odds makers have him as the favourite, but I disagree. Travis wins this fight by grappling and making Kongo finally fight someone 3 inches taller than he is, by making Kongo reach with punches Travis should be able to take him to the ground using angle takedowns and his very good submission skills. Win Travis Browne. 

James Wilks (8-3-0) vs Claude Patrick (12-1-0). The battle for the International Common Wealth title (if there was such a belt). UK vs Canada. Interestingly for a Brit, Wilks, last loss to Matt Brown via TKO was in the UK in his home country and Claude Patrick last win was in his home country, Canada. Both fighters are almost exact replicas of each other. But if this comes down to a submission battle the lanker, longer and taller man Wilks has the advantage - But if James Wilks is saying in his head, "I just can't lose again in front of this hometown crowd" - that pressure will make the better fighter, Wilks hesitant - Claude has the advantage. I'm not picking a winner because they are so equally matched ... and neither should you. Just hold on to your money and enjoy the show. 

Cryille Diabate (17-6-3) vs Alexander Gustafsson (9-1-0). A strikers battle - look for great boxing and a classic age/experience vs youth/energy. Gustafsson is smart and immediately went to train with Team Alliance and Phil Davis who had beaten him in his last UFC outing. This type of maturity is rare and shows Gustafsson as a mature fighter regardless of his age. Diabate may be a victim of this UK crowd ... This should be a crowd pleaser as we know how much the British love the French! Alex G. wins.          

Rob Broughton (14-5-1) vs Vinicius Queiroz (5-1-0)

Lots of information on Broughton the Brit, none on the Brazilian, Queiroz. Can't call with no information. Rob "the bear" Broughton is said to be Britain's best heavy weight - probably just a crowd pleaser ... but never count out .... a big, hungry Brazilian.      

Steve Cantwell (7-3-0) vs Stanislav Nedkov (11-0-0). Steve Cantwell finishes fights striking, Nedkov is one of the top fighters from Bulgaria. Nedkov is undefeated and has impressive wins over Kevin Randelman and 77 fight-man Travis Wiuff. Two of Steve's losses coming from a three fight series with Brain Stann (marine and ufc fighter). It's Stanislav's first fight in the Ufc and there is always concern for this. But having the wins in the Sengoku show is almost like being in the UFC. Close fight - Winners aren't sure how to lose ... Nedkov will come in hungrier after having to miss his UFC debt due to injury and dominate. Nedkov wins. 

Paul Sass (10-0-0) vs Mark Holst (8-2-0). Holst is a striker with good submission skills. A tough Canadian who trained with the legendary Jean Yves Theriault at the age of 17. Sass is a 22 year old with a crazy 7 fight win streak with triangle chokes! When someone is that good with the triangle he is dangerous but ... this is his first fight in the UFC and it's in his backyard. Such a good match up for magician like submission skills. Not betting on this fight at all - but very interested in watching. 

Spencer Fisher (24-6-0) vs Curt Warburton (6-1-0). Curt Warburton has an impressive win over Ross Pearson, and Fisher is the same type of fighter. But once again this is Curt's first UFC - the pressure + the King Fisher will result in a much needed win for Spencer.

James McSweeney (13-6-0) vs Fabio Maldonado (17-3-0) Are you kidding me McSweeney is coming in at 250 and Fabio in at 205 on the UFC site? Yeah I didn't think so more like (220 for FM and 230 for JM). All we know about Fabio is he's trained with the Nogueria twins. Fabio is also a replacement for Tom Blackedge who pulled out for unknown reasons. A huge opportunity for Fabio and with his heavy hands, good chin and great corner this is his time to shine. Fabio wins.