Bekirk302
08-28-2010, 12:53 PM
It is hard to believe it has only been three weeks since UFC 117 in Oakland,CA where I went 3-4 with my picks and the bookies and underdog lovers made bank. Who the hell picked Hughes to beat Almeida??!! Well I look to redeem myself with tonight's UFC 118 in Boston. In the UFC's first foray into the state of Massachusetts, there are only a few fights that have any real meaning. Obviously the lightweight title fight against Frankie Edgar and BJ Penn, the number one contender for the lightweight division in Kenny Florian and Gray Maynard, and on the preliminary card another lightweight fight with Joe Lauzon and Gabe Ruediger( only because I want to see Ruediger to get his ass whipped). As much as the UFC would like to hype up the Couture and Andrew Toney fight, it is really just a Japanese SideShow type fight that there can possibily be no true winner.
I have decided to put my money where my mouth is when it comes to these predictions and would like to invite the readers to post their own predictions. If your predictions are more successful then mine you will win a sweet ass PhillySportsPulse.com tshirt! Good Luck
UFC 118 - Boston,MA (August 28th, 2010)
Main Card
1.Nate Diaz (-200) vs Marcus Davis (+160)
Nate Diaz is stepping into the ring as a welterweight for the second time, against the Irish Hand Grenade. Both fighters are alumni from the uber popular series, The Ultimate Fighter and should definately give the fans an action packed fight. The only issue is Marcus Davis is definately not the same fighter he was a few years ago. His age and his propensity to get injured have slowed down the former boxing pro. Diaz will use is lengthy ( Chris Wheeler's favorite word) frame and counter punching style to batter and bloody Davis. Look for a TKO by Diaz late in the 3rd frame.
2.Demian Maia (-250) vs Mario Miranda (+190)
Demian Maia is coming off a down right embarrassing loss to middle weight champion, Anderson Silva. A fight where the skill level between the two fighters was so far you could have flown a plane through it. Miranda is coming off a TKO victory against a game fighter in David Loiseau at UFC 115. This match up was put together late notice due to injuries and is only on the main card due to the lack of quality fights. Maia has everything to lose in this fight while Miranda is in a win win situation regardless of the outcome. Maia is the superior fighter in all areas except on the feet. Miranda has a long arms and has explosive knees in the clinch game. If this fight wasnt booked so late notice this would have been my upset of the night...but since Miranda hasnt had enough time to gameplan Maia's ground game I'm going to stick with Maia with a first round submission.
3.Grey Maynard(+130) vs Kenny Florian(-160)
Boston's own, Kenny Florian comes into this number one contenders match winning 8 of his last 9 fights, his only loss coming to former lightweight champ BJ Penn. He looked dominant against Gomi and Guida and looks for his second shot at the lightweight strap. He will be opposed by fast rising star, Grey Maynard and his great wrestling and ground and pound style. This card does not give you alot of chances to make some fat stacks of cash, but this fight is a good one to lay some money down. Both of these fighters are Ultimate Fighter Show alumni and both have developed into good fighters. The difference being Florian has developed all facets of his game and Maynard is lacking still in the stand up aspect. Florian is a black belt in BJJ and possibly one of the best ( beyond Penn) in the guard position which will force Maynard to keep the fight on the feet longer then he will want to. Look for Florian to pick apart Maynard in the first two rounds on the feet and then stuff Maynard's takedown attempts in the third. Florian with a unanimous decision victory. * Bet big on Florian to make your night positive in the cash category*
Note: Did anyone see the weigh ins yesterday? Didnt Maynard look way too thin? Wonder if it will affect his cardio as the fight gets into the second and third rounds.
4. Randy Couture (-575) vs James Toney(+350)
I dont want to spend a ton of time on this fight because it actually it is not going to be a legitimate MMA event. Actually I believe it is a regression to what the UFC has tried so hard to get...legitimancy in the main stream. Now they are making the sport into a sideshow of sorts. Does it really matter if MMA fighters are more skilled or tougher then Boxing fighters? No! Just because both sports involve gloves, highly skilled athletes, and a ring does not make them comparable. In Japan this would be a great fight...the last time I checked this is the USA and Japanese MMA is dead! This fight will last one round ( unless Randy decides to really punish him with ground and pound) with ....wait...a submission...lets say a rear naked choke.
5. BJ Penn (-300) vs Frankie Edgar (+240)
This is the rematch from UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, where Frankie Edgar upset the Prodigy to pilfer the lightweight championship. Penn looks to redeem himself by not letting the judges screw up yet again a great fight by Penn. So much is given to a fighter that throws the most punches and not the fighter that does the most damage. Penn has always been a counter puncher and that was the reason he lost the first fight. Edgar was the faster fighter the last time and did get many takedowns but he definately did not mete out the most damage in that fight. Well tonight I will be able to come down from my soap box and enjoy another fast action fight but this time the title will change hands again. There is no doubt Edgar will continue to be the faster of the two fighters. This time though BJ will be more aggressive and use his sick BJJ skills. Sorry Frankie...you now have a focused and prepared BJ Penn to deal with. Penn with a 4th round submission.
UFC 118 Under Card Picks
I really only want to see the Lauzon v. Ruediger fight and the Mike Pierce and Amilcar Alves fight but i'll give you some thoughts on a few others.
1. Joe Lauzon (-450) vs Gabe Ruediger (+300)
Lauzon is better in every aspect of the fight game then Reudiger...Especially when it comes to Heart! Second Round TKO by Lauzon. Save your cash and do not pick the underdog
2. Mike Pierce (-250) vs Amilcar Alves (+190)
Piece really looked good in a last minute fight with Jon Fitch a few months back and I would much rather see him the main card then Demian Maia. Alves is a wiz on the ground but it wont be enough to stop Pierce's rising star. Piece by decision.
3.Nick Osipczak (-180) vs Greg Soto(+150)
Talk about throwing chum in a shark infested waters...Osipczak will run over Soto by 1st round TKO. Osipczak looked creepy while flexing for the camaras at the weigh ins. Super ripped.
So I have picked 8 fights and for the most part look to be one sided affairs. If I was looking for an upset I would shoot for Miranda catching Maia with some heavy hands. The longer that fight goes the better it is for Maia. Look at the Marquart/Maia for what can happen to Maia when he gets tagged. Again, I will be at the Landmark in Glassboro,NJ enjoying my $1 Coors Lite bottles. Post your picks in this thread for your chance to win a PhillySportsPulse.com tshirt.
I have decided to put my money where my mouth is when it comes to these predictions and would like to invite the readers to post their own predictions. If your predictions are more successful then mine you will win a sweet ass PhillySportsPulse.com tshirt! Good Luck
UFC 118 - Boston,MA (August 28th, 2010)
Main Card
1.Nate Diaz (-200) vs Marcus Davis (+160)
Nate Diaz is stepping into the ring as a welterweight for the second time, against the Irish Hand Grenade. Both fighters are alumni from the uber popular series, The Ultimate Fighter and should definately give the fans an action packed fight. The only issue is Marcus Davis is definately not the same fighter he was a few years ago. His age and his propensity to get injured have slowed down the former boxing pro. Diaz will use is lengthy ( Chris Wheeler's favorite word) frame and counter punching style to batter and bloody Davis. Look for a TKO by Diaz late in the 3rd frame.
2.Demian Maia (-250) vs Mario Miranda (+190)
Demian Maia is coming off a down right embarrassing loss to middle weight champion, Anderson Silva. A fight where the skill level between the two fighters was so far you could have flown a plane through it. Miranda is coming off a TKO victory against a game fighter in David Loiseau at UFC 115. This match up was put together late notice due to injuries and is only on the main card due to the lack of quality fights. Maia has everything to lose in this fight while Miranda is in a win win situation regardless of the outcome. Maia is the superior fighter in all areas except on the feet. Miranda has a long arms and has explosive knees in the clinch game. If this fight wasnt booked so late notice this would have been my upset of the night...but since Miranda hasnt had enough time to gameplan Maia's ground game I'm going to stick with Maia with a first round submission.
3.Grey Maynard(+130) vs Kenny Florian(-160)
Boston's own, Kenny Florian comes into this number one contenders match winning 8 of his last 9 fights, his only loss coming to former lightweight champ BJ Penn. He looked dominant against Gomi and Guida and looks for his second shot at the lightweight strap. He will be opposed by fast rising star, Grey Maynard and his great wrestling and ground and pound style. This card does not give you alot of chances to make some fat stacks of cash, but this fight is a good one to lay some money down. Both of these fighters are Ultimate Fighter Show alumni and both have developed into good fighters. The difference being Florian has developed all facets of his game and Maynard is lacking still in the stand up aspect. Florian is a black belt in BJJ and possibly one of the best ( beyond Penn) in the guard position which will force Maynard to keep the fight on the feet longer then he will want to. Look for Florian to pick apart Maynard in the first two rounds on the feet and then stuff Maynard's takedown attempts in the third. Florian with a unanimous decision victory. * Bet big on Florian to make your night positive in the cash category*
Note: Did anyone see the weigh ins yesterday? Didnt Maynard look way too thin? Wonder if it will affect his cardio as the fight gets into the second and third rounds.
4. Randy Couture (-575) vs James Toney(+350)
I dont want to spend a ton of time on this fight because it actually it is not going to be a legitimate MMA event. Actually I believe it is a regression to what the UFC has tried so hard to get...legitimancy in the main stream. Now they are making the sport into a sideshow of sorts. Does it really matter if MMA fighters are more skilled or tougher then Boxing fighters? No! Just because both sports involve gloves, highly skilled athletes, and a ring does not make them comparable. In Japan this would be a great fight...the last time I checked this is the USA and Japanese MMA is dead! This fight will last one round ( unless Randy decides to really punish him with ground and pound) with ....wait...a submission...lets say a rear naked choke.
5. BJ Penn (-300) vs Frankie Edgar (+240)
This is the rematch from UFC 112 in Abu Dhabi, where Frankie Edgar upset the Prodigy to pilfer the lightweight championship. Penn looks to redeem himself by not letting the judges screw up yet again a great fight by Penn. So much is given to a fighter that throws the most punches and not the fighter that does the most damage. Penn has always been a counter puncher and that was the reason he lost the first fight. Edgar was the faster fighter the last time and did get many takedowns but he definately did not mete out the most damage in that fight. Well tonight I will be able to come down from my soap box and enjoy another fast action fight but this time the title will change hands again. There is no doubt Edgar will continue to be the faster of the two fighters. This time though BJ will be more aggressive and use his sick BJJ skills. Sorry Frankie...you now have a focused and prepared BJ Penn to deal with. Penn with a 4th round submission.
UFC 118 Under Card Picks
I really only want to see the Lauzon v. Ruediger fight and the Mike Pierce and Amilcar Alves fight but i'll give you some thoughts on a few others.
1. Joe Lauzon (-450) vs Gabe Ruediger (+300)
Lauzon is better in every aspect of the fight game then Reudiger...Especially when it comes to Heart! Second Round TKO by Lauzon. Save your cash and do not pick the underdog
2. Mike Pierce (-250) vs Amilcar Alves (+190)
Piece really looked good in a last minute fight with Jon Fitch a few months back and I would much rather see him the main card then Demian Maia. Alves is a wiz on the ground but it wont be enough to stop Pierce's rising star. Piece by decision.
3.Nick Osipczak (-180) vs Greg Soto(+150)
Talk about throwing chum in a shark infested waters...Osipczak will run over Soto by 1st round TKO. Osipczak looked creepy while flexing for the camaras at the weigh ins. Super ripped.
So I have picked 8 fights and for the most part look to be one sided affairs. If I was looking for an upset I would shoot for Miranda catching Maia with some heavy hands. The longer that fight goes the better it is for Maia. Look at the Marquart/Maia for what can happen to Maia when he gets tagged. Again, I will be at the Landmark in Glassboro,NJ enjoying my $1 Coors Lite bottles. Post your picks in this thread for your chance to win a PhillySportsPulse.com tshirt.