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Showing posts with label UFC 91. Show all posts
Showing posts with label UFC 91. Show all posts
Thursday, November 27, 2008
Tuesday, November 18, 2008
Monday, November 17, 2008
Friday, November 14, 2008
Blog Predictions for UFC 91
With Leather gets into the act
5th Round plays Nostradomus
Performify posts his picks at MMAjunkie
Eric Shapiro chimes in from MMAFrenzy
Patrick Willis of the 49ers gives some thoughts
Picks from Yahoo! Sports here
MM4Real.NET has some idea of what will happen
MMAFix has there best bets here
Matt Hughes picks are here
5th Round plays Nostradomus
Performify posts his picks at MMAjunkie
Eric Shapiro chimes in from MMAFrenzy
Patrick Willis of the 49ers gives some thoughts
Picks from Yahoo! Sports here
MM4Real.NET has some idea of what will happen
MMAFix has there best bets here
Matt Hughes picks are here
Luke's UFC 91 Predictions
Heavyweight Championship Match: Randy Couture vs. Brock Lesnar[1]
I got Randy via submission somewhere between rounds two and four, for more details see my article from yesterday.
Lightweight bout: Kenny Florian vs. Joe Stevenson
Ken Flo is on a nice five match undefeated streak since losing to Sean Sherk in 2006. He needs this win over a bigger and more physical 155 lb fighter like Stevenson to show the UFC brass that he is ready to hang with BJ or Sherk. The Huerta win was nice, but I think Stevenson is much more established on the ground, which is where a fight with BJ or Sherk would end up. Stevenson is a big 155er, accomplished wrestler and very strong, but can be very one dimensional i.e. I don't see Kenny get caught with a guillotine. I think Kenny keeps the fight standing, peppers him with shots, avoids the takedown and squeezes out a tight decision victory.
Heavyweight bout: Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Josh Hendricks[5]
Gonzaga is kind of the forgotten man in the heavyweight division, but you don't hand Mirko Cro Cop his most devastating defeat and lose your ability over night. Hendricks isn't new to fighting, but holding the Gladiator Challenge belt and fighting under the lights in Vegas are two different things. Gonzaga via TKO in round two.
Middleweight bout: Demian Maia vs. Nate Quarry
Classic grappler versus brawler match up. Maia is a hot prospect, who has won submission of the night in all three of his UFC appearances and a much tougher opponent for Quarry than the fleet footed Khalib Starnes. I like Maia in a decision here, because I think Quarry's conditioning and stregth will keep him in the fight.
Welterweight bout: Dustin Hazelett vs. Tamdan McCrory[6]
Not to much to offer here, I like Hazelett via submission, possibly submission of the night honors
Lightweight bout: Jorge Gurgel vs. Aaron Riley[7]
Gurgel via submission
Lightweight bout: Jeremy Stephens vs. Rafael dos Anjos[8]
Rafael dos Anjos via decision
Lightweight bout: Mark Bocek vs. Alvin Robinson[9]
Robinson via submission
Welterweight bout: Matt Brown vs. Ryan Thomas
Brown via TKO
Thursday, November 13, 2008
The Scorpian King Will Prevail
I know, I know not really an exciting or an original pick considering that the Natural is probably the most liked fighter of All-Time and is an underdog, if only in Vegas terms, but I still believe that he is the toughest guy on the planet to beat in a title fight. Lesnar has some very obvious advantages, which anyone with two working eyeballs can see. He is a massive human being, who moves as quickly as someone a tenth of his size and is probably the most powerful person in the sport. Regardless of what you think of his years in the WWE, Lesnar is an accomplished athlete and was skilled enough to get a shot at the NFL without any college football experience. He trains with one of the toughest competitors in the sport, Sean Sherk, so it is pretty safe to say that the guy will be in shape for the fight and focused. Hmmm? Sounds like Randy is up against a guy that is bigger, faster, stronger, younger and in shape, how could he possibly win? The answer is knowledge and experience. Randy won't be as disrespectful to Lesnar's physical skills as Frank Mir, let Brock get top position and hope to submit him. He won't be as stupid as Heath Herring was to test one of Brock's punches in hopes of proving his iron chin. No, I believe Randy is going to design his game plan to use Brocks biggest strengths against him. I am guessing he'll probably make Brock work on his feet the first round or two like he did with Tim Sylvia. Use some good head movement and lad a few jabs, but mostly frustrate Brock because regardless of his power, Lesnar is not sharp and compact with his punches. The message is simple, I can make you look bad, which will get Brock fired up and over anxious. At that point, Randy is hoping Lesnar switches to Donkey Kong mode and as long as Couture isn't mounted or pressed against the cage there will be openings for submissions. Which ones? Not sure, but I am quite positive he'll catch Brock during some sort of transition or if Couture is able utilize a trip or a throw and land himself in good position. I can't say what round or how, but I expect Randy to force Brock to tap.
More thoughts from Michael Rome at Bloodyelbow.com are here
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