Rosenthal League
Daniel Galvan: 27-10, .730
Benjamin Kohn: 109-58, .653
Tim Hickey: 109-58, .653
Josh Hall: 126-72, .636
Connor Dillon: 73-43, .629
Winslow League
Nolan Howell: 148-88, .627
Chris Groves: 30-19, .612
Earl Montclair: 49-32, .605
Lucas Bourdon: 27-20, .574
Luke Irwin: 153-117, .567
TC Engel: 47-38, .553
Light Heavyweight Bout: Dan Henderson (29-10) vs. Vitor Belfort (23-10)
Luke Irwin: Hendo is just a goddamned chore to watch lately. Just uninspired, listless, and boring since the Rua fight. I think after the Rua fight, he got pumped to finally have his chance for redemption and a shot at a UFC belt…and it didn’t happen. So he hasn’t given a shit since and it shows. Fortunately or unfortunately, depending on your stance, his jaw is made of kevlar, so Vitor won’t finish him, but it will be a yawner of a boxing match for five rounds. Belfort via UD.
Ben Kohn: Read my breakdown, you know the drill. Vitor Belfort by TKO Round 4.
Dan Galvan: Henderson’s last two fights against Lyoto Machida and Rashad Evans here, but he’s my pick to win for a few reasons. First off, I find it hard to believe that Belfort will be able to catch Hendo in any of his barrages. Although Hendo is down from a speed standpoint in comparison to Belfort, he’s remarkable precise for a fighter that came into the game with a wrestling foundation. I also think he’ll be able to close the distance put Belfort against the cage, dirty box, and score a few takedowns. I like Henderson by decision.
Josh Hall: I have a bad feeling this is going to be a plodding fight dominated by VRT that will only make it to the bell due to Hendo’s adamantium chin. Belfort via unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: Despite being equally as TRT’d out as Belfort (a fact so many tend to gloss over), Hendo has shown his age in his past few fights. Against Belfort, that is a death sentence, as Belfort has shown precision and patience with a more karate-influenced attack. This is gonna be ugly for Hendo. Belfort by second-round TKO.
Middleweight Bout: Cezar Ferreira (6-2) vs. Daniel Sarafian (8-3)
Luke Irwin: So this was to be the actual Ultimate Fighter Brazil finals. So…co-main, I guess. Alright, then. Sarafian has just looked much more impressive against much more impressive competition. Sarafian via R2 submission.
Ben Kohn: These two men were set to face off to determine who would win the inaugural TUF Brazil before Sarafian pulled out with an injury. Now, these two men finally do face off and both are coming off of submission victories in their last fights. Overall, both of these guys are talented and can make for some interesting fights at Middleweights. Both are big strong guys although Cezar seems to be the more well rounded of the two. Because of that, Cezar Ferreira by Unanimous Decision.
Dan Galvan: THIS IS THE CO-MAIN EVENT?!?! Did the UFC partner with Facebook to air a facebook fight as the co-main event. Look, I understand these two guys were the real finalists in their division for the TUF Brazil show, but this fight would’ve looked a lot more attractive lower in the card. Regardless, Cezar Ferreira will have a strength advantage, and he has looked solid since winning the show. Ferreira via Decision.
Josh Hall: Bad UFC. This is not a co main event and you damn well know it. I think Mutante can grind this one out similar to the Moraes fight but it will be close. Ferreira via split decision.
TC Engel: Mutante by UD.
Nolan Howell: While I do enjoy Sarafian, Ferreira will just be too much for him. As an equal on the mat, Ferreira will be able to take this on the feet for the win. Ferreira by unanimous decision.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Igor Pokrajac (25-10) vs. Rafael Cavalcante (11-4)
Luke Irwin: This couldn’t be a better bounceback fight for Feijao. Against a game brawler, Feijao will tool him with muay thai. Cavalcante via R3 TKO.
Ben Kohn: Feijao is looking to come back big from his brutal KO loss to Thiago Silva while Igor is looking to keep his job in the UFC. Igor has lost all 3 of his last bouts with one being turned into a NC. Both of these guys are standup fighters but Feijao has fought much better competition than Igor has and has a very good submission game to compliment his striking. Rafael Cavalcante by KO Round 1.
Dan Galvan: Rafael Cavalcante was just beat down by Thiago Silva in his last fight, but I’ll attribute it to ring rust. He should bounce back with a win over Pokrajac. Cavalcante via 1st KO.
Josh Hall: This fight has one purpose, and that is to make Feijao look good after an awful last outing. Cavalcante via 2nd round KO.
TC Engel: Feijao by KO.
Nolan Howell: I love Pokrajac, but just can’t see a chance in hell for him here. Cavalcante by first-round TKO.
Welterweight Bout: Brandon Thatch (10-1) vs. Paulo Thiago (15-5)
Luke Irwin: C’mon Paulo, one final stand buddy, one more motivated attack, nasty ground attack, heavy hands, just one more time. It’s not gonna happen, is it? Ugh. Thatch via R3 TKO.
Ben Kohn: This will not be pretty at all. Thiago is awesome but he hasn’t looked good in years and his chin has clearly faded. Thatch completely destroyed a very tough Justin Edwards in his last fight and he will do horrible things to Thiago. Brandon Thatch by KO Round 1.
Dan Galvan: I almost pulled the rigger on Thiago because I think the hype might be a little to high on Brandon Thatch, but then I realized Paulo Thiago’s last impressive win was in 2009. Thatch by Decision.
Josh Hall: Brandon Thatch fights with an incredible amount of violence, and Paulo Thiago is not the fighter he once was. This could get bad quickly. Thatch via 1st round MurderDeathKill.
TC Engel: Thatch by KO.
Nolan Howell: This is the end of the Paulo Thiago era. Thatch will be able to keep this standing and grapple in the clinch to put on an ugly whipping and drop the guillotine on Thiago’s UFC career. Thatch by unanimous decision.
Welterweight Bout: Ryan LaFlare (8-0) vs. Santiago Ponzinibbio (18-1)
Luke Irwin: As a man who watches a stupid amount of indies/regionals, you learn to see which Brazilian promotions are legit, and which are clownshoes. Ponzinibbio has fought in clownshoes. LaFlare, meanwhile, came up through Ring of Combat, which is pumping out high-level UFC fighters at a hellish pace. LaFlare via UD.
Ben Kohn: LaFlare is a prospect and so is Santiago who is making his official UFC debut. Both guys are finishers with only 3 decisions in 26 wins between them. Not sure who to pick with authority but Santiago Ponzinibbio by Unanimous Decision.
Dan Galvan: I’ve got to agree with bossman here. I’m not sold on Santiago, while I’m confident that Ryan LaFlare is a though out. LaFlare by 1st TKO.
Josh Hall: I can’t pick a guy I’ve never seen fight who has never fought for an organization I’ve ever even heard of. This can’t seriously be on the main card. LaFlare via 1st round KO?
TC Engel: LaFlare by KO.
Nolan Howell: LaFlare was actually impressive in his last outing and he is fighting a dude who couldn’t even win a pitiful season of TUF Brazil 2. LaFlare by unanimous decision.
Featherweight Bout: Jeremy Stephens (21-9) vs. Rony Jason (13-3)
Luke Irwin: Stephens’s featherweight debut was less than stunning, as his noted power was barely on display against what should have been an easy out in Estevan Payan. Bezerra has done alright for himself, but I don’t think he has the horses here. Stephens via UD.
Ben Kohn: Rony is on a 3 fight win streak including his TUF finale win and has looked impressive in his wins to boot. Stephens is coming an uninspired win over Estevan Payan but is still 1-3 in his last four and was knocked out for the first time in his career two fights ago. Rony is on his way up and Stephens is on his way down. Throw in that Rony can strike and has a great submission game and Stephens is going to tap. Rony Bezzera by Submission Round 1.
Dan Galvan: If you can wear a Jason mask during a walk-out and completely pull it off while looking like a badass, I’ll pick you to win every fight until the end of the time. Jason by Decison.
Josh Hall: I think Stephens is on the decline, and when in doubt pick the Brazilian in Brazil. Jason via unanimous decision.
TC Engel: Jason by submission.
Nolan Howell: This is the type of fight I would pick Stephens to win 10 times out of 10 if you asked me a year or two ago. However, Jason is brutal and Stephens is just a step behind at this point. Jason by second-round submission.
Featherweight Bout: Godofredo Castro (9-2) vs. Sam Sicilia (11-3)
Luke Irwin: Loser probably goes home, but I like Sicilia’s power here to get the slight edge. Sicilia via R2 KO.
Ben Kohn: Two guys winging hooks and seeing who falls is most likely is going to happen. What should happen is that Castro should get this fight to the ground. I doubt he will unless he’s badly hurt or they fall by accident. Anyway, Godofredo Castro by Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: I don’t think either of these guys are UFC quality to be honest. Pepey should win this, but his BJJ hasn’t translated to UFC success thus far and he is coming off his first loss via KO. I’ll take one of Sicilia’s winging hooks to land before Pepey drags it to the floor. Sicilia via 1st round KO.
TC Engel: Pepey by submission.
Nolan Howell: Pepey looked great for a time in his last fight, but Sicilia is a scrappy training partner of Michael Chiesa. That camp impresses me with their gameness and I expect Pepey to just break here against the strength and pace of Sicilia. Sicilia by unanimous decision.
Middleweight Bout: Omari Akhmedov (11-0) vs. Thiago Perpetuo (9-1-1)
Luke Irwin: There are regional promotions, sub-regional promotions, promotions I may have heard of in passing, and whatever the fuck Akhmedov has been fighting in for the last five years. Christ almighty, I think I saw him perform at a backyard wrestling show while he was at it. Perpetuo via R1 TKO.
Ben Kohn: No fucking clue but Russian guy by KO Round 2.
Josh Hall: I won’t pretend to know anything about either of these 2 guys. Perpetuo via being Brazilian and having a UFC win I absolutely do not remember.
TC Engel: I don’t know who either of these guys are, but Perpetuo has a higher ratio of vowels to consonants in his last name, so him. Perpetuo by alphabet.
Nolan Howell: I like Russia because my future wife is going to be ordered from there. Akhmedov by first-round TKO.
Lightweight Bout: Justin Salas (11-4) vs. Thiago Tavares (17-5-1)
Luke Irwin: Not really impressed by Salas, especially since he nearly took a loss to a beyond shot and rusted over Aaron Riley. Tavares has been on the fringe of breaking through for years, and this shouldn’t be a huge challenge. Tavares via R2 KO.
Ben Kohn: Really not sure why this is so far down the card as Tavares has been around for a while and is a good fighter. Salas is just not at his level though and this one won’t be a win for him. Thiago Tavares by TKO Round 1.
Josh Hall: Showcase fight for Tavares, nothing more. Salas is tough, but I expect him to get beat up here. Tavares via 2nd round KO.
TC Engel: Tavares by KO.
Nolan Howell: Justin Salas just isn’t very good and Thiago Tavares is. This will end brutally and Tim Means will even shiver over the violence committed on Salas here. Tavares by second-round TKO.
Lightweight Bout: Adriano Martins (24-6) vs. Daron Cruickshank (13-3)
Luke Irwin: Cruickshank and his “unorthodox” striking, as we’ll be reminded of 82 times during the fight. Cruickshank via SD.
Ben Kohn: The UFC wants Cruickshank to be around for a while and are giving him a winnable fight. Daron Cruickshank by Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: Martins is the only Brazilian fighter I have ever seen with 30 pro fights and only 2 ending in a submission. In a likely stand up affair I have to take Cruikshank to control the range effectively. Cruikshank via unanimous decision.
TC Engel: Martins by UD.
Nolan Howell: Very high on Cruickshank. Awesome blend of taekwondo and wrestling makes him able at any facet and it will show here. Cruickshank by unanimous decision.
Flyweight Bout: Dustin Ortiz (11-2) vs. Jose Maria Tome (33-4)
Luke Irwin: As a longtime FAN (yes, FAN!) of Tachi Palace Fights, I’ve had the pleasure of seeing Ortiz for a while, and have been really impressed. He’s always been one of the best unsigned flyweights in the world and now he gets to show it against Tome. Ortiz via R3 TKO.
Ben Kohn: Maria looked good against Lineker before getting finished in the second. He has a very awkward style and was unlucky to have to fight a top Flyweight in his debut. Ortiz is making his debut and has looked pretty good in his regional fights. That being said, Jose Maria by Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: Even in a losing effort Tome showed that he is not just a can crusher in his UFC debut against the uncrowned 128 pound champion in John Lineker. He gave Lineker all he wanted, and I think he rebounds here and gets his first UFC win. Tome via 2nd round KO.
TC Engel: Tome by UD.
Nolan Howell: Tome looked good against the flyweight king and I think he has what it takes to beat the newcomers and low-level flyweights UFC has to offer. Tome by first-round TKO.
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