Rosenthal League:
Daniel Galvan: 57-26, .687
Tim Hickey: 118-61, .659
Benjamin Kohn: 136-75, .645
Josh Hall: 146-85, .632
Connor Dillon: 73-43, .629
Winslow League:
Nolan Howell: 174-104, .626
Lucas Bourdon: 27-20, .574
Luke Irwin: 185-139, .571
Earl Montclair: 65-49, .570
TC Engel: 68-59, .535
UFC Middleweight Championship: Chris Weidman (c) (10-0) vs. Anderson Silva (33-5)
Luke Irwin: This is absolutely the hardest fight I’ve ever had to predict. There are so many question marks raised after the first fight, and neither fighter has fought since then to try and get a grasp of them. How will Silva come out? Will Weidman strike or take to the ground? Will either fighter’s awesome submission game come into play? I have no idea how this will go, but my gut tells me they’ll both be a little more cautious this time around. As is the trend of late, a UFC championship fight goes the distance and has a controversial decision. Weidman via SD.
Earl Montclair: This is such a huge fight and if Anderson pulls it off, the trilogy fight could do the biggest numbers the company has ever seen (excluding UFC100). If Silva doesn’t clown Weidman then he has a legitimate chance to get the belt back. I just don’t trust Anderson to show up and be serious. I want to be wrong because a trilogy fight would be so massive. Please let me be wrong. Chris Weidman, TKO, Round 3.
Brendan Weafer: Silva.
TC Engel: I have absolutely no idea who I think is going to win this fight. Weidman showed in the first round that he has the capability to take Silva down and do damage in an intelligent manner (not like Sonnen). At the same time, outside of the one time he got caught, Silva was definitely winning the standup. It should be a great rematch, and I think Silva can take him out like he did so many before. Silva by TKO, round 2.
Ben Kohn: Well this is going to be awesome. Anderson Silva Round 2 KO.
Dan Galvan: Weidman 2nd TKO.
Josh Hall: I could not be more excited for this. I think Anderson comes in focused and serious for this one, but at this point in time I think Weidman is simply the better fighter. I think Weidman looks for the takedown early and often, finishing with massive ground and pound. Weidman via 2nd round KO.
Nolan Howell: All analysis goes out the window here. This is truly the hardest fight to pick in UFC history. It all depends on what the former champion decides to do. I assume he will be focused and ready to roll, so look for the Muay Thai wrecking machine to run through Weidman early. Silva by first round-TKO.
UFC Women’s Bantamweight Championship: Ronda Rousey (c) (7-0) vs. Miesha Tate (13-4)
Luke Irwin: Ugh. No. Rousey via R1 submission.
Earl Montclair: Miesha has no business in this fight as she got steamrolled by Cat Zingano, the true number one contender. Team Cupcake not my team, but neither is Team Honda. The real question is if this one will be as cringeworthy as the last fight. Ronda Rousey, Armbar, Round 1.
Brendan Weafer: Rousey.
TC Engel: I’m not wasting my time typing anything about this. Rousey by submission, round 1.
Ben Kohn: Rousey by Armbar Round 1.
Dan Galvan: Rousey 1st Sub.
Josh Hall: Rousey by ambar, now and forever. Rousey via 1st round submission.
Nolan Howell: Refusing to write analysis for this because it is obvious. Go Tate. Please, if there is a loving, caring God, he will let Tate win this. Rousey by first-round submission.
Heavyweight Bout: Josh Barnett (33-6) vs. Travis Browne (15-1-1)
Luke Irwin: I think this time, Barnett finally settles down and uses his grappling against someone that he has a distinct advantage over. No use striking with someone who doesn’t have a wrestling base or very meh grappling chops. Barnett takes care of business and gets close to the gold. Barnett via R1 submission.
Earl Montclair: Travis made me very happy by knocking out Alistair Overeem. If I ever get a chance, I’ll buy him a steak dinner for doing so. Sadly for him in regards to this fight, he is in way over his head against The Warmaster. Barnett is just too good to let this one slip through his grasp. This really shouldn’t even be close. Josh Barnett, Submission, Round 2.
Brendan Weafer: Browne.
TC Engel: This is just an outstanding fight. Barnett should have the advantage in the grappling department, but Browne has never been taken down before. I think Barnett takes the first two rounds before Browne lands a surprise straight down the pipe. Browne by KO, round 3.
Ben Kohn: Barnett has all the tools to do what he did to Browne like he did with Mir. What sucks for Browne is that he won’t gas out like Overeem did. He will bust Browne up against the cage, and everywhere else, before eventually getting him down and submitting him. Josh Barnett by Submission Round 2.
Dan Galvan: Barnett 2nd Sub.
Josh Hall: Travis Browne is a very athletic HW that doesn’t have any areas where he really excells. Josh Barnett feasts on guys like that, and he should do so here. Barnett via 1st round submission.
Nolan Howell: Browne has a chance on the feet, but even then, he’s not especially good there. Browne coasts on his athleticism without being a master of any trade. Barnett is servicable on the feet and a brute on the mat. I’ll take him working in the clinch and on the feet in order to take it to the mat, where he finishes it quick. Barnett by second-round submission.
Lightweight Bout: Fabricio Camoes (14-7-1) vs. Jim Miller (22-4)
Luke Irwin: Big bounceback fight for Miller. This is designed to remind everyone how good and fun of a fighter Jim Miller is. Miller via R1 TKO.
Earl Montclair: Jim Miller has alternated wins and losses in his last 6 fights, the last 2 defeats being particularly brutal with Nate Diaz forcing him to bite his own tongue in half and getting strangled by a higher-than-a-giraffe’s-ass Pat Healy (which caused it to become a No Contest). The pattern says he wins here and so does the logic. Jim Miller, Unanimous Decision.
Brendan Weafer: Miller.
TC Engel: See my Rousey vs. Tate breakdown. Miller by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: So Jim Miller is going to murderdeathkill Camoes and it will be glorious. Jim Miller by TKO Round 2.
Dan Galvan: Miller 1st TKO.
Josh Hall: Miller may have lost a step at this point, but it shouldn’t matter in this fight. Miller via 2nd round submission.
Nolan Howell: Bounce-back fight. Miller by first-round TKO.
Featherweight Bout: Diego Brandao (18-8) vs. Dustin Poirier (14-3)
Luke Irwin: This fight. This freaking fight. I’ve been looking forward to this fight soooo much. This is going to be absolutely insane. The scrambles, the ground game, the offensive flurries. But eventually, Brandao will get tired, Poirier will stay patient and find something he can exploit. Brandao will get a little desperate, and there’s Poirier with a d’arce. Poirier via R3 submission.
Earl Montclair: Poirier should be able to take advantage of a gassed out Brandao late. He won’t allow Diego to take a slow pace early to conserve energy. If he presses the fight and makes Diego work for the first 10, he should be able to put him away in the final frame. Dustin Poirier, Submission, Round 3.
Brendan Weafer: Brandao.
TC Engel: Yeah. This should be insanity. Brandao’s made great strides in the last year or two by fixing his cardio issues. This Brandao is a hell of a lot more dangerous to Poirier than 2011 Brandao. I still think Poirier has the grappling to take out Brandao, but it should be incredible. Poirier by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: FOTN right here, while it lasts, and it won’t be long. Poirier’s wrestling will be the deciding factor in this fight and he will eventually wear down Brandao and submit him with, likely with his favorite technique, the D’arce choke. Dustin Poirier by Submission Round 2.
Dan Galvan: Porier 2nd TKO.
Josh Hall: 153 Diego? Really? Poirier via not being to lazy to make weight. And being the better fighter. Poirier via 2nd round submission.
Nolan Howell: Brandao does have the power to take Poirier out early, but should this last longer, it becomes the better-conditioned man’s fight. Factor in that Poirier is possibly more technical on the feet and I think will have the grappling edge and it is his fight to lose. Poirier by third-round submission.
Middleweight Bout: Chris Leben (22-10) vs. Uriah Hall (7-4)
Luke Irwin: This is going to be awful. I’m not entire sure what will happen, but when the dust clears, I just figure Leben will have his hand raised for whatever reason. Leben via SD.
Earl Montclair: Leben is done. Done. DONE. He should not be fighting anymore. Hall is underwhelming at best, but he should be able to keep Chris and distance and outpoint him to a dull decision. Uriah Hall, Unanimous Decision. P.S. walk out to “Mad World” again, Chris. That was baws.
Brendan Weafer: Hall.
TC Engel: Please, Chris. Please. Hall by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: The Crippler is going to make a comeback in this fight and floor Uriah so hard with that left hand, you’ll think it was 2006 again. Chris Leben by Vicious KO Round 1.
Dan Galvan: No Contest.
Josh Hall: Why is this the main event of the prelims? Uriah Hall via decision? Sure, why not.
Nolan Howell: I love Leben, but time for him to go. Hall by first-round TKO.
Lightweight Bout: Gleison Tibau (28-9) vs. Michael Johnson (13-8)
Luke Irwin: Guys, I cannot stress this enough. Where is the Patron Saint fighting? Is it on the main card? No. Is it on the Undercard? Yes. Tibau via UD.
Earl Montclair: The only Johnson that the Prodigal Son should be fighting is Lavar Johnson since they are the same size when they step in the cage. Regardless of that, it is on the undercard and you know what that means. Gleison Tibau, Unanimous Decision.
TC Engel: #PATRONSAINT by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: I am switching my pick to the Patron Saint of Undercard Superstar. His size, strength, and grappling ability should allow him to control the athletic and mobile Johnson and he has enough skills on the feet to keep Johnson from letting loose on him. Gleison Tibau by Unanimous Decision.
Dan Galvan: Tibau via UD.
Josh Hall: Tibau. Prelims. You know the deal by now. Tibau via unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: Tibau? Undercard? Tibau by split decision.
Featherweight Bout: Dennis Siver (21-9) vs. Manvel Gamburyan (13-7)
Luke Irwin: Manny was saved last time by awful reffing and shitty judging. He won’t be so fortunate this time. He won’t be able to do anything to Siver, who’s built like a thumb, and Siver is going to pick him apart. Siver via R3 TKO.
Earl Montclair: I’m just not into it. Not at all. Dennis Siver, Unanimous Decision.
Brendan Weafer: Siver.
TC Engel: Gamburyan is friends with Rousey, and she’s the worst. Siver by TKO, round 2.
Ben Kohn: Poor Manvel, this is about the worst stylistic matchup he could have hoped for out of the top 5. Siver will destroy him on the feet and it’s really unlikely he takes Siver down. Siver by KO Round 2.
Dan Galvan: Siver via UD.
Josh Hall: Manny is going to have a very bad night. Siver via lopsided unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: Gamburyan is not very good as of late and Siver looks like a guy who can hang in the top ten at 145. This will be a few stuffed throws and a few flashy strikes. Siver by first-round TKO.
Welterweight Bout: John Howard (21-8) vs. Siyar Bahadurzada (21-5-1)
Luke Irwin: John loves to throw hands, but I think he loves being in the UFC more. So he grinds out a tough decision win over Siyar, who has negative ground game to speak of. Howard via UD.
Earl Montclair: Siyar flattened Paulo Thiago in awful fashion. John Howard will get revenge for me and make the world right somehow. John Howard, Unanimous Decision.
Brendan Weafer: Howard.
TC Engel: John Howard is pretty not good. I love Bahadurzada, despite his horrific ground game. If he lands a few times.. #LEGGO Bahdurzada by KO, round 1.
Ben Kohn: Siyar, you have tons of power and need to stay on the feet to use it. I really hope you worked on your wrestling. The rest of the guys think Howard will try and get Siyar down but I think he will stand with Siyar long enough to get blasted. Siyar Bahadurzada by KO Round 1.
Dan Galvan: Howard via UD.
Josh Hall: Siyar has the power in his hands to knock out anyone in the WW division, but I think he has a tough time doing that from off his back. Howard via unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: Siyar Bahadurzada is pretty not good. I love Howard, despite his horrific averageness. If he lands a few times.. #LEGGO Howard by second-round TKO.
Welterweight Bout: Bobby Voelker (24-10) vs. William Macario (6-1)
Luke Irwin: Nope. Voelker is too strong here, Macario has shown nothing at the big league level and Voelker has been doing this too long. Voelker via R1 TKO.
Earl Montclair: I just can’t really say Voelker is a UFC caliber fighter. I don’t think he will be one after this ends. William Macario, Unanimous Decision.
Brendan Weafer: Voelker.
TC Engel: Bobby Voelker, also known as ONE OF THE MARQUEE WINS ON THE AMAZING RESUME OF FUTURE WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPION RUTHLESS ROBBIE LAWHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA. Yeah, Voelker should roll here. Voelker by TKO, round 2.
Ben Kohn: Voelker has power and is good enough on the feet technically that he will destroy this TUF 2 finalist and send him packing. Bobby Voelker by KO Round 1.
Dan Galvan: Voelker via 2nd TKO.
Josh Hall: Strikeforce > TUF Brazil. Voelker via 2nd round KO.
Nolan Howell: Voelker by second-round TKO.
Featherweight Bout: Estevan Payan (14-4) vs. Robbie Peralta (16-4)
Luke Irwin: I think Payan is going to try and keep it standing, which will be a poor judgement call on his end, methinks. Peralta via R2 KO.
Earl Montclair: I just hope Payan doesn’t bleed buckets all over the cage this time and make me barf. Robbie Peralta, KO, 1.
Brendan Weafer: Payan.
TC Engel: Peralta via KO, round 3.
Ben Kohn: Peralta will destroy Payan. He’s better everywhere, especially on the feet, where this fight will take place and it will be ended pretty violently in my opinion. Robbie Peralta by KO Round 1.
Dan Galvan: Peralta via UD.
Josh Hall: Payan gets hit a lot and Peralta hits very hard. This is a bad combination for him. Peralta via 1st round KO.
Nolan Howell: Peralta by first-round KO.
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