Middleweight Bout: Costa Philippou (12-3) vs. Luke Rockhold (10-2)
Luke Irwin: I really like this matchup as it’s a good gauge of two top-10, maybe top-5 guys. In this case, however, I think my fellow Luke has too many tools at his disposal and will not get caught by Costa’s striking. Rockhold via UD.
TC Engel: Rockhold via submission, round 1.
Earl Montclair: I am very happy to be having a card to watch this week and I am glad these guys are getting to fight each other. Costa is in deep doodoo here, fellas. Rockhold is too much and he can keep Costa from fingerblasting his eyeballs, he has this one in the bag. Luke Rockhold, Submission, Round 3.
Nolan Howell: Philippou was bested by Francis Carmont in his last outing and Rockhold is a better fighter than Carmont in pretty much every aspect, especially on the mat where Carmont tooled Philippou. Rockhold is competitive on the grappling circuits to an extent and that should be where the first three rounds are contested before Rockhold piles it on later. Rockhold by fourth-round TKO.
Josh Hall: I can’t see any way Rockhold allows Phillippou to turn this into a grinding affair, and that is the only chance I see for him here. Rockhold via lopsided unanimous decision.
Dan Galvan: This should be an easy victory fight for Luke Rockhold if he follows the same gameplan that Francis Carmont did against Philippou. He should be able to use his frame to take Philippou down and control the bout as it progresses, eventually getting a submission late in the fight. Rockhold via 3rd Sub.
Middleweight Bout: Brad Tavares (11-1) vs. Lorenz Larkin (14-1)
Luke Irwin: Eh…it’s a free card. Regardless, Larkin was robbed in his fight against Carmont, and Tavares is a perfect target to strike to death. Larkin via UD.
TC Engel: Tavares via UD.
Earl Montclair: I like Tavares a lot but I think Larkin (who SHOULD be 15-0 but you know, Carmont) is too good right now. Lorenz Larkin, Unanimous Decision.
Nolan Howell: I am pretty high on Tavares, but I think Larkin gives him fits on the feet and he isn’t good enough at wrestling to take advantage of Larkin’s ground game. Spinning shit incoming here, boys, and Larkin will be dishing it out all night. Larkin by UD.
Josh Hall: Toughest fight on the card to call for me. If the fight stays on the feet Larkin should hold an advantage, but he has shown deficiencies on the ground in the past. Tavares via split decision.
Dan Galvan: In all likelihood, this fight will play out on the feet, and this prediction just comes down to who you think is better on the feet. I’ll take Larkin. Larkin via 2nd KO.
Bantamweight Bout: Mike Easton (13-3) vs. TJ Dillashaw (8-2)
Luke Irwin: Easton doesn’t play around and I admire his intensity, but I can’t pick against Team AlphaBang. Dillashaw via R3 TKO.
TC Engel: Dillashaw via TKO, round 2.
Earl Montclair: Alpha Male Striking! Bang Muay Thai! It Sucks! TJ Dillashaw, TKO, Round 2.
Nolan Howell: Dillashaw is the prototypical Alpha Male fighter and that spells the demise of Easton. Dillashaw has the ability to win this fight in every aspect. Easton keeps a good pace and that could carry him into the later rounds, but really, it won’t bother Dillashaw much in what should be a pretty clear victory. Dillashaw by UD.
Josh Hall: I will never pick Mike Easton under any circumstances. TJ Dillashaw via being a decent human being (or unanimous decision).
Dan Galvan: Dillashaw should be on a five fight winning streak, but MMA judges gonna MMA Judge so he’s coming off of a loss. Nevertheless, Dillashaw has really looked spectacular in his more recent outings, and it appears as though he has made a jump into the top tier of bantamweights. Dillashaw via UD.
Middleweight Bout: Derek Brunson (11-2) vs. Yoel Romero (6-1)
Luke Irwin: Romero is just getting warmed up. Brunson is a decent story, but he’s about to get trucked. Romero via R1 KO.
TC Engel: Brunson via UD.
Earl Montclair: cmonson.gif Yoel Romero, KO, Round 1.
Nolan Howell: Brunson doesn’t stand much of a chance here. His best tool is wrestling and he is going up against an Olympic silver medalist. Add the fact that he hits like a freight train that is about to come off the rails and you can rest assured that there will be some scary Cuban violence. Romero by first-round KO.
Josh Hall: I’m still not sure of the ceiling for Derek Brunson yet but I distinctly remember him getting mauled on the feet by Jacare not long ago. That is not good for him here. Romero via 1st round KO.
Dan Galvan: I wouldn’t be too shocked if Derek Brunson pulled off the upset. He looked like a completely different fighter in the short time we saw him against Brian Houston, so he could very well have improved his game drastically. Nevertheless, Romero has been a stud as of late. Romero via UD.
Flyweight Bout: Dustin Ortiz (12-2) vs. John Moraga (13-2)
Luke Irwin: Ortiz is a tough, tough sonofabitch and will surprise a lot of people in his UFC career, but Moraga is elite and it’s just another level over Ortiz. Moraga via UD.
TC Engel: Moraga via UD.
Earl Montclair: Ortiz is tough as hell but Moraga is a former top contender and could easily work his way back up the ladder and I think he starts here. John Moraga, Unanimous Decision.
Nolan Howell: Jose Maria Tome was giving Ortiz trouble in his last outing and Moraga just got off a title shot loss. While Ortiz certainly has some great potential, I think Moraga is just too well-rounded as of now. His power submissions combine well with his wrestling and crisp striking to give him an easy win here. Moraga by first-round TKO.
Josh Hall: Ortiz is a solid FLW that should hang around the edge of the top 15, but Moraga has been in there with the best the division has to offer. He is a bit to far along for Ortiz right now, but this has sleeper FOTN potential. Moraga via unanimous decision.
Dan Galvan: Ortiz is skilled in every facet of the game, and he tends to fight up to his competition. With that being said, I expect John Moraga to look good in a bounce back. Moraga via UD.
Featherweight Bout: Cole Miller (20-8) vs, Sam Sicilia (12-3)
Luke Irwin: I like Miller lately, and not just because he wants to squeeze Conor McGregor’s head off of his neck. Without an awful decision, Cole wins his last three and I like what I’ve seen lately. Miller via R2 submission.
TC Engel: Sicilia via TKO, round 1.
Earl Montclair: This is the toughest fight to pick on the card for me. Cole Miller is hot and he’s cold. He’s yes and he’s no. He’s in and he’s out & he’s up and he’s down. This could be as easy as a Cole Miller victory on the mat or a Sam Sicilia KO. I don’t know what it will be but I doubt it is going the distance. Cole Miller, Submission, Round 1.
Nolan Howell: While Sicilia is a good matchup as a powerful wrestler, I just don’t think he’s up to the level of a guy like Miller yet. This will be a clinic in more ways than one. Miller should best a one-dimensional brawler like Sicilia on the feet and the mat game will be fun as limbs are thrown in all directions until a submission is latched onto Sicilia. Miller by second-round submission.
Josh Hall: The only thing that would surprise me here would be if this fight goes to decision. Sicilia could fight the chin of Miller or he could get submitted just as easily. I’ll take the latter. Miller via 1st round submission.
Dan Galvan: Miller’s got the submissions to tap out Sicilia, although I expect Sicilia to be cautious and do some serious damage with his ground and pound throughout the fight. Sicilia via 2nd TKO.
Lightweight Bout: Justin Edwards (8-3) vs. Ramsey Nijem (7-4)
Luke Irwin: Edwards is somehow an underdog in this fight, no idea why. He’s a much more dangerous fighter than Nijem and has more weapons to work with. Edwards via R2 submission.
TC Engel: Edwards via submission, round 2.
Earl Montclair: The fact that Ramsey is the betting favorite in this fight is mind boggling to me. Edwards is a action fighter who pushes the pace and he is a finisher. Justin Edwards, Submission, Round 2.
Nolan Howell: Nijem seemingly gets in trouble in every fight he’s in and generally gets out of it because of his cardio. However, his cardio still isn’t that great and he moved away from The Pit Elevated for this camp. Combine that with the fact Edwards has a nasty guillotine that Nijem will have to dive into to get a takedown and it is clear. Edwards by first-round submission.
Josh Hall: This should be the end of a tough run in the UFC for Stripper Ramsey. Edwards via 1st round KO.
Dan Galvan: I expect Ramsey Nijem to control where the fight plays out, until Justin Edwards pulls off the submission win. Edwards via 1st Sub.
Lightweight Bout: Elias Silverio (9-0) vs. Isaac Vallie-Flagg (14-3-1)
Luke Irwin: Silverio is a betting favorite, and…nah. Don’t see it. WE LIKE IKE. Vallie-Flagg via UD.
TC Engel: Vallie-Flagg via KO, round 2.
Earl Montclair: Vallie-Flagg UD all the way.
Nolan Howell: Silverio defeated a less than impressive Joao Zeferino in his last outing, while Vallie-Flagg is known for taking home ugly decisions against guys like Yves Edwards, Gesias Cavalcante, and Brian Melancon. Better track record is enough for me here. Vallie-Flagg by UD.
Josh Hall: Vallie-Flagg has fought some tough competition and fared very well. I haven’t seen enough from Silverio yet to convince me he wins this fight. Vallie-Flagg via unanimous decision.
Dan Galvan: I don’t understand the betting line on this one at all. Vallie-Flagg via UD.
Middleweight Bout: Brian Houston (4-1) vs. Trevor Smith (10-4)
Luke Irwin: This fight sucks. This wouldn’t make a WSOF prelim card. Ugh. Houston via SD.
TC Engel: Smith via KO, round 2.
Earl Montclair: Turrible nicknames here so I’ll go with the one that isn’t based on initials. Hot Sauce, TKO, Round 1.
Nolan Howell: Houston got starched and choked by Derek Brunson, who isn’t exactly regarded for his power or submission prowess. Smith is a guy who goes for the finish and likes the submission. I think he will be able to get it here against an inexperienced opponent. Smith by first-round submission.
Josh Hall: Ugh. Trevor Smith via 1st round submission.
Flyweight Bout: Alptekin Ozkilic (9-1) vs. Louis Smolka (6-0)
Luke Irwin: Don’t ever go against ALP. ALP is your next overlord. ALP via UD.
TC Engel: #ALP via UD.
Earl Montclair: #ALP
Nolan Howell: Ozkilic is too polished for Smolka at this point and is likely able to make some real noise at flyweight beating a solid test in Uyenoyama. The gap will be apparent here. Ozkilic by UD.
Josh Hall: Alp has a couple of legit wins in his past 2 fights, and he should be a factor in the 125 division fairly soon. Ozkilic via unanimous decision.
Dan Galvan: ALP!!!!! Ozkilic via UD.
Lightweight Bout: Garrett Whiteley (7-1) vs. Vinc Pichel (7-1)
Luke Irwin: Erhm…ehhh…Whiteley via SD.
TC Engel: Pichel via UD.
Earl Montclair: Pichel should be good enough here….and via TKO in the 2nd.
Nolan Howell: Pichel by first-round TKO.
Josh Hall: I’m not sure which man looked worse in his last fight, but I don’t see Whitely throwing Pichel around like Khabilov did. I can see Pichel working over Whitely on the feet though. Pichel via 1st round KO.
Dan Galvan: Close fight that I don’t have a real good feel on, but Pichel! Pichel via 1st TKO.
Lightweight Bout: Beneil Dariush (6-0) vs. Charlie Brenneman (19-5)
Luke Irwin: John Howard, Charlie Brenneman, we just need Rumble back and the 2011 welterweight mid-card is complete! The Spaniard knows what it takes to get it done here and he’ll take care of business easily. Brenneman via R2 TKO.
TC Engel: Brenneman via UD.
Earl Montclair: Welcome back to The Spaniard! Brenneman UD.
Nolan Howell: Brenneman by UD.
Josh Hall: Dariush has some potential but lacks the experience against an opponent like the Spaniard. Brenneman via unanimous decision.
Dan Galvan: As long as he doesn’t get too aggresive, Charlie Brenneman should be able to use his wrestling to take home a decision in his return to the UFC.
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