Rosenthal League:
Benjamin Kohn: 86-34, .717
Tim Bernier: 58-23, .716
Daniel Galvan: 19-8, .704
Tim Hickey: 99-46, .683
Nolan Howell: 126-64, .663
Josh Hall: 93-48, .660
Winslow League:
Connor Dillon: 67-37, .644
Chris Groves: 30-19, .612
Lucas Bourdon: 21-15, .583
Luke Irwin: 123-90, .577
Earl Montclair: 13-11, .542
TC Engel: 20-20, .500
Previous Event Winner: Ben Kohn (8-3)
UFC Lightweight Championship: Benson Henderson (c) (19-2) vs. Anthony Pettis (16-2)
Luke Irwin: How funny would it be if Pettis hit the Showtime Kick on Henderson would be? Do it, Pettis. For the lulz. I think Ben learns his lesson, keeps Pettis far at bay, works the leg-kick game and do what he does best, squeak out a controversial decision. He would have won the first fight if Pettis doesn’t hit that kick and he’ll be overly cautious this time. Henderson via SD.
Tim Hickey: While I don’t agree with how Pettis got his rematch, I have been waiting for these two to fight again since their last matchup at WEC 53. This time around, I expect Bendo to try and use the Clay Guida gameplan against Pettis, and see if he can grind him out over 25 mins. A healthy diet of leg kicks and takedowns await Pettis. Bendo by decision.
Connor Dillon: Alright, as this Lightweight Championship fight and main event, I am incredibly torn. If you haven’t been following, I’ve written a series of articles that deliver detailed play-by-play for all of Bendo’s ZUFFA fights, from Njokuani to Melendez. From it, I’ve gathered a couple things: 1) Bendo gets hit a lot & 2) his wrestling tends to work best against the cage, not out in the center. That was an issue in the first Pettis fight, Bendo would get hurt and drive forward, working for a takedown, either a trip, double, or single takedown…but Anthony Pettis would be able to defend excellently against the cage. Since that time though, we’ve seen Bendo thrive in takedowns against Jim Miller, Clay Guida, and Mark Bocek. At the same time, we’ve seen Pettis get wrestle-fucked to death by Guida and barely get past Jeremy “I-Like-To-Beat-My-Wife” Stephens, before finishing two stand-up fighters in Cerrone and Lauzon. On top of his showings in those fights, Pettis has also had a long layoff from injury, and hasn’t been facing the top-five fighters that Bendo has. While I feel like Pettis could still find a way to knock Bendo down and finish him off for a TKO victory, I think his layoff, injuries, and lack of growth is gonna kick him out of this fight. Bendo via Decision.
Ben Kohn: Bendo by UD.
Earl Montclair: I don’t agree with how this fight came to fruition. I don’t think Anthony Pettis is the #1 Contender. Between his weight class jumping, entitled behavior, and all around handling of his career I am fairly annoyed with him at this point. This fight concerns me the most as it regards Benson’s reign as Champion. Pettis is so damn dangerous and creative with his striking and his guard is as active as anyone’s in the division. I just can’t get both men’s fights with Clay Guida out of my head. That, coupled with the unbelievable improvement Henderson has shown throughout his UFC career leads me to believe he will continue to be the Overlord of THE deepest division in the sport. Benson Henderson, Split Decision (because Milwaukee).
Tim Bernier: This is an interesting fight. The style matchup favors Pettis, and he won their first fight. But since then Bendo is on a roll. He has really grown as a fighter. Pettis came to the UFC and lost to Guida, then beat Stephens, Lauzon, and Cerrone. That’s three fighters who lose a lot. Bendo came in and beat Bocek, thrashed Jim Miller and Clay Guida, beat Frankie Edgar for the title, won a controversial decision over Frankie in the rematch, then destroyed Nate Diaz and soundly beat Gilbert Melendez. That’s an impressive resume. The first fight between Bendo and Pettis was close. I think Bendo closed the gaps he needed to close, and I think in the rematch Benson Henderson takes a Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: Both men have improved drastically from their first encounter in the WEC, but has Anthony Pettis improved his takedown defense enough to stop the wrestling attack of the champion? I’m not sure, but I expect this fight to be every bit as close as the first one, but going the other way this time. Henderson via unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: In a rematch from their WEC title tilt at the penultimate WEC 53 event, current UFC lightweight champion Benson Henderson looks to cleanse “the stain on his soul” that is Anthony Pettis. Henderson has taken over the UFC 155 lbs. class with a combination of strength and conditioning that is unrivaled. Henderson has shown comfort in all areas of the game, but namely relies on his wrestling and top-heavy BJJ arsenal to wear his opponents down. Pettis uses his unique athleticism to his advantage, taking his flashy taekwondo black belt and incorporating the style with Muay Thai. Looking at the fight standing, it is apparent that Pettis has the advantage. The speed and movement of Pettis combined with his strike variety should look sterling against a plodding, mechanical striker in Henderson. Henderson’s striking isn’t without merit, using heavy taekwondo leg kicks and straight punches to setup takedowns and further play his conditioning game. Should Pettis find the fight here, he may find an easy route to victory, as Henderson takes the taekwondo stance that sees him stand straight up with his chin out and little head movement to speak up. Should Henderson encounter trouble, walking down Pettis and putting pressure while he attempts to setup a devastating strike could serve him well. On the mat, while Pettis has serviceable takedown defense, Henderson has a large wrestling advantage. This combined with a non-stop pace in the stacked position should see the champion heavy on top. However, despite his clear BJJ advantage, Henderson has trouble with active guard players. Donald Cerrone was able to give Henderson fights while pinned to the mat. In their first fight, Pettis was able to use his active legs to shoo Henderson away or scramble to an advantageous position, notably riding Henderson like a backpack for an entire round. Henderson should have an advantage on the mat, but it all comes down to how well he can impose the grind. If Pettis is able to stifle him en route to returning to the feet, it could be a rough night for the champion. However, given his pace, it could also play to his advantage in potentially wearing down Pettis. Constant pressure striking and takedowns with a methodical top-game have served Henderson well. Despite this, something tells me that Pettis matches up with Henderson too well. His active guard will be able to at least hold Henderson for survival until he can kick out to the feet again. There, Pettis should take advantage and pick Henderson apart to get the gold around his waist. While both have similarly clear paths to victory, Pettis presents more danger over five rounds and is the kryptonite to Ben Henderson’s Superman status. Tonight will show that. Pettis by unanimous decision.
Heavyweight Bout: Frank Mir (16-7) vs. Josh Barnett (32-6)
Luke Irwin: You never quite know which Mir you’re going to get. I’m not sure if it’s going to be muay thai Mir, grappling Mir, or wall-and-stall Mir. I’ve waited for this fight for years, so I’m hoping against hope that it turns into the best grappling war in history, but it’ll probably just be a shitty muay thai match. Ugh, this is going to suck, isn’t it? Mir via SD.
Tim Hickey: Dear Zombie Jesus, please allow this to be 3 rounds of awesome high level grappling. I have wanted to see this fight for years, and the thought of catch wrestling vs bjj makes me feel all funny in my pants. Unfortunately, I am not sure Warmaster wants to test Mir’s ground game, as I think he may have an advantage on the feet. I expect this to be a fight contested mostly on the feet, and I like Barnett’s chin moreso than Mir’s. Barnett via 2nd Rd TKO.
Connor Dillon: I’ll tell you this right now, I want this fight to turn into the grappler’s wet dream it could be. Based on that alone, the lack of Mir’s takedown games especially, I think Barnett wins convincingly. Plus WAR CATCH WRESTLING. Barnett via Submission.
Ben Kohn: Barnett by TKO rd 3.
Earl Montclair: There are not legitimate sayings in existence to express my joy over this fight. Because of that, I will steal an obscure phrase from Josh Koscheck and say that I am as “happy as pigshit” that it is finally happening. I just want it to happen. Hooray for us. Warmaster, dominant Unanimous Decision.
Tim Bernier: This is an interesting fight. Usually, I’d go with a guy like Mir who has faced the much tougher competition and beat some guys, but lost to the better guys. It’s hard to knock him for losing to JDS and Cormier, and he beat the guys he was supposed to. Barnett on the other hand has a loss to Cormier on his record but hasn’t faced the toughest of competition on his win streak. Normally in this situation I’d pick a guy like Mir, but Barnett is a horrible stylistic matchup for him. To win this fight Mir has two options: outstrike Barnett or submit him. He won’t submit Barnett because he won’t get him to the ground in the first place, and Barnett can very easily win the standup battle. I’m taking Josh Barnett by Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: I am so ready to finally see this fight after all the years. The grappling is going to be so good, and Mir gets a chance to take out another of the all time great HW submission fighters. Barnett has a way of sucking the life out of guys from top position with his catch wrestling riding, and I think from there it is his fight to win unless he makes a mistake. Barnett via unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: Heavyweight submission greats finally throw down here with BJJ player Frank Mir taking on catch-as-catch-can exponent Josh Barnett. This is an interesting matchup that could see one of the better grappling clinics in MMA history. That is, if it gets there. The man who will be able to do that in this situation is Barnett, who relies on his top-game as a catch wrestler. This means that Barnett can decide where this fight takes place and he may have no interest in testing Mir’s guard. On the feet, while both men are nowhere near perfect, both have shown their own positive traits. Mir can pack a surprising pop, showing his decent boxing against Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in their first matchup. Mir supplements this with kicks, stemming from his karate background, and can be passable when on the power-end of a clinch. Barnett has shown some punching power in a decent standup game that he now focuses on the French art of savate. Should it come down to the striking game, Barnett gets the edge because of a bit of a power advantage. On the mat is where it gets interesting. Mir is mostly a guard player, where he works to sweep out of disadvantageous situations. His penchant is snapping limbs with his massive frame, as shown in the second bout with Nogueira and his UFC title fight with Tim Sylvia. Barnett uses his catch-wrestling on top to ride his opponents at a grinding pace and work at a methodical rate en route to searching for a hallmark double-wristlock, keylock, or arm-triangle. In a fight that should play out interestingly, Barnett gets the edge given Mir’s tendency to struggle with powerful wrestlers and Barnett’s prowess from the top and slight edge on the feet. Barnett by unanimous decision.
Featherweight Bout: Chad Mendes (14-1) vs. Clay Guida (30-13)
Luke Irwin: I know, in 43 fights Guida has never been knocked out, and he’s faced the best of the best, I know. I get it. That’s not going to discourage me from having an irrational love and faith in Chad Mendes’s (and Alpha Male’s at large) new Bang-inspired striking. Mostly, I just really need this KO to prove Ben Kohn wrong, which I enjoy immensely. Mendes via R2 KO.
Tim Hickey: I have grown weary of Clay Guida of 2013. Bounce around, flop his hair, throw a sloppy combo then hope to hold down his opponent. None of this will work against Mendes. I expect this fight to be extremely one sided, as Mendes is levels above Guida. Mendes via UD.
Connor Dillon: One of the formerly best lightweights before deciding that showing up to a fight and not doing anything to win would win him a fight, Clay Guida is showing up to his second fight in the Featherweight division. Chad Mendes has been tearing through middle-tier competition, and against Guida…I feel he’ll win. Thanks to his stand up improvements and general excitement. Mendes via Decision.
Ben Kohn: Mendes by UD.
Earl Montclair: I love Clay Guida but Chad Mendes and his Duane Ludwig enhanced striking are going to do felonious things to The Carpenter. Money, Massive KO, Rd2.
Tim Bernier: Mendes is going to destroy Guida. He’s a better striker; he’s a better wrestler. Guida has nothing to offer him. Since Mendes’ lost to Aldo, the UFC has fed him a series of fights that are beneath him simply because no fights were available. Guida is another one of those opponents. The same pick is picking Mendes by Decision, but I think he gets the KO.
Josh Hall: Mendes is better everywhere in my opinion, but Guida is a really tough dude. I think he Mendes beats up “The Carpenter” on the feet and takes him down whenever he finds it necessary. Mendes via dominant unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: A bout between two top-flight featherweight wrestlers goes down here between Alpha Male’s Chad “Money Shot” Mendes and Jackson’s Clay Guida. This fight will be a game of pace and Mendes certainly seems to be the one able to do that here. A wrestling and striking advantage should be on his side here. Mendes has shown improvement in his striking over time that has only been accentuated under Duane “Bang” Ludwig. What shouldn’t be counted out here is the unorthodox style of Clay Guida. If Guida gets on his bike, count on him to pepper non-committal strikes and mix them in with relentless takedown attempts. That said, aside from risking an extremely boring fight that would draw more ire from fans and higher-ups, Guida is likely to be outgunned here. Mendes by unanimous decision.
Heavyweight Bout: Ben Rothwell (32-9) vs. Brandon Vera (12-6)
Luke Irwin: I like Vera better at heavyweight than LHW, where his welcome was pretty worn out. Not to say he’s going to destroy worlds at Heavyweight, but he’ll be better in a more shallow division. According to my crack research, Milwaukee is 581.2 feet above sea level. That’s more altitude than I’m comfortable with watching Ben Rothwell fight. Vera via UD.
Tim Hickey: Here is our real main event! Two mid level heavyweights! Gassing out after round 1! Catch the fire!!! Both guys are a combined 7-9-1 since 2008. Expect the Brandon Vera future HW Champ hyperbole to get into full swing soon! Vera via UD.
Connor Dillon: Fuck Brandon Vera. Ben Rothwell via Dropping the Hammer.
Ben Kohn: Rothwell by KO rd 1.
Earl Montclair: Vera came in INCREDIBLY heavy (241) for this fight and it will not do him a damn bit of good against the already improving and now TRT -enhanced Rothwell. This is going to be horrifying. Ben Rothwell, Donkey Kong KO, Rd1.
Tim Bernier: Two “heavyweights” that have some bad striking defense facing off. Recipe for a knockout. Vera is such an inconsistent fighter, but I think he finds Rothwell’s chin early an often enough to secure the first round KO.
Josh Hall: I cannot believe this fight is actually happening. Vera’s only win since 2009 is Eliot Marshall, and he broke Vera’s arm in the fight. The altitude could be a problem for Rothwell as the fight wears on, but I think he overwhelms Vera before that happens. Rothwell via 1st round KO.
Nolan Howell: In a battle of two men trying to reclaim old form, well-rounded Ben Rothwell takes on former prodigy Brandon Vera. Both men have competent grappling, with Rothwell using a blanketing style and Vera using trips out of the Greco-Roman tie to mesh with his Muay Thai. That said, both men tend to butter their bread on the feet, especially Vera. Vera’s adherence to technique and what should be a speed advantage should help him take home a win here over a crafty brawler with one-shot power that should never be discounted. Vera by unanimous decision.
Featherweight Bout: Dustin Poirier (13-3) vs. Erik Koch (13-2)
Luke Irwin: This is an outstanding matchup featuring two exceptionally well-rounded fighters. If Poirier commits to his grappling game like he did against Zombie (and subsiquently abandoned against Cub), he could give Koch fits. Koch will try and find a triangle, but I think Poirier is adept enough to avoid and find his signature d’arce choke in there. Poirier via R3 Submission.
Tim Hickey: This is going to be a fucking barn burner. Both guys have 21 finishes between them, and will come out looking to do the same. Poirier seems to struggle against the upper echelon of the division, and Koch fits that bill. I expect this to be the FOTN. Koch via UD.
Connor Dillon: This fight’ll be interesting for both fighters’ careers. Both Koch and Poirier have beaten fighters ranked from Top-30 to 11, but they’ve failed against true Top-10 fighters like Chad Mendes, Ricardo Lamas, and Cub Swanson. I think this’ll make one of them be a Top-10 gatekeeper, and one be a potential contender. Personally, I think Koch has enough skills that favorably match up against Poirier and this is his hometown. Koch via Back-&-Forth Decision.
Ben Kohn: Poirer by UD.
Earl Montclair: The owners of some of the weirdest tattoos/spray tan fetish in the 145lb division will square off in another phenomenally booked fight. I believe in Duke Roufus’ striking and I think Poirier is just a wee bit too inconsistent for my liking. This one should be lots of fun. Erik Koch, TKO, Rd2.
Tim Bernier: These dudes better wear some distinctive trunks because they look so similar. I love Dustin Poirier. He’s one of my favorite fighters in the division. It pains me to say that Koch is straight up and all around better fighter, and will probably get the win. It takes balls to take on a fighter like Koch after a knockout against Swanson, but Poirier is stepping up and going for it. Hard to fault him, but I’m taking Erik Koch by Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: This is the toughest fight to call on the main card for me. Both men are on the fringe of the elite FWs but both are coming off major setbacks last time out. This is a really even matchup, but I think Poirier is just a lit bit better than Koch at this point in their careers. Poirier via close unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: This is an interesting matchup where both men have clear advantages in their wheelhouses, while they are no slouches in the the other’s area of expertise. Erik Koch’s striking could be the x-factor here, as the fight always starts standing and he has the ability to end the fight before it hits the mat. However, the threat of being taken to the mat has made many proficient strikers gun-shy or overzealous. Dustin Poirier has proven to be competent enough to hang on the feet and he should survive there until he gets to the mat, where he will use his brilliantly unorthodox grappling to take home the win. Poirier by second-round submission.
Lightweight Bout: Gleison Tibau (27-9) vs. Jamie Varner (21-7-1)
Luke Irwin: I don’t know what else there is to say here. Is Tibau fighting on the main PPV card? No? Then it’s a win. NEVER DOUBT THE PATRON SAINT. Tibau via UD.
Tim Hickey: Battle between two veterans that has little impact on the title picture, but should be fun regardless. Tibau has been up and down with every fight, while Varner has had a career resurgence the last few years. I think this will be a fun fight, and despite Luke probably hating my guts for doing it, I gotta go against the Patron Saint. Varner via SD.
Connor Dillon: Tibau via TKO.
Ben Kohn: Varner by UD.
Earl Montclair: Varner’s career resurrection is nothing short of amazing but no way in hell am I picking against TIBAU on this blog….at least, not in this fight. Gleison Tibau, Submission, Rd3.
Tim Bernier: I don’t know why, but I’m a big fan of Jamie Varner. The heart he showed in his loss to Joe Lauzon, and then TKO’ing Edson Barbosa has stuck with me. Varner has good wrestling, but he is going up against a monster in Gleison Tibau. There will be a huge size difference that Tibau will probably look to exploit. I have faith in Varner evading his takedowns and outstriking Tibau for the Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: I’m not picking against the patron saint of Undercard. I think he can use his size and strength advantage to wear down Varner as the fight goes into the latter 2 rounds, though it may not be the prettiest win ever. Tibau via unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: Tibau by unanimous decision.
Flyweight Bout: Louis Gaudinot (6-2) vs. Tim Elliott (9-3-1)
Luke Irwin: It will have been almost 16 months since Gaudinot has been in the cage. That’s never good, and Elliott is explosive enough that he won’t give Gaudinot any time to catch up. Elliott via R1 TKO.
Tim Hickey: Lots of fun fights on this card, and this is no exception. Both of these guys have been on the shelf for a bit, so that won’t work against one or the other. This should go back and forth, but I don’t have faith in Gaudinot’s gas tank. Expect Elliott to finish the fight late. Elliott via 3rd round TKO.
Connor Dillon: Gaudinot via Decision.
Ben Kohn: Gaudinot by UD.
Earl Montclair: I will not pick a man with green hair. Nope nope nope. Tim Elliott, Unanimous Decision.
Tim Bernier: I was surprised when Gaudinot got his first UFC win. When he came out of TUF, I thought he was terrible and an easy washout, but he at least got a win. In the shallow Flyweight division, I think he’s easily outmatched by a guy like Tim Elliot. Tim Elliot by Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: I think Elliott is one of the better FLWs the UFC has on the roster right now, and at 5’7 he can keep the fight at a distance where it makes things very difficult for the 5’3 Gaudinot. Elliott via unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: Elliott by unanimous decision.
Welterweight Bout: Hyun Gyu Lim (11-3-1) vs. Pascal Krauss (11-1)
Luke Irwin: Krauss has never been particularly adept at his striking, but anyone that trains at Roufusport has to pick up some kickass stuff just by osmosis. Lim is a striker by trade and has knocked out some legit guys. I’m thinking these two have a darkhorse FOTN and put together some great exchanges. Krauss via SD.
Tim Hickey: Two good prospects at welterweight face off with a classic striker vs grappler matchup. Lim is one of my favorite young fighters in the UFC, and I think he can keep this fight on the feet long enough to land some bombs and be the first person to finish Krauss. Kim via 2nd Rd KO.
Connor Dillon: Lim via Decision.
Ben Kohn: Krauss by UD.
Earl Montclair: I am going to go with Krauss on this one as I think he can really be solid if he keeps up a consistent fighting schedule. Pascal Krauss, Unanimous Decision.
Tim Bernier: I like Lim here. I think he’s going to use his size and wrestling to secure the Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: Pascal Krauss is a legit up and comer in the UFC WW division. The jetlag from Korea to the states is brutal, and Lim has never fought in the US before. I think that plus the fairly high altitude could spell disaster for Lim’s cardio, and I think Krauss finishes him in the second after he gasses out. Krauss via 2nd round submission.
Nolan Howell: Krauss by unanimous decision.
Bantamweight Bout: Chico Camus (12-4) vs. Kyung Ho Kang (11-6)
Luke Irwin: Camus is a perfectly average fighter that doesn’t excel in any one facet of the fight game in particular. Kyung is a armbar and triangle machine. I don’t think Camus can stave off enough pressure from Kyung. Kyung via R1 Submission.
Tim Hickey: I would be a supreme bullshitter if I told you I knew anything about either guy really. Shot in the dark. Camus via UD.
Connor Dillon: Kang via Kimchi Breath.
Ben Kohn: Kang by Sub rd 1.
Earl Montclair: This is a little bit of a showcase for the local fighter here. Chico Camus, KO, Rd1.
Tim Bernier: Camus is just straight up better and more experienced than Kang. Camus by Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: Camus looked really bad in his last fight, but I think home field advantage plus the same jet lag problem for Kang as Lim certainly gives him a huge advantage before they step in the cage. I think Kang puts up a fight, but Camus controls most of the action. Camus via unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: Kang by unanimous decision.
Heavyweight Bout: Nikita Kyrlov (15-2) vs. Soa Palelei (18-3)
Luke Irwin: Kyrlov’s only two losses were to the same fighter, and both the same way, first-round arm-triangle. Since I seriously doubt Palelei has the grappling chops, it’s going to be a race of if Krylov can get Palelei down before he gets his lights turned off. I see this going the same way McCorkle-Hunt fight did. Kyrlov via R1 Submission.
Tim Hickey: Palelei has been plying his trade outside the UFC since his lone appearance back at UFC 79. Although he hasn’t been fighting big names, he has shown a perchance for finishing violently. Krylov is a 21 year old Russian who has shown both power and a solid submission game. Palelei is by far the most experienced opponent Krylov has faced, as most of his 21 wins have come against guys with 1 win or less in their careers. Palelei via 2nd Rd KO.
Connor Dillon: Palelei via KO.
Ben Kohn: Palelei by KO rd 1.
Earl Montclair: Soa is going to brickfist this dude into another lifetime. The Hulk, KO, Rd1.
Tim Bernier: Krylov and Pelelei have both dominated their respective regional circuits. So it surprises me that Krylov is sort of a heavy favorite. I think Soa is going to dominate the standup, and walk away with a KO.
Josh Hall: Krylov is an aggressive fighter that has never seen the 2nd round in 17 pro fights, but beating 1-7 guys while having a 9-0 record doesn’t tell us all that much about the Ukranian. Palelei is not an easy guy to put away, and I think he weathers an early storm and comes back quickly for the win. Palelei via 1st round KO.
Nolan Howell: Palelei by first-round TKO.
Lightweight Bout: Al Iaquinta (5-2-1) vs. Ryan Couture (6-2)
Luke Irwin: I’ll say this about Couture, he’s no soft spanked-ass. The kid comes to fight. He’s been in some barn-burners and his chin isn’t going to get cracked by Iaquinta. You can lure Couture into a brawl, which Iaquinta might, but when it hits the ground, that’s where Iaquinta could be in a world of hurt. Couture is never out of a fight and could easily get Al with a flash sub. Couture via R2 Submission.
Tim Hickey: When beards collide, no one is safe. This will more than likely descend into a sloppy kickboxing match, but I think Couture has the skills to take this fight and win it. Couture via UD.
Connor Dillon: Couture via Decision.
Ben Kohn: Iaquinta by UD.
Earl Montclair: Al’s nickname is “Raging”….Well, better him than Stephan Bonnar. ROASTED! Al Iaquinta, TKO, Rd2.
Tim Bernier: Iaquinta made the Ultimate Fighter coming off two straight losses. He looked decent on the show, but then lost his UFC debut handily. This combination of events lead me to be surprised by him being a favorite over Ryan Couture, who has faced and beat the better competition. Couture lost (expectedly) to Pearson and won a (probably BS) decision over KJ Noons. I think this still makes Couture the better fighter, and I think Couture wins by Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: I’m not sure why Iaquinta is a favorite in this fight, as Couture has fought and beaten better competition. I think he can ugly up the fight just enough to scrape by and stay ahead on the scorecards. Couture via unanimous decision.
Nolan Howell: Couture by unanimous decision.
Middleweight Bout: Jared Hamman (13-5) vs. Magnus Cedenblad (10-4)
Luke Irwin: Damn, Jared Hamman, it’s been a minute or two. Well, ring rust is certainly going to do in Hamman unless, by some impossibility, his opponent has been out of action longer than Hamman has, which would be impossible. OR IS IT?! Cedenblad has been out since April of 2012. Good lord. This is going to be a hideous fight, but Hamman actually some has decent wins, which is leagues more than Cedenblad has. Hamman via UD.
Tim Hickey: Two guys looking for a win, Hamman is 2-4 during his UFC stint, so I expect him to come out firing and trying hard to win and not be sent back to the regional circuit. Hamman via SD.
Connor Dillon: Hamman via KO.
Ben Kohn: Hamman by KO rd 2.
Earl Montclair: The idea of Jared Hamman taking any more punishment in the Octagon or any other fighting structure makes me a sad panda. For my own conscience’s sake I will say Magnus Cedenblad, Submission, Rd3.
Tim Bernier: The typical Facebook opening prelim. Nobody really cares about this fight. Looking at their records, nobody impresses me but I’ll take Cedenblad by Submission, Round 2 to kick off UFC 164.
Josh Hall: Neither man has been in the cage for quite a while. A couple of fights ago I would have picked Hamman, but the beatings he has taken have to be taking a toll on him physically. I think Cedeblad drags it to the floor and goes to work with ground and pound. Cedenblad via 2nd round TKO.
Nolan Howell: Hamman by first-round TKO.
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