Last Event Winner: Nolan Howell (10-2)
Yearly Standings:
Lucas Bourdon: 9-4 .692
Ben Kohn: 136-63 .683
Josh Hall: 35-21 .625
TC Engel: 87-53 .621
Luke Irwin: 220-137 .616
Earl Montclair: 103-69 .599
Nolan Howell: 142-97 .594
Naomi Kamornick: 6-5 .545
Dan Galvan: 5-6 .455
UFC Featherweight Championship: Jose Aldo (c) (24-1) vs. Chad Mendes (16-1)
Luke Irwin: What nobody ever really talks about in regards to Aldo is just how AWFUL he is in the title rounds. Round five especially. I can’t remember the last one he won. He got dominated in the fifth by Mark Hominick, whose forehead was about to give birth, for christ’s sakes. I also think the ref will be hip to his fence-grabbing this time around. Alpha Male guys are smart at adapting to their opponents, and even though Bang Ludwig has moved on, his lessons haven’t. I think Mendes can survive early, and start to wear Aldo down. Mendes has a fantastic gas tank and I believe he’ll pounce in Aldo’s notoriously-weak fifth to take the strap. Mendes via R5 TKO.
Nolan Howell: Chad Mendes has improved drastically and it will show here. Still, I’m uncertain that will be enough to beat Jose Aldo. A tuned striking game will help, but he will still be a few miles behind Aldo on the feet and Aldo’s takedown defense should still be good enough. I anticipate Mendes to take a round or two, but it will still be clear. Jose Aldo by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: Mendes has learned his lesson when it comes to Aldo. He will not take him down anywhere near the fence and he will use his improved striking, standout wrestling and his stellar mixing of those attributes to beat down a fading Aldo who will once again struggle with weight cut and cardio issues. NEW Featherweight Champion Chad Mendes, TKO, Round 4.
Ben Kohn: Aldo by KO round 2.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Glover Teixeira (22-3) vs. Phil Davis (12-2)
Luke Irwin: Yeck. Glover always looks like his limbs are going to detach from his body at any given moment and Phil always looks like he’s about to fall asleep when they’re both fighting. This is just going to be wretched, but Phil has an enormous size and strength advantage and will use it. Davis via UD.
Nolan Howell: Phil Davis has the same path to victory in this fight as he does in nearly every other. Glover Teixeira is competent enough to keep it standing or get back up should the fight go to the mat. On the feet, it is no contest, as Teixeira should wade in with little fear and bomb away on Davis. I anticipate Teixeira will be too much and get Davis out of there with authority. Glover Teixeira by first-round TKO.
Earl Montclair: This one is a weird fight that will be dreadfully boring and uninspiring. Phil Davis, Unanimous Decision.
Ben Kohn: Glover by UD.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Fabio Maldoado (21-7) vs. Hans Stringer (22-5-3)
Luke Irwin: I think this is a “thank you” fight for Maldonado for taking the Miocic fight. Maldonado via R3 TKO.
Nolan Howell: This should be Fabio Maldonado’s fight to lose. He will probably have some trouble, not unlike he does in any other fight. Once he gets going on the feet, it will be a long night for Stringer. Jabs and body work against the cage will be the name of the game and Maldonado isn’t too shabby playing that game. Fabio Maldonado by second-round TKO.
Earl Montclair: Stupid entertaining beatdown. Fabio Maldonado, Round 3, TKO.
Ben Kohn: Maldonado by body punching (UD).
Featherweight Bout: Darren Elkins (17-4) vs. Lucas Martins (15-1)
Luke Irwin: I don’t feel great about either of these guys. Elkins has been on a cold streak and Martins hasn’t been tested harshly. Still, I think Elkins can squeak out a grinding win. Elkins via SD.
Nolan Howell: Lucas Martins is a guy who will want to brawl and his toughness will carry him until he can land a kill shot. Here, he won’t get that chance against the crafty Darren Elkins. Elkins is competent enough on the feet to get this fight to the mat to grind Martins down. Darren Elkins by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: Martins can strike but goddamn he gets hit a lot. Not that Elkins is a striking wizard but I think that Martins will buckle under the pressure that Elkins will put on him. This will be a grinding affair. That’s what she said. Darren Elkins, Unanimous Decision.
Ben Kohn: Martins by UD.
Lightweight Bout: Beneil Dariush (8-1) vs. Carlos Diego Ferreira (11-0)
Luke Irwin: Jesus, this is on a PPV main card? Dariush is aggressively mediocre, while at least Ferreira has some zip in his game. Ferreira via R2 TKO.
Nolan Howell: Solid fight against two relatively new UFC names. The ground battle should be fairly even. Beneil Dariush was finished by strikes from Ramsey Nijem, while Carlos Diego Ferreira finished Nijem with strikes. Ferreira has the edge in terms of experience and seems to be generally more dynamic, which will be enough to get the win here. Carlos Diego Ferreira by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: Sure. Carlos Diego Ferreira, Unanimous Decision.
Ben Kohn: Ferreira by UD.
Welterweight Bout: Neil Magny (12-3) vs. William Macario (7-1)
Luke Irwin: Magny has very, very quietly reeled off four wins in a row. I think his strength and ground game will be his bread-and-butter here. Magny via UD.
Nolan Howell: Neil Magny by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: Magny is on a hell of a run right now and Macario damn sure isn’t the guy to stop it. Neil Magny, Unanimous Decision.
Ben Kohn: Magny by UD.
Lightweight Bout: Naoyuki Kotani (33-11-7) vs. Yan Cabral (11-1)
Luke Irwin: Kotani is a journeyman’s journeyman, but Cabral’s size advantage is going to be enormous and too much for him to overcome. Cabral via UD.
Nolan Howell: Yan Cabral by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: Ok. Yan Cabral, Unanimous Decision.
Ben Kohn: Cabral by Sub round 2.
128-pound Catchweight Bout: Scott Jorgensen (15-9) vs. Wilson Reis (18-5)
Luke Irwin: Two guys that are pretty well past done here. I don’t think I’ve ever picked Wilson Reis to win a fight before, but good lord…Scotty is just so done, isn’t he? Ugh. Reis via SD.
Nolan Howell: Wilson Reis by second-round submission.
Earl Montclair: Scotty is done and this is in Brazil so Scotty is double done. Wilson Reis, Unanimous Decision.
Ben Kohn: Reis by UD.
Featherweight Bout: Andre Fili (13-2) vs. Felipe Arantes (16-6-1)
Luke Irwin: Temporary setback for Fili, but fear not, he’s going to continue along his murderous and macking ways. Fili via R1 submission.
Nolan Howell: Andre Fili by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: I am sure as shit not picking against Fili, nope. Andre Fili, TKO, Round 2.
Ben Kohn: Fili by UD.
Lightweight Bout: Christos Giagos (10-2) vs. Gilbert Burns (8-0)
Luke Irwin: Burns made weight? Well I’ll be damned. If Giagos wants to get into a grappling match, he’s going to have a bad time. Burns via R2 submission.
Nolan Howell: Gilbert Burns by first-round submission.
Earl Montclair: I have no fucking clue who these guys are but Giagos has Taylor Engel’s haircut so he deserves to lose and lose badly. Gilbert Burns, Unanimous Decision.
Ben Kohn: Burns by sub round 2.
158-pound Catchweight Bout: Fabricio Camoes (14-8-1) vs. Tony Martin (8-2)
Luke Irwin: Good golly, neither of these two are good, but Camoes can at least drag a win out here with his experience. Camoes via SD.
Nolan Howell: Fabricio Camoes by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: Boy oh boy. Yep. Fabricio Camoes, Unanimous Decision.
Ben Kohn: Camoes by UD.
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