Rosenthal League:
Daniel Galvan: 19-8, .704
Tim Bernier: 65-28, .699
Benjamin Kohn: 92-40, .697
Tim Hickey: 105-52, .669
Josh Hall: 102-51, .667
Nolan Howell: 133-69, .658
Winslow League:
Connor Dillon: 73-43, .629
Chris Groves: 30-19, .612
Earl Montclair: 22-14, .611
Lucas Bourdon: 21-15, .583
Luke Irwin: 127-98, .564
TC Engel: 20-20, .500
Last Event Winner: Josh Hall/Earl Montclair (9-3)
Light Heavyweight Bout: Glover Teixeira (21-2) vs. Ryan Bader (15-3)
Luke Irwin: This matchup makes sense, seeing as how both of these fighters are rather odd. Teixeira doesn’t do anything exceptionally, but does everything very, very well. Bader does one thing exceptionally, wrestling, but doesn’t have a good chin and can be caught in submissions, which is the exact opposite of most high-level wrestleboxers. This fight becomes clearer when you can rule out some possibilities. Bader will not knock out Glover, and Bader will not submit Glover. That we can rely on. Now we’re left with Bader’s best chance of victor to come via his wrestling. Over three rounds? Maybe. Over five rounds? No. Over five rounds of fighting, Bader is hoping that Glover won’t catch him on the feet or make him pay on the ground with a submission (especially a guillotine, which Bader is susceptible). My thinking is, if you give Glover Teixeira five rounds to find a way to beat you, he will. No, Glover hasn’t faced a wrestler like Bader before, but he also hasn’t lost a fight since George W. Bush was being sworn in for his second term. Teixeira via R4 TKO.
TC Engel: Texeira UD – I don’t see any way Bader wins this. He is not good. He lost to Tito Ortiz in 2012. Let’s think about that for a few minutes. Alright, carry on. Ryan Bader hits pretty hard and is a solid enough wrestler. Texeira is good at everything, but doesn’t stand out anywhere, at least in my eyes.
Nolan Howell: Ryan Bader is a tough customer and could exploit the wrestling of Glover Teixeira for five rounds. However, that seems to be a pipe dream for a man who got rocked and submitted by Tito Ortiz only a few years ago. Teixeira has the grappling to keep him safe and potentially endanger Bader, allowing him to keep it standing. While Bader is no slouch standing, he won’t stand a chance against the attack of Glover. Teixeira by first-round TKO.
Earl Montclair: Bader is in the poop here, guys. All the poop. His only real path to victory in my eyes is a crazy overhand right that finds Glover’s chin early. Bader will get busted up on the feet, get desperate and then fall victim to the Teixeira Special. Glover Teixeira, Arm Triangle, Rd 2.
Josh Hall: If Teixeira can stop Bader’s takedowns it will be a rough night for the wrestler. Glover has never been tested by a really good wrestler, and I think Bader may get a takedown or 2, but eventually the Brazilian will find a big shot on the feet. Teixeira via 2nd round TKO.
Lucas Bourdon: I don’t think Teixeira is as impressive as everyone does, but he should be able to handle Bader although the wrestling might give him a bit of trouble. Glover by TKO.
Middleweight Bout: Ronaldo Souza (18-3) vs. Yushin Okami (29-7)
Luke Irwin: This is a great matchup, and it makes a ton of sense. Jacare might be the most dangerous submission artist in all of MMA right now. However, he’s facing the wrong damned opponent. Yushin Okami is a massive, tough, strong middleweight, who only has losses in the UFC to fighters who have fought at Light Heavyweight. In the kindest sense of the word, he is an absolute bully in the cage with smaller fighters who will take you wherever he wants you in the cage. Jacare’s striking has gotten much better, but it won’t matter. Okami will throw him into a corner and unload on him. Jacare’s chin is solid and Okami doesn’t have the power to take him out, but Okami will control the bout, Jacare won’t be able to snap something, and it’ll be a giant middleweight against a big welterweight here. Okami via UD.
TC Engel: Jacare UD – This is a pure heart pick. I hate Okami and everything he stands for, and Jacare is entertaining as hell. Is he going to win? I don’t know, but I sure as hell hope so.
Nolan Howell: Yushin Okami has the power to turn this fight ugly with his takedown defense, strength, and snapping jab. While “Jacare” has improved on his standup, Okami will have the edge because he can keep the fight where he is comfortable. This one will be ugly, but that’s something Okami never minded. Okami by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: I really want Jacare to win this. Okami getting back “in the mix” is nothing really compelling to me. Souza offers so much potential in regards to match ups at the top of the division but, sadly this is just a brutal fight for him. If Yushin has that jab on point, he has this locked up. Yushin Okami, Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: This is really a tough fight to call as I think that Jacare can hang with the bottom of the top 5, but Okami is an absolutely terrible matchup for him. If Okami works his jab and uses the clinch to control Jacare I don’t know that the Brazilian can get the fight to the ground where his advantage lies. Okami via unanimous decision.
Lucas Bourdon: This is a tough one to call as Jacare will probably have trouble getting Okami to the ground, however Okami hasn’t really looked great on the feet since the Boetsch fight and I guess he wn’t want to go to the ground with Jacare unless he absolutely has to. Jacare by decision.
Flyweight Bout: Joseph Benavidez (18-3) vs. Jussier da Silva (15-2)
Luke Irwin: This is a big, big step up for Formiga, and one that he isn’t ready for. He’s 1-1 in the UFC and is facing a legitimate Top-3 fighter in two seperate weight divisions. Rough. I call Jussier a prospect even though he shares the exact same birthday as me so I don’t feel old, but the truth is that he’s been around the block and contrary to what Ben Kohn tells you, this isn’t your daddy’s Alpha Male. JoeB and the rest of Team Bang are killers now and da Silva doesn’t know what’s about to hit him. Benavidez R1 TKO.
TC Engel: Benavidez KO1 – Is this a pick that needs to be explained? Benavidez is going to truck Formiga. ALL PRAISE BE TO BASED LUDWIG.
Nolan Howell: Rewatch the Darren Uyenoyama fight. Benavidez by first-round KO.
Earl Montclair: Speaking of god awful, horrendous opponents, Jussier is fighting virtually the most difficult opponent he could. This fight is all Benavidez and as we discussed on the last Supercast, I am not picking Team Alpha Male by anything other than KO/TKO ever again. Joseph Benavidez, KO, Rd1.
Josh Hall: This is a brutal matchup for Formiga, as Benavidez is better everywhere. I suspect he keeps it on the feet and blasts away. Benavidez via 2nd round KO.
Lucas Bourdon: This is an absolutely awful match up for Formiga. Benavidez by TKO.
Lightweight Bout: Francisco Trinaldo (13-2) vs. Piotr Hallmann (13-1)
Luke Irwin: A European champ versus a Brazilian champ means you really, really, REALLY, need to scour their fight logs to see where and whom they’ve fought. In Trinaldo’s case, he’s fought in top-flight Brazilian promotions like Jungle Fight and Bitetti and flourished, even against name fighters. He even has wins against two American fighters in the UFC. Hallmann, however, somehow managed to advance his career without even fighting in the biggest promotion in Poland. His last bout was in MMA Attack, the second-tier Polish promotion behind KSW. Go with strength of schedule here. Trinaldo via R1 Submission.
TC Engel: Trinaldo KO2.
Nolan Howell: Trinaldo by first-round submission.
Earl Montclair: Massaranduba will win this. Yep. Francisco Trinaldo, Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: Trinaldo has dominated most of his lesser competition, and I don’t think Hallman is near the level of Alcantara or Tibau. I expect Trinaldo to be able to use his strength to get the fight to the ground where he can work foe submission. Trinaldo via 1st round submission.
Lucas Bourdon: Massaranduba by submission.
Middleweight Bout: Rafael Natal (16-4-1) vs. Tor Troeng (16-4-1)
Luke Irwin: I’ve said this before and I’ll say it again, Natal fights like he has Fetal Alcohol Syndrome. As soon as he faces some opposition, he does the exact opposite of what you should do. Facing a great grappling fighter? Here comes a haphazard single leg! Facing a dangerous striker? Here comes Natal wading in with his hands down! I want to think Troeng is competent enough to catch Natal having one of his episodes, but I doubt he will. Natal via SD.
TC Engel: Troeng UD.
Nolan Howell: Natal by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: I see this playing out like a typical Natal UFC fight. He will win on scorecards and not even sniff a finish. Rafael Natal, Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: Natal has not been very pretty to watch in the UFC, but he has been able to win. I would be very surprised if Troeng is able to stop Natal from putting him on his back repeatedly and grinding out a win. Natal via unanimous decision.
Lucas Bourdon: Natal by decision.
Flyweight Bout: Ali Bagautinov (10-2) vs. Marcos Vinicius (20-4-1)
Luke Irwin: *snore….snore…sn…* *gets slapped* HEY NOW HOLY SHIT YES RUSSIAN SAMBO AND JIU JITSU AGAINST BJJ! Whew, thank god I was woken up for this. Vinicius is a nasty BJJ fighter who can easily dispatch you via strikes and dominated the regional scene, Ali is a Russian sambo champion and BJJ practioner that can seemingly lock on a submission from anywhere. This is my FOTN candidate right here. Vinicius via R3 KO.
TC Engel: Bagautinov UD.
Nolan Howell: Bagautinov by first-round KO.
Earl Montclair: Bagaunitov’s nickname is “Puncher”. How can you not love that?!?! Marcos Vinicius, Split Decision.
Josh Hall: Vinicius is the bigger man here having spent most of his career at FW, but that is the only advantage I see for him in this fight. Bagautinov is a combat Sambo world champion and he is one of the hardest hitting flyweights on the planet. Baugatinov via 1st round KO.
Lucas Bourdon: If Bagautinov is half as good as his wikipedia page tries to make it sound he shouldn’t have any trouble with Vina. Bagautinov by decision.
Featherweight Bout: Edimilson Souza (13-3) vs. Felipe Arantes (15-4-1)
Luke Irwin: Here we are to the undercard of cheap Brazilian talent. Did you know Arantes started his UFC career at UFC 134 over two years ago?! I sure as hell didn’t. Souza is making his UFC debut after running roughshod over Jungle Fight. Gotta go with the guy, who, somehow, has four (!!) UFC fights under his belt. Arantes via UD.
TC Engel: Souza TKO2.
Nolan Howell: Arantes by first-round TKO.
Earl Montclair: The lesser Souza is in trouble here as Felipe Arantes will leave another crime scene on the canvas after this is said and done. Felipe Arantes, KO, Rd1.
Josh Hall: Souza pretty much wins every fight via KO and loses every time by submission. I think Arantes looks to get the fight to the ground immediately and finds the early finish there. Arantes via 1st round submission.
Lucas Bourdon: I like what I’ve seen from Arantes so far. Arantes by decision.
Welterweight Bout: Elias Silverio (8-0) vs. Joao Zeferino (13-5)
Luke Irwin: Having your first fight in the UFC moving up from welterweight to middleweight against a fighter who’s already fought at middleweight? Not good. Zeferino via UD.
TC Engel: Silveiro TKO1.
Nolan Howell: Zeferino by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: Something about these two guys names makes me think that if Mike Goldberg were to be broadcasting he would bust out an Italian accent at one point. Joao Zeferino, Unanimous Decision.
Josh Hall: Silverio is a decent striker but doesn’t have a lot of power on the feet and very little ground game. Zeferino had a decent showing at MW against Rafael Natal in his UFC debut but lost a decision and may be fighting for his job here. I think he gets the fight to the ground and controls Silviero there. Zeferino via unanimous decision.
Lucas Bourdon: I won’t lie, I have no idea who these people are. Joao Zeferino by submission. Maybe?
Bantamweight Bout: Lucas Martins (13-1) vs. Ramiro Hernandez (13-4)
Luke Irwin: Hernandez is a Pat Miletich-trained grinder who has a number of decisions to his name. However, Martins is an absolutely dynamic striker who will erase him before he gets that chance. Martins via R1 TKO.
TC Engel: Hernandez UD.
Nolan Howell: Hernandez by second-round TKO.
Earl Montclair: Let’s hope Martins has been working on his striking defense or else the poor kid is going to be eating baby food through a straw by the time he is 33. Lucas Martins, KO, Rd2.
Josh Hall: Martins is making his BW debut coming off a KO win at LW, but Hernandez fought most of his career at 155 as well. Hernandez has really solid kickboxing, and Martins shown the propensity to get hit a lot even in wins. Hernandez via 1st round KO.
Lucas Bourdon: Lucas Martins has negative striking defense, you have to try really really hard to throw a punch and not land it on his face. Hernandez by KO.
Welterweight Bout: Ivan Jorge (24-3) vs. Keith Wisniewski (28-14-1)
Luke Irwin: Jorge is a product of Brazilian regional circuit and his puffed up record isn’t anything to write home about. To say Wisniewski is a veteran would be a hilarious understatement. The guy has simply seen and done it all and will offer a stiff challenge to Jorge, of which he’s had few. Wisniewski via UD.
TC Engel: Jorge SUB2.
Nolan Howell: Wisniewski by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: Poor Wisniewski. Ivan Jorge, Submission, Rd3.
Josh Hall: Batman has ripped off 5 straight wins in Jungle Fights via rear naked choke, but Wisniewski hasn’t been submitted in 8 and a half years. Batman should be able to take him down, but I don’t know that he can hit “The Polish Hammer” with anything on the ground he hasn’t already seen. Batman via decision.
Lucas Bourdon: Jorge’s nickname is Batman so I guess I’ll pick him (I also don’t want to type Keith’s name again). Jorge by decision.
Welterweight Bout: Sean Spencer (9-2) vs. Yuri Villefort (6-2)
Luke Irwin: Both of these guys have some bad, bad losses on their dockett, but I think Spencer’s size will be a big benefit to him. Spencer via SD.
TC Engel: Spencer UD.
Nolan Howell: Villefort by unanimous decision.
Earl Montclair: Yuri should get the show started off right for the thousand in attendance.. Yuri Villefort, Submission, Rd1.
Josh Hall: The loser of this fight likely gets cut. Spencer couldn’t avoid the sub in his UFC debut against a Brazilian, and I think coming down a weight class will not change anything. Villefort via 2nd round submission.
Lucas Bourdon: Despite the loss to Nah-Shon Burell I still think Villefort has some upside. Villefort by submission.
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