Last Event Winner: Nolan Howell/Luke Irwin/Earl Montclair (8-3)
Yearly Standings:
Lucas Bourdon: 9-4 .692
Ben Kohn: 143-67 .681
Josh Hall: 35-21 .625
TC Engel: 87-53 .621
Luke Irwin: 228-140 .620
Earl Montclair: 111-72 .607
Nolan Howell: 150-100 .600
Naomi Kamornick: 6-5 .545
Dan Galvan: 5-6 .455
Middleweight Bout: Luke Rockhold (12-2) vs. Michael Bisping (25-6)
Luke Irwin: Neither of these guys are going to tire over five rounds, they both have absurd gas tanks, so now it’s a matter of who has more tools in their belt. To me, Rockhold just has a more complete skillset and has more experience at going five rounds than Bisping. Neither guy will get finished, but I’m thinking Rockhold here. Rockhold via SD.
Nolan Howell: Michael Bisping really doesn’t match up well with Luke Rockhold in any aspect. While he may be the cleaner and more orthodox striker, Bisping’s only chance here is to stick and move for five rounds. Even then, Rockhold is an unorthodox striker with great intangibles and a slick ground game. Bisping simply isn’t what he once was and, though competitive, his skills won’t carry him here. Luke Rockhold by first-round TKO.
Ben Kohn: This is the perfect showcase matchup for Luke Rockhold to shine. Bisping is a far better fighter than people want to admit (because they hate him) but he continues to demonstrate the same exact flaws in every single fight, the exact flaws that have led him to defeat continuously in title eliminators. His hunching forward stance, his leaning back away from punches with his legs straight up and chin unprotected, his arms extending during punching flurries, all of these defensive flaws get him cracked all the time. On top of that, Bisping is more than willing to let guys back him up, which is what Rockhold loves best. An opponent who allows Rockhold to back them up is an opponent begging to be kicked repeatedly in the legs, body, and head until they fall down. It also doesn’t help that Bisping is a total arm puncher, with little one-shot power. So Luke can walk down Bisping and fire his kicks with abandon because on top of all that, he’s a better wrestler and grappler than Bisping too. I don’t see how Bisping wins this fight because Rockhold also can go 5 rounds and has before. Luke Rockhold by KO round 2.
Lightweight Bout: Al Iaquinta (9-3-1) vs. Ross Pearson (16-7)
Luke Irwin: Bad matchup for Al. Iaquinta is a tough, game fighter, but Pearson is going to carve him up on the feet. Pearson via UD.
Nolan Howell: Al Iaquinta is no slouch on the feet, but Ross Pearson is on another level with a very slick MMA boxing arsenal. Iaquinta’s ground game shouldn’t be discounted, but Pearson’s takedown defense is likely too solid and he has also survived more dangerous grapplers. This is Pearson’s fight to lose. Ross Pearson by second-round TKO.
Ben Kohn: Pearson is a better striker than Iaquinta, that’s obvious. But Pearson’s grappling now compliments his excellent boxing and newfound power punching too. A powerful and slick boxer, albeit with a questionable chin, Pearson definitely will outwork Iaquinta on the feet. I also don’t think Iaquinta is nearly good enough on the ground to submit Pearson. I see this fight being a dominant perforamance for the Brit en route to a dominant decision. Ross Pearson by UD.
Middleweight Bout: Clint Hester (11-3) vs. Robert Whittaker (12-4)
Luke Irwin: A man who lost via TKO to Stephen Thompson is moving UP in weight?! Nope, he’s not getting my pick. Plus, Hester might have the quietest four-fight UFC winning streak in some time…at least since last card. Hester via UD.
Nolan Howell: If this were a fight with the competitors being the same size, Robert Whittaker has more tools on the feet and would win this handily. That said, Clint Hester is competent enough to be competitive with Whittaker everywhere and the size advantage should give him the edge to take this, assuming Whittaker’s speed isn’t upped by the lack of a weight cut. Clint Hester by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: Hester is the raw and powerful boxer while Whittaker is the slick and smooth counter-puncher. I love this matchup but I expect Hester, the more durable of the two, to use his athletic ability and raw power to take this one by early KO. Clint Hester by KO round 1.
Heavyweight Bout: Soa Palelei (21-4) vs. Walt Harris (7-3)
Luke Irwin: I like Walt Harris, but short notice on Soa’s (nearly) home field? Yikes. Palelei via R1 KO.
Nolan Howell: This seems like a fight Soa Palelei wins 9 times out of 10. Wrestling advantage for Palelei will lead to him getting the top and getting the KO. Soa Palelei by first-round KO.
Ben Kohn: Palelei is getting a softball here as Harris does not have a ground game at all and he’s either being subbed or knocked out on the ground. Soa Palelei by KO round 1.
Lightweight Bout: Jake Matthews (7-0) vs. Vagner Rocha (11-3)
Luke Irwin: This looks like a good showcase for the Aussie kid. Matthews via R1 Submission.
Nolan Howell: Jake Matthews by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: Vagner Rocha, I remember him. But he’s not very good. Also his opponent has a win over a guy named D. Johnson. That’s good enough for me. Jake Matthews by UD.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Anthony Perosh (14-8) vs. Carlos Augusto Filho (6-3)
Luke Irwin: I can’t bet against the Hippo in Australia. My heart won’t let me. Perosh via R2 TKO.
Nolan Howell: Anthony Perosh by second-round submission.
Ben Kohn: The Hippo is back bitches and he’s going to win this fight!!! Anthony Perosh by UD.
Welterweight Bout: Dylan Andrews (17-5) vs. Sam Alvey (23-6)
Luke Irwin: This should absolutely be the fight of the night. Both guys love to scrap, but Hester is coming off of an injured elbow. I’m just going to guess Alvey gets the best of him barely in a slugfest. Alvey via SD.
Nolan Howell: Dylan Andrews by split decision.
Ben Kohn: I happen to like Dylan a lot, he seems like a really nice guy and is just cool overall. Alvey was last seen losing to the mediocre Tom Watson and that is not a good thing. Andrews seems to have some talent as a fighter and is super tough so I’m definitely going with him. Dylan Andrews by UD.
Welterweight Bout: Chris Clements (11-5) vs. Vik Grujic (7-3)
Luke Irwin: Good lord, Chris Clements is still hired by the UFC? Yowza. Grujic via R2 TKO.
Nolan Howell: Chris Clements by first-round KO.
Ben Kohn: Chris Clements, didn’t he get standing arm triangled by a baked out of his mind Matt Riddle? Vik Grujic by UD.
Flyweight Bout: Louis Smolka (7-1) vs. Richie Vaculik (10-2)
Luke Irwin: This is actually one of the most relevent fights of the entire weekend. The winner doesn’t get a shot, but at least has a winning record in the division and is near the rankings. Smolka took Cariaso to a split-decision and I like what I’ve seen from him. Smolka via UD.
Nolan Howell: Louis Smolka by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: Smolka is definitely a tough fighter with a lot of skill too. He took Cariaso to a split decision and had an awesome fight with Alp too. I don’t know much about Vaculik but I like Smolka a lot so……Louis Smolka by UD.
Middleweight Bout: Daniel Kelly (7-0) vs. Luke Zachrich (14-3)
Luke Irwin: Kelly is a fine prospect, but Zachrich isn’t the kind of fighter you want to encounter on your UFC debut. Zachrich via R3 Submission.
Nolan Howell: Luke Zachrich by second-round submission.
Ben Kohn: Luke Zachrich sure made a nice re-entrance in his last fight and I expect him to take this one as well. Luke Zachrich by UD.
Bantamweight Bout: Jumabieke Tuerxun (14-2) vs. Marcus Brimage (6-3)
Luke Irwin: This is going to be awful. Tuerxun is the UFC’s latest attempt to push a Chinese fighter to get into the country, but he’s really awful, and even putting him against the really awful Marcus Brimage isn’t going to work. This will suck. Brimage via UD.
Nolan Howell: Marcus Brimage by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: I thought Brimage got robbed in his last fight and I really like how well he’s come along as a fighter, also his scouter shows that Tuerxun’s power level is not OVER 9000!!!!. Brimage should be able to comfortably outwork Tuerxun to a UD. Marcus Brimage by UD.
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