UFC Fight Night: Hendricks vs. Thompson Picks

Welterweight Bout: Johny Hendricks (17-3) vs. Stephen Thompson (11-1)

-The spinny dream comes to an end here. Hendricks isn’t going to fall for Thompson’s Bloodsport offense and will make him pay for trying it. Hendricks via R2 KO.

Heavyweight Bout: Jared Rosholt (14-2) vs. Roy Nelson (20-12)

-Rosholt is capable of being slept, but Nelson has looked beyond shitty in his last few fights, and I think, in a horrendously ugly fight, Rosholt does enough over fifteen minutes to smother Nelson and have him earn a pink slip. Rosholt via UD.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Ovince Saint Preux (18-7) vs. Rafael Cavalcante (12-6)

-I like this matchmaking a lot, but I don’t think it’ll be as competitive in the cage. Feijao has looked very pedestrian in his last few bouts, and I think the striking wars he’s had in the past are taking their toll. I would have LOVED to have seen the OSP of today and the Fejiao of five years ago, but such is life in the fight game. Saint Preux via R3 TKO.

Flyweight Bout: Joseph Benavidez (23-4) vs. Zack Makovsky (19-6)

-I’d MUCH rather have this fight as the co-main, but the UFC’s fascination with Nelson trumps logic and reason. Makovsky is a hell of a fighter, but JoeB is just too damned good. He’ll win and earn another trip to lose to Demetrious for the title. Benavidez via R2 Submission.

Light Heavyweight Bout: Alex Nicholson (6-1) vs. Misha Cirkunov (10-2)

-Boy, 205 is ….it’s pretty thin. Yikes. Cirkunov via UD.

Welterweight Bout: Mike Pyle (26-11-1) vs. Sean Spencer (12-4)

-Everyone’s favorite red-assed welterweight gatekeeper is now 40, and while time waits for no man, Spencer isn’t exactly death personified. Pretty even matchup, so we’ll split the difference. Pyle via SD.

Lightweight Bout: Josh Burkman (27-12) vs. KJ Noons (13-8)

-Burkman’s Wild Ride continues, this time in the lightweight division. This is probably his easiest challenge since returning, but Noons is still a tough out. Burkman’s going to have to go right for a submission and I think he gets it. Burkman via R1 Submission.

Heavyweight Bout: Damian Grabowski (20-2) vs. Derrick Lewis (13-4)

-I’m a big fan of the Polish Pitbull and have waited for him to get a shot in the UFC for years now, but damn, this is a tough draw. Grabowski is an excellent submission fighter, and yet, people’s plans and brains tend to get scrambled when they meet a Derrick Lewis fist. This is the hardest fight of the night to call, but I’ll with Grabowski going for a submission and meeting something painful. Lewis via R1 KO.

Flyweight Bout: Justin Scoggins (10-2) vs. Ray Borg (9-1)

-Love this matchup, too. Winner is probably one fight away from a title shot. Classic striker vs. submission matchup, and while Scoggins has power, I think Borg can wade through it and slap something on. Borg via R2 Submission.