Staff Standings:
Last Event Winner: Ben Kohn/Luke Irwin (8-3)
Lucas Bourdon: 9-4 .692
Ben Kohn: 88-40 .688
TC Engel: 75-39 .658
Josh Hall: 33-18 .647
Luke Irwin: 147-89 .623
Earl Montclair: 75-49 .605
Nolan Howell: 82-71 .536
Dan Galvan: 5-6 .455
UFC Welterweight #1 Contender Bout: Matt Brown (21-11) vs. Robbie Lawler (23-10)
Luke Irwin: Kind of interesting how a match with two guys with ten career losses is in line for a title shot, but that’s discrediting the roller-coaster careers of Matt Brown and Robbie Lawler. Both of these fighters are as tough as they come, have battled from obscurity more than once, and I, and I know many of my colleagues, have been looking forward to this fight more than any other for some time. The fact that this is five rounds gives the slight edge to Lawler, as he’s been in this territory. Both men are way too tough to go down early, so I see this as a war of attrition that Lawler gains the edge on late. Lawler via UD.
Ben Kohn: Breakdown, read it :). Lawler by TKO round 2.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Anthony Johnson (17-4) vs. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-5)
Luke Irwin: If something doesn’t break, tear, or pop on Nogueira before the fight, it will in the cage. Johnson via R1 TKO (injury).
Ben Kohn: Poor Lil Nog, this is the one fight he should have pulled out from due to injury cuz Johnson is not getting taken down and is going to blast him hard. Johnson by KO round 1.
Featherweight Bout: Clay Guida (31-14) vs. Dennis Bermudez (13-3)
Luke Irwin: Could be a fun, grappling battle, or could be boring stand-and-never-trad. Going to be optomistic and say it’ll stay on the ground for the majority of it, and Bermudez slips by. Bermudez via SD.
Ben Kohn: Guida can stink up a fight but Bermudez is the type of fighter who brings out the best in Guida. This is hopefully going to be an amazing scramblefest of awesome! Dennis should have the skills to take a decision as he has great scrambling and definitely good enough wrestling to combat Guida’s. His striking is also far better and more powerful too. Bermudez by UD.
Lightweight Bout: Bobby Green (22-5) vs. Josh Thomson (20-6)
Luke Irwin: Nice fight here, and I like Bobby Green and think he’s destined for good things. Here’s the dirty secret about Josh Thomson; Thomson is literally two judges’ cards away from being the best lightweight in the world. His last three fights were a SD loss to Gil, a TKO over Nate Diaz, and a SD loss to Bendo when both Gil and Benson had the belts. Two cards go one-point differently in both, and he’s the best in the world. Green is good, but Thomson is the most underrated fighter in the world. Thomson via R2 TKO.
Ben Kohn: Green has been looking really good recently but good enough to beat Thomson? I doubt it. Thomson has the striking to hang with Green long enough to implement his smooth takedowns and grappling game. Thomson was throwing around Bendo, which is pretty amazing. Thomson by UD.
Lightweight Bout: Daron Cruickshank (15-4) vs. Jorge Masvidal (26-8)
Luke Irwin: I’m going to go out on a limb here and say that punches will be thrown here. Many will connect. However, I think Cruickshank will do enough to keep Masvidal’s attack at bay with well-timed kicks. Cruickshank via SD.
Ben Kohn: Masvidal and Cruickshank is an excellent fight. Masvidal can really put Daron to the test on the feet and his grappling will keep him honest on the feet. I don’t see Cruickshank being well rounded enough to deal with Jorge at this point in his career though. Masvidal by UD.
Light Heavyweight Bout: Kyle Kingsbury (11-5) vs. Patrick Cummins (5-1)
Luke Irwin: Kingsbury hasn’t been in a cage in almost two years and hasn’t had a victory in one in over three. Cummins isn’t great, but he can sure knock the rust out of Kingsbu. Cummins via R2 TKO.
Ben Kohn: Hard fight to pick really, Cummins is a good wrestler with nice power in his hands. Kingsbury has been out for two years, has lost to all good fighters he faced for the most part, and has had his face broken. Aside from that, he’s a decent enough light heavyweight who’s tough as nails. He was also outwrestled by Bonnar for 3 rounds so….Cummins by UD?
Welterweight Bout: Hernani Perpetuo (17-4) vs. Tim Means (20-6-1)
Luke Irwin: Going toe-to-toe with Jordan Mein in your UFC debut is no small feat. This is tough to call, because Means is a hard-hitting striker, but can be susceptible to wrestlers. Fortunately for him, Perpetuo isn’t one and will trade. The easy pick is Means, but I think Perpetuo has something. Call it a hunch, but I think he pulls it off. Perpetuo via SD.
Ben Kohn: Means needs this win soooooo badly. Means by TKO round 2.
Featherweight Bout: Brian Ortega (8-0) vs. Michael De La Torre (12-4)
Luke Irwin: Ortega is a prospect I’ve had my eye on for some time now. He’s been incredibly impressive. Ortega via R1 Submission.
Ben Kohn: De La Torre by UD.
Lightweight Bout: Akbarh Arreola (22-7-1) vs. Tiago dos Santos (18-4-2)
Luke Irwin: dos Santos via UD.
Ben Kohn: When your record is consisting of KO’s for the most part and your opponent has lost 5 of 7 by KO, I’m picking you by KO. Don’t let me down. dos Santos by KO round 2.
Featherweight Bout: Noad Lahat (7-1) vs. Steven Siler (23-12)
Luke Irwin: Lahat is a nice prospect, but he’s the kind of fighter that Siler feasts on. Siler via R2 TKO.
Ben Kohn: Well Lahat is going to be eaten alive by Siler. It’s not gonna be pretty, Lahat could have made waves if he was brought along properly. Feeding him to Siler was the next best thing I guess. Siler by whatever he wants, round 1.
Welterweight Bout: Andreas Stahl (9-0) vs. Gilbert Burns (7-0)
Luke Irwin: I like Stahl’s striking better than Burns’s ground game. Stahl via R2 TKO.
Ben Kohn: No idea. Stahl by UD.
Women’s Strawweight Bout: Joanna Jedrzejczyk (6-0) vs. Juliana de Lima (6-1)
Luke Irwin: Jedrzejczyk battered Rosi Sexton and all but forced her into retirement. She’s an awesome prospect and I expect her to retire de Lima early. Jedrzejczyk via R1 TKO.
Ben Kohn: Jedrzejczyk beat the shit out of Rosi Sexton. She wins by UD.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
