Staff Standings:
Ben Kohn: 33-13 .717
Josh Hall: 20-8 .714
TC Engel: 45-23 .662
Luke Irwin: 60-35 .632
Nolan Howell: 27-18 .600
Lucas Bourdon: 3-2 .600
Earl Montclair: 32-27 .542
Dan Galvan: 5-6 .455
UFC Heavyweight Number One Contender Bout: Fabricio Werdum (17-5-1) vs. Travis Browne (16-1-1)
Luke Irwin: I like this fight a lot. How could you not? Werdum has basically been the de facto challenger in wait for over two years, and now he gets to finally have it official. Browne is done fighting like a knucklehead, but Werdum has been a mercenary since he got to the UFC. He’s fighting smarter and more ruthless than he ever has in his entire career. He wants this, and I think both guys come strong, but Werdum has improved his striking so much that he won’t need to rush in like Barnett did, and he’ll be patient, find his opening, and take it. Werdum via R2 Submission.
TC Engel: I really don’t think Werdum has a hell of a lot to offer Browne at this point. Browne is going to keep Werdum at range well, and hit him hard when he tries to move in. Browne TKO2.
Earl Montclair: I really don’t think anyone other than Cain or JDS can derail Hapa at this point. Werdum is not going to be able to get Travis down, let alone keep him down and Muay Thai Werdum is going to get devoured by Browne on the feet. We are on the doorstep of a Travis Browne title shot, folks. Enjoy yourselves. Travis Browne, KO, 1.
Nolan Howell: Travis Browne has mastered takedown defense and that involves him murdering anyone who double-legs him against the cage with elbows. Fabricio Werdum’s best chance is getting it to the mat. Browne will be able to fend that off and Werdum’s night is going to be a little ugly. Travis Browne by first-round KO.
Ben Kohn: I really want to pick Werdum but I just can’t do it. I can’t get the image of Big Nog beating Werdum to the punch out of my head. Browne hits much harder and is a far better striker. His TDD is also fantastic so I gotta go with Hapa. Travis Browne by KO Round 1.
Women’s Bantamweight Bout: Liz Carmouche (9-4) vs. Miesha Tate (13-5)
Luke Irwin: Speaking of fights I like, this one! The loser probably comes nowhere near a title shot for some time, the winner stays relevent. Miesha Tate gets a lot of shit in and out of the ring, but I’ll say this about her, she might have the the biggest heart in all of MMA. This woman takes a BEATING every single time she fights, and more often than not, she comes back and is the winner. Liz is also as tough as they come and this is going to be a goddamned dogfight. I think these two beat the living hell out of each other, and just when it seems victory isn’t within reach for Miesha, she pulls a submission out of her ass at the buzzer. Tate via R3 Submission.
TC Engel: I don’t really think either of these two fighters are good at fighting. This is a thing that is okay to say. EXCEPT WHEN IT’S WOMEN’S MMA. I AM A SHITTY PERSON. Tate UD.
Earl Montclair: I would like nothing more than for Liz to take Miesha to the woodshed here but this is a rebound fight for Team Cupcake. Now I am sad. Miesha Tate, Unanimous Decision.
Nolan Howell: Unless Liz Carmouche can outlast Miesha Tate, Tate probably has the edge everywhere else. Takedown for three rounds and some heavy top game should do the trick for Tate. Miesha Tate by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: Tate is still a tough chick and has the grappling skills to really give Carmouche fits. Liz is very strong and that’s not gonna be enough here. Miesha Tate by Unanimous Decision.
Lightweight Bout: Donald Cerrone (22-6) vs. Edson Barboza (13-1)
Luke Irwin: Cerrone is the underdog in this?? Listen, I know Barboza is a grown-ass man, but he didn’t exactly set the world on fire in his last fight, barely escaping Danny Castillo, and Cerrone, as he is wont to do, has fought, like, eighteen times in the last three months and has been a machine. I don’t know, it’s going to be a fantastic Muay Thai matchup, but I think Cerrone takes it. Cerrone via SD.
TC Engel: My heart wants the guy that isn’t a piece of shit to win. My head things the guy that is a piece of shit is going to win. My head is big. Seriously, I wear a size 7 3/4 hat. #GIMMICK Cerrone UD.
Earl Montclair: #FullMast. I don’t even give a fuck who wins. Just start fighting already. Donald Cerrone, Unanimous Decision.
Nolan Howell: Donald Cerrone is probably the better technician, but he tends to struggle early. Against another swift Taekwondo and Muay Thai guy, I think that gives him some trouble and Edson Barboz capitalizes on it. Edson Barboza by first-round TKO.
Ben Kohn: When Cerrone is on, man is he on. Edson still is a big question mark for me and struggles with wrestleboxers but Cerrone does not fit that bill. The problem is that I don’t think Edson has that pressuring style of striking that always messes up Cerrone. I think this is def the FOTN and I can’t wait to see it. Donald Cerrone by Unanimous Decision.
Middleweight Bout: Brad Tavares (12-1) vs. Yoel Romero (7-1)
Luke Irwin: Again, Tavares is the favorite here and I don’t get it. He’s a fine fighter, but Romero is just terminating tough, tough dudes like Ronny Markes and Derek Brunson. He’s a slow starter, and Tavares can use that as best he can, but Romero just wears people out with his size and strength. Romero via R3 TKO.
TC Engel: These two dudes suck a bit you guys. These two are on the main card over #KILLER Khabilov Nurmagorusev. Yeesh, UFC. Tavares UD.
Earl Montclair: First one to make a poop joke here is a bigger hack than @MMARoasted. Anyway, Romero has been Donkey Konging the shit out of people in the UFC. I don’t think he will stop Tavares but he should be able to get the nod here in a hard fought, if not thrilling battle. Yoel Romero, Unanimous Decision.
Nolan Howell: Yoel Romero is a mack truck of a fighter and that could very well get him the win early here. However, Brad Tavares is technical enough on the feet to not open himself up to a powerful shot. Tavares has more tools here and I think he outlasts Romero. Brad Tavares by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: This is so tough to pick. Tavares is seriously developing into a very solid fighter who can mess up the hype train of Romero. But with the power and wrestling Romero brings, I just can’t pick against him just yet. Yoel Romero by KO round 2.
Lightweight Bout: Khabib Nurmagomedov (21-0) vs. Rafael dos Anjos (20-6)
Luke Irwin: WHY ISN’T THIS ON THE MAIN CARD?! Fight of the Night right here, as this will be insane. Lots of sweeps, throws, slams, reversals, submission attempts, and so forth. This will be amazing, but Khabib has a more weapons at his disposal. Nurmagomedov via UD.
TC Engel: I LOVE RDA, but man, he’s got a bad matchup on his hands here. Nurmagomedov can beat him up on the feet and mat. I really don’t see a path to victory for RDA. Nurmagomedov TKO1.
Earl Montclair: I am a huge RDA mark but he is in deep shit against Khabib. Even that bitch ass ass bitch Nate Diaz knew better than to let himself get tooled and he might be one of the stupidest men walking this Earth. Sorry, RDA. Khabib Burmagomedov, TKO, 3.
Nolan Howell: Rafael dos Anjos by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: Why the hell is this not on the main card? Seriously? Anyway RDA is on a tear recently and Khabib is the guy no one wants to fight. I don’t have a damn clue who to pick to be honest. RDA’s striking has looked so good in recent fights and Khabib is still very raw. I don’t think either of them can finish the other and the wrestling is having me lean towards Khabib. Khabib Nurmagomedov by Unanimous Decision.
Welterweight Bout: Seth Baczynski (19-10) vs. Thiago Alves (19-9)
Luke Irwin: Welcome back, Thiago. Alves via R1 KO.
TC Engel: Welp. Alves UD.
Earl Montclair: My only real question is if Thiago can make weight. I bet he misses. Thiago Alves, KO, 2.
Nolan Howell: Thiago Alves by first-round TKO.
Ben Kohn: Holy shit, nice tune up fight for Alves. Thiago Alves by TKO round 1.
Lightweight Bout: Jorge Masvidal (25-8) vs. Pat Healy (31-18)
Luke Irwin: Because of Masvidal’s striking and street fighting background, people look at him as a pure boxer, but the fact remains, he has amateur grappling credentials, he has an underrated submission game, and he handles wrestlers very, very well. Healy isn’t your average wrestler/grappler, he’s incredibly heavy and intense, but every since his suspension, he’s looked like dog shit. For whatever the case, I just don’t like what I’ve seen from Healy since he’s come back. Masvidal via UD.
TC Engel: Pat Healy really, really sucks now. Masvidal UD.
Earl Montclair: This will be Pat Healy’s UFC swan song. Masvidal is going to carve him up. Jorge Masvidal, Unanimous Decision.
Nolan Howell: Jorge Masvidal by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: Masvidal is finally back in the cage and Healy is just a bitch to have to fight. I think Masvidal’s striking will allow him to easily handle Healy on the feet but he may have some issues if Healy gets him down. Jorge Masvidal by Unanimous Decision.
Featherweight Bout: Alex White (9-0) vs. Estevan Payan (14-5)
Luke Irwin: I normally don’t trust guys making their UFC debuts after less-than-stellar indie careers, but Payan might be the worst fighter on the UFC roster right now. White via R1 TKO.
TC Engel: Alex White is my favorite Braves pitcher named Alex. Good on him. Payan UD.
Earl Montclair: Alex White, Unanimous Decision because sure.
Nolan Howell: Estevan Payan by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: Alex White by Unanimous Decision.
Middleweight Bout: Caio Magalhaes (7-1) vs. Luke Zachrich (13-2)
Luke Irwin: This is seriously Magalhaes’s FOURTH UFC fight? Christ, he’s going to be one of those Rafael Natal-types that’ll just keep hanging around on prelim cards for years. Magalhaes via UD.
TC Engel: Magalhaes sucks, but he isn’t a newb in on short notice. Magalhaes TKO2.
Earl Montclair: Caio will dominate and he absolutely should. Caio Magalhaes, Submission, 2.
Nolan Howell: Caio Magalhaes by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: Caio “Not Vinny” Magalhaes by Submission round 1.
Welterweight Bout: Hernani Perpetuo (17-3) vs. Jordan Mein (27-9)
Luke Irwin: Always skeptical of guys who cut their teeth in shitshow Brazilian indies, but Perpetuo is not one of those. WOCS and Shooto Brazil are two of the absolute best in the country and he’s looked great in doing so, and he’s paired up with Mein, who’s a nasty motherfucker. This could be a very sneaky FOTN, and I think Mein takes this firefight, but expect Perpetuo to hang around in the UFC for a bit. Mein via R2 TKO.
TC Engel: JORDAN MEIN ALL OVER MY BODY PLEASE. I LOVE YOU JORDAN MEIN. YOU ARE AN ATTRACTIVE NUMBER. HIGH FIVE ME. JORDAN MEIN, MANSLAUGHTER, ROUND 1.
Earl Montclair: Mein has this one locked up. Jordan Mein, TKO, 2.
Nolan Howell: Jordan Mein by first-round TKO.
Ben Kohn: Jordan Mein by TKO round 2.
Flyweight Bout: Dustin Ortiz (12-3) vs. Ray Borg (6-0)
Luke Irwin: Borg is a pretty interesting prospect and the flyweight division desperately needs new blood, but Ortiz is a damned good fighter who’s going to bounce back. Ortiz via UD.
TC Engel: Ortiz, dominant UD.
Earl Montclair: As much as I love a man named “Borg” (which is a lot) this is Ortiz’s time to shine. Dustin Ortiz, Unanimous Decision.
Nolan Howell: Dustin Ortiz by second-round TKO.
Ben Kohn: Dustin Ortiz by Unanimous Decision.
Featherweight Bout: Chas Skelly (11-0) vs. Mirsad Bektic (7-0)
Luke Irwin: Both of these guys have cut their teeth on very, very good indies, and Skelly is 3-0 in Bellator, so these guys deserve their spot and glad to see them get a crack. Skelly has a good striking game he uses to set up his submission game, and I think he’s going to do this year. Skelly via R2 Submission.
TC Engel: Skelly TKO1.
Earl Montclair: Bektic’s first name is Mirsad. Mir sad. A sad Frank Mir is a-ok in my book so he gets the nod. Mir sad Bektic, Unanimous Decision.
Nolan Howell: Mirsad Bektic by unanimous decision.
Ben Kohn: Skelly by Unanimous Decision.
Heavyweight Bout: Derrick Lewis (9-2) vs. Jack May (7-0)
Luke Irwin: Lewis is a guy I’ve had my eye on for a while as he’s coming up. He’s got tons of potential and the heavyweight DESPERATELY needs talent, and Lewis has talent. Lewis via R1 KO.
TC Engel: Jack May is a cool name. I’m picking him. He sounds like a 19th century boxer.
Earl Montclair: One of these giant buttholes is going to sleep very quickly. From one “Black Beast” to another, go forth Derrick Lewis and unleash hell. Derrick Lewis, Massive KO, 1.
Nolan Howell: Derrick Lewis by first-round KO.
Ben Kohn: Jack May’s combined opponents record is 19-45 and 4 of his 7 victories come over guys with losing records (one of them is 0-3).Lewis is the only man to have beaten that Heavyweight D1 powerhouse wrestling guy named Jared Rosholt. Derrick Lewish by KO round 1.
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
