That’s right meninos e meninas, it’s time for another Brazilian version of the Downes Side! Much like their signature waxing treatment, this edition promises to explore sensitive areas, rip off unwanted excess and ultimately be uncomfortable. The UFC returns to Brazil for UFC on FX 8, live from Arena Jaragua in the Brazilian state of Santa Carina, a place much more enjoyable than your everyday epilation. The main event features a middleweight clash as Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort looks to make Strikeforce transplant Luke Rockhold’s premiere worse than Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventur … Read the Full Article Here
That’s right meninos e meninas, it’s time for another Brazilian version of the Downes Side! Much like their signature waxing treatment, this edition promises to explore sensitive areas, rip off unwanted excess and ultimately be uncomfortable. The UFC returns to Brazil for UFC on FX 8, live from Arena Jaragua in the Brazilian state of Santa Carina, a place much more enjoyable than your everyday epilation. The main event features a middleweight clash as Vitor “The Phenom” Belfort looks to make Strikeforce transplant Luke Rockhold’s premiere worse than Oogieloves in the Big Balloon Adventur … Read the Full Article Here
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another New Jersey-based edition of the Downes Side! If you thought the last one was great, this one promises to be more fun than the Garden State’s upcoming Earth, Wind & Fire concert.
Even though it’s not September, the Shining Stars of the UFC roll into the Boogie Wonderland of Newark, New Jersey for UFC 159. Live from Prudential Center, Jon Jones will defend his light heavyweight belt against Chael Sonnen. With hostilities beginning in September, the conflict will finally end with some intellectual discussion held in the form of fisticuffs. The co-main event of the evening features two other men who probably won’t exchange Christmas cards, as Michael Bisping and Alan Belcher look to climb up that middleweight ladder.
Jim Miller (22-4) vs Pat Healy (29-16) The main card kicks off with a lightweight contest between Jim Miller and Pat Healy. At UFC 155 in December, Miller earned his 11th UFC victory (most in lightweight history) by beating Joe Lauzon in an event that was about as bloody as the last Rambo movie. When he’s not busy busting up on opponents with elbows, Miller has used his wrestling and ground game to score 12 career submission victories. Making his UFC return after a one-and-done stint in 2006, “Bam Bam” Healy holds a six-fight win streak and the most takedowns in Strikeforce history.
Relatively unknown, Healy has more than enough skills to compete in the UFC lightweight division. Much like the Soviets in Rambo III, though, he’s simply outgunned by one man. Miller’s superior hands will control the standup exchanges. Healy will move in to initiate the clinch, but Miller will defend. As the fight goes on, Miller will bring the fight to the ground himself and start working submissions. Healy will be able to hold on, but only long enough to see himself lose the unanimous decision. Phil Davis (10-1 1 NC) vs Vinny Magalhaes (10-5 1 NC) We bump up to light heavyweight for another grudge match, this one between Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis and Vinny Magalhaes. After his first fight with Wagner Prado ended in a no contest (due to an eye poke), Davis secured an anaconda choke victory in the rematch. A four time All-American wrestler at Penn State, he’s taken down every opponent he’s ever fought. An Abu Dhabi gold medalist, Malgalhaes could arguably be the best pure submission grappler in the division.
Magalhaes finally got this fight after calling out Davis on Twitter. Just like I did with all those POGs I have laying around my parents’ basement, Vinny will learn that sometimes you regret getting what you want. This fight will be another textbook victory for Mr. Wonderful. He’ll use his reach advantage to keep the distance, use that to transition to a takedown and control from top position. Magalhaes’ grappling ability will save him from submissions, but not from the ground and pound. Davis by 3rd-round TKO.
Roy Nelson (18-7) vs Cheick Kongo (18-7-2) We move on to the heavyweight division for Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo in a playful showcase of the body type spectrum of the heavyweight division. In a performance much more impressive than his 40-yard-dash performance against Shane Carwin in the TUF 16 coaches’ challenge, Big Country delivered a first-round KO against Matt Mitrione at the Finale. After suffering a first-round knockout at the hands of Mark Hunt, Kongo bounced back with a win over Shawn Jordan last July. With the second-most wins in UFC heavyweight history, Kongo actually has an underrated takedown game with a 63% success rate.
We all know that Roy Nelson has a great chin and hits hard. If that right hand strikes flush, it’ll be all over for Kongo. That’s not going to be how it plays out, though. Kongo will get the clinch and bring this fight to the ground. Despite his grappling accolades, we haven’t seen Nelson threaten with his ground game. Look for Kongo to smother Nelson from top position and pick up the unanimous decision win.
Michael Bisping (23-5) vs Alan Belcher (18-7) We roll onto the co-main event of the evening between Johnny Cash’s #1 fan and the guy that fans would most like to Hurt. Things certainly aren’t cordial between Michael Bisping and Alan “The Talent” Belcher. Looking to rebound from his recent loss to Yushin Okami, Belcher prepares for another push into the elite level of 185-pounders. Bisping also looks to bounce back from a loss after Vitor Belfort’s brutal head kick in January. Never one to mince words, Bisping has called Belcher’s career “pathetic” said that “No one gives a [expletive] about Alan Blecher.” Certainly not gentlemanly, that type of language will never get him invited to Buckingham Palace for Queen Victoria’s 194th birthday next month.
This fight is going to be a kickboxing fight. The Count’s grappling has steadily improved, but he doesn’t have the same ability as Okami to smother Belcher. The Talent’s superior footwork will allow him to mix his punches with knees and elbows. By the third round, this will frustrate Bisping enough that he will try to rush in for a takedown. This will give Belcher the opening he needs as he locks up the third round guillotine victory. Afterward, I’m sure Bisping will do the proper thing and apologize. Then, and only then, will he be welcome at the Derbyshire Well Dressings. Jon Jones (17-1) vs Chael Sonnen (27-12-1) Time for the main event of the evening! After competing as coaches for our amusement during season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter, Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen will finally fight each other…for our amusement. At the age of 25, Jon Jones is already on the cusp of becoming the most decorated light heavyweight in UFC history. This time around he’ll be making his fifth title defense and seeks to take Tito Ortiz’s record before setting his sights on bigger prizes. At 36 years old, Chael Sonnen may go down in history as the most decorated talker in UFC history. He steps inside the Octagon for the first time since losing to Anderson Silva at UFC 148 in July.
We all know that Sonnen can’t stand with Jon Jones. That only leaves one other option. While he did have success taking down Anderson Silva, Bones is much larger and holds a takedown defense rating of 100% (that means he’s never been taken down). In recent media events, Sonnen has stated that Jon Jones could beat Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali in the same day. I know Chael is not stranger to hyperbole, but I think this change in tone is significant. Accuse him of being rude and disingenuous all you want, but the man is cunning. He’s smart enough to know that he’s written a check that he sure as hell can’t cash. Jones via first-round TKO.
Well everyone, That’s the Way of the World. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes and make your UFC 159 predictions here. Also, don’t forget to leave your own thoughts, comments and favorite 70s funk bands on the page here.
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another New Jersey-based edition of the Downes Side! If you thought the last one was great, this one promises to be more fun than the Garden State’s upcoming Earth, Wind & Fire concert.
Even though it’s not September, the Shining Stars of the UFC roll into the Boogie Wonderland of Newark, New Jersey for UFC 159. Live from Prudential Center, Jon Jones will defend his light heavyweight belt against Chael Sonnen. With hostilities beginning in September, the conflict will finally end with some intellectual discussion held in the form of fisticuffs. The co-main event of the evening features two other men who probably won’t exchange Christmas cards, as Michael Bisping and Alan Belcher look to climb up that middleweight ladder.
Jim Miller (22-4) vs Pat Healy (29-16) The main card kicks off with a lightweight contest between Jim Miller and Pat Healy. At UFC 155 in December, Miller earned his 11th UFC victory (most in lightweight history) by beating Joe Lauzon in an event that was about as bloody as the last Rambo movie. When he’s not busy busting up on opponents with elbows, Miller has used his wrestling and ground game to score 12 career submission victories. Making his UFC return after a one-and-done stint in 2006, “Bam Bam” Healy holds a six-fight win streak and the most takedowns in Strikeforce history.
Relatively unknown, Healy has more than enough skills to compete in the UFC lightweight division. Much like the Soviets in Rambo III, though, he’s simply outgunned by one man. Miller’s superior hands will control the standup exchanges. Healy will move in to initiate the clinch, but Miller will defend. As the fight goes on, Miller will bring the fight to the ground himself and start working submissions. Healy will be able to hold on, but only long enough to see himself lose the unanimous decision. Phil Davis (10-1 1 NC) vs Vinny Magalhaes (10-5 1 NC) We bump up to light heavyweight for another grudge match, this one between Phil “Mr. Wonderful” Davis and Vinny Magalhaes. After his first fight with Wagner Prado ended in a no contest (due to an eye poke), Davis secured an anaconda choke victory in the rematch. A four time All-American wrestler at Penn State, he’s taken down every opponent he’s ever fought. An Abu Dhabi gold medalist, Malgalhaes could arguably be the best pure submission grappler in the division.
Magalhaes finally got this fight after calling out Davis on Twitter. Just like I did with all those POGs I have laying around my parents’ basement, Vinny will learn that sometimes you regret getting what you want. This fight will be another textbook victory for Mr. Wonderful. He’ll use his reach advantage to keep the distance, use that to transition to a takedown and control from top position. Magalhaes’ grappling ability will save him from submissions, but not from the ground and pound. Davis by 3rd-round TKO.
Roy Nelson (18-7) vs Cheick Kongo (18-7-2) We move on to the heavyweight division for Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo in a playful showcase of the body type spectrum of the heavyweight division. In a performance much more impressive than his 40-yard-dash performance against Shane Carwin in the TUF 16 coaches’ challenge, Big Country delivered a first-round KO against Matt Mitrione at the Finale. After suffering a first-round knockout at the hands of Mark Hunt, Kongo bounced back with a win over Shawn Jordan last July. With the second-most wins in UFC heavyweight history, Kongo actually has an underrated takedown game with a 63% success rate.
We all know that Roy Nelson has a great chin and hits hard. If that right hand strikes flush, it’ll be all over for Kongo. That’s not going to be how it plays out, though. Kongo will get the clinch and bring this fight to the ground. Despite his grappling accolades, we haven’t seen Nelson threaten with his ground game. Look for Kongo to smother Nelson from top position and pick up the unanimous decision win.
Michael Bisping (23-5) vs Alan Belcher (18-7) We roll onto the co-main event of the evening between Johnny Cash’s #1 fan and the guy that fans would most like to Hurt. Things certainly aren’t cordial between Michael Bisping and Alan “The Talent” Belcher. Looking to rebound from his recent loss to Yushin Okami, Belcher prepares for another push into the elite level of 185-pounders. Bisping also looks to bounce back from a loss after Vitor Belfort’s brutal head kick in January. Never one to mince words, Bisping has called Belcher’s career “pathetic” said that “No one gives a [expletive] about Alan Blecher.” Certainly not gentlemanly, that type of language will never get him invited to Buckingham Palace for Queen Victoria’s 194th birthday next month.
This fight is going to be a kickboxing fight. The Count’s grappling has steadily improved, but he doesn’t have the same ability as Okami to smother Belcher. The Talent’s superior footwork will allow him to mix his punches with knees and elbows. By the third round, this will frustrate Bisping enough that he will try to rush in for a takedown. This will give Belcher the opening he needs as he locks up the third round guillotine victory. Afterward, I’m sure Bisping will do the proper thing and apologize. Then, and only then, will he be welcome at the Derbyshire Well Dressings. Jon Jones (17-1) vs Chael Sonnen (27-12-1) Time for the main event of the evening! After competing as coaches for our amusement during season 17 of The Ultimate Fighter, Jon Jones and Chael Sonnen will finally fight each other…for our amusement. At the age of 25, Jon Jones is already on the cusp of becoming the most decorated light heavyweight in UFC history. This time around he’ll be making his fifth title defense and seeks to take Tito Ortiz’s record before setting his sights on bigger prizes. At 36 years old, Chael Sonnen may go down in history as the most decorated talker in UFC history. He steps inside the Octagon for the first time since losing to Anderson Silva at UFC 148 in July.
We all know that Sonnen can’t stand with Jon Jones. That only leaves one other option. While he did have success taking down Anderson Silva, Bones is much larger and holds a takedown defense rating of 100% (that means he’s never been taken down). In recent media events, Sonnen has stated that Jon Jones could beat Mike Tyson and Muhammad Ali in the same day. I know Chael is not stranger to hyperbole, but I think this change in tone is significant. Accuse him of being rude and disingenuous all you want, but the man is cunning. He’s smart enough to know that he’s written a check that he sure as hell can’t cash. Jones via first-round TKO.
Well everyone, That’s the Way of the World. Be sure to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes and make your UFC 159 predictions here. Also, don’t forget to leave your own thoughts, comments and favorite 70s funk bands on the page here.
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another network television edition of the Downes Side! Seeing that it’s the seventh time the UFC will be appearing on FOX, luck should be on my side when making these predictions. Then again, you don’t need luck when you have superior mental acumen.
Regardless of your intelligence level, it’s definitely a smart move to watch UFC on FOX 7 live this Saturday night from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Informally dubbed “UFC vs. Strikeforce,” the main event pits champion Benson Henderson as he makes his third title defense against Gilbert Melendez. The co-main event of the evening also features two champions as former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir looks to back up his condescension toward Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix alternate-turned-champion Daniel Cormier. Matt Brown (16-11) vs Jordan Mein (27-8) The night begins in the welterweight division as “The Immortal” Matt Brown takes on Jordan “Young Gun” Mein. After a tough patch where he lost four out of five fights, Brown has rattled off a four fight win streak — and he’s the only fighter to get four UFC wins in 2012 (look it up, bro!). Tied for the most KOs in welterweight history, he added to that total with a left hook to Mike Swick’s face in December. A crisp, athletic hellbow specialist with dangerous submissions, Mein steps into the Octagon for the second time after delivering Dan Miller his first career KO at UFC 158.
You won’t want to miss this Fight of the Night favorite. If your dog needs you to let him out during this fight, just let Beagle Lugosi relieve himself in the house. Mein possesses the technical superiority, but appears to be more comfortable when going forward. Matt Brown, however, isn’t the kind of guy to move backward. Brown’s will crowd Mein’s rangeand prevent him from getting in a groove. While Mein’s grappling has improved, his fight against Tyron Woodley showed that he is susceptible to being controlled on his back. This will be a back-and-forth exchange, but Brown’s pressure and his ability to bring the fight to the ground against a polished striker (see his fight against Stephen Thompson) will lead him to the decision victory. Yes Audrey Shepburn will be upset, but that’s the price you pay for high-quality MMA.
Nate Diaz (16-8) vs Josh Thomson (19-5) We drop down to the lightweight division for Nate Diaz and Josh “The Punk” Thomson. Diaz returns to the cage for the first time since his unsuccessful title shot against Henderson in December. A Cesar Gracie black belt and holder of the record for most significant strikes landed in a fight (238 against Donald Cerrone), he’s probably best known for his monk-like code of silence. Truly, no one knows more about communicatingwithoutspeaking than Nate Diaz. Returning to the UFC after nearly a decade in Strikeforce, Thomson is a former champion who’s extremely well-rounded. If Diaz is a “Sounds of Silence” type guy, Thomson’s Simon and Garfunkel equivalent would like be “I Am a Rock.”
Benson Henderson’s takedowns and striking game prevented Nate Diaz from getting any momentum going during their fight. Thomson may not have the striking credentials of Bendo, but he does have the grappling ability to put Diaz on his back. Couple that with the fact that Thomson can match Diaz’s conditioning, things aren’t looking good for the Vice President of Stockton Public Affairs. Thomson will eat a few shots on the way in, but he’ll ultimately bring this fight to mat. From there he’ll utilize top position and GnP to pick up the unanimous decision. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Frank Mir (16-6) vs Daniel Cormier (11-0) We jump up to the heavyweight division for the co-main event of the night between Frank Mir and Daniel Cormier. Despite what you might think of the former UFC heavyweight champion, he does hold quite the impressive resumé including: most wins (14), most combined knockouts and submissions (11) and thanks to Danny Castillo, he even has his own internet meme (aka the #FrankMirFace). But Daniel Cormier is no slouch, even with all that internet heat in addition to the pressure of being an Octagon newcomer. Considered by many to be a future champion, Cormier’s mix of Olympic-level wrestling and heavy hands has propelled him to a co-main spot in his UFC debut and a perfect record.
Despite Cormier’s elite-level wrestling, taking Frank Mir down is like telling your mom what you really think about her cooking — it’s never a good idea. His best chance to win this fight will be to keep the fight on the feet with his grappling, then use his hands to win. Mir’s offensive striking has steadily improved over the years, but his defense still seems lacking. His propensity for taking big shots will be his downfall against the former Strikeforce HWGP winner. Mir’s chin will get him through the first round, but the punishment will accumulate and Cormier finishes this fight with a 2nd-round TKO.
Benson Henderson (18-2) vs. Gilbert Melendez (21-2) Time for the main event of the evening! Benson Henderson places his longest active win streak in the division on the line against Strikeforce champion Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez. Henderson has seemingly breezed through the UFC since coming over from the WEC, where he was also champion before being dethoned by Anthony Pettis in the promotion’s final event. His size, wrestling and fluid striking has led him to victories over elite 155ers like Frankie Edgar (twice), Jim Miller and (most recently) Nate Diaz. Melendez looks to make a similarly successful transition as he steps inside the Octagon for the first time. Undefeated in his last seven fights, Melendez is another well-rounded fighter who can beat opponents in any facet of the game.
In the grappling department, this is a push. Henderson has been effective at bringing opponents down, but Melendez defends takedowns more than 75% of the time. Even if Henderson brings it to the ground, I don’t seem him being able to hold Gilbert there. Thus, this fight will come down to the standup game. While Melendez prefers a more aggressive, volume-based approach, Henderson focuses more on precision. Melendez looked flat in his only fight of 2012, blaming a lack of motivation for his so-so showing over Josh Thomson in their rubber match. Whether or not Gilbert’s motiviated this time out, I see Henderson using his kicks and counter-punching to disturb Melendez’s rhythm, much like he did against Melendez’ teammate Diaz last December. The champ retains his title via unanimous decision, and UFC goes 2-2 against Strikeforce for the night.
That wraps up another Nielsen approved Downes Side! Be sure to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes. Also, don’t forget to make your own predictions here, then share those alongside your thoughts, fears and felicitations on the page here. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some Emily Brontë to read.
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another network television edition of the Downes Side! Seeing that it’s the seventh time the UFC will be appearing on FOX, luck should be on my side when making these predictions. Then again, you don’t need luck when you have superior mental acumen.
Regardless of your intelligence level, it’s definitely a smart move to watch UFC on FOX 7 live this Saturday night from the HP Pavilion in San Jose, CA. Informally dubbed “UFC vs. Strikeforce,” the main event pits champion Benson Henderson as he makes his third title defense against Gilbert Melendez. The co-main event of the evening also features two champions as former UFC heavyweight champion Frank Mir looks to back up his condescension toward Strikeforce Heavyweight Grand Prix alternate-turned-champion Daniel Cormier. Matt Brown (16-11) vs Jordan Mein (27-8) The night begins in the welterweight division as “The Immortal” Matt Brown takes on Jordan “Young Gun” Mein. After a tough patch where he lost four out of five fights, Brown has rattled off a four fight win streak — and he’s the only fighter to get four UFC wins in 2012 (look it up, bro!). Tied for the most KOs in welterweight history, he added to that total with a left hook to Mike Swick’s face in December. A crisp, athletic hellbow specialist with dangerous submissions, Mein steps into the Octagon for the second time after delivering Dan Miller his first career KO at UFC 158.
You won’t want to miss this Fight of the Night favorite. If your dog needs you to let him out during this fight, just let Beagle Lugosi relieve himself in the house. Mein possesses the technical superiority, but appears to be more comfortable when going forward. Matt Brown, however, isn’t the kind of guy to move backward. Brown’s will crowd Mein’s rangeand prevent him from getting in a groove. While Mein’s grappling has improved, his fight against Tyron Woodley showed that he is susceptible to being controlled on his back. This will be a back-and-forth exchange, but Brown’s pressure and his ability to bring the fight to the ground against a polished striker (see his fight against Stephen Thompson) will lead him to the decision victory. Yes Audrey Shepburn will be upset, but that’s the price you pay for high-quality MMA.
Nate Diaz (16-8) vs Josh Thomson (19-5) We drop down to the lightweight division for Nate Diaz and Josh “The Punk” Thomson. Diaz returns to the cage for the first time since his unsuccessful title shot against Henderson in December. A Cesar Gracie black belt and holder of the record for most significant strikes landed in a fight (238 against Donald Cerrone), he’s probably best known for his monk-like code of silence. Truly, no one knows more about communicatingwithoutspeaking than Nate Diaz. Returning to the UFC after nearly a decade in Strikeforce, Thomson is a former champion who’s extremely well-rounded. If Diaz is a “Sounds of Silence” type guy, Thomson’s Simon and Garfunkel equivalent would like be “I Am a Rock.”
Benson Henderson’s takedowns and striking game prevented Nate Diaz from getting any momentum going during their fight. Thomson may not have the striking credentials of Bendo, but he does have the grappling ability to put Diaz on his back. Couple that with the fact that Thomson can match Diaz’s conditioning, things aren’t looking good for the Vice President of Stockton Public Affairs. Thomson will eat a few shots on the way in, but he’ll ultimately bring this fight to mat. From there he’ll utilize top position and GnP to pick up the unanimous decision. That’s my story, and I’m sticking to it.
Frank Mir (16-6) vs Daniel Cormier (11-0) We jump up to the heavyweight division for the co-main event of the night between Frank Mir and Daniel Cormier. Despite what you might think of the former UFC heavyweight champion, he does hold quite the impressive resumé including: most wins (14), most combined knockouts and submissions (11) and thanks to Danny Castillo, he even has his own internet meme (aka the #FrankMirFace). But Daniel Cormier is no slouch, even with all that internet heat in addition to the pressure of being an Octagon newcomer. Considered by many to be a future champion, Cormier’s mix of Olympic-level wrestling and heavy hands has propelled him to a co-main spot in his UFC debut and a perfect record.
Despite Cormier’s elite-level wrestling, taking Frank Mir down is like telling your mom what you really think about her cooking — it’s never a good idea. His best chance to win this fight will be to keep the fight on the feet with his grappling, then use his hands to win. Mir’s offensive striking has steadily improved over the years, but his defense still seems lacking. His propensity for taking big shots will be his downfall against the former Strikeforce HWGP winner. Mir’s chin will get him through the first round, but the punishment will accumulate and Cormier finishes this fight with a 2nd-round TKO.
Benson Henderson (18-2) vs. Gilbert Melendez (21-2) Time for the main event of the evening! Benson Henderson places his longest active win streak in the division on the line against Strikeforce champion Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez. Henderson has seemingly breezed through the UFC since coming over from the WEC, where he was also champion before being dethoned by Anthony Pettis in the promotion’s final event. His size, wrestling and fluid striking has led him to victories over elite 155ers like Frankie Edgar (twice), Jim Miller and (most recently) Nate Diaz. Melendez looks to make a similarly successful transition as he steps inside the Octagon for the first time. Undefeated in his last seven fights, Melendez is another well-rounded fighter who can beat opponents in any facet of the game.
In the grappling department, this is a push. Henderson has been effective at bringing opponents down, but Melendez defends takedowns more than 75% of the time. Even if Henderson brings it to the ground, I don’t seem him being able to hold Gilbert there. Thus, this fight will come down to the standup game. While Melendez prefers a more aggressive, volume-based approach, Henderson focuses more on precision. Melendez looked flat in his only fight of 2012, blaming a lack of motivation for his so-so showing over Josh Thomson in their rubber match. Whether or not Gilbert’s motiviated this time out, I see Henderson using his kicks and counter-punching to disturb Melendez’s rhythm, much like he did against Melendez’ teammate Diaz last December. The champ retains his title via unanimous decision, and UFC goes 2-2 against Strikeforce for the night.
That wraps up another Nielsen approved Downes Side! Be sure to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes. Also, don’t forget to make your own predictions here, then share those alongside your thoughts, fears and felicitations on the page here. Now if you’ll excuse me, I have some Emily Brontë to read.
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another springtime (in the Northern Hemisphere) edition of the Downes Side! April showers bring May flowers, and the Downes Side promises to bring MMA knowledge.
This weekend the the UFC returns to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada for The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 finale. This season pits two members of Team Chael Sonnen as frontrunner Uriah Hall faces Kevin Gastelum — the youngest TUF finalist ever. As TUF looks to crown future stars, the main event features a bantamweight contest between two mainstays as Urijah Faber takes on Scott Jorgensen.
Bubba McDaniel (20-6) vs Gilbert Smith (5-1) The main card begins in the middleweight division between two TUF 17 castmates as Robert McDaniel (colloquially known as Bubba) battles Gilbert Smith. One of the most experienced fighters in the house, and a teammate of his coach Jon Jones, Bubba possesses a well-rounded game, but primarily seeks a stand-up fight. Gilbert Smith possesses solid ground and pound, but the only thing he had a chance to show on TUF 17 is that he can get kneed in the face by a lanky British guy.
Bubba came into the season with the most hype behind him, but ultimately underperformed. While his fights showed that he can be grounded and controlled, he has a wider variety of skills than Gilbert Smith. Gilbert, on the other hand, is a hit at Hooters parties. That may get you a lot of play at your fraternity pledge, but it doesn’t bode well inside the Octagon. Bubba will control this on the outside and beat Gilbert up. By the second round, Gil’s tank will be empty, he’ll go for a desperation takedown and he’ll find himself getting choked by a guy named Bubba. In a manner way less disturbing than the movie Deliverance, Bubba takes it the second round via guillotine choke.
Travis Browne (13-1-1) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (14-6) Next we visit the heavyweight division for Travis Browne and Gabriel Gonzaga. Browne looks to bounce back from the first loss of his career after Bigfoot Silva knocked him out in October. After being bounced from the UFC in 2010, Gonzaga’s second stint in the Octagon has been going well with submission wins over Ednaldo Oliveira and Ben Rothwell.
If this fight goes the distance, I’ll be more surprised than when I heard that Nick and Jessica weren’t going to make it. In 34 combined fights, only one has gone the distance (that’s 1/34 for the fractionally challenged). Gonzaga holds the grappling superiority, but he won’t be able to bring this fight to the mat. Browne has never been taken down in his UFC career and that streak will continue. These two are going to stand in the middle of the cage, throw leather and Gonzaga will be the first one to flinch. Browne takes this in the first round via TKO.
Miesha Tate (13-3) vs Cat Zingano (7-0) Next we move to two fighters with as much hair on their heads as Gabriel Gonzaga has on his back as Miesha Tate squares off against Cat Zingano. This second-ever female fight inside the UFC decides who will coach against Ronda Rousey for 18th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Despite her nickname, Tate is no cupcake, having submitted opponents in a variety of manners. Despite an undefeated record, Zingano faces the most difficult test of her career.
As a progressive male, I just want to state that this is the type of fight that would make Susan B. Anthony proud. Tate has shown a weakness in the striking game, but if she can survive Julie Kedizie’s beatdown, she can handle anything. Both fighters have steadily improved their striking games, but they’re primarily grapplers. Thus, the question becomes, “Who can control it on the ground?” The answer to that question is Miesha Tate. Male or female, she has one of the best takedown percentages in the game, and that will come to her aid. She’ll control the fight from top position and secure the UD victory.
Uriah Hall (7-2) vs Kelvin Gastelum (5-0) We head to the co-main event of the night between middleweights Uriah Hall and Kelvin Gastelum. Hall dominated his way through the tournament with little resistance. Besides making enemies at every turn, he will be remembered for his hook kick KO of Adam Cella in the first fight of the season. Flying under the radar for most of the season, Gastelum relies primarily on wrestling, but also showcased submission literacy and some power in his hands.
The entire 17th season of TUF basically set up Uriah Hall to be a world beater. Dana liked him so much, he even praised him for taking his time in a fight (seriously). Chael Sonnen stated multiple times that Hall could beat middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Despite the hype, Dylan Andrews put Hall on the mat in their semifinal match and he doesn’t have anywhere near the wrestling skills that Gastelum does. Kelvin’s pressure will eliminate the effectiveness of Hall’s kicks and allow him to get the tie-up. Once on the inside he’ll bring Hall to the ground. They’ll return to their feet, but Kelvin will put him right back on the mat. By the time the third round comes, Uriah Hall will be so frustrated that he’ll expose his back. Kelvin locks in the RNC, wins a Harley-Davidson motorcycle he’ll never be allowed to drive and then uses his interview to ask Ronda Rousey to come over to dinner at his mom’s house.
Urijah Faber (27-6) vs Scott Jorgensen (14-6) Time for the main event of the evening! After losing two in a row, Scotty “Young Guns” Jorgensen bounced back with a double-bonus winning first-round submission of John Albert in December. Foiled at his shot at the bantamweight title once again, Urijah “The California Kid” Faber took out Ivan Menjivar with a first round RNC of his own at UFC 157.
This is a more even matchup than the time I battled Kurt Vonnegut. Both fighters have incredible strength and solid wrestling games. When you have fighters with such evenly developed skills, it comes down to the intangibles. In that case, you have to give the advantage to Faber. He’s performed at a higher caliber and has been tested to a far greater extent. He’ll use his jab to control exchanges from the outside the be able to effectively transition to takedowns. He won’t get the finish, but he’ll cruise to the unanimous decision.
That wraps up another edition of the Downes Side devoid of seasonal depression. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes. In the meantime, leave your own thoughts, concerns, questions and favorite annual flower on the page here.
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another springtime (in the Northern Hemisphere) edition of the Downes Side! April showers bring May flowers, and the Downes Side promises to bring MMA knowledge.
This weekend the the UFC returns to the Mandalay Bay Events Center in Las Vegas, Nevada for The Ultimate Fighter Season 17 finale. This season pits two members of Team Chael Sonnen as frontrunner Uriah Hall faces Kevin Gastelum — the youngest TUF finalist ever. As TUF looks to crown future stars, the main event features a bantamweight contest between two mainstays as Urijah Faber takes on Scott Jorgensen.
Bubba McDaniel (20-6) vs Gilbert Smith (5-1) The main card begins in the middleweight division between two TUF 17 castmates as Robert McDaniel (colloquially known as Bubba) battles Gilbert Smith. One of the most experienced fighters in the house, and a teammate of his coach Jon Jones, Bubba possesses a well-rounded game, but primarily seeks a stand-up fight. Gilbert Smith possesses solid ground and pound, but the only thing he had a chance to show on TUF 17 is that he can get kneed in the face by a lanky British guy.
Bubba came into the season with the most hype behind him, but ultimately underperformed. While his fights showed that he can be grounded and controlled, he has a wider variety of skills than Gilbert Smith. Gilbert, on the other hand, is a hit at Hooters parties. That may get you a lot of play at your fraternity pledge, but it doesn’t bode well inside the Octagon. Bubba will control this on the outside and beat Gilbert up. By the second round, Gil’s tank will be empty, he’ll go for a desperation takedown and he’ll find himself getting choked by a guy named Bubba. In a manner way less disturbing than the movie Deliverance, Bubba takes it the second round via guillotine choke.
Travis Browne (13-1-1) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (14-6) Next we visit the heavyweight division for Travis Browne and Gabriel Gonzaga. Browne looks to bounce back from the first loss of his career after Bigfoot Silva knocked him out in October. After being bounced from the UFC in 2010, Gonzaga’s second stint in the Octagon has been going well with submission wins over Ednaldo Oliveira and Ben Rothwell.
If this fight goes the distance, I’ll be more surprised than when I heard that Nick and Jessica weren’t going to make it. In 34 combined fights, only one has gone the distance (that’s 1/34 for the fractionally challenged). Gonzaga holds the grappling superiority, but he won’t be able to bring this fight to the mat. Browne has never been taken down in his UFC career and that streak will continue. These two are going to stand in the middle of the cage, throw leather and Gonzaga will be the first one to flinch. Browne takes this in the first round via TKO.
Miesha Tate (13-3) vs Cat Zingano (7-0) Next we move to two fighters with as much hair on their heads as Gabriel Gonzaga has on his back as Miesha Tate squares off against Cat Zingano. This second-ever female fight inside the UFC decides who will coach against Ronda Rousey for 18th season of The Ultimate Fighter. Despite her nickname, Tate is no cupcake, having submitted opponents in a variety of manners. Despite an undefeated record, Zingano faces the most difficult test of her career.
As a progressive male, I just want to state that this is the type of fight that would make Susan B. Anthony proud. Tate has shown a weakness in the striking game, but if she can survive Julie Kedizie’s beatdown, she can handle anything. Both fighters have steadily improved their striking games, but they’re primarily grapplers. Thus, the question becomes, “Who can control it on the ground?” The answer to that question is Miesha Tate. Male or female, she has one of the best takedown percentages in the game, and that will come to her aid. She’ll control the fight from top position and secure the UD victory.
Uriah Hall (7-2) vs Kelvin Gastelum (5-0) We head to the co-main event of the night between middleweights Uriah Hall and Kelvin Gastelum. Hall dominated his way through the tournament with little resistance. Besides making enemies at every turn, he will be remembered for his hook kick KO of Adam Cella in the first fight of the season. Flying under the radar for most of the season, Gastelum relies primarily on wrestling, but also showcased submission literacy and some power in his hands.
The entire 17th season of TUF basically set up Uriah Hall to be a world beater. Dana liked him so much, he even praised him for taking his time in a fight (seriously). Chael Sonnen stated multiple times that Hall could beat middleweight champion Anderson Silva. Despite the hype, Dylan Andrews put Hall on the mat in their semifinal match and he doesn’t have anywhere near the wrestling skills that Gastelum does. Kelvin’s pressure will eliminate the effectiveness of Hall’s kicks and allow him to get the tie-up. Once on the inside he’ll bring Hall to the ground. They’ll return to their feet, but Kelvin will put him right back on the mat. By the time the third round comes, Uriah Hall will be so frustrated that he’ll expose his back. Kelvin locks in the RNC, wins a Harley-Davidson motorcycle he’ll never be allowed to drive and then uses his interview to ask Ronda Rousey to come over to dinner at his mom’s house.
Urijah Faber (27-6) vs Scott Jorgensen (14-6) Time for the main event of the evening! After losing two in a row, Scotty “Young Guns” Jorgensen bounced back with a double-bonus winning first-round submission of John Albert in December. Foiled at his shot at the bantamweight title once again, Urijah “The California Kid” Faber took out Ivan Menjivar with a first round RNC of his own at UFC 157.
This is a more even matchup than the time I battled Kurt Vonnegut. Both fighters have incredible strength and solid wrestling games. When you have fighters with such evenly developed skills, it comes down to the intangibles. In that case, you have to give the advantage to Faber. He’s performed at a higher caliber and has been tested to a far greater extent. He’ll use his jab to control exchanges from the outside the be able to effectively transition to takedowns. He won’t get the finish, but he’ll cruise to the unanimous decision.
That wraps up another edition of the Downes Side devoid of seasonal depression. Don’t forget to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes. In the meantime, leave your own thoughts, concerns, questions and favorite annual flower on the page here.
The episode opens up inside a Las Vegas Harley-Davidson shop for some “boot camp.” Since the winning fighter and his coach will receive a fully-oaded motorcycle, the remaining guys learn a few pointers and pick out a dream bike. Not certain which model he’d like, Chael Sonnen at least assures us that it will be black. We also learn that pretty much every guy in the final four has never ridden a motorcycle before, so what’s the worst that could happen? Speaking of calculated risks, everyone tells Uriah Hall that he looks good in a fedora.
Josh vs. Kelvin Things immediately transition to the first semifinal fight between Josh Samman and Kelvin Gastelum. Josh has his usual confidence and Kelvin again flies under the radar. Adam Cella thinks that Josh wins easily while Coach Chael says, “[Kelvin’s] not great at anything…his biggest strength is that he’s effective.” Before you know it, it’s fight time.
The fight starts with a short feeling-out process. After Kelvin nails Josh with a 1-2, Josh rushes in and finds himself in a bodylock. Kelvin drags him to the ground and begins working from full guard. Josh throws up an armbar attempt; Kelvin defends and tries to pass. This gives Josh an opening and he stands up, forcing Kelvin against the fence. They exchange a few knees and Kelvin reverses positions. Josh attempts a hip toss, but Kelvin ends up on top. From half-guard, Kelvin starts dropping short elbows and stiff punches. Josh stays active on his back and tries to escape, but Kelvin suffocates him with hip control and ground-and-pound. Kelvin advances to side mount and Josh tries to use the small opening to escape. He gives up his back in the process and Kelvin locks in the rear naked choke. Josh quickly taps and Kelvin Gastelum is heading to the finals!
Jon Jones is obviously disappointed and calls it a “tough fight to watch.” Josh characteristically finds a way to compliment himself in defeat. Kelvin is all smiles and even busts out his Tony Montana impression. Dylan vs. Uriah There’s a quick transition to the second semifinal match between Dylan Andrews and Uriah Hall. Chael Sonnen can’t seem to find enough positive things to say about Hall. He talks about how much talent and skill Uriah possesses. He even says that Hall could beat middleweight champion Anderson Silva (though he won’t actually say the Spider’s name). It must be difficult for the other guys sitting there — they have to listen to their coach go on and on about how much better their teammate is than they are. Then again, Chael also taught them that emotions are fake so they should pretty much be numb by now.
On the Team Jones side, Dylan is receiving a pep talk from his assistant coach and father figure Stonehorse Goeman. Dylan then lets us in on what a Dana White congratulatory speech sounds like…I think. There were too many bleeps for the sentence to be coherent. Dylan makes the ill-fated Rocky comparison, Dana White enjoys an energy drink and it’s time for the second fight.
The first round begins with the two trading jabs, which Uriah wins handily. Dylan tries a looping hook to get in and tie Uriah up, but he’s easily brushed aside. Uriah throws some spinning stuff that misses, and Dylan appears much too tentative. Hall engages whenever he wants, while Dylan is too focused on defending to get anything offensive going. He finally lands a solid counter right, but does not follow it up. Hall continues to land kicks and tears up Dylan’s legs. He switches things up with a spin kick to the body. Hall is completely controlling the fight, but does not want to get involved in prolonged engagements. This pattern continues until the round ends.
In the corners, Chael has his usual lofty praise for Hall. Jon Jones tells Dylan, “You’re doing a lot of waiting,” and pushes him to step things up.
Uriah opens up the second round with a glancing head kick. He starts backing Dylan down and continues to pop his jab. It looks like Dylan’s nose may be broken. Despite this, he throws a big right hand and attempts a takedown. Hall easily brushes him again. Dylan keeps touching his face, so odds are that his nose is broken. Uriah keeps pumping that jab as Dylan tries to answer with big looping punches. Finally Dylan gets a tie-up and pushes Uriah against the fence. Dylan keeps working and finally brings Hall to the ground. He can’t relax since Uriah immediately locks up a kimura. Unable to get his arm free, Dylan keeps punching Uriah in the body to no avail. Hall releases the hold, starts punching from the bottom, rocks Dylan and uses that to sweep. Once on top, Uriah rains down punches, Dylan turtles up, and the ref jumps in to stop it.
Dana praises Uriah Hall for taking his time (no, really!) and picking his opponent apart. He also says it’s the first time he’s seen someone score a TKO from the bottom position. It’s bittersweet for Dylan. He’s disappointed that he lost, but he’s happy to going back home to his family. Jon Jones tries to wrap the season up and describe his opinion of Chael Sonnen. He even goes far enough to say that he respects Chael, but then immediately retracts the statement. Team Darkside teammates Kelvin and Uriah have what Dana White describes as “the worst faceoff ever,” and that’s it for TUF 17!
We cut to a preview for the finale on Saturday, April 13th. Will Kelvin Gastelum become the youngest TUF champion ever? Who will coach against Ronda Rousey in the 18th season? Can Collin Hart fight just so we get to hear Bruce Buffer introduce him as, “The Dick?” Find out this and more at The Ultimate Finale!
Season at a glance: Team Sonnen (8-6) Luke Barnatt (1-1, TKO win over Gilbert Smith in episode 2, TKOd by Dylan Andrews in episode 10) Uriah Hall (3-0, KOd Adam Cella in episode 3, KOd Bubba McDaniel in episode 11, TKOd Dylan Andrews in episode 12) Zak Cummings (0-1, lost a UD to Dylan Andrews in episode 8) Tor Troeng (0-1, TKOd by Josh Samman in episode 6) Jimmy Quinlan (1-1, submitted Clint Hester in episode 7, tapped to strikes from Josh Samman in episode 11) Kevin Casey (0-2, lost a UD to Collin Hart in episode 4, lost via TKO [failure to answer to bell] to Bubba McDaniel in episode 9) Kelvin Gastelum (3-0, submitted Bubba McDaniel in episode 5, defeated Collin Hart by TKO in episode 10, submitted Josh Samman in episode 12)
Team Jones (6-8) Clint Hester (0-1, submitted by Jimmy Quinlan in episode 7) Josh Samman (2-1, TKO win over Tor Troeng in episode 6, TKO win over Jimmy Quinlan [tapped to strikes] in episode 11, submitted by Kelvin Gastelum in episode 12) Bubba McDaniel
(1-2, submitted by Kelvin Gastelum in episode 5, defeated Kevin Casey
by TKO [failure to answer to bell] in episode 9, knocked out by Uriah
Hall in episode 11) Gilbert Smith (0-1, TKOd by Luke Barnatt in episode 2) Collin Hart (1-1, defeated Kevin Casey by UD in episode 4, TKOd by Kelvin Gastelum in episode 10) Adam Cella (0-1, KOd by Uriah Hall in episode 3) Dylan Andrews (2-1, defeated Zak Cummings by UD in episode 8, defeated Luke Barnatt by TKO in episode 10, TKOd by Uriah Hall in episode 12)
The episode opens up inside a Las Vegas Harley-Davidson shop for some “boot camp.” Since the winning fighter and his coach will receive a fully-oaded motorcycle, the remaining guys learn a few pointers and pick out a dream bike. Not certain which model he’d like, Chael Sonnen at least assures us that it will be black. We also learn that pretty much every guy in the final four has never ridden a motorcycle before, so what’s the worst that could happen? Speaking of calculated risks, everyone tells Uriah Hall that he looks good in a fedora.
Josh vs. Kelvin Things immediately transition to the first semifinal fight between Josh Samman and Kelvin Gastelum. Josh has his usual confidence and Kelvin again flies under the radar. Adam Cella thinks that Josh wins easily while Coach Chael says, “[Kelvin’s] not great at anything…his biggest strength is that he’s effective.” Before you know it, it’s fight time.
The fight starts with a short feeling-out process. After Kelvin nails Josh with a 1-2, Josh rushes in and finds himself in a bodylock. Kelvin drags him to the ground and begins working from full guard. Josh throws up an armbar attempt; Kelvin defends and tries to pass. This gives Josh an opening and he stands up, forcing Kelvin against the fence. They exchange a few knees and Kelvin reverses positions. Josh attempts a hip toss, but Kelvin ends up on top. From half-guard, Kelvin starts dropping short elbows and stiff punches. Josh stays active on his back and tries to escape, but Kelvin suffocates him with hip control and ground-and-pound. Kelvin advances to side mount and Josh tries to use the small opening to escape. He gives up his back in the process and Kelvin locks in the rear naked choke. Josh quickly taps and Kelvin Gastelum is heading to the finals!
Jon Jones is obviously disappointed and calls it a “tough fight to watch.” Josh characteristically finds a way to compliment himself in defeat. Kelvin is all smiles and even busts out his Tony Montana impression. Dylan vs. Uriah There’s a quick transition to the second semifinal match between Dylan Andrews and Uriah Hall. Chael Sonnen can’t seem to find enough positive things to say about Hall. He talks about how much talent and skill Uriah possesses. He even says that Hall could beat middleweight champion Anderson Silva (though he won’t actually say the Spider’s name). It must be difficult for the other guys sitting there — they have to listen to their coach go on and on about how much better their teammate is than they are. Then again, Chael also taught them that emotions are fake so they should pretty much be numb by now.
On the Team Jones side, Dylan is receiving a pep talk from his assistant coach and father figure Stonehorse Goeman. Dylan then lets us in on what a Dana White congratulatory speech sounds like…I think. There were too many bleeps for the sentence to be coherent. Dylan makes the ill-fated Rocky comparison, Dana White enjoys an energy drink and it’s time for the second fight.
The first round begins with the two trading jabs, which Uriah wins handily. Dylan tries a looping hook to get in and tie Uriah up, but he’s easily brushed aside. Uriah throws some spinning stuff that misses, and Dylan appears much too tentative. Hall engages whenever he wants, while Dylan is too focused on defending to get anything offensive going. He finally lands a solid counter right, but does not follow it up. Hall continues to land kicks and tears up Dylan’s legs. He switches things up with a spin kick to the body. Hall is completely controlling the fight, but does not want to get involved in prolonged engagements. This pattern continues until the round ends.
In the corners, Chael has his usual lofty praise for Hall. Jon Jones tells Dylan, “You’re doing a lot of waiting,” and pushes him to step things up.
Uriah opens up the second round with a glancing head kick. He starts backing Dylan down and continues to pop his jab. It looks like Dylan’s nose may be broken. Despite this, he throws a big right hand and attempts a takedown. Hall easily brushes him again. Dylan keeps touching his face, so odds are that his nose is broken. Uriah keeps pumping that jab as Dylan tries to answer with big looping punches. Finally Dylan gets a tie-up and pushes Uriah against the fence. Dylan keeps working and finally brings Hall to the ground. He can’t relax since Uriah immediately locks up a kimura. Unable to get his arm free, Dylan keeps punching Uriah in the body to no avail. Hall releases the hold, starts punching from the bottom, rocks Dylan and uses that to sweep. Once on top, Uriah rains down punches, Dylan turtles up, and the ref jumps in to stop it.
Dana praises Uriah Hall for taking his time (no, really!) and picking his opponent apart. He also says it’s the first time he’s seen someone score a TKO from the bottom position. It’s bittersweet for Dylan. He’s disappointed that he lost, but he’s happy to going back home to his family. Jon Jones tries to wrap the season up and describe his opinion of Chael Sonnen. He even goes far enough to say that he respects Chael, but then immediately retracts the statement. Team Darkside teammates Kelvin and Uriah have what Dana White describes as “the worst faceoff ever,” and that’s it for TUF 17!
We cut to a preview for the finale on Saturday, April 13th. Will Kelvin Gastelum become the youngest TUF champion ever? Who will coach against Ronda Rousey in the 18th season? Can Collin Hart fight just so we get to hear Bruce Buffer introduce him as, “The Dick?” Find out this and more at The Ultimate Finale!
Season at a glance: Team Sonnen (8-6) Luke Barnatt (1-1, TKO win over Gilbert Smith in episode 2, TKOd by Dylan Andrews in episode 10) Uriah Hall (3-0, KOd Adam Cella in episode 3, KOd Bubba McDaniel in episode 11, TKOd Dylan Andrews in episode 12) Zak Cummings (0-1, lost a UD to Dylan Andrews in episode 8) Tor Troeng (0-1, TKOd by Josh Samman in episode 6) Jimmy Quinlan (1-1, submitted Clint Hester in episode 7, tapped to strikes from Josh Samman in episode 11) Kevin Casey (0-2, lost a UD to Collin Hart in episode 4, lost via TKO [failure to answer to bell] to Bubba McDaniel in episode 9) Kelvin Gastelum (3-0, submitted Bubba McDaniel in episode 5, defeated Collin Hart by TKO in episode 10, submitted Josh Samman in episode 12)
Team Jones (6-8) Clint Hester (0-1, submitted by Jimmy Quinlan in episode 7) Josh Samman (2-1, TKO win over Tor Troeng in episode 6, TKO win over Jimmy Quinlan [tapped to strikes] in episode 11, submitted by Kelvin Gastelum in episode 12) Bubba McDaniel
(1-2, submitted by Kelvin Gastelum in episode 5, defeated Kevin Casey
by TKO [failure to answer to bell] in episode 9, knocked out by Uriah
Hall in episode 11) Gilbert Smith (0-1, TKOd by Luke Barnatt in episode 2) Collin Hart (1-1, defeated Kevin Casey by UD in episode 4, TKOd by Kelvin Gastelum in episode 10) Adam Cella (0-1, KOd by Uriah Hall in episode 3) Dylan Andrews (2-1, defeated Zak Cummings by UD in episode 8, defeated Luke Barnatt by TKO in episode 10, TKOd by Uriah Hall in episode 12)
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another Swedish edition of the Downes Side! While previous iterations have been accused of being more daunting than Tolstoy, I promise to make this version as easy to handle as my Tromsö.
The main event may have changed at the last minute, but no one will be looking for easy to assemble loft bedding this Saturday for UFC on FUEL TV 9. Live from the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, it promises to be more exciting than upcoming Walpurgis Night celebrations. The Swedish sledgehammer Ilir Latifi steps in on short notice for his injured teammate Alexander Gustafsson to battle former Dream and Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi. In the co-main event of the evening, Ryan Couture begins his UFC career as he battles TUF 9 winner Ross Pearson. Akira Corassani (12-4) vs Robbie Peralta (16-3, 1 NC)
The main card kicks off in the featherweight division as TUF 14 alum Akira Corassani tries to end Robbie Peralta’s ten fight unbeaten streak. After a 17 month layoff, Corassani made a successful UFC debut against Andy Ogle in September via controversial split decision. Robbie Peralta made a much more convincing statement in his last fight, demolishing Jason Young in only 23 seconds.
Corassani has struggled on the ground, but luckily Peralta prefers to keep things standing up. Unfortunately, Peralta’s power advantage won’t be that much of a comfort for the Swede. Corassani lacks the physical strength or the wrestling pedigree to tie up and slow the hard swinging Californian. I fully expect Corassani to have “Problems,” eat too many punches and lose by first round TKO.
We remain in the featherweight division for Pablo “Scarecrow” Garza and Diego “Ceara” Brandao. Standing at 6’1” Garza has utilized technical striking and a strong submission game to defeat fighters like Mark Hominick, Yves Jabouin and Fredson Paixao. A Greg Jackson product and TUF 14 winner, Brandao has finished 13 opponents, with 11 of those coming in the first round.
The key here will be for Garza to weather the early assault. A quick starter, Brandao has shown a penchant for fading as the fight continues. While not as athletically gifted as Brandao, Garza has a strong fight IQ and the ability to pull off some unpredictable moves (how many flying triangle chokes have you seen lately?). After avoiding the initial power shots, Garza will find his range and keep Brandao at bay with his jab. In the third round, Brandao will grow frustrated and rush in for a takedown. He’ll get it, but Garza will use those long limbs to secure a triangle choke submission. Brad Pickett (23-7) vs Mike Easton (13-2)
We drop down to the bantamweight division with the odds on favorite for Fight of the Night as Brad “One Punch” Pickett takes on Mike “The Hulk” Easton. Owner of the bonus Grand Slam (one SOTN, one KOTN and three FOTN) in his Zuffa career, Pickett is known for his willingness to stand in the pocket and trade. Lost in all that, though, is the fact that he also holds 10 career submission victories and the second highest takedown average among active bantamweights. Aggressive and always charging forward, Easton has never been taken down in his entire UFC career.
Easton is a victim of a positive first impression. It’s like being overly romantic the first month you date a girl and once you get comfortable she complains about the “spark being gone.” Despite his moniker, Easton has not exactly been smashing opponents since his TKO over Byron Bloodworth. Easton’s one track mind of charging straight forward is not the ideal strategy against someone like Pickett. Easton will score with a few shots, but Pickett’s overall superiority will soon take hold. Pickett will effectively counter, take the fight to the mat and ground Easton long enough to pick up the decision victory.
We jump up to heavyweight as Philip De Fries and Matt Mitrione both search for an end to their respective losing skids. After winning his first five career fights, everyone’s favorite meathead has lost two in a row against Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, De Fries has been knocked out in two of his last three fights by Todd Duffee and Stipe Miocic.
De Fries has the clear grappling advantage. The only problem is that I’m not sure how he’ll get it to the ground. He hasn’t shown the offensive wrestling game to force opponents down and Mitrione is the far superior athlete. Mitrione has struggled the last couple of fights, but De Fries does not possess the striking credentials of Kongo or Nelson. As De Fries comes in for the clinch, Mitrione will land his left cross flush. This will rattle the Englishman worse than Dick Van Dyke’s Cockney accent from Mary Poppins and lead to a 1st round TKO loss.
Ross Pearson (16-6) vs Ryan Couture (6-1)
We drop down to the lightweight division as one fighter looks for a successful debut and another continues a resurgence. Ryan Couture carries the wrestling aura of his father, but was actually the most accurate striker in Strikeforce lightweight history, succeeding with 49.6% of his strikes. After experimenting in the 145lb division, Ross Pearson made a successful return to 155 with a third round TKO of George Sotiropolous in December.
Pearson hasn’t minced words about his opponent, even stating that Couture isn’t “on his level.” Well…instead of delicious pannkakor, Ross Pearson will have to eat crow. Couture may not be outstanding in any one area, but his conditioning and strategy propelled him to a win against KJ Noons and it will do the same here. As the fight goes on, Couture will become stronger and Pearson will start to fade. Eventually Couture will plant his opponent on the ground and work his submission game. He won’t get the finish, but it will be enough to secure the unanimous decision win.
Ilir Latifi (8-2, 1 NC) vs Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2)
That brings us to the main event of the evening! Stepping in on short notice, Ilir Latifi expects to make the most talked about Swedish premiere since Ingmar Bergman. Looking to derail that debut is the veteran Gegard Mousasi. With only one loss in his last 20 fights, Mousasi has been all over the world and fought a who’s who of top MMA talent. The man formerly known as “The Dreamcatcher” has finished 29 opponents, with the most recent victim being Mike Kyle in January.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the giant underdog step into the cage and shock the world? Sure it would, but it’d also be amazing to see all the original members of The Eagles get back together. As my parents taught me at a young age, life is about disappointments and that truism will come to fruition once again. Latfi’s strategy relies on rushing forward, utilizing looping hooks and then bringing it to the ground for the finish. Mousasi is far too experienced to fall for that plan of attack. As Latifi rushes in, Mousasi counters him with a solid cross and takes the first round KO.
That wraps up another International House of Predictions! Be sure to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes. Also, don’t forget to add you own thoughts, predictions and modular furniture suggestions on the page here. Min svävare är full med ålar.
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another Swedish edition of the Downes Side! While previous iterations have been accused of being more daunting than Tolstoy, I promise to make this version as easy to handle as my Tromsö.
The main event may have changed at the last minute, but no one will be looking for easy to assemble loft bedding this Saturday for UFC on FUEL TV 9. Live from the Ericsson Globe Arena in Stockholm, Sweden, it promises to be more exciting than upcoming Walpurgis Night celebrations. The Swedish sledgehammer Ilir Latifi steps in on short notice for his injured teammate Alexander Gustafsson to battle former Dream and Strikeforce champion Gegard Mousasi. In the co-main event of the evening, Ryan Couture begins his UFC career as he battles TUF 9 winner Ross Pearson. Akira Corassani (12-4) vs Robbie Peralta (16-3, 1 NC)
The main card kicks off in the featherweight division as TUF 14 alum Akira Corassani tries to end Robbie Peralta’s ten fight unbeaten streak. After a 17 month layoff, Corassani made a successful UFC debut against Andy Ogle in September via controversial split decision. Robbie Peralta made a much more convincing statement in his last fight, demolishing Jason Young in only 23 seconds.
Corassani has struggled on the ground, but luckily Peralta prefers to keep things standing up. Unfortunately, Peralta’s power advantage won’t be that much of a comfort for the Swede. Corassani lacks the physical strength or the wrestling pedigree to tie up and slow the hard swinging Californian. I fully expect Corassani to have “Problems,” eat too many punches and lose by first round TKO.
We remain in the featherweight division for Pablo “Scarecrow” Garza and Diego “Ceara” Brandao. Standing at 6’1” Garza has utilized technical striking and a strong submission game to defeat fighters like Mark Hominick, Yves Jabouin and Fredson Paixao. A Greg Jackson product and TUF 14 winner, Brandao has finished 13 opponents, with 11 of those coming in the first round.
The key here will be for Garza to weather the early assault. A quick starter, Brandao has shown a penchant for fading as the fight continues. While not as athletically gifted as Brandao, Garza has a strong fight IQ and the ability to pull off some unpredictable moves (how many flying triangle chokes have you seen lately?). After avoiding the initial power shots, Garza will find his range and keep Brandao at bay with his jab. In the third round, Brandao will grow frustrated and rush in for a takedown. He’ll get it, but Garza will use those long limbs to secure a triangle choke submission. Brad Pickett (23-7) vs Mike Easton (13-2)
We drop down to the bantamweight division with the odds on favorite for Fight of the Night as Brad “One Punch” Pickett takes on Mike “The Hulk” Easton. Owner of the bonus Grand Slam (one SOTN, one KOTN and three FOTN) in his Zuffa career, Pickett is known for his willingness to stand in the pocket and trade. Lost in all that, though, is the fact that he also holds 10 career submission victories and the second highest takedown average among active bantamweights. Aggressive and always charging forward, Easton has never been taken down in his entire UFC career.
Easton is a victim of a positive first impression. It’s like being overly romantic the first month you date a girl and once you get comfortable she complains about the “spark being gone.” Despite his moniker, Easton has not exactly been smashing opponents since his TKO over Byron Bloodworth. Easton’s one track mind of charging straight forward is not the ideal strategy against someone like Pickett. Easton will score with a few shots, but Pickett’s overall superiority will soon take hold. Pickett will effectively counter, take the fight to the mat and ground Easton long enough to pick up the decision victory.
We jump up to heavyweight as Philip De Fries and Matt Mitrione both search for an end to their respective losing skids. After winning his first five career fights, everyone’s favorite meathead has lost two in a row against Roy Nelson and Cheick Kongo. A Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu purple belt, De Fries has been knocked out in two of his last three fights by Todd Duffee and Stipe Miocic.
De Fries has the clear grappling advantage. The only problem is that I’m not sure how he’ll get it to the ground. He hasn’t shown the offensive wrestling game to force opponents down and Mitrione is the far superior athlete. Mitrione has struggled the last couple of fights, but De Fries does not possess the striking credentials of Kongo or Nelson. As De Fries comes in for the clinch, Mitrione will land his left cross flush. This will rattle the Englishman worse than Dick Van Dyke’s Cockney accent from Mary Poppins and lead to a 1st round TKO loss.
Ross Pearson (16-6) vs Ryan Couture (6-1)
We drop down to the lightweight division as one fighter looks for a successful debut and another continues a resurgence. Ryan Couture carries the wrestling aura of his father, but was actually the most accurate striker in Strikeforce lightweight history, succeeding with 49.6% of his strikes. After experimenting in the 145lb division, Ross Pearson made a successful return to 155 with a third round TKO of George Sotiropolous in December.
Pearson hasn’t minced words about his opponent, even stating that Couture isn’t “on his level.” Well…instead of delicious pannkakor, Ross Pearson will have to eat crow. Couture may not be outstanding in any one area, but his conditioning and strategy propelled him to a win against KJ Noons and it will do the same here. As the fight goes on, Couture will become stronger and Pearson will start to fade. Eventually Couture will plant his opponent on the ground and work his submission game. He won’t get the finish, but it will be enough to secure the unanimous decision win.
Ilir Latifi (8-2, 1 NC) vs Gegard Mousasi (33-3-2)
That brings us to the main event of the evening! Stepping in on short notice, Ilir Latifi expects to make the most talked about Swedish premiere since Ingmar Bergman. Looking to derail that debut is the veteran Gegard Mousasi. With only one loss in his last 20 fights, Mousasi has been all over the world and fought a who’s who of top MMA talent. The man formerly known as “The Dreamcatcher” has finished 29 opponents, with the most recent victim being Mike Kyle in January.
Wouldn’t it be amazing to see the giant underdog step into the cage and shock the world? Sure it would, but it’d also be amazing to see all the original members of The Eagles get back together. As my parents taught me at a young age, life is about disappointments and that truism will come to fruition once again. Latfi’s strategy relies on rushing forward, utilizing looping hooks and then bringing it to the ground for the finish. Mousasi is far too experienced to fall for that plan of attack. As Latifi rushes in, Mousasi counters him with a solid cross and takes the first round KO.
That wraps up another International House of Predictions! Be sure to follow me on Twitter @dannyboydownes. Also, don’t forget to add you own thoughts, predictions and modular furniture suggestions on the page here. Min svävare är full med ålar.
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another network television edition of the Downes Side! Seeing that it’s the seventh time the UFC will be appearing on FOX, luck should be on my side when making these predictions. Then again, you don’t need luck when you have superior mental acumen.
The episode opens up inside a Las Vegas Harley-Davidson shop for some “boot camp.” Since the winning fighter and his coach will receive a fully-oaded motorcycle, the remaining guys learn a few pointers and pick out a dream bike. Not certain which model he’d like, Chael Sonnen at least assures us that it will be black. We also learn that pretty much every guy in the final four has never ridden a motorcycle before, so what’s the worst that could happen? Speaking of calculated risks, everyone tells Uriah Hall that he looks good in a fedora.
The fight starts with a short feeling-out process. After Kelvin nails Josh with a 1-2, Josh rushes in and finds himself in a bodylock. Kelvin drags him to the ground and begins working from full guard. Josh throws up an armbar attempt; Kelvin defends and tries to pass. This gives Josh an opening and he stands up, forcing Kelvin against the fence. They exchange a few knees and Kelvin reverses positions. Josh attempts a hip toss, but Kelvin ends up on top. From half-guard, Kelvin starts dropping short elbows and stiff punches. Josh stays active on his back and tries to escape, but Kelvin suffocates him with hip control and ground-and-pound. Kelvin advances to side mount and Josh tries to use the small opening to escape. He gives up his back in the process and Kelvin locks in the rear naked choke. Josh quickly taps and Kelvin Gastelum is heading to the finals!
The first round begins with the two trading jabs, which Uriah wins handily. Dylan tries a looping hook to get in and tie Uriah up, but he’s easily brushed aside. Uriah throws some spinning stuff that misses, and Dylan appears much too tentative. Hall engages whenever he wants, while Dylan is too focused on defending to get anything offensive going. He finally lands a solid counter right, but does not follow it up. Hall continues to land kicks and tears up Dylan’s legs. He switches things up with a spin kick to the body. Hall is completely controlling the fight, but does not want to get involved in prolonged engagements. This pattern continues until the round ends.
We cut to a preview for the finale on Saturday, April 13th. Will Kelvin Gastelum become the youngest TUF champion ever? Who will coach against Ronda Rousey in the 18th season? Can Collin Hart fight just so we get to hear Bruce Buffer introduce him as, “The Dick?” Find out this and more at The Ultimate Finale!
That’s right boys and girls, it’s time for another Swedish edition of the Downes Side! While previous iterations have been accused of being more daunting than Tolstoy, I promise to make this version as easy to handle as my