Author: moneybags

Strikeforce Dan Henderson vs Babalu Sobral

Light Heavyweight bout: Benji Radach vs Ovince St. Preux No pick. St Preux is no pushover. Heavyweight bout: Antonio Silva vs Mike Kyle Even though Mike Kyle is the heavyweight King of the Cage champion, I think Antonio Silva here is a nice pick. Too big, has much improved cardio and has found his jab. […]

Light Heavyweight bout: Benji Radach vs Ovince St. Preux

No pick. St Preux is no pushover.

Heavyweight bout: Antonio Silva vs Mike Kyle

Even though Mike Kyle is the heavyweight King of the Cage champion, I think Antonio Silva here is a nice pick. Too big, has much improved cardio and has found his jab.

Welterweight bout: Paul Daley vs Scott Smith

Awesome fight. Daley is the better technical puncher. Foot work as well. I just like Scott Smith and want to root for him. I’m picking Scott Smith, but I think this is going to be super tough for Smith ala the Lawler fight.

Middleweight bout: Robbie Lawler vs Matt Lindland

Lawler 100% here. Lindland is practically over the hill at this point, while Robbie Lawler is peaking. If Lindland can get this fight to the ground though, Lawler has to be concerned as Lindland’s top game is pretty sick.

Light Heavyweight bout: Dan Henderson vs Renato Sobral

I’m going with Sobral via submission.

Machida Gets Robbed Of Decision

You know the phrase, “Its anybody’s fight?” In these situations the third round, imo, was so decisive of an earned round for Machida that he should have been the winner of the total fight. Whereas the first two rounds were meager undamaged wins for Rampage. Rampage said after the fight to Machida, you won that […]

You know the phrase, “Its anybody’s fight?” In these situations the third round, imo, was so decisive of an earned round for Machida that he should have been the winner of the total fight. Whereas the first two rounds were meager undamaged wins for Rampage.

Rampage said after the fight to Machida, you won that fight. Rampage was very humble and declared an immediate rematch.

UFC 123 Machida vs Rampage Predictions

UFC 123 is on PPV Saturday Nov 20th at The Palace of Auburn Hills in the Detroit. Two former lightweight champions in Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida will face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will fight in the main event. Strength for Machida Speed, angles, kicks, jiu-jitsu Strengths for Rampage Wrestling, clinch work, power, American boxing Rampage has […]

UFC 123 is on PPV Saturday Nov 20th at The Palace of Auburn Hills in the Detroit.

Two former lightweight champions in Lyoto “The Dragon” Machida will face Quinton “Rampage” Jackson will fight in the main event.

Strength for Machida

Speed, angles, kicks, jiu-jitsu

Strengths for Rampage

Wrestling, clinch work, power, American boxing

Rampage has demonstrated in his fights that go the distance to have a small gas tank. Machida, however, has as well. So both of their long distance cardio is breakeven, but in the short term, Machida is much more active than Rampage. The difference in the shorter term is Rampage is probably the stronger fighter in the early rounds. Rampage has had trouble against people who are good at leg kicks and Machida is one of the best.

I like watching Machida fight due to his technique. Some find it boring, but he is excellent in not wasting energy. Rampage is not as skilled in this area. One item that I heard Quinton bring up in an interview is important though. Machida has never been KO’d before the Shogun fight. That changes a fighter and Rampage pretty much all he does his KO opponents. Going to be interesting how this one plays out.

I lean towards Machida due to his greater skillset and footwork. Should be a great fight.

Bodog has the odds Machida at -280 and Rampage at +220

Other fights on the Main Card

* Welterweight bout: Matt Hughes vs B.J. Penn

Hughes has been on a tear lately winning against 3 jiu-jitsu blackbelt legends of MMA; Matt Serra, Renzo Gracie, & Ricardo Almeida. The bottom line is Hughes knows what he is doing against blackbelts and Joe Rogan has mentioned on several occasions that he thinks Hughes is a blackbelt without the official title/belt.

All three of those guys, however, are not half the striker that BJ Penn is, Hughes opponent Saturday night. BJ and Matt have each won 1 fight a piece against each other. Imo in both fights, BJ came in less shape than the way he has been fighting at the lower weight class where he held the belt. Hughes is a slight underdog here at +145 and Penn a slight favorite at -175. Penn’s cardio cost him the fight against Hughes in the second meeting. I like Penn to win to this fight as his long distance cardio has improved dramatically since going 5 rounds in his last two fights against Frank Edgar.

* Middleweight bout: Gerald Harris vs Maiquel Falcão
Harris is favored. Always enjoy watching Harris fight.

* Light Heavyweight bout: Phil Davis vs Tim Boetsch
Odds are really skewed heavily to Phil Davis. I think Davis will win, but an avoid with these odds.

* Lightweight bout: George Sotiropoulos vs Joe Lauzon
Both guys are so evenly matched here. Sotiropoulos probably impressing me more on an overall basis. I’d go with Sotiropoulos here at -260.

Spike TV card

* Welterweight bout: Matt Brown vs Brian Foster
Foster is the slight favorite in this match. I like that play.

* Middleweight bout: Aaron Simpson vs Mark Muñoz
Two great wrestlers, tougher standup guy is Simpson, though Munoz is no slouch.

Prelims

* Welterweight bout: Karo Parisyan vs Dennis Hallman
My prediction: Karo wins in his COMEBACK!

* Lightweight bout: Edson Barboza vs Mike Lullo

* Lightweight bout: Paul Kelly vs T.J. O’Brien

* Lightweight bout: Tyson Griffin vs Nik Lentz
This could be fight of the night as Lentz is no pushover and has a good standup and ground arsenal. I lean towards Lentz due to this being such an even match, with the odds skewed -210 towards Griffin.

UFC 122 Predictions

Nate Marquardt vs Yushin Okami I don’t see Okami posing any threat to Marquardt other than maybe winning a decision, not that this couldn’t happen it could. Marquardt on the other hand has the power to finish Okami inside three rounds. I like Marquardt here. Jorge Rivera vs Alessio Sakara This is the second billing […]

Nate Marquardt vs Yushin Okami

I don’t see Okami posing any threat to Marquardt other than maybe winning a decision, not that this couldn’t happen it could. Marquardt on the other hand has the power to finish Okami inside three rounds. I like Marquardt here.

Jorge Rivera vs Alessio Sakara

This is the second billing fight and is a smart card for a free Spike TV showing. Rivera likes to stay on his feet and of course Sakara does as well. I like Rivera here.

Dennis Siver vs Andre Winner

Both guys have great boxing, Winner has better. Siver has some deadly leg kicks and his sidekick and back fist he uses quite a bit. Andre Winner though I could see putting a pounding on Siver without taking him out until the judge’s decision. Winner via decision.

Amir Sadollah vs Peter Sobotta

Amir Sadollah. UFC likes to showcase him.

Krzysztof Soszynski vs Goran Reljic

In the battle of eastern block names, I like Goran Reljic in this one. However, if Goran gets on his back, Soszynski probably does his key lock.

Kyle Noke vs Rob Kimmons

I’ll ride with Noke. Seemed tough on the show.

Vladimir Matyushenko vs Alexandre Ferreira

Vlad.

Duane Ludwig vs Nick Osipczak

In this match Ludwig is a 2-1 underdog here. I like Ludwig to win and with these odds seems like a no brainer.

Seth Petruzelli vs Karlos Vemola

Petruzelli via ridge hand.

Lesnar Gets Destroyed By Velasquez Becomes New Champion

Lesnar started out with a flury, but Cain Velasquez bid his time remained calm and destroyed Lesnar. Lesnar tried for 2 or 3 shots, Cain stopped 2 of them and the other he was right back to his feet so fast. By this time, Lesnar was gassed already. Cain turned the tables took him down […]

Lesnar started out with a flury, but Cain Velasquez bid his time remained calm and destroyed Lesnar.

Lesnar tried for 2 or 3 shots, Cain stopped 2 of them and the other he was right back to his feet so fast.

By this time, Lesnar was gassed already. Cain turned the tables took him down and just GnP’d till ref stoppage. Cain barely broke a sweat.

Shaub Beats Gonzaga

Shaub out boxed Gonzaga despite Gonzaga cracking Shaub’s front leg most of the fight. I didn’t think there was much significant damage and at the very end of the fight (and I meand the final seconds), Gonzaga rushes Shaub, gets his back and…

Shaub out boxed Gonzaga despite Gonzaga cracking Shaub’s front leg most of the fight. I didn’t think there was much significant damage and at the very end of the fight (and I meand the final seconds), Gonzaga rushes Shaub, gets his back and choke in about 2 seconds, horn blows. I mean really?