Author: moneybags

Donald Cerrone (155) vs Ed Ratcliff (155)

The cowboy, Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone takes on hard puncher Ed “9mm” Ratcliff. Cerrone has faced hard punching before, but has Ratcliff faced a guy as tough as Cerrone? Not sure about that. Cerrone is a heavy favorite for a reason.

I like Cerrone to sub Ratcliff in round 2.

Bodog has Cerrone @ -500 and Ratcliff @ +300

Anthony Njokuani (156*) vs Chris Horodecki (155)

I think this is a fair line as Njokuani has shown some stiff KO’s lately. In this fight Njokuani is going to be a big problem in terms of height and reach. A really big problem that is. Horodecki kicks likely won’t be able to find their target. However, Njokuani has been shown to be susceptible to submissions due to his tunnel vision like overcommitment to the striking.

If there was ever a time to pick against Njokuani, I think this is a good time. Horodecki goes through a tough battle, but eventually secures an arm bar to win.

Bodog has Njokuani @ -180 and “The Polish Hammer” Horodecki @ +150

Joseph Benavidez (135) vs Rani Yahya (135.5)

Rani Yahya is a really great submission specialist, while Benavidez is great virtually everywhere. However, Yahya as a submission specialist is a level above. If Benavidez can just avoid getting submission he will likely win because he is the better striker.

I like Yahya to secure the submission and win in the 3rd.

Bodog has Joseph Benavidez @ -200 and Rani Yahya @ +160

Takeya Mizugaki (135*) vs Scott Jorgensen (135)

Jorgensen is a tough fighter who has been through some bad periods in fights and has hung in where he was in very precarious situations. So Joregensen is a tough guy, but does he have the tools to beat Mizugaki? I don’t think so.
I like Mizugaki to win.

Bodog has Mizugaki @ -175 and Jorgensen @ +145

*Both Mizugaki and Njokuani missed weight at the first weigh in, and came back and made weight for the 2nd weighing. Also skipping the rest of the fights on this card.

CUNG LE (6-0) vs SCOTT SMITH (17-6)

One of the most dynamic strikers in MMA is Cung Le. I’ve mentioned previously about the way Le uses momentum of the opponent against themselves when talking about Jon Jones, Cung probably does it the best. Then you combine the ability to deliver huge devastating kicks, like mule kicks, windmill kicks, and actually land them, gives Cung a huge striking advantage over Scott Smith. I’m a huge fan of Scott Smith because he has been in some of the most exciting finishes of all time. Being a martial artist myself, I used to watch almost anything on ESPN that was martial arts related. Cung Le used to be in the Sanda tournaments and always won – 17-0 in fact. San Shou martial art has an emphasis on throws and putting taking the opponent down, however, not the traditional way such as a wrestler’s takedown. The way they do it is trips, sweeps, and striking an opponent when they are at off balance points. Fighters don’t have someone like this to train with and is why MMA fighters have trouble with Cung Le. Smith will have trouble as well.

Cung is too much in the striking department in terms of variety, too much cardio, too much in the judo/sansho department. Smith doesn’t take anyone down. So in terms of how a fighter can score points Cung Le wins that possibility hands down. If you incorporate KO ability they both have it, but Smith is likely to have more one punch KO power.

Bottomline: Cung Le will win.

JOSH THOMSON (16-2) VS GILBERT MELENDEZ (16-2) – LIGHTWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP

These buddies meet again after they have each won one fight with Thomson winning the last meeting. It actually wasn’t even close the last time they fought. Thomson has been out with another injury. I lean towards Thomson again, but this one is very close, because you never know if Thomson’s injury is fully healed.

I would avoid.

RONALDO “JACARE” SOUZA (10-2) VS MATT “THE LAW” LINDLAND (21-6)

Should be a good match. Souza is a great grappler and so is Lindland. Neither is a particularly good striker on the feet. Expecting this to go to a decision.

As far as grappling matches go, I would lean towards Souza to win.

MUHAMMED “KING MO” LAWAL (5-0) VS “IRON” MIKE WHITEHEAD

Whitehead has improved tremendously in his last few fights that I’ve seen, however, Lawal will be way too dynamic.

I like “King Mo” to win

“RUTHLESS” ROBBIE LAWLER (16-5) VS TREVOR PRANGLEY Undetermined Opponent

This will be updated as soon as we know who the opponent is.

Under Card

ANTWAIN “THE JUGGERNAUT” BRITT (9-3) VS SCOTT LIGHTY (5-0)
Scott Lighty is a beast. I’m picking Lighty.

BRYAN TRAVERS (13-1) VS DAISUKE NAKAMURA (20-11)

If you ever want to see a fighter who is an armbar and kumura specialist, its Nakamura. Many American fighters haven’t fought against someone like this yet. Good to see Nakamura state side. There is a chance Nakamura could lose this on points since submission attempts aren’t scored like they are in Japan. However, I think Travers hasn’t faced someone of Nakamura’s ability and therefore Nakamura will be able to catch Travers in one of his patented subs.

Nakamura via submission in the second.

1. BJ Penn looked his best. BJ turned a “ram charging,” “ultra intense” Diego Sanchez and totally turned him into office furniture. It was like Diego was sitting in the middle of the ring and BJ was running around him in the Matrix during the schoolyard scene. You could have scored every round a 10-8. BJ Penn’s trainer after every round says, “He doesn’t belong in there with you. Lets finish this already.” The 5th round rolls around and BJ finishes the fight. With a FREEKING high kick that opens up a gash the size of the gap between the ring girl’s thighs. Fight over. When was the last time BJ even threw a kick?

Diego tried to take BJ down, but BJ made the takedown defense look effortless. BJ likes his back against the cage. Its a protective measure where he uses it as leverage, to keep his feet more solidly planted. This is something different than probably all other fighters are taught today.

2. Frank Mir threw 1 punch and put Kongo face down on the mat and as “the Kongo” tried to recover, Mir sank the guillotine in and put Kongo to sleep. He was out a good minute. Frank Mir’s punch on Kongo will put him BACK on the UFC intro highlight reel. The last time he made that reel was his striking against Wes Simms. Not only that, but it puts a Lesnar rematch back in focus.

3. Kenny Florian’s boxing looked great. Guida’s striking looked completely ineffective. Guida has some of the best cardio in all of MMA though. Florian won via TKO in another elbow smashing cut. How many is this for Florian? Guida did not get the takedown on Florian.

4. Belcher TKO’d Gouveia. A great 1 round match where both fighters almost won via TKO, but each fighter came back swinging until Belcher just caught Wilson a few more times and folded him up.

5. I wouldn’t say robbed is the right word as the match was razor thing, but I think Paul Buentello beat Stefan Struve. Buentello clearly lost the first round as Struve got the legs locked around the body and spent the whole round trying to RNC Buentello. As the round was in its final seconds, Buentello reversed it and closed with a thundering double chop, not seen since the UFC Dreamcast game. You remember that game system right? Hey Mikey Burnett was on that thing. Round two and Buentello cracked Struve very badly to where Struve almost injures his own knee as he folded like my 1 year old’s LEGO tower. Round 2 for Buentello. Round 3 was close and Buentello didn’t look as busy, but he controlled the ring and got the better of the punches. However, Struve landed a bunch of leg kicks to Buentello’s front leg. On my card, Buentello won, and Struve agreed after the fight. Winner – me.

6. TJ Grant beat Burns via TKO. Like I thought he was too much for Burns.

Alot of people have been complaining about the last two cards being weak and this card was worth the price. However, like I’ve said before, all cards to me are exciting, this one was just a little better than the usual. I still can’t believe how dominating BJ Penn looked.