Author: Pat

UFC Middleweight bout:  Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz

Odds: (+200 Leben / -260 Munoz )

Betting Pick: Munoz

Bet on this fight at Bodog.com

In the main event of the evening, tough-as-nails brawler Chris “The Crippler” Leben will face a stern test in heavy-handed wrestler Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz. Leben is not always the most consistent performer, but he always shows up to fight and he always puts on a show. Munoz isn’t quite as edge of your seat exciting as Leben, but he is extremely consistent and effective, mixing up his heavy power punches with his dominant wrestling very well. Leben does have some submission skills, as he showed by triangle choking Yoshihiro Akiyama, but he is not known as a ground fighter and may have trouble dealing with a guy as large and skilled as Munoz on top of him. On the other side of that coin, Munoz has never had to deal with anyone as tenacious and determined as Leben, who seems to thrive on taking a beating, wading through it, and giving back as good as he is giving. This is an interesting style matchup and should make for a very entertaining main event.

Chris “The Crippler” Leben was undeniably the villain on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter. His mood swings, childish pranks, and verbal assaults on other cast mates made him easily the most hated fighter on the show. Over the years since, though, Leben has grown into a very popular fan favorite because of his never say die fighting style and the fact that it is legitimately impossible for one of his fights to be boring. Leben is a very dangerous slugger who has a lot of power in his hands, but what makes him so dangerous is that he never stops fighting for even a second. He will wade through beatings that are hard to even watch just to land a couple of counter haymakers. His gameplan is always predictable: he will move forward constantly, absorbing any punishment he has to, just to make sure he lands his power punches. When a fight settles into a groove and becomes technical, that is when Leben tends to stagnate. He is at his best during wild, ugly brawls, and he is very good at making his fights turn out that way. The big question mark against Munoz is how well his takedown defense will hold up and how effectively he will be able to fight off his back with a big, technical wrestler like Munoz on top of him.

Mark Munoz, who is currently riding an impressive three fight win streak, is one of the rising stars of the Middleweight division. A skilled wrestler with devastating power punches, Munoz has consistently improved and turned in solid performances. Outside of a head kick knockout he suffered at the hands of Matt Hamill, the only blemish on Munoz’s record is a narrow split decision loss to top contender Yushin “Thunder” Okami. Munoz has a very complete offensive game, with good boxing, dominant wrestling, and a very active and effective clinch. As good a puncher as Munoz is, he probably doesn’t want to stand and trade with Leben, just because that is Leben’s strength and it is ridiculously difficult to put him down with strikes. Munoz has the tools to put Leben on the ground, though, and he would be smart to use them. In a ground fight, from top position, Munoz instantly becomes the favorite here, so he would be wise to force this fight to the mat as early as possible.

This is going to be a very competitive fight. On the feet, both of these guys can do a ton of damage, which makes this a tough fight to call if it plays out in the striking department. The difference maker here is going to be Munoz’s clinch game and wrestling. Both of these guys are tough and solid chins, so this should go the distance, but Munoz’s ability to control position with the clinch and score points with takedowns and ground and pound should be enough to earn him the unanimous decision win in his first main event.

Prediction:  Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz via Unanimous Decision.

To add  a little more excitement on fight night, you can bet on this fight at Bodog.com Odds.   Check out my review of Bodog here…

UFC Middleweight bout:  Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz

Odds: (+205 Leben / -265 Munoz )

Betting Pick: Munoz

Bet on this fight at Bodog.com

In the main event of the evening, tough-as-nails brawler Chris “The Crippler” Leben will face a stern test in heavy-handed wrestler Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz. Leben is not always the most consistent performer, but he always shows up to fight and he always puts on a show. Munoz isn’t quite as edge of your seat exciting as Leben, but he is extremely consistent and effective, mixing up his heavy power punches with his dominant wrestling very well. Leben does have some submission skills, as he showed by triangle choking Yoshihiro Akiyama, but he is not known as a ground fighter and may have trouble dealing with a guy as large and skilled as Munoz on top of him. On the other side of that coin, Munoz has never had to deal with anyone as tenacious and determined as Leben, who seems to thrive on taking a beating, wading through it, and giving back as good as he is giving. This is an interesting style matchup and should make for a very entertaining main event.

Chris “The Crippler” Leben was undeniably the villain on the inaugural season of The Ultimate Fighter. His mood swings, childish pranks, and verbal assaults on other cast mates made him easily the most hated fighter on the show. Over the years since, though, Leben has grown into a very popular fan favorite because of his never say die fighting style and the fact that it is legitimately impossible for one of his fights to be boring. Leben is a very dangerous slugger who has a lot of power in his hands, but what makes him so dangerous is that he never stops fighting for even a second. He will wade through beatings that are hard to even watch just to land a couple of counter haymakers. His gameplan is always predictable: he will move forward constantly, absorbing any punishment he has to, just to make sure he lands his power punches. When a fight settles into a groove and becomes technical, that is when Leben tends to stagnate. He is at his best during wild, ugly brawls, and he is very good at making his fights turn out that way. The big question mark against Munoz is how well his takedown defense will hold up and how effectively he will be able to fight off his back with a big, technical wrestler like Munoz on top of him.

Mark Munoz, who is currently riding an impressive three fight win streak, is one of the rising stars of the Middleweight division. A skilled wrestler with devastating power punches, Munoz has consistently improved and turned in solid performances. Outside of a head kick knockout he suffered at the hands of Matt Hamill, the only blemish on Munoz’s record is a narrow split decision loss to top contender Yushin “Thunder” Okami. Munoz has a very complete offensive game, with good boxing, dominant wrestling, and a very active and effective clinch. As good a puncher as Munoz is, he probably doesn’t want to stand and trade with Leben, just because that is Leben’s strength and it is ridiculously difficult to put him down with strikes. Munoz has the tools to put Leben on the ground, though, and he would be smart to use them. In a ground fight, from top position, Munoz instantly becomes the favorite here, so he would be wise to force this fight to the mat as early as possible.

This is going to be a very competitive fight. On the feet, both of these guys can do a ton of damage, which makes this a tough fight to call if it plays out in the striking department. The difference maker here is going to be Munoz’s clinch game and wrestling. Both of these guys are tough and solid chins, so this should go the distance, but Munoz’s ability to control position with the clinch and score points with takedowns and ground and pound should be enough to earn him the unanimous decision win in his first main event.

Prediction: Mark “The Filipino Wrecking Machine” Munoz via Unanimous Decision.

To add  a little more excitement on fight night, you can bet on this fight at Bodog.com Odds. Check out my review of Bodog here…

UFC Bantamweight bout:  Brad Pickett vs. Renan Barao

Odds: (+110 Pickett /-140 Barao )

Betting Pick: Barao

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In the semi-main event, well-rounded veteran Brad “One Punch” Pickett will face a stiff challenge in the form of submission phenom Renan “Barao” Nascimento Mota Pegado. Both of these guys have years of experience and well-rounded games, but Pickett is the more versatile of the two while Barao’s ground game is better than any part of Pickett’s repertoire. If Pickett can mix it up well and try to keep this fight standing as much as possible, he will be putting himself in a good position to win, but if this fight goes to the ground it is going to be hard for him to over Barao’s ridiculous jiu-jitsu and positional control.

Brad “One Punch” Pickett is a very skilled and well-rounded veteran who has won 10 of his last 11 bouts. Pickett has solid striking with good power, decent wrestling, and good submissions. There are no huge holes in his game, but he isn’t world-class at any one thing either. What makes Pickett so dangerous is his ability to be competitive with anyone no matter where a fight plays out. Against Barao he will be the more effective striker, but he will be in trouble if and when this fight hits the ground, so he is going to have to defend the clinch and Barao’s takedowns if he wants to make it out of this one.

Renan “Barao” is an extremely accomplished submission grappler who hasn’t lost a fight since his first bout as a professional all the way back in 2005. Since then he has put together 26 wins in a row, nearly half of those coming by submission and another 25% by T/KO. Barao is a master at securing takedowns, holding his opponents down, and working for submissions. He isn’t a world class wrestler, but once fights hit the ground Barao is almost guaranteed to be in control. He has submissions from every position and his ability to sweep and escape can hardly be overstated.

Against Pickett he will enjoy a huge technique advantage in the grappling department, so he will want to try to take Pickett down as early and often as possible.

This is going to be a tough fight for Pickett. He is probably the better striker, but Barao has decent striking too and there is going to be a huge skill gap on the ground that Pickett will have a hard time overcoming. Pickett has been submitted before, and by grapplers nowhere near Barao’s level. I think this one might be back and forth early, but eventually Barao will find a way to get this fight to the ground, where he will take control and eventually submit Pickett.

Prediction: Renan Barao via third round rear naked choke.

To add  a little more excitement on fight night, you can bet on this fight at Bodog.com Odds. Check out my review of Bodog here…