UFC Welterweight bout: Mike Pyle vs. Josh Neer
Odds: (-190 Pyle /+155 Neer )
Betting Pick: Pyle
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In a featured Welterweight bout, two skilled and dangerous veterans will go at it as Josh “The Dentist” Neer squares off against Mike“Quicksand” Pyle. These guys are both experienced veterans with a lotof tools in their belts. Pyle fought all over the world before makinghis way to the UFC in 2009, and has put together an impressive 5-3record against quality opponents since then. Neer, for his part,washed out of the UFC once, but has returned in full force and iscurrently riding a very impressive six fight winning streak. Both of these guys have been around the block and both of them have the ability to finish fights standing and on the ground, so this could be a very entertaining and competitive fight despite the fact thatneither man is really in the Welterweight title picture.
Josh “The Dentist” Neer is one of the toughest and most versatileWelterweights on the UFC roster. After dropping three of four UFCbouts in 2008 and 2009, Neer has won eight of his last nine, with thesole loss coming at the hands of highly-regarded Bellator veteranEddie Alvarez. One thing that sets Neer apart is that he is one ofthe sport’s most prolific finishers, having scored the T/KO or submission in aremarkable 88% of his 33 professional wins. He is not the most technicalfighter in the UFC, either standing or on the ground, but he fights very aggressively, has fight-ending power, and is not afraid to eat a large amount of punishment in order to set up his own offense. Another thing that sets Neer apart is the strength of his chin, which seems sometimes to be made out of granite. What’s so interesting about this fight is that both Pyle and Neer are versatile and experienced enough to fight wherever they need to and to counter any attempts at imposing a game plan, so this is going to be a fight that develops organically and could end with a finish anywhere and at any time.
Mike “Quicksand” Pyle is another tough and versatile veteran with years of experience fighting top-notch opposition. Also, like Neer, Pyle is a prolific finisher, having finished 87% of his 22 professional wins, the vast majority of those coming by way of submission. Although his submission stats are gaudy, they are also misleading in that they make it look like he is not a powerful or dangerous striker, and nothing could be further from the truth. Pyle has very good boxing and can hurt opponents with knees and kicks as well. The one disadvantage he will bring into the Octagon against Neer is that his chin, while hardly made of glass, is much easier to crack than Neer’s is. Still, it is entirely possible that he can strike with Neer and win exchanges, so it’s not like he is locked into a game plan of trying to force takedowns and work a top control game. Just like his opponent, Pyle has the tools and the experience to fight competitively anywhere he needs to.
This has all the makings of a rough and tumble, very competitive matchup. Both guys are hard to impose your will on, both guys can finish fights standing and on the ground, and both guys are tough and difficult to finish. That said, this will probably come down to who makes a big mistake first. These are two of the best Welterweights on Earth when it comes to fighting aggressively and finishing opponents, so a slip up from either one of them could well prove disastrous. I think the slight edge has to go to Pyle, though, because I think his wrestling is a little better and he is a little bit more dangerous in the submission game. There’s no question that this fight could go either way, and neither guy winning could ever be considered an upset because they are so similar and evenly matched, but I think Pyle will find an opening to get this fight to the ground, start applying pressure, and eventually lock up a submission in the later rounds.
Prediction: Mike Pyle by third round rear naked choke.
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