MMAFix.com’s most sacred tradition is upon us once again, with MMA analysts Josh Leduc and Ryan “Fight Freek” Poli attempting to out predict one another in the upcoming UFC event, UFC on FOX 7. It’s been a closely contested competition, with Ryan currently leading by two fights, but Josh has the chance to take the lead if he can ends up being right on the three fights they disagree on.
– Tim Means vs. Jorge Masvidal
Ryan’s thoughts : Means is a larger lightweight that can use his size to his advantage. He has defeated opponents of Jiu-Jitsu, wrestling, and striking background, so Masdival won’t be throwing something that will completely surprise Means. The Dirty Bird is aggressive in his fights and is usually the one to push the pace, so between his work ethic and physical advantages, he should pick up his third win in the UFC.
Pick : Tim Means
Josh’s thoughts : Masvidal has experience fighting big names such as, Raphael Assuncao, Joe Lauzon, Rodrigo Damm, Paul Daley, K.J. Noons, and Gilbert Melendez. He has gone a full five rounds with Melendez, and actually defeated K.J. Noons, Yves Edwards and Joe Lauzon in those fights. He’s proficient with head kicks that have caught his opponents of guard, and even knocked one of them out. He should be able to use his experience and superior technical striking to achieve victory in his UFC debut.
Pick : Jorge Masvidal
– Francis Carmont vs. Lorenz Larkin
Ryan’s thoughts : Larkin may have the more technical striking, but the height and reach of Carmont might pose some issue for him, on top of the fact that Carmont is a proficient striker himself. Now Carmont has been a bit inconsistent, but those were fights against grappling based opponents, which Larkin is not. Carmont should be able to get the fight to the ground and submit Larkin, whether that be in the first, second, or third round.
Pick : Francis Carmont
Josh’s thought’s : In his first fight at middleweight, Larkin out struck Robbie Lawler for three rounds. His cardio seemed to hold up, which tells me he knows how to cut weight properly, and it’ll only get easier from here. I’m not worried about Carmont being the dominate striker, or getting Larking to the ground and holding him there. Whether it end by knockout or decision, Larkin should get his hand raised.
Pick : Lorenz Larkin
– Frank Mir vs. Daniel Cormier
Ryan’s thoughts : Frank Mir’s only chance for victory is to find a way to lock up a submission, a game plan that Jeff Monson, Antonio Silva, and Josh Barnett all failed to do. Mir may be a better Jiu-Jitsu fighter than the other three, but between Cormier’s expert wrestling and knockout power, I find it much more likely that Mir is on the wrong side of some brutal ground and pound that his take him out of this fight.
Pick : Daniel Cormier
Josh’s thoughts : Mir has been overwhelmed by heavy strikes in his fights with Shane Carwin, Jurnior dos Santos, and Brock Lesnar (the rematch), but no matter how badly he has been beaten, he could be one move away from tapping out his opponent. Mir was battered by Antonio Nogueira in their rematch, and Brock Lesnar in their first fight, and in both cases Mir countered with a submission to get the tap. I going with the veteran to do the same in a fight where he has a lot to prove to the odds makers.
Pick : Frank Mir
Just for the record, here’s our picks for the rest of the bouts…
Ben Henderson > Gilbert Melendez
Nate Diaz > Josh Thomson
Matt Brown < Jordan Mein
Chad Mendes > Darren Elkins
Ramsey Nijem < Myles Jury
Joseph Benavidez > Darren Uyenoyama
T.J. Dillashaw > Hugo Viana
Anthony Njokuani > Roger Bowling
Clifford Starks > Yoel Romero
– Ryan “Fight Freek” Poli
@FightFreek