UFC 135 Picks

Sam's Picks

Main Card

Jon Jones vs. Quinton “Rampage” Jackson: Some people are saying that this fight is going to be a war. I utterly and completely disagree, war means that each side has an equal chance of winning which is clearly not the case.  This fight is going to be (once again) one of the most one sided championship fights of all time.  Rampage has only one chance of even coming close to winning this fight, one punch.  Rampage has some of the best one punch power in the sport and we haven’t really seen Jones’ chin get tested yet.  Jones is so dynamic, fast, and unorthodox and Rampage is so slow and very orthodox that it’s going to be just an absolute beat down = Jones by 2^nd round destruction (TKO). My pick for KO of the night!

Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck: I hate this fight, I truly hate this fight.  I love Hughes and hate Koscheck and I know Koscheck is going to win.  After seeing BJ Penn KO Hughes in just 21 seconds, I knew it was time for Hughes to hang up the gloves, but of course, no.  He decides to accept a fight against Diego Sanchez.  Sanchez had to pull out a few weeks before the fight, giving Koscheck the opening.  This fight is going to be ugly = Koscheck by 1^st  round KO.

Rob Broughton vs. Travis Browne: This is going to be an interesting fight.  Browne is starting to look like hes getting ready for a title shot, after having a few good fights with Struve (KO) and a draw with Kongo, a fight in which I thought he won.  Broughton has looked mediocre, not anything special, definitely not main card worthy = Browne by 3^rd round TKO.

Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi: Easily the hardest fight to pick out of all these fights.  Gomi hasn’t looked all that great since he joined the UFC and a little bit before that even.  Diaz also hasn’t been looking all that great.  One’s a grappler with good striking and the other is a powerhouse striker.  I’m going to go with my gut = Diaz by 3^rd round submission (choke). My pick for Fight and submission of the night!

Mark Hunt vs. Ben Rothwell: Rothwell’s getting lucky, Yvel and then this? This fight is going to be even easier for him = Rothwell by 1^st round submission.

Prelims

Aaron Riley vs. Tony Ferguson = Riley by unanimous decision.

Tim Boetsch vs. Nick Ring = Boetsch by 1^st round TKO.

Ricardo Romero vs. James Te Huna = Te Huna by split decision.

Cole Escovedo vs. Takeya Mizugaki = Mizugaki by 2^nd round TKO.

Junior Assuncao vs. Eddie Yagin = Assuncao by unanimous decision. 

Dave's Picks
Dave is out of town this week so he couldn't give a write up for the mian card.

Main Card
Jon Jones vs. Rampage Jackson: Jones by TKO in round 3.
Matt Hughes vs. Josh Koscheck: Koscheck by TKO in round 2
Rob Broughton vs. Travis Browne: Browne by TKO in round 2
Nate Diaz vs. Takanori Gomi: Fiaz by split decision
Mark Hunt vs. Ben Rothwell: Rothwell by unanimous decision

Prelims
Aaron Riley vs. Tony Ferguson: Riley by split decision
Tim Boetsch vs. Nick Ring: Boetsch by TKO in round 2
Ricardo Romero vs. James Te Huna: Te Huna by unanimous decision
Cole Escovedo vs. Takeya Mizugaki: Mizugaki by split deicision
Junior Assuncao vs. Eddie Yagin: Assuncao by unanimous decision