UFC 138 Predictions

UFC 138 Predictions

Dave’s Picks:

Main Card

Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz: This is a tough fight to pick for me. I’ll start with Munoz first. Munoz was an amazing college wrestler and even though he has found much success in MMA he hasn’t come close to fully utilizing his wrestling ability in MMA. If Munoz could get it to the ground he could keep it there and ground and pound Leben for a KO win. He has also shown a weak chin at times. With Leben you got insane punching power, a decent chin and ok takedown defense and BJJ. This literally hinges on whether or not Munoz can put Leben on his back and keep him there before he gets decapitated = Leben by TKO in round 3. My Pick for KO of the Night!

Renan Barao vs. Brad Pickett: Really interesting fight that should be fun to watch but Barao has impressed me and he is on my fantasy team in my fantasy league!= Barao by unanimous decision.

Papy Abedi vs. Thiago Alves: Should be a good back and forth technical brawl. However, just like the Barao vs. Pickett fight, Alves has so much more experience beating fighters like Koscheck = Alves by TKO in round 2. My Pick for Fight of the Night!

Terry Etim vs. Edward Faaloloto: Yea, that name is spelled right. Etim is better in every way and Edward needs way more experience before he comes back to the UFC again. Good tune-up return fight for Etim= Etim by submission round 1. My Pick for Submission of the Night!

CyrilleDiabate vs. Anthony Perosh: If Perosh could get this to the ground Perosh would win rather quickly however he will get KO’ed before that happens = Diabate by KO in round 2.

Prelims

Justin Edwards vs. John Maguire: Maguire by unanimous decision.

Michihiro Omigawa vs. Jason Young: Omigawa by submission in round 3.

Rob Broughton vs. Philip De Fries: DeFries by split decision.

Chris Cope vs. Che Mills: Mills by split decision.

Chris Cariaso vs. Vaughan Lee: Cariaso by unanimous decision.

Sam’s Picks

Main Card

Chris Leben vs. Mark Munoz: A weird main event that could end up being either a really terrible fight or a really good one. Munoz has really cemented himself as one of the top guys in the middleweight division, while Leben is just on the outskirts of that. Leben’s coming off a very unsurprising victory over a Wanderlai Silva who needs to retire and Munoz is coming off a very close decision with Demian Maia, a fight in which I thought he lost. In this fight, I really find that there is no way for Leben to win this unless he gets that one punch KO, but I don’t really see that happening = Munoz by unanimous decision.

Brad Pickett vs. Renan Barao: This fight has all the make-up to be fight of the night. Whenever I see Pickett’s name, I think of fight of the night. Barao is a really game opponent who is close to a title shot along with a very impressive record of 26-1 with his one loss being a decision loss in his MMA debut. I’m nervous that Pickett’s going to have the UFC “jits” but he doesn’t seem like the guy to really get all that nervous = Pickett by unanimous decision. My pick for Fight of the Night!

Thiago Alves vs. Papy Abedi: I don’t get this fight, Abedi’s barely beaten anyone with over a 500 record and Thiago is a very well known dangerous fighter = Thiago by 2nd round TKO. My pick for KO of the Night!

Terry Etim vs. Edward Faaloloto: I’m really glad to see Terry Etim back but I can tell that they are giving him an easy fight back because Faaloloto’s record is 2-2… overall. Etim should easily win this = Etim by 1st round submission (choke). My pick for Submission of the Night!

Cyrille Diabate vs. Anthony Persosh: The classic Striker vs. Grappler match but with this time the striker winning = Diabate by 1st round TKO.

Prelims

Justin Edwards vs. John Maguire = Edwards by split decision
Michihiro Omigawa vs. Jason Young = Omigawa by split decision
Rob Broughton vs. Philip De Fries = Broughton by 2nd round submission (arm)
Chris Cope vs. Che Mills = Mills by unanimous decision
Chris Cariaso vs. Vaughn Lee = Cariaso by split decisio