Sam’s Picks
Main Card
Anderson Silva vs.
Stephan Bonnar: Well, this could very well be the strangest matchup in the
history of the modern day UFC. The best of all time against a massive
underachiever. My prediction is quite obvious but I want to talk about Bonnar's
chances in winning this fight. Silva shouldn't underestimate Bonnar in any way,
shape, or form. Bonnar has a lot of power that can knock anyone out at 205
pounds. He also has very underrated grappling skills that if he can back Anderson
up, he could possibly take him down. Do I see any of this happening? No, I
don't. But I don’t see Anderson knocking him out either = Silva via unanimous
decision. My 3rd pick for FOTN!
Antonio Rodrigo
Nogueira vs. Dave Herman: People are saying that Nogueira's career is over
and done with. I think he's almost there, but not quite yet. Sure, he got
submitted for the first time in his last fight with Mir, but Nogueira almost
knocked him out. He dropped him and started to rain down some ground and pound.
Herb Dean yelled at him to not hit the back of the head so be went for the
guillotine that lost him the fight. His boxing looked fantastic in that fight
and Herman has a very questionable chin. Nogueira will rock him, take his back
and submit him = Nogueira via 1st round submission (RNC). My pick for SOTN!
Glover Teixeira vs.
Fabio Maldonado: BARNBURNER ALERT - Believe it or not, but this is the
fight that I am looking forward to the most. Teixeira is one of the most
promising fighters in the UFC today and Maldonado has been in three straight
Fight of the Night performances. Maldonado has also been screwed out of two
decisions in a row against Igor Pokrajac and Kyle Kingsbury. This fight is
going to be an absolute slugfest. Teixeira has the clear ground advantage but
the standup is a toss up. Teixeira has the power and Maldonado has the
technique. Now I understand why Teixeira is such a favorite heading into this
but Maldonado is really being counted out in this fight when he shouldn’t be.
He could make a career in the UFC for being so entertaining and showing lots of
boxing mastery. But with that being said, Teixeira is going to win this fight
in a standup war. This is going to steal the show = Teixeira via unanimous
decision. My 1st pick for FOTN!
Jon Fitch vs. Erick
Silva: I am extremely excited for this fight and it's for one reason and
one reason only: to see what Erick Silva can do against a true elite
welterweight. His three performances thus far have been complete domination
from beginning to end. But the competition in those fights weren't anywhere
near the level of competition that Fitch brings. Fitch is a wrestling
powerhouse. Dominating almost all of his fights with his smothering grappling
style. And he gets a bad rep from that. I don't think a guy who finds what
works best for him and becomes a top guy should change his fighting style just
because people say, “BOO”. But he recently said that he has realized that
entertainment earns title shots more, and sadly, he's right. But the fact that
he said that kind of scares me. I have a bad feeling that he is going to try
and make it a scrap and not do what he does best. Silva will destroy him in the
standup if he decides to keep it there. But the safe pick is to go with Fitch
and not the welterweight phenom = Fitch via unanimous decision.
Phil Davis vs. Wagner
Prado: The last fight was bizarre to say the least. Prado was continuously
backing Davis up until Phil accidentally threw out a finger and took out a
chunk of Prado's eye (not literally) and let me tell you, Prado turned into the
incredible hulk when the ref decided to call off the fight. Going into that
fight, I didn't give Prado even the slightest chance. I thought Phil would take
him down and submit him or smother him for three rounds. Prado started to look
really solid before the inadvertent eye poke. I could see him upsetting Davis,
but right now, Davis is just way more well rounded when it comes to the ground.
I don’t see a submission, but I do see him going for a takedown whenever Prado
starts to find his range = Davis via unanimous decision.
Demian Maia vs. Rick
Story: Even though Maia’s welterweight debut ended rather abruptly, he
still impressed me with the fact that he instantly engaged, trying to go for
the takedown. Story has looked awful lately. Hopefully he has changed since his
last three performances but if he hasn’t, expect a poor performance. I see a
similar fight to Maia’s welterweight debut: instant engagement on the fence,
trip takedown, mount, but then a submission = Maia via 1st round
submission.
Rony Jason vs. Sam Sicilia = Jason via unanimous decision. My 2nd pick for FOTN!
Gleison Tibau vs. Francisco Trinaldo = Tibau via split
decision.
Diego Brandao vs. Joey Gambino = Brandao via 1st
round KO. My pick for KOOTN!
Renee Forte vs. Sergio Moraes = Moraes via 3rd
round split decision.
Chris Camozzi vs. Luiz Cane = Cane via split decision.
Reza Madadi vs. Cristiano Marcello = Marcello via 2nd
round submission.
Dave’s Picks
Main Card
Anderson Silva vs.
Stephan Bonnar: This easily the most lopsided fight ever put together in
the Zuffa era. Don’t get me wrong I love and have much respect for Bonnar but
Silva is the best fighter to ever live. The only hope Bonnar has is that Silva
takes him lightly and Bonnar sneaks in with a big overhand. Silva has taken
opponents he deemed unworthy lightly and put on bad performances; like against
Demian Maia and Thales Leites. But in all seriousness this will be a beat-down
and no one will be surprised. = Silva by TKO in round 2. My Pick for Fight of the Night! My Pick for KO of the Night!
Dave Herman vs.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira: This is such a strange fight to me. But it should
be a fun one. Big Nog is one of my favorites and has looked great in his last
few fights. He is coming off a long layoff after breaking his arm but I think
he is ready to go. If Nog is healthy, he should win this fight with more
technical striking and a much better ground game. Herman leaves his hands low
and Nog does have the power to knock Herman out. Nog has struggled with lanky
guys in the past but I think Herman just is not talented enough to win this. =
Nog by TKO in round 2.
Fabio Maldonado vs.
Glover Teixeira: Fabio has some good boxing but lacks real KO power.
Glover, on the other hand, has some massive power. Fabio might have the better
technique but he hasn’t looked great lately. Yea, he had a case to say he won
against Igor but even still, he looked mediocre. Glover looked fantastic in his
debut and the big stage did not seem to faze him at all. I think Glover will
land more of the big punches and might be able to finish Fabio. = Glover by
unanimous decision.
Jon Fitch vs. Erick
Silva: Silva is a beast and has looked like a killer. Fitch is coming off
of a devastating 12 second KO at the hands of Johny Hendricks. Silva is fast
and has much better striking than Hendricks. If Fitch comes out slow, which is
possible due to his long layoff, then he will get blitzed into a coma. But if
Fitch comes out and fights like he normally does, he will win because Silva will
not be able to handle Fitch’s smothering wrestling style. However, the kicker
is that Fitch has stated that he can no longer fight like that because only
exciting guys get big fights and more money. If Fitch comes out swinging then
he will be eating fists all night. This is a hard one because it is based
solely on what style Fitch decides to fight with. But I’m going to go with what
I believe is safest which is the AKA wrestling machine. = Fitch by unanimous
decision.
Phil Davis vs. Wagner
Prado: This is a rematch to their very disappointing match back in August.
Prado came out strong and was landing early but then Davis practically ripped
Prado’s eye out and the bout was called a No Contest. Many people will probably
pick Prado based on how the first fight went. But that was only 1 minute and 28
seconds. Davis is an amazing fighter but his standup needs a ton of work. But I
think he learned in the first fight that he can’t stand with Prado and should
be able to outwrestle him. However, if Davis stays standing he will most likely
be KO’d. But I think Davis is smart enough and will execute the best game plan
possible. = Davis by unanimous decision.
Demian Maia vs. Rick
Story: This is an interesting fight. Maia’s career has been so up and down
recently but his last fight he looked like the Maia of old. He came out strong
and took Kim down so hard it cracked a rib. It was short but was a glimpse of
what is to come…hopefully. But Story has not looked all that great recently. He
had a great run for a while but got crushed two times in a row and then
outwrestled a guy that is nowhere near Maia’s level of grappling. Maia will
have the advantage on the ground for sure but as long as Story keeps it
standing or is in top control he may be OK. Maia’s BJJ is much better when he
is on top; which will be hard to do because Story will be the one doing the
takedowns. But I think Maia can come out hungry and get the win by out
grappling Story. = Maia by unanimous decision.
Prelims
Rony "Jason" Mariano Bezerra vs. Sam Sicilia:
Jason by submission in round 2. My Pick for Submission
of the Night!
Gleison Tibau vs. Francisco Trinaldo: Tibau by unanimous
decision.
Diego Brandao vs. Joey Gambino: Brandao by TKO in round 1.
Renee Forte vs. Sergio Moraes: Moraes by unanimous decision.
Chris Camozzi vs. Luiz Cane: Cane by split decision
Reza Madadi vs. Cristiano Marcello: Marcello by split
decision.
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