Sam’s Picks
Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem: What a way to finish off the year! The last two fights are great match ups for the next title contenders for the heavyweight and lightweight divisions. Everyone is saying that whoever wins this fight wioll get a title shot against JDS. I believe that Overeem deserves it after winning seven in a row to some top level guys including Fabricio Werdum, Brett Rogers, and Todd Duffee, but Brock lost by getting absolutely destroyed by former champ, Cain Velazquez. Not only did Brock lose but that fight also happened a very long time ago, over a year! Overeem has the clear standup advantage while Lesnar has the better wrestling prowess. The submission game is unclear but I think that Overeem will win this fight decisively based on his better standup and Brock’s weak chin = Overeem by 2nd round TKO. My pick for KOTN!
Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone: I absolutely love this fight and I believe that whoever wins this fight should be considered one of the next lightweight title challengers. This fight could also be a potential fight of the year candidate, and I know last time I said this , the fight only lasted 7 seconds but both these guys’ chins are good and they are both so tough, there is no way this fight will be finished. Diaz looked absolutely unstoppable in his fight with Gomi, he destroyed him on the feet, making Gomi go a takedown only to fall into a triangle that was then beautifully transitioned into a arm bar for the finish, but that is only one fight since losing two in a row at welterweight. While Diaz destroyed Gomi, Cerrone was lighting the lightweight division on fire with his crisp standup and a slick ground game. In a fight that was supposed to be tough for both Cerrone and Dennis Siver, Siver was supposed to win the standup and Cerrone was going to have the ground advantage but Cerrone shut up all his stanup doubters by nearly knocking out Siver on the feet than proving his supporters right by synching up a RNC for the finish. That fight made for his 6th in a row. Cerrone is his prime, this is his moment, Diaz will be tough, but not tough enough = Cerrone by unanimous decision. My pick for FOTN!
Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks: A wrestler versus a better wrestler with the better wrestler coming out on top = Fitch by unanimous decision.
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Vladimir Matyushenko: The new breed versus the experienced. A handing of the torch fight, I love these kinds of fights. Gustafsson has proved to be a future title challenger in beating some top level guys and being at the ripe young age of 24. Matyushenko his still pretty good at his age but that’s all he’ll be, pretty good = Gustafsson by 2nd round submission (choke). My pick for SOTN.
Jim Hettes vs. Nam Phan: This one is hard for me to pick. Hettes looked really good in his fight with Caceres but Nam Phan is the favorite but also looked really bad in his fight with Mike Brown. People are doubting Hettes, you shouldn’t doubt him. His ground skills are extremely impressive and Phan showed weaknesses on the ground in his fight with Brown. Standup is in favor of Phan while the ground goes to Hettes, hard pick = Hettes by 3rd round submission.
Junior Assuncao vs. Ross Pearson = Pearson by unanimous decision.
Danny Castillo vs. Anthony Njokuani = Njokuani by unanimous decision.
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Sean Pierson = Kim by unanimous decision.
Efrain Escudero vs. Jacob Volkmann = Volkmann by unanimous decision.
Luis Ramos vs. Matt Riddle = Ramos by unanimous decision.
Manny Gamburyan vs. Diego Nunes = Nunes by split decision.
Nate Diaz vs. Donald Cerrone: I absolutely love this fight and I believe that whoever wins this fight should be considered one of the next lightweight title challengers. This fight could also be a potential fight of the year candidate, and I know last time I said this , the fight only lasted 7 seconds but both these guys’ chins are good and they are both so tough, there is no way this fight will be finished. Diaz looked absolutely unstoppable in his fight with Gomi, he destroyed him on the feet, making Gomi go a takedown only to fall into a triangle that was then beautifully transitioned into a arm bar for the finish, but that is only one fight since losing two in a row at welterweight. While Diaz destroyed Gomi, Cerrone was lighting the lightweight division on fire with his crisp standup and a slick ground game. In a fight that was supposed to be tough for both Cerrone and Dennis Siver, Siver was supposed to win the standup and Cerrone was going to have the ground advantage but Cerrone shut up all his stanup doubters by nearly knocking out Siver on the feet than proving his supporters right by synching up a RNC for the finish. That fight made for his 6th in a row. Cerrone is his prime, this is his moment, Diaz will be tough, but not tough enough = Cerrone by unanimous decision. My pick for FOTN!
Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks: A wrestler versus a better wrestler with the better wrestler coming out on top = Fitch by unanimous decision.
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Vladimir Matyushenko: The new breed versus the experienced. A handing of the torch fight, I love these kinds of fights. Gustafsson has proved to be a future title challenger in beating some top level guys and being at the ripe young age of 24. Matyushenko his still pretty good at his age but that’s all he’ll be, pretty good = Gustafsson by 2nd round submission (choke). My pick for SOTN.
Jim Hettes vs. Nam Phan: This one is hard for me to pick. Hettes looked really good in his fight with Caceres but Nam Phan is the favorite but also looked really bad in his fight with Mike Brown. People are doubting Hettes, you shouldn’t doubt him. His ground skills are extremely impressive and Phan showed weaknesses on the ground in his fight with Brown. Standup is in favor of Phan while the ground goes to Hettes, hard pick = Hettes by 3rd round submission.
Junior Assuncao vs. Ross Pearson = Pearson by unanimous decision.
Danny Castillo vs. Anthony Njokuani = Njokuani by unanimous decision.
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Sean Pierson = Kim by unanimous decision.
Efrain Escudero vs. Jacob Volkmann = Volkmann by unanimous decision.
Luis Ramos vs. Matt Riddle = Ramos by unanimous decision.
Manny Gamburyan vs. Diego Nunes = Nunes by split decision.
Dave’s Picks
Brock Lesnar vs. Alistair Overeem: This is one of the hardest fights to predict in years. There are some major unknowns, the biggest ones being with Brock Lesnar. Brock has not fought in over a year BUT he also got life changing abdominal surgery. Now he can fight at 100% for the first time in his short career but my concern is can the invasive surgery actually hinder him. Abdominal surgery is a big deal (I know personally) and some people are never the same when it comes to mobility and agility. With Alistair he has never fought in the UFC and that can affect even the most experienced fighters. Plus Alistair hasn’t faced stiff competition in awhile and he’s never faced a wrestler on the level of Brock. People are saying that this won’t go the distance but in my opinion there are too many unknown factors to even say that. If Brock can get the takedowns and keep Alistair on the ground it could go the distance and I think that’s Brock’s best game plan. Alistair arguably has the best standup in all of the UFC but he can’t use it fully because he needs to be constantly defending takedowns. Normally if it’s a tossup I go with the wrestler due to the ability to control but due to Brock’s long layoff and inability to take a punch I got to go with Overeem = Alistair Overeem by guillotine choke in round 2.
Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz: this fight should be a great technical brawl. Both these guys are very similar to each other. They both have great rangy standup and fast and slick ground games. This fight could end anywhere but both a very hard to finish. I’m not sure who has the upper hand in any area but Cerrone has just been blasting competition lately and Diaz’s win against Gomi was amazing but Cerrone is just too hot = Cerrone by split decision. My Pick for Fight of the Night!
Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks: first off I love Johny because he is a 2 time NCAA National Champion from OSU. Now on paper Johny should truck Fitch. Johny has the stronger punches, better wrestling and he is a BJJ black belt. But Fitch just knows how to win MMA fights. He has made a formula which cannot be cracked by anyone not named GSP. I really hope Johny crushes him and goes on to great things but until Fitch starts to have a bad skid I can’t vote against him = Fitch by unanimous decision.
Alexander Gustafsson vs. Vladimir Matyushenko: This is such a cool fight. Alexander is destined to be a future title challenger and Vlad is an old-school warrior that has never had a boring fight in his life. I met Vlad recently (which you can read about in my UFC 140 Recap!!) and he is an intimidating figure. In this fight im assuming Vlad will have the strength and wrestling advantage but Alexander will has the striking advantage but Vlad should have more KO power. I like both of these guys, especially Vlad, but I just think Alexander will use Vlad as a huge stepping stone on his way to fighting Jones = Alexander Gustafsson by unanimous decision.
Jim Hettes vs. Nam Phan: Hettes will most likely have a big future in the UFC but until he starts beating guys like Phan in the UFC I can’t pick him. However, if this goes to the ground I wouldn’t be surprised to see Hettes submit Phan. But the way I see it going is a somewhat entertaining standup battle that Phan wins by simply outpointing Hettes = Phan by unanimous decision.
Prelims
Junior Assuncao vs. Ross Pearson: Pearson by TKO in round 2. KO of the Night!
Danny Castillo vs. Anthony Njokuani: Castillo by submission in round 1. Submission of the Night!
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Sean Pierson: Kim by submission in round 2.
Efrain Escudero vs. Jacob Volkmann: Volkmann by unanimous decision.
Luis Ramos vs. Matt Riddle: Ramos by split decision.
Manny Gamburyan vs. Diego Nunes: Nunes by unanimous decision. (WHY is this fight not on the main card?!!!!!)
Have a great New Year everyone!!
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