UFC 149: Barao vs. Faber Main Card Recap

Renan Barao getting the belt

This event started off with some of the best prelims we have had in some time and it was capped off by one of the worst PPV main cards that the UFC has ever had. Not only this, but Dave and I had our worst prediction night since starting CR. Weird night but let’s head into the recap.

Matt Riddle vs. Chris Clements: Before this fight, I wasn’t really a fan of Matt Riddle due to the fact that I thought that he was a guy that didn’t deserve to be in the UFC and his all around MMA game just wasn’t good. This fight shut me up. His boxing needs work but his kicks are great. His wrestling is great and the fight ending standing arm triangle was beautifully set up. I said at the end that he must have worked a lot on his BJJ and he said that he worked a lot with Robert Drysdale. It showed.

Possible matchups for Riddle: In one of the funniest rants that I have ever seen at a UFC post-fight press conference, Riddle called out Dan Hardy. Riddle recalled of a time that a Brit had spat directly in his mouth and wants to take revenge upon Dan Hardy, but doesn’t have anything against Dan Hardy himself. That fight would be good and if Riddle fights smart and tries to take it to the ground, he could actually win.

Possible fights for Clements: Clements is not a very good fighter. Plain and simple. His standup is sloppy and his ground game is very amateurish. Lance Benoist is also coming off a loss and they both have fought Matt Riddle, and even though Benoist won against Riddle, they both need rebound fights.

James Head vs. Brian Ebersole: This fight was just plain weird. It looked like Ebersole didn’t even care about the fight. His takedown attempts were just horrendous, and then they wouldn’t do anything. I thought Head definitely won the fight and that a split decision was ridiculous.

Possible matchups for Head: Head and Seth Baczynski are both looking for steps up in competition and if they fought, the winner would get just that.

Possible matchups for Ebersole: Ebersole clearly had no interest in this fight. His body looked drained and non muscular, which I’m guessing was from his cut down to 155 pounds. Mac Danzig is the type of fighter who is always right on the brink of title contention and loses a fight; a matchup with Danzig would be a tough first test for Ebersole at 155 pounds.

Cheick Kongo vs. Shawn Jordan: In my opinion, this was the worst fight of the night. It was punch then clinch. Punch, and then clinch for the whole 15 minutes, it was brutal. Kongo ended up winning but I did not care who won or lost.

Possible matchups for Kongo: Kongo is the ultimate gatekeeper. Brendan Schaub is still looking for an opponent for his next fight and it didn’t seem like Kongo took very much damage at all in this fight.

Possible matchups for Jordan: Jordan still has a lot of potential along with being one of the most athletic heavyweights in the UFC. Mike Russow just came off of a high profile loss and they both need big rebound fights.

Tim Boestch vs. Hector Lombard: This was the most disappointing fight on Saturday. We were all expecting big things in Lombard’s debut and he did not impress, to say the least. The fight was Lombard standing flatfooted while Boestch leg kicked and punched him. It was weird and I actually scored every round to “The Barbarian”.

Possible matchups for Boestch: Even though this fight was highly boring, Boestch still impressed me and moved himself into the top 5 of 185 pounds. He and Alan Belcher could face off in a potential number 1 contenders match.

Possible matchups for Lombard: In my last recap for UFC on Fuel 4, I said that Munoz should fight the loser of this fight. It’s really the only one that makes sense, including that Lombard called him out before this fight.

Renan Barao vs. Urijah Faber: Barao showed us all that he truly has the best chance at dethroning the bantamweight champion that is Dominick Cruz. Barao dominated this fight from the beginning with kicks, knees, and powerfully fast punches. Barao truly is amazing.

Possible matchups for Barao: If Barao isn’t planning on waiting for Cruz, the only fight that makes sense for him to defend his belt would be against Michael McDonald.

Possible matchups for Faber: Miguel Torres and Urijah Faber’s careers are starting to close in on them. This used to be the super fight that we all wanted very badly back in the WEC days. There is no better time than now. 

For prelim recap, click here.

UFC 149: Barao vs. Faber Predictions

Dave’s Picks

Main Card

Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao: (our interview with Urijah about this fight and much much more, click here!)This fight is going to be amazing! I am so pumped for this. We will either see 1) Faber win and become one of the best fighters to ever live (if he is not one already) and cement himself as a legend and be only the 3^rd person ever to be a Zuffa champion in 2 different weight classes. Or 2) Barao wins and we see a new star born who has the potential to beat Cruz and own that belt for years to come. Barao will be much bigger and stronger and have better striking but Faber will be faster and have better wrestling. I think the BJJ aspect will be cancelled out because both are amazing. Anything can happen in this fight but I feel more comfortable in picking Barao. I think he has more ways to win and I can see him winning the fight in a similar fashion to when Jose Aldo beat Faber. This one will be fun and I can’t wait! = Barao by unanimous decision. My 1st Pick for Fight of theNight!

Tim Boetsch vs. Hector Lombard: I love Tim Boetsch; from the time I saw him throw David Heath neck-first onto the floor like a rag doll.The guy puts on fights, real fights. Lombard is a high level grappler with crazy strength and decent striking. This will be Lombard’s long awaited UFC debut and Boetsch is no easy test to start your UFC career against. Boetsch has amazing heart and is as strong as they come but is not great at any one thing. I hope Boestsch wins but the safer pick is with Lombard. = Lombard by unanimous decision.

Shawn Jordan vs. Cheick Kongo: This should be a fun standup war. Jordan has impressed me for awhile now and Kongo has been looking worse and worse as of late. Jordan should also have the grappling advantage and he has the better camp. I can’t envision Kongo winning this thing unless Jordan either gets careless or has a horrible night. = Jordan by TKO in round 2. My Pick for KO of the Night!

Brian Ebersole vs. James Head: Head looked great against Papy Abedi and he has beaten the formidable Gerald Harris. However, Ebersole is 4-0 in the UFC and has looked good except in the Claude Patrick fight. Ebersole will be shorter and most likely a reach disadvantage but he is much better then Head everywhere and he should take this. = Ebersole by unanimous decision.

Chris Clements vs. Matt Riddle: This fight will probably be a sloppy brawl but fun to watch. I think Clements is much better then Riddle and I think Riddle will be cut after this fight. Look for Clements to have the speed advantage and take this somewhat easily. = Clements by unanimous decision.

Prelims

Court McGee vs. Nick Ring = Ring by split decision.

Roland Delorme vs. Francisco Rivera = Delorme by split decision. My 2nd pick for Fight of the Night!
(For our interview with Roland Delorme click here, our interview with Fracisco Rivera click here)

Ryan Jimmo vs. Anthony Perosh = Perosh by split decision.

Bryan Caraway vs. Mitch Gagnon = Caraway by unanimous decision.

Antonio Carvalho vs. Daniel Pineda = Pineda by submission in round 2. My Pick for Submission of the Night!

Mitch Clarke vs. Anton Kuivanen = Kuivanen by unanimous decision.

Sam’s Picks

Main Card

Urijah Faber vs. Renan Barao: (our interview with Urijah about this fight and much much more, click here) This is one of those types of fights that you don’t want either guy to lose. I really want to see the Faber-Cruz trilogy resolved and I also want to see Barao show the world why he is considered Cruz’s biggest threat. Because Barao trains at Nova Uniao, he has a training partner that has fought, and defeated, Urijah Faber. Jose Aldo, the current UFC featherweight champion, dominated Faber in the past which headlined WEC’s largest event. Barao is a very similar fighter to that of Aldo; very technical and quick standup with devastating leg kicks. Barao is going to win this fight with the leg kicks, it worked for Aldo = Barao by unanimous decision. My 2^nd pick for FOTN!

Hector Lombard vs. Tim Boetsch: I am a huge Boetsch fan. I always have been since his amazing slam win over David Heath. I am saying this because I want everyone to know that I am not joining the Lombard hype train. Lombard is a very good fighter. His standup is powerful and technical and his judo is phenomenal. Boetsch is the type of guy who is constantly finding ways to win against fighters who are hefty favorites. He could very well do it in this fight. Lombard is the better grappler but Boetsch can always find a way to win. I will be cheering for "The Barbarian" = Lombard by close unanimous decision.

Shawn Jordan vs. Cheick Kongo: Shawn Jordan is going to be one of the next big things at heavyweight. He has powerful standup and a solid ground game. Cheick Kongo’s chin is gone and his ground game sucks. Everything in this fight favors Jordan = Jordan by 3^rd round TKO. My pick for KOOTN!

Brian Ebersole vs. James Head: Head has not impressed me yet, the best thing he has done is beat Gerald Harris. Ebersole is starting to cement himself as a title contender and James Head will never be one. Ebersole will dominate this fight wherever it goes =Ebersole by 1^st round submission. My pick for SOTN!

Chris Clements vs. Matt Riddle: Riddle is the sloppiest fighter in the UFC. He is just plain bad. I thought that Henry Martinez won their fight and he was half a foot shorter than Riddle. Clements is a fun fighter and should easily win this one = Clements by unanimous decision. My 3^rd pick for FOTN!

Prelims

Court McGee vs. Nick Ring: Ring by split decision.

Roland Delorme vs. Francisco Rivera: Rivera by split decision. My 1^st pick for FOTN!
(For our interview with Roland Delorme click here, our interview with Fracisco Rivera click here)

Ryan Jimmo vs. Anthony Perosh: Jimmo by 1^st round TKO (but this was hard to pick).

Bryan Caraway vs. Mitch Gagnon: Gagnon by 3^rd round submission.

Antonio Carvalho vs. Daniel Pineda: Pineda by 1st round submission (choke).

Mitch Clarke vs. Anton Kuivanen: Clarke by unanimous decision.