Just a little something on the top 5 fights.....I`ll look for something on the other 7 fights.....Try to get an edge on these fights especially if your wagering on them.
I`ll tell you mob.....I was reading predictions on the Diaz fight.....Nobody picks Conor....I`ll post them if i can find them again.
Cody Garbrandt vs. Takeya Mizugaki
Three UFC wins -- two of them by knockout -- set up Team Alpha Male’s Cody Garbrandt (9-0) for a blockbuster showdown with fellow top prospect Thomas Almeida in May. "No Love" made the most of his main event appearance with a brutal first-round stoppage of the Muay Thai menace.
Eight of his nine career wins have come by knockout.
Three years of alternating wins and losses came to an end in dramatic fashion when Takeya Mizugaki (21-9-2) rattled off five straight wins from 2012 to 2014. Dominick Cruz and Aljamain Sterling handed him the first consecutive loses of his ZUFFA career afterward, although he did manage to stave off the dreaded three-fight losing streak with a decision over George Roop in Sept. 2015.
He is seven years older than his favored opponent.
I honestly think Garbrandt is going to have more trouble with Mizugaki than one might think. The Japanese veteran has stood up to bombs from the likes of Francisco Rivera and held his own in the wrestling department against Bryan Caraway, while Garbrandt doesn’t have Cruz’s impeccable transition game or Sterling’s overall grappling prowess.
He’s still probably a bit too much for Mizugaki.
Garbrandt’s raw power is a major equalizer and Mizugaki’s boxing isn’t quite crisp enough to fully exploit the lunges of "No Love." The Alpha Male-trained product does enough damage in exchanges to win a competitive decision.
Prediction: Garbrandt via unanimous decision
Three UFC wins -- two of them by knockout -- set up Team Alpha Male’s Cody Garbrandt (9-0) for a blockbuster showdown with fellow top prospect Thomas Almeida in May. "No Love" made the most of his main event appearance with a brutal first-round stoppage of the Muay Thai menace.
Eight of his nine career wins have come by knockout.
Three years of alternating wins and losses came to an end in dramatic fashion when Takeya Mizugaki (21-9-2) rattled off five straight wins from 2012 to 2014. Dominick Cruz and Aljamain Sterling handed him the first consecutive loses of his ZUFFA career afterward, although he did manage to stave off the dreaded three-fight losing streak with a decision over George Roop in Sept. 2015.
He is seven years older than his favored opponent.
I honestly think Garbrandt is going to have more trouble with Mizugaki than one might think. The Japanese veteran has stood up to bombs from the likes of Francisco Rivera and held his own in the wrestling department against Bryan Caraway, while Garbrandt doesn’t have Cruz’s impeccable transition game or Sterling’s overall grappling prowess.
He’s still probably a bit too much for Mizugaki.
Garbrandt’s raw power is a major equalizer and Mizugaki’s boxing isn’t quite crisp enough to fully exploit the lunges of "No Love." The Alpha Male-trained product does enough damage in exchanges to win a competitive decision.
Prediction: Garbrandt via unanimous decision
Raquel Pennington vs. Elizabeth Phillips
Last September, Raquel Pennington (7-5) got revenge for her first UFC loss with a second-round submission of Jessica Andrade in Las Vegas. Her sole 2016 effort saw her edge a chippy battle with Bethe Correia by split decision to raise her UFC record to 4-2.
She has submitted three professional foes overall.
Elizabeth Phillips (5-3) appeared to have earned her first UFC victory against Milana Dudieva in Macau, only to run afoul of the card’s questionably judging. Things went a little more smoothly two Julys ago when she took two rounds from Jessamyn Duke at UFC on FOX 16.
She has knocked out two opponents and submitted another.
Pennington is a fairly tall task for someone who’s coming off a year-long layoff, especially considering the stylistic match up. Both Pennington’s striking and wrestling games outstrip Duke’s and Phillips is heavily reliant on getting her opponent to the mat. Pennington’s defensive grappling and ability to do damage in transition ought to work very well for her.
I expect Pennington to simply out-scrap Phillips, taking advantage of her layoff to wear her down en route to a unanimous decision.
Prediction: Pennington via unanimous decision
Last September, Raquel Pennington (7-5) got revenge for her first UFC loss with a second-round submission of Jessica Andrade in Las Vegas. Her sole 2016 effort saw her edge a chippy battle with Bethe Correia by split decision to raise her UFC record to 4-2.
She has submitted three professional foes overall.
Elizabeth Phillips (5-3) appeared to have earned her first UFC victory against Milana Dudieva in Macau, only to run afoul of the card’s questionably judging. Things went a little more smoothly two Julys ago when she took two rounds from Jessamyn Duke at UFC on FOX 16.
She has knocked out two opponents and submitted another.
Pennington is a fairly tall task for someone who’s coming off a year-long layoff, especially considering the stylistic match up. Both Pennington’s striking and wrestling games outstrip Duke’s and Phillips is heavily reliant on getting her opponent to the mat. Pennington’s defensive grappling and ability to do damage in transition ought to work very well for her.
I expect Pennington to simply out-scrap Phillips, taking advantage of her layoff to wear her down en route to a unanimous decision.
Prediction: Pennington via unanimous decision
Chris Avila vs. Artem Lobov
Chris Avila (5-2) -- an understudy of Cesar Gracie alongside Nate Diaz -- enters UFC on a three-fight win streak since a decision loss in his World Series of Fighting (WSOF) debut. All three of those victories have come by stoppage inside of two rounds.
He is two inches shorter than Artem Lobov (11-12-1), but will have an eight-inch reach advantage.
Team McGregor’s Lobov made the best of his second chance on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 22 by rattling off three straight knockouts. He hasn’t had the same sort of success in UFC itself, dropping decisions to Ryan Hall and Alex White.
He’s been stopped just once in the last five years.
Zane Simon had a solid breakdown of Avila as part of Bloody Elbow’s "Welcome to the UFC" series and I’m inclined to agree with his assessment of Avila as someone trying to be a Diaz without the tools do so. He throws slapping shots reminiscent of Nate’s and can throw a good jab, but he doesn’t respond well to pressure and can’t replicate Nate’s trick of keeping his head just a little farther back than his opponent thinks.
Those issues combine to severely limit the impact his enormous reach advantage will have against Lobov’s brawling.
For all the grief Lobov and his little T-Rex arms get, he’s a durable and experienced veteran with some real pop in his hands. Avila just isn’t far enough along in his career to maintain the discipline needed to keep Lobov off of him. The Russian Hammer hammers his way to his first UFC victory.
Prediction: Lobov def. Avila via first-round technical knockout
Chris Avila (5-2) -- an understudy of Cesar Gracie alongside Nate Diaz -- enters UFC on a three-fight win streak since a decision loss in his World Series of Fighting (WSOF) debut. All three of those victories have come by stoppage inside of two rounds.
He is two inches shorter than Artem Lobov (11-12-1), but will have an eight-inch reach advantage.
Team McGregor’s Lobov made the best of his second chance on The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 22 by rattling off three straight knockouts. He hasn’t had the same sort of success in UFC itself, dropping decisions to Ryan Hall and Alex White.
He’s been stopped just once in the last five years.
Zane Simon had a solid breakdown of Avila as part of Bloody Elbow’s "Welcome to the UFC" series and I’m inclined to agree with his assessment of Avila as someone trying to be a Diaz without the tools do so. He throws slapping shots reminiscent of Nate’s and can throw a good jab, but he doesn’t respond well to pressure and can’t replicate Nate’s trick of keeping his head just a little farther back than his opponent thinks.
Those issues combine to severely limit the impact his enormous reach advantage will have against Lobov’s brawling.
For all the grief Lobov and his little T-Rex arms get, he’s a durable and experienced veteran with some real pop in his hands. Avila just isn’t far enough along in his career to maintain the discipline needed to keep Lobov off of him. The Russian Hammer hammers his way to his first UFC victory.
Prediction: Lobov def. Avila via first-round technical knockout
Randa Markos vs. Cortney Casey
Upsets of Tecia Torres and Felice Herrig took Randa Markos (6-3) to TUF 21’s semifinals, where she fell to Rose Namajunas’ vicious run. She’s since gone even (2-2) in the UFC itself, most recently defeating Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger in June.
Half of her wins have come by armbar.
Cortney Casey (5-3) slugged her way to "Fight of the Night" bonuses in her first two appearances, competitive decision losses to Joanne Calderwood and Seo Hee Ham. "Cast Iron" finally got her first UFC win last month, destroying Cristina Stanciu with ground-and-pound halfway through the first round.
She has knocked out three professional opponents.
Casey looked tremendous against Stanciu, using her size and strength extraordinarily well. This certainly has me more inclined to pick her than I would have been prior to that fight, but Markos did very well against another huge bruiser in Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger her last time out. If she can again live up to her potential, she has the tools to take out Casey.
Markos has the power and durability to hold her own on the feet and her wrestling ought to tip the scales. Markos lands enough right hands and spends enough time on top to edge out the decision.
Prediction: Markos via split decision
Upsets of Tecia Torres and Felice Herrig took Randa Markos (6-3) to TUF 21’s semifinals, where she fell to Rose Namajunas’ vicious run. She’s since gone even (2-2) in the UFC itself, most recently defeating Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger in June.
Half of her wins have come by armbar.
Cortney Casey (5-3) slugged her way to "Fight of the Night" bonuses in her first two appearances, competitive decision losses to Joanne Calderwood and Seo Hee Ham. "Cast Iron" finally got her first UFC win last month, destroying Cristina Stanciu with ground-and-pound halfway through the first round.
She has knocked out three professional opponents.
Casey looked tremendous against Stanciu, using her size and strength extraordinarily well. This certainly has me more inclined to pick her than I would have been prior to that fight, but Markos did very well against another huge bruiser in Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger her last time out. If she can again live up to her potential, she has the tools to take out Casey.
Markos has the power and durability to hold her own on the feet and her wrestling ought to tip the scales. Markos lands enough right hands and spends enough time on top to edge out the decision.
Prediction: Markos via split decision
So we have a little something on 9 of the fights.
See what i can do for the 3 early fights.
See what i can do for the 3 early fights.
NEIL MAGNY VS. LORENZ LARKIN
Since 2014, Neil Magny has won 10 of his 11 fights inside the Octagon. A long, rangy striker that controls the distance well, he’ll also mix in an occasional takedown to keep his opponent on edge. Since dropping down to welterweight, Larkin has won three of his last four fights. He’s coming off a split decision win over Jorge Masvidal in May.
Magny may not have a ton of power in his strikes, but he makes up for it in volume and discipline. Besides using his 80-inch reach to beat people up with jabs and straight punches, he’s also very effective from the clinch. His frame gives him advantages at distance and in tight, but it’s in the middle range where he’s vulnerable. Sometimes he’ll hang out in the exchanges too long and eat a big counter shot for his troubles. Much like your office Christmas party, sometimes it’s okay to leave early. I don’t see Larkin struggling with the reach disadvantage. His kick-heavy offense should allow him to attack at the same range Magny wants to throw punches in. He’ll open up his combinations with a kick, and while Magny is busy defending that, he’ll slide in and open up with his hands. It’ll be a close back and forth fight.
Larkin pulls the upset by unanimous decision.
Since 2014, Neil Magny has won 10 of his 11 fights inside the Octagon. A long, rangy striker that controls the distance well, he’ll also mix in an occasional takedown to keep his opponent on edge. Since dropping down to welterweight, Larkin has won three of his last four fights. He’s coming off a split decision win over Jorge Masvidal in May.
Magny may not have a ton of power in his strikes, but he makes up for it in volume and discipline. Besides using his 80-inch reach to beat people up with jabs and straight punches, he’s also very effective from the clinch. His frame gives him advantages at distance and in tight, but it’s in the middle range where he’s vulnerable. Sometimes he’ll hang out in the exchanges too long and eat a big counter shot for his troubles. Much like your office Christmas party, sometimes it’s okay to leave early. I don’t see Larkin struggling with the reach disadvantage. His kick-heavy offense should allow him to attack at the same range Magny wants to throw punches in. He’ll open up his combinations with a kick, and while Magny is busy defending that, he’ll slide in and open up with his hands. It’ll be a close back and forth fight.
Larkin pulls the upset by unanimous decision.
Colby Covington vs. Max Griffin
Colby Covington (9-1) opened his UFC career with three straight wins, but was eighty-sixed in 86 seconds by Warlley Alves’ guillotine his next time out. He’s since rebounded with a dominant submission win over late replacement Johnathan Meunier in Ottawa.
He has tapped six of his 10 professional opponents.
Max Griffin (12-2) enters UFC having won eight of his last nine fights, losing only to prospect Chidi Njokuani in a five-round split decision. His last two fights have seen him knockout Randall Wallace in four and starch former UFC competitor David Mitchell in under a minute.
The WFC champ has knocked out six opponents overall.
Covington, simply put, is a horrific match up for UFC newcomers. The American Top Team (ATT) product has terrific wrestling and the sort of patient, grinding style that leaves few openings for those without a killer guillotine. He also has the cardio to maintain his takedown onslaught for all three rounds, eating away at his opponent’s cardio and confidence all the while.
Any debutant will have issues with Covington, but Griffin will have even more than usual.
Griffin struggled badly with Randall Wallace’s wrestling two fights ago, repeatedly giving up his back. He hits hard, sure, but doesn’t have the takedown defense or technique to bring that power to bear before Covington bulldozes him to the mat. "Chaos" overwhelms him before locking up the rear-naked choke partway through the second.
Prediction: Covington via second-round submission.
Colby Covington (9-1) opened his UFC career with three straight wins, but was eighty-sixed in 86 seconds by Warlley Alves’ guillotine his next time out. He’s since rebounded with a dominant submission win over late replacement Johnathan Meunier in Ottawa.
He has tapped six of his 10 professional opponents.
Max Griffin (12-2) enters UFC having won eight of his last nine fights, losing only to prospect Chidi Njokuani in a five-round split decision. His last two fights have seen him knockout Randall Wallace in four and starch former UFC competitor David Mitchell in under a minute.
The WFC champ has knocked out six opponents overall.
Covington, simply put, is a horrific match up for UFC newcomers. The American Top Team (ATT) product has terrific wrestling and the sort of patient, grinding style that leaves few openings for those without a killer guillotine. He also has the cardio to maintain his takedown onslaught for all three rounds, eating away at his opponent’s cardio and confidence all the while.
Any debutant will have issues with Covington, but Griffin will have even more than usual.
Griffin struggled badly with Randall Wallace’s wrestling two fights ago, repeatedly giving up his back. He hits hard, sure, but doesn’t have the takedown defense or technique to bring that power to bear before Covington bulldozes him to the mat. "Chaos" overwhelms him before locking up the rear-naked choke partway through the second.
Prediction: Covington via second-round submission.
Alberto Pereira vs. Marvin Vettori
Brazil’s Alberto Pereira (10-1) brought a four-fight knockout streak into his Octagon debut, capped off by a first-round knockout of inaugural TUF: "Brazil" competitor Thiago Perpetuo. "Uda" managed to break Jake Collier’s nose early on, but succumbed to a hard knee and spinning back kick sixty-six seconds into the second round.
He will have a three-inch height advantage over the 6’0" Marvin Vettori (10-2).
Italy’s Vettori became the Venator Welterweight Champion in the promotion’s inaugural show and scored a successful defense in its second one.
This past May, he earned the biggest win of his career with a guillotine submission of Igor Araujo on the infamous Palhares vs. Meek card. He’s submitted seven opponents and knocked out another two.
"Uda" looked as good as advertised in the clinch against Jake Collier, but seemed profoundly uncomfortable outside of it, wading in with lunging punches and showing little nuance to his clinch entries.
He also ate far more punches than is reasonable from a below-average striker. While the drop to welterweight may improve his already-fearsome clinch, it’s not going to fix his technical flaws.
Vettori has the edge in wrestling and overall grappling, which ought to synergize nicely with Pereira’s love of working inside. So long as the Italian steers clear of Uda’s knees, I expect him to lock up something in transition.
Prediction: Vettori via first-round submission
Brazil’s Alberto Pereira (10-1) brought a four-fight knockout streak into his Octagon debut, capped off by a first-round knockout of inaugural TUF: "Brazil" competitor Thiago Perpetuo. "Uda" managed to break Jake Collier’s nose early on, but succumbed to a hard knee and spinning back kick sixty-six seconds into the second round.
He will have a three-inch height advantage over the 6’0" Marvin Vettori (10-2).
Italy’s Vettori became the Venator Welterweight Champion in the promotion’s inaugural show and scored a successful defense in its second one.
This past May, he earned the biggest win of his career with a guillotine submission of Igor Araujo on the infamous Palhares vs. Meek card. He’s submitted seven opponents and knocked out another two.
"Uda" looked as good as advertised in the clinch against Jake Collier, but seemed profoundly uncomfortable outside of it, wading in with lunging punches and showing little nuance to his clinch entries.
He also ate far more punches than is reasonable from a below-average striker. While the drop to welterweight may improve his already-fearsome clinch, it’s not going to fix his technical flaws.
Vettori has the edge in wrestling and overall grappling, which ought to synergize nicely with Pereira’s love of working inside. So long as the Italian steers clear of Uda’s knees, I expect him to lock up something in transition.
Prediction: Vettori via first-round submission
The Octagon is almost ready for UFC 202....Doors are now open.
Let's Go! The Octagon is ready for UFC 202.....First bout at 6:30pmET
| Alberto Uda | +145 | Over 1.5 -129 | Under 1.5 +110 | ||
| Marvin Vettori | -164 |
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Marvin Vettori def. Alberto Uda via Submission (Guillotine Choke) R1, 4:30
