Tag: UFC

UPDATE: RESULTS-UFC 228 – Woodley vs. Till: Preview and Prediction

 

 

Abdul Razak “Judo Thunder” Alhassan (9-1) v. Niko “The Hybrid” Price (12-1)

Alhassen enters the contest with back to back wins over Sabah Homasi. He will try to extend that win streak with a win over Price, who finished his last fight in incredible fashion. Abdul is the definition of a knockout artist, finishing all nine of his wins via KO or TKO.

The Hybrid is also on a two-fight win streak, with a brutal finish with hammer fists from his back! You read that correctly, he knocked out a fighter, with punches, from his back. There will be no shortage of action when these two step inside the octagon tonight!

PREDICTION: Niko Price-TKO (RND 1)    

Winner: Abdul Razak Alhassan, KO (Punches), 0.43, RND 1

 

Jimmie “El Terror” Rivera (21-2) v. John “The Magician” Dodson (20-9)

Rivera is a grind it out fighter, Dodson brings a well-rounded approach. Rivera will look to avenge is last loss in which he was knocked out in 0.33 seconds of the very first round. Dodson will look to string together a second win for the first time since 2015.

Of his twenty wins, The Magician has nine KOs, two submissions, and nine decisions. Rivera has four KOs, two submissions, and fifteen decisions. El Terror will have to be methodical in this fight, he will have to control where the fight takes place. I believe he will take a smarter more patient approach and grind out Dodson for a sixteenth decision.

PREDICTION: Jimmie Rivera-Decision 

Winner: Jimmy Rivera, Decision

 

Zabit Magomedsharipov (15-1) v. Brandon “Killer B” Davis (9-4)

Zabit has the strength, speed, skill, and size to be a force in the featherweight division. Heralded by UFC commentator Joe Rogan as the “new generation” of MMA fighter, Zabit has not disappointed in his three UFC appearances. Killer B is on the prowl to derail the hype surrounding the Russian.

Davis has alternated wins and losses this year, and a win over Zabit is just what he needs to establish himself in this division and the UFC. This is the MMWM (Moose’s Must Watch Matchup) of the card!

PREDICTION: Zabit Magomedsharipov-TKO (RND 2)

Winner: Zabit Magomedsharipov, Submission (Kneebar) 3:46, RND 2

 

Jessica “Bate Estaca” Andrade (18-6) v. Karolina Kowalkiewicz (12-2)

With the hospitalization of Nicco Montano and the subsequent cancellation of the Flyweight title (you can read more about that here), this has become the new co-main event. This is such a great matchup and could have GIANT title implications. Karolina has fought the best women in the world and is the last woman to defeat Strawweight champion Rose Namajunas.

Since 2016, Andrade has only lost to Joanna Jedrzejczyk in a fight for the Strawweight championship. Jessica brings knockout power into the fight, finishing five fights by KO compared to Karolina’s one. She also has more submission victory wins, showing she can win the match regardless of where it could end up. If you listen to the MAIN CARD podcast hosted by My Team My Voice MMA correspondent Tha Voyce, you will know that this the TVMM (Tha Voyce’s Marquee Matchup) and for good reason!

PREDICTION: Jessica Andrade-Submission (RND 3)

Winner: Jessica Andrade, KO (Punch) 1:58, RND 1

 

(C) Tyron “The Chosen One” Woodley (18-3) v. Darren “The Gorilla” Till (17-0)

The champ is back! Tyron Woodley will defend his belt for the first time in over a year, and he takes on a very tough Darren Till who continues his meteoric rise in the Welterweight division. Woodley has been publically criticized by UFC president Dana White in his title defense fights for not being entertaining and active enough so we will see if that has any effect on the way the champ approaches this fight.

Till has also been the subject of much public scrutiny, stemming from his last fight in which he significantly missed weight and was rushed to the hospital when he complained about losing his vision. Many Twitter users believe it is not “fair” that he gets the opportunity, considering he missed weight and the fact that there was already an interim champion in Colby Covington, who was stripped of his interim title after only three months.

Woodley is an underappreciated fighter that has incredible knockout power and is a great wrestler. If Till pushes forward and lands strikes, look for Woodley to land an overhand counter or shoot for the takedown.

PREDICTION: Tyron Woodley- TKO (RND 4)

Winner: Tyron Woodley, Submission (D’Arce Choke), 4:19, RND 2

 

Daniel Guajardo predictions:

  1. Niko Price
  2. John Dodson
  3. Zabit Magomensharipov – KO (RND 2)
  4. Jessica Andrade – Decision
  5. Tyron Woodley – Decision

UFC’s Flyweight Issues Continue

Author: Daniel Guajardo

 

It’s been nearly a year since the UFC Women’s Flyweight division crowned its first champion. The division has not had a single title match since. There are two sides to the story, and it gets pretty confusing. After winning the belt at “The Ultimate Fighter 26” Nicco Montano suffered a foot injury. She had to have surgery, and this kept out of action for some time.

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On February 3rd, 2018,  Valentina Shevchenko made her UFC Flyweight debut against Priscila Cachoeira. She made a big statement in this fight, dominating Cachoeira throughout the entire match. Shevchenko finished the fight in the second round and made her case for the first title shot against Montano.

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The title fight between Montano and Shevchenko was apparently being set for UFC 226 during International Fight Week. Before the match was set, Montano underwent another surgery to remove her tonsils and adenoids. MMA journalist Ariel Helwani and the Flyweight champion were involved in a Twitter dispute after tweets from the journalist reported that the UFC was having booking issues with Montano.

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On July 18th, the UFC announced Nicco Montano would defend her title against Valentina Shevchenko at UFC 228. So now the first Flyweight title defense was set, and the division appeared to be back on track. According to Vegas, Shevchenko was a huge favorite to win, and many saw this as a one-sided fight.

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Shevchenko is 15-3 and has fought some of the toughest women in the bantamweight division and has wins over Holly Holm, Julianna Pena, and Sarah Kaufman. She also has two close decision losses to current Bantamweight champion Amanda Nunes. Nicco Montano is 4-2 in her career. While on “The Ultimate Fighter” she first fought UFC veteran, Lauren Murphy. In the semifinals, she faced the former Invicta FC Flyweight Champion Barb Honchak. Many believed that Honchak was the heavy favorite to win the show. Montano surprised many by pulling out a win. In the finale Montano fought Roxanna Modafferi and won via unanimous decision.
Just hours before she was set to weigh in for UFC 228, Montano was rushed to the hospital with concerns for her safety. She never weighed in for the event. A teammate of Montano told MMAFighting.com that the UFC’s determined she couldn’t cut weight any longer and was sent to the hospital to address her kidney function.
Later that day, UFC President Dana White told TSN that the Flyweight Championship has been vacated. He also stated that Shevchenko will fight an opponent sometime this year for the vacant title. A few possible names are Katlyn Chookagian (11-1), Liz Carmouche (12-6), and even rumors of Joanna Jedrzejczyk (15-2) have surfaced.As of now, the division is once again on hold, and we hope to hear some news soon.

UFC Fight Night 135: Gaethje vs. Vick— Preview and Predictions/Results

It has been three full weeks since the UFC has held an event, but the break is over. Fight Night 135, or UFC Lincoln, will take place in the Pinnacle Bank Arena on August 25th. The main event is between two rising stars in the UFC as they face off in a lightweight bout that could propel them up the rankings. Let’s get to the preview and predictions!

Eryk “Ya Boi” Anders (10-1) vs. Tim “The South Jersey Strangler” Williams (15-4)

ANDERS_ERYKWinner- KO (4:42, RND 3)

Anders- The former LFA middleweight champion is set to take on Tim Williams in Lincoln. Anders is coming off his only loss, albeit controversially, to Lyoto Machida. “Ya Boi” brings a 0.65 striking differential into the match according to fightmetric.com. The former University of Alabama star is a powerful striker, with six knockouts, but has slowed down a little after entering the UFC finishing only one bout via knockout in his three contests under the promotion.

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Williams- The South Jersey Strangler is also entering the fight after losing his last. Williams lost via KO in the first round of that contest. According to his fight metrics, Williams has a staggering -4.74 strike differential, which could spell trouble against a powerful striker like Anders. With nine wins by submission, Williams could turn to grappling, but getting a former national champion linebacker to the ground is easier said than done.

PREDICTION: Eryk Anders- TKO (RND 1)

 

John “Chicano” Moraga (19-6) vs. Deiveson “Dues da Guerra” Figueiredo (14-0)

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Moraga- Moraga is riding a three-fight win streak ahead of his bout with Deiveson Figueiredo. Neither fighter lands a lot of strikes per minute, as Chicano sits at just 2.62 SLpM and an overall strike differential of 0.12. He does have three knockout victories as well as eight submissions. Moraga has only finished one opponent in his last six fights.

FIGUEIREDO_DEIVESONWinner-KO (3:08, RND 2)

Figueiredo- At 14-0, and only going the distance twice in his career, Figueiredo is an intriguing rising star. The Brazilian has seven knockouts and five submission victories and is hungry to keep his perfect record intact. With a striking differential of 0.35, he and Moraga are closely matched. The deciding factor may be in Figueiredo’s ability to get Moraga to the ground. He averages 2.17 per fifteen minutes with a 55% accuracy. Once Deiveson has his opponent on the ground he goes to work, averaging 4.3 submission attempts per fifteen minutes.

PREDICTION: Deiveson Figueiredo- TKO (RND 3)

 

Jake “The Juggernaut” Ellenberger (31-14) vs. Bryan “Bam Bam’ Barberena (13-5)

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Ellenberger- The Juggernaut will participate in his 46th professional fight on Saturday. Unfortunately, Ellenberger has only won two of his last ten fights, while being finished in six of those eight losses. In his defense, he lost to some of the best in the UFC. If I had to guess, I would say Jake will look to control the Octagon with takedowns and top control. Ben Saunders just demolished Ellenberger in his last outing, and it is hard for me to believe he has a lot of power left in his strikes. Ellenberger does average 2.07 takedowns per fifteen minutes, and with Barberena’s 47% takedown defense, he may be able to get the fight to the ground and keep it there.

BARBERENA_BRYANWinner- TKO (2:26, RND 1)

Barberena- The fourth fighter on this main card that enters the event having lost their last fight, Bryan Barberena will look to swarm Ellenberger and get a quick, decisive finish to get him back on track. Bam Bam brings a solid 4.89 SLpM and 1.22 strike differential (-0.33 for Jake) to this contest and has nine of his thirteen wins by knockout. His takedown defense is not the greatest, but with constant forward pressure with clean, accurate strikes, he should be able to keep distance and finish the fight on the feet.

PREDICTION: Bryan Barberena- KO (RND 1)

 

Cortney “Cast Iron” Casey (7-6) vs. Angela “Overkill” Hill (8-4)

CASEY_CORTNEYWinner- Split Decision

Casey- Entering the contest on a two-fight losing streak and dropping three of four, Cortney Casey will look to earn her first win in over a year. Her last previous fights have all ended in a decision, including her last win over Jessica Aguilar in 2017. “Cast Iron” lands a respectable 4.39 strikes per minute, but with only 39% accuracy. The grappling statistics are, as Mike Goldberg would say, virtually identical, except takedown defense. Casey touts just a 25% takedown defense while Hill has 72%.

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Hill- Overkill has gone the distance in her last six fights, and while only losing two of those, we know she can go deep into the later rounds. Angela’s 5.42 SLpM and 50% accuracy can be used to pressure and wear down Cortney throughout the fight. Her striking defense, at 62%, could lessen some of the strikes that Hill absorbs, increasing her strike differential and outscoring her opponent using her phenomenal kickboxing.

PREDICTION: Angela Hill- Decision

 

Michael “The Menace” Johnson (18-12) vs. Andre “Touchy” Fili (18-5)

JOHNSON_MICHAELWinner- Split Decision

Johnson- Michael Johnson is on a three-fight losing streak that includes a loss to main event fighter, Justin Gaethje, and lightweight champion Khabib Nurmagomedov. Those three losses all came by way of stoppage but was able to KO Dustin Poirier during his last win in 2016. With 4.13 SLpM and a 0.10 strike differential. Johnson’s 79% takedown defense could come in handy since Fili averages 2.91 takedowns per fifteen minutes.

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Fili- Back to a fighter on a winning streak, Andre Fili is riding a two-fight win streak with wins over Dennis Bermudez and Artem Lobov. “Touchy” Fili has eight knockout victories, and three submission wins, finishing eleven of his eighteen wins. He carries the takedown per fifteen minutes advantage with 2.91 but will have to contend with a 79% takedown defense by Johnson.

PREDICTION: Michael Johnson- Decision

 

Justin “The Highlight” Gaethje (18-2) vs. James “The Texecutioner” Vick (13-1)

GAETHJE_JUSTINWinner- KO (1:27, RND 1)

Gaethje- The fight that MMA fans have been waiting for over the course of UFC’s hiatus is finally here. Justin Gaethje returns to action after two losses that earned him the fight of the night bonuses and a performance of the night victory over Michael Johnson. The Highlight lives up to his moniker, finishing all but two of his wins with a fantastic fifteen wins by knockout! Gaethje’s 8.67 SLpM is more than double that of his opponent, but it comes at a cost. Gaethje absorbs 10.68 strikes per minute creating a -2.01 strike differential. The former WSOF champion will look to utilize brutal leg kicks that he is known for and break his opponent from the bottom up. Gaethje fights aggressively and could be too much for Vick to handle.

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Vick- The Texecutioner looks to extend his four-fight win streak against an electric Justin Gaethje, thus further rising in the UFC rankings. While Vick may not wow the crowd the same way Gaethje does, he is a highly technical striker, with a blue belt in BJJ. Vick has three knockouts, five submissions, and five decision victories to his one loss. The Texan does not land nearly as many SpM as his opponent but does have a far better strike differential at 1.09. His striking defense at 62% may protect him from some of the heavy punches that Gaethje throws, but it is the leg kicks he will have to be conscious enough to check. If he is unable to check the leg kicks, Gaethje can chop Vick’s frame down and turn it into a slugfest.

PREDICTION: James Vick- Decision

 

@beardedm00se was 4-2 on the card, 36-29 overall

 

 

Opinion: The Curious Case of Greg Hardy

In a sport known for its violence and aggression, Greg Hardy presents a unique set of challenges to the UFC. You see, Hardy has already had a career in an inherently aggressive sport, the NFL. He was drafted with the 175th pick in the 2010 NFL draft by the Carolina Panthers. The Ole Miss product played five years with the Panthers organization before legal trouble ultimately led to his release from the team.

The legal trouble? Domestic violence in which he was alleged to have grabbed, thrown, strangled, and threatened to kill his ex-girlfriend.

Before we dive into this domestic violence charge, let’s continue with his NFL career. Once released from the Panthers, the Dallas Cowboys took a chance on the second-team All-Pro, signing him to a one year deal. The season started fine, but Hardy was soon faced with serving a four-game suspension due to a violation of the NFL’s Code of Conduct policy after a Deadspin story was released containing photos of the injuries left on his ex-girlfriend. Despite that, he had a rather good year leading the Dallas defense in QB pressures and was second on the team in sacks. It was again the off-field issues that prevented the Cowboys from resigning Hardy. A myriad of reasons, both personal and professional, contributed to his release with some including,: frequent partying, inappropriate tweets, sleeping through team meetings, and being an overall bad influence on the younger players, to name just a few.

So once again, Hardy finds himself without a job, and because the story was published with pictures of his alleged victim’s injuries and his reputation for being unprofessional, no team wanted him. On September 26th, 2016, Hardy was arrested and charged with possession of controlled substance (cocaine).

So what does this have to do with MMA or the UFC? Well, unless you have been living under a rock (or have zero interest in MMA), you would know that Greg Hardy has appeared on the Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series twice, and subsequently received a UFC developmental contract after his first appearance In June, 2018, which resulted in a 0:57 second KO.

Hardy’s second professional bout was also on the Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series when he finished Tebaris Gordon in just 0:17 seconds.

The challenge that the UFC faces stands in the middle of Hardy’s talent, and Hardy’s history. So, let’s circle back to his 2014 domestic violence arrest.

Roughly a month after his arrest, Hardy was found guilty of assault and communicating threats and was sentenced to 18 months probation, suspending a 60-day jail sentence. There was an appeal, and when the victim failed to appear in court to testify, and with reliable information that a civil settlement had been made, the charges were dropped. On November 5th, 2015, the conviction was expunged from Hardy’s record, and the very next day the Deadspin story, with the photographs of the victim’s injuries, was released.

The UFC is not new to the scene of domestic violence or abuse. After a very notable incident in 2014 involving former UFC fighter, (and at the time current Bellator fighter) Jon Koppenhaver, AKA War Machine, other notable fighters were named that were still on the UFC’s roster including Anthony Johnson, Thiago Silva, and Travis Browne.

That was a report from 2015, what about today? Well, in just the last month, August 4th to be exact, Andrea “KGB” Lee was assaulted by her husband, while earlier in the year Nick Diaz was charged with two counts of domestic battery.

So why then, would the UFC be willing to bring in Greg Hardy? Any way you look at it, this is a PR nightmare. There is a lot of talk about “second chances” and how even someone like Hardy should get one. But didn’t he already? There is a group defending him saying that he is a changed man, and this is his redemption story. I haven’t seen anything resembling remorse, nor has a statement been made apologizing for his actions. To me, it seems he has just started over in a new profession, making his way back into the spotlight and, most likely, going to make a lot of money.

The signing of Greg Hardy seems less like a redemption story and far more like a money grab. I understand that the UFC is a business, and businesses need to make money. The UFC has been known to often schedule the fights that make money, and not always the fights that make sense. Again, I can understand what they are trying to do, but I won’t accept it. If they want to use his name to make money, then just say so. Don’t try to hide behind a façade of good intentions, helping Hardy to rise from his ashes like a phoenix. Just call it like it is and own it, a money grab.

In the title, I was deliberate in detailing this as an opinion piece, so please, feel free to disagree with me. I don’t think it makes you any less of a person, but just know that my stance will not change, much like I assume yours will not either. As I mentioned earlier, I understand it, but do not accept it. So, I will not be tuning in to any of Hardy’s fights. I don’t care if he wins, and I won’t tune in to “watch him lose” either.

Honestly, when I saw the highlight knockouts (impossible to not see them plastered all over Twitter), I felt worse for the victim in his case. Here is a grown man knocking out another incredibly strong grown man in less than a minute, and less than 20 seconds! What did she have to endure, and for how long? Domestic violence is not a joke, nor is it something that should be lauded as long as you have some athletic prowess and can be entertaining.

So with the culture changing in America, and the number of movements in protest of this type of behavior, it will be interesting to see how this signing will affect the UFC. While it can draw in large amounts of money on a per fight basis, it could become a political nightmare with a vast array of negative feedback and decreased viewership. Some fans may opt to not watch and look for a different promotion, and with the rise of companies like Bellator and Professional Fighters League, MMA fans won’t have to look far. Thus the conundrum of the curious case of Greg Hardy.

UFC 227: Dillashaw vs. Garbrandt 2

UFC 227 will feature two title fights in the co-main and main events. The men’s flyweight and bantamweight belts are up for grabs in a set of rematches that bring with it some heated rivalries. Former teammates turned rivals TJ Dillashaw and Cody Garbrandt will face off in the highly anticipated main event. TJ was able to halt the train to superstardom that Garbrandt was on with a TKO stoppage in the second round of their last fight. Garbrandt says it was a fluke, Dillashaw says it will happen again. Only time will tell once these warriors step back into the cage, who will exit victorious!

 

Thiago “Marreta” Santos (17-6) vs. Kevin “Trailblazer” Holland (12-3)

Santos– Coming off of a loss to David Branch, Santos faces a promotional newcomer in this middleweight matchup. The Brazilian fighter got clipped early in his last fight but was riding a four-fight win streak, defeating Anthony Smith in February. Santos is a stand-up fighter landing 4.59 significant strikes per min (SSpM) with a striking accuracy of 48% (according to fightmetric.com).

Holland– Kevin Holland is fresh off his Dana White’s Tuesday Night Contender Series (DWTNCS) decision win back in June, and gets his first crack at UFC prime time against Thiago Santos. The Phalanx MMA Academy product is entering the contest on a four-fight winning streak that includes two TKOs and an arm-triangle submission, to go along with his most recent DWTNCS decision victory. Holland lands a slightly higher SSpM (5.53) but has a lesser strike accuracy (43%). Holland does possess a bit more ground prowess, securing five submission victories to Santos’s one.

PREDICTION: Kevin Holland- Decision

Polyana “Dara de Ferro” Viana Mota (10-1) vs. JJ Aldrich (6-2)

Viana– Polyana is a well-rounded fighter finishing all of her victories (four KO and six Subs) and losing her only fight that went to a decision. Having won her last six fights, Viana Mota will look to continue her finishing and winning streak by getting this fight to the ground. The Brazilian strawweight averages 3.91 takedowns per 15 minutes and a ridiculous 11.7 submission attempts per 15 minutes! Polyana is no stranger to the stand-up game either, as she lands 3.13 SSpM and absorbs only 1.57, creating a +1.56 striking differential, compared to Aldrich’s -0.06 differential. The ability to get the fight to the ground will heavily favor Viana Mota.

Aldrich– Aldrich is a grinding fighter with four of her six wins coming by decision. She throws punches and isn’t afraid to eat punches as her -0.06 striking differential shows. Fighting an opponent with six submission wins could present a problem, considering one of her two losses was by rear-naked choke to Jamie Moyle, which is still the only submission victory on Moyle’s record. Aldrich will hopefully have worked on her takedown defense (42%) and can keep this fight on the feet and drag Viana Mota to her second decision.

PREDICTION: Polyana Viana Mota- Submission (RND 1)

Cub Swanson (25-9) vs, Renato “Moicano” Carneiro (12-1)

Swanson– Fresh off of two consecutive losses to Brian Ortega and Frankie Edgar, Cub Swanson will look to right the ship with a memorable win over Renato Carneiro. Swanson definitely has the experience edge over his opponent with 34 fights to Miocano’s 13, as well as an edge in knockout power (eight for Swanson, zero Carneiro). Outside of those areas, fightmetric.com shows Carneiro with the advantages of SSpM, striking differential, striking defense, takedown accuracy, and takedown defense.

Carneiro– Renato lost to Brian Ortega in a similar fashion as Cub Swanson back in 2017. The First Class Center product was able to land a ton of strikes in that fight against Ortega, and keeping distance, while using his speed, could strongly favor the Brazilian in this matchup. His 76% takedown defense and 55% takedown accuracy could prove favorable if he is able to hurt Swanson on the feet, or get hurt himself.

PREDICTION: Renato Carneiro- Decision

Demetrious “Mighty Mouse” Johnson (27-2) vs. Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo (12-2)

Widely regarded as one of the greatest fighters of all time, Demetrious Johnson the pound for pound king, will be looking to defend his belt for the TWELFTH consecutive time on Saturday. It is the first of two title fights and the first of two rematches on the card. Johnson and Cejudo last met in April of 2016 and saw Mighty Mouse secure his eighth title defense with a TKO victory. Here we are now, two and a half years later, and Cejudo is ready to take another shot at the champion, and secure the title for himself, The Messenger has said his message loud and clear, declaring that he is a far better-prepared fighter than he was the last time he faced Johnson. What makes the Champion so dangerous inside the Octagon is his ability to finish the fight in multiple ways. He is a technically good striker and is able to avoid incoming strikes (striking differential is +1.8). He also attempts 3.54 takedowns per 15 minutes and has a 56% accuracy. Cejudo will look to keep his 100% takedown defense in check against Johnson but will respect Johnson’s striking this go around as well. This is the mystery on how to beat Mighty Mouse Johnson, he is willing to engage in the area you perhaps overlooked. If too much time was spent in Cejudo’s camp working on standup, Johnson may just take this to the ground or settle into the clinch. If too much time was spent on takedown defense, another TKO could be on the menu for The Messenger. We just have to wait and see if someone has finally cracked the code on how to beat Demetrious Johnson!

PREDICTION: Demetrious Johnson- Submission (RND 4)

TJ Dillashaw (15-3) vs. Cody “No Love” Garbrandt (11-1)

The tension has been palpable between these two fighters far before they first took center cage on November 4th, 2017. The results of that fight, Dillashaw winning by second-round TKO, has only stirred the further adding more and more tension into the mix. Trash talk aside, this fight will no doubt be just as explosive as the first one. Late in round one, Garbrandt was able to drop Dillashaw with a clean shot that clearly hurt him but was able to last until the bell and recoup between rounds. Both fighters came out blasting shots again before TJ was able to get in close and land a hard shot on No Love that dropped him to the canvas. Dillashaw pounced immediately, leaving no time or room for Cody to regain his wits. Once Dan Miragliotta stopped the contest, TJ let out a primal scream, and then another, this time in the face of the now standing Cody Garbrandt. No Love says that the KO was a fluke or a result of a poor camp due to his lingering back injury, while Dillashaw says it was always going to happen that way, and will again in the rematch. While the TKO victory is a complete shock, the fact that it happened in close is interesting. Garbrandt is the better close distance fighter using his exceptional head movement to land shots in close and avoids any returning punches. A few key Fight Metric statistics stand out as we head into the rematch. Dillashaw has a striking differential of +2.35 while Garbrandt sits at only +0.46, Garbrandt doesn’t throw as many strikes per minute as TJ, but both are close in strikes absorbed. If No Love can avoid a few of those extra strikes, it could be the difference maker. Also of note is both fighters takedown defense, Cody is a clean 100% and TJ is 85%, though TJ attempts more takedowns per 15 minutes with 1.73 compared to Garbrandt’s 1.06. I fully expect the action to match, if not exceed, the level of trash talk and harsh comments that have been thrown around!

PREDICTION: Cody Garbrandt- TKO (RND 3)

UFC Calgary: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2: Results

Alexander Hernandez def. Olivier Aubin-Mercier via Unanimous Decision (30-27, 29-28 x2)

Joanna Jedrzejczyk def. Tecia Torres via Unanimous Decision (30-27 x3)

José Aldo def. Jeremy Stephens via TKO (punches), 4:19 (RND 1)

Dustin Poirier def. Eddie Alvarez via TKO (punches and elbows), 4:05 (RND 2)

UFC Calgary: Alvarez vs. Poirier 2: Preview and Predictions

With the main event featuring three former champions, UFC Calgary (or UFC on FOX 30) is looking to redeem itself from an event held here (UFC 149) in 2012, in which Dana White called the card “Embarrassing”. With a few really good storylines going into this event, the likes of Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s first non-title fight since 2014 and the rematch between Alvarez and Poirier, which ended as a no contest by illegal knees, the UFC matchmakers believe this will more than make up for that terrible event. Coming on the heels of a fight card that saw ten of the scheduled thirteen fights end by way of decision, we have a main card that can produce four stoppages and a fight of the night contender. Let’s break them down.

Alexander “The Great” Hernandez (9-1) vs. Olivier “The Canadian Gangster” Aubin-Mercier (11-2)

Moose’s Must-watch Matchup

A submission specialist, the Canadian Gangster will look to add to his eight submission wins with a victory over rising star, Alexander Hernandez. Alexander the Great will look to build off of his impressive UFC debut, a fight lasting 42 seconds before knocking out Beneil Dariush, with another dominant performance against the talented UFC vet. Interestingly, neither fighter has been finished, but both are proficient finishers. Olivier has nine finishes (One KO, eight Sub) with two decisions, and Hernandez has six finishes (four KO, two Sub) with three decisions. Hernandez is not helpless on the ground, as seen by his submission victories and BJJ brown belt, but if the Canadian Gangster can get through the striking and get Alexander to the mat, I believe the advantage favors the Canadian.

PREDICTION: Olivier Aubin-Mercier- Sub (RND 2)

Joanna Jedrzejczyk (14-2) vs. Tecia “The Tiny Tornado” Torres (10-2)

Since March 14th, 2015 Joanna Jedrzejczyk (JJ) has not fought in a fight that did not include the women’s flyweight title. On that day in March, JJ won the flyweight belt and was able to defend it five consecutive times before eventually losing it to Rose Namajunas, also losing the rematch. Therefore, this fight will involve a few “firsts” for JJ, first losing streak in her career, first non-title fight since 2014, first time facing the Tiny Tornado Torres. Tecia Torres is also coming off of a loss in her last bout against Jessica Andrade. Both of these ladies are grinders, with a combined 18 wins by decision, JJ being slightly more diverse in her means of finishing a fight with four KO and one Sub. With both fighters coming off of losses and trying not to lose their shot at the title, I would fully expect an absolute war, and if it makes it to the judge’s scorecards (I wouldn’t be surprised if it didn’t) fight fans will be in for a treat for the entirety of the 15 minutes!

PREDICTION: Joanna Jedrzejczyk- TKO (RND 2)

 

Jose “Scarface” Aldo (26-4) vs. Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens (28-14)

In a strikingly similar storyline to Joanna Jedrzejczyk’s, former champion Jose Aldo will enter this contest riding a two-fight losing streak, losing his belt in the process, and has not fought in a non-title fight since 2009! Aldo faces a surging Jeremy Stephens, who has brought home two fight of the night wins along with a performance of the night win, in his last three fights. Lil’ Heathen has ended 18 of his opponents by KO and is coming off of two impressive KO wins, whereas Aldo is coming into this fight losing three of his last four fights by way of KO. I am unsure if that is the strength and caliber of opponent Aldo has faced (Holloway x2, McGregor) or a sign that Aldo’s chin is fading, but either way, Aldo is a top-notch fighter. Stephens has never been able to secure four consecutive wins in the UFC and has a chance to do that against a very respectable fighter, and I think he will be able to pull it off.

PREDICTION: Jeremy Stephens- TKO (RND 3)

Eddie “The Underground King” Alvarez (29-5) vs. Dustin “The Diamond” Poirier (23-5)

The rematch fight fans have been waiting for is finally here! The last time these gentlemen fought, it was stopped due to illegal knees by Alvarez to a downed Poirier. Since then Poirier has gone on to defeat Anthony Pettis and, most recently, Justin Gaethje, both by TKO. Alvarez also won against Justin Gaethje in his last fight by way of KO. These warriors are high output strikers, Poirier lands a ridiculous 5.57 strikes per minute, but Alvarez is right the with him landing 4.44 strikes per minute. This striking and breakneck pace will no doubt be on full display once the referee starts the fight! Don’t blink, this fight can be over in a few seconds for either fighter, but most fight fans want to see the war these two can bring!

PREDICTION: Dustin Poirier- Decision

Fight Night 134: Shogun vs. Smith Results

Nasrat Haqparast def. Marc Diakiese via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-26)

Danny Roberts def. David Zawada via split decision (29-28, 27-30, 29-28)

Marcin Tybura def. Stefan Struve via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28

Abu Azaitar def. Vitor Miranda via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 29-28)

Corey Anderson def. Glover Teixeira via unanimous decision (30-27, 30-27, 30-27)

Anthony Smith def. Mauricio Rua via KO (punches) 1:29, RND1

UFC Fight Night 134: Smith vs. Rua: Preview and Prediction

Danny “Hot Chocolate” Roberts (15-3) vs. David “Sagat” Zawada (16-3)

This welterweight bout features knockout specialist and UFC newcomer David Zawada as he makes his debut against well-rounded finisher, Danny Roberts. With 11 of his 16 wins coming by way of KO, it would seem Zawada would be the favorite to put away Roberts, but as we often see with newcomers (no matter how nice their record) Roberts is the heaviest favorite on the entire card. Level of competition is drastically different coming from almost any promotion to the UFC, and while knockouts were aplenty in KSW, that may not translate into the UFC. That is not to say that Zawada has no chance, but just to temper expectations until we see him fight at this level first.

PREDICTION: Danny Roberts- Submission (RND 1)

Nasrat Haqparast (8-2) vs. Marc “Bonecrusher” Diakiese (12-2)

With both fighters coming off of recent losses, this match will be one to get back on the winning track. Marc enters the contest with six wins by way of knockout, while Nasrat’s eight wins have all been via KO. There could be an advantage for Bonecrusher if he can drag this fight into deeper waters where he has won five fights by decision, whereas Nasrat has one of his two losses by decision (the other by submission). This is a fun matchup on paper to kick off the Main Card!

PREDICTION: Nasrat Haqparast- TKO (Rnd 2)

Marcin “Tybur” Tybura (16-4) vs Stefan “Skyscraper” Struve (28-10)

We move into a heavyweight matchup that features 23 submission victories between the two fighter’s 44 wins. In a weight class that typically sees brutal KO victories, these two prefer the groundwork, but don’t think that means that KO finishes are out of the question. The two have a combined 15 KO victories, most notably was a KO win for Stefan Struve over former UFC champion Stipe Miocic. With only nine total decisions, we may be able to avoid another lengthy card full of decision victories, where it’s the fans that typically lose.

PREDICTION: Stefan Struve- TKO (RND 3)

Vitor “Lex Luthor” Miranda (12-6) vs. Abu “Gladiator” Azaitar (13-1)

It has been almost two full years since Azaitar has fought inside an Octagon, and it has been over two years since Miranda has seen a win inside the Octagon. The Gladiator does come into the contest riding a four-fight win streak but has only seen two finishes since 2014. Miranda, just shy of 40 years old, has notably fought at heavyweight and was runner-up in The Ultimate Fighter: Brazil 3. While this fight will be fought at middleweight, Azaitar is primarily a welterweight. This may become significant if Abu decides to try and take this fight to the ground. Miranda has power behind his punches, and with an assumed weight advantage, Abu may find himself in a predicament if he is unable to secure a takedown or control Miranda against the cage. Also of note, Abu Azaitar is also a promotional newbie while Fight Night 134 will mark Vitor’s seventh contest under the UFC banner.

PREDICTION: Vitor Miranda- Decision (RND 3)

Glover Teixeira (27-6) vs. Corey “Overtime” Anderson (10-4)

Glover Teixeira has fought some of the best fighters in the world en route to his 27-6 record. His last four losses have been at the hands of Jon Jones, Phil Davis, Anthony Johnson, and Alexander Gustafsson, taking Jon Jones to a decision. This is quite the gauntlet, and insanely impressive to know that outside of those four losses he has only lost two other times. **Insert Corey Anderson** Anderson is ten years younger than Teixeira and was able to win the TUF 19 light heavyweight finale. Whereas Anderson utilizes his wrestling to control the action while mixing in some striking, Teixeira is far and away the more accomplished finisher. Anderson, of his ten wins, has four KOs and six decisions. Inversely, Glover has accrued 16 KOs, seven submissions, and four decisions in his 27 victories. Anderson’s will be tested since he has lost three of four times via knockout. If Glover can stuff the takedowns and can open up the striking, it may be a short night for Anderson.

PREDICTION: Glover Teixeira- TKO (RND 2)

Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (25-10) vs. Anthony “Lionheart” Smith (29-13)

The main event will feature two fighters with a combined 77 fights! Shogun has been a staple in the UFC, fighting 17 times for the promotion since 2007. Considered a KO specialist, Shogun has finished 20 of his 25 wins by way of TKO or KO. Anthony Smith is a little more diverse in his finishes with 15 KO and 11 submission wins. Smith is an exciting fighter that fights with a sense of urgency, always wanting to finish. This, at times, has had negative effects on Smith resulting in 12 losses by KO or submission. The aggressiveness may play heavily in his favor in a fight against a slower and injury-riddled Shogun. While it is hard to ever go against one of UFC’s great fighters, the aggressiveness, and diversity of Smith’s game should be enough to propel Lionheart to a victory, and a potential title shot!

PREDICTION: Anthony Smith- TKO (RND 3)

UFC Boise: Dos Santos vs. Ivanov: Preview and Prediction

Due to the VAST amount of MMA events taking place over the last two days, I will only be covering my predictions. With six fights slated on the main card, by tonight’s end fans of the sport will have had the opportunity to watch 16 fantastic fights (not even including the prelims!) in 48 hours. Here we go!

PREDICTION: Cat Zingano- TKO (RND 3)

2. Chad Mendes- Decision (RND 5)

3. Niko Price- TKO (RND 2)

4. Dennis Bermudez- TKO (RND 3)

5. Sage Northcutt- Decision (RND 3)

6. Junior Dos Santos- KO (RND 2)