The Ultimate Fighter 16 Finale
December 15, 2012
The Joint at the Hard Rock
Las Vegas, Nevada
December 15, 2012
The Joint at the Hard Rock
Las Vegas, Nevada
Main Card (FX):
Roy Nelson (17-7) vs. Matt Mitrione (5-1) "Meathead" steps in for the oft injured Shane Carwin to battle "Big Country" in a Heavyweight slugfest. Matt hasn't been in the game nearly as long as Nelson who has seen it all and faced some of the best competition in the world while Mitrione froze against the middler Cheick Kongo and then took a long layoff. Both men have good strong hands and very strong beards though Roy's is much longer. Nelson can also Jiu-Jitsu you while Matt tends to avoid the ground game though he has been working diligently with the Blackzilians in Florida. I like Mitrione a lot but this just seems like too much too soon for "Meathead." Nelson tests the will of Mitrione and the real question is whether or not this Heavyweight tilt can go 25 minutes?
WINNER-Roy Nelson by Decision
Colton Smith (5-1) vs. Mike Ricci (8-2) Rory MacDonald's "partner" Ricci is in the finals against some other guy I did not see as I didn't watch TUF 16 like most of the MMA world. Sprawl and brawl as the striker avoids the ground to an unnecessary points win.
WINNER-Mike Ricci by Decision
Pat Barry (7-5) vs. Shane Del Rosario (11-1) Oh, this is going to be a fun fight. I'm a big fan of Del Rosario and am so happy to see him back from the loss to impressive Stipe Miocic and from the debilitating car accident before that. Shane had his moments against Stipe but now after a tough Zuffa debut I expect a better Rosario than ever before. Pat is Pat. The guy is a high level kickboxer who is prone to make mistakes in fights but can KO anybody. The problem is that Pat is a one trick pony who is fighting a well rounded mixed martial artist. Barry always has the one punch hail mary chance at winning but the percentages are highly in Shane's favor.
WINNER-Shane Del Rosario by Rd.2 Submission
Melvin Guillard (30-11-2) vs. Jamie Varner (20-7-1) A couple of controversial MMA figures meet in a who is going to make the predictable giant mistake first, bout. The not so "Young Assassin" has come so close to title shots but always seems to shit the bed and is coming off a brutal KO loss to Donald Cerrone taking him to 1-3 in his last 4 bouts. Varner the former WEC Lightwieght kingpin came in on short notice to destroy prospect Edson Barboza in shocking fashion. Varner fell back to Earth against Joe Lauzon who has beaten both men just for the record. Both of these pricks can bang but the power advantage is obvious for Melvin. Jaime just has a far better arsenal and as long as he can avoid the KO strike he can out wrestle Guillard and frustrate him into a submission. Its gonna be a close one but ya gotta lean toward the smarter fighter.
Upset Pick WINNER-Jaime Varner by Decision
Dustin Poirier (12-2) vs. Jonathan Brookins (13-5) Brookins is such a nice kid but his stand up is terrible and ineffective. If Brookins can get someone to the floor he can work some Jiu-Jitsu magic but takedowns will be hard to come by against the documentary Fightville star. "Diamond" saw his title hopes dashed against the "Korean Zombie" and changed worlds moving to train with ATT. I really like this move to revitalize Poirier and take him to a new level. Dustin has all the skills to make it to the top of the division while Brookins is very tough but limited in his game. Poirier gets comfy and Jon gets beat.
WINNER-Dustin Poirier by Decision
Roy Nelson (17-7) vs. Matt Mitrione (5-1) "Meathead" steps in for the oft injured Shane Carwin to battle "Big Country" in a Heavyweight slugfest. Matt hasn't been in the game nearly as long as Nelson who has seen it all and faced some of the best competition in the world while Mitrione froze against the middler Cheick Kongo and then took a long layoff. Both men have good strong hands and very strong beards though Roy's is much longer. Nelson can also Jiu-Jitsu you while Matt tends to avoid the ground game though he has been working diligently with the Blackzilians in Florida. I like Mitrione a lot but this just seems like too much too soon for "Meathead." Nelson tests the will of Mitrione and the real question is whether or not this Heavyweight tilt can go 25 minutes?
WINNER-Roy Nelson by Decision
Colton Smith (5-1) vs. Mike Ricci (8-2) Rory MacDonald's "partner" Ricci is in the finals against some other guy I did not see as I didn't watch TUF 16 like most of the MMA world. Sprawl and brawl as the striker avoids the ground to an unnecessary points win.
WINNER-Mike Ricci by Decision
Pat Barry (7-5) vs. Shane Del Rosario (11-1) Oh, this is going to be a fun fight. I'm a big fan of Del Rosario and am so happy to see him back from the loss to impressive Stipe Miocic and from the debilitating car accident before that. Shane had his moments against Stipe but now after a tough Zuffa debut I expect a better Rosario than ever before. Pat is Pat. The guy is a high level kickboxer who is prone to make mistakes in fights but can KO anybody. The problem is that Pat is a one trick pony who is fighting a well rounded mixed martial artist. Barry always has the one punch hail mary chance at winning but the percentages are highly in Shane's favor.
WINNER-Shane Del Rosario by Rd.2 Submission
Melvin Guillard (30-11-2) vs. Jamie Varner (20-7-1) A couple of controversial MMA figures meet in a who is going to make the predictable giant mistake first, bout. The not so "Young Assassin" has come so close to title shots but always seems to shit the bed and is coming off a brutal KO loss to Donald Cerrone taking him to 1-3 in his last 4 bouts. Varner the former WEC Lightwieght kingpin came in on short notice to destroy prospect Edson Barboza in shocking fashion. Varner fell back to Earth against Joe Lauzon who has beaten both men just for the record. Both of these pricks can bang but the power advantage is obvious for Melvin. Jaime just has a far better arsenal and as long as he can avoid the KO strike he can out wrestle Guillard and frustrate him into a submission. Its gonna be a close one but ya gotta lean toward the smarter fighter.
Upset Pick WINNER-Jaime Varner by Decision
Dustin Poirier (12-2) vs. Jonathan Brookins (13-5) Brookins is such a nice kid but his stand up is terrible and ineffective. If Brookins can get someone to the floor he can work some Jiu-Jitsu magic but takedowns will be hard to come by against the documentary Fightville star. "Diamond" saw his title hopes dashed against the "Korean Zombie" and changed worlds moving to train with ATT. I really like this move to revitalize Poirier and take him to a new level. Dustin has all the skills to make it to the top of the division while Brookins is very tough but limited in his game. Poirier gets comfy and Jon gets beat.
WINNER-Dustin Poirier by Decision
Prelims (Fuel TV):
Mike Pyle (23-8-1) vs. James Head (9-2) The veteran Xtreme Couture fighter comes in on a two fight winning streak shocking people as the submission specialist is now knocking fools out at age 37! Head also has the same winning streak and has really overwhelmed opponents with aggressive grappling and just all around toughness. This will be a really close fight but Pyle is just too crafty using his high MMA IQ to sneak by James.
WINNER-Mike Pyle by Decision
Johnny Bedford (18-9-1) vs. Marcos Vinicius (6-0) Bedford took a year off after destroying Louis Gaudinot in his big dance debut. "Brutal" is very well rounded and likes to impose his will bullying opponents in defeat which is exactly what he is going to do here. Its gonna get ugly as Marcos tries to survive a beating.
WINNER-Johnny Bedford by Rd.3 TKO
Vinc Pichel (6-0) vs. Rustam Khabilov (14-1) The Jackson/Winkeljohn Russian is making his UFC debut and that means sambo! Zinc (sic) is a striker who hasn't faced this level of opponent and is basically here to get Rustam warm to the Octagon.
WINNER-Rustam Khabilov by Decision
TJ Waldburger (15-7) vs. Nick Catone (9-3) An interesting bout between the single minded wrestling of Catone and the submission link game of Waldburger. Nick can show himself to be on point and solid in grappling but he lacks damaging offense and imagination. TJ uses innovation at every turn throwing up constant sub attempts and confusing you into a mistake which he pounces on snapping your limbs or choking you to blackness. At some point TJ will put something together to put him in the running for "Submission Of The Night."
WINNER-TJ Waldburger by Rd.3 Submission
Mike Pyle (23-8-1) vs. James Head (9-2) The veteran Xtreme Couture fighter comes in on a two fight winning streak shocking people as the submission specialist is now knocking fools out at age 37! Head also has the same winning streak and has really overwhelmed opponents with aggressive grappling and just all around toughness. This will be a really close fight but Pyle is just too crafty using his high MMA IQ to sneak by James.
WINNER-Mike Pyle by Decision
Johnny Bedford (18-9-1) vs. Marcos Vinicius (6-0) Bedford took a year off after destroying Louis Gaudinot in his big dance debut. "Brutal" is very well rounded and likes to impose his will bullying opponents in defeat which is exactly what he is going to do here. Its gonna get ugly as Marcos tries to survive a beating.
WINNER-Johnny Bedford by Rd.3 TKO
Vinc Pichel (6-0) vs. Rustam Khabilov (14-1) The Jackson/Winkeljohn Russian is making his UFC debut and that means sambo! Zinc (sic) is a striker who hasn't faced this level of opponent and is basically here to get Rustam warm to the Octagon.
WINNER-Rustam Khabilov by Decision
TJ Waldburger (15-7) vs. Nick Catone (9-3) An interesting bout between the single minded wrestling of Catone and the submission link game of Waldburger. Nick can show himself to be on point and solid in grappling but he lacks damaging offense and imagination. TJ uses innovation at every turn throwing up constant sub attempts and confusing you into a mistake which he pounces on snapping your limbs or choking you to blackness. At some point TJ will put something together to put him in the running for "Submission Of The Night."
WINNER-TJ Waldburger by Rd.3 Submission
Prelims (Facebook):
Reuben Duran (8-3-1) vs. Hugo Viana (6-0) The grappler takes things into his world avoiding the striking of popular card nickname "Wolverine" and showcasing his belly tattoo.
WINNER-Reuben Duran by Decision
Mike Rio (8-1) vs. John Cofer (7-2) This bout has "eh" written all over it. The "Wolverine" makes his Zuffa debut against the last out KO'd Cofer. I don't care who wins but I like Weapon-X so we'll ride with the X-Man.
Upset Pick WINNER-Mike Rio by Decision
Tim Elliot (8-3-1) vs. Jared Papazian (14-8) The wittle guys come together for a scrap and I was impressed by Elliot in his loss to John Dodson. Tim is very creative and not afraid to let it all fly in the cage while Jared has lost two in a row and is seeking this new weight class to try and find some footing. It doesn't happen as Elliot gets more work done for the judges favor.
WINNER-Tim Elliot by Decision
Reuben Duran (8-3-1) vs. Hugo Viana (6-0) The grappler takes things into his world avoiding the striking of popular card nickname "Wolverine" and showcasing his belly tattoo.
WINNER-Reuben Duran by Decision
Mike Rio (8-1) vs. John Cofer (7-2) This bout has "eh" written all over it. The "Wolverine" makes his Zuffa debut against the last out KO'd Cofer. I don't care who wins but I like Weapon-X so we'll ride with the X-Man.
Upset Pick WINNER-Mike Rio by Decision
Tim Elliot (8-3-1) vs. Jared Papazian (14-8) The wittle guys come together for a scrap and I was impressed by Elliot in his loss to John Dodson. Tim is very creative and not afraid to let it all fly in the cage while Jared has lost two in a row and is seeking this new weight class to try and find some footing. It doesn't happen as Elliot gets more work done for the judges favor.
WINNER-Tim Elliot by Decision
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