UFC 183 Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz: Picks, Prognostications, & Odds (Weigh-In Updates)

Poster by Shawn James

January 31, 2015
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas, Nevada


Main Card on PPV:
Anderson Silva (33-6) -450 vs. Nick Diaz (26-9- 1) +325

Its a dream match of epic proportions as the GOAT returns from one of the most horrific injuries of all time and questions abound. What will Anderson's psyche be when he gets back into the cage after such a traumatic injury? Can the "Spider" reclaim his mojo and find the dominance he once had?

Welcoming Silva back to the cage will be the one and only Nick Diaz. We haven't seen 209's finest since '13 when he lost a decision to then Champion Georges St. Pierre. Diaz walked away from the sport after the loss and stayed semi-retired for the last two years. 

The greatest striker of all time meets the marathon striker and its highly unlikely we'll see any Jiu-Jitsu from the two black belts. The "Spider" displays brilliant head movement (when he's not clowning) bringing text book strikes of every style and a variety of counters. Let us not forget that Silva also has one of the most vicious clinch games of all time and brings up his long legs for soul crushing knee attacks.

The Cesar Gracie student loves to mock opponents into a brawl where he unleashes record breaking amount of strikes that slowly get stronger and stronger as the fight progresses. Diaz also mixes in punches to the body that wear opponents down even quicker while they are trying to block the head shots. Nick doesn't feel the need to check leg kicks but you have to wonder if Silva will throw very many after his last outing. Diaz also has a granite chin but tends to cut and bleed easily as scar tissue gives way to the strikes he eats in a stubborn refusal to be hurt in a fight.

There are so many questions coming into this dream bout that there is little chance of actually predicting how the fight will play out. What we do know, is that Anderson has competed at the absolute highest level for most of his career while Diaz has struggled to maintain top status. Though Nick will get his shots in, Silva is so adept at movement that the attacks may not land with the force expected. We doubt the two just step to the center and throw till someone drops and there are just too many ways for the much larger fighter to win. Successful leg kicks can slow Diaz he is facing a quick power the likes of which he has seen but once in his career (Paul Daley). Expect 209's son to give it his best, but ultimately take a beating during which he shows great heart, but falls far behind on the scorecards.
WINNER-Anderson Silva by Decision

Tyron Woodley (14-3) -105 vs. Kelvin Gastelum (10-0) -125

Here we have a very intriguing fight at Welterweight between two young guns trying to break into title contention.

Gastelum came out of nowhere off the TUF show but has cut his teeth dominating brutes like Jake Ellenberger and Rick Story. Kelvin is massive for the division and has struggled some making weight but he still manages to put the pressure on foes behind his southpaw jab. The Arizonan has big power in his hands but isn't very technical winging bombs that often miss. Gastelum's true talents shine on the mats. His takedown shot is an explosion which he follows through with ferocity. Once on the ground, Kelvin doesn't look to pass guard as much as he just pounds opponents with nasty strikes.

"T-Wood" is much the same. Woodley has great power in his hands but is more technically solid though he doesn't throw enough volume with his strikes. The decorated Mizzou wrestler runs the pipe like a champ and can take anyone down when he pleases. His top game is suffocating but he hasn't shown a willingness to go for very many submissions. Not as well known is that Tyron possesses staunch takedown defense to keep men in front of him at all times. The gas tank is always suspect when carrying around so much muscle mass but he is coming in from this camp a bit leaner.

This should be a very close fight, and honestly, it could get quite boring. Both men can cancel each other out in almost every facet of the game A couple of advantages for Gastelum are his cardio and how much he improves fight to fight while Woodley has not. In a razor thin decision we side with young Kelvin to win the later rounds but never stopping his pressured attack.
WINNER-Kelvin Gastelum by Decision
* Kelvin badly missed weight yet again this time by 9 freaking pounds! If you aren't professional enough to make weight, you should be forced to fight a weight class up for your next fight. That's a new MMAFO rule. And so, Gastelum looked awful Friday night and had to be taken to the hospital for rehydration. Based upon all this...
Upset Pick WINNER-Tyron Woodley by Decision

Joe Lauzon (24-9) +155 vs. Al Iaquinta (10-3-1) -190

Another intriguing fight, this time at Lightweight, pits two go for broke fighters who are prone to make mistakes while trying to make the highlight reels.

The Serra-Longo fighter has good power in his hands and really good kicks that he should use more. Iaquinta thinks himself a submission grappler but has made numerous mistakes on the ground where a Jiu-Jitsu ace like Lauzon will make anyone pay. 

"J-Lau" gave up on being a title contender long ago and instead looks for fight night bonuses however they may come. Joe enjoys a good scrap on the feet but he shouldn't as he gets hit far too often and doesn't have the best technique or volume to bring back on his opponents. Lauzon excels on the canvas where he chains submission attempts back to back sometimes risking too much.

Al isn't exactly a smart fighter but he should have the tools to stay at a comfortable distance and land with consistency. We highly doubt the Jersey camp would allow him to try and hang with "J-Lau" in the grappling department when he has such an obvious advantage on the feet. Lauzon has heart and grit for days but that just means he takes a ugly beating if Iaquinta stays on point without getting too excited.
WINNER-Al Iaquinta by Decision

Thales Leites (24-4) -500 vs. Tim Boetsch (18-7) +350

The "Barbarian" saved his job last out by catching Brad Tavares with his power in a fight he was obviously losing. If judging weren't so piss poor in MMA he would have lost his previous 5 fights instead of going 2-3. Tim is very slow and basically only has a puncher's chance.

Leites left the UFC in '09 and came back with additional muscle and the striking he had previously lacked. Since his return, Thales has gone 4-0 and always brings a beautiful Jiu-Jitsu game should he need it.

How the hell does Boetsch win this? Seriously. The guy is done and Leites is on the rise as he has improved his game and is facing a guy who keeps looking worse than worse.
WINNER-Thales Leites by Rd.2 Submission

Jordan Mein (29-9) -145 vs. Thiago Alves (25-9) +115

Back to the land of good fights, we've got two heavy hitters willing to throw leather for brutality's sake.

The ATT's "Pitbull" disappeared in '12 and spend two years battling injuries and getting healthy. Alves has nasty power and some of the most crushing leg kicks in the game. Thiago is uber-tough but has a weakness in the submission game though he shouldn't have much to worry about from Jordan there.

Canada's "Young Gun" is a striking monster with a ton of experience for a 25 year old. Mein has gone 3-1 for Zuffa losing only to beast Matt Brown. We are big fans of his standing elbows and a good defensive wrestler.

Alves should have the counter advantage and has fought a much higher level of competition. Jordan will make it a fun fight but he's out matched in what should be a very exciting fight.
Upset Pick WINNER-Thiago Alves by Decision

Prelims on FOX Sports 1:
Miesha Tate (15-5) +170 vs. Sara McMann (8-1) -210

Holy shit someone get Miesha out of this fight! MMAFO are longtime fans of the Tate but this is a nightmare match for her.

Miesha is a good wrestler and has good striking though she lacks power. 

McMann is an Olympic silver medalist in wrestling but she lacks the ability to box with much effectiveness.

Sara is going to take Miesha down (unfortunately) time and time again and she won't be able to get up. McMann is going to pound her from top control in a not so fun to watch fight.
WINNER-Sara McMann by Decision

Ed Herman (22-10) +400 vs. Derek Brunson (12-3) -600

Hey the uber-slow Herman is still in the UFC. Who knew. He's, well, not good.

Brunson is an excellent athlete and trains out of the Jackson-Winkeljohn camp. He's a decent striker and has some so-so wrestling and some subs.

Here's the deal. Derek isn't much more than an average fighter but Herman is god awful. Just awful. This is Brunson's fight all day as he picks and pops while Ed is ten minutes behind at all things.
WINNER-Derek Brunson by Rd.2 TKO

Ian McCall (13-4-1) -230 vs. John Lineker (24-7) +180

Why in the blue fucking hell is this fight buried so low on the card? The winner of this Flyweight fight has to be the new #1 contender to "Mighty Mouse" and this grudge match is guaranteed fireworks. An illness dropped "Uncle Creepy" out of this fight last November when it was originally scheduled but we get another shot at it here.

Lineker is a puncher with extreme power and has struggled numerous times at cutting down to 125.

Ian is the complete package. The guy has the quickness along with great punches to the head and or body. A lightning quick shot will ground Lineker who has no idea what to do about it. "Uncle Creepy" for the win bitches!
* And Lineker has missed weight for the 85th fucking time and McCall was not happy about it! Time for unprofessional bitch Lineker to move up a weight class after "Uncle Creepy" beats his ass!!
WINNER-Ian McCall by Decision

Rafael Natal (18-3) -185 vs. Tom Watson (17-7) +150

This promises to be one of the slowest fights in MMA history. Both men fight at a glacial pace. Watson has not shown the power he was supposed to have in BAMMA and doesn't have much else to offer.

Natal may just be a grappler, but he is good at getting guys to the ground and controlling the fight. Watson has terrible takedown defense and will be on his back in total frustration for 15 minutes.
WINNER-Rafael Natal by Decision

Prelims on UFC Fight Pass:
Diego Brandao (18-10) -175 vs. Jimy Hettes (11-2) +145

Brandao is a big time striker who consistently makes mistakes and has been (T)KO'd 6 times in his career!

Hettes is a grappler with sneaky trips and throws. Jimy has submissions in his arsenal and far better endurance. He also trains with Frankie Edgar and his camp of killers up north. Avoiding the home run KO Hettes should have this running away.
Upset Pick WINNER-Jimy Hettes by Rd.3 Submission

Richardson Moreira (7-2) +150 vs. Ildemar Alcantara (20-7) -185

The other lesser Alcantara moves up in weight to 185 and is average in all facets.

"Rick Monstro" is a physical demon who trains with Team Nogueira out of Brazil and uses his strength to muscle men to the canvas where he pounds them until they are delirious before securing a submission. Same should happen here.
* Moreira has fought at Heavyweight and yet he was able to successfully cut down to Middleweight like a real professional. Lineker and Gastelum should take note.
Upset Pick WINNER-Richardson Moreira by Rd.1 Submission

Thiago Santos (9-3) -175 vs. Andy Enz (7-2) +145

"Marreta" is a fun capoeira style fighter and great power on the feet. 

Enz is also a fun striker only not as good.
WINNER-Thiago Santos by Decision

UFC 183 Start Times
Main Card on Pay-Per-View: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Prelims on FOX Sports 1: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass: 6:45 p.m. ET / 3:45 p.m. PT

UFC 183: Nick Diaz "Rat In A Cage" (Video)

UFC On Fox 14 Results: Rumble Johnson & Gegard Mousasi Win Impressively

MMAFO went 8-4 on the picks and got all 3 of our Upset Picks correct! Betting favorites went 5-7 on the night.

The Swedes themselves (Alex Gustafsson, Akira Corassani, Nico Musoke) went 0-3 on the night but Makwan Amirkhani won and is from Greece which is right next door. Ya gotta find the silver lining.

Dan Henderson was knocked down for the 15th time in his career! "Hendo" has lost 5 of his last 6 and the last 3 were stoppages.

Jon Jones continues to be King Asshole of MMA Tweeting to Gustafsson when he was down which is exactly what Jesus would do. What a prick.

MMAFO LOVES DOGS TOO!

Anthony Johnson TKO'd Alexander Gustafsson with an onslaught of Punches at 2:15 of the 1st round.

"Rumble" broke Sweden and Gustafsson's heart using his raw power to drop the "Mauler" before jumping on him and just blasting him out. Rough night for the Viking but now we get to see Johnson versus Jon Jones. The "Mauler" will be back and an awesome matchup against Daniel Cormier seems to make sense.

Gegard Mousasi TKO'd Dan Henderson with Punches at 1:10 of the opening round.

Somebody force Dan to retire before something really bad happens. "Sweet Sassy" Mousasi clipped "Hendo" on the top of the head which sent him careening to the mat. Gegard followed up with a few shots and the referee stopped the fight as Henderson struggled with the official and then claimed he was fine. Not so much Dan. 

Ryan Bader defeated Phil Davis via Split decision (29-28 2x, 28-29).

A pretty terrible fight as expected but "Darth" rightfully won. Bader has now won 4 in a row while "Mr. Wonderful" has lost 2 of his last 3 and is most likely out of title contention for good unless he decides to evolve his game. It would be interesting to see Bader welcome back Rashad Evans later this year.

Sam Sicilia KO'd Akira Corassani at 3:26 of the 1st round.

A right uppercut to the body followed by an overhand right put Akira's lights out as he crashed to the canvas and Sicilia delivered a final punctuation punch to seal the deal. Time to say goodbye to Corassani.
"KO of the Night"

Albert Tumenov defeated Nico Musoke via Unanimous decision (29-28 3x).

Not much to elaborate on here. It went as expected.

Kenny Robertson KO'd Sultan Aliev with Punches at 2:42 of the initial round.

Good luck keeping Kenny off you in a fight. Robertson is very aggressive and it pays off. Kenny's striking is pretty sloppy but a left hand dropped the Sultan and a couple of rights put in the coffin nails.

Makwan Amirkhani TKO'd Andy Ogle with a Flying Knee and Punches 0:08 into the 1st round for a highlight opener.

Its total embarrassment for Ogle who has now lost 4 in a row and must be cut from the roster. No idea why Joe Rogan had such a problem with the stoppage and grilling Amirkhani about the ending was just unprofessional. You're better than that Rogan. Don't take away the kid's moment on glory harassing him about something for which he had zero control. 

Nikita Krylov submitted Stanislav Nedkov via Guillotine at 1:24 of round uno.

Holy shit Nedkov is awful. But credit "Al Capone" for addressing training in a serious fashion and being ready.
"Submission of the Night"

Mairbek Taisumov KO'd Anthony Christodoulou with Punches at 0:38 of the 2nd round.

The Russian Tiger Muay Thai fighter is the real thing. MMAFO can't say this enough. Pay attention to this 26 year old! You are going to be seeing a lot of him. Christ had nothing to offer as expected.
"Performance of the Night"

Mirsad Bektic defeated Paul Redmond by Unanimous decision (30-27 2x, 30-25).

Redmond gave his best on short notice but was obviously outclassed here. Paul would be better suited back at Lightweight while the ATT fighter remains unbeaten at 9-0 with 2 wins in the Octagon. A step up in competition is needed to verify this guys prospect status.

Viktor Pesta defeated Konstantin Erokhin via Unanimous decision (30-27 2x, 29-28).

Jeesus Christ Erokhin looked terrible. We mean a Bellator level Heavyweight fighter terrible. The hype is wrong! Konstantin lit up Pesta early but after Viktor survived the opening deluge, and the Russian had zero left in the gas tank. Pesta took the "Russian Bear" down time and time again and Erokhin showed he knows nothing about the ground game. Just a terrible debut for him but Pesta showed some true skills and is looking to come to America to improve.

Neil Seery defeated Chris Beal by Unanimous decision (30-27 2x, 29-28).

The Irishman spoiled Beal's move down to Flyweight and now perhaps Chris will address the fundamentals of the sport. A nice win for the tough as nails veteran who remains a dark horse at Flyweight.

Gina Carano To Star In Kickboxer Remake

Beloved 1st lady of MMA, Gina Carano has signed on to co-star in the remake of Kickboxer. She will be acting alongside fellow MMA stars Georges St. Pierre and kickboxer Joe Schilling. OG Jean Claude Van Damme. The film will also star Dave Bautista who has been killing it recently in Guardians of the Galaxy and Riddick. Bautista will be playing the role of Tong Po the main villain. John Stockwell is set to direct. 

Kimbo Slice vs. Mirko Cro Cop

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic and Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson have signed to fight American MMA in 2015. Feel free to lose your damn minds! The MMA world was caught by surprise when reports surfaced that these two men were coming back to the elite MMA promotions stateside. Its strange days but with Phil "CM Punk" Brooks making his way into the Octagon and a bidding war breaking out between the UFC, WWE, and Bellator for the services of PPV juggernaut Brock Lesnar we shouldn't be that surprised.

Sure Mirko was out winning the K-1 World Grand Prix 2012 title in kickboxing and the IGF Heavyweight title in MMA, but Kimbo has been......wait, where the hell has Kimbo been?

We (MMA fans) haven't seen Mr. Slice since 2010 when he was being put away by Matt Mitrione at UFC 113. Its been 5 damn years since we've seen ole Kimbo when he had a 4-2 MMA record with weak skills at best. It turns out the Slicer has tried his hand at boxing going 7-0 against very questionable competition including a bout against Brian Green who was accused of taking a dive. Kimbo has not boxed since 2013. There is a shitty move role in there for The Scorpion King 3 which MMAFO didn't see, but we're going to risk making an assumption and say it was shit. There was also an attempt at "pro wrestling" in Japan which the Sliciest pulled out of because of an injury for the fake sport. 

Kimbo claims he has been training with ATT in Florida and is "ready to be tested on the ground." Uh-huh. Despite the fact that the Sliceinator was never very good in MMA and is now aged 40, there is no denying that the guy was a ratings gold mine and can put butts in the seats. Apparently there is even a simmering beef with one Tito Ortiz and you know that if Bellator could put that fight together, the UG would lose all control. Its also not like Bellator has a stacked Heavyweight division. 

Kimbo could have a Japan style freak fight against Bobby Lashley or a slugger's dream bout against Lavar Johnson. A rematch with James Thompson is there and you know Eric Prindle is dying to get KTFO by Slicopotamus. 

So maybe the return of Kimbo Slice is not as crazy as it sounds. Kimbo's got to make his bread and we ain't mad at ya playa. It's gonna be a fun watch at any rate. Might as well sit back and enjoy the festivities. 

Mirko Cro Cop Filipovic Returns To The UFC!

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic has reportedly (not officially) signed with the UFC for a 3rd tour, after Zuffa out bid Bellator and their Viacom wallets. The Croatian superhero left the UFC after going 1-2 back in '07 and returned to Japan where he found his greatest success. Mirko went 2-0-1 fighting in DREAM and K-1 with the No Contest coming from repeated knees to the groin that left him unable to continue against Alistair Overeem. Filipovic returned once again to the UFC in '09 and went 3-4 from through '11 and stated he was retiring from MMA.

Mirko was not retired from fighting however. "Cro Cop" returned to his 1st love of kickboxing defeating legend Ray Sefo in his homeland in '12. Filipovic went on to defeat 4 more kickboxers and became the K-1 World Grand Prix Champion! Now a champion in both MMA and kickboxing, "Cro Cop" continued with 3 more bouts winning 2 and losing 1 to stellar fighter Remy Bonjasky.

Like most fighters, Mirko just couldn't hang up the gloves and returned to MMA in '12 winning by Armbar of all things at Inoki Bom-Ba-Ye 2012. He would lose his next bout by submission to Oleksiy Oliynyk who went on to sign and win with the UFC. Filipovic returned to Inoki's federation and defeated Judo Olympic gold medalist Satoshi Ishii to win the IGF Heavyweight Championship! The two would rematch on New Year's Eve '14 as "Cro Cop" again stopped the Japanese fighter after the 2nd round to defend said belt. 

Now it's 2015 and once Bellator began to show interest in "Cro Cop" the UFC swept in and signed the Croatian for a 3rd tour of duty. Perhaps a move to thwart Bellator more than reward Filipovic but the legend has returned as 1st reported by Bloody Elbow on January 20th. The initial tries were unsuccessful with Mirko earning a paltry 4-6 record for Zuffa, but there is no doubt about the value of "Cro Cop" who is a legend in the sport, a future 1st ballot Hall of Famer, and a man widely loved and respected by all combat sports fans. 

Mirko may not compete for the title anytime soon, but there are potentially interesting bouts and many Heavyweights in the UFC Filipovic could give trouble. What old school fan wouldn't want to see "Cro Cop" hook up against Andrei Arlovski, or rematches against Mark Hunt, Antonio Nogueira, and the ball busting Alistair Overeem? And don't tell us Filipovic couldn't best the likes of Antonio Silva, Stefan Struve, Ben Rothwell, Ruan Potts, Soa Palelei, Josh Copeland, or Walt Harris because you'd be a damn liar! 

The odds are stacked against the legend but we here at MMAFO are longtime fans of "Cro Cop" and wish him nothing but the best as he tries to compete at age 40 at the highest level in MMA. 

UFC on Fox 14 Gustafsson vs. Johnson: Picks, Prognostications, & Odds

January 24, 2015
Tele2 Arena
Stockholm, Sweden

Main Card on FOX:
Alexander Gustafsson (16-2) -285 vs. Anthony Johnson (18-4) +225

The "Mauler" is ready to "Rumble" past Johnson for a title shot in the homeland to signal that the MMA God's have softened their wrath to allow for the big fights we all want to see this year.

Gustaf is 8-2 for the UFC and rebounded from his loss to Jon Jones by stopping Jimi Manuwa last March. The Alliance fighter has great footwork/movement as do most at said camp while bringing a continual stinging jab and showing he can hit some takedowns though he doesn't do much once there.

"Rumble" hits like a ton of bricks but tends to slow in matches and this being a 25 minute affair does not bode well for the Blackzilian. Tony has a very nice left high kick that he unleashes with blistering speed and power but does have a tendency to look down when he gets to swinging wild. Johnson has a far better wrestling shot than Alex and can muscle foes to the mat when necessary, but he is currently in love with his power.

We fully expect Johnson to have his moments in this contest especially in the early goings. But eventually, time and peppering strikes from Gustafsson, who is not there for the counters Anthony loves, will wear down his opponent and stage a gratifying come from behind win on the cards.
WINNER-Alexander Gustafsson by Decision

Dan Henderson (30-12) +375 vs. Gegard Mousasi (35-5-2) -550

Oh Dan, Dan, Dan. Will you please either stop fighting and retire, or move to Bellator where you have a chance. When was the last time you saw "Hendo" win a round not counting the last fight with "Shogun" in which he was losing badly only to hit the "H-Bomb" that saved his life? Dan is dangerously slow and relying on a single weapon is not a good game plan.

The "Dreamcatcher" is far faster, has an excellent chin, and can out wrestle and out strike Henderson in all facets of the game. This is a nightmare matchup for Danny as the "Young Vagabond" lights "Hendo" up however he feels like while trying not to seriously injure Grandpa. 

Look, we all love Henderson but he hasn't looked like a good fighter since 2011! "Sweet Sassy Mousasi" has only improved his game and he is smart enough to avoid that "H-Bomb" while pitching a shut out on the cards.
WINNER-Gegard Mousasi by Decision

Phil Davis (13-2) -240 vs. Ryan Bader (19-4) +190

We have an Upset special here folks! Never have we seen a man with so much potential, just completely stall out in his career. "Mr. Wonderful" has not evolved as one would hope and now we know (thanks to Anthony Johnson) that he doesn't take hard shots well either. Sure Davis has wrestling chops, but so does Bader. Phil has some nice kicks and jabs but zero power. 

"Darth" Bader kinda became a joke in the MMA world after his embarrassing loss to Tito Ortiz but he has improved his game and brings some real power with him. You have to worry about Ryan leaving his chin exposed, but not when he is facing feather fisted Davis. Bader has also slowly thinned out his muscle mass for a leaner and more endurance friendly style.

Bader is not Glover "I Have No Answer For Wrestling" Texeira here. Davis never looks good even when he defeats top tier opponents and he hit his ceiling long ago. Look for Bader to keep the fight standing while chasing Phil around the cage for an uneventful judges nod.
Upset Pick WINNER-Ryan Bader by Decision

Akira Corassani (12-5,1) -130 vs. Sam Sicilia (13-5) +100

Akira is back after 2 consecutive (T)KO losses bringing his weak chin, powerless striking, and absolutely nothing else. 

Sicilia isn't going to set the MMA world on fire anytime soon but he does have power in his hands which should be the difference maker. Sam struggles on the ground but he doesn't have any worries for that here. We like Sicilia to not only win here but to stop Corassani who we see for the last time in the UFC.
Upset Pick WINNER-Sam Sicilia by Rd.2 TKO

Prelims on FOX Sports 1:

Nico Musoke (13-3) +105 vs. Albert Tumenov (14-2) -135

Sweden's own Musoke has overachieved in the UFC but that comes to a grinding halt here. The Russian Tumenov has serious strength in his striking and put his last 2 Zuffa opponents away in the 1st round with extreme prejudice. Albert roughs up Nico early and often before putting him to sleep.

WINNER-Albert Tumenov by Rd.1 KO

Kenny Robertson (14-3) +140 vs. Sultan Aliev (13-1) -170

The Sultan of swing makes his debut in the UFC against a grappler which is his kryptonite. Robertson may not look like much but the guy is relentless with his takedowns and suffocating wrestling which plays out here perfectly for 15 minutes. Then somebody give Aliev a razor for his body.

Upset Pick WINNER-Kenny Robertson by Decision

Andy Ogle (9-5) -160 vs. Makwan Amirkhani (10-2) +130

Yeesh, this is a shit match. Ogle refuses to go away despite being on a 3 fight losing streak. The Brit is average everywhere but "Mr. Finland" is a bit of an unknown. Andy has worked a bit with Team Alpha Male and his persistent striking and a mixture of takedowns or at least the threat of such action wins him this tepid affair.

WINNER-Andy Ogle by Decision

Nikita Krylov (17-4) -130 vs. Stanislav Nedkov (12-1) +100

Its Bulgaria versus Russia as the oh so odd Krylov faces the returning Nedkov who has been absent finding his smile for 2 years. If, and that is a very strong if, Stanislav has learned to put any gas in his tank, he is far more well rounded. However, we have seen the Bulgarian gas mere moments into matches before. 

Though pitched as a submission fighter, Krylov is piss poor on the mat when facing fighters that are not tomato cans. Nikita really has nothing to offer except for his size and length advantage.

We oh so cautiously pick Nedkov by decision, but don't be surprised if he gasses hard a few seconds in and loses.

* Update Weigh-In Change. Now MMAFO is picking Krylov. Nikita is looking in great shape and has a crazy height and reach advantage. 

WINNER-Nikita Krylov by Rd.2 Submission

Mairbek Taisumov (22-5) -950 vs. Anthony Christodoulou (12-4) +575

"Beckan" will finish Christodoulou in the 1st round and expect nothing else. This guy is im-pressive!

WINNER-Mairbek Taisumov by Rd.1 KO

Mirsad Bektic (8-0) -700 vs. Paul Redmond (10-4) +450

If you're Irish like Paul and have won a professional bout, expect a contract offer from Zuffa. Redmond may be a decent fighter but he is facing a true prospect fighter in Bektic. Mirsad is a monster for the Featherweight division and Paul is coming in on short notice. Redmond's favorite weapon is the toe hold which has not been relevant in MMA since Frank Mir tapped "Tank" Abbot in 2003!

WINNER-Mirsad Bektic by Rd.1 TKO

Prelims on UFC Fight Pass:
Viktor Pesta (9-1) +290 vs. Konstantin Erokhin (9-1) -380

Holy shit Erokhin is a big fucking Russian! Jeezus this guy has power and Pesta is just a lamb to slaughter.
WINNER-Konstantin Erokhin by Rd.1 KO

Neil Seery (14-10) +165 vs. Chris Beal (10-0) -205

This could be one of the closest fights on the card despite the drastically different records. Beal is a natural athlete with power who loves to throw highlight knees and crazy shit. Unfortunately, he has yet to learn the fundamentals of MMA.

The Irish Seery is tough as they come but lacks athleticism and is aging rapidly. Neil has no problem brawling toe to toe and that could be his undoing.

This is a pick 'em fight as both men could win in a slugfest. We narrowly choose against our countryman in a close decision but hope that we are wrong.
WINNER-Chris Beal by Split Decision

UFC on FOX 14 Start Times
Main Card on FOX: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Prelims on FOX Sports 1: 5 p.m. ET / 2 p.m. PT
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass: 4 p.m. ET / 1 p.m. PT

UFC Fight Night 59 Picks 9-3

UFC Fight Night 59 McGregor vs. Siver: Picks, Prognostications, & Odds

Main Card on FOX Sports 1:
Conor McGregor (16-2) -1100 vs. Dennis Siver (22-9) +650

Dana’s favorite son, the “Notorious” one returns with a title shot on the line should he best ze German. Conor brings his stellar cardio, assortment of kicks, and southpaw striking with power and speed. The plan is to get an opponent confused into circling into his power left hand for a nice uppercut or some technically beautiful combinations. McGregor’s movement is a thing of beauty all its own. He deftly uses lateral movement to open up wide angles and charges back in with opponents unsure of which weapon he is about to deploy. Though primarily an offensive fighter, the Irish hero has solid takedown defense and his SBG gym has him prepared with escape plans should he be taken down.

Ze German kickboxer is known for his near perfect turning side kick but Siver has smooth striking in combinations and good head movement for a guy with no neck. Dennis is also adept at sneaking in nice knee taps for takedowns but he doesn’t do much once there.

Basically Conor, don’t fuck this up. The MMA world knows this is set up as a showcase for McGregor, but Siver is a battle tested veteran. Though the ridiculous odds do not reflect it, this wouldn’t be a massive upset for the educated MMA fan should Dennis win. Conor’s speed and output should carry him to the finish line against a smaller and slower foe, but we’ve seen the likes of Kimbo Slice and many others fall on the cusp of a title shot. A smart McGregor keeps his distance and if this goes past the 1st round, which we believe it will, don’t be shocked if its McGregor who sneaks in some takedowns to ensure victory.
WINNER-Conor McGregor by Rd.2 TKO


Benson Henderson (21-4) -145 vs. Donald Cerrone (26-6,1 +115 [Trilogy]

The “Cowboy” is not the smartest man, but he is exciting. Cerrone takes this fight with perennial Top 10 Lightweight “Bendo” on short notice and if that isn’t enough for you, Cerrone has already lost to Henderson, twice! The 1st meeting back in 2009, was for the WEC Lightweight strap which Benson won in an exciting fashion. The 2nd meeting came in 2010 when Henderson tapped Cerrone in the very 1st round with a tight guillotine. Maybe Donald is afraid of getting another title shot and failing, or maybe he just doesn’t care and loves to fight.

We know the “Cowboy’s” plan at this point in his career. Bang it out and earn a bonus check. Not exactly the smartest way to manage a career, but damned if he ain’t exciting and the fans love him. Cerrone loves a brawl and that is something Henderson will not oblige.


MMA Lab’s “Smooth” is coming off his 1st career KO loss to now #1 contender Rafael dos Anjos in August of ’14. Ben had gotten back on track after dropping his belt to Anthony Pettis in ’13 but the KO loss was devastating to his chances of getting near “Showtime” in the future. Henderson always has great movement, kicks he uses like jabs, flexibility that rivals BJ Penn, and is solid in any position in the fight. At times “Bendo” gets complacent and doesn’t work enough offense, but badly needing a victory should curb his laziness.

So let’s see. Henderson likes to push opponents against the cage where he excels in clinch work and surprises foes with his natural power. And “Cowboy” struggles without space to work.  Benson starts fast while Cerrone takes time to get warmed up. Henderson has been honing his skills in safe camps, while Donald is fighting every other weekend which has to catch up with him sometime. Cerrone likes to get buck wild which leaves him open for “Bendo’s” safe, for a lack of a better term, stalling, tactics. Hmm. We’ll take “Smooth” to do what he do and win 2 of the 3 rounds, maybe even doing that 10 seconds left so I’ll take you down to steal the round shit, which the judges always fall for. 
WINNER-Benson Henderson by Decision


Uriah Hall (9-4) -850 vs. Ron Stallings (12-6,1) +525

The “Choir Boy” has balls taking this fight on 15 minutes notice and all, but he’s about to get KTFO! Stallings is coming in on a loss, and ya know what, let’s just cut the shit. Ron is here to get murdered because two opponents dropped out. Siver beating McGregor wouldn’t be crazy, but this would be!
WINNER-Uriah Hall by Rd.1 KO


Norman Parke (20-2-1) +120 vs. Gleison Tibau (32-10) -150

This is one of the toughest fights to call on the card. Tibau brings crazy size and power while suffocating men on the ground. Gleison is the gatekeeper to the elite of the 155ers and this is the test needed for Parke.

The fake Irishman (see the political history of Ireland and Parke’s own allegiance's for explanation) has a stern base backed by his Judo skills that include trips and throws. Norman throws a lot of strikes but with no real power to speak of. He’s a generally good all around fighter who has not yet shown the skills to step up to the next level.

A perfect casting job done by the UFC here. Neither man can be taken down easily which points to a stand up kickboxing bout that should favor Parke. However, gaudy record aside, MMAFO just hasn’t seen anything from Norman that makes us believe he is anything other than a mid-tier fighter. Granted, Tibau isn’t going to be getting a title shot, ever, but he has faced far more elite competition and by that we mean, Parke hasn’t fought shit yet. Maybe this is Norm’s coming out party, but we doubt it.
WINNER-Gleison Tibau by Decision


Prelims on FOX Sports 1:
Cathal Pendred (15-2-1) +130 vs. Sean Spencer (12-3) -160

Spencer is a kickboxer with zero power and zero ground game.

The Irish (we are in Boston people) Cathal is aggressive in pursuit of takedowns and just out works guys standing. That will lead Pendred to victory as Spencer heads back to the minor leagues.
Upset Pick WINNER-Cathal Pendred by Decision

John Howard (22-10) +125 vs. Lorenz Larkin (14-4) -155

Larkin is the better flashier striker with the size advantage and better movement standing.

The rub is, “Doomsday” is the hometown hero who has longed to fight in Boston on a UFC card. Fate much? Howard is no slouch striking but his real gifts come from his stellar single and double leg takedowns. John roughs guys up on the mat but can’t always keep them there. The Bostonian needs a clean mix of in clinch striking and wrestling to excel past the gifted offense of his rival.

It should also be noted, a desperate Larkin is making the drop from 185 down to 170 for the 1st time here. The “Monsoon” has lost 3 in a row and his career is on the chopping block. Howard has competed at Middleweight, but is most comfortable at Welterweight where he has fought for most of his career. The cut could be detrimental to Larkin, and quite frankly, the guy doesn’t have the best in fight i.q. We believe “Doomsday” has enough savvy to mix up his attack and win the final 2 rounds in a close come from behind win.
Upset Pick WINNER-John Howard by Decision


Zhang Lipeng (8-7-1) +350 vs. Chris Wade (8-1) -500

It should be noted that MMAFO picked against Lipeng with extreme prejudice last August, and he proved us wrong. Ugly record aside, the “China Warrior” is a natural athlete with dirty clinch work (that’s a compliment).

The problem be (sic), that Wade is also a natural athlete and strong clinch fighter but he also possesses a wrestling game. Though still pretty raw, this youngster has some true potential for the future while Zhang is just another hope from the UFC who is desperate for a Chinese star.
WINNER-Chris Wade by Decision


Patrick Holohan (10-1-1) -275 vs. Shane Howell (13-8) +215

Ole “Paddy” got a wake up call in his last effort gassing early against a late replacement and losing on the cards. Lesson learned. Holohan is yet another SBG fighter but Pat relies on submissions. His stand up requires using his reach advantage to latch onto you and drag you to hell. 

Howell’s main weakness is that he gets caught in submissions. You can add this one up yourself.
WINNER-Patrick Holohan by Rd.2 Submission

Johnny Case (19-4) -185 vs. Frankie Perez (9-1) +150

Johnny “C” is an Alliance fighter on a 9 fight winning streak. Case has good not great combinations and some submissions in his arsenal.

Perez is a student of retired MMA and Jiu-Jitsu stud Ricardo Almeida and gets to workout with the likes of Frankie Edgar and Edson Barboza. So, ya know, he’s got that going for him. 

Frankie is a bit small for the division and he’s going to struggle standing against Case. Based on Case’s solid takedown defense, Johnny “Hollywood” peppers Perez on the feet and gets the judges nod.
WINNER-Johnny Case by Decision

Charles Rosa (9-1) -145 vs. Sean Soriano (8-2) +115

Bostonian Rosa, the hometown hero on the card, fought Dennis Siver on late notice to get his shot in the UFC last October, which was his 1st professional loss.

The Blackzilians Soriano is decently well rounded but he’s no ace in any field.

This is a toss up but the homer’s here at MMAFO will not let us pick against the honorary Celtic. Rosa is just as good in the same areas but it will be a close one going down to the wire.
WINNER-Charles Rosa by Decision


Prelims on UFC Fight Pass:
Matt Van Buren (6-3) +155 vs. Sean O’Connell (15-6) -190

MVB is as average as they come but he does train out of Alliance which is a good camp. 

The “Real OC” isn’t much better but he does have some power in his hands and more experience. 

This is a shit match and the loser leaves town for good.
WINNER-Sean O’Connell by Decision

Tateki Matsuda (10-6) +140 vs. Joby Sanchez (6-1) -170

Finally, Jackson-Winkeljohn’s Sanchez darts in and out with some success but he needs to up his volume of strikes.

Matsuda trains out of the Sityodtong gym which makes him as hometown as they come. 

Neither man is very good so just flip the ole coin.
WINNER-Joby Sanchez by Decision


UFC Fight Night Start Times
Main Card on FOX Sports 1: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Prelims on FOX Sports 1: 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass: 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT

Jon "Nose" Jones Memes From the UG

PIC BY LOOKOUTAWHALE

GIF BY FETT_LOADIN76_TFK

PIC BY JIMMY RUSTLER

PIC BY JIMMY RUSTLER

As long time members of the UG (the underground at mma.tv) MMAFO believes this has to be one of the funniest days in all of MMA. Well done guys. We urge you to travel over to www.mma.tv and join in the festivities at the best forum for all of MMA.

Jon "Bones" Jones Cocaine Controversy

PIC BY EPWAR FROM THE UG

As the world is now aware, Jon "Bones" Jones has shocked the MMA community by testing positive for cocaine metabolites. 

Jones took a random drug test on December 4th, and the results came back on December 23rd, revealing that the Jackson-Winkeljohn fighter had tested positive for benzoylecgonine, "the primary metabolite of cocaine." Knowing these results, the NSAC allowed "Bones" to fight anyway at UFC 182 on January 3rd. The reason being that the NSAC follows the World Anti-doping Agency rules which said this is not a banned substance when fighters are "out of competition." 

"Out of competition" is defined as "testing of an athlete not in competition, or in any way associated with an athlete's immediate participation in an event or match." 

This moves us into the lovely gray area of interpretation. Jones was signed to face Daniel Cormier for a fight 30 days after he had taken, and failed said drug test, but the commission has stated that it did not have an impact on the UFC 182 bout, because, get ready for this, it did not affect the outcome of the bout, because Jon tested cleanly post fight and cocaine is not banned in "out of competition" testing. Yes, its as ludicrous as it sounds. And yet, for many years, marijuana was a banned substance, and considered a performance enhancer though obviously it is not.

UFC's Vice President of Regulatory Affairs, Marc Ratner stated on Ariel Helwani's The MMA Hour podcast, "I think that this year-round testing and out of competition is very important. Unlike baseball if you're taking a performance enhancing drug and you hit the ball further, that's a big advantage, but in fighting, whether it's boxing or in MMA -- and you're chemically stronger and you win a fight that you may not of and hurt somebody and test positive -- that could be a criminal offense as well as losing the fight or it becoming a no contest. So I'm all for out of competition testing. I want an even playing field and I believe in it with all my heart."

Hmmm. 

Chael Sonnen, who tested positive for HGH, EPO, and other banned substances (yes, there were a lot) in June of '14 was suspended for 2 years by the NSAC, and promptly retired a cheater.

The difference between the two cases, is that "Bones" tested positive for a substance that was not banned. Though it is ridiculous that cocaine isn't banned, the facts remain.

And so, the hypocrisy that is Jon Jones continues as the part time Christian checked himself into rehab and the MMA world exploded with the news. 

Professional MMA fighters responded in a variety of ways, but none funnier than Ben "Funky Askren who tweeted...

Other professionals responded with anger like veteran Eddie Wineland...

Here's a few more gems from Jon Jones' peers...

Though the insincerity of "Bones" cannot be debated, the UFC won't be stripping him of the title anytime soon and it is doubtful he'll receive any true punishment once out of his PR stint in rehab. MMAFO always enjoys people getting their comeuppances and this is nothing short of glorious, though again we must reiterate, ultimately nothing of consequence will happen to Jon Jones. 

Still, once again, we get to see proof that Jon Jones is not who he professes to be, and that is a slight measure of justice.

"We came up with a strategy to keep it clean and be sponsored by the UFC itself. I'm glad the UFC wanted to work with me as well, and I think that they trust that I'll never make them look bad. You never have to worry about me with a DWI (driving while under the influence) or doing something crazy. I think I'm a good company guy." - Jonny "Nose" Jones