UFC Fight Night 60 Henderson vs. Thatch: Picks, Prognostications, & Odds

People are talking about what a turd this card is but just wait until next weekend for a true shit storm. This card was wrecked by injuries but UFN 61 is crap top to bottom. Ah well, at least our MMA heroes aren't testing positive for PED's and hurting other's outside the cage. That would be really bad. Tarec Saffiedine got injured and dropped out of the proposed Main Event against Matt Brown. The "Immortal" was moved to UFC 185 to face Johny Hendricks and thus we get this odd but interesting headliner.

Main Card on FOX Sports 1:

Brandon Thatch (11-1) -170 vs. Benson Henderson (21-5) +140

"Bendo," the former Lightweight Champion makes the long awaited move to Welterweight though he may not be staying long to face the exciting and highly touted prospect named Brandon Thatch. 

The size advantage for Thatch was quite surprising at the weigh-ins as Brandon is at the very least 3 inches taller. Thatch hits very hard and is uber-aggressive with oh so slick kicks, straight terrifying knees, and terrible hair.

"Smooth" is on a rough stretch losing his last 2, including a close fight with the "Cowboy" last out. When you play the points game with MMA judges, shit happens. Its not like he hasn't been rewarded for fights in which he should not have won (i.e. Gilbert Melendez, Frankie Edgar). At anywho, we know Henderson and his game well. He uses kicks like jabs and plays the distance game looking to score points and not taking any risks. Ben will punch your leg, elbow, whatever to get a hit on you and scrambles like a beast. "Bendo" is very flexible and very hard to hurt. 

Henderson needs to never get hit and land his leg kicks like never before. Brandon's power really humbles fighters and he is coming off a long layoff. The size advantage is very significant we don't really know how Thatch will fare on the ground and in a 25 minute match. We'll ride with Thatch to finish this early, or things change in a big way and "Hendo" comes from behind to steal this.

WINNER-Brandon Thatch by Rd.2 TKO

Max Holloway (11-3) -430 vs. Cole Miller (21-8) +325

What the fuck is Cole Miller doing this high on any card? Okay this card isn't amazing but come on. Jayzus, this kid fought a single time in '14 which is sad because of all the shit he talks. 10-6 for Zuffa and is a brown belt Jiu-Jitsu fighter.

Max is 7-3 for the UFC but at a tender age was thrown in with the beasts of the Featherweight division. Holloway has taken some lumps for sure, but he is learning along the way and it is visible in his performances. Losing to Conor McGregor, Dennis Bermudez, and Dustin Poirier should not hang his head and the submission loss to "Diamond" is the lone stoppage of his career. The "Blessed" one is a just great ambidextrous striker with combinations a plenty and just keeps improving each time out.

Holloway is our favorite to win on the entire card and watch for the rib roasting shots that come from the kid. Miller is going down to a body shot when rusty Cole gasses out.

WINNER-Max Holloway by Decision

Neil Magny (13-3) -700 vs. Kiichi Kunimoto (18-5-2) +500

Magny had a career year in '14 going 5-0 and is ready to step up to the prime time as he gets, wait... who? Well this isn't what we thought would be next for Neil. The lanky striker with an amazing jab and the ability to mix in takedowns to if nothing else, keep enemies honest. Magny is also the hometown hero.

"Strasser" is on a 7 fight winning streak and has surprising power in his hands which he uses well when pinning competitor's against the cage for punishment. Kiichi is great at submissions, he just needs foes to lay down because he has few ways of getting the fight there.

This should be Magny's fight if the chin holds strong as he uses his speed, striking, and cage savvy to win yet another on points while demanding a "name" for opponent next time. Should be a pretty fun fight. 

WINNER-Neil Magny by Decision

Daniel Kelly (8-0) +120 vs. Patrick Walsh (5-1) -150

The undefeated Aussie gets his 2nd bout in the Octagon and is an Olympic judoka. Kelly must get this in the phone booth where he excels with nasty clinch work. He's 36 and that's about all he's got right now.

Walsh is a wrestler and that's about it.

Ick, this is gonna be bad. Enjoy the restroom break.

WINNER-Patrick Walsh by Decision

Michel Richard Cunha dos Prazeres (18-1) +130 vs. Kevin Lee (9-1) -160

Jesus Christ you Brazilians and the long names. Damn man. Anywho, this is a grappler's quest as both men play the ground game. MRCDP's record is badly bloated against terrible talent. And yet, Prazeres is a brick of a fella who gets on top and stays there looking to grind out his rivals.

"The Motown Phenom" has only lost to Al Iaquinta and is a great athlete speedster with work-in-progress striking but really nice knees in the clinch.

Kevin should win this as he's more dynamic and a much faster fighter than MRCDP. Its worth watching how this kid improves as his career moves along.

WINNER-Kevin Lee by Decision

Ray Borg (7-1) -1000 vs. Chris Kelades (8-1) +600

Kelades made his UFC debut in dramatic fashion stepping in on late notice to fight then undefeated Patrick Holohan. Chris  upset the Irishman with nothing but determination in a real feel good moment for MMA. The Nova Scotian is generally well rounded with dirty boxing mixed with takedowns. Not bad, not good.

"The Tazmexican Devil" is smooth as they come maneuvering between the aspects of the game. On the ground Ray looks for his patented RNC but he is just slick scrambling to what positions he chooses. The stand up needs work but this youngster is one to watch!

Chris just isn't going to stop the takedown and from there he sadly gets tapped and his underdog story comes to its end.
WINNER-Ray Borg by Rd.1 Submission

Prelims on FOX Sports 1:

Nik Lentz (25-6-2,1) -500 vs. Levan Makashvili (6-1) +350

The most exciting fighter in the entire world is back bitches! ATT's "Carny" takes you down, punches just enough to not get stood up, and repeats for 15 minutes. Its generally torture for the audience and the opponent, 

Mak is making his UFC debut and has some hands, but his sprawl and brawl game has to be on point to win. It won't be.

This, this, is going to be a terrible fight.

WINNER-Nik Lentz by Snoozer

Efrain Escudero (22-9) +125 vs. Rodrigo Goiana de Lima (8-2-1) -155

Remember back '08 when Escudero won TUF 8 and the world was his oyster? Well, that didn't last long. Efrain has had an up and down career including a 4 fight losing streak from '11 to '13! The memo on this kid is that he doesn't train hard and doesn't have his mind focused on his work. He is a talented wrestler with a strong chin and trains with the MMA Lab.

"Monstro" got lit up by Neil Magny in his Zuffa debut and is a Jiu-Jitsu fighter. Rodrigo is not a well rounded fighter and though crafty on the ground, he isn't elite. The striking is just awful.

Escudero should win this easily. Who knows if he has finally decided to take his career seriously, but he is better in almost every facet of the game. If Efrain can't win this then he should just retire.
Upset Pick WINNER-Efrain Escudero by Decision

Chas Skelly (13-1) -240 vs. Jim Alers (13-1) +190

Chas, the guy we always give shit for being named Chas, is 2-1 in the UFC after dropping his debut. He got his 2 wins just 2 weeks apart which is just impressive as hell. Skelly doesn't have great hands but he does not stop coming and scrambles well when he is on the canvas. 

Alers is easily the better boxer and enjoys getting top position to punish foes. "The Beast" is on a 9 fight winning streak and also brings submission skills in his bag.

Now, it does look like Alers should easily have this, but don't discount the heart of Skelly and his ability to frustrate opponents with his aggression. Jim is such a better striker, but this is a close fight and Alers must show some solid takedown defense to keep this in his world. We oh so slightly favor Skelly to ground the striker while doing enough work to snatch the win on the cards.
WINNER-Chas Skelly by Decision

Zack Makovsky (18-5) +100 vs. Tim Elliott (10-5-1) -130

"Fun Size" is an elite Flyweight who was on a 4 fight tear until running into Jussier da Silva last August. Makovsky is a blitzing grappler who mixes in the takedowns with limited but voluminous striking. 

Elliot is also quite adept in the fight game dropping 2 in a row but it was to Joseph Benavidez and Ali Bagautinov which is nothing to sneeze at. Elliot is a wild man coming with strange angles and odd looks.

This could be a really good and entertaining fight. Zack should have the advantage as the better grappler and neither man has much power in the hands. Both are so quick and educated on the ground that it could prove to be a stalemate and then things get interesting. Still, we just slightly favor Makovsky who is just a better athlete and more technical.
Upset Pick WINNER-Zach Makovsky by Split Decision

Prelims on UFC Fight Pass:

James Moontasri (7-2) -240 vs. Cody Pfister (11-3-1) +190

"Moonwalker" is yet another Black House fighter, so let's just hope he doesn't test positive for PED's post fight. James dropped his UFC debut to Joe Ellenberger in a very close Split Decision and is a striker at heart.

Nobody knows who Pfister is but he's been a successful grappler on the minor circuits. Cody also took this bout on two week's notice.
WINNER-James Moontasri 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: 8 p.m. ET / 5 p.m. PT
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass: 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT