December 12, 2015
MGM Grand Garden Arena
Las Vegas
Main Card on Pay-Per-View:
Featherweight Champion Jose Aldo (25-1) +100 vs. Interim Champion Conor McGregor (18-2) -130
It's the mega-super-Featherweight title fight to unite the belts! We've waited what seems like years for this match up. All the hype and all the talk is over. The biggest bout of 2015 culminates on this night.
The true 145 champ has not tasted defeat in 10 years winning his last 18 professional contests. Aldo is the only UFC Featherweight Champion and MMAFO's best Pound4Pound fighter in the world. Strong accolades indeed. Jose has some of the most underrated defense as he blocks and protects his head better than everybody. "Scarface's" leg kicks are the stuff of legend destroying lower limbs. Aldo's punches are stiff and on point. He is adept at fainting and countering when necessary, but he breaks opponents down with continual power. The takedown defense is on point and rarely does he take damage.
The "Notorious" one has talked his way into stardom but he is not without elite level skills. Conor's movement is just plain beautiful as he glides around the cage cutting the range instantly and sneaking in strikes on the unprepared. His aggression only shields the fact that the power he possesses in his boxing is lethal. The kicks are also brutal. McGregor uses spin kicks to the body to sap energy from foes while breaking up their insides. The Irishman's striking is pinpoint accurate at all times and he can counter when he's not aggressively coming forward.
This title fight should come down to a few things. Can Conor counter the leg kicks coming his way and can Aldo hang with the high intensity output of McGregor? Despite all the tough talk, MMAFO sees this fight playing out in the "championship rounds." Jose can tend to fade in fights and that seems even more likely with an opponent who pushes cardio like Conor. The worry is that McGregor invites the punches too often though his beard to date, has been quite reliable. Both men will have their moments striking on the feet but if the Irishman can maintain his heavy pace, we like him to pull ahead late in the fight provided he doesn't eat a devastating blow early on. We believe Jose Aldo has not gotten his deserved credit but as the Ronda Rousey/Holly Holm fight taught us, everyone is beatable and eventually everyone falls. This will no doubt be entertaining as hell but we'll go crazy for Ireland and predict Conor McGregor to pull what we believe is an Upset (though the odds maker's disagree), to dethrone the king and continue changing the MMA landscape.
WINNER-Conor McGregor by Decision
Middleweight Champion Chris Weidman (13-0) -145 vs. Luke Rockhold (14-2) +115
It's Ali versus Frazier. Larry Bird versus "Magic." Two young bucks in their prime vying for the ultimate prize at Middleweight. The bout has been overshadowed by the "Main Event" but this could easily steal the show and begin a rivalry we may see many times in the future.
Jersey's Chris Weidman has been impressive marching his way through the division, attaining gold without a single defeat. The wrestling skills are there, though often he doesn't employ them, and his striking is deceptively powerful. Weidman's will is indomitable and he's got some of the best coaches at the Serra-Longo camp.
AKA's Rockhold is a giant in the division and will have a nice reach advantage on the title holder. Luke is known as a finisher and can strike with anyone utilizing his long leg kicks especially, but his bread and butter is the grappling skills on the ground. Rockhold has a nose for sniffing out submissions and when he locks on it's over.
There are a couple of things we think play out in the favor of the challenger. For one, Luke has better endurance and will use his speed advantage to wear down Weidman who has shown the ability to tire in the later rounds. Also, Chris almost invites rivals to hit him taking damage and simply relying on his toughness to carry him through. Absorbing strikes does not earn you rounds. MMAFO called Luke Rockhold a future UFC champion back in 2011 and we stand beside the claim. Luke has more tools to employ thus winning 3 of the 5 rounds to become the new Middleweight king to begin this eventual trilogy.
Upset Pick WINNER-Luke Rockhold by Decision
Ronaldo Souza (22-3) -155 vs. Yoel Romero (10-1) +125
This is undoubtedly the #1 contender match for the 185 division. Both men are streaking in the UFC and hungry for the gold and looking strong in their respective areas of expertise.
The X-Gym leader has won 8 in a row and is the former Strikeforce belt holder. "Jacare" is a stellar Jiu-Jitsu player who fluidly exposes enemies on the mat time and time again. His striking has advanced miles from his Strikeforce days and he does show power at times when he commits. Souza is an intelligent fighter in the cage employing game plan's and following them.
Romero is known for his amazing wrestling skills but he's fallen in love a bit with his striking because of his natural power. Yoel can crush you in a single strike but as shown against Tim Kennedy, the mind is weak and when he's hurt he'll use dirty, or rather just plain cheating tactics to try and cover his lack of cardio.
Souza is destined for a title shot and the time is now. Power is one thing, but and knowing how to use leverage and intelligence is another. We're just not believers in Romero and thing he makes a dumb mistake allowing "Jacare" to clamp his gator jaws down for a tapout in spectacular fashion.
WINNER-Ronaldo Souza by Rd.2 Submission
Demian Maia (21-6) -125 vs. Gunnar Nelson (14-1-1) -105
This is the Jiu-Jitsu fan's wet dream. Both men are highly skilled in the "gentle art."
However, Maia is the best Jiu-Jitsu fighter in MMA today. Bar none. "Gunni" is definitely talented and has a heavy punch but he has no idea what a combination strike is about. Demian can forget his striking at times but he should be able to accumulate more points while controlling the action when this hits the floor.
WINNER-Demian Maia by Decision
Max Holloway (14-3) -550 vs. Jeremy Stephens (24-11) +375
The "Heathen" is a Mortal Kombat style striker who takes people's heads off, but good luck catching Max. Holloway's striking technique is elite and he has movement that the much, much slower Stephens won't be able to handle. Sure, that big bomb can change everything in MMA, but you have to like Max's chances here to thwart everything Jeremy throws at him while touching up Stephens at will.
WINNER-Max Holloway by Decision
Prelims on FOX Sports 1:
Urijah Faber (32-8) -625 vs. Frankie Saenz (11-2) +475
The "California Kid" makes his return after a coaching stint on TUF 22 and the debacle that was Bantamweight Champion TJ Dillashaw leaving Team Alpha Male. The spat got ugly in the media and Faber is moving back down to 135 after taking a featherweight "super fight" against Frankie Edgar in May. Urijah was competitive as always but at 36 and with 40 professional fights behind him, time is of the essence. It seems as though Faber is looking to make a final run at gold against his former friend.
Standing in the way is the Arizonan who has won 7 in a row. Yup, good on ya fella.
This is the exact type of fight Faber wins and this is definitely a set up for Urijah to win, and sit on the sidelines to possibly fill in for Dominick Cruz should he get re-re-re-re-injured before the proposed title fight against TJ at UFC Fight Night 81 scheduled for January 17th.
WINNER-Urijah Faber by Rd.2 Submission
Tecia Torres (6-0) -275 vs. Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger (6-1) +230
There's a lot of good about this fight. Both of these ladies are good and have put a lot of work into their games. JJL just captured the RFA Strawweight title defeating Zoila Gurgel and gets this shot at the UFC filling in for the injured Michelle Waterson. Lybarger is a tenacious scrapper who can do a bit of everything.
But, "Tiny Tornado" is a world beater and MMAFO believes a future champion. The ATT fighter is just great everywhere though she lacks power but most women do at 115. Torres is an excellent grappler and has a lot of speed for her combinations and scrambles.
We'll root for JJ to have a successful stint in Zuffa's roster but this is Tecia's fight on the cards.
WINNER-Tecia Torres by Decision
Warlley Alves (9-0) +105 vs. Colby Covington (8-0) -125
Its a battle of the undefeated upstarts. Colby brings the "Chaos" for ATT with his solid wrestling skills.
"War" Alves is more of the submission based grappler who hones his skills at the X-Gym alongside Jiu-Jitsu great "Jacare" Souza.
Both of these men ooze potential but we like Covington's superior wrestling to trump here. This could be a close one but Colby is also the better athlete and the percentages lean to him.
WINNER-Colby Covington by Decision
Leonardo Santos (13-4-1) +460 vs. Kevin Lee (11-1) -610
The "Mowtown Phenom" is 4-1 for the UFC losing only his debut to the "Long Island Idiot" Al Iaquinta.
The Nova Uniao fighter has amassed a 3-0-1 with the Draw coming against Norman Parke.
Lee should have this but expect Santos to perhaps be more trouble than pundits believe.
WINNER-Kevin Lee by Decision
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass:
Joe Proctor (11-3) +290 vs. Magomed Mustafaev (12-1) -350
The Russian has won 11 in a row and trains in America with ATT. Mustafaev is going to run over Proctor and most likely get the stoppage.
WINNER-Magomed Mustafaev by Rd.1 TKO
John Makdessi (13-4) -165 vs. Yancy Medeiros (11-3, 1) +140
Yancy is a tough Hawaiian kid but not long for the UFC.
Makdessi is returning after getting his damn jaw broken by Donald Cerrone in May. The Tristar fighter is far more talented everywhere and should pitch a shutout here.
WINNER-John Makdessi by Decision
Court McGee (16-4) -175 vs. Marcio Alexandre Jr. (12-2) +150
MAJ is 0-2 on his UFC run and is a striker who has earned all of his 10 1st round finishes with his hands.
McGee was a nice story 5 years ago but he's glacially slow and has gone 3-3 since '10. Court has an amazing gas tank but lacks any real power. We expect honest Abe to garner more points in one of the most eh fights of the weekend.
WINNER-Court McGee by Decision
Main Card on PPV: 10 p.m. ET / 7 p.m. PT
Prelims on FOX Sports 1: 8 p.m. ET/ 5 p.m. PT
No comments:
Post a Comment