January 14, 2018
Scottrade Center
St. Louis, Missouri
"You can find me in St. Louie, where the gun play ring all day, some got jobs and some sell yay, others just smoke and fuck all day." 2018 is here MMA fans and the UFC is making its 1st trek to the Lou and I'm proud. This is simply a fun card with some interesting bouts and maybe kinda title implications.
Main Card on FS1 (9pm/CT):
Jeremy Stephens (26-14) +140 vs. Doo Ho Choi (14-2) -160
"Lil' Heathen" has been around a long time and is coming off a nice Upset win over the highly ineffectual Gilbert Melendez in September, but he has always been a limited fighter. Stephens is one of those guys who wants a firefight and then gets angry when opponents don't play his game.
"The Korean Superboy" took a year off after his epic war with Kevin Swanson, which is a smart move for a young fighter. Now recovered, Choi is looking to make a quick title run before he is enlisted in the mandatory South Korean military stealing part of his prime away (boooo!). Doo is extremely accurate with his striking and it is simply beautiful. Choi also showed that he can take a goddamn punch.
"The Korean Superboy" should be light years faster, and far more precise as these men work the stand up game. We'd absolutely love it if Choi snuck in some takedowns to frustrate the easily angered veteran, but he can still get things done with volume and patience.
WINNER-Doo Ho Choi by Rd.4 TKO
Uriah Hall (13-8) -325 vs. Vitor Belfort (26-13) +265
Hall is continually the head scratcher at 6-6 in the UFC and has never had a high in-cage I.Q. "Sometime" Hall has some flashy stuff but he can also withdraw into himself on a dime and completely stop fighting. His heart is always in question.
Both of these men are garbage but there should be a finish (we hope). Belfort hasn't looked like himself ever since the bullshit TRT was taken away from the sport and Vitor could no longer inject "skill" into his butt. Fuck him. Hopefully, Uriah knocks Vitor into a living death and we never see or hear from him again.
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| https://www.instagram.com/paigevanzantufc/?hl=en |
"Jessy Jess" made a successful UFC debut in November, but the 30 year old is kinda all over the map winning and losing equally.
"PVZ" is making the move down to Flyweight which should make for some nice Instagram pics, but its highly doubtful she'll make a run at the title. VanZant is tough as they come, but she lacks the skills needed to contend and recently left Team Alpha Male.
"12 Gauge's" aggressive attack should keep Clark on the defense for most of the contest allowing the UFC's golden girl to earn an undeserved title shot.
"PVZ" is making the move down to Flyweight which should make for some nice Instagram pics, but its highly doubtful she'll make a run at the title. VanZant is tough as they come, but she lacks the skills needed to contend and recently left Team Alpha Male.
"12 Gauge's" aggressive attack should keep Clark on the defense for most of the contest allowing the UFC's golden girl to earn an undeserved title shot.
Upset Pick WINNER-Paige VanZant by Decision
* On a side note, whoever broke into Clark's apartment and beat her cat to death, should be found, and killed publicly in excruciating fashion.
#10 Kamaru Usman (11-1) -700 vs. Emil Meek (9-2, 1) +500
Nobody wants to fight Usman and who could blame them? "Marty Nightmare" has trounced everyone he has fought in the UFC going 6-0 and is looking like a world beater each time out.
"Valhalla" is a fun character who made his name destructing the hated Rousimar Palhares in Venator, and then made a successful UFC debut last December against Jordan Mein. The Norwegian Viking brings his axe to battle every time but he lacks a ground game.
Guess what? Kamaru is going to take Meek to the canvas and straight abuse him! Emil could be a mid-card star in the future if the UFC promotes his personality correctly, but he's not a title contender and not near Usman's level. This could be fun early, but then "Marty" takes over and shows why the Welterweights are running for the hills.
WINNER-Kamaru Usman by Decision
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| https://www.instagram.com/thejameskrause/?hl=en |
#10 Darren Elkins (24-5) +155 vs. Michael Johnson (18-12) -175
MJ is making his debut at 145 lbs. without making a test cut, and has claimed to have had nightmares every night leading up to fight week. Well that instills confidence. "The Menace" is a solid striker with accuracy and power, but will he have that same power and endurance in the final round?
The worst tattoo in all of MMA won 2017's "Comeback of the Year," but that was also because of the inhuman amount of punishment he took. Elkins is a slow, grappler who gets cut open by a stiff breeze. Darren may just shoot through Michael's porous takedown defense with ease and frustrate the MO fighter.
Johnson should, and we emphasize, should, destroy Elkins. Mike has the power in his striking to beat the holly hell out of Darren, but if the Team Alpha Male fighter is still there in the 3rd round, a gassed out Johnson could wilt exactly as Mirsad Bektic. In our minds, it all comes down to the weight cut.
WINNER-Michael Johnson by Decision
James Krause (24-7) -170 vs. Alex White (12-3) +150
The battle for Missouri! Both men claim the "Sho-Me" state
"The" James Krause has won 3 in a row but is only averaging about one fight a year as he has become a sought after coach. Krause is a long striker who can sneak a submission when you least expect it.
"The Spartan" is an aggressive fighter who is going to try to test your takedown defense even if he has no game if he gets it there.
This should be fun but we side with James who is far smarter, and can change things up more than his adversary.
WINNER-James Krause by Decision
Matt Frevola (6-0) -235 vs. Marco Polo Reyes (7-4) +195
There will be blood!
"El Toro" is a big hitter who likes to get into wars.
"Steamrolla" Frevola (applause) is making his UFC debut primarily as a grappler.
This is a toss up, coin flip fight. MPR could starch Matt early, or get smothered for 15 minutes. It should be fun either way.
Upset Pick WINNER-Marco Polo Reyes by Rd.2 KO
Thiago Alves (22-11) +170 vs. Zak Cummings (21-5) -200
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass (5pm/CT):
Kalindra Faria (18-6-1) +100 vs. Jessica Eye (11-6) -120
It always makes the MMAFO staff laugh when "Evil" Eye is
considered a contender. Jess has gone 1-5-1 in the UFC and cannot help herself as she plays to her opponents strengths in every fight. She is also illiterate which makes her social media posts hysterical. It's worth a read.
The Brazilian is well rounded but loves to kick and works in
timely takedowns to keep foes honest.
Eye is moving down to a better weight class for herself at 125, and perhaps she can reinvent herself, but her track record is just abysmal, and if things get tough, Jessica puts her chin in the air and simply throws without reason. Hard to pick but Eye needs to prove something before we can roll with her. Trust is the issue here.
Upset Pick WINNER-Kalindra Faria by Decision?
Talita Bernardo (5-2) +185 vs. Irene Aldana (7-4) -225
The senorita has not fared well going 0-2 to begin her UFC
career, but she is a good, not great, boxer with a strong right
hand.
Bernardo telegraphs her moves days in advance and isn't very impressive.
WINNER-Irene Aldana by Decision
Danielle Taylor (9-2) +100 vs. J.J. Aldrich (5-2) -120
Danny "Dynamite" is a nice lil' bulldog but she's not that fun
to watch. Taylor is one of those "strikers" who just can’t seem to throw her hands like a mini-Rashad Evans.
JJ has 4 years of amateur experience so don't let the pro
record fool you. Aldrich is a durable striker who can brawl with the best of them.
Danielle is very tiny but she uses that to her advantage, getting up and under opponents while they struggle to adjust to punching down. JJ doesn't have any power and if Taylor can hit a few takedowns, even if she does nothing with them, she can keep Aldrich on her heels and win a narrow decision.
Upset Pick WINNER-Danielle Taylor by Decision
Mads Burnell (8-1) +170 vs. Mike Santiago (19-10) -200
Mads (which is a great name btw) is a scrambler and not much else. This cat doesn't move the needle.
Santiago has tons o' experience and should use his superior
length to win on the cards.
WINNER-Mike Santiago by Decision
Kyung Ho Kang (13-7) -345 vs. Guido Cannetti (7-3) +285
"Mr. Perfect" is making his return to MMA after serving the
mandatory military service for South Korea which is a terribly annoying rule for MMA fans. KHK is 2-1-1 in the UFC and likes to wound his foes and then pounce for the sub.
Guido is 38 and coming off a 10-month suspension and
claiming the far too often used excuse that should not be
allowed anymore of the "tainted supplement." He ain't got
much and this will likely be his last bout in the UFC.
WINNER-Kyung Kang by Rd.2 Submission
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