April 14, 2018
Gila River Arena
Glendale, Arizona
Main Card on FOX (8pm/CT):
#6 Dustin Poirier (22-5, 1) -135 vs. #7 Justin Gaethje (18-1) +115
Anything Ed can do, I can do better. That is the mantra for Dustin "Diamond." Body and leg kicks and avoid the brawl. Should be fun though.
WINNER-Dustin Poirier by Rd.4 TKO
"The Last Stylebender." Nuff said.
WINNER-Israel Adesanya by Rd.3 TKO
Carlos Condit (30-11) +180 vs. Alex Oliveira (18-4-1, 2) -220
It's the "Natural Born Killer" against the habitual cheater.
Upset Pick WINNER-Carlos Condit by Decision
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Michelle Waterson (14-6) +110 vs. Cortney Casey (7-5) -130
Upset Pick WINNER-Michelle Waterson
Prelims on FOX (5pm/CT):
Tim Boetsch (21-11) +225 vs. Antonio Carlos Jr. (10-2, 1) -265
HaHaHaHaHa! MMAFO just remembered the "Barbarian" is still employed in the UFC, and not only that, he's coming off a win over Johny Hendricks! Oh MMA, you are a bizarre bitch.
Let's go "Shoeface."
WINNER-Antonio Carlos Jr. by Decision
Muslim Salikhov (12-2) -185 vs. Ricky Rainey (13-4) +160
"Are Are" is making the move from Bellator to the UFC and faces the "King of Kung Fu."
Upset Pick WINNER-Ricky Rainey by Decision
Wilson Reis (22-8) -130 vs. #8 John Moraga (18-6) +110
Reis got to the summit, and now he's on his way down. Wilson got tooled by Demetrious Johnson (though who doesn't?) and then got blown out by Henry Cejudo. Now pundits wonder if Reis can stay a contender at Flyweight. Willie is very well rounded but slow as the work day and needs to work on the ground to be effective.
Moraga has been wildly inconsistent in the UFC (6-5) but has only lost to the best competition and even got a knockout win last October for the 1st time since '12! The Arizonan hunts for submissions but he needs top control.
Grappling with Reis is a bad idea but Moraga can't lead in striking either. This leaves Wilson the ability to be comfortable striking while looking for that opportunity to ground the fight into his world. John's head doesn't always seem in the moment either while the Brazilian will hold true to his best skills and strengths.
WINNER-Wilson Reis by Decision
Krzysztof Jotko (19-3) +110 vs. Brad Tavares (16-4) -130
Kickboxers with little power, who mix in takedowns for points, and can get caught staring. This will be decent though as both guys skill sets compliment each other, but neither guy is remotely a contender at Middleweight and never will be. Enjoy the fight for what it is and Jotko narrowly gets the judges favor.
Upset Pick WINNER-Krzysztof Jotko by Decision
Prelims on UFC Fight Pass (4:30pm/CT):
Gilbert Burns (12-2) -640 vs. Dan Moret (13-3) +470
"Durinho" needs to keep his weight under control and push forward instead of retreating and wondering why he can't get his grappling going. Gil is making improvements slowly and he's got more game everywhere over his opponent. Burns will get confident as Moret walks in close to his detriment and Gilbert finds the sub.
WINNER-Gilbert Burns by Rd.2 Submission
Shayna Dobson (3-1) -105 vs. Lauren Mueller (4-0) -115
"Dab" Dobson got a shot in the UFC and made it work via TKO last December, but the opportunity came from TUF 26 and she has very little experience. Shanya prolly has power, but she needs combinations instead of one off striking.
"Princess Tiger" is undefeated but she hasn't faced shit in competition. Mueller showed heart last out but in what seems to be an accidental theme of the night, she has suspect cardio.
Hard to care much here as neither are proven so just enjoy a hard scrap and let's see how they improve.
Upset Pick WINNER-Shayna Dobson by Decision
Yushin Okami (34-11) -105 vs. Dhiego Lima (12-6) -115
"Thunder" Okami is a time tested and respected veteran who is 36, but in fight years, he's in his 70's. Yushin made his return to the UFC last September jumping up in weight to get choked out by Ovince St. Preux in what looked like a "work." It wasn't, but knowing Okami is better than that, and just to fold up shop so badly was a shock to the system. Perhaps a full training camp but heat the proper weight class will do him better, but the "Thunder" has been a whimper as of late.
Lima is one of those cats you'd think has some tools, but it just never works out. Dhiego has a weak, fragile chin, but it should be well protected here as Okami isn't exactly a striker. Lima is not confident in his striking, but it should be better here by a little at least.
Ugh, you want to root for Okami to get a little glory back for MMA Japan. Neither man will look to engage and this could be really slow.
WINNER-Yushin Okami?
Arjan Bhullar (7-0) -370 vs. Adam Wieczorek (9-1) +310
A whole lotta who-gives-a-shit here folks.
Arjan is supposed to be a stud wrestler, but he did not look impressive in his debut last September. Bhullar has technique for sure, but he's slow and his cardio was Heavyweight turrible (sic).
Adam is, yeah, he's a fighter. Being 6'4" tall will not be an advantage as his open mid-section will be ripe for Bhullar to grab a hold of and take down for a wrestling lesson.
This should be bad.
WINNER-Arjan Bhullar by Decision
Matthew Lopez (10-2) -135 vs. Alejandro Perez (19-6-1) +115
Eh, this is strange as neither guy seems to be able to smoothly incorporate their respective strengths into the fight.
Perez is an aggressive wrestler, but he does come at things with much intelligence. Alejandro likes to move even if it does him zero good.
Lopez is a better wrestler and will go-cray-cray-attack style can catch foes off guard. Either way Lopez can win at least 2 rounds.
WINNER-Matthew Lopez by Decision
Luke Sanders (11-2) -465 vs. Patrick Williams (8-5) +370
"Cool Hand" Luke was undefeated when he came to the UFC, won his debut, and has succinctly lost his next two. The MMA Lab fighter is a volume striker, a bit robotic, but he has the gas tank and likes to lead.
Patrick came late to the game and is now 36. Time's a ticking and based upon his body of work you wonder how the guy even got in the door. Will likes to break out early in an onslaught for which he does not have the endurance to have the strategy make sense.
Luke all day. Sanders is just a better fighter and Pat will need some injury to Luke or act of God to be able to pull out a win.
WINNER-Luke Sanders by Rd.2 TKO
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