Will Brooks (18-4) -450 vs. Luiz Firmino (20-8) +330
“Ill” Will was the Bellator Lightweight Champion just 3 years ago, and after a disastrous 0-3 run in the UFC, he’s looking to rebuild his career. The ATT wrestler is far better than his recent outings have shown, and facing the fading 36 year old “Buscape,” he should be able at the very least to garner the points necessary to advance as a potential favorite in this tourney.
WINNER-Will Brooks by Decision
Jason High (21-6) -245 vs. Efrain Escudero (29-13) +185
“The KC Bandit” has never been given his due ever since the unfortunate incident at UFC Fight Night 42, when in a moment of frustration, Jason pushed a referee. He was rightly fired and went to WSOF where he went a respectable 3-1. High is a smothering wrestler but at 36 the clock is ticking.
Escudero has just never been able to keep himself together long enough to get his career on track. He’s a talent for sure, but mind lapses in and out of the cage, along with a penchant for being unprofessional, and he has continued the theme missing weight for this contest by 7 fucking pounds! Pathetic. All that being said, Efrain is a talented grappler with a nose for the submission as well as a good solid chin. The MMA Gods reward bad behavior yet again as “Hecho” steals one.
Upset Pick WINNER-Efrain Escudero by Decision
Rashid Yusupov (10-0) -840 vs. Rakim Cleveland (18-9-1) +480
Yusupov is continuing the Dagestani invasion, as another well rounded Russian with some nice potential and gifted in all areas of the game.
Cleveland may have Houston Alexander’s number, but Yusupov is gonna run game on him.
WINNER-Rashid Yusupov by Rd.1 Submission
Brian Foster (27-10) -240 vs. Ramsey Nijem (9-6)
+180
+180
"Ball Busted" Brian has had a rough go of things. An exploded testicle, a possible brain hemorrhage, and coming up short for the WSOF Lightweight Championship and the PFL Welterweight Championship. Even so, the guy is a tough MFer with a well rounded game.
Nijem trains with the Skrap Pack, and though a talented grappler, he makes egregious mistakes in the cage and tends to get out of control.
If Bry can avoid the ground, he should pound out Ramsey who isn't exactly known for being the most durable of fighters.
WINNER-Brian Foster by Decision
One of the most interesting bouts on this card features the MMA debut of the Olympic Judo gold medalist. Kayla Harrison is fascinating with solid skills in the near empty women’s Lightweight division. It’s and experiment but Kayla will get the “W” and we all just wait to see how she does it.
WINNER-Kayla Harrison by Rd.1 Submission
Ronny Markes (18-5) -325 vs. Sean O’Connell (17-9) +250
The Nova Uniao fighter really got back in the game in ’17 fighting 4 times and going 3-1 in the process after sporadic work once he was bounced from the UFC in ’14. Ronny is generally a sub fighter but he’s got a bit of power as well.
Author SOC is an intelligent and hard as hell hitting heaver. Dude can bang with serious power and we bet he connects before Markes can drag him to the mat for a highlight win.
Upset Pick WINNER-Sean O’Connell by Rd.1 KO
At one time in Bellator, Halsey won the Bellator Season 10 Tournament, and then went on to defeat Alexander Shlemenko for the Middleweight Championship! Then, things began to fall apart. Brandon missed weight for his 1st title defense and though he won, was stripped of his belt. He tried to regain the gold but Rafael Carvalho kicked the guts out of his body and after another loss he was traveling to Russia to compete in M-1. A rematch loss to Shlemenko and then a win over nobody of consequence, and the UCLA folkstyle wrestler has found a way back into American MMA. Halsey is now set to destroy Rama and continue his rebirth! Watch out.
WINNER-Brandon Halsey by Rd.1 TKO
Islam Mamedov (14-2) -900 vs. Yuki Kawana (14-1-5) +500
Mamedov is looking like the real deal coming in on a 13 fight winning streak. Islam will advance here and we’ll get a better sense of his place in things after the next round.
WINNER-Islam Mamedov by Rd.2 Submission
Maxim Grishin (26-7) -290 vs. Jason Butcher (11-2) +210
WINNER-Maxim Grishin by Decision
Thiago Tavares (21-7) +250 vs. Robert Watley (10-1) -350
MMAFO was shocked to learn Tavares is only 33 years of age! We thought he was 40 at this point. A lot of experience for Tavares the solid Jiu-Jitsu practitioner.
Watley is the now graduated RFA Lightweight Champion who could be a real dark horse in this tourney.
This could be a pretty close bout or Watley may just run away with it, but it’s definitely one to watch.
WINNER-Robert Watley by Decision
Chris Wade (12-3) -690 vs. Natan Schulte (11-3) +430
Wade is a stalwart wrestler who may not be very exciting, but he’s got game. Chris shouldn’t have much trouble attempting to impregnate Schulte for 15 minutes.
WINNER-Chris Wade by Decision
Dan Spohn (16-5) -175 vs. Bazigit Ataev (17-1) +135
Despite the win on Dana White’s new Contender show, Spohn didn’t get that coveted UFC contract. He should get the win here though for whatever that is worth.
WINNER-Dan Spohn by Decision
Vinny Magalhaes (14-9) vs. Jamie Abdallah (2-2)
This bout is a head scratcher. Though Vinny is a garbage human being, he has so much more experience than Jamie that this bout is laughable. Here’s hoping Magalhaes injures himself in career ending fashion.
WINNER-Vinny Magalhaes by Rd.2 Submission
No comments:
Post a Comment