Wednesday, January 30, 2019

UFC Fight Night 144 Assuncao vs. Moraes 2: Fight Card, Picks, Predictions + Odds


UFC on ESPN+ 2: Assuncao vs. Moraes 2
February 2, 2019
Centro de Formacao Olimpica do Nordeste
Fortaleza, Brazil

UFC on ESPN+ Fight Card:

#3 Raphael Assuncao (27-5) +140 vs. #4 Marlon Moraes (21-5-1) -150 [Rematch]

A rematch from a very close fight in '17 when Raph came away with the judges nod. This would have been a #1 contenders match but Henry Cejudo threw a monkey wrench into the mix by knocking out TJ Dillashaw in a mere 0:32, setting up a future meeting at Bantamweight and stalling things out for the challengers. 

Raph does not get the respect he deserves! Dude lost his UFC debut in '11, then won 11 of his next 12 fights only coming up shot in a non-title affair with TJ Dillashaw in '16, though Assuncao won their initial meeting in '13, so it's 1-1! The story writes itself. The unheralded Brazilian has taken down top names like Rob Font, Aljamain Sterling, Bryan Caraway, and Pedro Munhoz to name a few. Assuncao does a lot of work standing, mixing up counter-combinations but it's his defense that keeps him rarely hurt and steadily coming for his foe.

"M&M" has been stellar since leaving the WSOF as the champ and coming to the big show. Ricardo Almeida's prize pupil has only lost to Assuncao since 2011. Moraes is a flash of aggression and has the finishing punching power that Raphael lacks. 

Marlon will lead and Raph will counter. Second verse, same as the 1st. It's a tricky game to rely so much on your defense to win on the cards and garner points. It looks much more effective when you see Moraes coming forward throwing a bevy of attacks, which is noticed by judges. This will be nip and tuck just like the last time but it's hard for us to imaging Moraes coming up short again. He'll know to push the pace much harder this time around and he's in his prime while any day now Raphael will begin his decline.

WINNER-Marlon Moraes by Decision

#3 Jose Aldo (27-4) +125 vs. #7 Renato Carneiro (13-1-1) -135

"Ya'll must've forgot," when "Scarface" returned at UFC on Fox 30 to a sea of doubters. MMAFO did not. Aldo is still, the best Featherweight of all time (check the resume) so don't get it twisted. Jose needed only a round to crush durable veteran Jeremy Stephens and reminding everyone just who the fuck he is. Besides the glaring error against Conor McGregor, and the fact he just can't get past the younger Max Holloway, Aldo has only dominated for his 14 year career! Those 31 professional bouts take their toll after a while but the man is only 32 despite everyone thinking he is old. The leg kicks from hell are still there as is the combinations, punching power, and defense. The only things fading are durability and speed.

"Moicano" is 5-1 for the promotion only losing to Brian Ortega in a bout he was winning until the late sub. Carneiro is more submission based but man he is long and tall for the division and has really surprised since joining the UFC.

Speaking of tall, Renato has that tall guy stupidity in that he keeps his head high and open to the punch. Jose has to know this and take advantage of it. Also, that brutal body punch is going to be there all night for Aldo. We think "Scarface" surprises people again blowing out "Moicano" as he begins a farewell tour.

Upset Pick WINNER-Jose Aldo by Rd.1 TKO

Demian Maia (25-9) -175 vs. Lyman Good (20-4) +165

Why are they doing this to Maia? He's a good guy and well traveled veteran who doesn't deserve this shellacking. Lyman isn't going grapple with Demian and it's not going to take him long to use his "Cyborg" power to hurt the "Dadzilian" and put him away. Maia is too old and fragile today to survive long enough here to nab a limb. 

Upset Pick WINNER-Lyman Good by Rd.1 KO

Charles Oliveira (25-8) -120 vs. David Teymur (8-1) +110

"Do Bronx" has won 3 in a row and he's back! No, not really. Oliveira is the same cat he's always been. A uber-talented grappler who occasionally takes his job seriously. 

The Swede has won 8 in a row and the underrated grappler but more effective as a kickboxer.

Eh, could go either way and we're not so interested in either guy to do much in the division. We're not sure David can press Chuck enough to put him off his game while we can see Oliveira pulling guard or taking a chance to snatch a neck. Once Charlie gets a hold of you, it's curtains. 

WINNER-Charles Oliveira by Rd.2 Submission

Johnny Walker (15-3) -192 vs. Justin Ledet (9-1) +177

Yeah, so "Red" finishes Ledet sooner rather than later.

WINNER-Johnny Walker by Rd.2 TKO

#8 Livinha Souza (12-1) -200 vs. Sarah Frota (9-0) +185

Sarah Frota missed weight by 7 pounds (!) and "The Brazilian Gangster" is pissed! That is pretty unprofessional, especially for your UFC debut, and angering Souza is never a good idea. We had "Livia" winning anyway but now she's more motivated and Frota has obviously botched her camp.

WINNER-Livinha Souza by Decision

Markus Perez (10-2) +135 vs. Anthony Hernandez (7-0) -145

Perez ain't bout this life. "Fluffy" is pretty solid and he'll get a win here.

WINNER-Anthony Hernandez by Decision

Thiago Alves (22-13) +177 vs. Max Griffin (14-5) -192

Geez, Alves still doing the damn thing at the tender age of 412. Max should win this in a striking battle that has no real relevance.

WINNER-Max Griffin by Decision


Taila Santos (15-0) -165 vs. Mara Romero Borella (11-5) +155

This is a big test for the young Brazilian. Santos is an athletic striker with power but she hasn't faced any real opposition to date. 

"Maravilla" got some infamy when she and her boyfriend, Rugby player Filippo Maserati, were charged with drug trafficking after a two-year investigation called Operation Flanker in 2012 which also caught 31 other people. Borella was selling drugs out of her gym in Piacenza, Italy, and she was suspended by the Italian Anti-Doping Agency for 26 years! WHY IS SHE BEING ALLOWED TO FIGHT IN THE UFC?

Anywho, we hope Talia is ready to pass the test and hopefully send Mara out of the UFC. 

* Why doesn't the UFC enforce their own code of conduct?

WINNER-Talia Santos by Decision

Junior Albini (14-4) -115 vs. Jair Rozenstruik (6-0) +105

The "Diaper Dandy" has struggled to find success in the UFC going 1-2 including a 1st round submission loss last May and a bizarre loss to Andrei Arlovski prior. The ironically nicknamed "Baby" is a fatty with fast hands similar to Fedor Emelianenko's "Baby," Kirill Sidelnikov

"Bigi Boy" is making his UFC debut and he is going to come forward and punch. Said and done. Jair is from Suriname which is a small country in South America which was news to us.

Big fellas standing, trading, and falling. Flip a coin and enjoy.

Upset Pick WINNER-Jair Rozenstruik by Rd.1 KO

Geraldo de Freitas Jr. (11-4) -120 vs. Felipe Dias Colares (8-0) -120

WINNER-Felipe Colares by Decision

Ricardo Ramos (12-1) -140 vs. Said Nurmagomedov (12-1) +130

"Cousin" Nurmagomedov isn't truly Khabib's cuz, but that's where the moniker comes from. The Dagestani has won his last 6 and ultra-aggressive and fun to view.

The "Black Sheep" from Brazil is happy to oblige an all out war.

This is gonna be fun! Can't wait to see it and we have no idea who is going to win.

WINNER-Said The Nurmagomedov?

Rogério Bontorin (14-1) +290 vs. Magomed Bibulatov (14-1) -320

Dead Flyweights walking. "Chaborz" came in with all the hype and was then knocked the fuck out by John Moraga in October of 2017. Now, Magomed is reset and ready to engage. Rogerio will be smoked.

WINNER-Magomed Bibulatov by Decision

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