February 10, 2019
Rod Laver Arena
Melbourne, Australia
Middleweight Champion Robert Whittaker versus Kelvin Gastelum is CANCELLED!
Whittaker is out with a hernia injury and requires surgery. The event will go on with Silva & Adesanya promoted to the Main Event.
Whittaker is out with a hernia injury and requires surgery. The event will go on with Silva & Adesanya promoted to the Main Event.
Anderson Silva (34-8) +405 vs. #9 Israel Adesanya (15-0) -510
"The Spider" last competed in February of 2017 when he defeated Derek Brunson via points. The 43 year old hasn't put together two wins in a row since his dominant 5-year reign as Middleweight Champion which ended in '12. We're in the final moments of the career of Anderson Silva and should happily accept it for what it is, a farewell tour. The Brazilian legend was once a striking machine with complex attacks and the most nimble of reflexes, but now he struggles to pull the trigger and the durability wanes.
The "Stylebender" seems to be the 2nd coming of "The Spider." He's lithe, uber-fast, brilliant in gauging distance, and emphatic with his attacks. The grappling skills are still unproven though recent training videos seems to show improvement. The "Broken Native" is also 14 years the junior of the legend.
This is an obvious passing of the torch bout. Adesanya is the future while Silva's time has passed. We are witnessing history as the unforgiving sport of MMA begins to kill another hero.
WINNER-Israel Adesanya by Rd.2 TKO
Ricky Simon (14-1) -115 vs. Rani Yahya (26-9) -105
So the game, as always, revolves around whether or not you can avoid the brilliant Jiu-Jitsu submissions of of Yahya, before he completely gasses out for the final round like clockwork.
WINNER-Ricky Simon?
 |
| https://www.instagram.com/montana.delarosa/?hl=en |
Montana De La Rosa (9-4) -255 vs. Nadia Kassem (5-0) +215
Montana is only 23 years of age but she's developed a strong grappling game finishing 7 opponents of her 9 wins. The striking isn't great but the wrestling is.
"187" announced herself as the new darling of Australia by besting fellow countrywoman Alex Chambers in her promotional debut. Kassem is also a young 23 so she also has room for vast improvement but she is so new to the game it's hard to put many hopes on her just yet.
WINNER-Montana De La Rosa by Decision
Sam Alvey (33-11) +115 vs. Jim Crute (9-0) -135
"Smile'N" Sam knocked out Antonio Rogerio Nogueira last September and that's the biggest "name" win he will ever get. He's got Hellboy's "hand of doom" and similar skin color. Other that landing that, he's one of the most boring fighters in the world.
Crute "The Brute" is a 22 year old baby but we back him to avoid that glacial punch coming his way and amass enough points to win two rounds at the very least.
WINNER-Jim Crute by Decision
ESPN Prelims:
Dong Hyun Ma (16-8-3) +210 vs. Devonte Smith (9-1) -250
The "Maestro" has found his groove winning his last 3, after dropping his 1st 2 for the UFC and for some reason changed his last name. He's well rounded while the 0:46 seconds Smith gave us is little to go on. Still, we just feel "King Kage" has good enough boxing to put down the South Korean.
WINNER-Devonte Smith by Rd.2 TKO
Shane Young (12-4) -320 vs. Austin Arnett (16-5) +260
We're bangin' but ya gotta like "Sugar" Shane's skills over the "Double-A" who basically just takes ass kickings.
WINNER-Shane Young by Decision
Kai-Kara France (18-7) -220 vs. Raulian Paiva Frazao (18-1) +180
"Don't Blink" is the proper nickname for the New Zealander who is a fun action fighter. Frazao doesn't impress much even with a stupidly inflated resume.
WINNER-Kai-Kara France by Rd.2 TKO
Teruto Ishihara (10-6-2) +300 vs. Kyung Ho Kang (14-8) -360
Why is "Yashabo" still appearing on UFC cards? We already know this guy isn't good. He trains with Team Alpha Male but somehow still has horrible in-fight i.q. and has lost 4 of his last 5.
"Mr. Perfect" stumbled for the 2nd time in the promotion last August but he's a very well rounded fighter out of Busan Team Mad. MMAFO would be shocked if Kang can't bang the "Man of Bitches" out.
WINNER-Kyung Ho Kang by Decision
UFC Fight Pass Prelims:
Landon Vannata (9-3-2) -430 vs. Marcos Rosa Mariano (6-4)
It has not been a "Groovy" ride for Landon. He entered the UFC as an undefeated prospect and narrowly defeated Tony Ferguson in his debut. Then he beat John Makdessi (but who hasn't), lost two while also improbably getting two Draws as well. Then the UFC let him go in November, and has now brought him back for another shot without reason. Well, that's not exactly fair as "Lando" is an exciting fun fighter to watch and facing "Dhalsim" will be a nice win to get things going in the right direction again.
WINNER-Landon Vannata by Rd.2 Submission
Jalin Turner (7-4) -240 vs. Callan Potter (17-7) +200
Yeah, enjoy the moment Potter but "The Tarantula" wins this.
WINNER-Jalin Turner by Rd.1 KO
Wuliji Buren (9-5) +135 vs. Jonathan Martinez (9-2) -155
We can't really be bothered to care about this one. "The Beastmaster" from China needs a win. Maybe he gets it.
WINNER-Wuliji Buren by Decision
No comments:
Post a Comment