tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-81358282692983302802024-03-21T14:14:39.600-07:00Sean Network Blogs: MMAThese are my two blogs where I share my thoughts on fighting, comics and other topics.
There is my MMA blog, which focuses on all fight sports: MMA, boxing, pro wrestling and others. I also have a General blog, which is mostly comic/graphic novel reviews, but also includes films, sports and other topics.Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.comBlogger192125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-80936706010935444342015-06-20T11:55:00.002-07:002015-06-20T11:55:24.157-07:00UFC Fight Night: Jedrzejczyk vs. Penne previewI was mainly going to do major events during the summer, but with the UFC World Strawweight Championship on the line today, I felt it was necessary to make some picks today.<br />
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Jessica Penne made a decent run during The Ultimate Fighter before losing to eventual champion Carla Esparza. Penne was also a champion at atomweight in Invicta before moving up to strawweight.<br />
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Meanwhile, the champion, Joanna Jedrzejczyk, showcased sheer dominance in victory against Esparza to win the title. That dominance, however, may have been the byproduct of an impressive height advantage. Such an advantage will be nullified with this fight.<br />
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Both fighters are proven strikers, but Penne has certainly made a bigger name for herself as a submission artist.<br />
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This should prove to be a far more competitive fight than Jedrzejczyk-Esparza if only because Penne has a frame more capable of getting in close to the champion and keeping her on the ground. While I think Esparza is a slightly better striker than Penne, the matchup was simply a poor one.<br />
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But don't think that just because I'm expecting a more competitive fight this time around that I'm calling Jedrzejczyk a slouch. Her striking is easily the best I've seen in the UFC strawweight division and I think that it ultimately will prove overwhelming as the fight goes on. My big concern with Jedrzejczyk is that her endurance will get a real test after being held on the ground for a few minutes, which I do expect to happen.<br />
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Ultimately, this should prove to be a fight worthy of a lot more hype than it has and certainly deserving of a spot on an actual Fox network. (Seriously, who said this fight should be Fight Pass exclusive?)<br />
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German fans in Berlin should expect a great fight that will see the European holding the belt seize control late. I pick Jedrzejczyk by KO in Round 5.<br />
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I won't pick the main card, but I'll take Dennis Siver over Tatsuya Kawajiri by KO in Round 1 in the co-main event.Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-15303227209058007622015-06-13T18:04:00.001-07:002015-06-13T18:04:19.071-07:00UFC 188 previewIt's been some time since I've done my picks in text form, but that will probably become the norm shortly.<div>
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I am shifting away from video blogs and going back to nearly all text writing in a few months, so here's a text blog of my picks for UFC 188.</div>
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Cain Velasquez would be my unquestioned pick before his injury, but ring rust is leaving my a little more apprehensive about picking him to remain UFC World Heavyweight Champion.</div>
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Interim champion Fabricio Werdum has had quite the run since his fight with Fedor Emelianenko a few years ago, and his striking and grappling has only gotten better since returning to UFC in my opinion.</div>
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Still, I don't think Cain would be entering this fight without knowing he could be back to his high level boxing/wrestling self, so I will take him to pick up a KO win in round 3.</div>
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<b>Other fights on Main Card</b></div>
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<b>Lightweight bout: </b>Gilbert Melendez over Eddie Alvarez by decision in my pick for Match of the Night.</div>
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<b>Middleweight bout: </b>Nate Marquardt over Kelvin Gastelum by KO in Round 1</div>
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<b>Featherweight bout: </b>Yair Rodriguez over Charles Rosa by decision</div>
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<b>Strawweight bout: </b>Tecia Torres over Angela Hill by submission in Round 2</div>
Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-67818795297442304942015-03-14T15:57:00.002-07:002015-03-14T15:57:32.581-07:00UFC 185 preview/picksI've got a bunch of picks for you tonight!<br />
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I'm just uploading a video with no real text today because it's my mom's birthday weekend, but my picks are below if you just want the quick rundown.<br />
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<b>UFC World Lightweight Championship: </b>Anthony Pettis (c) over Rafael Dos Anjos via KO 3.<br />
<b>UFC World Strawweight Championship: </b>Carla Esparza (c) over Joanna Jedrzejczyk via decision.<br />
<b>Welterweight No. 1 contender's bout: </b>Matt Brown over Johny Hendricks via decision.<br />
<b>Heavyweight bout: </b>Roy Nelson over Alistair Overeem via KO 3.<br />
<b>Flyweight bout: </b>Chris Cariaso over Henry Cejudo via decision.Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-58577004045274537132015-02-28T14:55:00.002-08:002015-02-28T14:55:13.461-08:00UFC 184 previewThe preview of this event can be found in the video below, but I will summarize my picks as well if you're pressed for time.<br />
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UFC World Women's Bantamweight Champion Ronda Rousey over Cat Zingano via KO 4<br />
Holly Holm over Raquel Pennington via KO 3<br />
Jake Ellenberger over Josh Koscheck via KO 1<br />
Alan Jouban over Richard Walsh via Decision<br />
Tony Ferguson over Gleison Tibau via DecisionSean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-61284111126226842462015-02-27T15:53:00.002-08:002015-02-27T15:53:30.101-08:00Invicta FC 11 picksUFC has the big news in women's MMA this weekend with its main event and co-main event being in the women's bantamweight division, but Invicta has yet another female-exclusive card available this week.<br />
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Those with UFC Fight Pass will be able to see Cris "Cyborg" Santos defend her Invicta Featherweight Championship against Charmaine Tweet. This will be Cyborg's first defense of the belt, so this night is important for showing Cyborg is still able to serve as a challenge to Ronda Rousey.<br />
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My guess is that she will pull off the win, as this division is limited in terms of elite talent. I'll go with <b>Cyborg by Round-3 KO</b>.<br />
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In the strawweight division, Alexa Grasso takes on Mizuki Inoue. Grasso is an undefeated talent from Mexico who appears on her way toward making noice in the division. Inoue lost her debut with Invicta and looks to show she can hang with the elites.<br />
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I'll take <b>Grasso to get a big decision win</b> here.<br />
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<b>Rest of the Main Card</b><br />
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<b>Strawweight Bout: Norma Rueda Center v. DeAnna Bennett - </b>Center's only loss came to Joanne Calderwood, who is near the top of UFC's division rankings. I'll take her to pick up a decision over the undefeated Bennett.<br />
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<b>Bantamweight Bout: Irene Aldana v. Colleen Schneider - </b>Schneider is on her way out of her prime where Aldana is entering it. I'll give Aldana a 1st-round KO win.Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-75133818414263340562015-02-22T15:53:00.001-08:002015-02-22T15:53:43.395-08:00UFC Fight Night: Mir vs Bigfoot picksThis card is kind of being forgotten as the big Ronda Rousey-Cat Zingano bout is Saturday, but I have some picks for the main card regardless.<br />
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<a href="http://cdn1.bloguin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/77/2015/01/UFN_61_pre_sale.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" src="http://cdn1.bloguin.com/wp-content/uploads/sites/77/2015/01/UFN_61_pre_sale.jpg" height="320" width="320" /></a><b>Main Event, Heavyweight Bout: Frank Mir vs. Antonio Silva - '</b>Bigfoot' Silva is in the house facing a man in Frank Mir who has been missing for quite some time. Both these guys need wins to keep their credibility going. I'm going with Silva's size to win via 1st-round KO.<br />
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<b>Lightweight Bout: Edson Barboza vs. Michael Johnson - </b>I'll take the local Barboza to pick up a 2nd-round KO.<br />
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<b>Middleweight Bout: Chris Ferreira vs. Sam Alvey - </b>I'm leaning on experience here, so I'll give Alvey the decision.<br />
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<b>Lightweight Bout: Rustam Khabilov vs. Adriano Martins - </b>I'll take the ranked Khabilov to win via decision.<br />
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<b>Men's Bantamweight Bout: Iuri Alcantara vs. Frankie Saenz - </b>Alcantara wins this squash match by 2nd-round submission.<br />
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<b>Welterweight Bout: Santiago Ponzinibbio vs. Sean Strickland - </b>A good potential opener here. I'll take the undefeated Strickland by decision.Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-39171232519790374172015-02-14T15:39:00.001-08:002015-02-14T15:39:53.194-08:00UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. Thatch picksWow. Just wow.<br />
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After a great first month of fights, we finally have a dud card in terms of name value. This card will hopefully have some quality bouts, but outside of Benson Henderson, there really isn't a true household name on this card.<br />
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Brandon Thatch appears to have a solid wrestling game and that will be huge against a fighter in Henderson, who is making his welterweight debut.<br />
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That said, elite is elite, and I expect Bendo to grind out a decision win.<br />
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<b>Rest of the Main Card</b><br />
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Featherweight Bout: Cole Miller vs. Max Holloway - I see Holloway getting over Miller on stand-up, pulling out a 3rd-round KO.<br />
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Welterweight Bout: Neil Magny vs. Kiichi Kunimoto - I'll go with the more experienced fighter and give Kunimoto a decision win.<br />
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Middleweight Bout: Dan Kelly vs. Patrick Walsh - Kelly is undefeated and good from the ground, but Walsh has decent ground defense. I'll give it to Kelly, but by decision.<br />
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Lightweight Bout: Michel Prazeres vs. Kevin Lee - Both are solid on the ground, but Prazeres is more proven standing. I'll give it to "Tractor" Prazeres by decision.<br />
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Flyweight Bout: Ray Borg vs.Chris Kelades - Who came up with these nicknames? The Tazmexican vs. The Greek Assassin? I'll give these guys this: I expect a good fight, and I give Borg a Round 1 submission win.Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-44152758669671049172015-01-31T13:09:00.001-08:002015-01-31T13:09:22.157-08:00UFC 183 previewThis UFC card should be looked at as a lesson as to what a PPV ad campaign SHOULD look like.<br />
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That's how you do it. Quit with the same old paint-by-numbers advertising and actually put some effort into making cards feel special.<br />
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Anyway, Silva's fight today against Nick Diaz should be a cakewalk... assuming he comes back at the same skill level. My guess is that he's going to (he and the UFC can certainly afford top-level medical care) and this fight will be over fairly quickly.<br />
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I'll take <b>Silva to win by KO in Round 3.</b><br />
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In the co-main event, Tyron "The Black Jon Fitch" Woodley (yes, I will never revoke that nickname) will square off against Kelvin Gastelum in a welterweight fight.<br />
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Good thing the main event came through because this is a low-name value secondary main fight.<br />
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Gastelum is a highly touted name after his win over Jake Ellenberger and could move a win away from a title shot if he takes this.<br />
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The same could be said for Woodley, who has proven to have knockout power and can also lay-and-pray his way to victory.<br />
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I actually think Woodley is nearing elite status, for better or for worse, and have him winning by decision.<br />
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<b>Rest of the Main Card</b><br />
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<b>Lightweight bout: Joe Lauzon vs. Al Iaquinta - </b>Good striker vs. grappler battle, and I'll give it to the grappler here. Lauzon by submission in Round 2.<br />
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<b>Middleweight bout: Thales Leites vs. Tim Boetsch - </b>I have a feeling this fight will get pretty dull, but it has a chance at being competitive. I'll take Leites to continue his win streak with a decision win.<br />
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<b>Welterweight bout: Jordan Mein vs. Thiago Alves - </b>Young lion beats old lion in a solid opener. Mein wins with a KO in Round 1.</div>
Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-12493630962141575572015-01-24T13:34:00.001-08:002015-01-24T13:34:54.456-08:00UFC on Fox: Gustafsson vs. Johnson picksAfter a great week of picking last week, and a phenomenally bizarre week of NFL ball-related controversy, it's time to get to the No. 1 contender bout for the UFC World Light Heavyweight Championship.<br />
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I'm going to take Alexander Gustafsson over Anthony "Rumble" Johnson by virtue of his overall size advantage and well-rounded striking.<br />
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Gustafsson, in my view, is the best challenge for Jon Jones and should have won the first fight. He has a shot at another match and I think he dominates his way to a Round-2 KO win.<br />
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In the co-main event, Dan Henderson (who is still fighting apparently) has a bout with Gegard Mousasi. While I like Mousasi's striking, it's not all that better from Hendo's in recent fights. Add in some great wrestling, and I'll take Hendo by decision.<br />
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In the final two main card fights, I'll pick Phil Davis to pick up a decision win over Ryan Bader, and I'll give Akira Corassani the win over Sam Sicilia in a decision. (Yeah, I'm not too hyped for this card outside the main event, as I don't see fighters getting in much KO or submission danger.)Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-91985124362221641712015-01-18T18:11:00.000-08:002015-01-18T18:11:54.754-08:00UFC Fight Night: McGregor vs Siver picksSo I'm watching a terrible follow-up to an all-time great conference championship game. And since I'm sure you want to get to focusing on the apparent Seattle vs. New England Super Bowl, I'll belt out these picks quickly.<br />
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<b>Featherweight Bout: Conor McGregor v. Dennis Siver - </b>I think Siver will be more competitive than people think, but McGregor really is an elite. I'm taking him by KO in Round 2.<br />
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<b>Lightweight Bout: Donald Cerrone v. Benson Henderson - </b>Getting a WEC flashback here. I love that this fight is a thing. I'll go with the hot hand and take Cerrone by decision.<br />
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<b>Middleweight Bout: Uriah Hall v. Ron Stallings - </b>Time to show off Hall to the world. He'll pick up a KO 1 victory.<br />
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<b>Lightweight Bout: Norman Parke v. Gleison Tibau - </b>Should be a fun opener to the main card. I'll take Tibau by decision.Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-86658414740704728792015-01-03T10:59:00.002-08:002015-01-03T10:59:49.973-08:00UFC 182 previewHere are my picks for tonight's first UFC card of the year!<br />
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<br />Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-39784094335073830682014-12-13T16:00:00.000-08:002014-12-13T16:00:01.261-08:00TUF 20 Finale thoughts (and UFC on Fox picks)I'm going to make kind of quick picks for this card simply because I've got quite a bit going on today.<br />
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First, though, I wanted to wish a hearty congratulations to Carla Esparza, who defeated Rose Namajunas via Sub 3 to win the inaugural UFC World Strawweight Championship.<br />
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Looks like I was right about the third-round submission part. Just had the wrong fighter.<br />
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In all honesty, I should have seen it coming. Rose tore through her end of the bracket, but she only faced one fighter ranked in the top four seeds. She also had the advantage of the house putting fighters in matches on short rest.<br />
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Esparza finished the 16-seed easily and then beat the third- and fourth-seeded fighters in back-to-back decisions. And with a full camp, she certainly looked every bit the champion she was in Invicta, and will surely be for the UFC as well.<br />
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With the win, I feel fairly certain that Esparza is the best 115-pound fighter in the world right now. Jessica Aguilar certainly has an argument, but when you shun UFC and Invicta to fight in a barely-there World Series of Fighting division, you don't get to lay claim over a fighter who just won a tournament of top-flight, international talent.<br />
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The question now turns to who Esparza faces next. To me, the obvious answer would be Joanne Calderwood, who was seeded second in the tournament and dominated Seo Hee Ham, who had been a top-ten fighter at atomweight.<br />
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A rematch with Jessica Penne or Tecia Torres (especially Torres) could be fun, and Felice Herrig looked good in her fight (though I'd rather see her fight Heather Clark).<br />
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For Namajunas, I'd like to see her fight Aisling Daly, who surprised me and won by round 1 submission despite missing weight. Daly and Namajunas would be a cool clash of unorthodox strikers with deadly submission games.<br />
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Overall, I was TERRIBLE at picking the male fights, going 0-2-1 in them, but I went 5-3 with the women's fights, including 5-1 on the undercard (Daly's weight mishap throwing me off the trail of a perfect record). Certainly not my best effort, but seeing as I'n still getting my feet back down in terms of consistent picking, .500 isn't bad.<br />
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Heck, I had a winning record with fights involving TUF fighters.<br />
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But back to Esparza, I thought she was definitely the favorite going in and I had been rooting for her. While I got fooled by Namajunas' run, I certainly am glad to see a deserving fighter in the position of champion and wish her the best as she joins Ronda Rousey as a face of women's MMA.<br />
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Well, that was long. Let's make some picks!<br />
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<b>UFC on Fox main card</b><br />
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Stipe Miocic vs. Junior Dos Santos - Dos Santos via KO 1<br />
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Nate Diaz (missed 155 lb weight limit) vs. Rafael dos Anjos - dos Anjos via decision<br />
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Stefan Struve vs. Alistair Overeem - Overeem by KO 3<br />
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Matt Mitrione vs. Gabriel Gonzaga - Gonzaga by Submission 2Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-80416350657938624362014-12-12T14:12:00.000-08:002014-12-12T14:14:10.704-08:00Ultimate Fighter 20 Finale preview and Episode 12 recapAfter a season of excellent fights and compelling in-house feuds, the time has come to go solely on the fights.<br />
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Carla Esparza (10-2), top seed in the house and former champion in Invicta FC, will face seventh-seeded Rose Namajunas (3-1) for the first-ever UFC World Strawweight Championship.</div>
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(I'm not adding a 'Women's' qualifier. There is no men's equivalent, so it's the one and only World Strawweight Championship.)<br />
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The season showed a lot of drama within Team Pettis, so I can only imagine that having a full camp was a welcome change of pace for Esparza.<br />
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I expect her strategy to be focused on her wresting and using her boxing skills to set up her takedowns. She will most likely employ a similar 'take down and get up quickly' style that was seen in her fight with Jessica Penne in the semifinals.<br />
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Meanwhile, Namajunas (aka the Next Ronda Rousey) has looked incredible since all her teammates were eliminated, making her the focus of an entire unit of people. Despite having a predominately striking-based background, 'Thug Rose' submitted all three of her house opponents, the last two times via kimura.<br />
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The big danger for her will be her inexperience. Counting the tournament fights, she's been in six professional fights (and only four count on her record). Facing a decorated fighter like Esparza may well expose some holes in her game.<br />
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That said, I'm taking Thug Rose to beat the Cookie Monster due to her superior height/reach and deadly submission game.<br />
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<b>Pick: Namajunas via submission in Round 3</b><br />
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In the third-place bout, which will open the card, Randa Markos will square off against teammate/in-house feud enemy Jessica Penne.<br />
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For those who didn't see, Penne, Felice Herrig and Esparza got into a row with Markos over her attempts to overrule their request to split the practices in half. I can see both sides of the argument, but regardless, there is beef here.<br />
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Penne looked like she certainly belonged at 115 despite being a former 105-pound champion in Invicta. However, Markos made a name for herself in dropping Tecia Torres and Herrig in the tournament.<br />
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I'm going with <b>Markos by decision</b> due to her ability to detach emotionally and simply be aggressive.<br />
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<b>Rest of the Main Card</b><br />
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</b> <b>Featherweight bout: Jeremy Stephens vs. Charles Oliveira - </b>The battle is on between two ranked fighters. It's Stephens' striking and takedown defense vs. Oliveira's ground game. I'm going to trust Stephens to not be controlled too much, avoid submissions, and eke out a decision win.<br />
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<b>Lightweight bout: K.J. Noons vs. Daron Cruickshank - </b>Noons is a well-known Strikeforce fighter while Cruickshank is a good fighter that keeps his opponent at range. Going with my gut here, but I'm going with Noons to wear down Cruickshank here and pick up a decision.<br />
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</b> <b>Lightweight bout: Joe Proctor vs. Yancy Medeiros - </b>I'm going with Proctor to surprise some people to pick up a submission win in round 1.<br />
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<b>Undercard Bouts (all Strawweight fights involving TUF 20 members)</b><br />
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</b> <b>Felice Herrig v. Lisa Ellis - </b>Didn't get to see much of Ellis outside of her loss, but she has issues with Herrig. I see an aggressive fight, but Herrig by KO 2.<br />
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<b>Bec Rawlings v. Heather Clark - </b>How bad did Rawlings and the Scrapettes hate Heather Clark? Rough times, and I see a healthy Clark getting revenge here with a decision win.<br />
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<b>Joanne Calderwood v. Seo Hee Hamm - </b>One of the house members was still hurt, so Seo makes her debut in the UFC against the 2-seed who lost to Namajunas. Calderwood's a tall, terrifying striker, so I'm taking her by KO 1.<br />
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<b>Tecia Torres v. Angela Magana - </b>The fight will be respectful, but both definitely had their enemies in the house. Torres is too good a fighter to lose to three TUF house fighters, so I'll take her by decision.<br />
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<b>Alex Chambers v. Aisling Daly - </b>Daly missed weight and though I hate to admit it, her backstory in the house leads me to think she might be in her head at the moment. I'm certainly rooting for the Irish fighter, but Chambers is my pick by KO 2.<br />
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<b>Angela Hill v. Emily Kagan - </b>Two lower seeds face off. Hill, I think, has more upside, so I'll take her by KO 1.</div>
Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-33359813841134661642014-12-06T18:50:00.003-08:002014-12-06T18:50:53.589-08:00UFC 181 picksIt's been a while since I've made picks on here, but here begins (hopefully) another run of solid selections!<br />
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Check them out in this brief return video.<br />
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<br />Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-38929934938420478242014-12-05T15:07:00.001-08:002014-12-05T15:07:55.018-08:00The Ultimate Fighter 20, Episode 11 recapOnly one to go!<br />
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<br />Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-7127488671147204772014-11-27T07:03:00.003-08:002014-11-27T07:03:53.109-08:00The Ultimate Fighter 20, Episodes 6-10 recappedFrom the description: So thanks to some various issues that messed with my schedule, I've missed quite a few weeks of TV. Here is a second Episode 5 recap as well as thoughts on the most recent five episodes.<br />
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<br />Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-4046542042801455612014-11-27T02:04:00.000-08:002014-11-27T02:04:04.836-08:00The Ultimate Fighter 20, Episode 5 recapFrom the video description: This is admittedly weeks old, but it turns out this video actually did save properly so I'll add it here. A recap of Episodes 6-10 will be out today as well. (I talk episode 5 as well because I had assumed this video file wasn't going to work.)<br />
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<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/-mVPxF7wx_w" width="560"></iframe><br />Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-86897365698545117662014-10-02T11:36:00.002-07:002014-10-02T11:36:45.290-07:00The Ultimate Fighter 20, Episode 4 recapHere are my thoughts for the week on TUF 20.<br />
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<br />Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-90143339807908269562014-09-26T11:59:00.004-07:002014-09-26T11:59:37.042-07:00Ultimate Fighter 20, Episode 3 recap<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/FXgPXnxGVr0" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<br />Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-55616763973323495102014-09-24T15:21:00.002-07:002014-09-24T15:21:16.418-07:00Ultimate Fighter 20, Episode 2 recap<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/6ZPce81qWWY" width="560"></iframe><br />
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<br />Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-46556667289418822112014-09-11T15:45:00.002-07:002014-09-11T15:45:17.893-07:00Ultimate Fighter 20, Episode 1 reviewWelcome back to the TUF reviews!<br />
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I've been out of touch with this blog for a while, but hopefully this will get me back in the groove. Enjoy my thoughts on Season 20's premiere here.<br />
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<br />Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-29885297833955262052014-07-05T12:55:00.000-07:002014-07-05T12:55:12.026-07:00UFC 175: Weidman-Machida/Rousey-Davis previewSo, wow! Did anyone else notice how much the co-main event for this card is over-shadowing the main event?<br />
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I mean, you've got this major fight between Chris Weidman and Lyoto Machida, where Machida is going for history by becoming the latest multi-division champion in UFC's storied history, and where Weidman is trying to establish himself as the big dog of the UFC's middleweight division.<br />
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And yet the whole week of hype seems to have been devoted to the other title match on the card between Ronda Rousey and Alexis Davis.<br />
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Ok, most of that hype has been devoted to the UFC World Women's Bantamweight Champion, Rousey.<br />
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If you don't think Rousey has become the largest marketable fighter in the UFC, then I implore you to look up all the coverage on ESPN and even in the media. And though I would love to hear more hype around the title fight that has a better shot at being competitive, I can't say that this hype isn't deserved.<br />
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Rousey is undoubtedly the most dominant force in any division in the company right now and is incredibly apt at selling herself to the media and casual fans.<br />
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It's a great sign for women's MMA that they have their own equivalent of 1980s Mike Tyson getting eyeballs on the sport and getting people excited about potential challengers and the advent of a new division.<br />
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But this isn't about the business of the pay-per-view event; this is about the fight itself. And yes, the co-main event is going first in this preview.<br />
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Rousey and Davis are actually not as big a mismatch as people will have you believe. Yes, Rousey is an Olympic judoka, but Davis is a BJJ black belt in her own right and has comparable, if not superior, hand striking skills.<br />
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The issue is that Davis is not a particularly strong wrestler, which means Rousey should have free reign over where the fight takes place. Rousey also has proven more capable of lower-body attacks, winning her last fight via a deadly accurate Muay Thai knee to Sara McMann's liver.<br />
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I actually really like Davis as a fighter and believe she's a legitimate challenger to the belt. Heck, she does have an outside shot of pulling a Matt Serra and stealing the belt because her punches and BJJ are good for flash-finishes.<br />
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However, I'm not going to be the guy who actually picks against Rousey's ever-increasing bag of tricks. I'm taking <b>Rousey via KO in Round 2.</b><br />
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In the actual main event of the night, Machida and Weidman bear a similar matchup situation to when Anderson Silva fought Weidman. Weidman's wrestling is the biggest advantage for either, but Machida does have an advantage in all other aspects.<br />
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However, the difference with this fight (and what I consider the difference-maker this time) is that Machida's striking style is more counter-based than aggression-based. For me, this means that Machida will be better at avoiding the pressure of Weidman and being able to properly evade the takedown attempts.<br />
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This is going to be a long fight, and both have real shots at finishing this fight, but I'm expecting it to go the distance and for exchanges to be shorter and spread out.<br />
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It will be a very technical battle, but I'm going with <b>Machida to become the NEW UFC World Middleweight Champion via decision.</b><br />
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<b>Rest of the Main Card</b><br />
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<b>Heavyweights: Stefan Struve v. Matt Mitrione - </b>It's a basic formula. Struve goes down in round 1, recovers, gets corner instruction, comes back strong in round 2. In this case, I think it's enough. Struve by submission in round 2.<br />
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<b>Middleweights: Uriah Hall v. Thiago Santos - </b>Hall is a big-time up-and-comer and I expect this to be the point where he gets on track toward moving into the elite class of the division. Hall by KO 3.<br />
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<b>Bantamweights: Russell Doane v. Marcus Brimage - </b>Brimage is debuting after dropping from 145 lbs. I'm expecting a long fight that goes the distance, though I'm not sure it'll be the opening bout excitement the audience is used to. Hope I'm wrong, though. Brimage by decision.Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-4362411659660019242014-05-24T10:44:00.002-07:002014-05-24T10:44:59.418-07:00UFC 173: Barao vs. Dillashaw picksWow, I've been off this page for a while...<br />
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Sorry about that. I was actually hoping to make a grand return with my picks recorded on video, but I'm having some software issues.<br />
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In any case, let's belt out the picks for these fights.<br />
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Renan Barao is defending his UFC World Men's Bantamweight Championship (that title just keeps getting longer!) against TJ Dillashaw in the main event. While I love that Barao is getting such a big main event, I'm concerned UFC isn't going to be too happy with this year's Memorial Day Weekend card in the buyrate department.<br />
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Barao isn't exactly a guaranteed finisher (though I think he will tonight) and his fights aren't competitive enough to get anyone hyped. And that's a real shame because Barao should be considered for the title of 'best fighter pound-for-pound on the planet' right now.<br />
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Dillashaw isn't a slouch, no doubt about that, but Barao is a freaking monster in this division. I'm really hoping he seeks out becoming a two-division champion soon. Until then, I see this fight being three rounds of domination before <b>Barao wins via KO 3.</b><br />
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In the co-main event, Dan Henderson is seeking one last run at a UFC belt in a de-facto No. 1 contender's bout against Daniel Cormier.<br />
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With Jon Jones having his rematch with Alexander Gustafsson soon, Hendo and Cormier are undoubtedly going for the next shot. And this clash of wrestlers should be fascinating.<br />
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Hendo has the best weapon outside of the wresting, in that he has a KO punch that could end Cormier easier than anything Cormier could throw.<br />
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However, Cormier has Hendo licked in wrestling. Not only is he better in raw skill in my view, but he's younger and has a better base to control Hendo's takedown attempts.<br />
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I certainly think Hendo could end the fight at any time, but I'll take <b>Cormier by decision.</b><br />
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<b>Rest of the main card</b><br />
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I'll take <b>Robbie Lawler to beat Jake Ellenberger by KO 2</b> in a possible No. 1 contender's match. Ellenberger hasn't exactly been strong in big spots and I think Lawler wants one more crack at Johny Hendricks.<br />
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I've got <b>Takeya Mizugaki over Francisco Rivera by decision </b>in my pick for Fight of the Night (on the main card).<br />
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And lastly, I'll take Jamie Varner to represent WEC proudly by beating James Krause by KO 1.Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-15197521460610515472014-04-19T16:45:00.001-07:002014-04-19T16:45:11.172-07:00UFC on Fox: Werdum vs. Browne picksMy sincerest apologies for allowing this blog to run dry! My main blog has taken up most of my focus the last few weeks.<br />
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Between Arrow reviews, comic reviews and the Lenten promise that was March of the Ponies, I've had very little time on this blog. But enough about those great articles that you should be reading. Let me take a moment to belt out my picks for tonight's Fox card!<br />
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<b>Main Event - Heavyweight Bout: Fabricio Werdum vs. Travis Browne</b><br />
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This fight is most likely going to create the next contender for the UFC World Heavyweight Championship, so it's a pretty big deal. And looking at the two, I'm going with <b>Verdum by Round 3 submission.</b><br />
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Don't get me wrong, Browne can definitely win, especially if the fight stays on the feet. That said, though, Werdum is a solid striker and I think if it goes to the ground, I like Werdum a little better.<br />
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This fight won't stay standing forever, and I trust Werdum's chin to get him to the ground portion of the fight, where he can end it.<br />
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<b>Rest of the Main Card</b><br />
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<b>Women's Bantamweights - Miesha Tate vs. Liz Carmouche: </b>The battle of females who got owned by Ronda Rousey will go to Carmouche by decision. Miesha showed me less than I'd hoped offense-wise last fight, and I think the shorter camp will affect her here.<br />
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<b>Lightweights - Donald Cerrone vs. Edson Barboza: </b>This is going to be brutal. I expect this to be fight of the night unless an undercard bout stuns it. I also take Cerrone to get on a long roll again this year, so I'm taking him by KO 2.<br />
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<b>Middleweights - Brad Tavares vs. Yoel Romero: </b>Romero is a tough dude who I'm hoping wins so he gets moved to the next echelon of fighters. Tavares is a guy who can shut anyone down and is, unfortuately, not above lay-and-praying. Yeah, I'll take Tavares by decision.Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8135828269298330280.post-26605958142797717712014-03-15T11:34:00.001-07:002014-03-15T11:34:03.850-07:00UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler previewWell this fight is definitely not a GSP title fight, but it'll have to do.<br />
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It's really a shame that the judges went with St. Pierre over Johny Hendricks because it seriously has put a damper on the validity of this title fight. Sure, I thought Hendricks was the winner, but this doesn't feel like a title defense; it feels like a consolation prize.<br />
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And it seems like Hendricks might be treating it that way. He's already discussed the prospect of fighting in the middleweight division and needed two tries to make weight yesterday.<br />
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Normally, I'd write off a contender when they're doing stuff like this, but it's hard to do so with Hendricks. He's a national champion wrestler and has one-punch knockout ability.<br />
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What also keeps him a favorite in my view is the fact that I believe him to be quite a bit ahead of Robbie Lawler. Lawler is a great striker, but his ground game isn't as solid as it should be.<br />
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I like Lawler just fine and he could very well pick up a knockout, but I trust Hendricks' skill set by too much. I'm taking <b>Hendricks by KO in Round 2.</b><br />
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</b> <b>Rest of the Main Card</b><br />
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</b> The next contender for the welterweight title will probably be decided in the fight between Tyron Woodley and Carlos Condit. Both men have admirable striking and wrestling, so I'm really not sure where the fight is going to predominately be set.<br />
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That said, I think Condit's on a slightly higher level, so I'll take <b>Condit by decision.</b><br />
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There is a legitimately fun lightweight fight between Diego Sanchez and Myles Jury. The striking in this fight should be unreal, and I'll lean <b>Jury by decision.</b><br />
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</b> Also on the card is Jake Shields vs. Hector Lombard in a battle of Guys Who Should Have Been Bigger Deals Than They Are. I'm going to trust in Shields' experience over Lombard's talent in this fight, and pick <b>Shields to lay-and-pray to a decision win.</b><br />
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</b> Lastly, Ovince St. Preux faces Nikita Krylov in a light heavyweight fight. This should be a great opener, and I'm taking <b>OSP to get a 1st-round KO win.</b>Sean Network Blogshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/17485611190342614180noreply@blogger.com0