UFC 140: Jones vs. Machida
In one of the more intriguing Light Heavyweight Title Bouts in quite some time, two of the most elusive fighters in the sport battle for the Top Prize.
Date/Time: Saturday, December 10, 2011, 9pm ET/6pm PT
Location: Air Canada Centre, Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Broadcast: Pay-per-view
UFC Light Heavyweight Championship
Jon Jones (14-1-0): -450
Lyoto Machida (17-2-0): +325
Athleticism, height and reach and attention to detail will be on the champion’s side. Elusiveness, accuracy and the ability to frustrate his opponent into a fight changing mistake is on challenger’s side.
There is absolutely no doubt that Jones is a Stud is all aspects of MMA but something tells me that the defense and the ability to duck punches and keep distance will work in Machida’s favor in this one. The old adage is in play here – defense wins championships. There is no way that Jones could have prepared for this fight in his usual way – you have to see Machida’s style in person to be able to combat it. Just ask Shogun Rua.
Take the huge underdog to prevail in this fight – when there is a rematch, Jones will have a huge advantage having seen the awkward style of Machida in person. Until that time, Lyoto will be much too hard to hit and will be way too elusive for Jones to handle. In a somewhat boring bout, Machida takes the decision to become the Light Heavyweight Champ again!
Pick: Lyoto Machida +325
Main Card
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (33-6-1): +200
Frank Mir (15-5-0): -260
Frank Mir has long been one of the most feared submission artists in the Heavyweight division. The trouble for the rest of the Heavyweights – Mir has emerged as a very good striker in the last couple of years. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira is the consummate pro – a jiu-jitsu machine who helped revolutionize the world of MMA. Nogueira has serious boxing skills as well and is known as one of the toughest fighters every to climb into the Octagon.
Nogueira has met his match when and if this fight hits the ground – there is nobody that can match the ground skills of Mir in the division. Mir’s incredibly improved standup and his huge size advantage should serve him well on Saturday as well.
In the rematch, expect this fight to end up the same way the first one did – Mir won that fight and has done nothing but improve since that time!
Pick: Frank Mir -260
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (19-5-0): -220
Tito Ortiz (16-9-1): +175
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira takes on the reborn Tito Ortiz in yet another very intriguing Light Heavyweight battle. Ortiz was left for dead only a couple of years ago but has rededicated himself and has come up with some shocking and very impressive wins. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira is, like his brother, very adept on his feet and on the ground.
Tito is as motivated as he ever has been inside the Octagon and looks to have found the form that saw him dominate. Look for Tito to continue his career resurrection with an impressive win over the younger Nog.
Pick: Tito Ortiz +175
Brian Ebersole (48-14-1): -130
Claude Patrick (14-1-0): +100
Two fighters on two fight win streaks meet in Welterweight action on Saturday night. This should be a hotly contested match between two battlers that are very equal on paper. Although Ebersole is on a role, I like the Canadian to get it done in front of his countrymen. With not much to choose between each fighter, I’ll take the home town kid!
Pick: Claude Patrick +100
Chan Sung Jung (11-3-0): +325
Mark Hominick (19-9-0): -450
Chan Sung Jung proved in his win over Leonard Garcia that he is absolutely no slouch inside the Octagon. He is tremendously well rounded and able to end a fight anywhere that it happens to go. Mark Hominick hung with Jose Aldo and proved to the world that he is one tough SOB! Striking and takedown defense will be the difference in this fight with Hominick proving too much for the Korean Zombie.
Pick: Mark Hominick -450
ION TV Card
Krzysztof Soszynski (23-10-1): -280
Igor Pokrajac (23-8-0): +210
Two veterans meet on the Preliminary Card at UFC 140. Former TUF contestant Krzysztof Soszynski meets Croatian fighter Igor Pokrajac in Light Heavyweight action. Both of these men have has up and down careers and both have proven very tough inside the Octagon. Krzysztof Soszynski will have a big size advantage in this fight – he should be able to wear down the Croatian on his way to a stoppage victory. [ad-3573245]
Pick: Krzysztof Soszynski -280
Constantinos Philippou (8-2-0): +190
Jared Hamman (13-3-0): -240
Jared Hamman will fight at Middleweight for the second time on Saturday after spending the bulk of his career at Light Heavyweight. He takes on Constantinos Philippou who won his most recent fight against Jorge Rivera in August. Hamman may not look like the most dangerous guy but his striking is something to be wary of. Philippou is a nice fighter but will have a very tough time against the experience and the better hands of Hamman.
Pick: Jared Hamman -240
John Makdessi (9-0-0): -170
Dennis Hallman (46-14-2): +140
The veteran vs. the prospect! Dennis Hallman has been around a long time -15 years and brings a very good wrestling game with him into the Octagon. His opponent on Saturday – undefeated Canadian John Makdessi. While Hallman will likely be a handful for the Canadian, take the youth and the momentum to prevail. Makdessi is out to make a name for himself in the stacked Lightweight division and should get it done on Saturday.
Pick: John Makdessi -170
Walel Watson (9-2-0): +155
Yves Jabouin (16-7-0): -190
Yves Jabouin will try to make it two wins in a row in his second fight at Bantamweight when he takes on Walel Watson who won his only UFC fight against Joseph Sandoval. Jabouin was an OK Featherweight but is poised to make a run in the Bantamweight division. His size advantage in this fight will help him on the way to a submission win.
Pick: Yves Jabouin -190
Preliminary Card
Mark Bocek (9-4-0): -160
Nik Lentz (21-3-2): +130
In what promises to be a very good Lightweight bout, jiu-jitsu Black Belt Mark Bocek takes on the always tough Nik Lentz. Bocek, despite losses to such names as Dustin Hazelett and Jim Miller lately is still considered a “B level” fighter while Lentz, although exciting and experienced is in that “C level”. Take Bocek in front of his home town crowd to win a terrific Preliminary fight.
Pick: Mark Bocek -160
Rich Attonito (10-4-0): -240
Jake Hecht (10-2-0): +190
Former TUF contestant Rich Attonito meets promotional newcomer Jake Hecht on Saturday in Welterweight action. Hecht has an OK record but all his wins have come against inferior talent. Attonito has looked impressive since his time on the show and should handle the newcomer with ease.
Pick: Rich Attonito -240
Mitch Clarke (9-0-0): +250
John Cholish (7-1-0): -350
Two UFC virgins meet in the first fight of the night on Saturday when Canadian submission specialist Mitch Clarke takes on John Cholish. Take the Canadian to make a statement on home soil on Saturday in a decent start to the night’s festivities.
Pick: Mitch Clarke +250
