UFC 147 Full Card Preview and Picks
UFC 148 comes our way this Saturday and one of the most eagerly anticipated rematches in UFC history tops the card. Anderson Silva will try to avenge a beating he took at the hands of Chael Sonnen while Sonnen will try to avenge a loss to Silva in that same fight.
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UFC 148 – Rematch of the Century?
Sound complicated – it isn’t. Sound exciting – it most certainly is.
Here is a breakdown of the full card:
UFC 148: Silva vs. Sonnen 2
Date: July 7, 2012
Time: 10pm ET/7pm PT
Location: MGM Grand Garden Arena, Las Vegas, Nevada
Broadcast: PPV, FX (Prelims)
Anderson Silva (31-4-0): -300
Chael Sonnen (27-11-1): +220
Bad blood has spilled over in the leadup to the Middleweight Championship showdown between Chael Sonnen and Anderson Silva. Trash talking has always been the calling card of Sonnen but Silva has certainly got his licks in ahead of the clash. With absolutely no love lost this fight promises to be a classic.
The fight will pit Sonnen’s elite wrestling, relentless takedowns and unmatched cardio against Silva’s world class Muay Thai and Black Belt in jiu-jitsu. In the first fight Sonnen won both the ground and the stand up games – something that the champ hopes to avoid in this fight. Sonnen will have to avoid the submission (9 of his 11 losses have come by submission) and Silva will have to avoid the inevitable takedowns attempts of Sonnen – each of the opponents’ weaknesses in this fight play right into the hands of the strengths of their opponent!
Simply put, Silva seemed to be caught off guard in the last fight – there is no way it happens again. Silva is the most dominant champ in UFC history for a reason. We saw Chael at his absolute best in the first fight and saw the worst of the Spider. The tides turn Saturday!
Pick: Anderson Silva -300
Tito Ortiz (16-10-1): +250
Forrest Griffin (18-7-0): -350
A rubber-match between Tito Ortiz and Forrest Griffin is on tap as the co-main event on Saturday. Both of these fighters are legends in the world of MMA in the twilight of their careers – for Tito it will be his last fight inside the Octagon.
What this fight boils down to is a fighter imposing their will against the other. Tito has to get this fight to the ground – his recent fight has shown that his ability to win on his feet are sadly lacking. With Griffin’s elite boxing and insane will to do whatever it takes to win, Tito appears to be in a bit of trouble here. Also with Ortiz being inducted into the UFC Hall of Fame prior to the fight, expect Tito to be a tad distracted. Simply put, Griffin`s waning skills are better than those of Tito`s. Expect Griffin to employ his superior striking games and to stay out of Tito`s danger areas for the bulk of the match. In a decision victory, Griffin will out-point Ortiz!
Pick: Forrest Griffin -350
Cung Le (7-2-0): +200
Patrick Cote (17-7-0): -260
Patrick Cote steps in for injured Rich Franklin to take on the insane yet declining striking skills of Cung Le in Middleweight action. Cote makes his return to the UFC after getting dropped after a loss to Tom Lawlor – expect a triumphant return.
Cote`s durability, his conditioning and his ability to hang with elite strikers will be the difference in this one. Le was a frightening opponent at one point in his career but it is clear that he is not the same fighter he was years ago. Le`s conditioning and his chin have eluded him in his last few fights.
Take the Canadian to prevail – he`s hungrier, fresher and at this point in his career a better fighter.
Pick: Patrick Cote -260
Demian Maia (15-4-0): +120
Dong Hyun Kim (15-1-1): -150
Demian Maia makes his debut at welterweight on Saturday against another world class grappler Dong Hyun Kim. Maia’s only chance, like in all of his fights is to get this fight to the ground, assume top control and submit his opponent. But the solid wrestling of Kim should minimize Maia’s effectiveness and Kim’s striking should score him much needed points during the fight. Maia clearly has the jiu-jitsu edge but it won’t matter in this fight. I see a somewhat boring decision win here for…
Pick: Dong Hyun Kim -150
Cody McKenzie (13-2-0): lines not available
Chad Mendes (11-1-0): lines not available
Arguably the best Featherweight in the world outside Jose Aldo will look to climb the ladder once again when he takes on guillotine choke machine Cody McKenzie. McKenzie unfortunately hasn’t shown a whole lot outside that ability to choke his opponent out. Against an uber-well rounded Mendez that spells trouble. Mendes is clearly on a different level and should take this lopsided affair. [ad-3573245]
Pick: Chad Mendes
Ivan Menjivar (24-8-0): +100
Mike Easton (12-1-0): -130
In Bantamweight action a possible title shot is on the line on Saturday when Ivan Menjivar takes on Mike Easton. Both have crisp striking although Menjivar has the slight edge in that department while Easton’s takedowns are top notch. Both men have solid credentials – Easton is a Black Belt in BJJ and he also has good wrestling chops. But it will be the explosive hands, the all around game and the experience of Menjivar that should be the difference. With a title shot on the horizon, I can’t see Menjivar being denied.
Pick: Ivan Menjivar +100
FX Preliminary Card
Khabib Nurmagomedov (17-0-0): +175 vs. Gleison Tibau (25-7-0): -220
Pick: Gleison Tibau -220
Fabricio Camoes (14-6-1): +220 vs. Melvin Guillard (29-10-2): -300
Pick: Melvin Guillard -300
Costantinos Philippou (10-2-0): -200 vs. Riki Fukada (18-5-0): +160
Pick: Costantinos Philippou -200
John Alessio (34-15-0): +165 vs. Shane Roller (10-6-0): -210
Pick: John Alessio +165
Yoislandy Izquierdo (6-1-0): -180 vs. Rafaello Oliveira (14-5-0): +150
Pick: Yoislandy Izquierdo -180
