UFC 152 Full Card Preview and Picks
Jon Jones has had a crazy month hasn’t he? From UFC poster boy to Dana White whipping boy, Jones enters Saturday’s contest as one of the most feared fighters on the planet – tall, powerful, athletic, unpredictable and top notch anywhere a fight happens to go.
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UFC 152: Jones vs. Belfort
Date: September 22, 2012
Time: 10pm ET/7pm PT
Location: Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Broadcast: PPV, FX Prelims
Main Card:
Jon Jones (16-1): -800
Vitor Belfort (21-9): +500
His opponent Saturday – one of the most feared strikers that the world of MMA has ever seen – Vitor Belfort.
Look – Belfort is a nice fighter but he is a one trick pony at this point of his career. He could land that miracle shot and shock the world – anything can happen. But Jones has the height, the reach and the skills to minimize Belfort’s strength in this one.
Jones has too many tools and he has an added chip on his shoulder to make him that much more dangerous. Is it wrong for me to feel bad for Vitor?
Pick: Jon Jones -800
Joseph Benavidez (16-2): -300
Demetrious Johnson (15-2-1): +220
Flyweights mean constant, high paced action! And Saturday’s title fight between Joseph Benavidez and Demetrious Johnson should be no exception. On paper this fight appears to be a simple wrestler vs. wrestler matchup but both of these guys have some serious striking chops and speed to spare. Johnson has the speed advantage and Benavidez has the power edge. So who wins?
Overall, the wrestling abilities of these two basically cancel each other out so we have to look at the striking to determine a winner. Overall, Benavidez is the better of the two on the feet. Johnson will have to get this fight to the ground – Benavidez should be able to utilize his wrestling knowledge to keep this fight standing. In a close, five round war, take Benavidez to come out on top of this striking battle and take home the belt.
Pick: Joseph Benavidez -300
Michael Bisping (22-4): -180
Brian Stann (12-4): +150
In what could be Fight of the Night, a pair of Middleweight strikers, both coming off a loss to Chael Sonnen do battle. Bisping is the more technical striker of the two while Stann certainly has the power edge. I expect this fight to go to a decision which means that Bisping will have done his job – move around, use his quickness and stay out of Stann’s danger areas. Bisping knows that he may be just one fight away from a long awaited title shot – there is no way he is denied in this one. Quickness and elusiveness wins out in this one!
Pick: Michael Bisping -180
Matt Hamill (10-4): -400
Roger Hollett (13-3): +300
Vladimir Matyushenko tore his Achilles tendon in training leaving the on-gain, off-again bout between Matt Hamill and Roger Hollett to be on again. Hamill has been out of action since his decisive loss last year to Alexander Gustafsson. Hamill`s wrestling chops are well known but questions surround his desire after retiring only last year. Roger Hollett has won five straight fights fighting in the Bellator organization and is certainly no joke. Unfortunately for Hamill, ring rust may bite him in the butt. Hollett despite an earlier injury is obviously hungry to get inside the Octagon with Hamill – I will take the more motivated fighter anytime! [ad-3573245]
Pick: Roger Hollett +300
Charles Oliveira (16-2, 1 NC): -260
Cub Swanson (17-5): +200
A pair of Featherweights on two fight win streaks look to make a little noise within their division on Saturday night when Charles Oliviera takes on Cub Swanson. Swanson has looked terrific of late with two straight knockouts – Ross Pearson and George Roop while Charles Oliviera has looked equally as good since dropping a weight class with two incredible submission wins. This is a very tough fight to call – Swanson`s unpredictable style always results in a great scrap. But I like the slick submissions of Oliviera (nine of his 16 wins have been by sub) to prevail in this one. He knows not to get into a slugfest with Swanson and will do everything to get this fight to the mat where he has an immense advantage.
Pick: Charles Oliviera -260
Preliminary Card:
Marcus Brimage (5-1): +325 vs. Jim Hettes (10-0): -450
Pick: Jim Hettes -450
Igor Pokrajac (25-8): -200 vs. Vinny Magalhaes (9-5, 1 NC): +160
Pick: Vinny Magalhaes +160
Evan Dunham (13-2): -220 vs. T.J. Grant (18-5): +175
Pick: TJ Grant +175
Seth Baczynski (16-6): -155 vs. Simeon Thoresen (17-2-1): +125
Pick: Seth Baczynski -155
Lance Benoist (6-1): -160 vs. Sean Pierson (12-6): +130
Pick: Lance Benoist -160
Mitch Gagnon (8-2): +175 vs. Walel Watson (9-4): -220
Pick: Mitch Gagnon +175
Charlie Brenneman (15-4): -220 vs. Kyle Noke (19-6-1): +175
Pick: Charlie Brenneman -220
