UFC 199 “Rockhold vs. Bisping 2” Preview and Picks
Looking for UFC 199 Picks? UFC 199 comes our way from Los Angeles, California this Saturday – a card that was unfortunately paged by injury again – Chris Weidman was forced from a Middleweight Tilt Fight with Luke Rockhold.
The show must go on however – two UFC straps will be on the line.
UFC 199 “Rockhold vs. Bisping 2”
Date: Sat., June 4, 2016
Location: The Forum in Los Angeles, California
Broadcast: Pay-Per-View
Rockhold and Michael Bisping headline the festivities as they battle for the Middleweight belt while a long-awaited bout between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber will determine the Bantamweight Champ.
The card has a host of other quality fights – let’s take a look at all and what should play out on another intriguing night of UFC fights.
UFC 199 Main Card: (PPV – 10 p.m. ET/7 p.m. PT)
Luke Rockhold (15-2): -900 vs. Michael Bisping (28-7): +550
Michael Bisping steps in for the injured Chris Wideman Saturday to take on Champion Luke Rockhold for the UFC Middleweight belt. On two week’s notice Bisping looks to be in tough against a bigger and more well rounded champion in Rockhold.
These two met in 2014 – Rockhold submitted Bisping in the second round.
Bisping has since won three straight fights including last time out against Anderson Silva – he gets his first title shot Saturday.
Rockhold has been terrific the last couple of years in winning five straight fights. He is dominant on the ground and as he displayed in his last fight against Bisping, his technical striking is terrific as well.
He was able to put combinations together against Bisping, land some punishing kicks and keep The Count at bay.
I can’t see this fight ending up much different – Bisping is still the same fighter as he was two years ago while Rockhold has steadily improved in every aspect of the game.
Bisping will have to rely on his boxing chops and filthy style to get it done – my bet is that Rockhold doesn’t give him that chance. Simply put the Champ is the superior fighter right now – this one isn’t close!
MMA Betting Pick: Luke Rockhold -900
UFC 199: Dominick Cruz (21-1): -600 vs. Urijah Faber (33-8): +400
The long-awaited rematch between Dominick Cruz and Urijah Faber goes down Saturday – it should be a good one!
It will be the third fight in an intriguing trilogy for the two – Faber won the first in 2007 in a WEC Featherweight Title Match and Cruz flipped the script in 2011 when he was Champ.
This fight was supposed to happen three years ago but a series of injuries forced Cruz to for about three years.
Flash forward to 2016 – Cruz is Champ again after defeating TJ Dillashaw for the title in his only fight in four years – impressive. He did so with patented movement, awkwardness and an ability to strike at the absolute perfect time.
Cruz has an ability to make his opponents look silly and that is what he will try to do Saturday night.
Urijah Faber has remained at or near the top of the ladder as well since the early days of WEC. He is still as well rounded as they come and as determined a fighter as there is in the game right now.
This is going to be an interesting fight to say the least. Expect Faber to be the man chasing in this one as he did in the last fight between the two.
As we’ve seen in the past with Urijah – he has major problems against fighters that are constantly moving – Cruz is that type of guy. Cruz’s quickness will be too much as he frustrates Faber into a few mistakes and outpoints him in what is a typically ho-hum Cruz battle.
MMA Betting Pick: Dominick Cruz -600
UFC 199: Max Holloway (15-3): -315 vs. Ricardo Lamas (16-4): +245
Top Featherweights in the UFC will try to stay busy while Conor McGregor sorts his “stuff” out as red-hot Max Holloway takes on Ricardo Lamas.
Lamas has already had a title shot in the past but was soundly beaten by Jose Aldo while Holloway should be fighting for the belt right now! Each of these competitors have been impressive and both bring a terrific and varied skill set into the Octagon.
While a case could be made for either guy to win here, I’m going with the better striker to dictate exactly where this fight ends up – that distinction belongs to Holloway who takes the next step and proves that he is the unquestioned #1 contender for the Featherweight belt.
MMA Betting Pick: Max Holloway -315
Dan Henderson (31-14): +265 vs. Hector Lombard (34-5-1, 2NC): -350
An intriguing Middleweight fight between an aging and seemingly declining Dan Henderson and the powerful Hector Lombard could be one for the ages – or it could be the dud that finally sends Henderson into retirement life.
Henderson, once one of the most dominant fighters on the planet has gone just 2-6 in his last eight fights. It’s true that he has fought some tough guys over that span but those tough guys made mince meat out of him!
Consider Lombard a tough guy (understatement!) It’s true that Hector has gone just 3-3 in his last six fights but his combination of insane punching power and Olympic-caliber judo will be too much for the aging veteran in this one.
Simply put Henderson is not the elite talent he once was and Lombard despite a pedestrian record still has the youth and power on his side to make Hendo look bad.
MMA Betting Pick: Hector Lombard -350
UFC 199: Dustin Poirier (19-4): -225 vs. Bobby Green (23-6): +175
The Pay-Per-View card begins with a Lightweight battle between former featherweight standout Dustin Poirier and veteran Bobby Green. Poirier is 3-0 since moving up in weight class while Green hasn’t been inside the Octagon in 19 months.
Green brings a terrific wrestling pedigree and diverse striking game but his recent inactivity and the fact that his is up against a motivated and talented opponent in Poirier makes me think the veteran could be in trouble here.
Poirier has been impressive for sure – his recent win against Joe Duffy was enough for me to think that Dustin may be on a path toward a possible Lightweight Title shot.
Consider Green a stepping stone.
MMA Betting Pick: Dustin Poirier -225
UFC 199: Preliminary Card: (FS1 – 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT)
Cole Miller (21-9): -190 vs. Alex Caceres (11-8, 1NC): +
MMA Betting Pick: Cole Miller -190
Brian Ortega (10-0, 1NC): -265 vs. Clay Guida (32-16): +205
MMA Betting Pick: Brian Ortega -265
Beneil Dariush (12-2): -185 vs. James Vick (9-0): +150
MMA Betting Pick: Beneil Dariush -185
Jessica Penne (12-3): -155 vs. Jessica Andrade (13-5): +125
MMA Betting Pick: Jessica Andrade +125
UFC 199: Preliminary Card: (UFC Fight Pass – 6:15 p.m. ET/3:15 p.m PT)
Sean Strickland (17-1): -115 vs. Tom Breese (10-0): -115
MMA Betting Pick: Sean Strickland -115
Jonathan Wilson (7-0): -210 vs. Luiz Henrique da Silva (10-0): +170
MMA Betting Pick: Luiz Henrique da Silva +170
Kevin Casey (9-4, 2NC): -105 vs. Elvis Mutapcic (15-4): -125
MMA Betting Pick: Kevin Casey -105
Dong Hyun Kim (13-7-3): -110 vs. Marco Polo Reyes (5-2): -120
MMA Betting Pick: Dong Hyun Kim -110
