Looking for UFC 198 Picks? You’ve come to the right place! UFC 198 goes down this weekend in Brazil and features some of the most beloved Brazilian fighters of all time. The Heavyweight belt will be on the line, Vitor Belfort will try to climb the Middleweight ladder and Anderson Silva will be back to once again attempt to kickstart a comeback for his legendary career.
Event: UFC 198: “Werdum vs. Miocic”
Date: Sat., May 14, 2016
Location: Arena da Baixada stadium in Curitiba, Brazil
Broadcast: Pay-Per-View, FOX Sports 1, Fight Pass
One thing we know is that there will be fireworks in Curitiba – let’s take a look at what should play out in what has potential to be one of the better cards this year.
Main Card (on PPV)
Fabricio Werdum (20-5-1): -160 vs. Stipe Miocic (14-2): +130
Fabricio Werdum defends his Heavyweight Title on Saturday night for the first time since taking the strap from Cain Velazquez almost a year ago. His opponent – Stipe Miocic who arrives off TKO wins against Mark Hunt and Andrei Arlovski.
Werdum has been on a roll – he hasn’t been beaten in five years (6 fights) and looks like the most well-rounded fighter in the division right now.
He has beaten the likes of Roy Nelson, Travis Browne, Mark Hunt, Alistair Overeem, Fedor Emelianenko and Gabriel Gonzaga over that span. It’s true that Miocic has a varied skill-set (a Golden Gloves Title and an NCAA Division I wrestling pedigree) but not nearly to the level of Werdum.
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This fight could go either way – both men have show that they aren’t afraid to stand in the middle of the Octagon and bang – both have decent ground skills.
While I think there is a chance for the upset, I just can’t ignore Werdum’s experience in top company and I can’t get past his submission game.
My guess is that this fight ends up on the mat and Werdum uses his enormous advantage over his opponent there and submits Miocic. Stipe depends on his opponents having a suspect chin – Werdum is as tough as they come right now.
MMA Betting Pick: Fabricio Werdum -160
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (22-4): -310 vs. Vitor Belfort (25-11): +240
Vitor Belfort and his history of drug suspensions, ugly losses and some spectacular wins steps back in the Octagon Saturday somehow staring down the possibility of another title shot.
He will have to get by Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza who has won five of six fights since entering the UFC (the lone loss came in split decision fashion to Yoel Romero who was suspended not long after because of a failed drug test).
Belfort will try to bring his patented aggressive style into the Octagon but that may spell doom for the veteran. Souza’s striking game has improved dramatically over the years and his submission game is top-tier.
I suppose Belfort could catch Souza with one of his home-run shots but it is more likely that the well-rounded Jacare takes care of business on Saturday.
Simply put Souza’s power, his size and his all-around ability will be too much for Vitor in what could reasonably be his last fight.
MMA Betting Pick: Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza -310
Anderson Silva (33-7, 1 NC): -140 vs. Uriah Hall (12-6): +110
Former pound-for-pound UFC gatekeeper Anderson Silva will try to get his career back on track Saturday when he takes one of the more gifted fighters in the organization Uriah Hall in Middleweight action.
For those of you expecting non-stop excitement, you may be waiting until the next fight! Anderson has lost the edge that made him one of the most dominant champions in history and Hall is too-often lulled into complacency inside the cage.
While both guys could produce a highlight-reel knockout along the way, this looks more like a tentative boxing match to me.
While I don’t love Silva at this point of his career, I am giving him the nod thanks to his experience in every type of fight imaginable. Hall may be the quicker of the two but I like Silva to summon some magic in front of his home town fans here.
MMA Betting Pick: Anderson Silva -140
Cris “Cyborg” Justino (15-1, 1 NC): -1200 vs. Leslie Smith (8-6-1): +700
Cris “Cyborg” Justino finally makes her long-awaited UFC debut Saturday in a catch-weight fight against Leslie Smith. Cyborg has been at the forefront of women’s MMA for quite some time now – her knockout power and brutality are legendary and now she gets to share that her skills on the biggest stage.
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Cyborg is well-known for her striking but what is overlooked is her technicality and her brute strength.
Leslie Smith is the first UFCer to find this out – expect Smith to be overpowered in every aspect of this fight and for her night to end early. Cyborg is a beast! This one won’t be close.
MMA Betting Pick: Cris “Cyborg” Justino -1200
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua (23-10): +185 vs. Corey Anderson (8-1): -230
Mauricio “Shogun” Rua enters the Octagon to perhaps the last time on Saturday when he takes on young, up and coming TUF 19 winner Corey Anderson in Light Heavyweight action.
Simply put, Rua looks as though he is well past his prime while Anderson, although he hasn’t exactly lit the Octagon on fire is the more fit and more impressive fighter at this point.
I expect Anderson to lean on Rua and wear the veteran out en route to a boring decision win. It won’t be pretty folks which plays right into Anderson’s style.
Rua doesn’t have much left in the tank – Saturday will be further proof of that.
MMA Betting Pick: Corey Anderson -235
Prelims (on FS1)
Demian Maia (22-6): -300 vs. Matt Brown (20-13): +230
MMA Betting Pick: Demian Maia -300
Warlley Alves (10-0): -550 vs. Bryan Barberena (11-3): +375
MMA Betting Pick: Warlley Alves -550
Thiago “Marreta” Santos (12-3): -360 vs. Nate Marquardt (34-15-2): +270
MMA Betting Pick: Thiago “Marreta” Santos -360
John Lineker (26-7): -200 vs. Rob Font (12-1): +160
MMA Betting Pick: John Lineker -200
Prelims (on Fight Pass)
Antonio Rogerio Nogueira (21-7): +195 vs. Patrick Cummins (8-3): -250
MMA Betting Pick: Patrick Cummins -250
Francisco Trinaldo (19-4): -210 vs. Yancy Medeiros (12-3, 1NC): +170
MMA Betting Pick: Francisco Trinaldo -210
Sergio Moraes (10-2): -400 vs. Luan Chagas (14-1): +300
MMA Betting Pick: Sergio Moraes -400
Renato Moicano (9-0-1): +170 vs. Zubaira Tukhugov (18-3): -210
MMA Betting Pick: Zubaira Tukhugov -210