UFC 167
Predictions
November
14, 2013
By Ryan
Porzl
Gian
Villante vs. Cody Donovan
Nickname: None | Donnybrook
Height: 6'2 | 6'3
Age: 28 | 32
MMA
Record (UFC): 10-4 (0-1) | 8-3 (0-1)
Arm
Length: 76 in. | 74
in.
Team: Bellmore Kickboxing Academy | Grudge Training
Center
Weight
Class: Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)
Notes:
Villante is replacing Robert Drysdale.
Preview:
Vellante is coming off a loss to Ovince St-Preux by technical
majority decision at UFC 159 (April 27, 2013). Donovan is coming off
a loss to Ovince St-Preux by KO at UFC Fight Night: Sonnen vs. Shogun
(August 17, 2013).
Predictions:
Villante.
Villante is taking this fight on short notice but it may not matter.
Villante is a big light heavyweight with very a good wrestling
background. He's also gotten better with his standup and won most of
his fights by knockout. Donovan also has a glaring weakness as his
chin isn't the best. In fact, all three of his losses have come via
knockout or TKO with one being a corner stoppage.
Will
Campuzano vs. Sergio Pettis
Nickname: None | The Phenom
Height: 5'9 | 5'6
Age: 27 | 20
MMA
Record (UFC): 13-4 (0-2) | 9-0 (0-0)
Arm
Length: 70 in. | 69 in.
Team: Team Alpha Male | Roufusport
Weight
Class: Bantamweight (135 pounds)
Notes:
Pettis' UFC debut. Campuzano's first UFC fight since UFC Fight For
The Troops 2 (January 22, 2011). Campuzano is replacing Vaughn Lee.
Preview:
Campuzano is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over
Hideo Tokoro by split decision at Vale Tudo Japan – VTJ 3rd
(October 5, 2013). Pettis is undefeated with nine wins. His recent
win was over James Porter by submission at NAFC: Battle in the
Ballroom (September 28, 2013).
Predictions:
Pettis. Pettis is the more
well-rounded as he's won an even amount of fights by knockout and
submission so he'll probably be more comfortable no matter where the
fight goes. Campuzano is more of a striker. Pettis has never lost so
he hasn't shown many weaknesses to date. He'll also be very motivated
for this fight since his brother recently became UFC Lightweight
Champion and he will want to carve out his own career and not be in
the shadow.
Jason
High vs. Anthony Lapsley
Nickname: The Kansas City Bandit | The Recipe
Height: 5'9 | 5'9
Age: 32 | 33
MMA
Record (UFC): 17-4 (1-2) | 22-5, 2NC (0-0)
Arm
Length: 73 in. | 72.5 in.
Team: American Top Team | Team Deadly
Jiu-Jitsu
Weight
Class: Welterweight (170 pounds)
Notes:
Lapsley's UFC debut.
Preview:
High is coming off a win over James Head by submission at UFC Fight
Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 (August 28, 2013). Lapsley is on a four
fight win streak. His recent win was over Gerald Meeschaert by
submission at Rocktagon MMA: Elite Series 23 (January 19, 2013).
Predictions:
High. Looking at both guys
records, you'll know what they want. Both prefer the ground and to
submit their opponents. Both are also very good wrestlers. Having
said all that, High is probably the one with the best chance to win.
He's a very good wrestler with a purple belt in brazilian jiu-jitsu
and better submission defense. His loss to Erick Silva earlier this
year was the first submission loss in his career while Lapsley is a
submission magnet as he's lost by submission four times.
Erik
Perez vs. Edwin Figueroa
Nickname: Goyito | El Feroz
Height: 5'8 | 5'7
Age: 23 | 29
MMA
Record (UFC): 13-5 (2-1) | 9-3 (2-3)
Arm
Length: 67 in. | 69 in.
Team: Jackson's MMA | Mohler MMA
Weight
Class: Bantamweight (135 pounds)
Notes:
Preview:
Perez is coming off a loss to Takeya Mizugaki by split decision at
UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann 2 (August 28, 2013). Figueroa is
riding a two fight losing streak. His recent loss was to Roland
Delorme by unanimous decision at UFC 161 (June 15, 2013).
Predictions:
Perez. Perez will be the most
comfortable no matter where the fight goes. He's mostly a ground guy
who wins fights by submission but has shown in his UFC career that he
can knock fighters out and has never been knocked out in his career.
Figueroa is pretty predictable. He's mostly a striker and he's going
to look for the knockout. It should also be noted that Perez has
never been knocked out while Figueroa suffered his first knockout
loss earlier this year.
Brian
Ebersole vs. Rick Story
Nickname: Bad Boy | The
Horror
Height: 6'0 | 5'10
Age: 32 | 29
MMA
Record (UFC): 50-15-1, 1NC (4-1) | 15-7 (8-5)
Arm
Length: 73 in. | 71 in.
Team: Tiger Muay Thai | Brave Legion
Weight
Class: Welterweight (170 pounds)
Notes:
Preview:
Ebersole is coming off a loss to James Head by split decision at UFC
149 (July 21, 2012). Story is coming off a loss to Mike Pyle by split
decision at UFC 160 (May 25, 2013).
Predictions:
Ebersole. Ebersole has been out
for over a year but I still think he'll take it. Ebersole is a big
welterweight with great wrestling and Story did struggle against Mike
Pyle who is another grappler. Ebersole also trains out of Tiger Muay
Thai in Thailand which should help him work on his striking. He's
also the more well-rounded having won over twenty fights by
submission and fourteen by knockout.
Ed
Herman vs. Thales Leites
Nickname: Short Fuse | None
Height: 6'2 | 6'1
Age: 33 | 32
MMA
Record (UFC): 21-9, 1NC (9-5, 1NC) | 21-4 (6-3)
Arm
Length: 75 in. | 78 in.
Team: Team Quest | Nova Uniao
Weight
Class: Middleweight (185 pounds)
Notes:
Preview:
Herman is coming off a win over Trevor Smith by split decision at UFC
on FOX: Johnson vs. Moraga (July 27, 2013). Leites is coming off a
win over Tom Watson by unanimous decision at UFC 163 (August 3,
2013).
Predictions:
Leites. Leites is a better
version of Herman. Both prefer grappling but Leites has better
brazilian jiu-jitsu than Herman. His takedowns are pretty good and
sneaky which throw opponents off guard. He's also got a great chin
and Herman isn't known for knocking opponents so he doesn't need to
worry about getting KOed.
Donald
Cerrone vs. Evan Dunham
Nickname: Cowboy | None
Height: 6'0 | 5'10
Age: 30 | 31
MMA
Record (UFC): 20-6, 1NC (7-3) | 14-4 (7-4)
Arm
Length: 73 in. | 70
in.
Team: Jackson'a MMA | Xtreme Couture
Weight
Class: Lightweight (155 pounds)
Notes:
Preview:
Cerrone is coming off a loss to Rafael dos Anjos by unanimous
decision at UFC Fight Night: Condit vs. Kampmann (August 28, 2013).
Dunham is coming off a loss to Rafael dos Anjos by unanimous decision
at UFC on FX: Belfort vs. Rockhold (May 18, 2013).
Predictions:
Dunham. It's hard to get behind Cerrone when he's had emotional
issues and it's affected his performances. Just when Cerrone gains
momentum, he bangs his head on the glass ceiling. Another problem
with Cerrone is the fact he's already considering a cut to
featherweight. You have to wonder if Cerrone will be focused on this
fight or if he will go through the motions since he gains nothing
from winning a fight in a weight division he won't be in for much
longer. Dunham is also an underrated talent. Cerrone has won most of
his fights by submission but Dunham has too and has excellent
takedown defense as well as submission defense. Dunham is also a
fighter who is a southpaw and can hold his own in striking.
Tim
Elliot vs. Ali Bagautinov
Nickname: None | Puncher
King
Height: 5'7 | 5'4
Age: 26 | 28
MMA
Record (UFC): 10-3-1 (2-1) | 11-2 (1-0)
Arm
Length: 67 in. | 65.5
in.
Team: Grindhouse MMA | Fight Nights
Team
Weight
Class: Flyweight (125 pounds)
Notes:
Preview:
Elliot is riding a two fight win streak. His recent win was over
Louis Gaudinot by unanimous decision at UFC 164 (August 31, 2013).
Bagautinov is riding a nine fight win streak. His recent win was over
Marcos Vinicius by TKO at UFC Fight Night: Teixeira vs. Bader
(September 4, 2013).
Predictions:
Bagautinov. Bagautinov is highly decorated in many forms of grappling
and martial arts. He holds a gold medal in combat sambo and won
honors in Hand-to-hand combat, wrestling, brazilian jiu-jitsu,
pankration, and grappling in FILA. It's going to be hard for Elliot
to prepare for an opponent with skills in hand-to-hand combat and
sambo since there's not a lot of martial artist in the United States
with that type of skillset. Bagutinov has also shown he hits very
hard and has submission skills. Bagautinov has also never been
finished in his career showing that he has a good chin and submission
defense.
Josh
Koscheck vs. Tyron Woodley
Nickname: Kos | T-Wood
Height: 5'10 | 5'9
Age: 35 | 31
MMA
Record (UFC): 19-7 (17-7) | 11-2 (1-1)
Arm
Length: 73 in. | 73
in.
Team: Dethrone Base Camp | American Top
Team
Weight
Class: Welterweight (170 pounds)
Notes:
Preview:
Koscheck is riding a two fight losing streak. His recent loss was to
Robbie Lawler by TKO at UFC 157 (February 23, 2013). Woodley is
coming off a loss to Jake Shields by split decision at UFC 161 (June
15, 2013).
Predictions:
Woodley. Koscheck was one of the best fighters in the world at one
point but those days are over. Koscheck has been battling injuries
for a while, he's getting older, and leaving AKA for Dethrone
probably has seen his training take a step down. Woodley is a
talented young guy with very good wrestling and can knock opponents
out. Koscheck is a great wrestler but he couldn't do much with Lawler
so he probably will struggle to control Woodley. Woodley will also
likely come into this fight very motivated since he's coming off a
lackluster fight and performance against Jake Shields. With UFC
cutting fighters especially those that are considered “boring”,
Woodley will likely give it his all since he has to think another
dull fight and loss could see him receiving his pink slip.
Bonus
Predictions:
After Koscheck loses, he will be cut and sign with WSOF in 2014. From
there, he'll reunite with close friend Jon Fitch and they will drive
Ray Sefo nuts by becoming top welterweights and refusing to fight
each other.
Rory
MacDonald vs. Robbie Lawler
Nickname: Ares | Ruthless
Height: 6'0 | 5'11
Age: 24 | 31
MMA
Record (UFC): 15-1 (6-1) | 21-9, 1NC (6-3)
Arm
Length: 76.5 in. | 74
in.
Team: Tristar Gym | American Top Team
Weight
Class: Welterweight (170 pounds)
Notes:
Preview:
MacDonald is riding a five fight win streak. His recent win was over
Jake Ellenberger by unanimous decision at UFC on FOX: Johnson vs.
Moraga (July 27, 2013). Lawler is riding a two fight win streak. His
recent win was over Bobby Voelker by KO at UFC on FOX: Johnson vs.
Moraga (July 27, 2013).
Predictions:
MacDonald. Simply put, MacDonald is on a whole other level than
Lawler. MacDonald has the reach advantage and as he showed in his
fight with Jake Ellenberger, he knows how to use it. Lawler has a lot
of power in his hands and MacDonald will likely be able to keep him
at bay with his reach. MacDonald is also good defensively as he has
good striking and takedown defense. Lawler's had a good comeback in
the UFC so far but MacDonald is a huge step up compared to Bobby
Voelker and even Josh Koscheck. MacDonald is a far better fighter
than Voelker and doesn't have the issues of Koscheck (age, injuries,
gym).
Rashad
Evans vs. Chael Sonnen
Nickname: Sugar | The
American Gangster
Height: 5'11 | 6'1
Age: 34 | 36
MMA
Record (UFC): 20-3-1 (13-3-1) | 29-13-1 (7-6)
Arm
Length: 75 in. | 74
in.
Team: Blackzilians | Reign Training Center
Weight
Class: Light Heavyweight (205 pounds)
Notes:
Preview:
Evans is coming off a win over Dan Henderson by split decision at UFC
161 (June 15, 2013). Sonnen is coming off a win over Mauricio Rua by
submission at UFC Fight Night: Sonnen vs. Shogun (August 17, 2013).
Predictions:
Sonnen. If Sonnen was fighting 2008-2010 Rashad, then I go with
Rashad. But this is 2013 Rashad. Rashad still has skill but it's
obvious he doesn't have the fire that he used to as shown in his
fight with Little Nog where he pulled out defeat from the jaws of
victory and his lackluster performance against Dan Henderson. Say
what you will about Sonnen but the guy still goes out there and gives
his best. You can have all the physical tools in the world but
without the fire, it doesn't mean anything. Sonnen has also since
relocated to California and began training at Reign Training Center
before the Rua fight. The new environment looks like it has done
Sonnen a lot of good. The same can't be said of Rashad as he hasn't
been able to recapture lightning in a bottle since his departure from
Jackson's MMA and arrival with the Blackzilians.
Georges
St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks
Nickname: Rush | Bigg Rigg
Height: 5'10 | 5'9
Age: 32 | 30
MMA
Record (UFC): 24-2 (18-2) | 15-1 (10-1)
Arm
Length: 76 in. | 69 in.
Team: Tristar Gym | Team Takedown
Weight
Class: Welterweight (170 pounds)
Notes:
For the UFC Welterweight Championship
Preview:
St-Pierre is riding an eleven fight win streak. His recent win was
over Nick Diaz by unanimous decision at UFC 158 (March 16, 2013).
Hendricks is riding a six fight wins streak. His recent win was over
Carlos Condit by unanimous decision at UFC 158 (March 16, 2013)
Predictions:
Hendricks. GSP is one of the all-time greats but Hendricks is
probably the biggest challenge he's faced. Hendricks is a former
three time NCAA Division I Champion which makes him the best wrestler
GSP has faced. He also has shown to have one punch knockout power.
GSP has also shown some vulnerabilities in his recent fights when he
got caught with a head kick by Condit and getting tired during his
fight with Diaz. In the past, GSP has also won fights by exposing a
weakness in his opponents such as striking with grapplers or
wrestling with strikers. But the problem is, where would GSP be at
his best? Does his strike and jab at an opponent with knockout power
that's as explosive as a powder keg or does he try to grapple with a
mult-time NCAA champion? Finally, you look at where both men are in
their careers, Hendricks looks like he'll be in the UFC for a long
time while GSP looks like a guy who's time is coming to an end. The
fact that he's doing movie roles and there are retirement rumors lead
me to believe that GSP is winding down his career and may not have
the same fire or passion he once had.
No comments:
Post a Comment