Thursday, November 14, 2013

UFC 167 Prediction



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.

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