MMA-NEWS.NET TOP TEN HEAVYWEIGHTS
By John Gagne
Jackson Vs Jardine: Can the “Dean of Mean” handle the “Rampage”?
By John Gagne
This Saturday we have a very intriguing match up in the UFC light heavyweight division. Keith Jardine is facing off against Quinton Jackson. If this fight doesn’t have the potential to be a slugfest I don’t know what does. A lot rides on this match. It may catapult Jardine to title contention. Which Jardine has already stated he will not fight his friend Rashad Evans current UFC light heavyweight champ. So this win may see the return of Jardine to the heavyweight division. Unless Lyoto Machida is next in line, and can knock off Rashad it doesn’t appear to be a great scenario for Jardine. We also have a chance for Jackson to gain his second title shot. I know the match up I want to see is Jackson vs. Evans.
There will be a few main factors that will help determine the outcome of this fight. The first being the ability for Jardine to confuse his opponents with his awkward and sometimes “herky jerky” style, if Jardine can do that it will be a long night for Jackson.
The second is Jackson’s sheer aggression. He comes out guns blazing looking for any way to win the fight except maybe a submission. If he can stay inside, push the pace and block Jardine’s low kicks I think the night looks good for Jackson.
The third is momentum, and both guys are coming off very big wins. While Jackson’s was much more impressive and propelled him much higher up in the light heavyweight division. Even though a win is a win, Jardine was not that impressive against a slipping Brandon Vera. If you base this fight on the last fights of each guy, hands down Jackson takes this.
Both of these competitors have the chance to put on a great show. But we have seen these guys perform worse than there capabilities on a few occasions. I would not put a win past either man, but Jackson just brings more to the table. Jackson takes the win via TKO in the fourth minute of the second round.
If you are looking to bet on this fight the odds are not very favorable for us. With Jackson being a pretty heavy favorite at -350. I would stay away unless you don’t mind putting up $1050 to make 300. I know my confidence in “Rampage” is high enough to take that, but is yours?
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John’s UFC 96 Predictions and Worth the bet! |
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UFC 96 Fight |
John’s Pick |
Method |
Round |
Minute |
Worth the bet? |
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Quinton Jackson vs Keith Jardine |
Winner: Quinton Jackson |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
4 |
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Matt Hamil vs Mark Munoz |
Winner: Matt Hamill |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
3 |
|
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Gabriel Gonzaga vs Shane Carwin |
Winner: Gabriel Gonzaga |
Submission |
3 |
3 |
|
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Tim Boetsch vs Jason Brilz |
Winner: Tim Boetsch |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
2 |
|
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Michael Patt vs Brandon Vera |
Winner Brandon Vera |
Technical Knock Out |
1 |
3 |
Not Worth It |
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Tamdan McCroy vs Ryan Madigan |
Winner: Tamdan McCroy |
Technical Knock Out |
1 |
4 |
Not Worth It |
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Shane Nelson vs Aaron Riley |
Winner: Aaron Riley |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
3 |
|
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Kendall Grove vs Jason Day |
Winner: Kendall Grove |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
3 |
|
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Grey Maynard vs Jim Miller |
Winner: Grey Maynard |
Unanimous Decision |
3 |
5 |
|
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Pete Sell vs Matt Brown |
Winner: Pete Sell |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
3 |
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WEC: BROWN vs GARCIA (REVIEW)
By John Gagne
Last night we saw an amazing performance by Mike Brown. He has now defeated a top contender and may be called a true champion now. However, the show put on by Leonard Garcia was anything but impressive. He looked over confident and left himself open for that huge right hand the sent him to the mat. I am sure he will learn from this and become a much stronger fighter, just as he did after losing to Roger Huerta in the UFC.
Ricardo Lamas put on a great show with amazing wrestling skills and top control that led him to a decision vicorty over Bart Palaszewski. This should jump Lamas up in the WEC ranks, one or two more fights at this level he should get a title shot.
Jose Aldo looked great in his fight, as did Damacio Page. Both guys came out throwing heavy leather and ended up landing big shots. Hopefully we will see another step up in competition for these two,
With the worst fight of the night going to Rob McCullough and Marcus Hicks, both men looked lazy. There was about 3 minutes of actual action in this fight, then a lot of moving around the ring with nothing much more to add. I think they need to put Rob in a fight with a more aggressive fighter first. If the WEC wants to give him another title shot. With his performance last night he is not ready.
As for my picks I went 8 for 10 bringing me back up in to the high 70% range. While my betting advice stayed the same with 77%, I will look to the next UFC to improve on both of my averages.
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John’s WEC Brown vs Garcia Predictions and Worth the bet! |
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Fight |
John’s Pick |
Method |
Round |
Minute |
Worth the bet? |
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Leonard Garcia vs Mike Brown |
Winner: Mike Brown |
Submission |
3 |
5 |
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Bart Palaszewski vs Ricardo Lamas |
Winner: Bart Palaszewski |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
3 |
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Chris Mickle vs Jose Aldo |
Winner: Jose Aldo |
Submission |
1 |
2 |
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Rob McCullough vs Marcis Hicks |
Winner: Rob McCullough |
Unanimous Decision |
3 |
5 |
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Phil Cardella vs Danny Castillo |
Winner: Danny Castillo |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
3 |
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Marcos Galvao vs Damacio Page |
Winner Damacio Page |
Technical Knock Out |
1 |
4 |
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Kenji Osawa vs Rafael Rebello |
Winner: Kenji Osawa |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
3 |
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Mike Budnik vs John Franchi |
Winner: Mike Budnik |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
3 |
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Justin Haskins vs Mike Pierce |
Winner: Mike Pierce |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
3 |
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Alex Serduykov vs Johny Hendricks |
Winner: Johny Hendricks |
Technical Knock Out |
2 |
4 |
Not Worth It |
(UPDATED) MMA-NEWS.NET TOP TEN WELTERWEIGHTS
By John Gagne
1. GEORGES ST. PIERRE
2. THIAGO ALVES
3. JON FITCH
4. JAKE SHIELDS
5. JOSH KOSCHECK
6. MATT HUGHES
7. MATT SERRA
8. CARLOS CONDIT
9. PAULO THIAGO
10. DAN HARDY
UFC 95: THE REVIEW
By John Gagne
Last night we witnessed one of the biggest upsets in the UFC since GSP vs Serra. The relatively unknown Brazilian Paulo Thiago knocked out Josh Koscheck in the very first round.
We also saw Dan Hardy show us some very heavy hands with his KO of Rory Markham. That is a big win for Hardy. Even though Markham is new to the UFC he has faced top-notch guys. He is also a golden gloves boxer, and to be out boxed by a man who supposedly has no hands, it was huge for Hardy to win in such decisive fashion.
Junior Dos Santos showed he is going to be a force to reckon with in the heavyweight division. Terry Etim also showed he deserves a step up in competition with his impressive victory.
Two of the best middleweights did battle Saturday. Nate Marquardt took 3 rounds to finish off tough competitor Wilson Gouveia. While Demian Maia only needed one round to throw Chael Sonnen to the mat and triangle his way to victory. I feel that Maia and Marquardt are the two guys that should be up next for Silva’s title, if he gets past Thales Leites. A number one contender match should be held in May.
My bets were 7 for 10. I lost the Hardy fight, the Eklund fight and the Koscheck fight. This now puts my winning percentage in the mid 70% range. While my bet or not picks are still in the low 80% range, Ill be looking to get into the 80% range all around in the upcoming weeks.
DIEGO SANCHEZ: BETTER OFF AT 155?
By John Gagne
Since Diego has been in the UFC he has chose to fight out of his weight class since. He was never a big middleweight when he won the first season of TUF. When he dropped to welterweight I thought he would be much better suited for that division. But his last four fights have been less then stellar. Two of those four were losses, and the other two were less than impressive wins over sub-par competition.
Now we have a chance to see Diego to perform at what I believe is his true weight class. He will be large for a lightweight, a lot larger than he was at welterweight. He will finally have a chance to fight guys smaller than him.
However, his first test will not be an easy one. He will take on Joe Stevenson, who has been on a slight decline as of late. Hopefully this fight will get Diego to realize that this weight class will suit his style and size better.
He already holds a win over number one contender Kenny Florian. Although that fight took place at middleweight, and Kenny has grown amensly as a fighter. The potential for a rematch at lightweight already has me wondering who will take it.
I also believe this move to lightweight creates a more realistic chance for Diego to attain a UFC title. He lost to the number three and four welterweight fighters, so that leads me to believe he would lose to GSP. Considering GSP beat both of the fighters that beat Diego. Sanchez can match up well with anyone in that weight class. He has a very good ground game. Both in submissions and submission defense, and both sides of the wrestling game, as well as cardio for days. If he an tune his striking game a little more he has a chance to fight for the lightweight title by the end of 2009 beginning of 2010.