Jake’s Punch Line UFC 241

In the city of fallen angels we come to see 2 men fighting for the title of Heavyweight GOAT. I am so goddamn excited for this card I can barely contain myself. I have been shitting on Dana in my last few blogs for how horrible the cards have been, but clearly he just wanted to put everything on this card. There is not a fight on the Main Card or Prelims that I am not jazzed about. We are in for 6 straight hours of violence and I am going to enjoy every second of it. I have a feeling I’m just setting myself disappointment because whenever there is a good card on paper, people just decide not to perform. But fuck that mentality because next weekend is the first weekend in like 3 months that doesn’t have a UFC card so this needs to more than make up for that.

Stipe vs Cormier 2, Pettis vs Diaz, Romero vs Costa, like come the fuck on these are guys that want to exchange that can and will finish fights. Arguably, the best top 3 of a card that includes only 1 title shot in recent memory. Assuncao vs Sandhagen is on the fucking prelims, and it’s not even the featured prelim! That is just unreal for a card to have been put together like this, when everything has seemed like an afterthought as of late. These picks are some of the hardest I’ve ever had to make. I am going against guys I really like in favor of just a better bet, which I normally never do, but I am trying to eat this month instead of going to sleep in lieu of dinner.

Let’s get this show on the road, here are my picks for the evening:

Main Card

Daniel Cormier vs Stipe Miocic Heavyweight Bout

Today redemption is spelt STIPE. Or it’s not. Daniel Cormier is such an incredible fighter it’s frustrating. He is the nicest guy in the promotion, a great father, great analyst, and just a great guy; but I can’t fucking stand him and I don’t know why. Maybe it’s because Jones was my favorite fighter back in the day before all the nonsense, maybe it’s because it’s hard to watch a fat dad beat up on peak athletes (I should love that, I’m a fat dude), or maybe I just hate that he is friends with that twat Luke Rockhold, I don’t know, but I want him to lose oh so bad. Cormier went and beat the breaks off of Derrick Lewis since their last fight but that doesn’t impress me all that much.

Stipe hasn’t fought since their last matchup, but looks to be in far better shape than he was in their last bout. He is the lightest he has ever fought at, but looks stronger. The biggest issue Stipe had in their last bout was he let Cormier fight his fight. Kept him in the clinch and landed big shots on the break. He has to look back to the Jones fights, you have to keep your distance and land, make it a points fight until you have the opportunity to finish it. Cormier has never lost to a single person not named Jon Jones, so it is really tough to say if anyone has the ability to do it outside of him.

I think Stipe has learned from his mistakes. He won’t let Cormier dictate the pace or distance and will piece him up. It is a tough decision to make considering Cormier hasn’t looked touchable at heavyweight, but Stipe has an opportunity to knock him down a peg or 10. Lock it in for Stipe.

Stipe Miocic by 4th Round TKO +125 1 unit

Nate Diaz vs Anthony Pettis Welterweight Bout

Man if this fight was 4 years ago at 155 it would be the headliner of a top PPV. It clearly isn’t but that doesn’t mean it won’t be an incredible fight. Both men are going in there trying to cement a place in this division. Diaz hasn’t fought since the second McGregor fight where he lost a questionable decision. Pettis in his last bout knocked the karate out of Wonderboy in what was a pretty one sided fight before that. This is such a tough call between 2 legends, but I am giving the edge to Pettis. Diaz in my opinion isn’t all that great of a fighter. He is super fun to watch, has a tough chin, and is a great grappler, but he doesn’t have the power to put Pettis away and that will be his doing-in in this fight.

Anthony Pettis by 3rd Round TKO -164 2 units

Yoel Romero vs Paulo Costa Middleweight Bout

This is a fight straight out of a movie. The 2 most cut beefy dudes duking it out for a potential title shot (probably not if Yoel wins). Paulo Costa has never lost or waited to hear a judge’s decision. The man walks into the octagon with no intention of letting the fight go the distance. He is a brutal striker and a competent grappler who is looking to prove he is more than just an outrageously cut physique. Romero is an olympic wrestler with terrifying power in his hands.  Outside of Bobby Knuckles, he has terrorized this weight class with devastating knockouts. Romero wants to show that he still belongs in this weight class and isn’t too old to destroy the young guns. I am feeling weird on this one, and am going with Costa. There isn’t much reason to every bet against Yoel Romero but this is one of the few guys he’s been matched up with that can match his strength. Let’s make some money off the underdogs on this one.

Paulo Costa by 2nd Round TKO +175 1 unit

Gabriel Benitez vs Sodiq Yusuff Featherweight Bout

Sodiq Yusuff by Decision -350 3 units

Derek Brunson vs Ian Heinisch Middleweight Bout

Ian Heinisch by Decision -240 2 units

Prelims

Devonte Smith vs Khama Worthy Lightweight Bout

Devonte Smith by 1st Round TKO -750 1 unit (just stupid to put too much money on odds like that)

Raphael Assuncao vs Cory Sandhagen Bantamweight Bout

Raphael Assuncao by decision +155 1 unit (Unreal line for one of the best fighters in the weight class)

Christos Giagos vs Drakkar Klose Lightweight Bout

Drakkar Klose by Decision -200 2 units

Manny Bermudez vs Casey Kenney Catchweight (140) Bout

Manny Bermudez by 2nd Round Submission -135 2 units

Early Prelims

Hannah Cifers vs Jodie Esquibel Strawweight Bout

Hannah Cifers by 2nd Round TKO -175 2 units

Kang Kyung-Ho vs Brandon Davis Bantamweight Bout

Brandon Davis by Decision +155 1 unit

Sabina Mazo vs Shana Dobson Flyweight Bout

Sabina Mazo by Decision Even 1 unit

That’s it for this awesome night of fights. Got this in just under the wire, I hope I did enough to get us some money. Also if you made it this far, look up Ian Heinisch’s story, dude has had a wild ride. May luck be your lady tonight.