What is up fight fans?!?! We have a wicked pissah even for this evening taking place in the ok city of Boston. Seldom do we get UFC cards on a Friday night, but I am all for it. Leave me Saturday and Sunday to watch football. Tonight’s main event sees former middleweight champ Chris Weidman move up to light heavyweight to take on the young and unbeaten Dominic Reyes. After that we have a pretty stacked card including arguably the biggest piece of shit on the UFC roster Greg Hardy. Most of the lines on this card are extremely even so we have the opportunity to win actual money on favorites, which we have normally been odds’d out (a term I may have come up with when the favorite is too heavy for me to touch) for me. Last week I put up a very respectable 10-4, which makes everyone forget the 2-9 that may or may not have happened the previous week.
Let’s just get to the picks and cut out some of the fluff:
Main Card
Dominick Reyes vs Chris Weidman Light Heavyweight Bout
This is a freaking awesome fight. I love Chris Weidman, a Strong Island guy, his cousin was my high school lacrosse coach, he was probably the first fighter I became a diehard fan of. He has had a real tough go of things in his recent fights. He has come out the gate looking good winning the first round and then falls flat and just gets worked. I saw him fight Kelvin live and Jacare live, with extremely different outcomes in each. Weidman is an all class wrestler that just hates to use it. He wants to stand and trade while having wrestling in his back pocket.
Dominick Reyes is a beast. I personally think he lost his last fight against Volkan, but outside of that, nothing has been even close. Only 3 out of his 11 fights have made it to the judges with 6 knockouts and 2 submissions, the man knows to not leave it to the judges. With a big jump in competition (outside of Jared Cannonier who seems reborn at middleweight) he has had a harder time finishing his opponents.
Reyes absolutely and obviously has every striking advantage in this fight. Their reach is comparable but he is the bigger fighter and is more used to this size of opponent than Weidman is. With that being said, I think this is the time we get to see Weidman work his wrestling chops again. With the height disadvantage he is able to carry more muscle, additionally not having to cut as much weight should have his cardio in a much better place. Sure this could be picking him just because I am a big fan, but I really think he manages to grind out championship round submission in this battle. Lock it in.
Chris Weidman by 4th Round Submission +150 1 unit
Yair Rodriguez vs Jeremy Stephens Featherweight Bout
If you call this fight Rodriguez vs Stephens 2 fuck you and everything you stand for. Picking this fight from what I have seen has basically been picking which fighter you hate less. They are both pretty fucking annoying, and are over blowing this whole skirmish they had over eyegate. Yair is the more well rounded fighter and if this fight goes to the judges he will win. But I ain’t watching no fights to see this go to the judges. Stephen’s has absolute bombs in each of his hands and he wants to use em especially after all that has transpired. Yair’s best win was over Korean Zombie, a fight he was losing for 24 minutes and 59 seconds (For anyone that bet on TKZ in that fight, I am so sorry), his other big win over Dan Hooker was at featherweight and 4 years ago before his renaissance and ascent to his current status. Let’s ride with Lil Heathen on this one.
Jeremy Stephens by 2nd Round TKO +110 1 unit
Greg Hardy vs Ben Sosoli Heavyweight Bout
Fuck Greg Hardy. He is a bad, bad person. He never got to face any punishment for his actions and has barely been touched by these tomato cans Dana has been putting him up against. Ben Sosoli on the other hand seems like a really nice dude who is just trying to go out there and make a name for himself in the biggest MMA promotion in the world. Sosoli is a great boxer but only stands at 6’0 to Hardy’s 6’5. I hate to say it but Greg Hardy will most likely win this fight. He is an incredible athlete and has a devastating amount of power in his hands with every strike. That being said, fuck that guy. I will never pick him in one of my blogs. First of all, because he is a terrible person, second of all, because he has been a pretty tremendous favorite in most of them, and lastly, because I want to be on the right side of history when he finally faces punishment for his crimes. Lets ride with the Aussie.
Ben Sosoli by 2nd Round TKO +265 1 unit
Joe Lauzon vs Jonathan Pearce Lightweight Bout
This is a pretty sad fight. Joe Lauzon who is an absolute legend in MMA has been on a steep decline over the past few years. He joined the UFC in 2006. I hadn’t even been bar mitzvahed yet. He has dropped 3 straight in and his only win in his last 5 was a split decision. Joe hasn’t fought in over a year coming off of 2 brutal TKOs. Jonathan Pearce is a young up and coming fighter who got on the roster after a big win on DWCS. Pearce has finished every single fight he has been in and I really don’t see the results changing in this one. Sorry Joe, but I unfortunately thing it’s time to hangem up.
Jonathan Pearce by 3rd Round TKO -175 2 units
Maycee Barber vs Gillian Robertson Flyweight Bout
It might be shocking to hear but Maycee Barber is actually fighting Gillian Robertson not PVZ tonight. I know it surprised me too with how much real estate PVZ has in her head. I by all means think Maycee is the more talented fighter, but she is moving up in weight, facing a much stronger opponent than she is used to. Her mind does not seem focused on the right things leading into this and it will be her undoing tonight. Gillian will take advantage, coming from one of the best gyms in the country and control this fight.
Gillian Robertson by Decision +130 1 unit
Deron Winn vs Darren Stewart Middleweight Bout
How in the fuck does a 5’7 fighter not make weight?!?!? Like are you kidding me? Did DC not teach him the ole hand on the towel trick? Deron Winn has no business being in this weight class in the first place at this height, let alone to miss weight in it. I think Deron is an incredible fighter, his wrestling is probably second in the weight class only to Yoel (now that Weidman’s gone), and he has a decent amount of power in his hands, but he is fighting a man 5 inches taller who also managed to make weight. Winn didn’t impress me too much against Spicely in his debut, Stewart TKO’d Spicely in the second round (MMA math is stupid but still). I know guys that iss weight usually win, but I think Stewart takes this one and slows down the Winn Wagon (™ Pending).
Darren Stewart by Decision +110 1 unit
Prelims
Charles Rosa vs Manny Bermudez Featherweight Bout
Manny Bermudez by 2nd Round Submission -150 2 units
Molly McCann vs Diana Belbita Flyweight Bout
Molly McCann by Decision -520 3 units
Kyle Bochniak vs Sean Woodson Featherweight Bout
Sean Woodson by 3rd Round TKO -110 1 unit
Randy Costa vs Boston Salmon Bantamweight Bout
Randy Costa by 1st Round TKO +130 1 unit
Court McGee vs Sean Brady Welterweight Bout
Sean Brady by Decision -180 2 units
Brendan Allen vs Kevin Holland Middleweight Bout
Kevin Holland by Decision -150 2 units
Daniel Spitz vs Tanner Boser Heavyweight Bout
Daniel Spitz by 2nd Round TKO +125 1 unit
That is all from me folks. I feel like these are some good picks, there are really no enormous lines outside of Molly McCann so you won’t feel like an idiot taking a favorite and losing. As always there are some sexy unders on this card with a ton of them being the dog. If you are going to bet the unders like a degenerate, make sure not to bet on the winner of that fight also, it only hurts more when they both miss. Trust my vast experience in this field. This should be a really entertaining card and we are fortunate that it has a slightly earlier start time than normal. Hope these picks can fatten up your greasy pockets and as always, may luck be your lady tonight.