Gamble responsively. Why? Because weeks like last week will happen. The world will fall on your head when Charles Johnson decides to become the greatest, most awkward 135 pound boxer of all time. Oh, and don’t forget, Chuck Buffalo breaking my poor, little heart again. The damages have already been covered, don’t worry about me. 4-9 to kickoff the commencement of all instinct, shooting from the hip, roping and riding 2024 isn’t ideal but we will bounce back.
Daniel Marcos vs. Aori Qileng
There’s something so punchable about a Daniel. I’ve said this before. Smug, condescending bastards is what they usually are. From the original one to now. “Oh, look at me, I can tame lions.” “Oh, look at me, my name means ‘God is my judge.’” “Oh, look at me, I can interpret dreams.” Attention seekers the lot of them. Daniel Marcos has gotten away with not fighting in his last three scheduled bouts due to some late pullouts. He’s been lucky, but the UFC isn’t going to let him be that lucky. They’re going to feed him to another pressure fighter with a chin. I like it. Aoriqileng is an underdog because Marcos has more versatility in his striking, but I think it won’t matter in the face of pressure. From the hip 2024.
Fernie Garcia vs. Hyder Amil
Amil was scheduled to fight Baghdasaryan which should tell you what the UFC think about his talent level. They’re now feeding him Fernie…the -190 line is easily worth it. Amil is built like a Lego. All head. He also has insane wrestling pace. I like that combination over three rounds.
Zac Pauga vs. Bogdan Guskov
I won last week from an overweight heavy weight, I’ll take my chances again. Guskov fought cans in the Siberian tundra in front of a bunch of alcoholics. The odds are the odds. -125 Pauga.
Devin Clark vs. Marcin Prachnio
Brown bear wins because he’s the better MMA fighter and Prachnio has no fight IQ. The line is the line because they want your money. They want you to bet against the boring guy with the boring name. -250 Clark makes sense but you won’t find me near it because I don’t want to fall asleep while I bet.
Loma Lookboonmee vs. Bruna Brasil
Double LL hits so fucking hard. Muay Thai is wonderful. The roots, the culture, the training, the ideology. Brutal martial art and Double LL is one of the best. Hammer, hammer, hammer (I don’t care what the line is).
Bolaji Oki vs. Timothy Cuamba
Oki is a big light weight while Cuamba was a guy struggling to make feather weight. Keep that in mind and add to it that Oki has been improving his wrestling. There’s some great MMA coming out of Central Europe (Belgium, Switzerland, Netherlands, France). Oki ML.
Trevin Giles vs. Carlos Prates
I saw Prates in the contender series and that’s all I really had to do in terms of research to prep for this fight. Then, I watched his fights in Brazil. He’s not just on a streak, he’s on a war path. Giles makes sense as a match up just so the UFC can up Prates’ star. Prates ML.
Rodolfo Vieira vs. Armen Petrosyan
I’m going to forgive Armen for the late cancellation of his last fight with Vieira by once again gambling my money on him. Armen is just a better MMA fighter. Also, Armenian excellence, baby.
Michael Johnson vs. Darrius Flowers
I don’t care anymore, I rep STL. On the weekends, when nobody is watching, I disappear and travel to the Lou. A jazz piano plays while I chuckle about old memories and old regrets. The cycles of life. You are what you were. I can’t help but swing for the fences at Busch, at Kauffman, at Fenway. You are what you were and Michael Johnson is still a junkyard dog. As it ever was. I don’t care about the age, or the damage, give me the arch on my chest. Michael Johnson ML.
Brad Tavares vs. Gregory Rodrigues
Robocop! Robocop! Robocop! Tavares is a body builder, let’s face it. Working on your splits and super sets isn’t going to work when an orc is barreling straight at you relentlessly. An orc with ADCC championship level jiu-jitsu who, by the way, doesn’t want to use it because he just likes a slobberknocker that much. An orc who fought half a fight punch drunk, with his eye brow hanging off…that orc. Tavares works with a great camp but he won’t be able to handle robocop. Rodrigues TKO/KO.
Robert Bryczek vs. Ihor Potieria
I know people are hyping up Bryczek but my gut tells me Potieria because he’s so weird (both physically and stylistically). Potieria is an underdog so why not? Why not?
Dan Ige vs. Andre Fili
I think this is going to be an incredibly close fight. I’m going to go with Ige because of the power factor but that’s it. I think Fili has sharpened his at-distance striking a lot in the last two years so that makes me nervous over 3 rounds. Ige is ok money but don’t be surprised if it goes to the judges and you end up sad.
Jack Hermansson vs. Joe Pyfer
The Joe Pyfer hate is unwarranted. The guy was living in his car, have a heart. Just because Dana backs him doesn’t mean he’s an industry plant. I think Pyfer is the real deal in terms of both fighting a visually pleasing fight for judges and skill. He hits hard, we know that, but that’s not it with Pyfer. I think he’s a well rounded on the ground and that’s not going to bode well for Hermansson. This is 5 rounds and I just don’t see Jack having the gas tank to impose his style on Pyfer over 25 minutes. -250 is steep but I don’t see any other result.