PPVs taught me many things in 2023. It’s good to learn things. Like having to lose a little bit of money in order to pump more equity into war stocks. This can be a positive thing although I’m realizing I can’t reshuffle my “portfolio” without offending anymore. Those bombs would get dropped with or without my investment in Lockheed Martin. Hedging my morality if anything. Get serious. Hard times are coming, so looking to go back private around July.
Dirty fight nights are back. This is where I belong. Las Vegas, early start, the apex, no-namers slugging it out. A lot of Eastern Europeans a lot of guys Uncle Dana is going to want to pump up the rankings.
Thomas Petersen vs. Jamal Pogues
Heavy weights to start the night should be how every card starts. The fatter, the better. It sets a tone, I think. 95% of the time it ends with someone going limp and I think fighters warming up in the locker room watching on an 18” plasma screen pre-fight make a mental note of that. You’re going out there to kill or be killed. I like Pogues by TKO/KO. Trains with a better team, faster, should be fine on the ground if it goes there.
Landon Quinones vs. Marquel Mederos
Staying away from betting big on this one although I like Mederos. Quinones has more UFC experience and needs a win so that worries me a bit. I think Marquel will be the better striker but Quinones might be the better athlete and grappler. Mederos ML at -150 or so makes sense.
JeongYeong Lee vs. Blake Bilder
Surprising line on this one. Bilder at +140 against a guy who hasn’t fought true UFC competition. Not to mention Bilder has better training partners. Semi-dumping on Bilder ML here.
Charles Johnson vs. Azat Maksum
Qazaq, the first “if you don’t know, now you know” of the card. Maksum isn’t one of these guys who comes out of Eastern Europe without ever tasting defeat just because he fought plumbers and carpenters. No, this kid (29) has fought good competition on the regional scene. Relentless grappling if he thinks that’s what the fight needs, solid Muay Thai if he has the advantage. Charles Johnson on the other hand is just not very good. He looked fine against Mokaev then fell off. Maksum is worth the -235.
Molly McCann vs. Diana Belbita
Neither of these ladies are going anywhere in terms of progressing their mixed martial arts careers. This fight is so uninteresting that I think it will be a banger. Both of them are truly as desperate as you can get for a win. Neither of them can hurt other human beings. It’s September football when everything is so clunky but somehow hits the spot. Belbita ML is worth it. She might manage range on Meatball Molly and win on points.
Gilbert Urbina vs. Charles Radtke
Chuck Buffalo broke my heart when he dismantled Blood Diamond. I won’t let him break my heart this time. Urbina is rangier, lands at a higher clip, works out of a solid gym, has fought better competition. I’m dying on my sword in 2024. All gut like a monkfish. Urbina by points or TKO/KO.
Aliaskhab Khizriev vs. Makhmud Muradov
The second of Uncle Dana’s prospects from Eastern Europe. This guy has world class grappling. World class. Undefeated, short king. However, he’s fighting a seasoned vet in Muradov who towers over him by 5 inches. I’m parlaying Azat and Khizriev along with betting Khizriev to win in the first 3 minutes of round one (+900). The Wolf arrives.
Randy Brown vs. Muslim Salikhov
I’ve written about this fight, I believe, but it was cancelled. Salikhov has a shot to win via old man strength but I think Randy has been getting better at using his range. Rude Boy is quicker, longer, and younger. Worth the -290 if you want to parlay it with Shai Gilgeous Alexander over points/rebs/assists combo on any given night.
Renato Moicano vs. Drew Dober
Everything screams Money Moicano. Everything is telling me to do it so I’m going to do it. I’m tired of getting my heart broken betting on fighters I like and this might be yet another one of those occasions. I don’t think so but what if Drew Dover’s chin can somehow outlast Moican’s ring rust? Takedowns here and there in a three rounder could mean a lot. Moicano by TKO/KO.
Roman Dolidze vs. Nassourdine Imavov
Roman Dolidze was born in the Soviet Union but his nationality is Georgian. What this means is that he grew up surrounded by war, or very close to it. On the other hand, Imavov’s family escaped war and moved to France. France isn’t necessarily tougher than war ridden and poverty torn Georgia. These things matter to me. What else matters is that I think Dolidze is the bigger fighter once they close the cage, with better grappling, and more power. His shots will land bigger than Imavov who isn’t known for his output or pressure. I think that weighs into the judges decision making if this does make the distance. +138 means I’m painted red and white this weekend with a Kaladze jersey tied around my waist.