UFC 146: The MMA Fight Professor vs. Scott Matla
Each "numbered" UFC event will see the professor put his reputation on the line so without further ado....
Hi guys what's up, I've been looking at UFC 146, what a crazy card. Big massive monsters ready to bash the granny out of each other, so be ready for arm breaking submission and jaw smashing knock-outs!!
So let's run through the main card. "Man I'm pumped for this"...
Lavar Johnson vs. Stefan Struve
First of we have got massive raw power against a very long rangy durable fighter with solid subs.
Lavar Johnson (17-5-0) is a man with no problem standing and getting into a fist fight, while Stephan Struve (23-5-0) has a good ground game. Struve is a purple belt but also has had good wins over quality kick boxers such as Pat Barry and Paul Buentello.
This is the way I see this playing out. Johnson will be trying to land some heavy punches and trying to finish fast, this won't be easy given Stefan's incredible reach advantage. Stefan will probably eat a lot of these whilst trying to score the takedown; he can't stand and trade with this demolition man. I think he will struggle in the 1st but will survive the round.
Then early in the second round Stefan will make his come back strong, and get the takedown. This will make Struve's life easy as all apart from one of Johnson's losses have come from submission, I can see why when he has the ground game of an upturned crab!! Then sink the choke in mid part of the second round
Prediction
Stefan Struve wins via Round 2 Submission.
Addict Scott Matla: Johnson is a killer pure and simple with 15 TKO/KO victories out of his 17 total victories. Struve has struggled with power punchers in the past and Johnson has dynamite hidden in his knuckles. I look for the two to have a short feeling out process before Johnson catches Struve and puts another clip to his highlight reel.
Lavar Johnson wins via Round 1 KO
Stipe Miocic vs. Shane del Rosario
This fight should prove to be an interesting one with both men being high quality strikers. Miocic (8-0-0) a Golden Glove Champion and Rosario (11-0-0) a WBC World Muay Thai champion. Miocic a NCAA division one wrestler and Rosario a blue belt in BJJ and training at Brock Lesnar's Team Death Clutch.
My opinion is that Boxers are better punchers than Thai guys, plus you don't want be throwing many kicks around when facing a division one wrestler.
Both men are known for big knock-out power, so it comes down to who will throw the cleaner punches and who will have the better chin?
Both men will come out swinging, this fight will not be going the distance, I see Miocic landing the better punches and finishing the fight in the first.
Prediction
Stipe Miocic wins via Round 1 TKO.
Addict Scott Matla: Stipe has been highly impressive since joining the UFC and disposed of his last opponent in impressive fashion. Del Rosario however has been even more impressive fighting his way up the Strikeforce heavyweight, ladder both are undefeated and both carry a lot of finishes as well. However Del Rosario is my pick to out point Miocic for three rounds and pick up the unanimous nod.
Del Rosario wins via Unanimous Decision
Roy Nelson vs. Dave Herman
This will be one of my favourites. I am a MAHOOSIVE fan of Big Country especially since my waistline is slowly creeping out.
What can be said about this bout? Big Country (16-7-0) a man who has a beard harder then granite and Dave Herman (21-3-0) a unit who went 15-0 at the start of his career, a big puncher with good knees, and a solid submission game to compliment.
Height will come into play early into this fight with Herman being 5" taller then Nelson, Nelson will no doubt take several blow's to his swede (head) but not without trying to land some of his own with some success. Hopefully we might get to see some of Big Country BJJ black belt skills come into play with this one.
Unfortunately for Herman I see the second round having Roy landing a whooper of a right hand, much the same as we seen with the Schaub. Leaving Herman looking up to the stars asking what happened??!!
Prediction
Roy Nelson wins via Round 2 KO.
Addict Scott Matla: Herman packs big power in his hands as evidenced by his 15 TKO/KO wins; however Roy Nelson packs big power of his own and has a chin that may or may not be made of adamantium! Nelson also boasts a very well rounded game with a BJJ black belt so he is prepared to take the fight to the ground if required. I look for the two fighters to trade the entire opening frame before Nelson clips Herman and follows up with ground and pound for an early 2nd round victory.
Roy Nelson wins via Round 2 TKO
Co-Main Event:
Cain Velasquez vs. Antonio Silva
This could be a main event on any card in any country. Cain Velasquez (9-1-0) will be looking for an impressive win to make a statement for a claim at the Heavyweight Title again. Whilst Antonio Silva (16-3-0) will be making his debut in the UFC, against a very tough competitor in former champion Velasquez.
This fight must play a little with Silva's head due to the fact that his last opponent Daniel Cormier finished him at just 3:56 of the 1st round. A fighter coming out of AKA, the same team as his new opponent and they are almost carbon copies of each other. NCAA division 1 wrestlers who like to sprawl and brawl, with sharp heavy hands.
Cain Velasquez can keep an amazing pace where most normal humans would crumble, and he stopped the (almost) unstoppable Big Nog.
In this fight I wonder if Silva will try and use some of his own ground game wizardry which could possibly be his biggest chance in this match. Or go hell for leather and land a JDS style big boomer and get the "W" that way.
But the way I see it playing out is Cain trying what his team mate Daniel did, and go in heavy using wrestling in reverse and land a highlight real KO late in the 1st.
Prediction
Cain Velasquez wins via Round 1 KO.
Addict Scott Matla: This is a huge fight for Velasquez after losing his title to Junior Dos Santos in just 64 seconds. Cain boasts a great wrestling pedigree, seemingly limitless cardio, and KO power in his hands. Bigfoot Silva is no slouch however being one of just three men to finish the legendary Fedor and in dominant fashion nonetheless. Silva possesses a great striking game and a BJJ black belt. However Bigfoot's chin is the size of a watermelon and isn't the greatest either. Look for Cain to clip Silva midway through the 2nd round and follow up with a ground and pound stoppage.
Cain Velasquez wins via Round 2 TKO
Main Event:
Junior Dos Santos vs. Frank Mir
Holy knock out Batman!!! I have a funny feeling we all know how this bad boy is going to end and it will not be well for Mr. Mir.
Frank Mir (16-5-0) coming off of his second career defining moment; being the first man to tap Big Nog, and currently riding on a three fight win streak.
While JDS (14-1-0) is the current UFC Heavyweight Champion, undefeated whilst in the UFC, has KO'd a who's who of the UFC heavyweights and will be looking for some revenge against Frank for his last win against Big Nog.
Personally I can't see this last more than a few minutes before "Cigano" has punched a hole in Mir's face, probably an upper cut from hell that will go a long way towards winning "KO of the year".
You can't count Frank Mir out as he is always dangerous, but his chin is questionable and he seems to quit when he is hurt.
Prediction
Junior Dos Santos wins via Round One.... KO of the year
Addict Scott Matla: Frank Mir steps in for Alistair Overeem in this title fight and sadly it won't be a long night for Frank. Mir possesses the most brutal BJJ game in the heavyweight division as evidenced by him snapping Big Nogs arm at UFC 140. His striking is rapidly improving but it isn't nearly on the same level as JDS. Mir also has a bad habit of attempting to trade punches with fighters he shouldn't...in his last few fights we saw him rocked and dropped by Nog and before that both Brock Lesnar and Shane Carwin force-fed Mir knuckle sandwiches. JDS is 5x the striker either of those men are and his stand up is a deadly mixture of speed, power and technique. Also training with Big Nogs JDS has a highly touted ground game that we haven't seen yet. I look for a short feeling out process and Mir to clinch in an attempt to slow down the champion. However in the clinch Dos Santos will land a big upper cut and end Mir's night soon after to retain his title belt.
Junior Dos Santos wins via Round One KO
So I'll leave the final words to our MMA Fight Professor;
Also a big shout out to UK fighter Dan "The Outlaw" Hardy fighting on the Facebook section of this card.
'Sweep the leg'
Peace out
'The MMA Fight Professor'
Summary:
The MMA Fight Professor:
• Struve Rd2 Sub
• Miocic Rd1 TKO
• Nelson R2 KO
• Velasquez R1 KO
• Dos Santos R1 KO
Scott Matla: (Pic 2)
• Johnson Rd1 KO
• Del Rosario R3 UD
• Nelson R2 TKO
• Velasquez R2 TKO
• Dos Santos R1 KO
If you'd like to challenge the Professor at UFC 147 then drop me an email at SteveWickett@AddictedMMA and you may get the call up!
Published by Steve Wickett - Wed, 23 May 2012 22:16
