Good point on Nog being nearly finished by Sylvia/Herring, but I'm not sure I agree on Mir's standup being with those guys, nor do I think he has the tank to be capable of this sort of power after like the second round. I looked at Dolloway and Evensen, but backed out of Evenensen after seeing the other guys pro kickboxing record, not overwhelming but pretty tough it seems. We'll see how it goes. Merry Christmas all

As always, this could change. Right now I am thinking........

Al Turk
Griffin
Silva
Massenzio
Lister
Nogeira

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AHB-jg3io48

Weeeeeeeeeee!!

Cant wait. Probally the most anticipated fight of the card for me which is saying alot when you have Forrest/Evans in the ME.

The live weigh in is on UFC.COM at 3pm PST today.

Changed my picks.

Kongo
Griffin
Jackson
Hamil
Lister
Nogeira

biggest play is on Nog

I'm giddy with anticipation. GIDDY I tell you!

Oh definitely. It's going to be a total blitzkreig.


I have Kongo, Griffin, Silva, Hamil, Okami, Nog.

I guess I'm the only guy who thinks Evans is going to beat Griffin.

I just watched the highlights of the weigh ins and thought Mir looked like he's probably in the best shape I've seen him....maybe ever? I haven't checked the lines, to see if they've moved any, but I think Mir definitely has some value if they are the same as what Steve posted above. Breaking down this fight in my head, I'm not sure who's going to take it and I can see it going down quite a few different ways. The longer it goes, the more it favors Nog, but I think Mir can hang with him. He's more athletic, has underrated striking (Nog might be the better boxer, but I think Mir is the better kickboxer), much better takedowns, and his top control is pretty good as well. Nog's "pull guard and sweep from the bottom" routine might backfire on him. I dunno, I'm still leaning Nog just because it's a 5 rounder, but it's closer than the lines have it, imo.

I think Forrest and Rampage both have a fairly good chance of being KO'ed.

I'm still not sold on Forrest. He's a good fighter, but I feel he's sort of lucked into his current position by fighting a blown up Shogun, and having the exact right plan to fight Rampage. He's very lucky he didn't get knocked out in the first round against Rampage. I don't see Rashad gassing, and he's more elusive than Rampage, so he's not going to be a sitting duck for those kicks either. He likes to counter punch, and I think Forrest is going to walk into something.

The Wand pick is more to do with his previous ass kickings of Rampage, coupled with Quentin's possible mental instability. The firing of Juanito, the new camp, and the upcoming legal hassles just pile more on. He no doubt has the ability to win the fight, but there's just too many question marks to and too many distractions surrounding him right now.

I think its a coinflip or even a slight advantage to Evans but just cant bet against Forrest. I love that guy. I though Forrest would lose his last 2 badly but he destroyed Shogun and deffinatly(imo) outclassed Rampage. Evans has 2 of the nastiest K.O.'s in the last 2 years to go along with great wrestling but his heart hasnt be tested and thats one thing Forrest can do is out heart him imo.

Huh Performify is only recomending one play on the entire card, Nog.

I saw that as well. Strange, but I saw it. I guess he feels like a lot of the other fights are pretty close. Or the prices aren't right. You also have to take into consideration that he is basing that on todays current prices on Bodog.

Griffin and Jackson are both bets that can go either way VERY easily. Hamil I think is a pretty solid bet as is Nog. Essentially you are matching up two guys who are better in the same disciplines.

Kongo should win if he has good takedown defense.

If Lister can get the fight to the ground he has a shot.

Pretty much on the same page with Mir, I think he has some sicko head kicks and if he practiced that and watched enough of the herring fight, he can land one...I think people are just remembering the old pride Nog, that could take anything and beat anyone up, and box really well. At the same time, it seems like everyone is remembering the post accident Mir, not the sicko he used to be. If he's in shape, I still dont think he's better than Nog on the ground, but he's def good enough to stand up. I think performify's comments about the iron chin and great boxing would be true in pride, dude's been knocked down and pretty much out twice in his last two fights it was just a matter of both of them not knowing how to finish imo.. I think mir is +200, +250 at worst. I'm still of the mentality that it's very hard for someone to be +300 in the UFC, let alone a title fight.

Wandy seems like an obv pick considering how beat up he got mentally after the forrest fight, and how much vulnerability he showed to the leg kick. Wandy couldn't get KO'd when chuck threw all he had on him, dude's tough as nails and he's got rampage's number, and they both know it.

Forrest, meh...I love the guy, I feel bad rooting against him, I think evans is probably a good bet though. Evans is hungry, Forrest is probably nervous to defend. I also get the feeling that forrest has never thought he's good enough and having the title might be conflicting to that idea...At the same time, I think Evans thinks he's better than he is, and won't go on a downswing until he has the belt. Then again, forrest pulls it out every time, so betting against him is tough...like betting against Randy.


I really have never agreed with performify's picks, and I've done fine. To me it seems like he just looks at history too much and has too much personal preference in his picks, maybe it's because he's been an mma fan for way longer than I have. The biggest one that comes to mind was his rant on Houston Alexander being the illest and how people should bet huge on him, I think he knew the guy or something.

Looks like I will only be on the three big fights, although I thought about Evensen for a long time. Still like Forrest via submission in the championship rounds.

Edit: ended up making a last minute play on Nog for half the roll at -300. Just think he is way better than 75% in this fight.

Woooooooooooooow!!!!

What a VICIOUS KO by Rampage....REVENGE!!!!!!!!!1

link???

I paid for the UFC link...sorry!

WOWWWWWWWW MIR

Waaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaatttttttttttttt

Rampage came through. It went exactly how I thought it would. I watched the first two fights and Rampage was beating him in both before Wandy landed one of his sloppy punches. Wandy is vulnerable to these type of KO's because he drops his hands when he throws punches.

Don't worry we didn't have a deal.

Arghhh. I missed this post. You lucked out tonight. Haha.

I suck

Meh..went 2/3. Decided to pony up for Mir at the last minute, just because of the odds. Nice KO by Rampage. Forrest even in the loss surprised me with his abilty to land leg kicks almost at will on Rashad. It's too bad he has like zero knock out potential, because if he had any sort of punching power he'd be a force. Unfortunately, you can't go into these big fights with work ethic being your number one strength. And I just have to say, I love Nog, but I marked out like crazy when Mir stopped him. For any long term MMA fan, that's a friggin huge accomplishment to see.

shipped

Umm, I got crushed on this card. Did Nog get paid to take a dive, lol.

+1

Got it. tyty.

He looked really old. I backed off my first instinct to bet on Mir and stayed away from this one after seeing the analysis here and elsewhere...sigh
Rampage will be champ again if he keeps his head right

Mazzegatti must have read all the comments on his early stoppages, kongo got in about 5 more shots than should have been allowed.

FYP

Same. Pretty embarrassed to be honest. Took a huge hit. Have Shogun and BJ big, and a hurt account, and very discouraged.

Thanks to bdc I got three last minute bets in, but hadn't researched any of the fights. Had I done that I probably wouldn't have made a play on Wandy. So it goes. Won with Mir and Rashad. Pretty much had the same thoughts as Ford and JC about Mir. I think Nog is a bit overrated these days and there is no way Mir was that big of a dog. Nog just looked lost and outclassed. Kind of sad to see that happen to such a nice guy. Everyone seems to talk about Forrest's heart, but no one ever talks about Rashad's heart which I think is actually as big, if not bigger than Forrest. He'll meet his match one day, but not until he fights someone with true KO power.

So me and my friend bet again. We decided to do a 2 out of 3 bet for a c note. He called Forrest right away so I had Evans/Mir/Silva. I figured Silva was my ace in the hole so to speak and got really nervous when he went down. Tried to buy out for 40 and he didn't take it, much to his chagrin by the end of the evening.

To be fair, not one single favorite on the three major fights won, lol.

Frank Mir vs. Brock Lesnar is apparently set for the spring of '09 in perhaps Montreal. Lesnar is one who can self motivate himself primarily for the cash but also as a competitive SOB who will seek a level of retribution for losing his only MMA contest to Mir via submission. Mir shocked the world Saturday night but a bigger shock will be if the rejuvenated Mir can beat Brock Lesnar to unify the UFC Heavyweight Title which in itself is a good thing. The last thing the UFC needs to allow to happen is to become like boxing and have a seemingly endless list of champs per weight class.

This thread is dying......... Where did all of the MMA fans go?

Bodog's pockets.

We tried to climb out, but they're just too deep.

Ok I will get this started. Things I want to see in 2009.
-Rashad vs Rampage. Probally the best match up out there in lhw. Rampage gets the KO imo.
-Florian vs Penn. KenFlo has paid his dues and has been a trooper for the UFC.
-GSP vs Thiago Alves. Superfight imo(last two contigent on GSP beating Penn)
-Wandy to move to 185. There was rumours about this happening going back to pre Jardine fight. Wandy is small against everyone at 205
-Chuck/Forrest. About the only fight I want to see Chuck in right now.
-Anderson silva vs any top 5 at 205

Predictions who will hold UFC belts at Dec 31 2009
LW Kenny Florian(In a major upset of Penn)
WW GSP (beating Penn and Thiago in 09)
MW Anderson Silva(probally has only 1 tiitle defence at 185 probally against Okami while he waits for winner of Bisbing vs Hendo/Franklin)
LHW Rampage (gets the KO over Evans mid year and defends the last show of 09 against Forrest/Chuck/Machida)
HW Mir(Still see alot of holes in Lesnars game, deja vu Mir by ankle lock)

Outside UFC
Fedor beats Orlasky
Torres moves to 145 and beats Faber
More pro wrestlers move to MMA

Things i dont want to see in 09
Chuck/Jardine 2(rumoured but would be terrible and doesnt get either guy anywhere)
Sherk/Ken Flo(at least before Kenny gets his shot at BJ)

Does anyone like Coleman at the current line?
Also, who do you all like in the Henderson/Franklin fight?

And what do you guys think of LHW title if Lytoto beats Thiago.. does he get the shot or does Rampage?

Rampage gets it.

I don't think Dana wants Machida anywhere near that title. I think Rampage fights Evans next in a black guy elimination bout.

They'll pair Machida with an aggressive striker next, if he wins, me thinks.

This is great.

I like Florian a lot. I think he has a shot at beating BJ. But in a lot of ways, everything that Kenny does, BJ does better. Except for kicks.
GSP is insanely talented. I've always been a huge fan. I question his heart though.
Anderson Silva needs to fight someone who is really good. A person that takes the fight to him. Okami is a wasted fight imo. I too want to see Silva fight some of the best guys in 205.
Rampage vs Anderson Silva would be a good fight. Rampage would need to learn how to check leg kicks.
Mir certainly surpised me and my BR in that last fight with Nog. I think Lesnar would beat him though.

Has anyone else noticed that the UFC is starting to use the Anderson Silva playbook to market Machida? He's a lot like Silva in the marketability department, with the english barrier and such, so it looks like they are setting him up to be heir apparent to to the PFP throne in the UFC. You never hear them mention Rashad, Forrest, or even GSP and Penn as PFP threats anymore, but you hear it quite a bit when they're referring to the two non-English speaking fighters they have on their roster that no one can beat. I find it both smart and funny.

David Loiseau to make his UFC return at UFC 97. He was so good and then lost it. Seen him on some Canadian MMA promotions over last couple years and he wasnt the same. I know he was being coached by Randy Couture so hopefully he can return to form and provide some good competion at 185 which is starting to get deeper in the UFC. He will be fighting Ed Herman at 87.

Wow, that's awesome news. That man has some sick elbows.

Ed Herman is such a disappointment imo. Last time I took him against someone else. can't remember who. My friend said in the first round...."you know herman has horrible stamina right?", and sure enough he gassed and lost the fight.

Any thoughts on Hendo/Franklin? Current line is Hendo-140 Rich+110. I am leaning towards Franklin cuz I think Hendo's future is at 185 and that is in Franklins rear view mirror. Some of the comments from Franklin look like he does not want to be a part of TUF 9 though. Tough one to call


GSP down to -185. I am thinking of putting my roll on him.

Krazy Horse arrested again. But this is the best one yet.

Are they fighting at 205 or 185?

On paper, Hendo should win. I have a feeling that Franklin will though. However, Franklin has poor takedown defense. So it's tough to call.

I'm a huge fan of GSP. I like BJ as well. I wouldn't put your roll on that fight. Soooo many variables.

The Hendo/Franklin fight is at 205. The fight makes little sence in the big picture as Hendo is going back to 185 regardless. If Rich wins it sounds more and more like he still will not drop to 185 for TUF ( as he has made comments lately that he has no intrest in TUF 9). Then there was a story on UFC.COM that Bisbing wants Hendo for TUF so I think Hendo is on TUF 9 regardless of the outcome.

I just think GSP is to much for BJ. Bigger, stronger and probally the best conditioned athlete in the game today. I think GSP has the edge on there feet but if it goes to the ground he can control from the top and gnp BJ. I cant see how BJ gets GSP in a dominant position on the ground. Of course GSP can get caught on there feet and maybe a small chance he slips up on the ground giving BJ an opening for a submission but I think -185 is very attractive.