Hello hello MMA heads and fight junkies! Brett flew it solo last time and went undefeated that’s why we deemed him the Charismatic Youngblood! This week we are all back on board with the picks for UFC on FX: Guillard vs Miller, and hope we still got it! Psssh of course we still got it this is the Award Winning Off The Mat (National Broadcast Society)
Bernard Oliver – The Five Star General
Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel Roberts (Preliminary)
Here’s a great chance for two fighters with recent losses to get back on the up-and-up. Brenneman got absolutely embarrassed versus Anthony Johnson and Roberts did about the same against Claude Patrick. Now I won’t hide my obvious love of Cesar Gracie fighters because OTM’s first interview with a pro MMA athlete was with Gerald Harris who is represented by Rachel Frederick of MMA Hotstuff. I’m really pulling for Roberts in this bout after he used absolutely none of his arsenal against Patrick. Brenneman isn’t the greatest striker in the would but on he ground he’s better than the average bear. But Will Brenneman be able to take Roberts down? If that happens what about Roberts Purple belt in BJJ? I think we will see the Daniel Roberts we are used to seeing, the mufti-faceted lethal weapon.
Prediction: Roberts by Round 1 submission
Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft
As I said on the show, I’m just not impressed by Morecraft in a heavyweight division that calls for fighters to be on their game at every moment of every round I just don’t think he’s there yet. This is a great fight to gauge what he needs to work on to get there as he takes on Barry. Barry may be short but he more than makes up for that in power and speed. If he could just work on his submission defense he’d be close to that level of top tier. 75% of his losses are by submission, and Morecraft knows his way around a few submissions. Morecraft will have to use his size to take Barry down because his hands are not even close.
Prediction: Pat Barry Round 1 KO
Mike Easton vs. Jared Papazian
Easton hasn’t lost a fight since 2007 and it’s the only loss on his record. Papazian fought four times last year. The last three of those four he won. No it’s not random I’m presenting a paradox here. I think. Anyway my point is this fight could go either way these are the most fun to predict! Two newbies with everything to gain and nothing to lose…except a contract these days. Papazian’s story is made for a Hollywood movie. This guy got jumped by 10 guys in high school and ever since then has been training to defend himself. Now he fights in the UFC, the biggest stage in the world for MMA. Easton’s story is also great he’s a “Go-Go Head” you people from D.C. know what I’m saying. Only lost one fight because he broke his arm misjudging an income kick and met Reynaldo Duarte’s shin with his elbow. Two great strikers and two good submission artists. I have to go with southpaw Easton here even though I want to root for Papazian who’s never been knocked out, Easton fighting in front of a home crowd and bumpin that Go-Go during his walk to the ring.
Prediction: Easton by round 2 submission
Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer
I expect these two guys to come out and put on a show, especially depending on what fight happens before they walk out. I know you have your battle plan worked out in the months before a fight but nobody wants to be shown up with money on the line. That said nobody wants to lose either. Ludwig is less than stellar versus submissions but he is creeping on a come up, if I can make that reference, with two wins in his last two appearances in the UFC. The last one being against Amir Sadollah. Neer is a KO artist if I’ve ever seen one. Seventeen KO’s and eleven submissions in his career. He comes from Pat Miletich’s school and he bring the hurt on anyone across the octagon. He finishes fights and that’s somewhere he’s got Ludwig beat for now. I’m taking Neer all the way.
Prediction: Neer by Round 1 KO
Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller
Another Lightweight showdown to TRY and thin out the title shot picture. I for one am waiting on Gilbert Melendez to come on over to the UFC but that’s for another time. This fight I like to call a battle of good old fashioned physics. You have the velocity of Guillard’s hands against the immovable object of Miller’s chin. Miller can bang, Guillard can bang. Miller can wrestle and scrap on the ground and we’ve seen how much Guillard has improved there since coming under Greg Jackson’s wing. Miller’s hands should not be underestimated here. Guillard will have to come out ready and at the tip top of his career thus far, because Miller is no slouch with eleven submission wins. Look for this fight to go everywhere, stand, submissions attempts, people getting rocked, babies crying and explosions and anything else short of Armageddon. (ZUFFA I’m free if you want to talk me writing your promos lol)
Prediction: Guillard Round 2 KO
Fight of the Night: Guillard vs Miller
Submission of the Night: Easton
Knockout of the Night: Pat Barry
Brett Rorie – The Charismatic Youngblood
Charlie Brenneman vs. Daniel Roberts
In this 170 pound contest the great amateur wrestling career will go up against the Cesar Gracie trained jiu-jitsu of Daniel Roberts. When Daniel Roberts has his mind in the right place he is an extremely talented fighter, but as it shows in his last two fights against Rich Attonito and Claude Patrick, he has trouble staying focused. I really think Brenneman is just a really good wrestler that is one-dimensional. I might be wrong, but his fights against Anthony Johnson and Johnny Hendricks show he really struggles in the standup department. Key to this fight is how good is Brenneman’s Jiu-Jitsu defense is, and will Roberts show up in shape and focused.
Prediction: Roberts via 2nd round Submission
Pat Barry vs. Christian Morecraft
If you ever wonder why the UFC keeps Pat Barry around after two consecutive losses, this fight will explain why he is. Barry is a tremendous kickboxer, who was one mistake away from top Heavyweight contender Cheick Kongo. Morecraft is a tough striker who struggled greatly against Pat Barry’s teammate Matt Mitrione. Morecraft leaves way to many openings in his striking game to really stand a chance in this fight. If Morecraft wants to win, he needs to drag this fight to the ground and use his submission game (4 of 7 wins by submission).
Prediction: Pat Barry via 2nd round KO.
Mike Easton vs. Jared Papazian
In this Bantamweight bout two relative new UFC fighters will fight for recognition on the big stage. Mike Easton (11-0) will be making his second forte into the octagon, in his first he overwhelmed Byron Bloodworth, but really never showed anything that really blew me away. Jared Papazian (14-6) however, is making his debut, and at the young age of 23 it is expected that his nerves might get the best of him. Being that Papazian trains with the likes of Many Gamburyan and Karo Parisyan, you can expect a tough grappler who will push the pace. If Papazian has any sort of striking game then he will take this fight easily.
Prediction: Papazian via unanimous decision.
Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer
Expect Duane “Bang” Ludwig to show why he was given that nickname. Ludwig really impressed me in his unanimous decision win against Amir Sadollah. Duane showed not only his speed, but his power in his domination of Amir, who I thought was one of the best strikers in the Welterweight division. Josh Neer would be best served to use his great ground game because Ludwig has always struggled in this department, but “The Dentist” has never and will never backdown from a standup war.
Prediction: Duane Ludwig via 2nd round TKO.
Melvin Guillard vs. Jim Miller
Without a true #1 contender in the Lightweight divison, there is a very good chance the winner of this fight will jump into the conversation. Guillard really showed that old habits die hard in his last fight against Joe Lauzon. Melvin showed really a total lack of respect for Joe’s striking and it cost him with Joe stunning Guillard and finishing him with a rear-naked choke. In Miller’s last fight against Ben Henderson he was outwrestled by a man who has been unstoppable since his move to the UFC. Jim Miller has very good hands, but I have to be honest, if Melvin doesn’t get to cocky by dropping his hands he will win the striking affair. If Melvin does drop his hands, then Miller has every chance of winning this fight on the feet, however the ground game is where this fight gets interesting. Miller is a great wreslter, but Guillard’s good defense is really forgotten about due to his great striking. If Miller does get Melvin down he has a great chance to submit him. Key is can Melvin use his speed and power advantage to keep miller out of grappling distance.
Prediction: Guillard 1st round TKO.
Fight of the Night: Duane Ludwig vs. Josh Neer
Submission of the Night: Fabricio Camoes
Knockout of the Night: Pat Barry