UFC 141 Predictions

UFC 141 Las Vegas

The Pay per view fight predictions:

Featherweight: Nam Pham (17-10) vs Jimy Hettes (9-0)

Hettes is the taller fighter and has the perfect 9-0 record with 9 submissions.

Hettes wins by submission

Light heavyweight: Vladmir Matyushenko (26-5) vs Alexander Gustafsson (12-1)

Gustafsson is the taller fighter and better striker, he has only one loss and a win would make him a top contender in this class.

Gustafsson wins by KO

Welterweight: Jon Fitch (26-3-1) vs Johny Hendricks (11-1)

Fitch is the veteran fighter, he is stronger and will be able to control the fight.

Fitch wins by decision

Lightweight Nate Diaz (14-7) vs Donald Cerrone (17-3-1)

Diaz is the taller fighter and is also the tougher fighter. Diaz will be able to stand and fight or take it to the ground.

Diaz wins by submission

Heavyweight: Brock Lesnar (5-2) vs Alistair Overeem (35-11)

Lesnar is back after a long lay off. This is Overeem's first UFC fight. Lesnar will be able to trade punches but will take down his opponent and over power him with the ground and pound.

Lesnar wins by TKO

UFC 141 Las Vegas: Preview

The Main Event: Brock Lesnar vs Alistair Overeem (heavyweight)

Brock Lesnar has not fought since loosing the UFC heavyweight title to Cain Velasquez back at UFC 121 on October 23, 2010.

Lesnar came down with Mononucleosis which stemmed from a more serious disease called diverticulosis, an intestinal disorder that required surgery to repair his colon. (He had shit leaking out of his colon and into his stomach causing severe pain in his abdomen).

Lesnar is now healthy and ready to begin a run and win back the UFC heavyweight title, but first he has to face Alistair Overeem .

Coming into this fight Lesnar said he didn't even know who Overeem was, yet Overeem is the favourite to win the fight? Lesnar at the press conferenve said, "I am the underdog with a big fucking bite".

To note, this is Overeem's first UFC fight, but he is a mixed martial arts veteran. Having fought in 69 fights in his illustrious career.

Overeem is the only fighter to hold multiple championship belts. Having won the K1 heavyweight, the Strikeforce heavyweight and recently being crowned the Dream champion.

Overreem is a striker, he throws devastating knee's and has won many of his fights in the first round by KO.

But I have Lesnar winning this one by tko with some serious ground and pound.

In the other main event, we have: Nate Diaz vs Donald Cerrone (Welterweight)

This fight is gaining a lot of hype because of an altercation that took place between the two fighters a few months ago. It was reported that at a UFC fight Cerrone went up to Diaz to introduce himself and Diaz (in other words) told him to go take a long walk off a short bridge.

Fast forward to today, there is no love loss. At the the press conference both fighters squared off for some pictures and Diaz knocked off Cerrone's cowboy hat and gave him a good shove. Cerrone looked pissed.

This fight is going to be a war. Both fighters like to fight from their feet.

I have Diaz winning this by submission (arm-bar)

John Fitch vs Johny Hendricks

This will feature two scrappers who can wrestle and use their fists. Should be an exciting tilt.

I have Fitch winning this one by KO

Concussions in the NHL

You are in the NHL.

Have you had a concussion: Yes / No (circle one)

How many guys do you think have had one?

I say 84 per cent.

That is a shot in the dark. Concussions are a hot debate.

I don't have to remind you that.

In tonights Boston Bruis at Ottawa Senators, both respective teams big names are both out with a concussion. Bruins Mark Savard, may never play again and has likely already retired. Now Ottawa's top-scorer Milan Michalek, is the second player to suffer a concusion while running into their own teammate. The other was leading scorer Claude Giroux. He is out indefinitely.

Sidney Crosby, came back for eight games but sadly is back on the sidelines, listed as day to day, with post-concussion symptoms. It is reported that he has skated but he is suffering headaches.

If you play in the NHL how do you protect yourself from a head injury?

The ice surface needs to be bigger. Guys are getting injured running into their own players. Big Zedeno Chara is out with a leg injury after running into his own player, hell, if he was of regular height and not 6'9'' he probably would of suffered a head injury on the play.

The players are too fast, they are getting bigger and the equiptment technology has become specialized players are like little missiles, launching themselves around on the ice.

But here is the thing, there is a need for more respect, repspect for each other.

The first thing I would do is make the rink bigger. Now I would either make it wider or longer and wider. Either would make a difference.

I doubt the owners or fans would want to see the rinks get longer. It may take away from offensive end play but with the removal of the red line and two line pass it likely wouldn't change the game.

Just as long as they don't go back to that clutch and grab. This isn't lacrosse. They game is exciting and fast, but it seems like its becoming so fast the players are accidentally running into one another more often.

How do you protect them?

A helmet just protects against skull fractures.

Fighting is only a little part of it and I don't think you can ever get rid of that and I don't wanrt to open that door.

There is that new study out there that is inspired by a woodpecker.

Players would wear a neck collars that hold's pressure on the jugular forcing more pressure and blood in the head. Th neck collar applies precise pressure on the neck, it re-creates the action of lying down, you get 30 per cent more blood inside your head. This pressure works to cushion the brain and keep it more stable when a players get hit in the head. It is the contact of the brain smashing into the skull that creates the traumatic brain injuries that force players see concussion symptoms.

Think of the collar working like an air bag in a car. When you slam into a wall at 80km/hr and your air bag goes off it lessens the impact, just like having the collar on puts more blood in the brain cushioning it from a more sever impact.

Does that feel good?

We'll have to see Dr. David Smith is trying to gain some design on this idea and possibly release a product that when combined with a helmet and mouthguard would dramatically prevent traumatic brain injuries.

I gotta go get some guitar strings before the store closes. I have a solo gig at Pappas Billiards Dec. 16th, 2011 @10:00vPM in Petereborough, On.

"Bones" Jones still the champ.

UFC 140 – Toronto Saturday Dec. 10, 2011

The Main Event

Jon “Bones” Jones vs Lyotto “The Dragon” Machida (Light Heavyweight)

So you know, Machida is a former Light Heavyweight Champion. Jones is the youngest UFC champion ever, has never been taken down and is on a five fight win streak.

Jones comes out crawling like a beast. They are on their feet. Jones jabs and Machida lands a kick to the leg.

Jones lands a leg kick himself and both fighters continue to circle as both fighters try to figure each other out.

Machida tags Jones with a strong kick to the body and then dodges a Jones kick and then counters and lands a left to the head and of Jones and sends him back-pedaling.

Jones is playing into the hands of Machida right now.

Round 1 goes to Machida.

They are scrapping now. Machida lands some punches and keeps Jones going backwards. Then Jones lands a right and scores the first take down of the fight. Jones lands an elbow and Machida is bleeding from a big gash on his forehead. The ref splits them up and a doctor looks at the cut.

The fight continues and Jones lands a big strike and Machida is in trouble Jones has him by the neck with a standing guillotine and Machida is out cold.

TKO victory for Jones.

“Big Nog” Nogueira vs Frank Mir (Heavyweight)

SYN - Nogueira is a former UFC and Pride Heavyweight Champion. Mir is a two time UFC Heavyweight Champion and has already KO’ed Nogueira back at UFC 92.

Nogueira has Mir on the cage but Mir counters and takes him to the ground.

Both fighters are back on their feet. Nogueira lands a nice elbow and then a knee to Mir's head. Mir is in trouble. Nogueira looks to finish but Mir hangs on. Mir somehow swings around and has Nogueira in an arm-bar. Nogueria taps out and it looks and sounds like Nogueira's arm snapped, I believe Mir twisted and broke his arm.

Nogueira is still lying in the ring and medics are attending to him and Mir is doing the post fight with funny guy Joe Rogan.

“Big Nog” was lying in the ring for awhile after that and the doctors had to brace him.

Tito “Huntington Beach Bad-Boy” Ortiz vs Rogerio “Little Nog” Nogueira (Light Heavyweight)

Ortiz is a five time light heavyweight champion and this is his 26 UFC fight, the most all-time.

Ortiz comes out swinging and lands a big punch. Ortiz has him against the cage adf they are both exchanging punches and Ortiz is in trouble. Little Nog hits him and Ortiz hits the mat and Noguiera has him in full guard and continues to tee off on him. Ortiz is able to fend him off for little while. But the shots to the kidneys are too much and the ref steps in.

TKO for Nogueira in the first round.

Brian “Bad-Boy” Ebersole vs Claude “The Prince” Patrick (Welterweight)

Patrick is the Canadian.Patrick is on a 13 fight win streak. Ebersole is on a nine fight win streak.

Fighters are both looking for a takedown and they grapple against the cage (Fans boo early) Patrick gets the guillotine and he tries to choke him out but Ebersole is in no danger and Patrick abandons the guillotine. The fighters are back on their feet.

Ebersole pushes forward throwing punches and lands a good body shot. Fighters get tied up on the cage again. More grappling.

Fighters are trading some kicks and punches and they get tied up on the cage again.

Fighters break and Ebersole lands an elbow to the chin and the fighters grapple again. Both guys looking for the take down.

Nothing too exciting mid-way thru the second. Fighters grapple still and they get loose and trade some kicks and then they grapple some more.

Patrick does land a nice punch, the hardest shot of the fight, but this has been a seesaw wrestling match.

Ebersoke goes for the takedown and Patrick defends it but looses position and Ebersole gains top guard. Patrick does a nice job fighting off his back. Fighters get back to their feet and Ebersole takes Patrick back down to his back.

Ebersole has Patrick from the back side, but Patrick slips the hold and the fighters are back on their feet and grappling once more.

At this point the ref should separare them and just as I say that Patrick takes the choke position and tries to choke him out.

One minute to go and they are back on their feet throwing punches and knee’s . Ebersole dives for Patricks feet. I would give the decision to Patrick as he tried to make it more of a fight.

It goes to the cards, judges decide Brian Ebersole wins by split decision.

Chan “The Zombie” Sung Jung vs. Mark “The Machine” Hominik (featherwight)

Hominik is the Canadian. Hominik comes out swinging recklessly and leaves himself wideopen and Sung Jung makes him pay and lands a right hook right on the button that sends hominik backwards on his ass. Sung Jung pounces and referee Herb Dean calls it at just seven seconds into the fight. Sung Jung ties the fastest KO in UFC history.

Igor “The Duke” Pokrajac vs Krzystof “The Polish Experiment” Soszynski (Light Heavyweight)

This one ended early too 35 seconds in, with Pokrajac getting the knockout.

Prokrajac landed a strong left hook and then followed that with a strong right and he Soszynski falls backwards and gets labeled with a slew of lefts and right and it was all over.

Soszynski was slow to get back up. He got Knocked the “bleep” out.

Jared “The Messenger” Hamman vs Costantinos “Costa” Philippou (Middleweight)

Fighters are exchanging kicks and punches. Phillippou lands a couple strong punches and Hamman is hurt.

Phillipou has him on the ground and tries for a choke out.

Hamman is back on his feet and they are trading punches, phillipou lands a big punch and drops Hamman again and I don’t know how much more Hamman can take.

Phillipou gets the knockout with a nice left hook.

Dennis “Superman” Hallman vs John “The Bull” Makdessi (Lightweight)

Mardessi is the Canadian. Hallman brings it early.

Hallman has the back position early, this isn’t looking good for Makdessi.

Makdessi is holding on but Hallman is on top and pounding.

Hallman gets a rear choke and Markdessi taps out in the first round.

Walel “The Gazelle” Watson vs Yves “Tiger” Jabouin (Bantamweight)

Jaboin is the Canadian. Fighters exchange punches an Yves scores a take down.

Jaboin gives up a big advantage in reach to watson but he is patiently throwing jabs and waiting for an opening to land a big knocout punch.

Fighets stay on their fight, dancing in the middle of the ring, throwing a lot of kicks and punches.

Yves scores another takedown but Watson counters with the guillotine but Jabouin slips out of it just before the end of round two.

Both fighters are staning in the middle of the ring and trading more kicks and punches. At times it looks like more dancing than fighting.

Now Watson gets the top guard and is looking for a submission with a front choke and now Jaboin slips the choke and the fighters are back on their feet.

The fighters fnish in fine fashion and this one goes the distance.

Tough to say who gets the win but I would give it to Jaboin, narrowly.

Yves Jabouin wins it by split decision.

Bocek vs Nick “The Carny” Lentz (Lightweight)

Bocek is a Canadian from Toronto. Bocek gets a takedown but Lentz goes counters into a guillotine but Bockek slips out of it.

Lentz has been on a 15 fight unbeaten streak. Bocek has been on top guard the majority of the round.

Bocek fires a high kick that misses and Lentz goes for a take down and Bocke is able to defend that off and then fighters go down to the mat and Bocek goes back into top position.

Lents tried to lock in the guiloine again but Bocek shakes that off.

Bocek get the top position again early in the the third round. Lentz will have to establish some attack from his back but it’s looking like Bocek is in control of the ring.

They are back on their feet trading kicks and punches and then Bocek gets another take down.

Unanimous Decision for Bocek.

Rich Attonito vs Jake Hecht (Welterweight)

Attonito holds the ground and pound and keeps the position for the majority of the round. Hecht is fighting in his first UFC fight and looks to be getting bullied here.

Hecht gets in a big elbow to the back of Attonito’s head and Hecht is able to pound his way to a TKO victory.

Mitch Clarke vs John Cholish (Lightweight)

Mitch Clarke the first Canadian fighter looses to John Cholish at 4:36 of the second round. Cholish wins by TKO. He lands a strong jab on Clarke and then scores a take down. Clarke tries to slip out of the hold but Cholish gain back position and lands some a strong shot and keeps the pressure on with puhches and the referee steps in a puts an end to the fight. Mitch Clarke is a Saskatchewan.

Some NHL, NFL, & UFC 140 in Toronto

NHL - The owners and board of governors met in California today. They are discussing division re-alignments and other things like goaltender protection. Any changes to league policy requires a two-thirds majority...Boring!

In the 72 hours that Bruce Boudreau was out of a job, there are reports out of Anaheim that he spent 1/4 of that time watching the A&E program Storage Wars. I love that show.

NFL - The Bills have been on a five game loosing streak and things don't look to be getting any better. As players are banged up the wheels seem to be falling off. They face the Chargers next week. The Bills take on Tebow and the Broncos on Christmas eve.

UFC - Mark "the Machine" Hominik will be taking to the ring in his first fight since he was severely beat-up by Jose Aldo in the feather-weight title match at UFC 129. Jose Aldo is regarded as one of the sports pound-for-pound toughest fighter. Hominik showed a lot of heart, but also wound up looking the elephant man with a hematoma the size softball on his forehead. The referee paused the action a few times to allow a doctor to look at his head, but the fight went on. I couldn't believe my eyes. This Saturday Hominik will be taking on Chan Sung Jung, the "Korean Zombie", I have Jung winning this one by a decision.

The main event will feature lightweight champion Jon "Bones" Jones vs former champ Lyoto "the Dragon" Machida. In his last fight Jones made mince meat of Rampage Jackson. Machida is coming off a convincing knock-out vs Randy Couture, where he connected with a standing jump kick to the chin. Machida lost his title to Mauricio Rua. Jones then beat Rua to become youngest fighter to win a UFC title. I got Jones winning this one by tko.