[THE_LOCKSMITH]

Pay-per-view, 10 p.m. ET
Jose Aldo vs. Conor McGregor (for featherweight title)
Chris Weidman vs. Luke Rockhold (for middleweight title)
Yoel Romero vs. Ronaldo Souza
Demian Maia vs. Gunnar Nelson
Max Holloway vs. Jeremy Stephens

FOX Sports 1, 8 p.m. ET
Urijah Faber vs. Frankie Saenz
Tecia Torres vs. Michelle Waterson
Warlley Alves vs. Colby Covington
Kevin Lee vs. Leonardo Santos

UFC Fight Pass, 7 p.m. ET
Magomed Mustafaev vs. Joe Proctor
John Makdessi vs. Yancy Medeiros
Marcio Alexandre Jr. vs. Court McGee

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

only 2 weeks away....

[JIBBBY]

Only 2 weeks^^^ That's too long..

Well I guess the question going into this event is McMouth and Aldo really gonna square off this time around? It looks like they are..

After about a year in the wait I still like Jose Aldo's chances at +150... In like Flynn on Aldo!!!

[Killer_Demo]

Im pumped for this card, conor via head clean off

[JIBBBY]

Im pumped for this card, conor via head clean off

Best card of the year.. Hope it lives up to the hype.

Liking Demian Maia at -138 over Gunnar Nelson big time by the way.. Should be fun to see if the fight hits the ground.. However, Maia has been improving with his stand up over the years and I think he is clearly better the Gunnar Nelson in that department and that is where he should win this fight..

D Maia by decision is the call.. Chalk it up boys!!!

[GoBlue77]

Im pumped for this card, conor via head clean off

concur. conor is not a fake champ like rouse

[Killer_Demo]

I dont think conor will lose but someone needs to watch dana. If his 2nd cash cow loses he will be on suicide watch

[TPowell]

Best card of the year.. Hope it lives up to the hype.

Liking Demian Maia at -138 over Gunnar Nelson big time by the way.. Should be fun to see if the fight hits the ground.. However, Maia has been improving with his stand up over the years and I think he is clearly better the Gunnar Nelson in that department and that is where he should win this fight..

D Maia by decision is the call.. Chalk it up boys!!!

How is Maia not over -200? He's the much better fight on the feet and Gunnar's only path to winning is the sub.... against Demian Maia. I think Maia picks up an easy decision win here. Hard to see anything other than a poor judges decision ruining this play

[mirinquads]

concur. conor is not a fake champ like rouse

True, he's not a champion at all.

[JIBBBY]

How is Maia not over -200? He's the much better fight on the feet and Gunnar's only path to winning is the sub.... against Demian Maia. I think Maia picks up an easy decision win here. Hard to see anything other than a poor judges decision ruining this play

That's exactly what I was thinking when looking at this match up.... -138 is a steal..

Maia wins this fight standing or on the ground most likely. Gunnars strength is in his grappling/Jits though but it's Damian Maia he is facing.. Dare he try and take him down? I guess perhaps Gunnar Nelson could possibly get top control with a take down on Damian Maia but I doubt that as Maia has improved his own TD's and wrestling and would more then likely welcome a grappling exchange..

At worst they X each other out on the ground and the fight remains standing where DM picks Gunnar apart....

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

Gunner takes this...

[Fred The Hammer]

I got Rockhold today at +140. I think the line will start edging down a bit? I already thought Luke was bigger and had more power but just read an article the other day about how Weidman has lost some weight and is already around 192-93? He better plan on coming into the ring bigger than that because Luke will probably be 205-210 lbs of ripped muscle. Luke looked twice the size of Machida or Bisping when he crushed them....he's a HUGE middleweight. I respect Chris but he's been besting some old-timers and he's not ready for this beast!!
Rockhold by superior infliction of pain in the 3rd or 4th!

[mirinquads]

Improved striking =/= Good striking, jibb

[TPowell]

Improved striking =/= Good striking, jibb

he'd be striking with Gunnar Nelson though....

[UncleChael]

12/12 can't come sooner!

[JIBBBY]

Gunner takes this...

Exactly how do you see him taking it Locky?

[THE_LOCKSMITH]

decision

[TPowell]

hard to imagine Gunnar getting a decision win IMO. The only takedowns Maia has given up lately were to Shields (1-12) and Alex Yakovlev who took him down in the third round for some reason after being dominated in the first 2.

[JIBBBY]

I actually think D Maia if he wants can take down Gunnar Nelson.. I've seen improved trip TD's from Maia.. If anyone ends up on their back it's probably gonna be Gunnar Nelson..

Damian shouldn't get out pointed standing as well.. Gunnar Nelson has horrible stand up.. One trick pony with his ground game.. Maia is better at that trick... Maia is more well rounded simply put and fought way better competition to date.. http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Demian-Maia-14637

I would like to see this fight hit the ground though as an MMA fan.. I'd like to see just how good Gunnar Nelsons ground game holds up against a former decorated Jits world champion..

Damian Maia steam rolled Magny on the ground and made him look stupid in his last fight.

The sneaky Maia trip take down...



The methodical Maia full mount

[GoBlue77]

True, he's not a champion at all.

then bet aldo genius

[JIBBBY]

decision

Interesting choice of victory method.... I think his only way to victory would be a well timed punch myself.. Don't see that happening though.

Gunnar has only 1 decision win in 15 pro fights. Oh and he has 1 decision loss also.. http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Gunnar-Nelson-25246

Gunnar was getting exposed standing against Thatch until he landed a combination and got the sub win.. Rick Story kinda sucks and he beat out Gunnar Nelson over 5 rounds.. Damian Maia sub'd out Rick Story in round 1 when they fought by the way.. http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rick-Story-25989




Thatch was like here is my chin and please hit it.. lol.. Gunnar hit him with some girly punches too.

[PaperTrail07]

Thatch was well sold by UFC.....

[TPowell]

Interesting choice of victory method.... I think his only way to victory would be a well timed punch myself.. Don't see that happening though.

Gunnar has only 1 decision win in 15 pro fights. Oh and he has 1 decision loss also.. http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Gunnar-Nelson-25246

Gunnar was getting exposed standing against Thatch until he landed a combination and got the sub win.. Rick Story kinda sucks and he beat out Gunnar Nelson over 5 rounds.. Damian Maia sub'd out Rick Story in round 1 when they fought by the way.. http://www.sherdog.com/fighter/Rick-Story-25989




Thatch was like here is my chin and please hit it.. lol.. Gunnar hit him with some girly punches too.

idk Jib, Nelson was holding his own with Thatch before the knockdown. Better than I would have expected but I still think Maia is the play

[Unwritten Law]

Aldo
Rockhold
Souza
Holloway
Gunnar Nelson
Faber
Alves
Lee
Mustafaev

[FlipsideRM]

Why is Romero a dog?

[JIBBBY]

Why is Romero a dog?

Because Jacare Souza is a beast and a 5 time world Jits champion that's why.... He's also the younger fighter going in at 35 years of age..

Background

Souza was born in Vila Velha, Brazil, was raised in Cariacica, Brazil until the age of 15, and competed in football as a goalkeeper. Souza had a rough upbringing, and on the day he turned 15, he saw one of his good friends get shot to death. After this event, Souza's mother moved him to Manaus to go live with his brother and started training Judo and Brazilian jiu-jitsu when he was 17. He is a five-time World Jiu-Jitsu Champion, including gold medals in the Openweight class in 2003, 2004 and 2005. His other credentials include the 2005 77–87 kg ADCC Champion and the 2005 ADCC Absolute Division runner-up, only losing to Roger Gracie who outweighed him by approximately 25 lbs. Along with Roger Gracie and Marcelo Garcia, Souza is widely considered to be among the greatest BJJ practitioners of his time.

My money will be on Jacare...

1231 Souza wins by submission

+225

[Fred The Hammer]

Why is Romero a dog?

Have you ever seen Souza? He's freakishly huge and he enters the ring on all 4s like some kind of Cro-Magnon man that hasn't evolved into walking upright yet and fights saber-toothed tigers for lunch. I actually haven't seen Romero fight but I heard he's a monster too but Souza is an absolute animal!

[JIBBBY]

Have you ever seen Souza? He's freakishly huge and he enters the ring on all 4s like some kind of Cro-Magnon man that hasn't evolved into walking upright yet and fights saber-toothed tigers for lunch. I actually haven't seen Romero fight but I heard he's a monster too but Souza is an absolute animal!

Romero is a freakish beast too.. That's what makes this match up interesting.. If this fight goes to the ground Jacare should get the sub win, even standing I think he is more technical then Romero.. Romero hits like a truck though...



He gasses fast though in fights and gets careless.. He does have a chin..



He absolutely steamed rolled Machida..

1229 Romero wins by TKO/KO

+250

[slayer14]

Aldo is the best pound for pound fighter in the world and for me these odds of 6/4 for him to win looks the bet of the year.

[Killer_Demo]

Thatch was well sold by UFC.....

And joe rogan. Every fight is best p4p fighters on roster

[TPowell]

Romero is easily most athletic guy in the division

[Unwritten Law]

Unless Aldo is paid off, he shouldn't lose this fight. That's really my only concern when the big bucks are thrown in this match and UFC desperately needs McGregor to win, especially after Ronda was KO'd. I don't even think McGregor can beat Mendes in a full camp/didn't throw the fight. Frankie would take him as well. Both fighters Jose Aldo has beaten handily. Jibbby, you going big on Jose?

[Killer_Demo]

Anybody else leaning U3 1/2 -115 For Weidman vs Rockhold??? I don't see this fight lasting 5 rounds

[Unwritten Law]

Interesting since both Weidman and Rockhold are legit finishers and obviously Weidman has never been finished. Really excited to see how they will approach the fight. Luke seems to be a bit more of the aggressor while Weidman is more of a counter striker, which he's really good at. 3.5 rounds might be a good bet to take the under. I would be a bit more hesitant if it was at 2.5. I'm expecting Rockhold to take center of the octagon, close the distance, and pick Weidman apart.

[JIBBBY]

Jibbby, you going big on Jose?

Yep, going fairly big on Jose Aldo.. This is the MMA Superbowl event for the year as far as I'm concerned so big money will be riding... Weidman vs Rockhold could easily be a headliner for another UFC event on it's own..

I'm big on Weidman too.. Gotta figure both Weidman and Aldo are well proven UFC champions, and both Rockhold and Mcfly are not.. Keeping it simple and to the point..

I think both fights stay standing, but I hope not as a fan....

Still pondering a play on these 3 props? Hmmmm?

1035 Aldo wins by submission

+594

1037 Aldo wins by TKO/KO

+535

1007 Aldo wins by 5 round decision

+325