UFC 92 Picks
I’m starting to feel a little bit like Jim Carrey’s character in ‘Eternal Sunshine of the Spotless Mind’. In case you haven’t seen it, the plot revolves around Carrey desperately struggling to retain his pleasant memories of his ex-girlfriend, as a scientific procedure eradicates them from his mind. In my case it is the memory of winning wagers, not Kate Winslet, that is slipping away. Even the UFC, which is usually my bread and butter, betrayed me a couple of weeks ago. Even so, I couldn’t be happier for a chance at some MMA redemption on Saturday evening. UFC 92 looks to be the best card of the year. Hopefully I can end 2008 on a good note.
Forrest Griffin -130
Rashad Evans +110
The two very first Ultimate Fighter champs have come a long way, as they are now headlining the most dynamic card of the year. I am a huge fan of both men as I have watched every one of their professional fights. I will be sad for whoever loses, but it’s kind like when two of your best friends fight each other. Sure, it makes you feel a little bit uncomfortable, but not enough to stop you from enjoying a good show.
Griffin (16-4-0) can never be counted out. While not known for being exceptionally great at any one thing in particular, Forrest just competes and wins. I believe that the played out term is that he has “heart”. Personally, I think it’s his magical ears. Either way, Griffin always puts on a good show, and this fight will be no different.
Rashad “Sugar” Evans (17-0-1) comes in fresh off his nasty K.O. of Chuck Liddell. Poor Chuck might still be waiting for Prince Charming to awaken him with a kiss. It was that brutal.
Since his TUF days, Evans has shed the showboating cockiness that cast him as a bit of a pariah, and is now gaining a reputation as a deadly striker. All he has done in his career is go undefeated, with a questionable draw on his record to Tito Ortiz that was attributed solely to poor judging. The judges probably won’t come into play tonight.
I’m taking Evans at +110, and I’m also taking him to win inside the five rounds at +232. I will be sad to see Griffin get K.O.’d, and then I’ll check my new balance and forget it ever happened.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira -360
Frank Mir +300
Anyone who watched these two coaches on the reality show this year witnessed two opposite ends of the spectrum as far as personality goes. On one side you had Big Nog (31-4-1), a personable giant who truly loved his kids. Even through his broken English, his genuine sincerity shone through. Perhaps that attributed to the fact that both of the winners emerged from camp.
On the other side was Frank Mir (11-3-0). He has always come across as one of the biggest jerks in the UFC, and being on the show solidified those beliefs. He possesses zero redeemable qualities, and unlike Forrest, it will be fun rooting for him to get beatdown.
Nogueira has one of the few cool nicknames in the UFC: Minotauro. On the UFC’s website, it asks fighters what job they had before they became a fighter. Minotauro says that he was a Jiu-Jitsu instructor. Mir worked the front desk for Station Casinos. That’s all you need to know. Nogueira for the victory.
Forrest Griffin -130
Rashad Evans +110
The two very first Ultimate Fighter champs have come a long way, as they are now headlining the most dynamic card of the year. I am a huge fan of both men as I have watched every one of their professional fights. I will be sad for whoever loses, but it’s kind like when two of your best friends fight each other. Sure, it makes you feel a little bit uncomfortable, but not enough to stop you from enjoying a good show.
Griffin (16-4-0) can never be counted out. While not known for being exceptionally great at any one thing in particular, Forrest just competes and wins. I believe that the played out term is that he has “heart”. Personally, I think it’s his magical ears. Either way, Griffin always puts on a good show, and this fight will be no different.
Rashad “Sugar” Evans (17-0-1) comes in fresh off his nasty K.O. of Chuck Liddell. Poor Chuck might still be waiting for Prince Charming to awaken him with a kiss. It was that brutal.
Wake up, Chuck
I’m taking Evans at +110, and I’m also taking him to win inside the five rounds at +232. I will be sad to see Griffin get K.O.’d, and then I’ll check my new balance and forget it ever happened.
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira -360
Frank Mir +300
Anyone who watched these two coaches on the reality show this year witnessed two opposite ends of the spectrum as far as personality goes. On one side you had Big Nog (31-4-1), a personable giant who truly loved his kids. Even through his broken English, his genuine sincerity shone through. Perhaps that attributed to the fact that both of the winners emerged from camp.
On the other side was Frank Mir (11-3-0). He has always come across as one of the biggest jerks in the UFC, and being on the show solidified those beliefs. He possesses zero redeemable qualities, and unlike Forrest, it will be fun rooting for him to get beatdown.
Nogueira has one of the few cool nicknames in the UFC: Minotauro. On the UFC’s website, it asks fighters what job they had before they became a fighter. Minotauro says that he was a Jiu-Jitsu instructor. Mir worked the front desk for Station Casinos. That’s all you need to know. Nogueira for the victory.
Two out of three ain’t bad
CB Dollaway -165
Mike Massenzio +135
I honestly don’t know much about Massenzio (11-2-0) except that he beat Drew McFedries a few months ago and that he calls himself “The Master of Disaster”. Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be an impressive enough resume to lay some money on. But then there is CB Dollaway (8-2-0). Suddenly, Massenzio sounds like a great opportunity to make some cash on a decent dog.
Dolloway has a permanent top lip snarl he sports that makes his opponents and viewers alike want to smack him around. Then there was his arm lock tapout vs. Amir Sadollah where he cried bloody murder that he didn’t tap, when replays clearly showed him tapping. I don’t like this guy, and just like with Nate Diaz, I’ll be betting against him on pure principal for as long as he is fighting. Me and Massenzio rollin’ in my Benz-o.
Cheick Kongo -350
Mostapha Al-Turk +260
Speaking of tapping out of arm bars, the last time we saw a Muslim in the Octagon, Razzak Al-Hassan refused to tap out of a brutal situation, and his elbow went *pop*. I learned that from then on, that I would always take into consideration that Muslims would prefer to go out with honor than to tap out to an infidel referee. Duly noted.
That will not be enough to take Mr. Al-Turk (6-3-0). I do find it ironic though, that he lists his hero as Spiderman, as he is going up against the fighter with the most super hero-esque body. With his exotic name and massive 6’4” frame, Kongo (22-4-1) really should be out rounding up evil villains. Until that day, there is no way he loses this stepping stone fight.
Wanderlei Silva -110
Quinton Jackson -110
The third high-profile fight of the night finds no shortage of bad blood. Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva (32-8-1) and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (28-7-0) met twice before in Pride. Silva took both fights via devastating TKO’s. He really does not like Rampage and had this to say about his opponent:
"I want to kill this guy; I don't like him. This is really no promotion. I don't talk with him. I don't like him; he knows this."
That quote alone should have you calling your cable company to order this pay-per-view. Wowie zowie! I’m a believer and I’ll be betting Silva. He is one of the hardest hitters in the game, as evidenced in his loss to Liddell a year ago. He has heavy hands and every connection looks like it hurts.
Fans have to still be wondering if Rampage is mentally stable. Shortly after his loss to Griffin in July, he went completely nuts and found himself involved in a police chase that ended with his arrest on a felony charge of evading law enforcement, misdemeanor hit-and-run, and reckless driving. I give props to Dana White and the UFC who were there to back there embattled star immediately. What will he do once he loses to Silva? Hijack a plane? Pick up a tranny? The possibilities are endless. I can’t wait!
Quinton Jackson -110
The third high-profile fight of the night finds no shortage of bad blood. Wanderlei “The Axe Murderer” Silva (32-8-1) and Quinton “Rampage” Jackson (28-7-0) met twice before in Pride. Silva took both fights via devastating TKO’s. He really does not like Rampage and had this to say about his opponent:
"I want to kill this guy; I don't like him. This is really no promotion. I don't talk with him. I don't like him; he knows this."
That quote alone should have you calling your cable company to order this pay-per-view. Wowie zowie! I’m a believer and I’ll be betting Silva. He is one of the hardest hitters in the game, as evidenced in his loss to Liddell a year ago. He has heavy hands and every connection looks like it hurts.
Fans have to still be wondering if Rampage is mentally stable. Shortly after his loss to Griffin in July, he went completely nuts and found himself involved in a police chase that ended with his arrest on a felony charge of evading law enforcement, misdemeanor hit-and-run, and reckless driving. I give props to Dana White and the UFC who were there to back there embattled star immediately. What will he do once he loses to Silva? Hijack a plane? Pick up a tranny? The possibilities are endless. I can’t wait!
There Will Be Blood
CB Dollaway -165
Mike Massenzio +135
I honestly don’t know much about Massenzio (11-2-0) except that he beat Drew McFedries a few months ago and that he calls himself “The Master of Disaster”. Ordinarily, that wouldn’t be an impressive enough resume to lay some money on. But then there is CB Dollaway (8-2-0). Suddenly, Massenzio sounds like a great opportunity to make some cash on a decent dog.
Dolloway has a permanent top lip snarl he sports that makes his opponents and viewers alike want to smack him around. Then there was his arm lock tapout vs. Amir Sadollah where he cried bloody murder that he didn’t tap, when replays clearly showed him tapping. I don’t like this guy, and just like with Nate Diaz, I’ll be betting against him on pure principal for as long as he is fighting. Me and Massenzio rollin’ in my Benz-o.
Cheick Kongo -350
Mostapha Al-Turk +260
Speaking of tapping out of arm bars, the last time we saw a Muslim in the Octagon, Razzak Al-Hassan refused to tap out of a brutal situation, and his elbow went *pop*. I learned that from then on, that I would always take into consideration that Muslims would prefer to go out with honor than to tap out to an infidel referee. Duly noted.
That will not be enough to take Mr. Al-Turk (6-3-0). I do find it ironic though, that he lists his hero as Spiderman, as he is going up against the fighter with the most super hero-esque body. With his exotic name and massive 6’4” frame, Kongo (22-4-1) really should be out rounding up evil villains. Until that day, there is no way he loses this stepping stone fight.
Your friendly neighborhood Cheick Kongo
So there you have it. Man I really need to have at least a 4-1 day here. Bread needs a new pair of shoes. Actually, I’d even settle for some used ones. I just need some shoes!
