UFC 98 Rumors/Discussion

**girth brooks** · 05-07-09, 01:55 AM

I am losing sleep thinking about who wins the Machida/Evans fight. Evans improves every fight, so does Machida. Evans is fast, technical and explosive.. So is Machida. One factor that is swaying me is that Loyota drinks his own urine everyday, if you don't believe me read his interviews. How do you bet against a guy that drinks his own urine? Evans has to get him against the cage and contain "the dragon". Good luck with that. I see a new champ. Machida with the title on the line equals trouble for a cocky Evans. There will be no time for him to grab his junk in this one. Machida by tko 3rd rd.

**Bread** · 05-07-09, 06:04 AM

Solid analysis girth. hahahaha..love it.

**brooks85** · 05-07-09, 09:55 AM

The fight being 5 rounds make it iffy for me, as of now, i think i might just spectate this one.

**girth brooks** · 05-07-09, 04:03 PM

Thanks Bread, I am new but have been following the site for a while. I will be anticipating your picks and throwin together a parlay. Let's get it!

**Bread** · 05-07-09, 05:12 PM

Are you a porn star Girth Brooks? OMG I hope so!!

**girth brooks** · 05-07-09, 06:10 PM

Naw, just a wise guy.. That would be a classic porn name though. My 1st film could be "Friends in low places"

**Bread** · 05-07-09, 06:30 PM

Either that or "This Might Hurt Just a Bit"

**girth brooks** · 05-07-09, 06:58 PM

Available only in widescreen.. I love this damn site. cheers

**flyingillini** · 05-07-09, 06:59 PM

I will be there, if anyone wants to meet up for drinks before or after the fight let me know, shoot me a pm. I will be there from the 22-24th.

**The HOFF** · 05-14-09, 12:07 PM

Rashad Evans +170
Lyoto Machida -200

Matt Serra +200
Matt Hughes -250

Frank Edgar +240
Sean Sherk -280

Dave Kaplan +120
George Roop -140

Kyle Bradley +290
Phillipe Nover -350

Brandon Wolff +365
Yoshiyuki Yoshida -460

TimHague +215
Pat Barry -300

Brock Larson +120
Chris Wilson -167

Xavier Foupa-Pokam +157
Drew McFedries -227

Andre Gausmo -118
Krzysztof Soszynski -118

*No odds for Miller/Sonnen yet.

**Bread** · 05-14-09, 12:35 PM

Can I get the maximum on George Roop??????? Kaplan is a clown.

**illmatick** · 05-14-09, 03:02 PM

roop looked awful in the fights I have seen him in, guy just looked fragile and weak, supposedly he had a broken hand though, Kaplan is nothing special but he is a better fighter than this guy imo

**illmatick** · 05-14-09, 03:04 PM

Xavier Foupa-Pokam +157
Drew McFedries -227

sad to see Irvin get scratched, thought Mcfedries would do well against him,loved the idea of getting him as a dog against James, oh well not sure how he will do against professor x

**The HOFF** · 05-14-09, 04:03 PM

I hope Professor X makes his ring entrance in a wheelchair.

**Thor4140** · 05-14-09, 04:07 PM

Here is my take on the Machida Evans fight. I can't see how anyone can take Machida at those odds. I would say the same thing about Evans if it was Evans who was the favorite. To me this is a very even fight. Two terrific fighters so if I had to bet it I would take the odds and Rashad. I can't believe the disrespect (odds)Rashad is getting in this fight. Here is a guy who improves every single fight and hasn't lost a fight just yet. I always worry about Rashads gas tank but when it is empty he still fights till the end. I think one key to this fight is Rashads chin which I think may be the best in the business. I can't see Machida knocking him out but I think Rashad is very vulnerable to kicks and this is were I think Machida can take him if Machida wins. This could be a very boring fight if Machida fights his usual style and Rashad gets frustrated but in Jackson's camp I'm sure they have gone over this a million times. Machida is now fighting a guy with athleticism to go along with skills so it is gonna be a very interesting fight. I wouldn't be surprised if either wins. If I wager it is on Rashad simply because I think it is a toss up and the odds are two juicy to turn away. First round will most likely be very boring but then I can see it start to heat up. I can't wait for this fight. Two great fighters in my opinion. I can see me just sitting back and enjoying this one with no wager at all.

**Thor4140** · 05-14-09, 04:09 PM

Originally posted by girth brooks

One factor that is swaying me is that Loyota drinks his own urine everyday, if you don't believe me read his interviews. How do you bet against a guy that drinks his own urine?

I heard Rashard eats his own shit so these things should equal out.

**Thor4140** · 05-14-09, 04:11 PM

Originally posted by Bread

Can I get the maximum on George Roop??????? Kaplan is a clown.

first thing i thought also Bread until i did some research on this roop character. I don't even remember him on the Ultimate fighter. Kaplan is a clown that is for sure. This guy Roop looks like another bum.

**illmatick** · 05-14-09, 04:16 PM

rashad looked like shit against tito and bisbing, neither guy would have a chance at machida, Tito was embarrassed by him, didnt touch him the entire fight except for a late subb attempt. Rashad tends to load up way too much on his power shots, I see him having a hard time landing any kind of meaningful shots ,I will be heavy on Machida, gl on whatever you decide

**illmatick** · 05-14-09, 04:37 PM

just saw bodog has shot machida up to -250

,anyone have a tic count on that fight, my guess would be the public loves rashad in this one, you guys agree? anyone have a winner in the belator mma event , I want a fav -170 or higher, not familiar with any of these fighters except for a few

**girth brooks** · 05-14-09, 07:23 PM

Evans will get picked apart. I like Rashad alot but Machida made Tito, or Cheeto as Machida pronounces it, look like a fool. Cheeto didn't land a shot in that fight. All you Machida doubters will be convinced that this guy may not get beaten for a long time..

**illmatick** · 05-14-09, 07:23 PM

nobody has a play for tommorow?

**Bread** · 05-14-09, 07:23 PM

He's a tough guy to put a finger on..that's for sure. Very unique type of fighter.

**illmatick** · 05-14-09, 07:30 PM

once in a generation type fighter imo, Rashad is a great fighter but after the way Machida treated Thiago I am pretty sure this guy will be champion for a while

**Bread** · 05-14-09, 07:33 PM

That Thiago fight was not kind to me. Ick Illmatick.

**illmatick** · 05-14-09, 07:35 PM

, same here, thought I was real sharp telling people there was tremendous value on thiago

**Bread** · 05-14-09, 07:39 PM

That was domination. I am actually due for a big UFC event. Hopefully next week will be my night. Tired of my wife hitting more winners than me. Almost time for a spell of "violent sleeping."

Jokes.

**Thor4140** · 05-14-09, 11:05 PM

Originally posted by illmatick

rashad looked like shit against tito and bisbing, neither guy would have a chance at machida, Tito was embarrassed by him, didnt touch him the entire fight except for a late subb attempt. Rashad tends to load up way too much on his power shots, I see him having a hard time landing any kind of meaningful shots ,I will be heavy on Machida, gl on whatever you decide

tito came within a wisker of subbing Machida. The Rashad Tito fight if Tito doesn't grab the fence over and over again Rashad makes him look silly. Those fence grabs can change a whole fight. Rashad didn't run from Tito the whole fight like Machida did. Tough to fight a guy who is very defensive. We are gonna see what Machida is made of in this fight.

**illmatick** · 05-14-09, 11:24 PM

Machida has nothing to prove, the guys he has beat prove enough to me, Guy dominated, Tito, Rich Franklin, Sokuju, and Thiago Sylva, all thought to be elite fighters, Rashad wouldnt have beat chuck just a few years ago, I thought he was losing their fight until he landed a lucky shot

**flyingillini** · 05-14-09, 11:26 PM

I cannot wait, flying in on the 22nd, going to see Joe Rogan on Friday night and then the fight, any posters gonna go lets meet up for drinks... pm me for my #

**illmatick** · 05-14-09, 11:36 PM

wish I could be there, Joe Rogan is always fun

**Riot** · 05-16-09, 03:47 AM

Riots UFC 98 Picks

(I totally just stayed up all night making this, then realized the fights are not tonight, but next week. Im sorry, forgive me, im in Iraq and sometimes my dates get messed up, oh well , i will add to it when the other lines become available.)

Hey guys, im pretty new to this site, iv been trying to get into handicapping , not so good in baseball yet , but MMA is my fan. If you went to www.RiotBoyer.com you would see im the NME heavyweight champion. Im also an MMA geek , its a small community , iv trained with alot of guys and met even more. Im usually right with my picks. (i guarantee i will have a winning record tonight lol) Chuck Liddell killed me last time tho, but here we go ...

Dave Kaplan Vs George Roop
George roop did go thru the ultimate fighter with a messed up hand, and his biggest weakness is getting submitted. Kaplan (an all state wrestler from right down the street from where i grew up) is not to good in the submission department, and prefers to ground and pound. Their records should tell you everything. Kaplan is 2-2. On loss came to Junie Browning (if you do not know, the kid is straight trash and was destroyed by cole miller recently via a blue belt guillotine. i know Cole just got his brown belt, im saying the submission was very simple). One of Dave Kaplans wins came against a guy who is 0-3. George Roop is a respectable 8-4 and his wins come from multiple ways, few decisions, few submissions, few TKO's. George Roop is Def the more tested and more versatile fighter.

Riots Pick : George Roop -150

YOSHIYUKI YOSHIDA Vs. BRANDON WOLFF
Yoshida , or Zenko as he is known, fought almost his entire career in Japan. and even owns a 9 fight winning streak , 4 of those fights were to win the the GCM welterweight Tournament. Only one came in the UFC, and that was against the recently kicked out of UFC "WarMachine" or , John Koppenhaver, which was his name before the legal name change. His second fight came during the UFC fight for the troops, in which he was on the receiving end of that devastating knockout via Josh Koscheck. Now lets look at his opponent Brandon Wolfe, who actually had more to do with WarMachine getting kicked out of the UFC then Zenko did. Why ? Because the UFC wanted to sign Brandon Wolfe vs. WarMachine, but WarMachine had no idea who he was, so he called his friends and training partners and they "They all said the guy is savage, sick, tough as hell, a really tough fighter and a really tough fight. Basically we all came to the conclusion that I have nothing to gain from the fight." Wolfe did lose to Ben Saunders, but Ben is a beast from who you will all make money off of when he upsets Mike Swick on the next UFC. Anyways, i feel Zenko is the more proven fighter, but hes not going to get Wolfe in that thai clinch that Saunders had him in, the line is way off on this one, Zenko may win, but no way in hell i take him at that price. Wolfe has a 45% chance of winning this fight and thats good enough for me and my money.

Riots Pick : BRANDON WOLFF + 350

PAT BARRY Vs TIM HAGUE
This fight would seem evenly matched, Barry, the former Pro Kickboxer vs. Hague, the reigning King of The Cage champ. Let me make one thing clear ... its not ... its not going to be close at all. Three of Pat Barrys Four wins have come from Leg kicks. Do you know how good your leg kicks have to bee to TKO someone with Leg kicks ???? All fights were in the first round to. The UFC is slowly bringing this guy along, and Tim Hague is just another name for the die hard fight fans to recognize on Barrys resume. King of the Cage is like Double A baseball. Hague is making to big a jump right now. I hope they show the fight on TV cause Barry is fun to watch. Anything can happen in MMA , any slip or missed punch could lead to a quick lose for anybody, so their are no locks, but this is as close as it gets.

Riots Pick: Pat Barry -315

PHILLIPE NOVER Vs. KYLE BRADLEY
Bradley is a Vet of the sport with a record of 13-6 (3 of those losses are Jamie Varner and Melvin Guillard x2). He was TKO'd in both his UFC fights, once by TUF standout Joe Lauzon, and another by Chris Lytle. This should hurt him against the hard hitting Nover, who also sports a blackbelt and beat up both Roop and Kaplan on TUF, and Dana white said he reminds him of GSP. The future looks bright for this kid. All and Nover should win, but Bradley is no joke, and thats alot of juice. Dont bet the house on this one .... or any of them, but especially not this one.

Riots Pick: Norver -340

SEAN SHERK Vs. FRANKIE EDGAR
Does the torch get passed ?? We will find out after 3 rounds. If your site has prop bets , i would bet a good amount that this one goes the distance. These are two guys who are known for going all the way. Former champ and phenominal wrestler, Sherk, has beat everybody not named Matt Hughs, B.J. Penn and GSP. 33-3-1. Not bad in this line of work. Edgars record is nice as well at 9-1. That one loss ... another great wrestler Grey Maynard. Sherk has the better stanima, and in r ounds , he wont need it. i see Sherk in Edgars guard alot. I dont think this fight will be as awesome as we are hoping. Sherk should win this one, but yet again, the juice is very high and im not sure the juice is worth the squeeze.

Riots Pick Sherk -300

MATT HUGHES Vs. MATT SERRA
I wonder if they will fight or talk about that one time when they each beat GSP. Matt Hughes is a UFC legand turning Has-been , Serra is a never-was-cept-that-time-he-knocked-out-GSP-and-won-the-belt. Both looked Horrible in their rematches vs GSP. Interesting fact tho, that TKO loss to GSP was only the second stoppage lose for Serra. The first was that infamous spinning back elbow from Shonnie Carter with like 12 seconds left. Its time to break some hearts tho, Matt Hughes never had great striking, he was never a submission expert, he was just physically stronger (ALOT STRONGER) then his opposition. His wins over Royce Gracie and B.J. Penn were 3 years ago, Matt Hughes is 36 years old, the Physical strength is fading and recovering from a torn MCL isnt going to help any. He has been suspect-able to Submissions before and i think Matt Serras Ju jitzu is underrated. The guy got his black belt under Renzo Gracie, thats no easy task.

Riots Pick: Serra + 200

LYOTO MACHIDA Vs RASHAD EVANS
The Mythical Machida Vs. the Hated Evans. First things first, i want to clear a few things up. Yes, Machida did beat B.J. Penn, but he also out weighed him by 28 pounds. Thats alot to smaller guys. Yes, he did beat Rich Franklin 2 years before Franklin won the belt, and Yes he did beat Tito Ortiz (but Tito has not been the same in a long long time.) He only has two submission victories, one against Sokoudjo , who is not know for his ground game. I dont think he is going to out wrestler Evans, i dont think hes going to submit hum either, so this fight will take place standing up. I know Machida is a good striker, but i really cant see anyone standing 5 rounds with Rashad Evans. Hes got quick hands like he showed against Forrest, and hes got great wrestling which will help him take down and finish his stunned opponent. Thats the way i see this most likely playing out. Evans TKO 60% likely Machida boring decision 40% likely.

Riots Pick: Evans +170

Thats all the fights i got on my sites, a quick rundown for the other ones, in case your site has them:

Krzysztof Soszynski vs. Andre Gusmao
Soszynski should win this one. Not sure what the line is, but Andre is comming of a loss to a good wrestler Jon Jones and now faces an even better wrestler. My friend on team Quest with Kryz tells me he is one of the best wrestlers he has gone against and i see a 2nd round TKO for Soszynski

Brock Larson vs. Chris Wilson
Larson 26-2 (two loses WEC champ Carlos Condit and UFC contender John Fitch ... not to shabby). Wilson has had success in the IFL , but struggled in the UFC and i think hes struggles continue as Brock Larson picks up a Unanomous decision.

Dan Miller vs. Chael Sonnen
Dan Miller suffered his one lose early in his career. He is a very good wrestler and should have a good match against Sonnen, who is a late replacement. Sonnen is an experienced fighter, but has pretty much lost to every big name that he has fought. I think Miller wins Via TKO.

Drew McFedries vs. Xavier Foupa-Pokam
Pokam is a very good Muay thai fighter who is working on his ground game. He wont have to work to hard because McFedries has been submitted by Mark Kampmann, who is def not known for his grappling. This fight is gonna be a fight between Brawler and Technician. I see Pokam winning it Via KO.

Lets Recap my Picks :

Pokam

Miller

Larson

Soszynski

Roop -150

Wolfe +350

Berry -315

Norver -340

Sherk -300

Serra +200

Evans +170

**Bread** · 05-16-09, 06:05 AM

Excelent breakdowns Riot. More of this for future cards please.

PS..I also thought the fights were this Saturday up until just yesterday for some oddd reason, so you don't have to be in Iraq to mess that up.

Good luck to us, and hopefully the UFC gets back on track after the disaster that was the last PPV.

**illmatick** · 05-16-09, 01:52 PM

cool website, checked your fight out, thought you were fighting tank abbot for a second, that was an amazing transition at the 5:30 mark,

**Riot** · 05-17-09, 01:31 AM

okay, im sorry, i work 12 hour shifts, 12 on , 12 off, everyday for the past 9 and a half months lmao . sometimes inside the wire, sometimes outside. I was so tired that common sense eluded me, I accidently posted this as a reply at first, i didnt think it posted it tho cause it was to long. Oh well lol.

As for the video, i tore my achellies 6 months before this fight, i had a walking boot on to stableize my ankle for 5 months, then we went to the national training center out in Cali to get ready for our deployment, were we went with no sleep, starved and wore ourselves out. i came back and wanted one last fight before deploying .. "just incase ..." well all they had open was a title shot in a week and a half. i was outta practice but i took it anyway. MY ground is game is actually good, i dont know why it didnt show up tho, he was quite big for my rubber guard, and he grabbed the fence alot, which is why it keep getting stood up. Fun night tho