why all the love for wilkinson in tuf 12?

Vaughany · 12-02-10, 06:49 PM

I guess because McKenzie has one move, even he admitted it! The guys he submitted played into his game, first Killah who was a taekwondo guy tried to use his blackbelt taekwondo to get him down and ended up gettin submitted. Then Marc Stevens who just has wrestling automatically went for the takedown which McKenzie no doubt expected and playing in to McKenzie's strength. Wilkinson doesnt have this natural inclination to clinch or look for the takedown therefore it's going to be easier for him to avoid McKenzie's strength and keep the fight standing. THe line should be much closer to Evens either side IMO hence why the line has dropped from +190 to +140 and on 5dimes to +125.

terpkeg · 12-02-10, 06:56 PM

I was excepting this to be -200 Wilkensen and just hammered the +140 at Bodog. McKenzie's stand up not at level of Wiljensen. McKenzie didnt show much apptitude for wrestling. Now the cat is out of the bag. Plus his cardio was shit and his dedication to fighting did not seem to be at a UFC level.

Anyone have any insight in his training for this fight?

I didnt have time to look, just wanted to pounce on the +140 before it moved. Probably should have put the time in last night when match up announced, but I am too busy.

rocky mattioli · 12-02-10, 07:04 PM

well,this is +160 at brobury and i wanted some insight into what everyone was thinking...i read some of the commentary but havemn`t read everybody`s opinions on the fight...all the sharp cappers in here i`ve had the chance to read seemed to like wilkinson...

i needed the push...and i wanted to bite before the odds moved...

thanks for responding,guys...much appreciated...

Vaughany · 12-02-10, 07:08 PM

Originally posted by rocky mattioli

well,this is +160 at brobury and i wanted some insight into what everyone was thinking...i read some of the commentary but havemn`t read everybody`s opinions on the fight...all the sharp cappers in here i`ve had the chance to read seemed to like wilkinson...

i needed the push...and i wanted to bite before the odds moved...

thanks for responding,guys...much appreciated...

Your other option is that you take the +160 for Wilkinson then hedge it with McKenzie by submission if ur not that confident. I dont foresee him winning any other way, Wilkinson is a typical tough Wolfslair product, McKenzie has mediocre standup and lacks power, and most significantly Wilkinson has better cardio so if it went to decision id see Wilkinson taking it.

The HOFF · 12-02-10, 07:11 PM

The TUF Finale shows NEVER play out as expected. These shows are tough to cap. The fighters have had months of training after the show and come in completely different fighters. Look at the recent "upsets" from these shows. Pearson over Winner, Escudero over Nover, Mitrione over Big Baby, Madsen over Wren. I honestly thougt Mckenzie would be the dog in this fight. Either way I like him to win.

rocky mattioli · 12-02-10, 07:22 PM

Originally posted by The HOFF

The TUF Finale shows NEVER play out as expected. These shows are tough to cap. The fighters have had months of training after the show and come in completely different fighters. Look at the recent "upsets" from these shows. Pearson over Winner, Escudero over Nover, Mitrione over Big Baby, Madsen over Wren. I honestly thougt Mckenzie would be the dog in this fight. Either way I like him to win.

well,we have one dissenting opinion...i was curious because i just wasn`t all that impressed with wilkinson...i doubt i`ll get that hedge opportunity that vaughny alluded to...my books don`t usually prop the undercards...

but if i get cold feet,the odds might move enough for me to potentially cover my ass and then some...

Vaughany · 12-02-10, 07:26 PM

Originally posted by rocky mattioli

well,we have one dissenting opinion...i was curious because i just wasn`t all that impressed with wilkinson...i doubt i`ll get that hedge opportunity that vaughny alluded to...my books don`t usually prop the undercards...

but if i get cold feet,the odds might move enough for me to potentially cover my ass and then some...

Shit ye forgot it would be on undercard, I thought it might get main card ahead of Nam Phan but then Garcia is a draw because of the Korean Zombie fight I guess. Could always go for McKenzie 'Submission of the Night' and then even hedge that with Maia 'Sub of the Night'!

stefan084 · 12-03-10, 12:56 AM

Originally posted by terpkeg

I was excepting this to be -200 Wilkensen and just hammered the +140 at Bodog. McKenzie's stand up not at level of Wiljensen. McKenzie didnt show much apptitude for wrestling. Now the cat is out of the bag. Plus his cardio was shit and his dedication to fighting did not seem to be at a UFC level.

Anyone have any insight in his training for this fight?

I didnt have time to look, just wanted to pounce on the +140 before it moved. Probably should have put the time in last night when match up announced, but I am too busy.

i agree mckensie was far from impressive-especially if you get him to round three

lasker · 12-03-10, 09:42 AM

As I wrote on the TUF Finale thread, I was also very surprised to see McKenzie as the favorite. Wilkinson's boxing impressed me, and on the feet I just can't really see McKenzie having any success whatsoever. And Wilkinson should have the better wrestling of the two, which I expect him to use to keep the fight standing. If the fight does hit the ground, from what we've seen he just needs to worry about the guillotine which I think he'll be very well prepared to defend against (as Vaughany points out, it's his favorite submission move as well). Wilkinson gave Michael Johnson fits in the first round of their fight, he was hard to take down and even took down MJ a couple times, and also outstruck him.

Cardio is the other factor... Wilkinson gassed in the third against Johnson, but it was after quite a war. McKenzie strikes me as one of those guys who will never have good cardio. Even on the show he admitted he loves drinking and doesn't have a healthy lifestyle, and all but one of his wins came in the first round against relatively weak competition. If the fight gets out of the first round I expect Wilkinson to dominate the last two.

But as TheHOFF points out the TUF Finale often plays out very differently from what the show made us expect, so I could be way off and the strange line for this fight does make me suspicious. Still, I have to go with Wilkinson as the dog.