UFC 160 is tonight and is loaded with some big fights…literally. The heavyweights again are the center piece of a UFC card as the current and former champion both have fights tonight. The card is live on pay-per-view beginning at 10 PM ET with prelims on FX at 8 PM ET. Here’s how I see the fights going:
Main Card:
Donald “Cowboy” Cerrone (-285) vs. K.J. Noons (+225)
This should be a great standup battle. If you like guys duking it out then tune in for this one. Noons hasn’t fared well lately and I don’t see him getting it done tonight either. I see Cowboy landing punch/kick combos and doing damage. He probably won’t put Noons away though.
My Pick: Cerrone via Decision
Gray “Bully” Maynard (-210) vs. T.J. Grant (+170)
Dana White said the winner of this fight gets a title shot against Benson Henderson so the stakes are high for these guys. Maynard is one of the better fighters at 155 but has trouble finishing his opponents. Grant has been improving since dropping down from 170 to the lightweight division. I look for this fight to mainly happen standing up as both are skilled wrestlers. I think they’ll trade back and forth in a very close fight. Really this fight is a toss-up to me. I think if you’re looking to bet it you take Grant.
My Pick: T.J. Grant via Decision
Glover Teixeira (-310) vs. James Te Huna (+240)
Both of these guys can hit hard. These should trade some powerful blows. Teixeira did that with Rampage Jackson and walked away a winner. Te Huna looks vulnerable on the ground so he’s going to have to fend off takedowns. If Teixeira gets it to the ground he will dominate the fight. Standing up slightly favors Teixeira but Te Huna can hang with him on his feet.
My Pick: Glover Texeira via Submission in Rd 2
Junior “Cigano” Dos Santos (-450) vs. Mark “The Super Samoan” Hunt (+325)
This is the fight I’m most looking forward to watching. Mark Hunt has tremendous power. Dos Santos has such precision unlike you see in the heavyweight division. Dos Santos has the power and speed with his punches to put opponents away quickly. Hunt doesn’t move well but can take a good shot. Mark Hunt is going to have to find a way to get Dos Santos into a brawl. He needs to be the aggressor and try to keep Junior off balance. If not, I see him taking a lot of shots and that won’t lead to a win.
My Pick: Junior Dos Santos via TKO Rd 2
Cain Velasquez (-800) vs. Antonio “Big Foot” Silva for the UFC Heavyweight Championship
This was a lopsided fight the first time around and I can’t see it being much different tonight. Velasquez pushes the pace unlike any other heavyweight and his superior wrestling should keep Silva on the ground for much of this fight. I think Cain grounds and pounds his way to a title defense.
My Pick: Velasquez via TKO Rd 3
Preliminary Bouts:
Jeremy “Lil Heathen” Stephens (-225) vs. Estevan “El Terrible” Payan (+175) – Stephens is dropping down a weight class so the weight cut could be an issue. I see him having too much power though and being able to get a TKO in this one.
Mike “Quicksand” Pyle (-150) vs. Rick “The Horror” Story (+120) – With Story being a fill in it might be to his advantage. I’ll take Story to grind out a mild upset in this one.
Max “Blessed” Holloway (+230) vs. Dennis “The Menace” Bermudez (-300) – This should be a good fight but Bermudez’s wrestling should be the difference. He should control the action and get a decision win.
Robert Whittaker (+170) vs. Colton Smith (-210) – Smith via decision. He will get the fight to the ground and smother Whittaker for three rounds.
Khabib “The Eagle” Nurmagomedov (-300) vs. Abel “Killa” Trujillo (+230) – Nurmagomedov is a rising star and this should be his last fight on the prelims. He’ll get a first round TKO.
Nah-Shon “The Rock n Rolla” Burrell (+135) vs. Stephen “Wonder Boy” Thompson (-165) – Calling for Burrell in another mild upset pick. I think he will get the decision with his hand speed.
Brian Bowles (-280) vs. George Roop (+220) – Bowles is a very talented fighter and should showcase it in this one. Roop will be a challenge for him but I look for Bowles to really push the pace and land the better strikes. He’ll take a decision.
Good luck tonight and enjoy the fights!
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