Hello one and all and welcome to another edition of Viperz Venom! I am happy to once again be breaking down the fights and giving you my picks. We've got a pretty great card here so lets get underway!
Chris De Le Rocha 3-1 vs Adam Milstead 7-1
We start the card off with a heavyweight battle which as you know I normally refer to as a coin flip. De La Rocha has less experience and he is not in the best shape physically. Milstead on the other hand looks almost like the heavyweight version of Sage Northcutt. The bulk of Milstead's 7 wins have come by TKO in the 1st round so thats where I am on this one. Taking the debuting possible heavyweight superstar over the out of shape inexperienced underdog is the best I can do here.
Pick: Adam Milstead via 1st Round KO/TKO
Aljamain Sterling 12-0 vs Bryan Caraway 20-8
The UFC frustrates me when it comes to Aljamain Sterling. He is one of this generations most amazing talents and because he has been very vocal about the possibility of testing the free agency market when his current contract runs out he is placed on fight pass, AGAIN. Not to mention they put him up against Meisha Tate's pad holder. How can the UFC justify holding back someones super stardom on purpose? Anyways, thats enough about that.
Pick: Aljamain Sterling 1st Round KO/TKO
Erik Koch 14-4 vs Shane Campbell 12-4
This is the second straight fight for Koch where he is not fighting the original fighter he expected to face. Campbell steps up in just over a months notice to take on a very dangerous Erik Koch. Koch has lost 3 of his last 4 but has went 1-1 since returning to lightweight. Shane Campbell has a great kickboxing background amassing a record of 62-9 but I don't see that being enough to get the job done here. Koch gets it done here with a 2nd round submission, worst case scenario he takes the decision win.
Pick: Erik Koch via 2nd Round Submission
Jake Collier 9-3 vs Alberto Uda 9-0
For Collier this fight is pretty much a do or die situation. He has had 3 fights in the UFC and has amassed an unimpressive record of 1-2 he needs this win if he expects to keep his spot in the UFC. Uda on the other hand makes his UFC debut with an undefeated record and is looking to make a giant splash in a division with its fair share of current superstars.Uda is also a finisher only having one of his 9 wins going to a decision as well. Hard to see this one going to distance. Uda uses his 5 star muai thai to take out Collier by the end of the second.
Pick: Alberto Uda via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Abel Trujillo 14-6 vs Jordan Rinaldi 12-4
Since coming into the UFC Abel Trujillo has only lost to the best of the best in Khabib Nurmagomedov & Tony Ferguson but the problem with that is that Trujillo hasn't really beaten anybody of note. Sure he beat Varner but who is Varner in his mid 30's? He also lost to Tibau but it was overturned due to a failed drug test. With that being said Rinaldi steps in on short notice to face a much more dangerous opponent. Most people reviewing this fight will say "If Rinaldi can survive the barrage he's got a shot". The problem with that is he won't survive it. Another no name win for Trujillo that does absolutely nothing for his stock in the company whatsoever.
Pick: Abel Trujillo via 1st Round KO/TKO
Sara McMann 8-3 vs Jessica Eye 11-4
Eye & McMann round out the prelims for this event. This is a great fight because Eye has shown to have some trouble with wrestlers and McMann hasn't really found a way to translate her wrestling into the octagon against elite talent. Eye is on the way up and McMann is on the way out unfortunately that doesnt mean that McMann can't get it done. I honestly feel like McMann GSP's Eye to death and takes home a boring decision.
Pick: Sara McMann via Unanimous Decision
Joshua Burkman 29-12 vs Paul Felder 11-2
My god Burkman seems to be the guy who just won't go away. Following him in and out of the UFC means you would almost have to tune into a new promotion every time he has fought. Paul Felder on the other hand has had a crap hand dealt to him so far in the UFC. He put together a couple solid wins and then dropped two decisions, one to Barboza, and a razor close one to Ross Pearson. This is really Felder's fight to lose, I believe Felder has sparks of a possible champion in him.
Pick: Paul Felder via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Jorge Masvidal 29-10 vs Lorenz Larkin 16-5
Both of these knockout artists are coming off of split decision losses that honestly couldn't easily been split decision wins. Its a hard one to call because Masvidal submitted Chiesa and knocked out Ferriera but Larkin has a win over the current welterweight champion and knocked out Doomsday. The problem with calling for a Larkin finish here is Masvidal hasn't been TKO'ed since 2008 and I'm a firm believer that he has "retard brain". I mean no offense to handicapped people when I say that, what I'm talking about is the same thing the Diaz brothers have where they can get blasted directly on the chin for 2 rounds and not even wobble. The truth is Larkin has been pretty unimpressive since making his debut in the UFC going only 3-5. Masvidal has the tools to win this fight and thats what I expect him to do.
Pick: Jorge Masvidal via Unanimous Decision
Chris Camozzi 23-10 vs Vitor Miranda 13-4
Camozzi has been in and out of the UFC 3 times now never really being able to break the ceiling on the mid range of talent in his division. Miranda on the other hand has nearly steam rolled all of his competition since his season of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil. Though Miranda's age may worry some people the truth is that he is one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC and if Camozzi doesn't run at him and hold onto him for dear life hes going to get knocked unconscious. Camozzi turtles while Miranda lands bombs for the quick stoppage.
Pick: Vitor Miranda via 1st Round KO/TKO
Tarec Saffiedine 16-4 vs Rick Story 18-8
Saffiedine has been one of the safest fighters I've ever seen. Decision after Decision he stays out of dangerous positions but doesn't really put his opponents into them either. Story is nearly the same only from time to time he takes more chances because he can really take a shot and keep moving forward. Saffiedine's experience and accolades should be enough to have him destroy his competition but once again we'll just see him point fight his way to victory. As aggressive as Story is, he just doesn't have the skills that Saffiedine does.
Pick: Tarec Saffiedine via Unanimous Decision
Renan Barao 35-3 vs Jeremy Stephens 24-12
bArao comes up in weight to face Stephens who just recently came down in weight. Obviously Stephens is going to be the bigger stronger fighter here. That doesn't mean Barao can't win it just means that he's less likely to. Stephens has just as much experience as him and has fought more elite talent for much longer. Barao has went about as far as he can go. Going up in weight because the cut is too hard is just the tip of things wrong with him game. I see Stephens stopping Barao in the 2nd round.
Pick: Jeremy Stephens via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Thomas Almeida 21-0 vs Cody Garbrandt 8-0
I've heard alot of people say Almeida's record is padded but the truth is he wrecks everyone he fights. Garbrandt seems to have a little more trouble with his foes even though he himself gets the job done. Almeida is a dangerous man, and I believe the hype. Almeida by early stoppage.
Pick: Thomas Almeida via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Well that brings us to the end of another enstallment of Viperz Venom. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it! As usual feel free to leave me any comments, concerns, criticism, etc at the bottom. I do my best to reply to everyone who wants to talk mma with me or tell me what I can do better. Until next time.
Chris De Le Rocha 3-1 vs Adam Milstead 7-1
We start the card off with a heavyweight battle which as you know I normally refer to as a coin flip. De La Rocha has less experience and he is not in the best shape physically. Milstead on the other hand looks almost like the heavyweight version of Sage Northcutt. The bulk of Milstead's 7 wins have come by TKO in the 1st round so thats where I am on this one. Taking the debuting possible heavyweight superstar over the out of shape inexperienced underdog is the best I can do here.
Pick: Adam Milstead via 1st Round KO/TKO
Aljamain Sterling 12-0 vs Bryan Caraway 20-8
The UFC frustrates me when it comes to Aljamain Sterling. He is one of this generations most amazing talents and because he has been very vocal about the possibility of testing the free agency market when his current contract runs out he is placed on fight pass, AGAIN. Not to mention they put him up against Meisha Tate's pad holder. How can the UFC justify holding back someones super stardom on purpose? Anyways, thats enough about that.
Pick: Aljamain Sterling 1st Round KO/TKO
Erik Koch 14-4 vs Shane Campbell 12-4
This is the second straight fight for Koch where he is not fighting the original fighter he expected to face. Campbell steps up in just over a months notice to take on a very dangerous Erik Koch. Koch has lost 3 of his last 4 but has went 1-1 since returning to lightweight. Shane Campbell has a great kickboxing background amassing a record of 62-9 but I don't see that being enough to get the job done here. Koch gets it done here with a 2nd round submission, worst case scenario he takes the decision win.
Pick: Erik Koch via 2nd Round Submission
Jake Collier 9-3 vs Alberto Uda 9-0
For Collier this fight is pretty much a do or die situation. He has had 3 fights in the UFC and has amassed an unimpressive record of 1-2 he needs this win if he expects to keep his spot in the UFC. Uda on the other hand makes his UFC debut with an undefeated record and is looking to make a giant splash in a division with its fair share of current superstars.Uda is also a finisher only having one of his 9 wins going to a decision as well. Hard to see this one going to distance. Uda uses his 5 star muai thai to take out Collier by the end of the second.
Pick: Alberto Uda via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Abel Trujillo 14-6 vs Jordan Rinaldi 12-4
Since coming into the UFC Abel Trujillo has only lost to the best of the best in Khabib Nurmagomedov & Tony Ferguson but the problem with that is that Trujillo hasn't really beaten anybody of note. Sure he beat Varner but who is Varner in his mid 30's? He also lost to Tibau but it was overturned due to a failed drug test. With that being said Rinaldi steps in on short notice to face a much more dangerous opponent. Most people reviewing this fight will say "If Rinaldi can survive the barrage he's got a shot". The problem with that is he won't survive it. Another no name win for Trujillo that does absolutely nothing for his stock in the company whatsoever.
Pick: Abel Trujillo via 1st Round KO/TKO
Sara McMann 8-3 vs Jessica Eye 11-4
Eye & McMann round out the prelims for this event. This is a great fight because Eye has shown to have some trouble with wrestlers and McMann hasn't really found a way to translate her wrestling into the octagon against elite talent. Eye is on the way up and McMann is on the way out unfortunately that doesnt mean that McMann can't get it done. I honestly feel like McMann GSP's Eye to death and takes home a boring decision.
Pick: Sara McMann via Unanimous Decision
Joshua Burkman 29-12 vs Paul Felder 11-2
My god Burkman seems to be the guy who just won't go away. Following him in and out of the UFC means you would almost have to tune into a new promotion every time he has fought. Paul Felder on the other hand has had a crap hand dealt to him so far in the UFC. He put together a couple solid wins and then dropped two decisions, one to Barboza, and a razor close one to Ross Pearson. This is really Felder's fight to lose, I believe Felder has sparks of a possible champion in him.
Pick: Paul Felder via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Jorge Masvidal 29-10 vs Lorenz Larkin 16-5
Both of these knockout artists are coming off of split decision losses that honestly couldn't easily been split decision wins. Its a hard one to call because Masvidal submitted Chiesa and knocked out Ferriera but Larkin has a win over the current welterweight champion and knocked out Doomsday. The problem with calling for a Larkin finish here is Masvidal hasn't been TKO'ed since 2008 and I'm a firm believer that he has "retard brain". I mean no offense to handicapped people when I say that, what I'm talking about is the same thing the Diaz brothers have where they can get blasted directly on the chin for 2 rounds and not even wobble. The truth is Larkin has been pretty unimpressive since making his debut in the UFC going only 3-5. Masvidal has the tools to win this fight and thats what I expect him to do.
Pick: Jorge Masvidal via Unanimous Decision
Chris Camozzi 23-10 vs Vitor Miranda 13-4
Camozzi has been in and out of the UFC 3 times now never really being able to break the ceiling on the mid range of talent in his division. Miranda on the other hand has nearly steam rolled all of his competition since his season of The Ultimate Fighter Brazil. Though Miranda's age may worry some people the truth is that he is one of the most dangerous strikers in the UFC and if Camozzi doesn't run at him and hold onto him for dear life hes going to get knocked unconscious. Camozzi turtles while Miranda lands bombs for the quick stoppage.
Pick: Vitor Miranda via 1st Round KO/TKO
Tarec Saffiedine 16-4 vs Rick Story 18-8
Saffiedine has been one of the safest fighters I've ever seen. Decision after Decision he stays out of dangerous positions but doesn't really put his opponents into them either. Story is nearly the same only from time to time he takes more chances because he can really take a shot and keep moving forward. Saffiedine's experience and accolades should be enough to have him destroy his competition but once again we'll just see him point fight his way to victory. As aggressive as Story is, he just doesn't have the skills that Saffiedine does.
Pick: Tarec Saffiedine via Unanimous Decision
Renan Barao 35-3 vs Jeremy Stephens 24-12
bArao comes up in weight to face Stephens who just recently came down in weight. Obviously Stephens is going to be the bigger stronger fighter here. That doesn't mean Barao can't win it just means that he's less likely to. Stephens has just as much experience as him and has fought more elite talent for much longer. Barao has went about as far as he can go. Going up in weight because the cut is too hard is just the tip of things wrong with him game. I see Stephens stopping Barao in the 2nd round.
Pick: Jeremy Stephens via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Thomas Almeida 21-0 vs Cody Garbrandt 8-0
I've heard alot of people say Almeida's record is padded but the truth is he wrecks everyone he fights. Garbrandt seems to have a little more trouble with his foes even though he himself gets the job done. Almeida is a dangerous man, and I believe the hype. Almeida by early stoppage.
Pick: Thomas Almeida via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Well that brings us to the end of another enstallment of Viperz Venom. I hope you enjoyed reading it as much as I did writing it! As usual feel free to leave me any comments, concerns, criticism, etc at the bottom. I do my best to reply to everyone who wants to talk mma with me or tell me what I can do better. Until next time.
