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The UFC returns home to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to host its 273rd event and the main event that we have stacked for you definitely has the potential to steal the show. As Renan Barao looks to put his 33 fight unbeaten streak on the line, while ultimate figher runner up TJ Dillishaw looks to exact some revenge from Renan's recent TKO finish of his Alpha Male team mate - Urijah Faber. Also Dan Henderson looks out to prove he really is back for good after his recent finish of Mauricio Shogun Rua as he takes on fellow former US Olympian wrestler Daniel Cormier in a fight that could very well decide who is next in line for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. In other action two top 10 welterweights are looking to get back on track as Robbie Lawler looks to rebound from his recent decision loss to welterweight champion Johny Hendricks against Jake Ellenberger who looks to do the same after his disappointing loss to Rory MacDonald. Takeya Mizugaki and Francisco Rivera will both look to climb the bantamweight ladder, and former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner looks to break his losing streak against James Krause. For the first time in a while I'm pleased to say this is your official UFC 173 prediction thread!
Hello everyone! I'm Alex Cochrane presenting for the first time this year a UFC prediction thread, and what a fight that we have scheduled for our main event. Renan Barao is simply running the most impressive winning streak in MMA. An avid finisher with 8 knockouts and 14 submission wins his 33 fight unbeaten streak is second to none, and he's proved that ever since he became the champion he continues to evolve as a fighter and proves that leaving it out of the hands of the judges is the best way to impress a crowd. Earlier this year, Barao defeated Urijah Faber for the second time with 1st round TKO, which went to prove as to why he is the UFC's best active 135 pound fighter. Someone who would dispute that claim is one of Faber's teammates - TJ Dillishaw. Dillishaw caught our attention on as a member of Michael Bisping's team on The Ultimate Fighter, and apart from his TKO loss to John Dodson at the Finale of the season - he has looked equally as impressive with 3 of his 5 wins coming by either some form of knockout or submission. Prepare yourself, for when you add the UFC Bantamweight Championship in the mix, has every bit of recipe to be a barn burner. In the co main event, US Olympian wrestlers Dan Henderson and Daniel Cormier are both hungry for a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship and will look to sqaure off. The winner? Could be next in line for a title shot. Also on the main card, top 10 welterweights Robbie Lawler and Jake Ellenberger will both be hunting for another knockout to add to their combined 36 knockout victories, Takeya Mizugaki and Francisco Rivera battle it out for a chance to climb the UFC Bantamweight rankings, and Jamie Varner and James Krause are both looking to rebound from their most recent knockout losses in a prospectual exciting lightweight bout. It's live, it's on pay per view, it's UFC 173 live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the fight capital of the world - Las Vegas! Let's take a look at what I think will go down come fight night on the 24th.
Bantamweight (135 lbs) Championship: Renan Barao vs TJ Dillishaw
While Renan Barao was walking out to his most fitting theme music "All I do is win" by DJ Khaled, TJ Dillishaw was paying close attention as his teammate Urijah Faber was set to square off for the second time against Barao after winning 4 fights in row, following a loss to Barao which gained Barao the championship. The result - hard for Dillishaw to watch as he watched his Alpha Male teammate lose to Barao in the opening frame and Barao made his first successful title defense as the non interm champion. However as disappointing as it was for Dillishaw to watch, it also must have been somewhat motivating to learn that he was going to be next in line for a shot at the newly crowned champion. This one has all the makings to be fight of the night, both Dillishaw and Barao are avid finishers with the majoraty of their UFC wins being some form of stoppage, and keeping in mind Dillishaw's state of mind also makes this a very interesting fight. However, anyone who watches UFC knows what happens when Alpha Male fighters get into title fights, and unfortunately for Dillishaw (taking his lack of experience into account) I believe this one is going to end up in the same way, but not without making it a war.
Winner: Renan Barao by TKO in Rd. 3
Light Heavyweight (205 lbs) Bout: Daniel Cormier vs Dan Henderson
The next shot at the UFC's light heavyweight championship hangs in the balance as the two former US olympians square off against each other. Both Dan Henderson and Daniel Cormier have had some momentum riding in the UFC's light heavyweight division, Henderson just snapped his three fight losing streak by putting on another barn burner with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and finishing him in the third round with his pattened H-Bomb, where as Daniel Cormier put trash talking newcomer Patrick Cummings away early in the first round after dropping to 205. Now with a light heavyweight title shot on the horizons, it's hard to see who will come out. We do have to take into account though that Dan Henderson will most likely be doing what Dan Henderson always does - relentless coming at Cormier trying to knock him out. Unfortunately for old Danny boy though, I believe Cormier will be smarter to play into his game and will more than likely continuously take Henderson to the ground where he is most uncomfortable and grind out a unanimous decision win.
Winner: Daniel Cormier by Unanimous Decision
Welterweight (170 lbs) Bout: Robbie Lawler vs Jake Ellenberger
Both Robbie Lawler and Jake Ellenberger have experienced their shares of ups and downs in the UFC's welterweight division. Ellenberger was riding a 6 fight win streak before controversially losing to Martin Kampmann where as Robbie Lawler defeated Josh Koscheck, Bobby Voelker, and Rory MacDonald only to lose a controversial decision for the Welterweight championship to current champ Johny Hendricks. But lucky for them, this fight is a chance for both men to turn their luck around, and they'll do so in devestating fashions. Both men own the highest knockout ratios in the division as both of them share 18 knockout victories each and will definitely be looking to make good on that constantly searching for the knockout. It'll be a tough one to call, but taking into account his more well rounded skill set. I see Ellenberger squeezing out a very narrow, very disputed razor thin decision with a takedown or two.
Winner: Jake Ellenberger by Split Decision
Bantamweight (135 lbs) Bout: Takeya Mizugaki vs Francisco Rivera
Takeya Mizugaki was originally scheduled to fight TJ Dillishaw in this fight. However with Dillishaw accpeting the main event slot, Mizugaki was left without an opponent... until Francisco Rivera came along, and what a worthy opponent he is. Although he has seldomly fought, Rivera has back to back TKO wins over Edwin Figureoa and George Roop respectively and will definitley be a tough challenge for the veteran Mizugaki. But don't be so quick to count out Mizugaki, he himself is riding a four fight win streak over the likes of Bryan Caraway, Erik Perez, Nam Phan. And in a talent deep pool like the UFC's bantamweight division is very tough to do. I anticipate this to be a standup war in which I see Mizugaki going down in the 2nd due to Rivera's tremendous knockout power.
Winner: Francisco Rivera by KO/TKO in Rd. 2
Lightweight (155 lbs) Bout: Jamie Varner vs James Krause
Things were looking good for James Krause until his most recent fight against Bobby Green. He was riding a 8 fight unbeaten streak which included avenging his loss to Toby Imada until he was TKO'd by Green last year with a controversial body kick. Jamie Varner on the other hand has been even more down on his luck. after returning two years ago with an upset of the year candidate victory over Edson Barboza and an amazing showing against Joe Lauzon where he lost by submission in the third round. Varner went 1-2 against the likes of Melvin Guillard, Gleison Tibau, and Abel Trujillio, his most recent being a knockout loss to Trujillio. I believe that Varner will use that for positive motivation to turn this around. Afterall, he is a former WEC champion and I believe he still has many years ahead of him.
Winner: Jamie Varner by KO/TKO in Rd. 2
Alright guys, it's your turn now. Who do you think are gonna pull out the Ws come fight night?
The UFC returns home to the MGM Grand Garden Arena in Las Vegas to host its 273rd event and the main event that we have stacked for you definitely has the potential to steal the show. As Renan Barao looks to put his 33 fight unbeaten streak on the line, while ultimate figher runner up TJ Dillishaw looks to exact some revenge from Renan's recent TKO finish of his Alpha Male team mate - Urijah Faber. Also Dan Henderson looks out to prove he really is back for good after his recent finish of Mauricio Shogun Rua as he takes on fellow former US Olympian wrestler Daniel Cormier in a fight that could very well decide who is next in line for UFC Light Heavyweight Champion Jon Jones. In other action two top 10 welterweights are looking to get back on track as Robbie Lawler looks to rebound from his recent decision loss to welterweight champion Johny Hendricks against Jake Ellenberger who looks to do the same after his disappointing loss to Rory MacDonald. Takeya Mizugaki and Francisco Rivera will both look to climb the bantamweight ladder, and former WEC lightweight champion Jamie Varner looks to break his losing streak against James Krause. For the first time in a while I'm pleased to say this is your official UFC 173 prediction thread!
Hello everyone! I'm Alex Cochrane presenting for the first time this year a UFC prediction thread, and what a fight that we have scheduled for our main event. Renan Barao is simply running the most impressive winning streak in MMA. An avid finisher with 8 knockouts and 14 submission wins his 33 fight unbeaten streak is second to none, and he's proved that ever since he became the champion he continues to evolve as a fighter and proves that leaving it out of the hands of the judges is the best way to impress a crowd. Earlier this year, Barao defeated Urijah Faber for the second time with 1st round TKO, which went to prove as to why he is the UFC's best active 135 pound fighter. Someone who would dispute that claim is one of Faber's teammates - TJ Dillishaw. Dillishaw caught our attention on as a member of Michael Bisping's team on The Ultimate Fighter, and apart from his TKO loss to John Dodson at the Finale of the season - he has looked equally as impressive with 3 of his 5 wins coming by either some form of knockout or submission. Prepare yourself, for when you add the UFC Bantamweight Championship in the mix, has every bit of recipe to be a barn burner. In the co main event, US Olympian wrestlers Dan Henderson and Daniel Cormier are both hungry for a shot at the UFC Light Heavyweight Championship and will look to sqaure off. The winner? Could be next in line for a title shot. Also on the main card, top 10 welterweights Robbie Lawler and Jake Ellenberger will both be hunting for another knockout to add to their combined 36 knockout victories, Takeya Mizugaki and Francisco Rivera battle it out for a chance to climb the UFC Bantamweight rankings, and Jamie Varner and James Krause are both looking to rebound from their most recent knockout losses in a prospectual exciting lightweight bout. It's live, it's on pay per view, it's UFC 173 live from the MGM Grand Garden Arena in the fight capital of the world - Las Vegas! Let's take a look at what I think will go down come fight night on the 24th.
Bantamweight (135 lbs) Championship: Renan Barao vs TJ Dillishaw
While Renan Barao was walking out to his most fitting theme music "All I do is win" by DJ Khaled, TJ Dillishaw was paying close attention as his teammate Urijah Faber was set to square off for the second time against Barao after winning 4 fights in row, following a loss to Barao which gained Barao the championship. The result - hard for Dillishaw to watch as he watched his Alpha Male teammate lose to Barao in the opening frame and Barao made his first successful title defense as the non interm champion. However as disappointing as it was for Dillishaw to watch, it also must have been somewhat motivating to learn that he was going to be next in line for a shot at the newly crowned champion. This one has all the makings to be fight of the night, both Dillishaw and Barao are avid finishers with the majoraty of their UFC wins being some form of stoppage, and keeping in mind Dillishaw's state of mind also makes this a very interesting fight. However, anyone who watches UFC knows what happens when Alpha Male fighters get into title fights, and unfortunately for Dillishaw (taking his lack of experience into account) I believe this one is going to end up in the same way, but not without making it a war.
Winner: Renan Barao by TKO in Rd. 3
Light Heavyweight (205 lbs) Bout: Daniel Cormier vs Dan Henderson
The next shot at the UFC's light heavyweight championship hangs in the balance as the two former US olympians square off against each other. Both Dan Henderson and Daniel Cormier have had some momentum riding in the UFC's light heavyweight division, Henderson just snapped his three fight losing streak by putting on another barn burner with Mauricio "Shogun" Rua and finishing him in the third round with his pattened H-Bomb, where as Daniel Cormier put trash talking newcomer Patrick Cummings away early in the first round after dropping to 205. Now with a light heavyweight title shot on the horizons, it's hard to see who will come out. We do have to take into account though that Dan Henderson will most likely be doing what Dan Henderson always does - relentless coming at Cormier trying to knock him out. Unfortunately for old Danny boy though, I believe Cormier will be smarter to play into his game and will more than likely continuously take Henderson to the ground where he is most uncomfortable and grind out a unanimous decision win.
Winner: Daniel Cormier by Unanimous Decision
Welterweight (170 lbs) Bout: Robbie Lawler vs Jake Ellenberger
Both Robbie Lawler and Jake Ellenberger have experienced their shares of ups and downs in the UFC's welterweight division. Ellenberger was riding a 6 fight win streak before controversially losing to Martin Kampmann where as Robbie Lawler defeated Josh Koscheck, Bobby Voelker, and Rory MacDonald only to lose a controversial decision for the Welterweight championship to current champ Johny Hendricks. But lucky for them, this fight is a chance for both men to turn their luck around, and they'll do so in devestating fashions. Both men own the highest knockout ratios in the division as both of them share 18 knockout victories each and will definitely be looking to make good on that constantly searching for the knockout. It'll be a tough one to call, but taking into account his more well rounded skill set. I see Ellenberger squeezing out a very narrow, very disputed razor thin decision with a takedown or two.
Winner: Jake Ellenberger by Split Decision
Bantamweight (135 lbs) Bout: Takeya Mizugaki vs Francisco Rivera
Takeya Mizugaki was originally scheduled to fight TJ Dillishaw in this fight. However with Dillishaw accpeting the main event slot, Mizugaki was left without an opponent... until Francisco Rivera came along, and what a worthy opponent he is. Although he has seldomly fought, Rivera has back to back TKO wins over Edwin Figureoa and George Roop respectively and will definitley be a tough challenge for the veteran Mizugaki. But don't be so quick to count out Mizugaki, he himself is riding a four fight win streak over the likes of Bryan Caraway, Erik Perez, Nam Phan. And in a talent deep pool like the UFC's bantamweight division is very tough to do. I anticipate this to be a standup war in which I see Mizugaki going down in the 2nd due to Rivera's tremendous knockout power.
Winner: Francisco Rivera by KO/TKO in Rd. 2
Lightweight (155 lbs) Bout: Jamie Varner vs James Krause
Things were looking good for James Krause until his most recent fight against Bobby Green. He was riding a 8 fight unbeaten streak which included avenging his loss to Toby Imada until he was TKO'd by Green last year with a controversial body kick. Jamie Varner on the other hand has been even more down on his luck. after returning two years ago with an upset of the year candidate victory over Edson Barboza and an amazing showing against Joe Lauzon where he lost by submission in the third round. Varner went 1-2 against the likes of Melvin Guillard, Gleison Tibau, and Abel Trujillio, his most recent being a knockout loss to Trujillio. I believe that Varner will use that for positive motivation to turn this around. Afterall, he is a former WEC champion and I believe he still has many years ahead of him.
Winner: Jamie Varner by KO/TKO in Rd. 2
Alright guys, it's your turn now. Who do you think are gonna pull out the Ws come fight night?
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