UFC 112 Picks and Licks
Okay I need to make this quick. I’m sorry that I couldn’t get this blog up sooner. I have been extremely busy planning the Honour Combat show on May 7th in Vancouver. So for all of you who want to place some bets or want an idea of who to pick in this upcoming UFC, here are my quick picks.
Mark Munoz vs Kendall Grove – This is a tough fight to call. Munoz is a solid wrestler with okay stand up. Grove BJJ is very strong, and he can definitely hold his own in the striking game. One thing Grove lacks is a chin, Munoz may get Grove down, but how is he going to deal with Grove’s spider legs and his dangerous BJJ? Even though this is a close fight to call, I’m taking Kendall Grove by submission.
Terry Etim vs Rafael Dos Anjos – I’m predicting this will be fight of the night. Both men are going to go at it as soon as the bell rings. Etim brings a great arsenal of strikes and submissions, while Anjos brings some vicious leg kicks and very solid wrestling and BJJ. I’ve been going back and forth on this fight. I know Anjos is going to go for the take down, as I don’t think Etim has shown he is very good on his back. However, how is Anjos going to get inside? Etim’s jab is way too good. I think if I was a betting man, (and I am) I’m going to take Etim in this fight by decision. I think Etim’s reach and striking is going to keep Anjos at a distance. However this is not going to be an easy fight for either guy.
Matt Hughes vs Renzo Gracie - This to me is an easy pick. As much as the Gracie family legacy is firmly set in the sport, it is in the past. Hughes has shown he can beat one dimensional fighters, and to be honest Renzo Gracie is just that. Gracie is a submission fighter with very weak stand up. Hughes is a strong wrestler and even though he is in his late thirties, can still take guys like Gracie down at will. Look for Hughes to control this fight on the ground and TKO Renzo Gracie in the second round.
BJ Penn vs Frankie Edgar – Penn is the unstoppable force in the 155lbs division. Is this is last fight in this weight class? We will see. Edgar has shown some solid stand up and he better make sure that he can pull it off for 25 mins. If I’m Edgar, I’m throwing punches in bunches and mix it up with leg kicks. Good luck. BJ Penn is an elusive striker, and I see him spending the first round or two, standing up with Edgar while setting up the take down. Look for Penn to take Frankie down and choke him out in the third round. It will be another dominant performance that will make us all wonder, when Penn will move up to 170lbs for more interesting match ups.
Anderson Silva vs Demian Maia – I was looking forward to Siva vs Belfort, however due to an injury to Vitor Belfort, Demian Maia stepped up. Maia’s striking is no where near Silvas and this fight is going to be over in the 2nd round. As much as Demian Maia is considered one of the best BJJ fighters in the game, Anderson Silva is a beast. Look for Silva to play with Maia a bit, and end this fight with KO in the second round. It will be another Man amongst boys showing for Anderson Silva, P4P the best fighter on the planet.
My Picks
- Kendall Grove
- Terry Etim
- Matt Hughes
- BJ Penn
- Anderson Silva
If you were to parlay this bet, $10 would get you around $52.34. Here are a couple of other other parlay bets I made.
- Osipczak – Prelims
- Blackburn – Prelims
- Al Turk
- Davis
- Silva
- Penn
$5 will get me $74.85
My final parlay is:
- Blackburn – Prelim
- Kelly – Prelim
- Grove
- Hughes
- Silva
- Penn
$5 will get me $102.88 – I’m pretty optimistic about this one.
That is it for now. Remember the fights start at 10 am due it being in Abu Dhabi. If your friends don’t know this don’t tell them. Get the results at lunch time, go to the bar or watch the replay at home at 7pm and put money down on the fights. Always a great way to take money from casual UFC fans. Make sure to lose one so nobody asks questions, just don’t make it obvious. Good luck.
