UFC 145: Jones vs. Evans
Date: April 21, 2012
Time: 10pm ET/7pm PT
Location: Philips Arena, Atlanta, Georgia
Broadcast: Pay-per-view, FX, Facebook
Main Card
Jon Jones (15-1): -500
Rashad Evans (17-1-1): +350
Former team mates and former friends meet for the Light Heavyweight strap on Saturday night when former champ Rashad Evans tries to knock current champ Jon Jones off his pedestal. There is absolutely no love lost between these two men – this one figures to be an absolute war!
Both men have a superb wrestling background and both have displayed tremendous striking power and athleticism. But lost in Jon Jones’ recent rash of uber-impressive results is the fact that he has choked out three of his last four opponents which makes him the more well rounded fighter of the two. Also, Jones will have an immense height and reach advantage in this fight which will take Rashad completely out of a game plan that has made him successful so far in his career. Rashad is good but Jones is simply a freak of nature.
Hate alone may carry Rashad Evans to victory – it is the only real edge that he has! But look for Jones to fight smart, to pick his former buddy apart and to end the feud between these two in impressive style.
Pick: Jon Jones -500
Rory MacDonald (12-1): -500
Che Mills (14-4): +350
It is difficult to see why the UFC brass has this fight as the second-last on the card but Rory MacDonald will try to earn another notch in the win column against the seemingly overmatched Che Mills. MacDonald is extremely well rounded and he could be the future of the UFC Welterweight Division. His only loss is to Carlos Condit – the interim champ. Che Mills was good on the Regional UK tour and he did look good against Chris Cope in his UFC debut but MacDonald serves as an enormous, I mean enormous step up in competition. MacDonald will dominate anywhere this fight happens to go on his way to an easy win.
Pick: Rory MacDonald -500
Michael McDonald (14-1): -105
Miguel Torres (40-4): -125
Former WEC Bantamweight champion Miguel Torres takes on young up-and-comer Michael McDonald in what may be the toughest fight on the card to predict. Torres is a consummate veteran who has won two of his three fights since joining the UFC, the last being a win over Nick Pace. McDonald is a brown belt in jiu-jitsu who has displayed speed power and youth in all three of his UFC wins. While McDonald is impressive, look for the veteran to grind out a win here – experience trumps hunger in this one.
Pick: Miguel Torres -125
Brendan Schaub (8-2): -280
Ben Rothwell (31-8): +210
Brendan Schaub will be looking to get back in the win column on Saturday night against the well rounded Ben Rothwell. Both men have good stand up meaning that this fight will likely remain on the feet throughout. The difference in this fight will be athleticism durability and conditioning – the former NFLer Schaub has an enormous edge in all three of these areas. Rothwell drops his third fight in his last four outings and may be in danger of losing his employment with the UFC.
Pick: Brendan Schaub -280
Mark Hominick (20-10): -650
Eddie Yagin (15-5-1): +425
Former #1 Featherweight contender Mark Hominick will try to end a two fight losing streak (the last being a seven second knockout) when he takes on well rounded journeyman Eddie Yagin. This may be the most lopsided fight on the card – Hominick is in a different class than Yagin and he will be insanely motivated to get back in the win column.
Pick: Mark Hominick -650
Mark Bocek (10-4): -450
John Alessio (34-14-0): +325
John Alessio steps in for injured Matt Wiman to take on Brazilian jiu-jitsu specialist Mark Bocek in Lightweight action on Saturday. While Alessio may be on a three fight win streak he appears overmatched in this fight against a very solid Bocek who recently took Jim Miller to the brink before losing a tough decision. Bocek’s grappling will be too much in this one on his way to submission victory.
Pick: Mark Bocek -450
FX Preliminary Card
Chad Griggs (11-1): +210
Travis Browne (12-0-1): -280
Undefeated Greg Jackson pupil Travis Browne takes on former Strikeforce Heavyweight standout Chad Griggs as the first bout on FX. Browne has fought some tough dudes – a draw against Cheick Kongo and wins against Stefan Struve and Rob Broughton while Griggs has wins against lesser competition Bobby Lashley and Valentjin Overeem. Browne should be able to ride his 4 inch height and 5 inch reach advantage to victory in this one.
Pick: Travis Browne -280
Matt Brown (13-11): +250
Stephen Thompson (6-0): -350
Exciting Welterweight up-and-comer Stephen Thompson takes on UFC veteran Matt Brown in what could be a very intriguing bout. While Thompson may steal a few of the headlines ahead of this fight, I can’t ignore the fact that Brown has won two of his last three against the likes of John Howard and Chris Cope. Experience against top flight competition will be the difference.
Pick: Matt Brown +250
Anthony Njokuani (14-6): -210
John Makdessi (9-1): +165
In what has potential to be Fight of the Night, two superb strikers looks to make a name for themselves in the Lightweight division. Njokuani’s Muay Thai is very good but his one weakness has been his chin – not a good sign against the elite karate and kick boxing of the once beaten Makdessi.
Pick: John Makdessi +165
Facebook Preliminary Card
Efrain Escudero (18-4): +165
Mac Danzig (20-9-1): -210
The first Facebook Preliminary Card fight is a matchup of TUF winners that find themselves fighting for a job in the UFC – Season 8 winner Efrain Escudero is 1-3 and Season 6 winner Mac Danzig is 2-5. This fight will likely be won by the busier fighter and Danzig is likely to be that guy. Escudero, although proficient on the ground isn’t the most active fighter while Danzig is one that can bring the pace. In an uninspiring decision, take the Season 6 winner.
Pick: Mac Danzig -210
Chris Clements (10-4): -230
Keith Wisniewski (28-13-1): +180
UFC newcomer and winner of four straight bouts Chris Clements will take of MMA veteran Keith Wisniewski in Lightweight action on Saturday. While Wisniewski has the experience advantage it will be Clements that has the power advantage in this fight having recorded all 10 of his wins by knockout. Expect much of the same as the power trumps experience.
Pick: Chris Clements -230
Maximo Blanco (8-3-1): -350
Marcus Brimage (4-1): +250
TUF 14 alum Marcus Brimage faces grappling specialist and former King of Pancrase Lightweight Champion Maximo Blanco in the first bout of UFC 145. While Brimage has shown improvement and some decent power, Greg Jackson team member Blanco will have too much power and wrestling ability for the still green Brimage.
Pick: Maximo Blanco -350
