The UFC heads north this Saturday for UFC 154 for the return from knee surgery of one of its biggest draws Georges St. Pierre. The fight card looks like one of the strongest in a while \u2013 for the first time in a very long time, injuries have not decimated the intrigue of an event. <\/p>\n
Here is a look at all of the fights on the schedule and what should play out in one of the more eagerly anticipated UFC events in quite some time.<\/p>\n
UFC 154: St. Pierre vs. Condit<\/strong> Georges St. Pierre (22-2): -320<\/strong> If you aren`t looking forward to this fight \u2013 you aren`t a fan! GSP makes his return to the Octagon after over a year away to take on the interim Welterweight champ \u2013 the young, hungry, tough Carlos Condit. Condit enters this fight off what many would deem a disappointing Interim Title win against Nick Diaz in a fight that he avoided and avoided and did enough to claim victory. He will have to be engaged in this one \u2013 GSP is coming and coming hard in front of his home town fans.<\/p>\n Carlos Condit is a nice fighter for sure, but he faces a monumental task here against one of the smartest, most cerebral fighters in the sport`s history. GSP is a fight planner and he executes to perfection nearly every time. When is the last time we saw GSP really challenged in a fight? With some added time off, some extra motivation to prove his doubters wrong, GSP will likely be a man possessed. He is still one of the Top 3 pound-for-pound fighters on the planet even though he hasn`t fought in over a year. He proves why on Saturday night with his first stoppage in a very, very long time.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Georges St. Pierre -320<\/p>\n Johny Hendricks (13-1): -150<\/strong> Johny Hendricks and Martin Kampmann meet on Saturday night in a Welterweight Title Elimination fight with both riding high off win streaks against some of the best Welterweights out there. The winner of this fight gets at Title shot! Both fighters are notoriously tough to finish. Only Kampmann has been stopped in his MMA career \u2013 just once to Nate Marquart 4 years ago. Hendricks will have the power and a slight wrestling advantage, Kampmann will have the striking edge and the fighters seem equal when it comes to their ground games. I like Kampmann`s ability to absorb a ton of punishment, his experience and his overall better rounded fight game to prevail in a minor upset.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Martin Kampmann +120<\/p>\n Tom Lawlor (8-4, 1 NC): +200<\/strong> Francis Carmont brings a three fight UFC win streak into UFC 154 against the inconsistent TUF alum Tom Lawlor. Carmont has been very impressive and will be looking to set the stage for his training partner GSP. He will have the reach advantage, the height advantage, the striking and ground edge. Translation \u2013 this should be a relatively easy win for the Frenchman.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Francis Carmont -260<\/p>\n Mark Hominick (21-11): -300<\/strong> Canadian Mark Hominick will try to end a three fight losing streak on Saturday \u2013 a streak that started with a predictable loss to Jose Aldo. His opponent Pablo Garza is also riding a losing streak \u2013 two straight leading up to this fight. Both men have good standup and both are comfortable on the ground. Take the better technical striking of the Canadian to edge out a decision win in this one. Hominick\u2019s skills are a half notch above those of Garza and in front of a home crowd, facing a virtual must-win, he won\u2019t likely be denied. [ad-3573245]<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Mark Hominick -300<\/p>\n Cyrille Diabate (18-8): -120<\/strong> Chad Griggs drops from Heavyweight to Light Heavyweight Saturday to take on the well-traveled veteran Frenchman Cyrille Diabate. This will be a striking battle \u2013 neither of the two is very proficient on the ground. Griggs will have an uncharacteristic size advantage in this fight but it won\u2019t be as large as one would expect \u2013 Diabate\u2019s reach is among the longest (other than Jon Jones) in the division. Griggs has the power; Diabate has the kickboxing, the Muay Thai and the technical edge. I\u2019ll take the technical striker to prevail \u2013 his experience against top not fighters like Alexander Gustafson, Shogun and Michael Bisping doesn\u2019t hurt either.<\/p>\n Pick:<\/strong> Cyrille Diabate -120<\/p>\n Patrick Cote (25-8): -260 vs. Alessio Sakara (15-9, 1 NC): +200<\/strong> Nick Ring (13-1): +200 vs. Constantinos Philippou (11-2, 1 NC): -260<\/strong> Rafael dos Anjos (17-6): -130 vs. Mark Bocek (11-4): +100<\/strong> Steven Siler (21-9): -105 vs. Darren Elkins (14-2): -125<\/strong> Antonio Carvalho (14-5): -260 vs. Rodrigo Damm (10-5): +200<\/strong> Matt Riddle (6-1): -170 vs. Besam Yousef (6-1): +140<\/strong>
\nDate: November 17, 2012
\nTime: 10pm ET\/7pm PT
\nLocation: Montreal, Quebec, Canada
\nBroadcast<\/strong>: PPV<\/p>\nMain Card<\/h3>\n
\n Carlos Condit (28-5): +240<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Martin Kampmann (20-5): +120<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Francis Carmont (19-7): -260<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Pablo Garza (11-3): +220<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Chad Griggs (11-2): -110<\/strong><\/p>\nPreliminary Card<\/h3>\n
\n Pick: Patrick Cote -260<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Pick: Constantinos Philippou -260<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Pick: Rafael dos Anjos -130<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Pick: Steven Siler -105<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Pick: Antonio Carvalho -260<\/strong><\/p>\n
\n Pick: Matt Riddle -170<\/strong><\/p>\n