My picks and thoughts for anyone who cares. This UFC should be a lot better than most. Not many fights that look boring. Even the ones that hit the mat, will still be good. Hopefully some of the main events fights go fast, so they show the undercard.
ANDREI ARLOVSKI -385
TIM SYLVIA +285
Arlovski will own Silvia. Sylvia always has a strikers chance, but 9/10 times AA owns this guy. Sylvia has been talking mad shit in the run up to this fight and is going to eat crow. Arlovski is probably #2 in the world behind Fedor.
AA 1st round KO
TITO ORTIZ -400
FORREST GRIFFIN +300
I think this fight will be better than expected. Griffin is a tough kid who albeit is a relative newbie to the octagon, he still has mad game and lots of heart. Tito's most recent interviews make it sound like he is injured too, so the underdog bet might not be a bad one.
Tito by decision with Griffin gaining a lot of respect from old time MMA fans who hate TUF.
NICK DIAZ EV
SEAN SHERK -130
Probably a decent to boring fight. Sherk will get the takedown over and over and if Diaz doesn't submit him from his back,
Sherk will get the judges decision.
JEFF MONSON -220
MARCIO CRUZ +170
No idea on this fight. Cruz beat Frank Mir's ass, but not sure if Cruz was that good or if Mir was just that bad. Monson has wanted this fight for a long time. My gut says Monson but I don't really know much about either fighter.
DAVID TERRELL -210
SCOTT SMITH +160
This will be a war. Both of these guys throw blows. This is Smith's first shot in the Octagon after fighting in smaller circuits like the WEC and GC. HOPEFULLY, this one is shown on the PPV.
Scott Smith by TKO, I'm taking the underdog.
KARO PARISYAN -210
NICK THOMPSON +160
Karo is coming off a tough injury and Thompson is a gamer.
I don't see anyway Nick can beat Thompson. He won't submit him and won't knock him out.
Karo by decision and probably a boring one minus a few cool throws by Karo.
JASON LAMBERT -220
TERRY MARTIN +170
Martin most remember for eating a nasty knee from James Irvin is in for a tough fight. Both guys seem to be up and comers. Both have pretty good striking, Lambert has the edge on the ground.
Lambert by decision
THIAGO ALVES -380
DERRICK NOBLE +280
Noble beat Alves a few years ago. Thiago is by far the tougher looking guy but can be submitted. no pick.
EVAN TANNER -320
JUSTIN LEVENS +240
Tanner was suppose to fight Jeremy Horn, but Horn blew out his back or something. Levens definitely isn't a pushover. He was set to join the UFC after a nice streak in the underground scene until Scott Smith came back from a near knockout and ended up knocking Levens out. Great fight. Tanner has been on a bad streak since Franklin made him look like the elephant man. If Tanner regained his composure with some time off, Levens gets whooped. If he hasn't, Levens knocks him out.
Tanner by submission.