Jul 29 Betting UFC on Versus 2

 

While it has been almost a month since the last UFC event, it has been nice to have that little break over July. Hope you enjoyed it because the next few months will be jammed packed with UFC cards so it is time to make some cash. With the Verses card, there is some really good money to be made on this card. After going 7-4 the last time. Hopefully that trend will continue.

 

 

Jon Jones (10-1) -650 vs Vladimir Matyushenko (24-4) +450

 

last 3 fights

 

Jones-Brandon Vera, Matt Hammil, Jake O Brien

Matyushenko- Eliot Marshall, Igor Pokrajac, Jason Lambert

 

For going into this fight, everything is going to center around Jon Jones. Hyped as the future of the light heavyweight division, all the pressure is around him. There is a reason why he does have the hype. Jones has everything in his tool set from his striking that no one has been able to figure out. He has got amazing wrestling to go along with his improving BJJ and his powerful ground and pound, Finally he has a 84 inch reach on his arms which is the longest recorded in the UFC. The only problem could be his gas tank. In his fight against Stephen Bonnar he was having trouble with energy in the third round. This could be an advantage for Matyushenko. Matyushenko is a beast on the ground with his wrestling and grappling skills. Plus with his size and him being a former heavyweight he can create some problems if he gets on top. The Janitor also has good enough boxing that he should be able to stand if he can but he would be better to get it to the ground. The problem I have with Matyushenko is his last fight against Eliot Marshall it was close and he had trouble. You can’t do that against Jones.

 

Outcome-While the veteran has fought the best in the world throughout his career, he has never seen the striking the Bones possess. Give me Jones with a 2nd round KO.

 

 

Yushin Okami (24-5) -185 vs Mark Munoz (8-1) +155

 

Last 3 fights

 

Okami-Lucio Linhares, Chael Sonnen (L) Dean Lister

Munoz-Kendall Grove, Ryan Jensen, Nick Catone

 

Ever since moving down to middleweight, Mark Munoz has gone undefeated in his last 3 fights. Munoz comes in with a wrestling background that made him an NCAA champion and a hall of famer. With his wrestling he has been able to improve on his striking and his ground and pound to make him a threat in the division since training at the Black House with the Nogiurea brothers. His only problem has been his chin. In his last fight against Kendall Grove at UFC 112 he was knocked down but was able to hang in there. I think Munoz will try the same plan Chael Sonnen used to beat the Japaneses fighter. In Yushin Okami, I think this match plays perfectly for him. Ever since his lost to Chael Sonnen at UFC 104, he had a wake up call and he showed it against his match with Lucio Linhares where he showed his striking skills are they key to his success. I think with his fight being on the main card for a change it will put Okami into a good mind set so that he can get back to getting a middleweight shot against Anderson Silva.

 

Outcome-While Munoz has been a good prospect, he can not go into this fight with the chin he has. Give me Okami with a quick 1st round TKO.

 

John Howard (14-4) +135 vs Jake Ellenberger (22-5) -165

 

Last 3 fights

 

Howard-Daniel Roberts, Dennis Hallman,Tamdan McCrory

Ellenberger-Mike Pyle, Carlos Condit (L), Marcelo Alfaya

 

With this fight, I think we have a good chance to see knockout of the night. Both the guys have the power but one has the advantage. With John Howard people got a taste of what he can do in the octagon in his KO win over Daniel Roberts. It was also the case before against Dennis Hallman. Howard has a mix of Maui Thai and BJJ. His standup has been better then his ground as he had tough calls in his first two fights in the UFC. I think he better not be drinking the Kool Aid of his own hype because I think a lot of people are going to expect what they seen in his last fight. With Ellenberger, the former corn husker has his wrestling to go with amazing KO power. Ellenberger has been around the world in his sport and has either KO guys or at least given someone a tough fight. I keep going back to his debut were many people including myself felt he defeated Carlos Condit. Plus Ellenberger has a solid chin which could give guys like Howard some trouble.

 

Outcome-I think Ellenberger experience will be too much for Howard as he will be able to get a decision win.

 

Tyson Griffin (14-3) -325 vs Takanori Gomi (31-6 1NC) +250

 

Last 3 fights

 

Griffin-Evan Dunham (L), Hermes Franca, Rafael dos Anjos

Gomi-Kenny Florian (L), Tony Hervery, Takashi Nakakura

 

 

With the main card’s opening bout, we have the potential for a fight of the night candidate. With Tyson Griffin he will be looking to avenge his lose to Evan Dunham who he had no answer for. Even with the lose, Griffin is still a threat in the lightweight division. With his striking, size and age, the kid knows he can put on a fight. A win over the former Pride champ will put him right back into title contention. With Gomi, the fireball kid is not what he used to be. In Pride he was one of the best in the world, now I don’t think he has enough to stand with the big boys of the UFC. In his debut against Kenny Florian,Gomi was picked apart and really couldn’t muster any offense against Ken-Flo. Going in to the fight against Griffin, it will be the same thing if Gomi is not ready. Gomi still has KO power and can get fighters to the ground at will, I just don’t think he can be a top 10 fighter in his weight class

 

Outcome-While Griffin had a bad outing against Dunham, it is nowhere near what Gomi has shown over the last year. I think Griffin will win in the strike department for a decision win.

 

 

 

Paul Kelly (10-2) +115 vs Jacob Volkmann (10-2) -145

 

Last 3 fights

 

Kelly-Matt Veach, Dennis Silver (L), Rolando Delgado

Volkmann-Ronnys Torres, Martin Kampmann (L), Paulo Thiago (L)

 

With Paul Kelly. He will be trying to make a run at lightweight. Taylor started his UFC career at welterweight compiling a record of 4-2 inside the octagon but had some trouble against bigger guys like Marcus Davis. Kelly was very impressive in his last fight at UFC 112 over Matt Veach where he was able to take down the bigger opponent. The more bigger part was that Kelly was able to go down against a wrestler like Veach and get the submission which will be a big feather under his hat because with Volkmann, he is getting the same kind of fighter. Kelly does have the standup and solid chin so he dictate where this fight should go. With Volkmann, his bread and butter is his wrestling. The problem is his first two fights were no easy opponents in Paulo Thiago and Martin Kampmann. In his last fight against Ronnys Torres, he was able to take him to ground and get the better of him for the decision. Volkmann standup has not really been shown in the octagon thus far so it is hard to know how he is on his fight.

 

Outcome-I think Paul Kelly should have no problems in this fight and I am expecting him to get a knockout win in the 3rd round

 

 

Demarques Johnson (14-7) +170 vs Matt Riddle (4-1) -210

 

Last 3 fights

 

Johnson-Brad Blackburn, Edgar Garcia, James Wilks (L)

Riddle-Greg Soto, Nick Ozipczak (L) Dan Cramer

 

With this fight we will see two TUF alum battle it out to try and update themselves to main card status. With Matt Riddle it could be a little hard for him in this fight. Riddle has been very busy over the last month after his girlfriend gave birth to twins. So while he has been doing the right thing and helping take care of his new bundle of joys, he himself admit to missing training. Riddle is looking for a bonus Sunday and his best bet is fight of the night and he will try and stand with Johnson even thou his strength his wrestling. That could still be trouble because with Demarques Johnson he has won back to back submission of the nights so he can be able to counter Riddle on the ground. I think Johnson is the better striker of the two so he should have the advantage in that department as well. I think with Riddle his problem in his last two fights have been standup guys in Soto and Ozipczak. I think Johnson should be take this fight to the ground because Riddle will want to stand and bang.

 

Outcome-I think Johnson will be easily be able to take this fight and get Riddle for a second round submission.

 

James Irvin (14-6 1 NC) -160 vs Igor Pokrajac (21-7) +130

 

Last 3 fights

 

Irvin-Alssio Sakara (L), Anderson Silva (L), Houston Alexander

Pokrajac-James Te-Huna (L), Vladimir Matyushenko (L) Kalvis Bebauers

 

Both of these fighters will also be looking to avoid getting cut from the Zuffa based organization. James Irvin will be making his return to light heavyweight which is better for him because I do remember reading that he had the trouble making the cut. Irvin is a straight up knockout machine. His kickboxing has helped him get 10 of his 14 wins by KO. While both him and his opponent are both knockout artist, I think Irvin is the better of the two. Before he made it to the UFC. Pokrajac has been knocking out people left, right and center in the European reins. Pokrajac has had to problems thou putting away the big names he has fought like Miodrag Petkovic and Vladimir Matyushenko. While he is good standing up, I think if he wants to win he needs to take it to the ground. This is one department we know he is better the Sandman

 

Outcome-After months of knee pains I think James Irvin will be able to get a win by TKO and try and get back on tack in his career.

 

 

 

Brian Stann (8-3) +120 vs Mike Massenzio (11-3) -150

 

Last 3 fights

 

Stann-Phil Davis (L), Rondey Wallace, Steve Cantwell

Massenzio- C.B Dollaway (L), Drew McFedries, Danillo Villefort (L)

 

With this fight we will see the classic standup vs ground match. With Brain Stann, he will be making his debut at middleweight. If you go back to his last fight against Phil Davis, he has a lot of trouble with guys on the ground. I think if this fight goes down to the ground he will be in trouble again. Massenzio is a big named wrestler from college. Stann has some great knockout power and it would be his best bet because he can finish the job. With Massenzio he has great wrestling and can go with the best in his division. The problem with Massenzio is that his last fight was almost two years ago at UFC 92. Ring rust will be a factor but Massenzio should try and follow the same game plan that Davis and he should have no problems.

 

Outcome-While Massenzio may be a good wrestler, ring rust has been a big factor in the past for other fighters. I will take Stann to get a 3rd round KO.

 

Darren Elkins (12-1) +275 vs Charles Oliveria (12-0) -350

 

Last 3 fights

 

Elkins-Duane Ludwig, Gideon Ray, Bryan Neville

Oliveira-Diego Bataglia, Rosenildo Rocha, Eduardo Pachu

 

With this fight, both men will be making there debuts UFC. While I know Darren Elkins has already fought in the UFC, we didn't get to see to much of him in his fight against Duane Ludwig. Ludwig broke his leg early in the fight so its hard to tell what kind of fighter he is. From looking at his older fights on the internet he is a mix of wrestling with some good knockout power. the experience the guy has picked up along the way isn't bad either with wins over UFC veteran Gideon Ray and current Bellator lightweight tournament winner Pat Curran. Charles Oliveira will be making his UFC debut after tearing up the Brazil mma scene going 12-0. To go along with his BJJ, he is also a very good striker and has improved on that since moving to Houston to train. The thing that makes him more impressive that he has been winning both at lightweight and welterweight. He also has endurance on his side where most of fights have been happening in two in one day situations.

 

Outcome-While both seem pretty evenly matched I am going to take Oliveria to get win on this one by decision. His endurance should be the key to victory

 

 

 

Rob Kimmons (22-5) vs Steve Steinbeiss (4-3)

 

Last 3 fights

 

Kimmons-Jorge Rivera (L), Joe Vedepo, Dan Miller(L)

Steinbeiss-Ryan Jensen (L), Carmelo Marrero (L), Franciso Alcantara

 

Going into this fight, both fighters will be looking not to get there pink slips from Zuffa. With Rob Kimmons, he does an assortment of tools in his mixed martial arts belt. He has a mix of kickboxing, wrestling and a 3rd black belt in American Jujitsu. With Kimmons his biggest strength is his submission game which has gotten him 14 of his 22 wins. The problem with Kimmons is that when he gets into a big fight, he can’t seem to pull the trigger. With Steve Steinbeiss I will still never understand how this guy has gotten where he has in his mma career. Right out of the bat he was signed with Bodog fight. This guy keeps catching a break with a record of 4-3. With him his only main strength is wrestling,with his training at Arizona Combat Sports. I think Steinbeiss will be in trouble if his only game plan can be evenly match .

 

Tags: Brian Stann \ Charles Oliveria \ Darren Elkins \ Demarques Johnson \ Igor Pokrajac \ Jacob Volkmann \ Jake Ellenberger \ James Irvin \ John Howard \ Jon Jones \ Mark Munoz \ Matt Riddle \ Mike Massenzio \ On Versus \ Paul Kelly \ Rob Kimmons \ Steve Steinbeiss \ Takanori Gomi \ Tyson Griffin \ UFC \ Vladimir Matyushenko \ Yushin Okami

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