UFC 171: Hendricks vs. Lawler Predictions

Chris 17-6 (73.9%)

#1 Johny Hendricks vs. #3 Robbie Lawler:

Johny Hendricks and Robbie Lawler meet to decide who will claim the vacant UFC Welterweight championship. Both of these men have scary knockout power and can end the fight in the blink of an eye.

While it’s true that both have finishing power, Hendricks’ power is more one dimensional, as he as known for finishing fights with his left hand.

If this fight stays standing and goes past round one, it should be in Lawler’s favor. Lawler has more diverse power and is the more technical stand up fighter in my opinion.

Hendricks’ key to victory is his wrestling, he needs to control Lawler by keeping him down and dirty box against the fence in the clinch.

I like Hendricks in this fight, but him not making weight on his first try concerns me. It’s very possible that Hendricks’ weight cut didn’t go too well; which is surprising considering he works with Mike Dolce who’s known for his athletes never missing weight.

Favorite: Hendricks (-340) Underdog: Lawler (+280)

My Pick: Hendricks

#2 Carlos Condit vs. #11 Tyron Woodley:

Tyron Woodley called Carlos Condit a “point fighter,” but last time I checked Condit has finished 27 of his 29 victories.

As for the fight, it has “Fight of the Night” written all over it. Both men have true knockout power, but on the feet I see Condit controlling the distance and picking Woodley apart with straight punches and kicks.

Woodley should be able to take Condit down, but the problem will be keeping him down. Condit’s takedown defense is below par, but he’s nearly impossible to keep on his back and that’s the only way I see Woodley winning this fight.

If Condit can get things going off the bat, he could find the finish, but I’m thinking Condit takes a hard fought decision.

Favorite: Condit (-175) Underdog: Woodley (+150)

My Pick: Condit

#15 Diego Sanchez vs. Myles Jury:

This will be the biggest test in Myles Jury’s young MMA career. Diego Sanchez is a warrior and is nearly impossible to finish and will absolutely give Jury all he can handle.

Jury needs to stick to his game plan and avoid getting into a slug-fest with Sanchez, because that’s a fight he won’t win.

Jury should look to pick Sanchez apart from the outside and pursue the takedown in order to keep his undefeated record in tact. A win over Sanchez will be a stepping-stone towards top 10 opponents.

Favorite: Jury (-180) Underdog: Sanchez (+155)

My Pick: Jury

#6 Jake Shields vs. #12 Hector Lombard:

Jake Shields is one of the best grapplers in MMA and has beaten some of the very best in the world at both Middleweight and Welterweight.

However, the former Strikeforce Middleweight champion has been labeled as boring due to the fact that 55 percent of his victories have come via decision.

In order to win this fight Shields will have to do what he does best by getting this fight to the mat and keeping it there to avoid the scary punching power of Hector Lombard.

Lombard, on the other hand has never been finished and his strength at Welterweight could be too much for Shields to handle. Lombard should be too strong for Shields to takedown and keep down on a consistent basis, which will make all the difference in this fight.

While Shields isn’t easy to finish by any means, only being finished twice in 37 fights, I can see Lombard testing Shields chin, especially in round one when he’s known to be most dangerous.

But, I wouldn’t be surprised at all if Shields grinds out another decision victory.

Favorite: Lombard (-195) Underdog: Shields (+165)

My Pick: Lombard

 

Ovince St. Preux vs. Nikita Krylov:

OSP is a scary guy, and has won 11 of his last 12 fights. Krylov on the other hand is making his Light heavyweight debut after a 25 second knockout victory over Walt Harris at Heavyweight.

I don’t know all that much about either of these men, but St. Preux seems to be the more athletic, more powerful fighter and should be able to find a finish on the feet.

Favorite: St. Preux (-425) Underdog: Krylov (+335)

My Pick: St. Preux

 

Preliminary Card:

Kelvin Gastelum (-160) > #14 Rick Story (+135)
#9 Jessica Andrade (-280) > #13 Raquel Pennington (+230)
#12 Dennis Bermudez (-255) > Jimy Hettes (+212)
Alex Garcia (-400) > Sean Spencer (+320)
Renee Forte (-140) < Francisco Trevino (+120)
Justin Scoggins (-465) > Will Campuzano (+365)
Sean Strickland (-145) < Robert “Bubba” McDaniel (+125)
Daniel Pineda (-230) > Robert Whiteford (+192)

*Odds Courtesy of BetDSI

 

Nuts Picks:

Matt 34-14 (70.8%)
Johny Hendricks (15-2) vs. Robbie Lawler (22-9)
Carlos Condit (29-7) vs. Tyron Woodley (12-2)
Diego Sanchez (24-6) vs. Myles Jury (13-0)
Jake Shields (29-6-1, 1 NC) vs. Hector Lombard (33-4-1, 1 NC)
Ovince St. Preux (14-5) vs. Nikita Krylov (16-3)
Kelvin Gastelum (7-0) vs. Rick Story (16-7)
Raquel Pennington (4-3) vs. Jessica Andrade (10-3)
Dennis Bermudez (12-3) vs. Jimy Hettes (11-1)
Sean Spencer (11-2) vs. Alex Garcia (11-1)
Renee Forte (8-3) vs. Francisco Trevino (11-0)
Will Campuzano (13-5) vs. Justin Scoggins (8-0)
Bubba McDaniel (21-7) vs. Sean Strickland (13-0)
Daniel Pineda (18-10) vs. Robert Whiteford (10-2)

Ingo 37-11 (77.1%)
Johny Hendricks (15-2) vs. Robbie Lawler (22-9)
Carlos Condit (29-7) vs. Tyron Woodley (12-2)
Diego Sanchez (24-6) vs. Myles Jury (13-0)
Jake Shields (29-6-1, 1 NC) vs. Hector Lombard (33-4-1, 1 NC)
Ovince St. Preux (14-5) vs. Nikita Krylov (16-3)
Kelvin Gastelum (7-0) vs. Rick Story (16-7)
Raquel Pennington (4-3) vs. Jessica Andrade (10-3)
Dennis Bermudez (12-3) vs. Jimy Hettes (11-1)
Sean Spencer (11-2) vs. Alex Garcia (11-1)
Renee Forte (8-3) vs. Francisco Trevino (11-0)
Will Campuzano (13-5) vs. Justin Scoggins (8-0)
Bubba McDaniel (21-7) vs. Sean Strickland (13-0)
Daniel Pineda (18-10) vs. Robert Whiteford (10-2)

Magic 8 Ball 31-17 (64.6%)
Johny Hendricks (15-2) vs. Robbie Lawler (22-9)
Carlos Condit (29-7) vs. Tyron Woodley (12-2)
Diego Sanchez (24-6) vs. Myles Jury (13-0)
Jake Shields (29-6-1, 1 NC) vs. Hector Lombard (33-4-1, 1 NC)
Ovince St. Preux (14-5) vs. Nikita Krylov (16-3)
Kelvin Gastelum (7-0) vs. Rick Story (16-7)
Raquel Pennington (4-3) vs. Jessica Andrade (10-3)
Dennis Bermudez (12-3) vs. Jimy Hettes (11-1)
Sean Spencer (11-2) vs. Alex Garcia (11-1)
Renee Forte (8-3) vs. Francisco Trevino (11-0)
Will Campuzano (13-5) vs. Justin Scoggins (8-0)
Bubba McDaniel (21-7) vs. Sean Strickland (13-0)
Daniel Pineda (18-10) vs. Robert Whiteford (10-2)