#4 Lyoto Machida vs. #8 (LHW) Gegard Mousasi:
Former UFC Light Heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida has been an enigma for quite some time. While Machida has been beaten, no one has been able to truly figure him out. His combination of distance management, devastating one strike knockout power and solid takedown defense has made him a very bad match up for nearly every fighter put in front of him.
While Mousasi is a very well-rounded fighter and a former champion in his own right, I just don’t see things going well for him on Saturday night. I don’t see Mousasi being able to take Machida down, nor do I see him winning the striking battle from the outside. The only way I see Mousasi having success is if he’s able to get on the inside and use his boxing, but that’s much easier said than done against Machida.
When it comes down to it Machida is too fast for Mousasi and will keep the fight in kicking range where he shines. With an impressive win here Machida could be next in line for a shot at the Middleweight title.
Favorite: Machida (-260) Underdog: Mousasi (+215)
My Pick: Machida
#3 Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza vs. #8 Francis Carmont:
The co-main event of UFC Fight Night 36 marks another fight in the Middleweight division with title implications.
Since coming to the UFC, former Strikeforce Middleweight champion “Jacare” Souza has been making waves; walking through Chris Camozzi and former UFC Middleweight title contender Yushin Okami.
As for Carmont, he is currently riding an 11 fight win streak, which includes a dominating decision over top ranked Costas Philippou in his last bout at UFC 165. Carmont is one of the better wrestlers in the division and showed that against Philippou, but this fight is just a bad match up for him.
Souza’s striking has improved leaps and bounds in a short amount of time and not only is he one of the best jiu-jitsu players in MMA, he’s one of the best in the world. In all honesty I see Souza having his way Carmont and a win for him here could very well land him the next crack at the Middleweight title, especially if Machida were to fall to Mousasi.
Favorite: Souza (-530) Underdog: Carmont (+410)
My Pick: Souza
Erick Silva vs. Takenori Sato:
Silva was a huge prospect coming into the UFC, but has becoming a win one, lose one type of fighter; falling to higher caliber opposition. I don’t know all too much about Sato, but I don’t believe he will pose many problems for Silva.
Silva should be able to win the battles on the feet and end this one early. Due to the fact Sato has never been submitted, look for Silva to finish by way of knockout or TKO.
Favorite: Silva (-1000) Underdog: Sato (+670)
My Pick: Silva
Viscardi Andrade vs. Nicholas Musoke:
Truthfully, I know very little about both of these men. What I do know is that they both made their UFC debuts in their last fight and are both riding winning streaks. In Musoke’s debut we saw him submit UFC veteran Alessio Sakara, but we also saw him get clipped a few times.
As for Andrade, he impressed as well, landing big shots to put Bristol Marunde away quickly. If Andrade is able to land early and thwart the takedown he should be able to find the finish.
Favorite: Andrade (-137) Underdog: Musoke (+113)
My Pick: Andrade
Charles Oliveira vs. Andy Ogle:
Charles Oliveira was another one of those prospects who had serious implications coming into the UFC, but would fall short against top-level competition. Oliveira has lost two straight and desperately needs a win here.
While the Brit Ogle is a very tough fighter and has been nearly impossible to finish, Oliveira should be able to get the job done here with his superior grappling. A quick submission wouldn’t surprise me, but neither would a close decision, Ogle has a tendency of making it a dogfight.
Favorite: Oliveira (-750) Underdog: Ogle (+540)
My Pick: Oliveira
Preliminary Card:
Joe Protor (-225) > Cristiano Marcello (+182)
Ivan Jorge (-147) > Rodrigo Damm (+127)
Francisco Trinaldo (-140) > Jesse Ronson (+120)
#10 Yuri Alcantara (-205) > Wilson Reis (+175)
Maximo Blanco (-115) > Felipe Arantes (-105)
Albert Tumenov (-210) > Ildemar Alcantara (+175)
Douglas Silva de Andrade (-114) > Zubaira Tukhugov (-106)
*Odds Courtesy of BetDSI
Nuts Picks:
Matt 14-9 (60.9%)
Lyoto Machida (20-4) vs. Gegard Mousasi (34-3-2)
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (19-3, 1 NC) vs. Francis Carmont (22-7)
Erick Silva (15-4, 1 NC) vs. Takenori Sato (17-8-7)
Viscardi Andrade (17-5) vs. Nicholas Musoke (11-2)
Charles Oliveira (16-4) vs. Andy Ogle (9-3)
Cristiano Marcello (13-5) vs. Joe Proctor (8-2)
Rodrigo Damm (11-6) vs. Ivan “Batman” Jorge (25-3)
Francisco Trinaldo (13-3) vs. Jesse Ronson (13-3)
Iuri Alcantara (28-5) vs. Wilson Reis (17-4)
Felipe Arantes (15-6-1, 2 NC) vs. Maximo Blanco (9-5-1, 1 NC)
Ildemar Alcantara (19-6) vs. Albert Tumenov (12-1)
Douglas Silva (22-0, 1 NC) vs. Zubair Tukhugov (15-3)
Ingo 16-7 (69.6%)
Lyoto Machida (20-4) vs. Gegard Mousasi (34-3-2)
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (19-3, 1 NC) vs. Francis Carmont (22-7)
Erick Silva (15-4, 1 NC) vs. Takenori Sato (17-8-7)
Viscardi Andrade (17-5) vs. Nicholas Musoke (11-2)
Charles Oliveira (16-4) vs. Andy Ogle (9-3)
Cristiano Marcello (13-5) vs. Joe Proctor (8-2)
Rodrigo Damm (11-6) vs. Ivan “Batman” Jorge (25-3)
Francisco Trinaldo (13-3) vs. Jesse Ronson (13-3)
Iuri Alcantara (28-5) vs. Wilson Reis (17-4)
Felipe Arantes (15-6-1, 2 NC) vs. Maximo Blanco (9-5-1, 1 NC)
Ildemar Alcantara (19-6) vs. Albert Tumenov (12-1)
Douglas Silva (22-0, 1 NC) vs. Zubair Tukhugov (15-3)
Magic 8 Ball 14-9 (60.9%)
Lyoto Machida (20-4) vs. Gegard Mousasi (34-3-2)
Ronaldo “Jacare” Souza (19-3, 1 NC) vs. Francis Carmont (22-7)
Erick Silva (15-4, 1 NC) vs. Takenori Sato (17-8-7)
Viscardi Andrade (17-5) vs. Nicholas Musoke (11-2)
Charles Oliveira (16-4) vs. Andy Ogle (9-3)
Cristiano Marcello (13-5) vs. Joe Proctor (8-2)
Rodrigo Damm (11-6) vs. Ivan “Batman” Jorge (25-3)
Francisco Trinaldo (13-3) vs. Jesse Ronson (13-3)
Iuri Alcantara (28-5) vs. Wilson Reis (17-4)
Felipe Arantes (15-6-1, 2 NC) vs. Maximo Blanco (9-5-1, 1 NC)
Ildemar Alcantara (19-6) vs. Albert Tumenov (12-1)
Douglas Silva (22-0, 1 NC) vs. Zubair Tukhugov (15-3)