Arguably a better main card here than that of UFC 180 last weekend where Ben just pipped Darragh to a close prediction victory (let's call it a predicory).
"Bourbon" Ben Kiely: 3-2
Darragh "The Quizmaster" Murphy: 2-3
Frankie Edgar v Cub Swanson
BK: I've said it before and I'll say it again. In terms of overall talent and technical ability, this is the greatest non-title fight matchup in the history of the UFC. Frankie Edgar is one of the best wrestlers at 145 lbs. He prowess on the ground means he has the ability to literally pummel his way to victory. On top of that his striking game has come on in leaps and bounds in recent fights.
Even taking all this into account, I don't think he's winning this fight. Since losing his promotional debut, Swanson has dispatched of everyone the UFC has put in front of him. Not only that, he's done it in devastating fashion, and looks to be just getting better with each bout. I think Swanson's going to take home the victory in a spectacular manner.
Swanson by KO (Round 3).
DM: This has all the potential for a late fight of the year candidate indeed. I concede that Swanson is the more powerful striker and can knock out anyone at 145 lbs without much bother. But Edgar is a gamer. His boxing is good enough to absorb the early Swanson pressure and I don't think that Swanson can stop the Frankie takedown.
Frankie's experience in five round fights will win him this fight. Between 2010 and 2013, "The Answer" went the distance SIX times. He knows how to grind out a win and I anticipate much of the same tonight. He's tough as nails and his only losses in the last six years have come to Jose Aldo (arguably the P4P best in the world) and Benson Henderson (when "Smooth" was relevant).
Edgar by decision.
Bobby Green v Edson Barboza
BK: Why aren't more people talking about Bobby Green. The dude is undefeated in eight fights. His last trip to the Octagon resulted in a incredible upset win over former Strikeforce champion Josh Thompson. Throughout the fight he engaged in some Nick Diaz-style trash-talking. I expect him to outbox and outpoint the Brazilian and earn that decision.
Green by decision.
DM: This is a tough one and I don't know why. My head says Green and my heart says Green but for some reason I have this niggling feeling that Barboza is going to penetrate Green's stellar striking defense. Barboza's kicks don't need to be discussed at any length and he can wear you down with the kind of leg kicks that make you wince at home. Having said that, I've bottled it.
Green by decision.
Brad Pickett v Chico Camus
BK: This is a trickier bout to call than it might look on paper. Pickett is clearly the more well-rounded fighter but he has been through a lot of wars throughout his career. Add this to fact that he has had a huge weight cut for this bout. However, I think he has enough gas in the tank to defeat a lesser fighter.
Pickett by decision. DM: I love Brad Pickett but the guy is 36! He's been on a serious downslide in recent fights and hasn't resembled himself since his win over Yves Jabouin 2 years ago. Ben reckons he has enough gas in the tank to beat Camus (who I concede is the lesser fighter) but I don't agree. I think he has what it takes to take the first round but that the younger, more hungry fighter will come out on top via decision.
Camus by decision.
Jared Rosholt v Oleksiy Oliynyk
BK: It's the heavyweight division, all it takes is one punch to change a fight. We saw in his promotional debut that Oliynyk possesses that one-punch knockout power that can win him fights. However, I think the superior wrestler wins this fight. Rosholt is too disciplined get clipped by the Ukranian.
Rosholt by decision.
DM: Very difficult to predict confidently when the big boys go at it and I reckon that Rosholt will put up more of a fight than anyone Oliynyk has faced thus far. He's a hard-nosed wrestler who has quite a few decisions under his belt for a heavyweight. As you can see from the picture, Wikipedia had already credited him with a decision win at lunchtime on Saturday. So I'll plump for Oliynyk by some weird-ass submission. Let's go ...
Oliynyk by von Flue choke (round 2)
Joseph Benavidez v Dustin Ortiz
BK: A win for Ortiz would mean that the flyweight division would gain a much needed new contender to face Demetrious Johnson. However, I just don't see Ortiz winning this one.He's improved his overall game a lot and he's proven that he's one of the top guys at 125 lbs but Benavidez is on a whole other level. Benavidez is too fast and his outstanding grappling should see him home to victory.
Benavidez by submission (Round 2).
DM: I'd go along pretty much with what Ben says on this one. I think Ortiz in two years might be able to take the Benavidez of today but his skill set doesn't match up with that of Joey right now. The only losses on Benavidez's record have come at the hands of Demetrious Johnson and Dominick Cruz, not the worst guys to have in the L column. It's gotta be a guillotine hasn't it.
Benavidez by guillotine (Round 1).
Matt Wiman v Isaac Vallie-Flagg
BK: Wiman hasn't fought in nearly two years. Vallie-Flagg has had three fights in that timeframe, albeit two of them were losses. He's a grinder and I think that will give him the edge over the ring-rusted Wiman.
Vallie-Flagg by decision.
DM: Oh yeah, remember Matt Wiman? Well you'd think he'd be the older fighter here. Vallie-Flagg is actually five years Wiman's senior. Having said that, Wiman hasn't won since September 2012. Wiman was famous for his chin back then but I think any ring-rust negates that.
Vallie-Flagg by KO (verrry early Round 1).
