This event’s “Sean Sheehan Vs” sees Sean taking on SevereMMA contributor Simon Maguire in a battle of UFC on FOX 11 fight picks.
Every UFC event Sean and his opponent will break down the reasoning behind their main card picks and will give quick picks for the undercard.
We start with the main event Travis Browne vs Fabricio Werdum
In the last two years, Fabricio Werdum, thanks to coaching on TUF Brazil and waiting on the side-lines for a title shot, has only had two fights. Although the wins over Antônio Rodrigo Nogueira and Mike Russow were impressive; they aren’t exactly against top competition at this stage of their respective careers. On the other hand, Travis Browne has won four of his five fights in a similar time – beating names like Gonzaga, Barnett and Overeem while losing only to Bigfoot Silva after tearing his hamstring. There is no doubting that both men are top class heavyweights; but Werdum will need put his missed title shot to one side and brush off a lot of cobwebs before entering the Octogon on Saturday night. Browne will more than likely have the better of it on the feet despite Werdum’s great improvement since the Overeem debacle in Strikeforce. Browne is the more athletic and should be able to strike from distance and avoid the clinch and takedown. Werdum will, conversely, try to close the distance and take it horizontal. The ground, as a multiple jiu-jitsu world champion, is Werdum’s world. The Brazilian can definitely win this fight on the mat, but getting it there is the problem. Browne has a marvelous takedown defence and has knocked his last two opponents out with elbows from the clinch off of takedown attempts – and Werdum will be looking to avoid that. I think Browne can stuff the takedown and, if he is taken down, avoid submissions long enough to get back to his feet where he will have Werdum in a lot of bother.
Sheehan’s Pick: Browne via knockout.
Browne is on a terrific win streak at the moment but don’t expect it to go beyond the weekend. I think Werdum will be wary of Browne and his fight-ending elbows and expect him to play a tactical game and wear the larger man down. Browne hasn’t fought outside the third round since 2011 and I see Werdum going the distance here winning a unanimous decision.
Maguire’s Pick: Werdum by Decision
Miesha Tate vs. Liz Carmouche Like the other three main card fights, this is very evenly matched. As veterans of the sport, both women are well rounded and know each other inside out. Having both lost the Ronda Rousey for the UFC bantamweight title, it is essential they get a win here to stay around the championship picture. Tate lost to Rousey in her last fight and bounces back here quickly. Carmouche has fought twice since the inaugural female UFC fight, losing once and winning once. On the feet it’s a very even match up, Tate is wild and quick with her strikes, Carmouche is technical and powerful. The scrambles could be a huge factor in this fight – whoever gets the better of them them will probably win. Tate has excellent takedowns but needs to be weary of Carmouche in the transitions.
Sheehan’s Pick: Tate via decision
Saturday’s bout between Miesha Tate and Liz Carmouche could arguably be described as a fight to keep relevant in the women’s bantamweight division, as defeat for either could prove particularly costly.
Should Miesha Tate beat Liz Carmouche this weekend, it will highlight the shallowness of the UFC’s female roster at present. A Tate victory would leave her with two realistic options for career advancement; a rematch of her 2013 brawl with Cat Zingano or a third and final scrap with arch-rival and unbeaten bantamweight champion Ronda Rousey. Another duel with Sarah Kaufmann might also be of interest but the fact remains all of Tate’s plausible options are rematches.
The creation of a women’s flyweight division is a positive step for the organisation but whether competitors at 135lbs can cut to 115lbs if their options dry up at bantamweight is highly unlikely. A defeat to Carmouche, may leave Tate as a prized scalp for up-and-coming fighters or as a gatekeeper for potential title contenders. It remains to be seen if the former Strikeforce champion would relish such a role if she is unable to make the flyweight limit.
Carmouche has lost four of her last five fights and will be feeling the pressure to perform most. She hasn’t put back-to-back wins together since 2010 but a victory this weekend could re-establish her as a legitimate threat in the division.
I fancy Tate to rebound from the Rousey defeat and rely on her submission game to overwhelm Carmouche in the final round.
Maguire’s Pick: Tate by Submission
Donald Cerrone vs. Edson Barboza. This one is guaranteed to be amazing. Cerrone is all about leg kicks, Muay Thai and submissions. Barboza is a striking assassin and has possibly, pound for pound, the hardest and most varied kicking arsenal in the world. Cerrone has a stellar record but has lost in stand-up battles to Nate Diaz and Anthony Pettis in recent times. Against Barboza, he will need to get it to the ground where his submissions come into play. The Brazilian, though, has a relatively strong takedown defence and will want to keep it standing at all costs. If Cerrone gets drawn into a kickboxing match (which he has been known to do) I think he might struggle to cope with Barboza’s elite feet and lose badly here.
Sheehan’s Pick: Barboza via knockout
Fight of the night stuff here with both fighters willing to give it a go. A win for either and promising fights await. I can’t see past Cerrone by some ridiculous KO. Should be fun regardless of the result. Bonuses all round!
Maguire’s Pick: Cerrone by KO
Brad Tavares vs. Yoel Romero On paper this fight looks like an easy win for Yoel Romero. He is an Olympic silver medalist with a never-say-die attitude and atomic bombs in his fists. While Brad Tavares is a steady striker without too much power, OK wrestling and an inability to finish. What Tavares possesses, though, is a winners mentality. He has won five fights in a row since his sole career loss – all by decision. The Hawaiian is gritty to a fault and sticks rigidly to his gameplan; something which is of tantamount importance against Romero. The Cuban, Romero, has been losing his last two fights before knocking out his respective opponents in the third round. If Tavares is to win, he will need to be on point for fifteen minutes. Romero should look to take Tavares down but, with a wrestling game which hasn’t transitioned well to MMA (see Derek Brunson fight), it wont be that easy. Look for Tavares to keep his distance and kickbox for fifteen minutes, look for Romero to try and knock him out for fifteen minutes.
Sheehan’s Pick – Tavares via decision.
“Soldier of God” Romero has to be the favourite here. Can’t see anything but a devastating KO for the Cuban. Tavares might not get out of the first round.
Maguire’s Pick – Romero via KO
__________
Sheehan’s undercard quick picks:
Khabib Nurmagomedov beats Rafael dos Anjos via knockout.
Thiago Alves beats Seth Baczynski via knockout.
Jorge Masvidal beats Pat Healy via decision.
Alex White beats Estevan Payan via decision.
Caio Magalhães beats Luke Zachrich via decision.
Hernani Perpetuo beats Jordan Mein via decision
Dustin Ortiz beats Ray Borg via decision.
Mirsad Bektic beats Chas Skelly via knockout.
Jack May beats Derrick Lewis via knockout.
______
Maguire’s undercard quick picks:
Dos Anjos-Nurmagomedov (Nurmagomedov by decision)
Alves-Baczynski (Alves by KO)
Masvidal-Healy (Masvidal by decision)
Payan-White (Payan by decision)
Magalhaes-Zachrich (Magalhaes by decision)
Mein-Perpetuo (Mein by KO)
Ortiz-Borg (Ortiz by KO)
Skelly-Bektic (Skelly by Submission)
May-Lewis (May by KO)
Rules: Every correct pick made is equal to 1 point. If the competition ends in a draw then method of victory will be used to decide a winner
And for the Sean Sheehan bet of the week…
For my bet of the week I’m going with a treble of Miesha Tate, Edson Barboza and Jorge Masvidal which will turn your tenner into €40!
And please follow the guys on Twitter and
Like this:
Like Loading...
0 comments