This event’s “Sean Sheehan Vs” sees Sean taking on UK based MMA journalist Chamatkar Sandhu as they predict UFC on Fox 12: Lawler vs. Brown
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.
Robbie Lawler vs. Matt Brown
Sometimes in MMA, we get a little too carried away with the story and don’t focus on the actuality of what’s going on inside the cage. I think Matt Brown falls into that bracket. Brown has an amazing life story and has lead a massive career resurgence in the last three years – winning his last seven fights in a row. None of those seven opponents, though, were inside the UFC’s top-10. On Saturday night he will face #1 ranked Robbie Lawler – the man many believe should be welterweight champion.
Whichever way this fight goes it won’t disappoint. Brown is a pressure fighter who throws everything (including the kitchen sink) at his opponents both on the feet and mat. The Ohio native is all action from minute one but has shown a weakness recently when eating body strikes early in fights. Robbie Lawler will recognise that and attack it. The Strikeforce vet is a power striker with an ever improving wrestling game which he will need against the varying Brown attacks. I only see this fight going one way and that’s in favour of Robbie Lawler. I see Lawler having the superior striking and don’t think Brown will be able to put him on his back as easily as he did with others. If Lawler can attack the mid-section of Brown early and often it could be a very short night indeed.
Sheehan’s Pick – Lawler via TKO/KO
A lot on the line here in the main event. On one side you have Matt Brown who is on an incredible seven fight win streak looking to solidify a welterweight title shot and on the other side is Robbie Lawler who is relishing another crack at current champion Johny Hendricks. Ultimately I think Matt Brown is about to fight a guy in Lawler who is in the very elite group of mixed martial artists and will get found out. Everything about Robbie Lawler seems different, better, focused and more determined than in years past. For a guy who has been around the sport for as long as he as, the hunger in him lately is undeniable. Technically speaking I think Lawler is just that little bit better than Brown in every department. Either way I don’t think this fight is lasting more than one round and I’m picking Lawler by way of KO / TKO.
Sandhu’s pick – Lawler via KO/TKO.
Anthony Johnson vs. Antônio Rogério Nogueira
It seems so long since Antonio Rogerio Nogueira last fought. His previous UFC outing, a win over Rashad Evans, was not only one of the biggest upsets of 2013 but one of the stand out wins in “Little Nog’s” illustrious career. Since then, though, the Brazilian has skipped out on fights with Shogun Rua and Alexander Gustafsson due to a niggling back injury. At thirty eight years of age a break of eighteen months from mixed martial arts is no joke; especially when Anthony Johnson awaits in your comeback. Johnson himself also had the best win of his career in his last fight (against Phil Davis) and will be looking to put himself into title contention with a win here. Nogueira has the advantage in jiu-jitsu but the boxing, wrestling, athleticism and power departments all favour Johnson. It may be seven years since Nogueira was finished but I think that run will end on Saturday. I expect Johnson to attack hard on the feet with no fear of being taken down and to hurt Nogueira early before finishing it with relative ease.
Sheehan’s Pick – Johnson via TKO/KO
Bad bad bad match up for little nog! Anthony ‘Rumble’ Johnson just seems to be a different fighter in his second run in the UFC. He seems more focused, determined and most importantly happy with his weight class of choice, the light heavyweight division. I can feel a déjà vu coming along with a Johnson first round knockout giving him the same fate his older brother, big nog received just a few months back. When you compare a mean, hungry fighter like Johnson who is in his prime vs a fighter like little nog who takes off more than a year between bouts and is getting up in age it’s hard to see how the outcome would be any different. Johnson by KO / TKO.
Sandhu’s pick – Johnson via KO/TKO.
Clay Guida vs. Dennis Bermudez
I don’t see any way Clay Guida can win this fight. Bermudez is a better striker, he’s more athletic, he’s quicker, he’s more powerful and, most importantly, he’s a match, if not better, in the wrestling department. Guida is a solid veteran who will look to ground Bermudez and hold him there for long periods. I don’t see it happening. Bermudez is ultra aggressive and will attack Guida from all angles and positions. I think Guida is super tough and will see the final bell but won’t win a round.
Sheehan’s Pick – Bermudez via decision
It seems as though in recent fights Guida displays great movement but nothing more. He seems apprehensive to engage with his opponents and one could argue that seems to have been his downfall in recent times having only won two of his last five which is certainly a fall from grace as he was once considered close to getting a title shot.
Bermudez is coming into this fight red hot on confidence having won six fights in a row. I don’t expect this to be a fight of the night candidate but I think Bermudez has enough in his locker to get the decision over Guida.
Sandhu’s pick – Bermudez via decision
Josh Thomson vs. Bobby Green
If both these men had a full camp, this fight would be extremely intriguing. But they don’t. Bobby Green, who takes the fight on short notice, is a well rounded lightweight with scope to improve. Thomson, on the other hand, is a chiseled veteran. Green has used his strong wrestling in his young career to date to set up his power striking. That will be difficult against Thomson who is an extremely effective defensive wrestler and should have the advantage on the feet. I think Green has a big future and will have success in this fight throughout but over three rounds I think Thomson will have more.
Sheehan’s Pick – Thomson via decision
Green is on a great run at the moment (6 wins in a row) but I think Thomson is just on another level in terms of competition and experience and has been involved in plenty of big time fights. Green is also taking this fight on short notice so it’s hard to say what kind of shape he is in going into this bout whereas Thomson has a full camp and always come in great shape. One also has to consider the where Green’s head is at right now with the recent loss of his brother (murdered in a drive by shooting). I am picking Thomson by decision.
Sandhu’s pick – Thomson via decision
UNDERCARD PICKS
Jorge Masvidal vs. Daron Cruickshank
Sheehan’s Pick – Crucikshank via TKO/KO
Sandhu’s Pick – Crucikshank via TKO/KO
Kyle Kingsbury vs. Patrick Cummins
Sheehan’s Pick – Cummins via TKO/KO
Sandhu’s Pick – Cummins via decision
Hernani Perpetuo vs. Tim Means
Sheehan’s Pick – Perpetuo via decision
Sandhu’s Pick – Means via TKO/KO
Michael De La Torre vs. Brian Ortega
Sheehan’s Pick – Ortega via decision
Sandhu’s Pick – Ortega via Submission
Akbarh Arreola vs. Tiago dos Santos
Sheehan’s Pick – TDS via decision
Sandhu’s Pick – TDS via decision
Steven Siler vs. Noad Lahat
Sheehan’s Pick – Siler via TKO/KO
Sandhu’s Pick – Siler via decision
Andreas Ståhl vs. Gilbert Burns
Sheehan’s Pick – Burns via decision
Sandhu’s Pick -Stahl via decision
Juliana Lima vs. Joanna Jędrzejczyk
Sheehan’s Pick – Jędrzejczyk via TKO/KO
Sandhu’s Pick – Jędrzejczyk via decision
SHEEHAN BET OF THE WEEK
My top tip for UFC on Fox 12 is a treble of Bermudez, Cruickshank and Cummins which works out at just around 6/1.
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