This week’s “Sean Sheehan Vs” sees Sean taking on Canadian journalist James Lynch of Sportsnet and Parting Shot Podcast as they predict UFC Fight Night: Bisping vs. Le and UFC Fight Night: Henderson vs. dos Anjos.
Every UFC event Sean and his opponent will break down the reasoning behind their main fight picks and will give quick picks for the undercard.
We start with Sean’s pick for the UFC’s main event of the weekend’s festivities from China.
Michael Bisping vs. Cung Le
If Michael Bisping was meeting Cung Le under normal circumstances this wouldn’t be a hard fight to predict. Le would kick and punch from all angles and Bisping would reply with his smooth, busy kick boxing arsenal. On Saturday night, that will probably still happen but the problem is we just don’t know how well either man can perform their standard output at this stage in their respective careers.
England’s Bisping has been hampered by an horrific eye injury of late which didn’t help his preparation and the eventual losing effort against Tim Kennedy. At 100% Bisping would have won that fight with ease. He clearly wasn’t 100% and the question is will be have recovered more or worsened since that fight? It remains to be seen. Questions, though, also hang over Le. The former Strikeforce middleweight champion has been out of the cage for almost two years and, at 42, that seemingly doesn’t bode well for him.
Despite everything, Bisping still has a solid chin and that could be a huge factor against Le. The American will be looking to finish the fight but if he can’t the advantage is clearly with Bisping. The longer the fight goes the less likely Le is to win. I wouldn’t be surprised if it went to a decision but I see Le tiring badly late and Bisping getting the stoppage in the last ten minutes.
Sheehan’s pick – Bisping via TKO/KO
The main event for UFC Fight Night 48 is a tough one to call based off a number of factors. Bisping is coming off a unanimous decision loss to Tim Kennedy at the TUF Nations Finale back in April, where he struggled with the Strikeforce veteran’s wrestling over three rounds. While it may have not been the deciding factor in the loss, the brutal eye injury Bisping suffered months prior to that fight has certainly impacted his vision. With that injury and the fact he’s getting up there in age – at year 35 years old – it’s not hard to argue that the British fighter’s best days may be behind him.
While his opponent – the 42-year old Le – is coming off an impressive knockout victory over Rich Franklin, he hasn’t fought in close to two-years. No doubt Le has the type of power to knock Bisping out, but the longer this fight goes on you have to give the edge to The Ultimate Fighter Season 3 winner. I think that’s how we’ll see this fight play out , with Bisping playing a patient game to earn himself a unanimous decision.
James’ pick – Bisping via unanimous decision
Dong Hyun Kim vs. Tyron Woodley
With Showeather (Hector Lombard) not showing up in China because of an injury (Yup, his nickname makes no sense) we are left with Dong Hyun Kim vs. Tyron Woodley. On the feet this one should be fun – for as long as it stays there.
Kim and Woodley both love to throw bombs and are equally likely to land one and finish each other. Following his loss to Rory MacDonald, Tyron Woodley will be desperate to get back in the winning column here and I have a feeling he will take the least risky way of doing it. That means wrestling, and lots of it. I see Woodley reverting to type and getting this fight to the floor before using his ground and pound to finish it. Even if he doesn’t, I can’t see Kim beating him on the feet either.
Sheehan’s pick – Woodley via TKO/KO
Woodley replaces Hector Lombard in the night’s co-feature against judo specialist Kim. The 32-year old Korean comes into this fight on a four-fight winning streak and has unfortunately become an afterthought in the welterweight division thanks to bad timing. Robbie Lawler has since stolen the thunder from this fight, and will earn the next shot at Johny Hendricks’s welterweight title. Heading into this contest, questions still surround Kim’s chin despite the DEEP veteran coming off an impressive knockout victory. Kim was almost knocked out by Erick Silva at UFC Fight Night 29 and of course suffered that brutal knockout loss to Carlos Condit at UFC 132.
Where Kim makes up the difference in this fight is he does have a height and reach advantage, which could pose problematic for Woodley who has struggled with larger welterweights in the past. Speaking of Woodley this fight is all about redemption for the 32-year old after being dominated in his last fight against Rory MacDonald at UFC 174. If the ATT product can find the form that saw him dismantle Josh Koscheck and dominate Carlos Condit (before his injury stoppage) this could be a short night for the DEEP veteran. While I think this fight is a lot closer than some pundits are making it out to be, Woodley should win this fight by knockout.
James’ pick – Woodley via second round knockout
Benson Henderson vs. Rafael dos Anjos
After one of the most patchy UFC title runs in the history of the promotion, Benson Henderson has been wholly more impressive since losing his lightweight title to Anthony Pettis and will be looking to impress again on Saturday. His opponent, Rafael Dos Anjos, is a solid top-10 lightweight who can pose a problem for anyone if he gets on the front foot. Against Henderson, I don’t see him doing that.
“Bendo” is not the best fighter in the division in any area but puts everything together so well that he’s near impossible to beat (unless your name is Tony P). Henderson will look to land with punches and takedowns and do nothing out of the ordinary; as always. He’ll be looking to get the finish but I think RDA can hold out to lose the decision 49-46.
Sheehan’s pick – Henderson via decision
The main event of the night is a fairly one sided bout in my opinion. While Henderson is just two fights removed from his first round submission loss to Anthony Pettis, the 30-year old has fought the toughest fighters in the division and defeated almost all of them. He looked very impressive in his last bout as he handed Ruslan Khabilov the first stoppage loss of his career at UFC Fight Night 42.
Dos Anjos has won six of his last seven fights, with his most impressive victory being a unanimous decision win over Donald Cerrone at UFC Fight Night 27. The 29-year old Brazilian jiu-jitsu black belt boasts eight submission victories and that’s likely the only way he wins this fight. With that said Henderson has more tools to win this contest and other than the ground game, is better than his opponent anywhere this fight goes. The former UFC champion should dominate Dos Anjos over three rounds with his wrestling, on route to a dominant unanimous decision victory
James’ pick – Henderson via unanimous decision
Francis Carmont vs. Thales Leites
This is one of only three fights from August’s five for fighting to, currently, have survived the dreaded injury bug. This won’t be the most exciting fight in the world but has the potential to be a beautifully technical grappling battle. Potential isn’t certain though.
Unfortunately, this could also be one of those occasions where the takedown attempts even out and we’re left with a clunky kick boxing match. If that happens, a Carmont decision will probably be the outcome – but I’m choosing to remain positive. Carmont is the wrestler and Leites is the jiu jitsu black belt. Expect the Canadian to get on top and try to blanket his way to a decision. Usually, that’s bad for most fighters – but not Leites. Expect him to attack with submission off of his back and if he can get it locked in he is likely to finish it.
Sheehan’s pick – Leites via submission
One of the few odd matchups we’ve seen recently. Leites is currently riding a six-fight win streak and Carmont has endured a two-fight slide. What’s interesting though is that most oddsmakers have the Tri-star fighter Carmont as the favorite based likely on the style matchup.
It’s a tough one to call, but regardless, expect this fight to go the full three rounds as Carmont’s last stoppage loss was in 2008, Leites being in 2010. The 32-year old French fighter has been notorious for stealing decisions throughout his career and I think we’ll see another one again this Saturday night. He’ll use his size and wrestling to control his Brazilian foe over three rounds to earn a controversial decision.
James’ pick – Carmont via decision
Other FS1 picks:
Mike Pyle vs. Jordan Mein
Sheehan’s pick – Pyle via TKO/KO
James’ pick – Mein via TKO
James Vick vs. Walmir Lazaro
Sheehan’s pick – Vick via decision
James’ pick – Vick via submission
Chas Skelly vs. Tom Niinimäki
Sheehan’s pick – Niinimaki via decision
James’ pick – Niinimaki via decision
Neil Magny vs. Alex Garcia
Sheehan’s pick – Magny via decision
James’ pick – Garcia via knockout
Beneil Dariush vs. Tony Martin
Sheehan’s pick – Dariush via decision
James’ pick – Dariush via submission
Aaron Phillips vs. Matt Hobar
Sheehan’s pick – Hobar via decision
James’ pick – Hobar via decision
Ben Saunders vs. Chris Heatherly
Sheehan’s pick – Saunders via decision
James’ pick – Saunders via TKO
Wilson Reis vs. Joby Sanchez
Sheehan’s pick – Reis via decision
James’ pick – Reis via decision
Max Holloway vs. Clay Collard
Sheehan’s pick – Holloway via TKO/KO
James’ pick – Holloway via TKO
Other China picks:
Zhang Lipeng vs. Brendan O’Reilly
Sheehan’s pick – O’Reilly via decision
James’ pick – O’Reilly via decision
Ning Guangyou vs. Yang Jianping
Sheehan’s pick – Yang via submission
James’ pick – Yang via submission
Wang Sai vs. Danny Mitchell
Sheehan’s pick – Mitchell via submission
James’ pick – Mitchell via submission
Alberto Mina vs. Shinsho Anzai
Sheehan’s pick – Mina via submission
James’ pick – Mina via submission
Roland Delorme vs. Yuta Sasaki
Sheehan’s pick – Delorme via TKO/KO
James’ pick – Sasaki via decision
Wang Anying vs. Colby Covington
Sheehan’s pick – Colby via TKO/KO
James’ pick – Covington via decision
Elizabeth Phillips vs. Milana Dudieva
Sheehan’s pick – Phillips via decision
James’ pick – Dudieva via decision
Yao Zhikui vs. Royston Wee
Sheehan’s pick – Wee via decision
James’ pick – Wee via decision
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