UFC Vegas 62
- Thread starter mrpickem
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mrpickem
SDQL Badass Stat Boss
UFC Vegas 62: Prelims
The first fight should start around 435pm EST after the cancellation of the Royval bout.MIKE JACKSON VS PETE RODRIGUEZ ~ Welterweight (170)
- Rodriguez TKO ...Rodriguez is very green, still needing a lot to iron out the many wrinkles in his entertaining striking game. Still, Jackson isn't much, with his only UFC win over CM Punk. This likely evolves into a bar brawl-level fight that should be entertaining. Rodz hits a lot harder and most likely connects fairly early for the finish.
- Taira ...Taira's an educated counter-puncher, that has yet to show the tools needed to maintain such a style higher up the rankings. The Japanese prospect is well-schooled and very slippery, yet doesn't have the power to gain the respect of his opponent. Still, Vergara brings a level that Taira can still out-maneuver, but it may be dangerous if he allows Vergara to lead the fight.
- Rodriguez ...Hughes manages a decent ground game with a functional striking game. Rodriguez’s TDD wasn’t very good vs Kay Hansen, so there is an avenue for Hughes to shoot early. Still, Rodz is a mobile striker that Hughes may struggle to pin down.
JOANDERSON BRITO(13-3-1) VS LUCAS ALEXANDER ~ Featherweight (145)
- Brito early ...Brito's a wild man on the feet, ducking into hooks and throwing full-blooded head kicks. His debuting opponent, Lucas Alexander, is a vicious leg kicker. Brito is very durable, but if Alexander damages Brito’s mobility early, it'll offer more breathing room from dangerous overhands. This may descend into a sloppy mess in the later rounds, but I’ll back Brito’s freakish power to make the difference early.
- Malkoun Decision ...Malkoun is very well-rounded and somewhat of a jack-of-all-trades fighter. His main issue is a lack of athleticism that likely keeps him relegated to a sticky gatekeeper. Maximov is physically superior, so there is a possibility the Diaz-protegee keeps Malkoun on his back, but hard to imagine his gas tank holding in this scenario.
- Martinez ...Mana may struggle with Davis’ penchant for brawling if they meet toe-to-toe, but more likely Davis is willing to buy time against the cage. Martinez has a fire, as shown vs Ronnie Lawrence, that can create a messy war if required. Davis is a limited fighter out of his depth at this level, but he is tall, rangy, and capable of winning rounds off his jab and strong chin.
mrpickem
SDQL Badass Stat Boss
UFC Vegas 62: Main Card
DUSKO TODOROVIC(11-3) VS JORDAN WRIGHT(12-3) ~ Middleweight (185)
- Todorovic ...Wright has an array of kicks but will struggle to maintain distance against a pressuring opponent creating messy scrambles. Todorovic is very hittable while he tries to close the distance, but his chin is proven stellar. I do expect an early stoppage – so long as there are no hangovers from Todorovic’s KO loss.
- Menifield KO Early ...Misha Cirkunov is no longer the young shiny prospect he once was. Rather, he returns to LHW as broken goods versus a technically limited yet exceptionally talented athletic specimen in Menifield. I doubt Misha will be able to takedown Menifield, and most likely he'll be eating big shots while trying...when one lands flush it'll be nap time.
- Henry Decision ...Assuncao rose close to the top off of the back of his striking defense, but as seen over the past few torrid years, he is basically a sitting duck. Without the athletic foundation to maintain his stifling jab and pressure footwork, Assuncao looks all but lost versus better comp. Henry may be unable to duplicate his career performance vs Raoni Barcelos, but his aggression alone likely proves enough to get by the trigger-shy Assuncao.
mrpickem
SDQL Badass Stat Boss
UFC Vegas 62: Top of the Card
Main Event - ALEXA GRASSO(14-3) VS VIVIANE ARAUJO(11-3) ~ Women’s Flyweight (125)
- Grasso Decision ...On the feet, Grasso is far too slick at a mid-range and in the pocket to ever lose total control. Still, even considering Araujo’s porous striking defense, Grasso lacks the heavy hands to prevent Araujo from walking her down. Even in her twilight years, Araujo remains a physical beast at Flyweight and could certainly find a way to out-muscle Alexa. Grasso struggled against wrestling-heavy gameplans at Strawweight, yet has shown far better TDD at Flyweight. Over 5 rounds, it feels safer to back Grasso’s high-volume striking to clean the scorecards, but this is a very close call IMHO.
- Swanson Decision ...Breathing life into his career with a weight change, Swanson still continues to struggle at range with his striking. Martinez will consistently launch leg kicks and sharp boxing combinations that will create problems for Cub to work with at distance. My heart let me trust Cub in his twilight years to expose Martinez’s lackluster athleticism and difficulty dealing with dynamic trades in the pocket. Probably the safer play is the over, but I do like getting Cub at these odds.
