UFC VEGAS 99: PEREIRA VS HERNANDEZ

[mrpickem]

UFC VEGAS 99: PEREIRA VS HERNANDEZ​

@ UFC APEX - LAS VEGAS, NV

Prelims:​

• 5/1.34 Robelis Despaigne -373
• 2.30/1 Despaigne / Lane u1½ -230

 

[mrpickem]

Whole card:


Took last card off as it was pathetic. Had a decent night in 307 two weeks ago.

 

[mrpickem]

UFC VEGAS 99: PEREIRA VS HERNANDEZ​

Prelims:
5/1.34 Robelis Despaigne -373
2.30/1 Despaigne / Lane u1½ -230

rest of prelims,,,

• 2/3.00 Melissa Martinez by decision +150
• 4/1.94 ELISE REED -206
• 3/1.45 JEAN MATSUMOTO -207
• 3/1.46 Asu Almabayev -205

​

• Elise Reed is the better striker, and she hits much harder...with capability for a KO. So long as she's able to stuff the takedowns, she will garner an easy decision or maybe even a TKO.
• Matsumoto(15-0) looks like a monster with great striking and BJJ, but he hasn't faced a step=up in comp so far. Katona while not exceptional...has been around a while and will show resilience and a well-rounded skill set.
• Nicolau has skills to keep his fight standing and pick apart Almabaev(20-2). However, Asu’s grappling pressure and top control will likely be the deciding factors. Almabaev will look to weather early storms, gradually impose his wrestling, and eventually gain the hard-fought decision or late stoppage through ground dominance.
• Hate to say it, but just couldn't find a dog on the prelims I'm comfortable backing.

​

 

[mrpickem]

UFC VEGAS 99: PEREIRA VS HERNANDEZ​

Prelims:
5/1.34 Robelis Despaigne -373
2.30/1 Despaigne / Lane u1½ -230
2/3.00 Melissa Martinez by decision +150
4/1.94 ELISE REED -206
3/1.45 JEAN MATSUMOTO -207
3/1.46 Asu Almabayev -205
[4-2 +0.55u]

Main:​

• 3/4.11 Daniel Pineda +137
• 3/2.56 Smotherman/Hadley o2½ -117
• 3/1.85 Sumudaerji/Johnson o2½ -162

​

• Pineda with offensive grappling / precise striking...should be able to land on Elkins’ chin before reversing positions and finding a possible sub.
• Hadley probably controls this fight with takedowns/control time as he works a somewhat boring decision. Not worth big juice.
• Johnson's pressure in the later rounds, mixing strikes with takedown attempts, may be able to exploit Sumudaerji’s grappling weaknesses. Johnson is well-rounded with lots of experience, that along with high pace should be enough.

 

[mrpickem]

UFC VEGAS 99: PEREIRA VS HERNANDEZ​

Prelims:
5/1.34 Robelis Despaigne -373
2.30/1 Despaigne / Lane u1½ -230
2/3.00 Melissa Martinez by decision +150
4/1.94 ELISE REED -206
3/1.45 JEAN MATSUMOTO -207
3/1.46 Asu Almabayev -205

Main:
3/4.11 Daniel Pineda +137
3/2.56 Smotherman/Hadley o2½ -117
[5-3 +0.11u]

3/1.85 Sumudaerji/Johnson o2½ -162​

Top of the card:​

• 2.31/4 Phillips/Font u2½ +173
• 4/5.28 Michel Pereira +132

 

[mrpickem]

Wow, 2 biggest favorites on the card go down. Don’t see that every week.

 

[mrpickem]

UFC VEGAS 99: PEREIRA VS HERNANDEZ
Prelims:
5/1.34 Robelis Despaigne -373
2.30/1 Despaigne / Lane u1½ -230
2/3.00 Melissa Martinez by decision +150
4/1.94 ELISE REED -206
3/1.45 JEAN MATSUMOTO -207
3/1.46 Asu Almabayev -205

Main:
3/4.11 Daniel Pineda +137
3/2.56 Smotherman/Hadley o2½ -117
3/1.85 Sumudaerji/Johnson o2½ -162
2.31/4 Phillips/Font u2½ +173
4/5.28 Michel Pereira +132
[6-5 -4.35u]

Not the best finish. Pereira's endurance is still lacking as I must not have considered in his 8 fight win streak, the last 3 were R1 finishes and he had never been 5 rounds. "Fluffy" is an animal and may be able to hang with the top dogs.

Bonuses ​

Only 3 were awarded as the night was filled with decisions.

Fight Of The Night: Elkins vs Pineda​

It wasn’t a sight for the faint of heart as the two grizzled featherweight veterans spilled each other’s blood all over the canvas, but the bout between Darren Elkins and Daniel Pineda was an emphatic reminder of why they remain fan favorites among MMA hardcores. Fifteen minutes of pure, unadulterated mayhem got the main card rocking at the UFC Apex as the 40-year-old Elkins sported cardio of a man half his age to defeat the 39-year-old Pineda, who retired after going out on his shield in a throwback banger.

Performance Of The Night: Anthony Hernandez​

Anthony Hernandez had said this week that we were looking at the next middleweight champion, and after watching him dismantle Michel Pereira, it’s hard not to wonder if he might be right. By midway through the second round, the normally high-energy Pereira looked completely exhausted and out of ideas when it came to the smothering energy of “Fluffy.” The onslaught would continue in kind until a fifth round TKO, but this one was over much earlier. Now on a six-fight win streak, Hernandez was a picture of pure dominance this night.