UFC 100 Picks and Predictions
The UFC 100 fight card is set and fight fans couldn’t be more excited. Who are the top choices in the big fights?
HEAVYWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Brock Lesnar (4-1) vs Frank Mir (12-3)
Sportsbook Betting favorite: Lesnar -225
Why Lesnar could win: Lesnar is bigger, stronger, and a superior all-around athlete to Mir. He’s more than just a brute; he’s a former NCAA wrestling champion who also cracked an NFL roster. When he gets on top of an opponent, it’s almost impossible to move him. Though he hasn’t been hit hard, we also have to assume he has a strong jaw.
Why Mir could win: He’s a better technical fighter and he showed that when first fought Lesnar in February 2008. He used his superb Jiu-Jitsu to exploit a Lesnar mistake and submit the big fella. Mir has also developed his boxing and can use it to score points standing up.
Outlook: Lesnar improves by leaps and bounds with each fight and has improved his ground defense, so he’s far less likely to leave himself exposed like he did against Mir the first time around. Mir has improved too, but Lesnar is just far too powerful to lose.
Daily sports pick: Lesnar -225
WELTERWEIGHT CHAMPIONSHIP
Georges St-Pierre (18-2) vs Thiago Alves (22-4)
Betting favorite: St-Pierre -260
Why St-Pierre could win: We could write an essay on this topic. St-Pierre can beat you with his deadly striking, especially his kicks, or he can dominate on the ground with his powerful wrestling and ground-and-pound ability. He’s a finely tuned weapon, always in phenomenal shape.
Why Alves could win: The Pit Bull is a new challenge for GSP because he has true knockout power. With his vicious Muay Thai knees and kicks, he can bury opponents in seconds. St-Pierre is used to fighters who excel on the ground instead of standing up. What if Alves catches him flush?
Outlook: GSP has to be careful against Alves, but we shouldn’t expect anything less come July 11. No fighter studies and prepares for opponents like St-Pierre, so he should have a strong game plan to win.
Daily sports pick: St-Pierre -260
MIDDLEWEIGHT
Dan Henderson (24-7) vs Michael Bisping (18-1)
Betting favorite: Henderson -300
Why Henderson could win: Henderson is one of the sport’s all-time greats, having battled the best middleweights and light heavyweights in the world. He’s a former Olympic wrestler who controls his fights from the ground and, while he’s not a technically sound striker, he has knockout power in both hands.
Why Bisping could win: The Count is no slouch on the ground thanks to his Jiu-Jitsu, so he should hold his own on the canvas better than some expect. Standing up, Bisping lacks knockout power but he’s the better technical striker and could pick Henderson apart to score points.
Outlook: Truthfully, Henderson will probably win this fight thanks to experience and the fact that he’s simply more dangerous. However, I can’t justify picking him as an overrated -300 favorite. Bisping deserves more respect; he’s only lost once in his career, he’s tremendously fit, he’s fearless and he’s the much younger fighter. I think he’ll give Henderson a better run than most betting software would predict and grind out a decision over Hendo.
Daily sports pick: Bisping +240
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