Hello one and all for the 10th straight episode of Viperz Venom! I'm so glad to once again be bringing you another episode of my column and for all of you guys that have been with me from the beginning you will see the return of Thoughts From The Hat! So before we get started I would like to give my two cents on the McGregor situation. McGregor has single handedly sold the 4 biggest fight cards the UFC has ever had last year and made the company upwards of 800 million dollars. To deny him the time to duck out of the limelight and completely focus on training is ludicrous. Though the UFC expects all fighters to handle their media obligations to sell their fights McGregor up until this point has wrote his own rules doing whatever he wants so why when it counts the most for him is the UFC not allowing him to disappear on a fight card that absolutely sells itself. Forget about the fact that its UFC 200 forget about the fact that we have the rematch between Diaz & McGregor for the main event. Nearly every fight on UFC 200 could be a headlining fight. So as McGregor says "Let the other mokeys dance for their supper, my tweet just made you another 100 million in promotion for UFC 200 so let me train and I'll show up to fight". Honestly enough said. Let the guy step in there at his best. We don't need to see his face 4 times a week on talk shows or press conferences to make us buy the fight. Anyways onto my breakdown and predictions for UFC 197!
Efrain Escudero 25-10 vs Kevin Lee 11-2
Escudero has alot more experience than Lee here. I always seem to have trouble picking a guy who is undefeated coming into the UFC and then goes 50/50 after making his debut. The step up in competition really gets to some guys and Lee is a prime candidate for such a statement. Both fighters are coming off of a loss here and neither guy wants to make it 2 in a row. Escudero has made a career off of going to decision but Lee is younger, hungrier, and has a 7 inch reach on Escudero. Unless Lee allows Escudero to take him down and hold him down I see Lee taking this one home.
Pick: Kevin Lee via Unanimous Decision
Thoughts From The Hat: Escudero looks like he had trouble with this weight cut and his 25-10 record and his flaky nature is looming. Lee comes in with only 2 professional losses. Even though both losses came in the UFC and in his last 6 fights that doesn't mean he isn't extremely hungry. I agree with Viper here. Lee is younger, faster, stronger, and more hungry.
Marcus Rogerio De Lima 13-4-1 vs Clint Hester 11-5
Hester is coming off of 2 straight TKO losses. Has he gone punchy? This fight will determine who stays with the UFC and who goes. De Lima is coming off of a submission loss to Krylov. I don't see any threat of submission from Hester whatsoever though. De Lima has the power and Hester does not have the chin.
Pick: Marcus Rogerio De Lima via 1st Round KO/TKO
Thoughts From The Hat: This is a pretty clear cut fight for me. De Lima is much more accurate and is fighting a guy who has a suspect chin. Proof is in the numbers and De Lima has proven he is the better striker.
Walt Harris 7-4 vs Cody East 12-1
Not very often does a fighter debut in the UFC being the favorite against someone who has fought there before. Walt Harris has 7 wins by knockout but has lost 3 of his last 4. To the naked eye it would seem like we should bet on the unknown here to win as its extremely hard at heavyweight to get a record like 12-1 going when any punch can end a fight at any time. With that being said though Harris has only dropped fights to top 15 guys in the sport which East is not yet. Honestly flip a coin here.
Pick: Cody East 1st Round KO/TKO
Thoughts From The Hat: I think that this fight is a perfect example of how starved the heavyweight division is in the UFC right now. I know that Dana is actively looking for Heavyweight fighters but neither of these guys stand out as anything special to me, I could be entirely wrong with the unknown of Cody East but aside from the top 5 of the heavyweight division seeing anybody else fight thats on those rankings is kind of like a who falls first type of fight and even though those fights excite the crowd and everyone loves seeing huge knockouts we'd like to see professionals delivering those knockouts in devastating fashion.
Glaico Franca 14-3 vs James Vick 8-0
Vick is riding an undefeated record and 4 of those wins have come in the UFC. He has looked great so far in his career. Franca is the winner of the 4th season of TUF Brazil and has quite a bit more experience than VIck and even has more finishes by KO/TKO even though he is predominately a grappler. Vick isn't known for his power but I don't see Franca having the upper hand in this one. Vick out strikes Franca to a Unanimous Decision.
Pick: James Vick via Unanimous Decision
Thoughts From The Hat: This fight hurts my head to think about. Franca has to look to take Vick to the ground here and I don't think he'll be successful. Vick is coming off of a performance bonus and with all that extra cheese from his last fight something tells me hes going to want that bonus cheque again. Vick will pick Franca apart on the feet with devastating kicks from every direction, but other than hurting guys and hopping on submissions Vick's power isn't of ridiculous regard. I have to agree with Viper here again.
Carla Esparza 11-3 vs Julianna Lima 8-2
Esparza is coming off of one of the most devasting losses in womens mma history. The way she was destroyed by Jedrzejczyk was about as bad as it gets in a fight. Most fighters come back never the same and thats what I expect to happen here. Esparza will be a shell of her former self and Lima will rise to the occasion.
Pick: Julianna Lima via Unanimous Decision
Thoughts From The Hat: If you asked me about these two fighters prior to this card I would tell you that Lima has a much better chance becoming champion at strawweight than Esparza does at regaining her title. Esparza is still young and the chance that she learned from her mistakes and is going to apply it in the octagon is very possible. I really do think that Lima wins this fight though but Esparza isn't the underdog here so it wouldn't be at all surprising to see her win either.
Danny Roberts 12-1 vs Dominique Steele 14-6
Steele is coming off of a crazy slam TKO over Dong Hyun Kim that was one of those see it to believe it moments. Roberts has 12 wins and all 12 have come by submission. Roberts is a wizard on the ground and Steele looks like he had an absolutely terrible weight cut.
Pick: Danny Roberts via 2nd Round Submission
Thoughts From The Hat: When you have to get naked at the weigh ins its never a good sign. Steele came out concerned he wasn't going to make it and I saw shock on his face when he did. That tells me moment one he isn't ready for his fight. Roberts looked ready man. I see this going very badly for Steele.
Sergio Pettis 13-2 vs Chris Kelades 9-2
Here we are again with the UFC picking fights for favorited fighters that they feel are easy wins. The younger of the two Pettis brothers has had mixed results since being hired by the UFC going 4-2 and Kelades has a record of 2-1 in the octagon and comes in with old man strength at 35 years young. As long as Pettis doesn't have flashbacks of his daddy throwing him over his knee just a few years ago I think Pettis comes out with the win here.
Pick: Sergio Pettis via 1st Round Submission
Thoughts From The Hat: This has the makings to be a really good fight. I really like when the UFC takes two well rounded fighters and puts them against one another. Who doesn't like a fight that is hard to pin point a specific prediction? My opinion is this could end up as fight of the night.
Yair Rodriquez 7-1 vs Andre Fili 15-3
Most of the poeple in my circle are taking Rodriquez in this fight but I can't bring myself to do it. Fili has too much going for him in this fight to not take him. He is of samoan decent, has absolutely devastating power, is well rounded, can finish the fight from anywhere, and is a complete monster. His only losses were to Max Holloway (one of the best fighters in the world and also of samoan decent) and Godofredo Pepey caught him with a flying triangle choke. Rodriquez is on a 3 fight win streak but I am predicting that streak will be smashed much like his face.
Pick: Andre Fili via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Thoughts From The Hat: This is another one that has all the makings of a possible fight of the night. My thought process is telling me this is a hard fight to pick contrary to what Viper said. I think Rodriquez has looked impressive in his 3 fight win streak. It seems to me had Fili not fought Holloway and not gotten caught by a crazy flying submission he would be undefeated in the octagon which inclines me to side with Viper here. But I think Fili may win by decision.
Robert Whittaker 16-4 vs Rafael Natal 21-6-1
Striking vs Grappling here. I didn't spend much time contemplating this fight because I think Natal is pretty much done as far as fighting is concerned. Whittaker is stronger, faster, has an above average ground game, and has KO power in all 4 limbs. Whittaker takes this one and Natal just holds on.
Pick: Robert Whittaker via Unanimous Decision
Thoughts From The Hat: Natal is a beast and the fact that both guys are riding 4 fight win streaks isn't by accident. I feel like one way or another we are going to see a ton of heart in this fight regardless of the outcome.
Anthony Pettis 18-4 vs Edson Barboza 16-4
Id like to start this off by saying that I really like Pettis, hes extremely fun to watch, very flashy, and hes a finisher. With that being said hes going to get destroyed here. This was a terrible fight choice for Pettis coming off of two losses specifically because Barboza is just as flashy as Pettis but way more powerful. Barboza will give Pettis the space he needs but if they trade Pettis falls first every single time.
Pick: Edson Barboza via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Thoughts From The Hat: My main prediction here is that this doesn't make it out of the first round. Both guys are of technical genius and beyond flashy. Does power beat speed? Will Barboza looking like a dried up raisin at the weigh ins make a difference? We will have to see all I know is I'm flippin excited for this one!
Demetrious Johnson 23-2-1 vs Henry Cejudo 10-0
Demetrious Johnson is the best flyweight in the world. Gold Medal or not Cejudo's best offense is his wrestling and its going to be awfully hard to make it an asset in a fight where you can't get ahold of the guy. I actually predict that Johnson takes down Cejudo just because he can. No other choice here besides Johnson taking this one.
Pick: Demetrious Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Thoughts From The Hat: The force that is Demetrious Johnson has almost risen to phenom status. This is definitely the biggest challenge that he's faced but Johnson can do it all. CAN Henry Cejudo dethrone Demetrious Johnson? Absolutely, it's mma, anything can happen. Is it likely? Absolutely not.
Jon Jones 21-1 vs Ovince Saint Preux 19-7
I'm not going to get into this too much because there are not alot of people on the planet I hate more than Jon Jones. I have never nor will I even pick Jon Jones to win a fight in hopes that he loses each and every single time he steps into the octagon. He's a liar, a cheater, he's smug, he is a criminal, and is one of the most terrible human beings currently breathing air on planet earth. There is no one who deserves to lose more than Jon Jones does and hopefully with all this time off and a guy who has nearly identical reach can make that happen and make my dreams come true. I vote here for what I beg the skies to happen not what the analyst in me sees happening.
Pick: Ovince Saint Preux via 1st Round KO/TKO
Thoughts From The Hat: Im bummed we wont get to see Cormier destroy Jones however, after I found out Jones was fighting OSP I decided I was just as happy with this fight. I think Jones abuses his length and OSP only gives up 4 inches so it won't be enough of a difference in this fight. So I think this is a massive opportunity for OSP and I think he's going to rise to the occasion.
Well I hope you enjoyed it guys! please leave me a comment and let me know what you think. You know I answer everybody!
Efrain Escudero 25-10 vs Kevin Lee 11-2
Escudero has alot more experience than Lee here. I always seem to have trouble picking a guy who is undefeated coming into the UFC and then goes 50/50 after making his debut. The step up in competition really gets to some guys and Lee is a prime candidate for such a statement. Both fighters are coming off of a loss here and neither guy wants to make it 2 in a row. Escudero has made a career off of going to decision but Lee is younger, hungrier, and has a 7 inch reach on Escudero. Unless Lee allows Escudero to take him down and hold him down I see Lee taking this one home.
Pick: Kevin Lee via Unanimous Decision
Thoughts From The Hat: Escudero looks like he had trouble with this weight cut and his 25-10 record and his flaky nature is looming. Lee comes in with only 2 professional losses. Even though both losses came in the UFC and in his last 6 fights that doesn't mean he isn't extremely hungry. I agree with Viper here. Lee is younger, faster, stronger, and more hungry.
Marcus Rogerio De Lima 13-4-1 vs Clint Hester 11-5
Hester is coming off of 2 straight TKO losses. Has he gone punchy? This fight will determine who stays with the UFC and who goes. De Lima is coming off of a submission loss to Krylov. I don't see any threat of submission from Hester whatsoever though. De Lima has the power and Hester does not have the chin.
Pick: Marcus Rogerio De Lima via 1st Round KO/TKO
Thoughts From The Hat: This is a pretty clear cut fight for me. De Lima is much more accurate and is fighting a guy who has a suspect chin. Proof is in the numbers and De Lima has proven he is the better striker.
Walt Harris 7-4 vs Cody East 12-1
Not very often does a fighter debut in the UFC being the favorite against someone who has fought there before. Walt Harris has 7 wins by knockout but has lost 3 of his last 4. To the naked eye it would seem like we should bet on the unknown here to win as its extremely hard at heavyweight to get a record like 12-1 going when any punch can end a fight at any time. With that being said though Harris has only dropped fights to top 15 guys in the sport which East is not yet. Honestly flip a coin here.
Pick: Cody East 1st Round KO/TKO
Thoughts From The Hat: I think that this fight is a perfect example of how starved the heavyweight division is in the UFC right now. I know that Dana is actively looking for Heavyweight fighters but neither of these guys stand out as anything special to me, I could be entirely wrong with the unknown of Cody East but aside from the top 5 of the heavyweight division seeing anybody else fight thats on those rankings is kind of like a who falls first type of fight and even though those fights excite the crowd and everyone loves seeing huge knockouts we'd like to see professionals delivering those knockouts in devastating fashion.
Glaico Franca 14-3 vs James Vick 8-0
Vick is riding an undefeated record and 4 of those wins have come in the UFC. He has looked great so far in his career. Franca is the winner of the 4th season of TUF Brazil and has quite a bit more experience than VIck and even has more finishes by KO/TKO even though he is predominately a grappler. Vick isn't known for his power but I don't see Franca having the upper hand in this one. Vick out strikes Franca to a Unanimous Decision.
Pick: James Vick via Unanimous Decision
Thoughts From The Hat: This fight hurts my head to think about. Franca has to look to take Vick to the ground here and I don't think he'll be successful. Vick is coming off of a performance bonus and with all that extra cheese from his last fight something tells me hes going to want that bonus cheque again. Vick will pick Franca apart on the feet with devastating kicks from every direction, but other than hurting guys and hopping on submissions Vick's power isn't of ridiculous regard. I have to agree with Viper here again.
Carla Esparza 11-3 vs Julianna Lima 8-2
Esparza is coming off of one of the most devasting losses in womens mma history. The way she was destroyed by Jedrzejczyk was about as bad as it gets in a fight. Most fighters come back never the same and thats what I expect to happen here. Esparza will be a shell of her former self and Lima will rise to the occasion.
Pick: Julianna Lima via Unanimous Decision
Thoughts From The Hat: If you asked me about these two fighters prior to this card I would tell you that Lima has a much better chance becoming champion at strawweight than Esparza does at regaining her title. Esparza is still young and the chance that she learned from her mistakes and is going to apply it in the octagon is very possible. I really do think that Lima wins this fight though but Esparza isn't the underdog here so it wouldn't be at all surprising to see her win either.
Danny Roberts 12-1 vs Dominique Steele 14-6
Steele is coming off of a crazy slam TKO over Dong Hyun Kim that was one of those see it to believe it moments. Roberts has 12 wins and all 12 have come by submission. Roberts is a wizard on the ground and Steele looks like he had an absolutely terrible weight cut.
Pick: Danny Roberts via 2nd Round Submission
Thoughts From The Hat: When you have to get naked at the weigh ins its never a good sign. Steele came out concerned he wasn't going to make it and I saw shock on his face when he did. That tells me moment one he isn't ready for his fight. Roberts looked ready man. I see this going very badly for Steele.
Sergio Pettis 13-2 vs Chris Kelades 9-2
Here we are again with the UFC picking fights for favorited fighters that they feel are easy wins. The younger of the two Pettis brothers has had mixed results since being hired by the UFC going 4-2 and Kelades has a record of 2-1 in the octagon and comes in with old man strength at 35 years young. As long as Pettis doesn't have flashbacks of his daddy throwing him over his knee just a few years ago I think Pettis comes out with the win here.
Pick: Sergio Pettis via 1st Round Submission
Thoughts From The Hat: This has the makings to be a really good fight. I really like when the UFC takes two well rounded fighters and puts them against one another. Who doesn't like a fight that is hard to pin point a specific prediction? My opinion is this could end up as fight of the night.
Yair Rodriquez 7-1 vs Andre Fili 15-3
Most of the poeple in my circle are taking Rodriquez in this fight but I can't bring myself to do it. Fili has too much going for him in this fight to not take him. He is of samoan decent, has absolutely devastating power, is well rounded, can finish the fight from anywhere, and is a complete monster. His only losses were to Max Holloway (one of the best fighters in the world and also of samoan decent) and Godofredo Pepey caught him with a flying triangle choke. Rodriquez is on a 3 fight win streak but I am predicting that streak will be smashed much like his face.
Pick: Andre Fili via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Thoughts From The Hat: This is another one that has all the makings of a possible fight of the night. My thought process is telling me this is a hard fight to pick contrary to what Viper said. I think Rodriquez has looked impressive in his 3 fight win streak. It seems to me had Fili not fought Holloway and not gotten caught by a crazy flying submission he would be undefeated in the octagon which inclines me to side with Viper here. But I think Fili may win by decision.
Robert Whittaker 16-4 vs Rafael Natal 21-6-1
Striking vs Grappling here. I didn't spend much time contemplating this fight because I think Natal is pretty much done as far as fighting is concerned. Whittaker is stronger, faster, has an above average ground game, and has KO power in all 4 limbs. Whittaker takes this one and Natal just holds on.
Pick: Robert Whittaker via Unanimous Decision
Thoughts From The Hat: Natal is a beast and the fact that both guys are riding 4 fight win streaks isn't by accident. I feel like one way or another we are going to see a ton of heart in this fight regardless of the outcome.
Anthony Pettis 18-4 vs Edson Barboza 16-4
Id like to start this off by saying that I really like Pettis, hes extremely fun to watch, very flashy, and hes a finisher. With that being said hes going to get destroyed here. This was a terrible fight choice for Pettis coming off of two losses specifically because Barboza is just as flashy as Pettis but way more powerful. Barboza will give Pettis the space he needs but if they trade Pettis falls first every single time.
Pick: Edson Barboza via 2nd Round KO/TKO
Thoughts From The Hat: My main prediction here is that this doesn't make it out of the first round. Both guys are of technical genius and beyond flashy. Does power beat speed? Will Barboza looking like a dried up raisin at the weigh ins make a difference? We will have to see all I know is I'm flippin excited for this one!
Demetrious Johnson 23-2-1 vs Henry Cejudo 10-0
Demetrious Johnson is the best flyweight in the world. Gold Medal or not Cejudo's best offense is his wrestling and its going to be awfully hard to make it an asset in a fight where you can't get ahold of the guy. I actually predict that Johnson takes down Cejudo just because he can. No other choice here besides Johnson taking this one.
Pick: Demetrious Johnson via Unanimous Decision
Thoughts From The Hat: The force that is Demetrious Johnson has almost risen to phenom status. This is definitely the biggest challenge that he's faced but Johnson can do it all. CAN Henry Cejudo dethrone Demetrious Johnson? Absolutely, it's mma, anything can happen. Is it likely? Absolutely not.
Jon Jones 21-1 vs Ovince Saint Preux 19-7
I'm not going to get into this too much because there are not alot of people on the planet I hate more than Jon Jones. I have never nor will I even pick Jon Jones to win a fight in hopes that he loses each and every single time he steps into the octagon. He's a liar, a cheater, he's smug, he is a criminal, and is one of the most terrible human beings currently breathing air on planet earth. There is no one who deserves to lose more than Jon Jones does and hopefully with all this time off and a guy who has nearly identical reach can make that happen and make my dreams come true. I vote here for what I beg the skies to happen not what the analyst in me sees happening.
Pick: Ovince Saint Preux via 1st Round KO/TKO
Thoughts From The Hat: Im bummed we wont get to see Cormier destroy Jones however, after I found out Jones was fighting OSP I decided I was just as happy with this fight. I think Jones abuses his length and OSP only gives up 4 inches so it won't be enough of a difference in this fight. So I think this is a massive opportunity for OSP and I think he's going to rise to the occasion.
Well I hope you enjoyed it guys! please leave me a comment and let me know what you think. You know I answer everybody!
