Thursday, May 21, 2015

UFC 187 MAIN CARD BREAKDOWN/PREDICTIONS

UFC 187 MAIN CARD BREAKDOWN/PREDICTIONS

By: Dylan Smith (@FightMartian)
 



UFC 187 takes place this Saturday, returning to the MGM Grand in Las Vegas with a stacked lineup featuring two high profile title fights and a main card full of contenders looking to earn a shot at the title in their respective weight divisions. This card is not without controversy though, as now former champ Jon "Bones" Jones was slated to defend his title against Anthony Johnson in the main event, but after his involvement in a hit and run accident which included him running a red light and injuring a pregnant woman and then fleeing the scene, UFC brass elected to strip the pound-for-pound king of his title and hand out an indefinite suspension. Insert Daniel Cormier, fresh off the first loss of his career in his bid at the title against Jones, he now gets a second chance at gold as he steps in to save the main event and take on Anthony Johnson for the now vacant UFC Light-Heavyweight Title. Add to that the co-main event featuring undefeated Middleweight champ Chris Weidman taking on Brazilian legend Vitor Belfort in a fight over a year in the making, and this card adds up to be one of the most anticipated of the year. I will be breaking down the main card and making my predictions below. 


Joseph Benavidez (21-4) vs John Moraga (16-3)

Kicking off the main card is a Flyweight fight between two former title contenders who look to climb the ladder again and get another shot at the champion Demetrious Johnson. Benavidez has proven to be one of the best fighters in the lower weight classes, training out of team Alpha Male he possesses a very complete MMA game with great wrestling, savvy submissions, and powerful striking. Moraga is well rounded himself, with most of his wins by submission, he also has the power to finish a fight with his hands which is a rarity at flyweight and has the background in wrestling to hold his own on the ground against Benavidez. 
This is a great fight to open up the main card between two of the most powerful fighters in the flyweight division. In a weight class not known for its finishes the UFC matchmakers did a great job putting these two finishers against each other. I think this will be a fight with lots of scrambles and plenty of action. However, I think Benavidez is just a little bit better anywhere the fight goes and will get the best of Moraga during the scrambles and battles for position. I wouldn't be surprised to see both fighters attempt submissions but I think the fast paced style of Benavidez will eventually overwhelm Moraga. 

Prediction: Benavidez by Submission

Travis "Hapa" Browne (17-2-1) vs Andrei "The Pitbull" Arlovski (23-10-1)

In the only heavyweight bout on the card, we see the big boys throw down in a fight between two KO artist that should end with someone going to sleep.
Travis Browne looks to make it 2-0 after losing his bid at the title against Interim champ Fabricio Werdum. He could potentially earn himself another contenders fight with an impressive win over Arlovski. Standing at 6'7, Browne will look to use his huge frame to add another highlight reel KO to his resume as he is primarily a striker with good takedown defense and loves to score the finish. Andrei Arlovski is a former UFC heavyweight champion and has been impressive since his return to the UFC going 2-0. "The Pitbull" is also a finisher, with 16 KO victories on his record he is known for his powerful punches and aggressive style. 
These two fighters are both former training partners when they trained together at Greg Jacksons camp for a number of years so they most likely know each others game pretty well. That being said, I think Travis Browne will be able to control this fight using his size advantage to control the distance on the feet and use power shots to end the fight early against the battle worn chin of Arlovski.

Prediction: Travis Browne by KO


Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone (27-6-1) vs John "The Bull" Makdessi (13-3)

Originally slated as a highly anticipated #1 contenders fight between lightweights Donald Cerrone and Khabib Nurmagamedov, John Makdessi steps in after an injury to the undefeated Russian took him out of the fight.  Donald Cerrone is riding a huge wave of momentum as he is comes in on the heels of a seven fight win streak and is one of the best fighters in the division. John Makdessi is 4-1 in his past five bouts but faces an uphill battle in this one, as this fight presents a huge step up in competition and will be the most high profile fight of his career. 
This could be the winner of the Fight of The Night award as both fighters are strikers and love to finish fights. Cerrone will possess an advantage in pretty much every facet of MMA but he also has all the pressure on him as he is the one with everything to lose. I think Makdessi should be able to keep this fight competitive with the right game plan, if he can mix up his strikes well and maybe mix in a few takedown attempts to keep Cerrone honest he could surprise some people with his performance. However, he will need to be at the top of his game to do this. Ultimately though, I think the experience of Cerrone will lead him to victory, as he has fought and beat some of the very best the lightweight division has to offer and should continue his winning ways by using his superior Muay-Thai skills to lead him to victory and set him up for a title shot in the near future. 

Prediction: Donald Cerrone by (T)KO


(C) Chris "All American" Weidman (12-0) vs Vitor "The Phenom" Belfort (24-10)

After previously being scheduled twice, this championship fight will finally take place this Saturday night as Chris Weidman looks to defend his belt against the streaking Brazilian Vitor Belfort.
Best known for beating Anderson Silva twice, Chris Weidman defeated former champion Lyoto Machida in his last title defense and now looks to take out yet another Brazilian legend in Vitor Belfort. Weidman comes into the fight with an undefeated record and a skill set that has proved to be one of the best in MMA. The champs specialty is his wrestling/ground and pound, but he has proven to be elite in all other facets of his game which include striking and submissions. Under the tutelage of longtime coach Ray Longo, Weidman has shown improvements in every fight while also displaying little to no holes in his game thus far. 
Vitor Belfort comes into the fight on the heels of a three fight finish streak in which he has looked nearly unstoppable. It should be noted that due to the Nevada State Athletic Commissions new rules, this will be Vitor's first fight without a TRT exemption in a number of years and speculation has run rampant about the physical condition he will be in come Saturday night as his body has undergone some serious changes while he has been off the synthetic testosterone. Nonetheless, Belfort remains a highly dangerous opponent as he has been knocking people out for the better part of his near 20 year legendary career. The Phenom's skill set is highlighted by his lightning fast hands and KO power, complimented by an underrated submission game in which he holds a BJJ black belt. 
With both these fighters having a knack for the highlight reel finish, I do not see this fight going past the third round. I think Belfort will come out ultra-aggressive from the start as he usually does, looking to blitz Weidman early and look for the early stoppage. However, Weidman proved to have an iron chin in his last fight against Machida and I think he will attempt to use the aggression of Belfort against him and take this fight to the ground where he will look to finish Belfort with his vicious ground and pound. 

Prediction: Chris Weidman by (T)KO


Daniel "DC" Cormier (15-1) vs Anthony "Rumble" Johnson (19-4)

Stepping in on short notice, Daniel Cormier takes this fight after originally being slated to take on Ryan Bader in June. "DC" will look to claim the gold after recently losing to Jones in January in his first bid at the title, previously going undefeated while never losing a round. His opponent, Anthony Johnson may be the scariest fighter in the UFC right now, going 3-0 since his return to the promotion after being cut in 2011. "Rumble" brings a nine fight win streak into the fight and a ton of momentum, displaying his KO power and taking out two of the division's most durable fighters, Alexander Gustaffson and Antonio Rogerio Nogueira in the first round by knockout. 
DC is a former Olympic wrestler who has rounded out his game with fluid striking and a high fight IQ. While he does possess knockout power, DC prefers to use his wrestling/clinch work to smother and wear out his opponents with dirty boxing against the cage and an elite top game that led him to 15 straight victories. 
Anthony Johnson is a knockout artist in the highest form, displaying extreme power in both hands and is capable of ending a fight with one punch. Rumble will try to win this fight by doing what he does best, winning by knockout. He will look to sprawl and brawl, using his power and aggression to discourage Cormier from getting in close. Johnson's best chance of winning comes early in the fight, as he has the most KO wins under a minute (4) in UFC history.
Ultimately, I think this fight will be determined by who can dictate where the fight takes place. This leads me to believe that the wrestling of Cormier will lead him to victory as long as he doesn't get caught in the first round by the power of Rumble. Cormier should be able to keep Johnson guessing by mixing his striking with takedowns and clinch work to keep Johnson from committing to power shots. I think Cormier will be able to exploit the suspect cardio of Johnson and wear him down enough to be able to secure takedowns to keep the fight on the ground and win using his wrestling and smothering top control.

Prediction: Daniel Cormier by Decision

Wednesday, May 20, 2015

Texas BMX Freestyle Bad Ass

Another great day at the Pflugerville BMX and skate park. See these guys do some awesome BMX freestyle tricks and moves. All shot with the Panasonic GH4, DJI S1000 and the DJI Ronin.

Video: aerial51UAV.com
Stunts: Willis, Tony Bianco and Brent Sterriker of PC BMX


 
 
source:youtube

Tuesday, May 19, 2015

New Balance's "VX 4000" Video

 VX 4000 Featuring PJ Ladd, Levi Brown, Tom Karangelov, Jordan Taylor, Tyler Surrey, Jordan Trahan, Tom Knox, Marquise Henry and Jack Curtin. NICEEEEE!



 
 
 

Friday, May 15, 2015

UFC FIGHT NIGHT 66: EDGAR VS FABER

UFC FIGHT NIGHT 66: EDGAR VS FABER MAIN CARD BREAKDOWN/PREDICTIONS


By: Dylan Smith @FightMartian



The UFC makes its debut in Manilla, Philippines this Saturday hoping to create its own "Thrilla in Manilla" and recapture some of the magic brought on by one of the most classic boxing matches of all time, Ali vs Frazier III.  The main event features former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie "The Answer" Edgar taking on former WEC Featherweight Champion Urijah "The California Kid" Faber. This should be an action packed main event that should end up as a classic of its own and the fact that it's free makes it even better. 
Rounding out this six fight main card the UFC looks to showcase its talent recruited from Asia and establish a loyal fanbase even further across the world. However, if you want to watch the card in its entirety you will have to get up bright and early as the time difference has the prelims starting here in America at 8AM ET, and main card at 10AM ET. I will be breaking down the main card and making my predictions below. 

 
Mark Ediva (6-1) vs Levan "The Hornet" Makashvili (6-1)

Opening the main card is a featherweight contest between two prospects looking to make a name for themselves. Ediva is coming off the first loss of his career just over a year ago, and looks to rebound with a win over the well rounded Makashvili who makes his UFC debut after having his previous bout against Nik Lentz cancelled at the last second. This should be a competitive fight that will most likely take place everywhere, I favor Makashvili in this one because I think he is the more complete fighter with a background in wrestling and solid technique in his striking. He will most likely look to use his grappling to control the fight against Ediva who's trained in the Chinese martial art of Wushu but also has a few submissions on his record to compliment his striking background. Makashvili has shown low output in past fights and could get caught early if he starts slow, but I think his grappling will ultimately make the difference and will win him this fight.

Prediction: Makashvili by Decision

Phillipe "Super" Nover (10-5) vs Yui "The Korean Bulldozer" Chul Nam (18-4)

After his first stint in the UFC from 2008-2010 which ended with him going 0-3 and being cut, Phillipe Nover returns to the octagon to showcase his improvements as he takes on South Korea's Yui Chul Nam who is on a four fight winning streak. Nam is known as the "Korean Bulldozer" and for good reason, as his heavy hands have got him eight KO's in his pro career and his striking is the best asset of his game. Nover however, is a BJJ specialist and has held a black belt since 2008 and will not hesitate to pull guard if he finds himself in trouble on the feet. "Super" will most definitely look to get this fight to the ground and test the submission defense of his opponent. However, I think the power of Nam will be the deciding factor in this fight as he is very active on his feet and lands over 5 significant strikes per minute according to UFC.com. As long as Nam doesn't get over aggressive he should be able to stop the takedown/guard attempts of Nover and win the fight by TKO.

Prediction: Yui Chul Nam by TKO

Hyun-Gyu "The Ace" Lim (18-4-1) vs Neil Magny (14-3)

In this welterweight clash Neil Magny puts his six fight win streak on the line against Korean veteran Hyun-Gyu Lim. Lim favors his striking, as he brings 10/13 of his wins by way of KO and will look to test the chin of Magny early. He also possess a good grappling base which he uses defensively to keep fights on the feet. Magny on the other hand is a very well rounded fighter and likes to use his striking from a distance and sets up takedowns by clinching opponents against the fence and working for takedowns from there. This is a very close match up between two of the bigger welterweights in the division and will really show who is ready to take the next step up in competition. I think Magny will use a smothering style to stifle the striking of Lim, he will push him against the cage and use his grappling advantage to wear down the Korean along with dirty boxing in the clinch to soften him up. Magny has been on a tear lately, showing his evolution as a fighter beating opponents of different styles during his win streak and will give the UFC no choice but to give him a top-10 opponent if he is able to impressively win this fight.

Prediction: Neil Magny by Decision

Mark "The Filipino Wrecking Machine" Munoz (13-6-1) vs Luke "Bigslow" Barnatt (10-2)

In what will be the final fight of Mark Munoz' career, he will be taking on TUF alum Luke Barnatt who will look to get back in the win column after suffering the first two losses of his career. Munoz is a former NCAA National Champion wrestler for Oklahoma State University, and while he also possess knockout power, the former Cowboy will look to use his bread and butter wrestling skills to secure a win in his final fight. This is easier said than done however, as Barnatt is 6'6 and will look to use his range to keep Munoz on the outside. This is a classic striker vs grappler matchup and with both fighters willing to lay it all on the line, you can expect someone to go out on their back in this one. Even though my heart wants to root for Munoz to get a win in his final fight as he is one of the good guys of the sport, my brain says all signs point to Barnatt winning here. Munoz has not looked impressive in a fight since he beat Tim Boetsch in 2013, he has been knocked out or subbed in his three fights since. Meanwhile, Barnatt has been competitive in his losses and is a finisher when he wins. I think Barnatt will be able to utilize his lengthy frame and strike from the outside while using his superior footwork to avoid takedown attempts and power strikes from Munoz. If he uses his speed advantage and is able find his timing and rhythm, "Bigslow" should be able to find the diminished chin of Munoz and look for an early finish.

Prediction: Barnatt by TKO

Gegard "The Dreamcatcher" Mousasi (36-5-2) vs Costa Philippou (13-4-1)

The co-main event features two middleweight fighters looking to build on the momentum of winning their last fights and establish themselves as contenders in the division. Gegard Mousasi is one of the most experienced fighters on the UFC roster with over 40 professional fights on his record, he is a very complete fighter who brings a savvy submission game and high level kickboxing into the octagon. Mousasi will have an advantage in the grappling department in this fight but it remains to be seen if he will take advantage of that as he usually prefers to strike. Mousasis opponent, Costa Philippou is a powerful striker with heavy hands who is always looking for the knockout. He will try to pressure Mousasi by controlling the center of the octagon and backing him up to the cage where he can throw powerful combos and look to test his opponents chin. 
Both these fighters have been pretty inconsistent thus far in their respective UFC careers, but one thing is for certain and that is Mousasi is a step up in competition for Philippou. I think Mousasi will be able to control this fight as he has fought many dangerous strikers throughout his career and will be able to nullify the aggressive style of Philippou using his well rounded game to mix things up and frustrate his opponent. 

Prediction: Mousasi by Submission


Frankie "The Answer" Edgar (18-4-1) vs Urijah "The California Kid" Faber (32-7)

In the main event of UFC Fight Night 66 we get a highly entertaining featherweight showdown between two former world champions. This should an epic scrap between two of the UFC's toughest fighters and definitely one you don't want to miss.
  Frankie Edgar comes into the bout riding a three fight win streak since losing his bid at the title in his featherweight debut against Jose Aldo in 2013. Edgar has the skill set of a truly elite MMA fighter, possessing great technical boxing and some of the best footwork in the sport, he also has a top-notch grappling base as a former Division-1 wrestler and is trained in BJJ by legend Renzo Gracie. Edgar's ability to blend his striking with his takedowns is also some of the best in the business and I think that will be a major tool for him to utilize in this fight. "The Answer" is also know for his legendary heart, his will to win is only exceeded by his toughness and he has shown in past fights that he is able to take a punch from the best of them. 
Urijah Faber moves up in weight to take this fight as he is currently ranked the #3 bantamweight in the world but has previously won a world championship in the WEC at featherweight, which is where this fight will be taking place. Faber is a true veteran of the sport, fighting professionally since 2003 and has fought the who's who of the bantamweight/featherweight division. "The California Kid" has solid boxing that is enhanced by his speedy hands but his base is in wrestling and he uses it to take down opponents and is very active with his top game, usually staying in his opponents full guard and using ground and pound to try and end the fight. He also has a very good submission game and is best known for his chokes which he has used with great success in the past.
This is a no brainier for the Fight Of The Night award in my book. Both fighters have high output styles and I can't remember the last time I saw either one of these guys in a boring fight. On paper, Frankie Edgar possess an edge anywhere the fight goes and that is backed up by the odds on this fight as he has grown to be a 5-1 favorite. However, Urijah Faber shouldn't be written off so easily as he has the skills and experience to pull off an upset here and with this being his 40th pro fight I don't think Edgar will show him anything he hasn't seen before. I think this fight will be a lot more competitive than people and the oddsmakers are expecting, as I can definitely see Faber hanging with Edgar for the first 2-3 rounds, keeping it close by winning some scrambles and using his speed/strength to throw Edgar off. However, once it gets into the later rounds of the fight that is Edgar's world. I think this is when we will start to see Edgar take over, not because Faber will be fatigued but because Edgar gets better as his fights go on. I think he will be able to take the smaller Faber down in these rounds and impose his will and dominate the later rounds by mixing up his boxing with takedowns to keep Faber guessing and go on to win a unanimous decision.

Prediction: Frankie Edgar by Decision

Wednesday, May 13, 2015

BMX 2015

 Awesome tricks, nice bikes, and a blazing track, what more can you ask for? Two thumbs up for the German riders FloOoProduction...
 
 

 
 
courtesy of:  FloOoProduction...

Thursday, May 7, 2015

4 Minutes of Amazing Skateboarding from Mikey Whitehouse, Happy 21st Birthday Mikey Share it!! Wow! Enjoy the Mickey show...... "Don't Blink"


 
courtesy:   MAJER Crew 

Chris Haslam Pro Spotlight Video Raw

 Check out some of the outtakes, slams, and multiple tries that went in to these groundbreaking tricks. The first part of this video I just knew my guy broke his shoulder blade, "That Skate Life."

 
video courtesy: Carson Lee

Friday, May 1, 2015

BMX - DEVON SMILLIE


 
 
 
One of our favorite BMXers in the game right now "Devon Smillie." We've seen plenty of his heat on the web and thought we'd share this one! Enjoy!
 
 
 
video courtesy: youtube