Sunday, the UFC keeps up their tradition of holding a Memorial Day weekend card in Las Vegas, but this year we get a Fight Night as opposed to a PPV. Don't worry, the card is still incredible. The main event is a battle between two true blue-chip prospects as Cody Garbrandt takes on Thomas Almeida. The co-main event features former bantamweight champion Renan Barao taking on Jeremy Stephens in a featherweight bout. Check out our picks below.
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| Garbrandt knew this pic would get him on It's MMAzing via his IG account |
Thomas Almeida comes into this fight with 20 wins and 0 losses while Cody Garbrandt's record stands at 8 wins and 0 losses. As "El Guapo" would say, somebody's 0 has got to go. I have been talking about this fight from the moment it was booked. I'm excited on a level that this fight can't possibly live up to unless one of these guys hits the other with some Tekken sh*t. Both of these fighters walk forward and try to end fights. Almeida is a slight favorite, which is understandable as he has the biggest win between the two of them; a second round knockout of Brad Pickett this past July. He also was almost finished earlier in that fight. Cody has shown to be basically untouchable in his UFC career, but is yet to face serious competition. He'll find that in Almeida. This was damn near a toss up, but I'm going with the Team Alpha Male prospect taking this one. Garbrandt via 3rd round TKO.
Picking Almeida: DJ Mark, Kid P, Gooms
Picking Garbrandt: Dr. Law
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| Hanging with Claudia. (Denzel voice) My man. via Ms Gadelha's Instagram |
This fight is incredibly hard to pick. Renan Barao spent 2 of his last 3 fights in the UFC getting the absolute sh*t kicked out of him by TJ Dillashaw. A move to featherweight makes sense as Barao was struggling constantly to make the 135 pound limit. Also, he blamed pizza once from his weight problems. That's not cool Renan. Pizza is our friend. Jeremy Stephens is 4-3 since moving to featherweight. As with his lightweight career, Stephens runs into trouble when he faces the elite in the division. Renan Barao was one of the best fighters in the world when he was bantamweight champion of the world. He won 32 straight fights and went undefeated for 9 years. Even with all of that, I wouldn't recommend anybody betting the house on Barao. There are simply too many questions at this point to confidently pick him. That being said, I'm still going to pick Barao...just with no confidence at all. Stephens is going to get knocked out...maybe...I think. Barao by 2nd round TKO.
Picking Barao: DJ Mark, Dr. Law, Gooms,
Picking Stephens: Kid P
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| Saffiedine's IG is boring as hell Via Tarec's Instagram. |
Rick Story hasn't fought in two years because of a bum neck and Tarec Saffiedine only barely got cleared for this fight due to a large laceration on his knee. Despite the cut, I find it hard to believe that Rick Story coming off of a massive layoff can take out Saffiedine. Story's style is heavily predicated on grinding his opponents down and I don't think 2 years of cage rust is going to help him keep that type of pace up. Also, Saffiedine's movement is fantastic and Story will likely have a hard time finding. I got Tarec by decision. Jab-a-palooza.
Picking Saffiedine: All of us
Picking Story:
Chris Camozzi v. Vitor Miranda
I'm not going to make any Camozzi jokes because we already dedicate a ton of time on the podcast doing so every single time he fights. This is, however, a very tough fight for him. Miranda is riding a 3 fight win streak with all of those victories coming via knockout. I think he keeps the streak going against the Alameda native. Silver lining: at least Camozzi isn't facing Jacare again. Miranda by 2nd round knockout.
Picking Camozzi:
Picking Miranda: All of us
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| Thanks Lorenz. I wasn't planning on sleeping tonight. Via Larkin's Instagram |
This is another action fight that should be a lot of fun to watch. Masvidal, the man who claimed that he had the best sucker punch in Miami, continues his journey at one hundred seventy pounds as he takes on Lorenz Larkin. Larkin is coming off of a split decision loss to Albert Tumenov where he was viewed as the victor by a lot of fans. Larkin, in general, seems to have terrible luck with the judges and fights in a way that ensures he doesn't have to deal with them too often. Larkin has fought as high as 205 pounds while Masvidal made his bones as a lightweight. It's going to be a fun scrap, but I got Masvidal eeking this one out. Larkin hits hard, but Masvidal is the more well rounded fighter. Masvidal by decision.
Picking Masvidal: DJ Mark, Dr. Law
Picking Larkin: Kid P, Gooms
Josh Burkman v. Paul Felder
Burkman has started to look his age since his return to the UFC while Felder is still in the early parts of his UFC career. I'm more in favor of booking Burkman in fights like he had with Patrick Cote; a fellow veteran that will throw down with him. I think he's too slow with his movement to get his hands on The Irish Dragon. Felder hits hard and is constantly in motion. I think he's going to beat Josh Burkman up, but Burkman is going to be simply too tough to be put away. Felder by one-sided decison.
Picking Burkman: DJ Mark, Gooms
Picking Felder: Dr. Law, Kid P
It's MMAzing 2016 Standings
1. Doctor Law - (52-24) - .684
2. DJ Mark- (49-27) - .645
3. Lavender Gooms - (48-28) - .632
4. Kid Presentable - (46-30) - .605
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