UFC 201: Lawler v. Woodley Predictions

The UFC brings the Octagon to Atlanta to showcase a battle for the UFC Welterweight title. On one side you got a guy who is out there talking about maybe the most exciting champion we've ever had. On the other you have a guy whose last fight was on the silver screen with the members of N.W.A. (solid movie). In the co-main event we have a possible title eliminator between Rose Namajunas and Karolina Kowalkiewicz. Despite not possessing a ton of star power, the rest of the card is filled with action packed match ups. Check out our predictions below.

UFC Welterweight Championship
Robbie Lawler (c) v. Tyron Woodley

Robbie Lawler making his third title defe...you know what. We need to talk about something first. Lawler's talking about taking people's souls. Their souls. That is some terrifying sh*t. Look at the look on his face in that video. Does it seem like he's playing? As I was saying, this is Mr. Lawler's 3rd defense of his welterweight title. At no point during his title reign has his championship seemed secure. As our own Kid Presentable will tell you: at some point this is going to end in disaster. It's a matter of if, not when. I do not believe said disaster is going to happen this weekend in Atlanta. Tyron Woodley is an excellent fighter and a worthy title challenger (even though two other guys may be more worthy). As I said on the podcast, Woodley has about 7 minutes to finish Lawler. I honestly don't believe he has the gas tank to win three out of five rounds. Lawler has been knocked out once in his career and it was twelve years ago. Woodley isn't exactly Rickson on the ground either. While this  is a time where no title seems safe, I'm going with Lawler by 3rd round KO. 

Picking Lawler: Unanimous
Picking Woodley: 

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 194

The gang breaks down the results of UFC on Fox: Holm v. Shevchenko and talk about The Bullet's big win against The Preacher's Daughter. They discuss what Holm did wrong and whether Shevchenko has done enough to earn a title shot against Amanda Nunes. They also talk about Edson Barboza's big win over Gilbert Melendez along with the rest of the Fox card. The gang then discusses Mark Hunt's gripes against the UFC and whether we truly will ever see a fighters' association. They then preview this weekend's UFC 201: Lawler v. Woodley card. Next, they do another edition of "Stuff We Like." The podcast ends with Doctor Law doing his best to alienate half the audience by railing against Trump. Be warned. If you disagree, get your own podcast.

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UFC on FOX 20: Holm vs. Shevchenko Fight Predictions

The UFC invades The Second City this weekend with former women's bantamweight champion Holly Holm taking on striker Valentina Shevchenko.  I'm writing this as I watch the Republican National Convention.  Why is that relevant to these fight picks?  Let me explain.  On the first day of the convention UFC president yelled into a mic and shouted nonsense of Trump being a fighter and how he's his buddy (there's the MMA connection) and then that made me remember an article I read that Holm is supported Trump as well.  That makes me sad.  Here are some picks

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 193

The gang talks about the truly impressive way the UFC messed up the Brock Lesnar situation. Seriously guys, what a screw up. They next discuss Michael "Venom" Page ruining Cyborg Santos's skull. The gang then discusses the results of UFC Fight Night: McDonald v. Lineker, including the debut of everybody's favorite new lightweight Lando Vannata. They then preview UFC on Fox: Holm v. Shevchenko. All of that and another edition of "Stuff We Like."

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UFC Fight Night: McDonald vs Lineker Picks and Predictions

With barely a moment to catch your breath after the whirlwind that was UFC 200/TUF 23 Finale/Fight Night Dos Anjos vs Alvarez we're greeted with a card that, while lacking in name value, is strong with action fighters and promising up and comers. UFC stops off in South Dakota for the first time to host a very close and exciting match between former title contender Michael McDonald and heavy hitter John Lineker. Originally Tony Ferguson was schedule  to headline with Michael Chiesa, but now Chiesa is out and Landon Vannata is in. Other notable fighters you'll see are Tim Boetsch, Josh Samman, Kyle Noke, Louis Smolka and Ben Nguyen.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 192

The gang has unenviable task of talking about the sale of the UFC, Jon Jones' positive drug test, the results of UFC 200, the results of the TUF Finale and the results of UFC Fight Night. Oh, and they have to preview UFC Fight Night: McDonald v. Lineker. They do it. All of it. Somehow this show didn't take 2 hours. Did they ignore a bunch of stuff? Yes. Oh well. Check all of that out along with another edition of "Stuff We Like."

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It's MMAzing Hall of Fame Class of 2016

For information on how exactly we came up with our Hall of Fame class, please listen to Episode 190 of It's MMAzing Radio. 

Categories
1) Modern Era: Fighters who debuted in the UFC or Pride FC on or after November 17, 2000
2) Pioneer Era: Fighters who debuted in the UFC or Pride FC before November 17, 2000
3) Fights of great historical significance (UFC & Pride only for now)
4) Outstanding contributions to MMA outside of active competition (ie non-participants)

It's MMAzing Hall of Fame Class of 2016

Modern Era

Mirko "Cro Cop" Filipovic
Kevin "Kimbo Slice" Ferguson
Gina Carano

Pioneer Era

Kevin Randleman
Akira Shoji

Fights

Robbie Lawler v. Rory MacDonald II UFC 189
BJ Penn v. Joe Stevenson UFC 80
Jose "Pele" Landi-Jons v. Carlos Newton Pride 19

Contributors

Joe Rogan
Burt Watson
Brett Okamoto

Already in the HOF 

Modern Era

Forrest Griffin (inducted 2013)
BJ Penn (inducted 2015)
Rich Franklin (inducted 2015)
Fedor Emelianenko (inducted 2015)
Nick Diaz (inducted 2015)
Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira (inducted 2016)

Pioneers

Royce Gracie (inducted 2003)
Ken Shamrock (inducted 2003)
Dan Severn (inducted 2005)
Randy Couture (inducted 2006)
Mark Coleman (inducted 2008)
Chuck Liddell (inducted 2009)
Matt Hughes (inducted 2010)
Tito Ortiz (inducted 2012)
Pat Miletich (inducted 2014)
Bas Rutten (inducted 2015)
Frank Shamrock (inducted 2015)
Kazushi Sakuraba (inducted 2015)
Don Frye (inducted 2016)

Fights

Forrest Griffin vs Stephan Bonnar I, April 2005 (inducted 2014)
Matt Hughes vs. Frank Trigg II, April 2005 (inducted 2015)
Dan Henderson v. Shogun UFC 139 (inducted 2015)
Frank Mir v. Brock Lesnar II UFC 100 (inducted 2015)
Ronda Rousey v. Liz Caramouche UFC 157 (inducted 2015)
Mark Coleman v. Pete Williams UFC 17 (inducted 2016)

Contributors
Charles “Mask” Lewis (inducted 2009)
Jeff Blatnick (inducted 2015)
Fertitta Brothers (inducted 2015)
Dana White (inducted 2015)
Ariel Helwani (inducted 2015)
Bob Meyrowitz (inducted 2016)

UFC 200: Tate vs Nunes Picks and Predictions

So yeah... where are we again? If you haven't kept up with the scuttlebutt of the mma world, Jon Jones tested positive for something, and regardless of his B result, has been pulled from the card. In steps Anderson "The Spider" Silva?!? And is Brock the main event now? Most outlets seem to be showing Tate now headlining which makes sense as it is the only fully legitimate title on the line this night. While the card order may be in question still at the time of this writing, it has been a whirlwind of changes in the 11th hour, and honestly it's just disappointing for us as fans, and these men as competitive athletes. If you haven't seen the clip of DC being told that Jones was pulled yet, well then just trust that this fight meant EVERYTHING to him. It's pretty amazing that we're getting Anderson on essentially 3 days notice. I'm sure it's the last thing the company wanted to have another PR nightmare on their ends right at the eve of their biggest night, but if you've made it this far and are still with me, you know it's going to be an insane night of fights still.

Women's Bantamweight Championship 
Miesha Tate (c) vs Amanda Nunes

@mieshatate

Your new main event ladies and gentlemen? The last year or so has definitely been the era of unexpected champions. The ones we expected to maintain par for the course all fell by the wayside as countless unexpected new heroes rose up. Ronda was the monster that made Holly the monster killer. And surely if you could kill the monster, this lady that never came close wouldn't stand a chance... until she did. In spite of everything, Miesha does not break. There is something about a fighter who gets tougher the longer the fight goes and knows, really knows, what it means when you need to finish at the end. This strength of Miesha's is going to be the biggest challenge to Nunes who has proven to fade in fights. Known for powerful hands and aggressive flurries, the book on Nunes is that she has to win early here and that she has to finish. The longer the fight goes, it plays into Miesha's wheelhouse. The fellas are all right in presuming we'll have an #andSTILL, but there seems to be something in the water right now that people can't hold onto their belts. Amanda Nunes by early round TKO.

Cupcake: Doc Law, DJ Mark, Gooms
Lioness: Kid P

The Ultimate Fighter 23 Finale: Team Joanna vs. Team Claudia Picks

A rematch over a year in the making. The debut of the best lightweight not in the UFC. The return of a potential Asian superstar. Also, two fights from a reality TV show whose ratings are dropping at a ridiculous rate. I digress, we have the best possible matchup in the strawweight division. Nothing can take away from tha...what? Jon Jones is out?! Are you f*cking kidding me?! We were so close! SO GOD DAMN CLOSE!

Whatever. Check out our TUF 23 Finale picks below.

UFC Fight Night 90: Dos Anjos vs. Alvarez

It's the start of international fight week, where just counting the UFC cards, there are over 20 fights and five title matches in a three-day span.  The week kicks off with the UFC Lightweight title up for grabs as Rafael Dos Anjos scraps it up with former Bellator  Lightweight champion Eddie Alvarez.

It's MMAzing Radio - Episode 191

The gang talks about UFC 200. Did I say talk about? I'm sorry; what I meant to say is that the gang goes through the entire card and picks every single fight. We're making history over here at It's MMAzing. The gang tells you who will win every fight and how they will win it (I wouldn't recommend going to a casino with these picks). They then give you a Durant-centric version of "Stuff We Like" (what else would expect from a show with 3 Warriors fans).

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