UFC 167 GSP vs Hendricks Picks and Predictions!!!

[akatdrake]

Ugly event last time out for us going 0-4.

UFC 167, November 16th Las Vegas, Nevada
Fight Card
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Georges St-Pierre vs. Johny Hendricks
Rashad Evans vs. Chael Sonnen
Robbie Lawler vs. Rory MacDonald
Josh Koscheck vs. Tyron Woodley
Ali Bagautinov vs. Timothy Elliott
Donald Cerrone vs. Evan Dunham
Ed Herman vs. Thales Leites
Brian Ebersole vs. Rick Story
Edwin Figueroa vs. Erik Perez
Jason High vs. Anthony Lapsley
Will Campuzano vs. Sergio Pettis
Cody Donovan vs. Gian Villante

Probably will fade Sergio Pettis on that good line, like Thales Leites, Koscheck, Rory, GSP tonight.

[akatdrake]

Will Campuzano +360 over Sergio Pettis
Josh Koscheck -110 over Tyron Woodley
Donald Cerrone -120 over Evan Dunham
Chael Sonnen +160 over Rashad Evans

One unit each

Thalas Leites over Ed Herman
Rory MacDonald over Robbie Lawler
-113 for two units

[akatdrake]

I think GSP handles angles and aggression better than anyone else in the UFC. If you look at how Hendricks fights with that big left hook, he usually has to plant his right leg inside the pocket in order to get the huge power from it. Getting inside of GSP is 1) very difficult, and 2) once you get inside, you have to land. GSP is able to move in and out using his head and body. The second way Hendricks is able to land his shot is that leaping left hook where he doesn't plant his opposite foot. We saw this a lot with the Condit fight where he wasn't able to land well. You leap in against GSP and he'll counter you and then take you down. We all know that Hendricks has that great all-American wrestling, but we also know that GSP is just better at everything (except for landing the power shot). Two outcomes: GSP by five-round decision, or Hendricks by first-rd TKO. My money is on the former outcome.

Evans vs Sonnen would have been more interesting a couple of years ago, when both were more close title contention, but nonetheless, two veterans in a sport where I think the line needs to be closer. Sonnen isn't going to get knocked out and Evans just doesn't have the "it" factor anymore. I don't see him being as aggressive as years past, but if he can stop the takedown, it should be an easy win. I don't think he can, so I take the value with Sonnen.

Lawler and MacDonald: Rory climbing up the welterweight rankings, and really should be fighting GSP tonight, but they obviously won't. Lawler has had a recent comeback of sorts but his level of competition hasn't been amazing. I like MacDonald's high fight-IQ to take over, pick apart Lawler from afar and secure the unanimous decision.

[akatdrake]

Though lots thought it was a controversial decision - it surely wasn't a robbery. I gave two rounds to each and the fifth up in the air. Obviously you have to beat the champion as the challenger and I do not believe Hendricks did enough to warrant a win. Split decision just fine by me. BTW, did anyone see Hendricks tap in the first round? There are plenty of gifs out on the Internet...

Disappointing event for me again unfortunately, going 1-4 (1-8 last two events), will be looking to pick spots better with upcoming events.