UFC 217 Betting Info

[New York Knight]

Absolutely STACKED event from top to bottom.

Figured this card was worthy of one of these threads.

There was no way I was missing this. I got tickets a few weeks back and can't wait for Saturday night.

I will post what info I find / and my plays in this thread.

[New York Knight]

Aiemann Zahabi +105
Ricardo Ramos -125


Corey Anderson +140
Ovince Saint Preux -160


Oleksiy Oliynyk +325
Curtis Blaydes -400


Mickey Gall +100
Randy Brown -120


Michal Oleksiejczuk +395
Ion Cutelaba -495


Mark Godbeer +285
Walt Harris -345


James Vick +150
Joseph Duffy -170


Paulo Borrachinha -230
Johny Hendricks +190


Jorge Masvidal +160
Stephen Thompson -185


Strawweight Title - 5 rounds

Rose Namajunas +450
Joanna Jedrzejczyk -600


Bantamweight Title - 5 rounds

T.J. Dillashaw +155
Cody Garbrandt -175


Middleweight Title -5 rounds

Michael Bisping -105
Georges St-Pierre -115

[New York Knight]

LV SuperBook took a five figure bet on Garbrandt.

[New York Knight]

CG Technology ...


"We have taken several max bets on Michael Bisping"

[New York Knight]

[New York Knight]

Fight Pass 'Prelims' undercard preview
Patrick L. Stumberg - MMA Mania



265 lbs.: Aleksei Oleinik vs. Curtis Blaydes

Aleksei Oleinik (55-10-1) spent nearly 18 years as a professional before joining UFC in 2014, racking up a pair of first-round finishes in his first two appearances. After a long layoff, his cardio failed him against Daniel Omielanczuk, but impressive submissions of Viktor Pesta and Travis Browne showed he’s still got it.

He owns a staggering 45 wins by submission.

Curtis Blaydes (7-1) entered UFC as a top prospect, but came up short against fellow blue-chipper Francis Ngannou in his promotional debut. He bounced back strong with dominant wins over Cody East, Adam Milstead and the aforementioned Omielanczuk, although a failed test for marijuana turned the Milstead win into a “No Contest.”

Going by their recent weigh-ins, he should have about 20 pounds on Oleinik.

Oleinik is 14 years older than Blaydes and has almost eight times as many professional fights — it’s kind of staggering. Blaydes has every conceivable advantage here, including heavier hands, better wrestling, more strength and speed. Oleinik’s proven that he can catch anyone, but there’s only so many times you can surprise people before they wise up to it. He’s not taking down Blaydes and — while he does have deceptive pop in his hands — he’s unlikely to dent a guy Francis Ngannou couldn’t stop. Blaydes wears him down at range and in the clinch before ultimately pounding him out.


Prediction: Blaydes via second-round technical knockout



205 lbs.: Ovince Saint Preux vs. Corey Anderson

It’s been quite a ride for Ovince Saint Preux (21-10) in recent years. After snapping a three-fight losing streak with a submission of Marcos Rogerio de Lima, Saint Preux signed on to face “Shogun” Rua in Japan, only to wind up fighting Yushin Okami on short notice and submitting him as well.

“OSP” replaces Patrick Cummins, who is currently dealing with a “mutant” staph infection, on short notice.

The man currently known as “Overtime,” Corey Anderson (9-3), put his knockout loss to Gian Villante behind him with four wins in his next five fights, the sole loss a controversial split decision to “Shogun” Rua. This set up a main event in London against Jimi Manuwa, who shrugged off the The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) winner’s takedowns before sleeping him with a left hook.

This will be his tenth UFC fight since joining the organization in 2014.

Saint Preux is as talented as he is ruinously frustrating to follow. Straighten up his punches, fine-tune his wrestling, knock some fight IQ into that dome, and you’ve got a legit title contender. As is, you’ve got an athletic monster with flashes of brilliance.

However, that might just be enough against Anderson.

Durability issues and underdeveloped striking continue to plague Anderson, who’s a legitimate beast from top position, but can’t currently disguise his takedowns well enough to bring that skill to bear against top opposition. Expect something along the lines of Saint Preux vs. Cummins as “OSP” shuts down Anderson’s shots before lamping him with a counter.


Prediction: Saint Preux via first-round technical knockout



135 lbs.: Aiemann Zahabi vs. Ricardo Ramos

Aiemann Zahabi (7-0) — younger brother of famed trainer Firas Zahabi — didn’t just skate by on his family name, stopping each of his first six professional opponents in the first round. He joined UFC in February and debuted against TUF: “Brazil” 4 winner Reginaldo Vieira, against whom Zahabi had to settle for a competitive decision win.

His stoppage wins are split evenly between knockouts and submissions.

Despite a submission loss to Manny Vazquez in his Legacy FC title bid, Ricardo Ramos (10-1) impressed Dana White enough his next time out to earn a contract. He took on Japanese grinder Michinori Tanaka in his Houston debut and scored an early knockdown on his way to a decision victory.

Ramos has finished eight professional foes, seven in the first round.

I still think Michinori Tanaka had the tools to beat Ramos. Zahabi may not be that level of grinder, but he’s a lot smarter in the cage and has a more complete striking game, not to mention the takedown defense to force Ramos to trade with him.

While Ramos can likely finish the fight if he gets into top position, Zahabi’s unlikely to let him get there and — despite the reach disadvantage — should control the striking on his way to a decision victory.


Prediction: Zahabi via unanimous decision

[New York Knight]

Cheat Sheet - Stephen Thompson vs. Jorge Masvidal
Brett Okamoto - ESPN



Stephen Thompson (13-2-1) vs. Jorge Masvidal, Welterweight


One year can make a world of difference in mixed martial arts. Heading into UFC 217, Stephen Thompson is a good example of that.

Thompson went into last year's UFC 205 as one of the sport's rising darlings. Coming off wins over Johny Hendricks and Rory MacDonald, Thompson was actually favored to dethrone Tyron Woodley for the welterweight championship.

Today, that 170-pound title seems pretty far from Thompson's grasp -- at least, as long as Woodley continues to hold it. He's coming off back-to-back majority decision losses to Woodley. The rematch, at UFC 209, was criticized as one of the worst fights of the year.

Looking back on it, Thompson, who missed time over the summer because of knee surgery, says he has his share of regret, but has moved on from it.

"It's a lot different situation that last year," Thompson said. "The rematch is the worst I've ever felt about a fight. Why didn't I let my hands go? Why didn't I let my kicks go? I can say that now, but when you're in the Octagon and you feel his power and the caliber of wrestler he is, you have to be careful.

"What happened in those fights happened. I can't change it. People bring it up to me all the time, like, 'Hey man! You could be champion right now!' And it's like, 'Yeah, but I'm not.'"

Although a trilogy bout with Woodley doesn't appear likely anytime soon, Thompson clearly hasn't lost much ground in the rankings. Masvidal is 3-1 in his last four and would have been granted a title shot had he won his last fight against Demian Maia in May.

Thompson, who fights out of Simpsonville, South Carolina, says he likes the matchup and where a win would place him in the division.

The UFC has announced the winner of a bout between Robbie Lawler and Rafael dos Anjos on Dec. 16 will get the next title shot, but Thompson sees different ways he could enter that conversation. There's a little bit of an unknown at the moment, as Woodley is currently out indefinitely with a shoulder injury.

"Maybe I get the loser of that fight -- or maybe Tyron is out longer than expected and fight Lawler for the official No. 1 contender spot," Thompson said. "I've been a big fan of Robbie since before I was even in the UFC. And I thought that's who I would fight for the title, before Tyron went and knocked him out. I think he beats dos Anjos and who knows, maybe I still get to fight him. That's just what I'm thinking."


Fight breakdown

Jorge Masvidal could probably roll straight out of bed and win a fistfight. Nothing phases the guy and there's very little he hasn't seen.

Note, however, the "very little" part of that sentence. As well-versed as Masvidal is, he hasn't quite seen everything -- and that was apparent in his last fight.

Demian Maia is one of the most one-dimensional welterweights in the UFC, but he got it done against Masvidal in May. Masvidal himself has admitted Maia identified a hole in his game during that split decision win.

Exploiting any deficiency in Masvidal's well-rounded game is hard to do. Maia did it. Can Stephen Thompson?

Because in a fight between two relatively traditional-style welterweights, Masvidal is always a good bet. His takedown defense, submission defense, cardio, chin, punching power -- all of it's good. But Thompson is world-class great in one particular area. Will that be the difference once again in a close Masvidal fight?

Tyron Woodley dealt with Thompson's karate with an ultra-conservative game plan along the fence. He fought Thompson twice like that, and didn't lose either one. But the reality for Masvidal is that he will probably need to move forward to win.

Masvidal isn't an overpowering wrestler, but he applies pressure under control. As much as fans might not want to hear this, he's patient -- and should be here. If anyone can have success walking Thompson down without wasting energy or exposing himself to counterpunches, it might be Masvidal. And as great as Thompson is defensively, anyone who fights with his hands as low as he does is vulnerable to being clipped.

Stylistically overall, it's hard not to favor Thompson slightly. It's his specific skillset Masvidal has to adjust to, not vice versa. And Thompson remains one of the better chess players in the game.



Prediction: Thompson via decision

[New York Knight]

UFC 217 preview and predictions
Riley Kontek - FanSided



Michael Bisping vs. Georges St. Pierre

In the main event, we get a super fight of sorts, as UFC middleweight champion Michael Bisping defends his title against a unretired former UFC welterweight champion and legend, Georges St. Pierre. This is such a tough fight to analyze, given that St. Pierre has not competed since November of 2013. Not only that, but he was competing at welterweight, though he was always big for that weight class. Since his time away from the cage, Bisping has become a certified star, going from perennial gatekeeper to the man who sits atop the throne. Bisping’s title win over Luke Rockhold was beyond impressive, but his win over Dan Henderson in his last fight raised some question marks because many thought Henderson won based on damage. This is a shot in the dark pick, but St-Pierre will win because his wrestling and athleticism are enough to control Bisping against the cage and on the mat.

It’s not with total confidence, but St. Pierre is your new middleweight champ.



Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw

Co-headlining the event is a huge bantamweight rivalry bout, as former teammates Cody Garbrandt, the champion, and TJ Dillashaw, the former champion, square off in an anticipated bout. These men are familiar with each other from training at Team Alpha Male back in the day. They have somewhat similar styles, though Dillashaw might be the better wrestler and Garbrandt the better striker. On the feet, you will see good movement from both men, looking for the angles and entries to score points with their hands and legs. In Garbrandt’s fight with Dominick Cruz at UFC 217, Garbrandt proved he can defend the takedown and out point a good striker on the feet. Conversely, what we saw in Dillashaw’s fight with Cruz, he can be out-struck if his shots are defended with a solid sprawl. Garbrandt is hitting his stride as a fighter and has a lot of tools to put Dillashaw at a disadvantage.

In an entertaining chess match, Garbrandt scores a decision win to keep his reign at the top going.



Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Rose Namajunas

Dominant strawweight champion Joanna Jedrzejczyk looks to defend her title yet again when she takes on the always entertaining Rose Namajunas. Namajunas gets this title fight on a one-fight win streak, which is a surprise given the division is jammed with talent. Nevertheless, the skilled all-around fighter is known for her flashy striking skills and slick submission ability on the mat. She’s 4-1 in her last five, losing only to Karolina Kowalkiewicz while thriving over the likes of Michelle Waterson, Paige VanZant and Tecia Torres. She takes that skill set into the against Jedrzejczyk, a woman who has dominated this division with an iron fist. Jedrzejczyk is a world-class striker with good takedown defense. She surgically picks apart opponents with a stiff jab, chopping leg kicks and killer combinations. She’s very difficult to get the mat and she makes those who attempt takedowns pay with accurate strikes. Namajunas will give the champ all she’s got, and it will lead to an entertaining scrap.

Unfortunately, it will not be enough, as the Polish queen will pick Namajunas apart, scoring a damage-filled decision.



Stephen Thompson vs. Jorge Masvidal

Former title challenger Stephen Thompson takes on the always-exciting Jorge Masvidal. Both Thompson and Masvidal are strikers with different styles, which is why this very well could win Fight of the Night honors. Thompson is an elite kickboxer with great technique, power and movement. He’s improved his wrestling as well, which he uses to defend takedowns. He’s coming off two winless bouts, both were title fights against Tyron Woodley where he drew with the champ and took a contentious majority decision loss. Before that skid, he had been running through the welterweight division. As for Masvidal, he’s been in the sport for a long time and is still getting better. Before taking a split verdict loss in his most recent offering to Demian Maia, Masvidal has knocked out two straight opponents in Donald Cerrone and Jake Ellenberger.

This fight will have fireworks, but the striking of Thompson will just be too much for Masvidal. Thompson scores the victory.



Johny Hendricks vs. Paulo Henrique

Former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks is looking to get back on track after some struggles when he takes on undefeated Brazilian Paulo Henrique. Since losing his UFC welterweight title, Hendricks has been in a massive downward spiral that has set him back greatly. The wrestler with one-punch knockout power is just 2-4 since dropping his title to Robbie Lawler, including knockout losses to Stephen Thompson and Tim Boetsch at middleweight. He is tasked with stopping the onslaught of an undefeated opponent in Henrique, who takes a big step up in competition here. His UFC tenure has been violent, scoring striking stoppages over Garreth McLellan and Oluwale Bamgbose, both of whom were at the bottom of the middleweight ladder. Clearly, the UFC matchmakers see something in Henrique for giving him a big fight like this but this is too much of a step up for him.

Despite Hendricks and his recent struggles, he scores a rebound victory here, allowing him to stick around for the near future.



James Vick vs. Joe Duffy

Two of the lightweight divisions best prospects are set to make a statement when Irelan’s Joe Duffy and James Vick fight. Ireland has proven a big market, and while Conor McGregor is certainly the king of the Emerald Island, Duffy is a star to a smaller extent. He’s a very strong boxer with some good submission ability and 4-1 under the UFC banner, losing to headliner Dustin Poirier, while besting fighters such as Reza Madadi and Mitch Clarke. He takes on Vick, quite possibly the most underrated and highly entertaining in the UFC. At 6-foot-3, he’s a very large, long lightweight that is hard to game plan for. He’s a very good boxer who has a good submission arsenal as well. He’s 7-1 with the UFC, besting foes such as Abel Trujillo, Jake Matthews and Polo Reyes. On the feet, this should be highly entertaining. On the mat, it could be a different story.

Either way, Vick scores the win here, putting him into a top-20 fight in his next outing.



Walt Harris vs. Mark Godbeer

Heavyweights Walt Harris of America and Mark Godbeer of England square off in a rescheduled bout. Harris is currently in his second tour of duty with the UFC, and it’s already far better than his first. The big, athletic striker went 0-2 before being released in his first stint, but since returning, he’s going 3-3, a far better record. All three of his wins come via knockout as well, putting away Cody East, Chase Sherman and Cyril Asker before needing a third round. The striker meets up with a man who’s willing to fight upright or on the ground in Godbeer. The big Brit is currently 1-1 in the UFC, falling to Justin Ledet in his debut before besting late replacement fighter Daniel Spitz in his last fight. Don’t expect this fight to go to the judges.

There will be a knockout, and the man standing over the finished opponent will be Harris.



Ion Cutelaba vs. Michal Oleksiejczuk

On late notice, Poland’s Michal Olesksiejczuk steps in for Gadzhimurad Antigulov when he makes his UFC debut against Moldovan Ion Cutelaba, a 23-year-old wrestler with heavy hands who loves to brawl on the feet. He has insane power and looks for the knockout early and often, something seen throughout his career. He’s 2-2 in his UFC tenure, falling to Misha Cirkunov and Jared Cannonier while decisioning Jonathan Wilson and quickly knocking out Frank Waisten. He takes on Oleksiejczuk, a 22-year-old prospect who has spent his entire career fighting in his native Poland. He seems more than likely to give Cutelaba the fight on the feet that he wants, as Oleksiejczuk has a history of mowing down fighters with strikes, including his last three fights where he knocked out opponents in the first round. These look like two guys who could be the future of the division, especially given their ages.

Late notice will be a tough thing to overcome for Oleksiejczuk, so he will fall here, as Cutelaba picks up his third UFC victory.



Randy Brown vs. Mickey Gall

One of the most interesting prospects in the UFC right now is welterweight Mickey Gall, who makes his return to the Octagon here when he takes on the exciting Randy Brown. Gall was brought into the UFC as the man touted to fight CM Punk. After laying waste to the other potential Punk suitor Mike Jackson, Gall was given his shot at the former WWE megastar. He easily destroyed the overmatched Punk, earning a matchup with another UFC pet project, Sage Northcutt. Again, Gall scored a finish, submitting the UFC’s poster boy, bringing him from a litmus test of a celebrity to a legit, dangerous prospect. The ground fighter known for his submissions meets up with striker Brown, an athletic, technically gifted kickboxer. He’s seen mixed results in the UFC, running a 3-2 record where he’s finished Erick Montano and Brian Camozzi while falling to Belal Muhammad and Mike Graves. Brown has shown he can be submitted by Graves, which could be a blueprint here.

Brown gets taken down by Gall, who submits him within three rounds.



Oleksiy Oliynyk vs. Curtis Blaydes

Top-20 heavyweights will jockey for position in a shallow division when longtime veteran Oleksiy Oliynyk squares off with young bull Curtis Blaydes. Both heavyweights are grapplers, though their styles are very different. In Blaydes, you have an explosive, powerful wrestler who fishes for takedowns often in fights. His strength helps him and he has pretty good cardio for a guy his size. He would be on a three-fight winning streak had it not been for a failed drug test due to marijuana in his fight with Adam Milstead. As for Oliynyk, he’s more of a submission based grappler known for his Ezequiel choke, which he’s pulled off in many fights. On the feet, it’s pretty equal. This may come down to who has better takedowns and Blaydes is better in that aspect.

Blaydes will win a very close bout that is likely a toss-up on betting lines.



Ovince Saint Preux vs. Corey Anderson

A pair of light heavyweights will settle business, when Ovince Saint Preux takes this fight on late notice against Corey Anderson. Saint Preux represents the striker in this fight, though it’s been his stealthy ground game that has been scoring him wins in recent times. He’s not a better wrestler than Anderson, but his submission game is impressive, especially his Von Flue choke, which has claimed victories over Nikita Krylov, Marcos Rogerio and most recently, Yushin Okami. He meets a similar caliber athlete in Anderson, who is just as explosive and quick. Anderson is 6-3 in the UFC, losing to strikers only. He does own victories over Tom Lawlor, Fabio Maldonado and Jan Blachowicz, though, showing he has skills to hang.

Even though he has a short camp, Saint Preux is better at this point, so he scores a unanimous nod over Anderson.



Aiemann Zahabi vs. Ricardo Ramos

Bantamweight prospects are looking to shed that label against one another, as Brazilian Ricardo Ramos meets up with Canada’s Aiemann Zahabi. Zahabi is the brother of Tristar trainer Firas Zahabi, and is currently a top prospect in the UFC bantamweight division. At 7-0, he’s shown off some of his skills, though expect to see him continue to improve from fight to fight. He takes on Ramos, a 22-year-old Brazilian rocking a 10-1 record and knocking heads off in the process. He will want to strike with Zahabi, as it’s a strong suit of his and his best chance to beat his opponent. He entered the UFC in successful fashion, beating Michinori Tanaka by unanimous decision. This should be a very good bout between two young bulls.

That said, Ramos wins because he is better at inflicting damage.

[New York Knight]

UFC 217 Main Card Predictions
Sports Interaction



Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre

Records: Bisping (30-7), St-Pierre (25-2)
Division: Middleweight
UFC Odds: St-Pierre -140, Bisping +105

Prediction: GSP by decision

The UFC tried to make this fight happen twice previously and Bisping threatened to move on for good if it wasn’t finalized this time. At one point, it appeared UFC boss Dana White also had given up. The 38-year-old Bisping, from England, already has one win over a UFC legend: vs. Anderson Silva in February 2016. Bisping won the middleweight title that June with a first-round knockout of Luke Rockhold and defended for the first and still only time in October 2016 with a unanimous decision victory over Dan Henderson. The actual interim middleweight champ right now is Robert Whittaker after his victory over Yoel Romero in July. It was expected that Whittaker would fight Bisping next, but Whittaker is dealing with a knee injury.

St-Pierre, 36, is on the short list of greatest fighters in MMA history. He hasn’t fought since the ninth straight successful defence of his welterweight title – beating Johny Hendricks by split decision at UFC 167 in November 2013. St-Pierre, who stepped away from the sport after that bout, was the longest-reigning welterweight champion in UFC history. His last loss was to Matt Serra way back in August 2007. This will be GSP’s first fight at middleweight, and his 12-fight UFC winning streak is the second longest among all active fighters. The victor here is expected to battle Whittaker at UFC 221 in Australia.



Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw

Records: Garbrandt (11-0), Dillashaw (15-3)
Division: Bantamweight
UFC Odds: Garbrandt -170, Dillashaw +135

Prediction: Garbrandt by KO/TKO

These Americans are former friends and teammates turned rivals battling for Garbrandt’s bantamweight belt. Dillashaw is ranked as the division’s No. 2 contender; Dominick Cruz is No. 1. Garbrandt and Dillashaw were originally to fight at UFC 213 in July, but Garbrandt had to withdraw due to a back injury. He won the bantamweight belt with a unanimous decision victory over Cruz last December.

Garbrandt, 26, has made noise about next fighting UFC pound-for-pound king and flyweight champion Demetrious Johnson. Dillashaw, 31, wanted to fight Johnson when the first Garbrandt fight was canceled but Johnson opted for Ray Borg earlier this month. Dillashaw has won two fights in a row since a loss to Cruz in January 2016.



Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Rose Namajunas

Records: Jedrzejczyk (14-0), Namajunas (7-3)
Division: Women’s strawweight
UFC Odds: Jedrzejczyk -455, Namajunas +315

Prediction: Jedrzejczyk by decision

Many believe the women’s strawweight champion Jedrzejczyk is the baddest woman on the planet – she might have the toughest name to type (miracle if not spelled wrong at least once here)! The 30-year-old Pole is 8-0 since joining the UFC, winning her past four by unanimous decision. A victory Saturday would tie would tie Ronda Rousey’s record for most consecutive title defenses (six) among female fighters. Namajunas, a 25-year-old American, comes off a rear-naked choke submission win over Michelle Waterson in April.



Stephen Thompson vs. Jorge Masvidal

Records: Thompson (13-1-1), Masvidal (32-12)
Division: Welterweight
UFC Odds: Thompson -175, Masvidal +135

Prediction: Thompson by decision

Intriguing welterweight bout with Thompson ranked No. 2 in the division and Masvidal fourth. Tyron Woodley is the division champion and the 34-year-old Thompson’s past two fights were against him. “Wonderboy” drew with Wooley in November 2016 in a title fight, and they had an immediate rematch in March and Woodley won by majority decision. Thompson had won seven in a row before those two bouts, including victories over current interim middleweight champion Robert Whittaker and Canada’s Rory MacDonald. That was MacDonald’s last UFC fight. Masvidal, 32, likely would be fighting Woodley for the title if not for a loss to Demian Maia in May by split decision.



Johny Hendricks vs. Paulo Borrachinha

Records: Hendricks (18-7), Borrachinha (10-0)
Division: Middleweight
UFC Odds: Borrachinha -235, Hendricks +175

Prediction: Borrachinha by KO/TKO

Hendricks, 34, is a former welterweight champion who is trending the wrong way with four losses in his past five trips to the Octagon. He last fought in June and was a second-round TKO loser to Tim Boetsch. Hendricks also lost to Georges St-Pierre in a memorable split decision back at UFC 167 four years ago. Borrachinha, who also goes by Paulo Henrique Costa, is a 26-year-old from Brazil and a rising prospect in the division. He is 2-0 since joining the UFC and has gone past the first round just once in his career: in June via a second-round TKO victory over Oluwale Bamgbose.

[New York Knight]

Fighters are 0-5 when attempting to tie Michael Bisping's all-time UFC wins record.


Georges St-Pierre gets his shot Saturday night ...

[New York Knight]

UFC 217 Fantasy Cheat Sheet
Damon Martin - UFC.com



SPLIT DECISION

These are the fights that are just too close to call, but a few minor differences between favorite and underdog could lead one fighter to victory and the other to defeat.

Cody Garbrandt vs. TJ Dillashaw

It what could turn out to be one of the best fights on paper in 2017, bantamweight champion Cody Garbrandt puts title on the line for the first time against former teammate TJ Dillashaw. Both fighters appear to be at the top of their game heading into this contest and there's no doubt Garbrandt and Dillashaw are as evenly matched as anybody in the UFC.

What Garbrandt brings into the fight is a mix of incredible boxing, great defense and a wrestling game that is tough to beat. Garbrandt hits with speed and power with blinding combinations that come from all angles. Add to that, Garbrandt has never been taken down in his UFC career so that gives him another advantage if he gets Dillashaw in trouble and he's forced to fall back on his wrestling as a failsafe.

As for Dillashaw, he's earned his spot atop the division rankings with a skill set that includes some of the best footwork in the UFC, fast, accurate striking and a great ability to win in the scrambles if he gets caught up in a clinch or a takedown. Dillashaw actually lands with more volume and accuracy than Garbrandt on the feet and he'll need those weapons to stave off the champion's powerful attacks when they get into exchanges. Dillashaw can ill afford to get caught with one of Garbrandt's best punches, but his defense is outstanding and he actually absorbs less strikes per minute than his opponent at UFC 217.

In this game of inches who comes out on top?

Well, Garbrandt proved last year with his win over Dominick Cruz that he is the total package. He shed the moniker of just being a devastating knockout striker by outworking Cruz over five rounds in a classic performance. Garbrandt's ability to go for the kill is certainly a powerful attribute, but the fact that he can land a knockdown and then assess at the moment whether or not to go guns blazing for the finish or hold back his energy is a veteran move that makes him ready for all five rounds. Dillashaw will give Garbrandt everything he can handle over the course of this fight, but if he gets into trouble can he survive with a power puncher throwing dynamite at him from every angle? No one has survived Garbrandt yet and it's tough to pick against him this time as well.


Prediction: Cody Garbrandt by unanimous decision



Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Rose Namajunas

Strawweight queen Joanna Jedrzejczyk will look to tie the all-time record for title defenses in the women's divisions of the UFC when she faces Rose Namajunas.

The book on Jedrzejczyk is well known at this point, as she's put together one of the most impressive title reigns in the UFC today. Jedrzejczyk is arguably one of the best strikers in the sport, with a technical prowess that is virtually unmatched as she combines volume with power to outwork the opposition at every turn. Jedrzejczyk is deadly on the feet with surgical precision, yet she still manages to throw an absurd amount of strikes during every championship fight. Jedrzejczyk is also incredibly tough to take down to the mat, blocking over 81 percent of the attempts against her since joining the UFC roster.

Namajunas certainly has a few tricks up her sleeve and that's what she'll need to employ to have a shot at dethroning Jedrzejczyk this weekend. Namajunas is best known for her devastating ground game, where she's wrapped up a slew of submission victories during her career. With a long, lanky body, Namajunas coils around her opponents like a snake and she's unrelenting with her ground attacks until she lands the submission. More recently, however, Namajunas has really started to add high-level striking to her arsenal as well, as we witnessed in her fight with Michelle Waterson. In that fight, Namajunas uncorked a hellacious head kick that knocked Waterson down before the former Ultimate Fighter finalist jumped on top to finish the fight with a rear naked choke.

It's that kind of strategy that Namajunas has to employ against Jedrzejczyk if she hopes to leave New York with the title. Namajunas is a very tricky fighter who has been known to throw everything at an opponent, including flying submissions, as she attacks with an unorthodox style inside the Octagon. If she can keep Jedrzejczyk off balance while also threatening with her submission arsenal, it could keep the champion guessing and unable to time her combinations on the feet.

That said, Jedrzejczyk has faced a laundry list of top fighters throughout her UFC career, from the best strikers to the most dangerous ground specialists, and she's beaten them all. One day someone may solve the puzzle that Jedrzejczyk presents, but it's tough to pick against her while she's still on top of the world. Namajunas will definitely make things interesting, especially if she throws caution to the wind and just launches attack after attack, trying to look for the finish. In the end, Jedrzejczyk is just the safer pick because she's proven to be the best 115-pound fighter on the planet, and the gap seems to grow ever wider with each performance she puts on.


Prediction: Joanna Jedrzejczyk by unanimous decision



Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson vs. Jorge Masvidal

In a matchup between two elite strikers, Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson will look to bounce back from a title fight loss in his last fight as he takes on Jorge Masvidal, who has quickly become one of the most talked about athletes in the welterweight division.

Prior to his pair of fights against welterweight king Tyron Woodley, Thompson had proven to be the second best fighter in the world at 170 pounds. With pinpoint accuracy, nasty knockout power and great takedown defense, Thompson became a tough matchup for anybody in the division. It seemed by his second fight with Woodley, however, that Thompson was a little more tentative in his exchanges with the champion, perhaps focusing too much on avoiding power shots or takedowns. Either way, Thompson didn't quite look himself and he'll look to recapture that same magic that had him on a long winning streak before he got his first crack at the title last year.

As for Masvidal, he's looked better than ever as a welterweight, with his boxing just as good as it's ever been while he’s also started to really show off his knockout power. Masvidal absolutely overwhelmed Donald "Cowboy" Cerrone when they met earlier this year, and he was one scorecard away from beating Demian Maia back in May and possibly earning a title shot. Masvidal has great hands, his defense is top notch and he has no problem standing in the pocket and trading with the best of the best in the welterweight division.

The real question in this fight comes down to Thompson's ability to avoid the championship slump after failing to capture the title on two occasions. Thompson looked like a welterweight poised to wear gold until he ran into Woodley and now he needs to get back to the form that led him to the title shot in the first place. At his best, Thompson is a creative striker with speed and power, especially when he's the one controlling the distance from the outside. If he can get back to being the fighter who knocked out Johny Hendricks and Jake Ellenberger with aggression combined with jaw-dropping power shots, he should be able to get back on track this weekend.

Just don't expect Thompson to get a finish, although anything can happen in a fight. Masvidal hasn't been put away by strikes since 2008 and it's tough to imagine he's going to fall by knockout at UFC 217 either.


Prediction: Stephen "Wonderboy" Thompson by unanimous decision



James Vick vs. Joe Duffy

In the featured bout on the preliminary card, James Vick will look to build on his two-fight win streak as he takes on highly touted Irish prospect Joe Duffy.

Vick is a tough matchup for anyone at 155 pounds thanks to a massive size advantage where he'll be a full five inches taller than Duffy with a three-inch reach edge as well. Vick has used those long limbs to set up a number of submissions as well with a very slick ground game that he'll gladly implement if he gets an opening during the fight.

Now Duffy will present some problems for Vick, especially on the feet, where he employs a top-notch boxing game that could be one of the best in the entire lightweight division. Duffy hits hard but it's the combinations that he lands with really solid accuracy that gives so many fighters problems. Duffy is very astute with counter striking as well, which could be an advantage in this fight as he'll look to get inside Vick's long range while landing combinations to the head and body whenever pressing forward.

The key for Vick is being able to use his long reach to keep Duffy at distance and then winning any scrambles if they hit the ground. For Duffy, he just needs to be wary of staying on the outside for too long or he could get picked apart, but if he's able to slip inside and punish the head and body, Vick could crumble and fall. It's an insanely tight matchup but the slight edge goes to Duffy with his boxing prowess and ability to win exchanges on the feet with superior accuracy.


Prediction: Joe Duffy by TKO, Round 3



KNOCKOUT PICKS

These are the fights that appear to be a little more one-sided, but remember that this is MMA, where anything can - and usually does - happen.


Johny Hendricks vs. Paulo Borrachinha

Brazilian powerhouse Paulo Borrachinha will look to remain undefeated as he takes on former welterweight champion Johny Hendricks in the fight that will kick off the main card on Pay-Per-View.

Borrachinha was a welcome addition to the UFC middleweight division, where he brings jaw-dropping power that has earned him nine knockouts in 10 career fights. Borrachinha not only lands with power but he’s also accurate, as he's hitting his target a whopping 58 percent of the time in the UFC. Now Borrachinha has shown a tendency to eat a punch for the sake of throwing a punch, so he has to be careful with that strategy if he gets into the top 15 at some point in his UFC career but, for now, that game plan hasn't really backfired on him.

Hendricks knows this is a very tough test for him, especially considering he was knocked out by Tim Boetsch in his last fight. Hendricks is not a big middleweight and he'll be giving up three inches in height and reach in this matchup. Now Hendricks has recently started training under famed head coach Greg Jackson, so that will certainly help him going into this fight, but it might be too little, too late as he's facing a serious powerhouse in Borrachinha, who will be looking for the knockout from the moment the referee unleashes him from the corner.


Prediction: Paulo Borrachinha by knockout, Round 2



Randy Brown vs. Mickey Gall

Welterweight prospect Mickey Gall will look to stay undefeated when he faces New York's own Randy Brown on the preliminary card.

Thus far in his UFC career, Gall has looked outstanding with three wins, all by submission, while making quite a name for himself with every performance. Admittedly, Gall hasn't faced the stiffest competition just yet, but the pedigree is there for him to become a real star at 170 pounds now and into the future.

Brown will arguably be Gall's toughest matchup to date, as he brings a strong Muay Thai style attack into this fight with solid knockout power and great range on the feet. Brown will enjoy a four-inch reach advantage in this fight, which could be a huge advantage for him as he looks to keep Gall on the outside and stay away from his dangerous ground game.

Of course, Gall has shown solid striking in the past and he's not afraid to get into exchanges with his opponents, although his best weapon is still definitely his Brazilian jiu-jitsu. If Gall fights smart, he'll use his strikes to set up the takedown and once he gets the fight to the ground, he can look for punches to then transition into a submission. Gall's ability to take this fight to the ground could be the only hindrance he has in this fight, but assuming he can drag Brown down, he'll give the New York native nightmares on the mat.


Prediction: Mickey Gall by submission, Round 2



UPSET SPECIAL

Michael Bisping vs. Georges St-Pierre

A nearly four-year long absence for Georges St-Pierre will end at UFC 217 as he makes his return to the Octagon while trying to join a select few fighters in the history books as a two-division champion. St-Pierre has never competed at middleweight before, but he's packed on the pounds to ensure he won't be giving up much size or power to the bigger fighter in Michael Bisping.

Of course, Bisping has been here plenty of times before and he's faced the best of the best in the middleweight division. Bisping's game plan is never much of a secret, as he looks to outstrike his opponents with superior boxing while also adding up a high volume of punches landed over the course of any fight. Bisping has certainly earned his fair share of knockouts, but he typically gets those victories after pouring on the punishment round after round to really add up on the damage done. That's exactly what he'll look to do against St-Pierre on Saturday night.

At the peak of his performances in the UFC, St-Pierre was a top-notch wrestler who landed more than four takedowns per 15 minutes in the Octagon with an incredible 74 percent accuracy. In addition to those gaudy statistics, St-Pierre also established a great boxing game with one of the best jabs in the business while tagging his opponents with solid volume and tremendous accuracy, landing just under 54 percent of his strikes. The real question becomes whether St-Pierre will still be able to put together that kind of game plan four years later while also bumping up to a bigger weight class.

That's why when you combine those factors with Bisping's experience, it's easy to see why the middleweight champion is a very solid upset pick. Bisping has only really been outwrestled once in his career and that came against Tim Kennedy in a fight against a physically bruising middleweight following a long layoff due to eye surgery. Now it's entirely possible that St-Pierre could employ the same game plan to just take Bisping down for five consecutive rounds, but it will be tougher to do that against a fighter who is bigger and stronger on fight night.

Bisping just needs to avoid those takedowns while not allowing St-Pierre to simply pot shot him with jabs all night long and he should be able to find a path to victory. Bisping's relentless pace while landing with good volume in every round should wear down St-Pierre over the course of five rounds. Bisping may get a finish late, but it's a safer bet that he'll just do a lot of damage over 25 minutes to earn the decision victory while giving St-Pierre a rather rude welcome back to the UFC.


Prediction: Michael Bisping by unanimous decision

[New York Knight]

Toe-to-Toe: UFC 217 Preview and Predictions


Combat Press writers Kyle Symes and Dan Kuhl preview the event in this edition of Toe-to-Toe.



It’s been four years since we’ve seen Georges St-Pierre in action, but now he’s back in a new division and immediately gets to fight for the title. What should we expect out of him? Can he unseat Michael Bisping and claim the middleweight throne?

Symes: I would expect to see much of what we saw from GSP before he stepped away, including a conservative game plan that focuses on top control and avoiding damage. St-Pierre was a dynamic striker earlier in his career, but then he decided to focus on his wrestling after dropping the belt to Matt Serra. He stepped away from MMA due to head trauma and the damage he was sustaining, so don’t expect to see St-Pierre involved in any extensive exchanges on the feet.

Although he’s been out of action for the past four years, GSP has reportedly been active in the gym. Sure, it’s not like he was going through the *****s of a fight camp, but it’s not like he’s coming back after sitting at home on the couch. He has arguably the best lineup of coaches behind him, including Freddie Roach, Firas Zahabi and John Danaher. There’s no doubt they’ve worked to get him prepared for UFC 217.

Can GSP beat Bisping? Of course he can. He’s one of the greatest of all time and has the perfect set of skills to counter Bisping’s forward pressure. Now, that doesn’t mean I expect GSP to get takedowns at will against the UFC champ. Bisping is going to be much bigger than St-Pierre come fight night, and the Englishman has undoubtedly been working on his takedown defense heading into this contest.

Bisping will push the pace with his insane cardio and make St-Pierre exhaust himself to not only score a takedown, but to keep the Brit grounded. We’re looking at a split decision in the end, with St-Pierre’s takedowns possibly negating Bisping’s boxing.


Kuhl: It’s still hard to think of Bisping sitting on a real throne. It’s more like a Burger King throne. He has only fought one real contender in Rockhold to capture the title. He had what amounts to an exhibition match against Hendo, and he hasn’t fought since. Can GSP unseat him? Abso-freakin-lutely! It would be ludicrous to say that any GSP, four years benched or not, could not beat Bisping.

GSP does not love MMA. He has said it time and time again. Unless he just simply needs the money, I’m not even sure why he’s coming back at this point. He has a tremendous team and is one of the most talented all-around fighters in history, but four years is a long time. If he really wants to do this, he will beat Bisping. If he doesn’t, that’s another story. Unlike José Aldo’s comeback fight against Conor McGregor, GSP won’t rush in and get clipped. He’s not reckless like that.

This one will go the distance, with GSP outworking Bisping for a fresh new title win. However, the Canadian won’t fare as well in a unification bout against interim champ Robert Whittaker.



In addition to the middleweight title showdown between Bisping and St-Pierre, this card also features a clash for bantamweight gold between Cody Garbrandt and T.J. Dillashaw and a women’s strawweight championship affair between Joanna Jędrzejczyk and Rose Namajunas. Which champion is most likely to lose their title? Which champ will definitely hold on to their belt?

Kuhl: I really believe both of the non-headlining champs will retain their belts, but, out of the two, Jędrzejczyk has a much better chance of staying unbeaten than Garbrandt does.

Namajunas is a top contender, for sure. Against other any top-10 fighter in the division, I’d give her the nod. She and Jędrzejczyk both have fierce mentalities, but the challenger may have a slight edge in the grappling department. Good luck getting the champ in a precarious position on the mat, though. Jędrzejczyk is a champion that transcends the sport, and Joanna “Champion” will outstrike Namajunas on the feet. If this fight goes the distance, Jędrzejczyk will take it decisively and remain unbeaten.

The bantamweight fight is not so simple. Both Garbrandt and Dillashaw are outstanding wrestlers. They have unique finishing power for bantamweights, too. Both have champion pedigrees, and they have trained together with the same coaches. So, they have at least some understanding of each other’s style. Either of these guys could get knocked out or submitted, but it’s just as easy to envision this fight going the distance. This is the true main event of the evening.

I predict Jędrzejczyk and Garbrandt will retain their belts, but if Dillashaw earns his title back, that will be no surprise.


Symes: Agreed. Garbrandt is the one more likely to lose his title.

Jędrzejczyk has looked so dominant thus far into her UFC career. Her toughest fights were against Claudia Gadelha, and the Polish star still managed to get her hand raised at the end of the night. Other challengers have only been able to obtain a few moments of success, moments that fail to matter when it’s pitted against Jędrzejczyk’s overall domination. “Thug Rose” is as legit as they come, but she won’t knock out Jędrzejczyk on the feet and Jędrzejczyk has proven to be one of the most difficult women to take down.

The bantamweight affair is a much more equal contest. Garbrandt looked amazing in his fight with Dominick Cruz. He danced circles around the former bantamweight champion. Dillashaw has a similar style to Cruz, but it is different in that Dillashaw is much more apt to stay in the pocket. Garbrandt made it look easy for most of his contest with Cruz. Can he do the same with Dillashaw?

At the end of the day, it would surprise me more if Namajunas knocks Joanna “Champion” off her perch than if Dillashaw beats Garbrandt.


Michał Oleksiejczuk — do we need to know this name?


Symes: A 22-year-old light heavyweight with a decent record? Yeah, I’d say it’s someone to pay attention to. The 205-pound division, once the pride of the UFC’s roster, has become a wasteland outside of the top guys. The division has a mix of veterans and younger guys, but only Volkan Oezdemir seems to have been able to separate himself from the pack. Of course, Oleksiejczuk is miles away from title discussion, but any time the 205-pound division can get some new blood, it’s a welcome sight.

We should have some reservations about the Polish fighter, though. He’s making his UFC debut and hasn’t faced a lot of stiff competition. He didn’t come up through Poland’s premier MMA promotion, KSW, and his wins came over guys with questionable records. You can’t fault him too much for handling the cards that were dealt to him, but it’s safe to say we should keep an eye on the young man.


Kuhl: The thing I like best about Oleksiejczuk is that he is a finish-or-be-finished type of fighter. He very rarely goes to decision, and he reminds me somewhat of a Polish version of Anthony Smith in that regard. It’s hard to judge his worth based on his previous opponents, which appear to be either relatively inexperienced or washed-up journeymen. That being said, he’s quite young, and his opponent is only 23 years old with a similar record, so it should be an exciting fight between two guys hungry to make a name for themselves in the UFC.


Who’s the biggest winner at UFC 217?

Kuhl: Michael Bisping, for sure. The guy has yet to fight a real challenger, but if he loses, “Oh well. He lost to GSP.” If he wins, “He beat GSP!” This is a money fight for “The Count” all the way, and, win or lose, he will come out a winner with a fat paycheck. Good for him. It’s a good thing for GSP as well, but if he loses, it was to Bisping and his legacy will start to fade. The other two titleholders and their challengers all have a lot to lose. Bisping got the sweetheart deal on this card.


Symes: My colleague stole the words out of my mouth. So, I’ll go with a different angle and say the biggest winner is anyone not at Team Alpha Male or in T.J. Dillashaw’s camp. The TAM-Dillashaw saga is one that’s gone on for far too long. From what I’ve seen online, most fans are ready to put this storyline to rest. If Dillashaw and Garbrandt turn out to have a close fight, I wouldn’t be surprised if the UFC tries to pair the two up again. However, it’d be great if we don’t have to deal with all the melodrama of Dillashaw leaving the Alpha Male camp.



Who’s the biggest loser at UFC 217?


Symes: Anyone outside of the title fights. Depending on how the three title fights play out, odds are most of the post-fight discussion is going to center on them. As for the rest of the card, there are some solid names that are capable of putting on memorable performances. Even the Fight Pass prelims feature a battle between two top-10 light heavyweights, plus the inclusion of talented heavyweight prospect Curtis Blaydes. They just won’t receive the attention they deserve.


Kuhl: Ovince St. Preux and Corey Anderson. This is a terrible fight for both men. Anderson is one loss away from fading into irrelevance. If Anderson loses, he’ll stand at 1-3 in his last four outings, with Jimi Manuwa and OSP as his only top-10 opponents.



Which fight is the sleeper match-up on this card?


Kuhl: The heavyweight showdown between Curtis Blaydes and Aleksei Oleinik. Blaydes was 4-0 upon entering the UFC, and he has gone 2-1-1 since. He is a hard hitter with a bright future. Oleinik will be stepping into the cage for the 67th time in his decades-long career, and he is called “The Boa Constrictor” for a reason. These guys are coming in as a young striker versus a 40-year-old grappler, and this should be an exciting fight that will not go the distance.


Symes: It’s tough to call it a sleeper fight, considering both guys are so highly ranked, but Stephen Thompson and Jorge Masvidal are flying under the radar heading into UFC 217. With all the focus on GSP’s return and the title fights, this battle of top welterweights is an easy pick for “Fight of the Night.” Thompson has put on great fights with everyone except Tyron Woodley, and Masvidal isn’t going to be afraid to go after the former title challenger.



Symes’s Picks

St-Pierre
Garbrandt
Jędrzejczyk
Thompson
Borrachinha
Vick
Harris
Anderson
Gall
Oleksiejczuk
Blaydes
Zahabi


Kuhl’s Picks

St-Pierre
Garbrandt
Jędrzejczyk
Thompson
Borrachinha
Duffy
Harris
St. Preux
Gall
Cutelaba
Oliynyk
Zahabi

[New York Knight]

Jon Anik, Joe Rogan, & Daniel Cormier will be the broadcast team for UFC 217.


Studio analysts: Tyron Woodley, Chris Weidman & Kenny Florian

[New York Knight]

Fight Breakdowns and Predictions
Wade Hall - isportsweb



Michael Bisping v Georges St-Pierre

The long-awaited return of Georges St-Pierre has MMA fans everywhere reminiscing of his long highlight reel of a career. The former welterweight champ was dominant in his prime and was one of the most popular fighters on the planet. However, those amazing victories were many years ago and this a new St-Pierre stepping foot in the cage. This a 36-year-old fighter stepping up weight classes to face his toughest competition yet. Michael Bisping hasn’t lost since 2014 and has wins over some of the most talented 185 pound fighters. St-Pierre should have the fan support in New York with his popularity and proximity to his homeland of Canada but this fight will go in Bisping’s favor.

Bisping wins by TKO in the fourth.



Cody Garbrandt v TJ Dillashaw

These two fighters know each other very well. TJ Dillashaw was a former member of Team Alpha Male where Cody Garbrandt also trains. Dillashaw chose to leave the gym and train elsewhere and the break up was not pretty. Both have taken shots at each other on through media making this fight personal. Garbrandt is the undefeated champion but he should expect a war with Dillashaw. Both have excellent striking and good take down defense so this will be a fight on their feet.

Garbrandt wins by decision 49-46



Joanna Jedrzejczyk v Rose Namajunas

Joanna Jedrzejczyk can walk out of Madison Square Garden as the best women’s fighter of all time if she gets her hand raised. The undefeated Polish fighter out works her completion every time a new challenger steps up to face her. With some of the best stamina and striking in the women’s ranks, Jedrzejczyk looks to take the fight the distance to get a technically executed victory. “Thug” Rose is one of the toughest fighters in MMA, never giving in.

Both fighters have never been finished before the end of a fight, Jedrzejczyk wins with a higher output of striking 48-47.



Stephen Thompson v Jorge Masvidal

After coming off a tie and loss in back to back title fights against Tyron Woodley, Stephen Thompson will have to climb his way back up the welterweight ladder. Standing in his way is the dangerous Jorge Masvidal. Both fighters need a win to hold their place atop of this competitive division.

This will be an even fight between two top 10 welterweights but Masvidal will edge out a split decision win against the “Wonderboy” in this matchup.


Johny Hendricks v Paulo Borrachinha

Paulo Borrachinha is a promising young prospect out of Brazil with an undefeated record, while Johny Hendricks is veteran trying to prove he still belongs. This is test for both fighters, with the winner getting a chance to fight top 15 competition. One of the biggest questions coming in to the fight is if “Big Rigg” Hendricks can make weight after struggling with the issues in his past fights. Weigh in is Friday and if Hendricks makes weight the experienced fighter can gain the upper hand on the overeager newcomer.

Hendricks wins by decision 29-28.

[New York Knight]

Market slowly turning against GSP’s return at Middleweight.

The line has flirted with break even, and could flip later in the week.