Fathead Blog

If you are a UFC fan, then you already know more than anything you will find in this article. Now, I enjoy watching MMA, but I might catch it once every two months. Since I am such a big fan in most things we cover on this blog, I thought it would be fun to breakdown UFC 141 from a completely uneducated perspective. So without further delay, here are my complete guesses (aka picks) for tonight’s fights.

Main Event – Lesnar vs. Overeem

This actually sounds like a Main Event I would love to watch. Lesnar (6’3, 265) and Overeem (6’5, 265) are huge punchers who don’t let fights go very long. A fight that seems a lock for not going to decision, there should be plenty of heavy blows landing in this one. While Lesnar has gotten a lot of the spotlight, Overeem is far more experienced in the octagon. However, this will be Overeem’s first fight in the UFC. It sounds like Lesnar will look to go to the ground and keep Overeem from standing and using his legs. My guess here is Overeem doesn’t buckle under the bright lights of the UFC and uses his experience to get a big win over Lesnar.

Co-Main Event – Diaz vs. Cerrone

A lightweight bought between two fighters with similar builds and records, this will be hard to breakdown. Diaz will look to get takedowns and win via submission, but won’t be too outmatched on his feet. Cerrone will need to work on his takedown defense if he hopes to stay in this fight. Diaz has a surprisingly weak takedown defense as well, and if Cerrone can catch him by surprise and land punches that way, it could lead to a victory. Cerrone ended both of his last fights early and will look to do the same tonight. I like Cerrone to beat Diaz.

Fitch vs. Hendricks

For some reason, this fight really intrigues me. Jon Fitch’s last two losses were to BJ Penn in his last fight and Georges St. Pierre back in 2008, both very respectable losses. Hendricks meanwhile is 11-1 and looking to use Fitch as his marquee win. A former wrestler at Oklahoma State, he of course has the upper hand in takedowns and overall wrestling. Look for Fitch, who isn’t bad at takedowns himself, to try and turn this into a boxing match. If Hendricks does get a takedown, look for Fitch to try and use Hendricks’ inexperience against him and try to catch him with a submission. I like Fitch in this fight, but something has me pulling for Hendricks. Maybe it’s just the underdog role.

Matyushenko vs. Gustafsson

The 3 cards above all seemed to be against similar opponents. This card is the battle of pure opposites. Matyushenko (6’0, 205, 40 years old) and Gustafsson (6’5, 205, 24 years old) are so different it makes you laugh when you look at the card. Matyushenko is a takedown fighter who I would assume will look to use a “ground and pound” technique on the younger Gustafsson. Gustafsson, meanwhile, is a submission fighter who will look to use his length to keep this fight in a standup position as much as possible. Gustafsson is 12-1, and I think he gains the edge the longer this fight goes. However, I think Matyushenko ends this fight early.

Phan vs. Hettes

Another battle of submission fighter (Hettes) vs. striker (Phan), this fight could get interesting. I think Phan will look to end this fight early as newcomer Hettes will only gain confidence the longer the fight goes. Look for Phan to try and stay on his feet for a while with Hettes not being a very good striker. Phan should win this fight and hand Hettes his first defeat.

Well, I hope you enjoyed the ramblings of someone who has no idea what they are talking about. Trust me; I will be watching to see if I was anywhere close in my guesses.