Monday, December 6, 2021

UFC 269: Picks & Prognostications

 I haven't done any sports betting in ages due to being overwhelmingly busy teaching classes, competing, and now teaching add'l classes at another gym in NYC, but here goes my off the cuff reads for this weekend's amazing PPV lineup:

Oliveira has been hurt in more fights than I'd like to see if I was going to bed actual money on him, but he has that Fedor ability to right after getting hurt turn on the finish at the drop of a dime. Despite nearly getting finished by Chandler, he then dropped and finished him. 

I find it hard to believe Pena does to Nunes what no one else has done in years. Nunes by comfortable decision. 

Ponzinibbio by stoppage in round 3/punches. 

Kai does a repeat of Cody's last losing decision by being more active, combining wrestling with punches and more aggression. 

O'Malley by HL reel finish because that's why this fight was booked to open up the main card. 

Prelims:

I'm SUPER excited for Ige vs Emmett, as both guys are exciting every time out. I think Emmett edges Ige just a bit and takes a very close split decision. 

Cruz vs Munhoz: it's hard to think anyone other than the very very best beat Cruz but the gameplan to beat him has been laid out having had his traps and footwork nullified by fighters with the right gameplan. I don't think Munhoz has the savvy to adjust in the Octagon to Cruz and Cruz takes a lopsided decision. 

Sakai vs Tuivasa: active HW's who both look to put guys away over the course of the fight. Tuivasa has a bit more mileage on him but I also think he's faced stiffer competition on a more regular basis than Sakai. Tuivasa by decision. 

Ryan Hall by heel hook. 



UFC 269: Oliveira vs Poirier, Nunes vs Pena et al