Tanquinho out of UFC Debut wi/ Rib Injury

Read it over at Graciemag. Not sure what he was training or how this close to the fight that he hurt his ribs but weird things inadvertently happen. It's a combat sport. I'm slightly less excited for this card than I was before but getting to see Dominic Cruz back in action is priceless. I bet a solid amount of cash on him to expose Dillashaw as a pretender and a poor man's version of Cruz so we'll see how the layoff affects Cruz/ring rust et cetera. In other news Travis Browne and Matt Mitrione will give one another brain damage. Alvarez faces his third former world champion (Pettis) in as many fights (the Ryan Bader career plan), Ross Pearson looks to get back on track because despite a split decision W over Felder he's been inconsistent across his last 4 fights even against mid-range opposition. Felder himself despite entertaining fights with Pearson and Barboza has also been around the .500 mark in his UFC stint despite a crowd-pleasing style of stand and bang. 

US Grappling - Raleigh, NC this weekend

Come to Dorton Arena for some NC Jiujitsu this Saturday. I'll be reffing and competing for the first time in over four months. U.S. grappling runs a great, on time, professional tournament. 

UFC Fight Nicks Picks for this weekend

I think Dillashaw is a poor man's Dominic Cruz. I think the stand-up Dillashaw showed against Soto and Barao won't win him the fight against Cruz. Normally I would never bet money on a man with so much layoff time as Cruz but 4 fights ago Dillashaw was losing to Raphael Assuncao and 3 fights ago was taking Mike Easton to a decision and yes he made the most of his shot against Barao but I think Barao's classic Muay Thai stance and non-existent footwork made him tailor made for Dillashaw. Cruz has only lost to Faber not in his natural weight class and I refuse to believe Cruz shows up not in shape for this fight. I think Cruz actually batters Dillashaw and stops him in the 4th round. 

I've got the at times unreliable Saunders stopping the shopworn Cote by Tko in the 3rd round.

I think Pettis decisions Alvarez who has not impressed me in his UFC time. Browne takes a split decision over Mitrione though normally I'd bet on a finish in a HW fight. 

Tim Boetsch is tough enough and wilt enough to survive until Herman's gas tank runs empty and I think Cruickshank beats Felder based on Felder's typically one-dimensional gameplan. 

Augusto "Tanquinho" Mendes UFC Debut Sunday

Stepping up on short notice, Mendes ( who beat Rafa and Cobrinha to win his IBJJF World Xship) makes his UFC debut this Sunday. Been looking forward to this since he began MMA. 

Where Are They Now? Baret Yoshida SubCon Superfight

I remember watching an old school highlight of Baret Yoshida around the time I first started watching the early UFC's. It's amazing to see him at 40 yrs of age still testing himself at events like this here or the EBI. I can only hope and pray to be moving as well as him anywhere near his current age when I get there. He's always been a bit underrated I felt like but he's hard to miss if you know some of your grappling history from back before streaming Mundials and the ADCC's on VHS et cetera.

Where Are They Now? Michael Lieira Jr SubCon Superfight

Haven't seen much of the wonder kid since his brown belt worlds domination. At his last worlds at brown belt he brought back the closed guard with a vengeance and finished his opponent in every match I watched with old school, seemingly basic but powerful closed guard Jiu-Jitsu.

The Weight Class/EA Games/Wheaties Box Curse(s)

I predicted a year or so ago McGregor would trump Aldo. Call it luck. Call it whatever, but Conor has done what he said he would do to every UFC fighter he's faced (save Max Holloway against whom he tore his ACL mid-fight and still put the punishment to him).

At any rate, I finally am concerned about McGregor as rumor has it he'll face Dos Anjos. Dos Anjos is a terminator. Not so much because he beat Cerrone via body kick (call me "that guy" but I have to point out Cerrone has lost that way before). I'm concerned because not since BJ Penn's RNC on a surprised Matt Hughes has anyone done it.

I've seen it time and again: guys start talking dual weight class or moving up and the fall is precipitous. I remember Urijah Faber talking about it pre-UFC debut. I remember Benson Henderson talking about it. I remember Jon Jones talking about it. Anderson Silva spoke of it at LHW et cetera.

I don't believe in curses but what it shows me is looking too far ahead

The double edged sword of hubris is just that. The pathological level of belief that comes with residing at the top often as is its preference...pulls an Icarus and oversteps its bounds.

I don't think Conor is ducking Frankie Edgar to what? Go fight a bigger, harder hitting, better wrestler in Dos Anjos? Please, spare me. Dos Anjos is one of those guys I never thought much of, but he rounded a corner and has looked like a fighting Terminator sent from the future to brutally dispatch his challengers for a time. The beating he put on Pettis was tough to watch and unrelenting in its pace. The combination of punches he put on Cerrone following that body kick was punishment incarnate.

Assuming the curse is true, as McGregor AND Rousey adorn the box...well, the curse will prove true once again. McGregor faces two curses in he's now adorning the UFC video game cover AND he's talking about moving up a weight class.
Brock Lesnar felt the curse after his video game box cover debut.
Gustaffson hasn't looked the same since his shot at the title against Jon Jones (who ironically he splits a video game box cover with as well.