WEC 47 Predictions: Bowles Cuts and Mullets

Back with another set of MMA predictions, this time it’s WEC 47.  For all of you detractors out there, who have conveniently forgotten about blasting me for my UFC 110 picks, let me remind you all that I went 7-2.  This, of course, included a KO prediction of Big Nog by Cain Velasquez. 

No, I wasn’t just making a prediction for the sake of making predictions.   I watch a lot of tape and do statistical analysis before any closely matched fight.  I welcome any feedback, but calling me “stupid” or a bundle of sticks doesn’t really do anything.  You can disagree with me, but back it up like an adult.  Or at the very least, be clever and amusing.

Now let’s move onto the best Bantamweight card ever in North America.
 

Brian Bowles (C) vs. Dominick Cruz

The Hype

This will be a pretty good fight.  It remains to be seen whether or not this begins a chain reaction of title changes, or if Bowles is for real and can continue to stay on top of the WEC Bantamweight division for the foreseeable future. 

There’s no reason to think he can’t, he is a bona fide MMA fighter.  Not a wrestler, or a boxer, but a complete package.  Still, he has some flaws in his game (counter strikes, leaning) that Cruz can exploit and walk out the new champ.

The Match
    
Both guys are going to stand and strike in this one.  Bowles favors moving forward, Cruz, moving back.  I think they both neutralize each other’s strengths with their own.  We might not come out of this fight thinking it was anything special, when it fact, it could be a very cerebral contest.  It’s hard to find a reason why one guy should win, clear-cut, over the other. 

I have to pick something, so I’ll go for a repeat of the Bowles last fight.  Cruz will take the advantage and Bowles lands one of those phantom punches of his, that are quickly becoming a trademark.

Preditcion: Bowles, Round Three—TKO (punches)

Miguel Torres vs. Joseph Benavidez

The Hype

Let me start off by saying, if Torres was greatly overmatched in this one, I’d still pick him.  He was the first person of any notoriety to @andjbock me on twitter, so he gets the special treatment.

Still, he holds the edge in this match, as well, because of the height and reach advantages.  Five inches and 10 inches, respectively, will make it very hard for little Joey “kid brother” Benavidez to get in close enough to cause repeated damage*. 

For Benavidez, this match will be very similar to the one the resulted in his sole defeat to Dominick Cruz, as Cruz and Torres, stack up well against one another in fighting style.  He’ll have to find holes in Torres’ game if he expects to get into the title picture.

The Match

In order to win, Torres will need to keep his distance, and as we say in Boston, be wicked smart.  Stay light, counter, don’t look to end things all at once.  Going for a decision win might be a good idea. 

In his loss to Bowles, he had actually rocked the current champ, but was caught with a short right hook, that immediately led to his downfall because he went in too hard.  Benavidez is dangerous in tight and his height (or lack thereof) can actually aid him in the clinch.  

For Joseph (get a nickname hippie!), it looks like he is, pound-for-pound, one of the hardest strikers around.  I say ouch after he lands shots.  So he does have that one-punch KO potential*. 

If he can neutralize Torres’ reach, by getting in close, he can go to work and fire off hooks and uppercuts to hopefully rock Miguel and then finish him off.  Joseph will need to finish off Torres on his feet, as Torres can successfully fend off Benavidez while in the guard position and then turn the tables.

Prediction: Torres, Unanimous Decision

Jens Pulver vs. Javier Vazquez

The Hype

Two guys looking to bounce back from falling far down the ladder.  Pulver is 1-6 in his last seven fights.  At 35, there’s no need to think he’s getting better.  He was a great fighter back in his day, but his days of consistency are well behind him.  Vazquez has two split decision losses in his WEC career. 

That must be why it was a no-brainer to have L.C. Davis and Deividas Taurosevicius fight after him on this card.  It’s the finals of the Javier Vazquez invitational.

The Match

Yikes.  Pulver just won’t have enough in the tank to go the distance and put up enough of a fight to get a win.

Prediction:  Vazquez, Unanimous Decision 

Deividas Taurosevicius vs. L.C. Davis

The Hype

Admittedly, I do not have great insight to either fighter here.  I think I blindly have picked against them in previous WEC predictions as well.  I’ve seen some good and some bad in both fighters, but it’ll pretty much be a coin flip.

T he Match

In the matches of Taurosevicius I watched, I really liked his striking technique.  He also showed that he can take a punch or two.  On the other hand, Davis’ performance against Waggney Fabiano was terrible, and Fabiano is a guy, I think, is overrated.  Luckily Davis likes to punch, as well, so we could actually be in for an exciting contest here.  I just have a feeling someone gets clocked in this match.

Prediction: Taurosevicius, Round Two (Head Kick)

Bart Palaszewski vs. Karen Darabedyan  

The Hype

Not a Bart fan at all.  I don’t know what the reason entirely is, but he really irks me to watch him fight. 

The Match

Darabedyan is 9-1, so presumably this match was made to give him a fight over a known property—with a victory in mind.  It won’t be easy, but I think we’ll see him hold his own and limit any offense that Palaszewski can mount.  Lackluster opening bout and this one will probably keep Scotty Jorgensen off of television, which is a shame.

Prediction: Darabedyan, Split Decision.