UFC 113 predictions
UFC light heavyweight champion Lyoto Machida, left, won a controversial unanimous decision over Mauricio Rua at UFC 104 at Staples Center on October 24, 2009 in Los Angeles. Credit: Getty Images
Here we go with our UFC 113 predictions. Per usual, we suggest these for street cred purposes, not betting window purposes. I don't want to take credit for your credit at the casinos. Let's see how we stack up after UFC 113 at the Bell Centre in Montreal.
Lyoto Machida vs. Mauricio "Shogun" Rua (light heavyweight championship)
Rua exposed holes in Machida's previously steel-walled defense. Machida will fix those and deliver. The pick: Machida by third-round TKO.
Both guys pack a little thunder in their hands, but Koscheck's wrestling background gives him an edge on the ground. He'd be crazy not to take this bout to the ground. The pick: Koscheck by decision.
Sam Stout vs. Jeremy Stephens
Stout's last six bouts have all gone to a decision, and Stephens has lost two of his last three. His one win was a TKO stoppage due to a cut. Not really sure why this one is one the pay-per-view card other than an attempt to develop a new face at lightweight. The pick: Stout by, surprise, decision.
Kimbo Slice vs. Matt Mitrione
An intriguing matchup of stand-up brawlers. More work will happen on the ground than most people initially think. Still, let's hope this is the war we all want it to be. The pick: Slice by first-round KO.
Patrick Cote vs. Alan Belcher
Cote returns after an 18-month absence. He had won four bouts in a row before running into Anderson Silva in October 2008. This should be an interesting bout to watch. The pick: Cote by decision.
Joe Doerksen vs. Tom Lawlor
Too bad about Joe's last name, but the Canadian Doerksen has 56 bouts' worth of experience. Of course, he's lost his last five and hasn't fought in the UFC since UFC 83 in April 2008. Fighting in his home country will not help. If "Filthy" doesn't win this one, he needs to change his nickname to "Sad." The pick: Lawlor by first-round submission.
Marcus Davis vs. Jonathan Goulet
Goulet is a Canadian, Davis is not. Will it be enough to carry him past "The Irish Hand Grenade," loser of his last two? Maybe, maybe not. The pick: Goulet by decision.
TJ Grant vs. Johny Hendricks
A pair of young welterweights looking to make some noise in the division. They'll need a big display here to do it. The pick: Hendricks by second-round TKO.
Tim Hague vs. Joey Beltran
Beltran will be looking to continue his momentum after beating Rolles Gracie at UFC 109 in February. Hague, a Canadian heavyweight, should make that easy for Beltran. The pick: Beltran by first-round TKO.
Yoshiyuki Yoshida vs. Mike Guymon
Yoshida has won two and lost two in the UFC, with those losses coming by face re-arranging knockouts. Guymon has some power, but maybe not enough. The pick: Yoshida by submission.
Jason MacDonald vs. John Salter
A Canadian middleweight, MacDonald has lost three of his last four. But he's the first the bout on the card, and based on the past two years, Canadians file into Le Centre Bell early. The crowd will pull him through. The pick: MacDonald by decision.
