UFC 185 emanates live on pay-per-view on Saturday night from the American Airlines Center in Dallas, Texas. Last Word on Sports MMA crew – Trent Dozier, Michael Hutchinson, Todd Parkinson and Stephanie Schneider – bring you their picks and analysis for the main card fights.
UFC Lightweight Championship
Anthony “Showtime” Pettis (c) vs Rafael dos Anjos
Picking Pettis: Dozier, Hutchinson, Parkinson, Schneider
Picking dos Anjos: none
Parkinson: “Pettis vs dos Anjos is sure to be an action-packed lightweight title fight. Pettis is light years above everyone in creativity with his offense, and he arguably has the best kicks in the sport. Dos Anjos’ best bet is to take this fight into deep waters. Problem is, Pettis is by far the most dangerous man in the division and would have to be broken down over time. The champ is so comfortable wherever the fight goes and even though dos Anjos is a high-level black-belt in jiu-jitsu, Pettis is still way better off of his back. The result will be Pettis confusing the aggressive dos Anjos and baiting him in for a highlight reel head-kick knockout in the third round. Pettis is one of the best in the world for a reason.”
UFC Women’s Strawweight Championship
Carla “Cookie Monster” Esparza vs Joanna Jedrzejczyk
Picking Esparza: Dozier, Hutchinson, Parkinson
Picking Jedrzejczyk: Schneider
Schneider: “Let’s just get to it, I wasn’t impressed with Esparza’s fights on TUF 20, and my mind wasn’t changed after watching her beat Rose Namajunas to win the UFC Strawweight Championship. I feel that Jedrzejczyk is going to come in, take a brief moment to feel the champ out, and then start to pick her apart on the feet. Despite Esparza’s heart, I believe that’s not going to cut it because Jedrzejczyk has a bit more heart. As long as Jedrzejczyk’s cardio holds up I see her getting the win via decision.”
Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks vs Matt “The Immortal” Brown
Picking Hendricks: Dozier, Hutchinson, Parkinson
Picking Brown: Schneider
Dozier: “This is a great match-up, and the likely Fight of the Night. In the past, Brown’s weakness has been his takedown defense, but he’s tightened it up recently. Also, Hendricks has shown a tendency to stay on his feet and abandon his wrestling in recent fights. Brown will use all eight of his weapons – feet, knees, hands and elbows – while on the feet, but Hendricks has that one-punch knockout power that Brown doesn’t posses. Hendricks looks like he finally has his weight cut down, and if he sprinkles in his wrestling, I think he’ll keep Brown guessing the whole fight. Hendricks will win a decision, and maybe even pick up a late knockout on the durable Brown.”
Roy “Big Country” Nelson vs Alistair “The Reem” Overeem
Picking Nelson: Hutchinson, Schneider
Picking Overeem: Dozier, Parkinson
Schneider: “I am a huge fan of Overeem, not so much of Nelson. However, I do know that Nelson has huge power and a strong chin, while Overeem also has huge power and a fading chin. They can both grapple. That being said, I think they will go toe to toe and bang, and whoever gets caught is going to lose. I honestly hate to say it, but I think Big Country gets the win via knockout.”
Chris “Kamikaze” Cariaso vs Henry “The Messenger” Cejudo
Picking Cariaso: Schneider
Picking Cejudo: Dozier, Hutchinson, Parkinson
Parkinson: “Cariaso vs Cejudo is a classic striker vs grappler bout. Cejudo is an Olympic Gold Medalist in wrestling and can take the fight to the mat if he chooses. Cariaso is no slouch off of his back, but the best bet for him is to keep the fight on the feet. However, because Cejudo is so confident with his wrestling, he has no fear with his hands. Expect Cejudo to shine in his UFC flyweight debut and earn a TKO victory in the 2nd round.”
Undercard Bout to Watch:
Dozier – Daron Cruickshank vs Beneil Dariush
Hutchinson – Sergio Pettis vs Ryan Benoit
Parkinson – Ross Pearson vs Sam Stout
Schneider – Sergio Pettis vs Ryan Benoit
