UFC 144 picks

Today I'm up in El Dorado Hills, California. My client, Lennar, is hosting a Grand Opening for their new home concept Next Gen(TM) - the Home Within a Home(TM). It comes w/ a completely separate private suite that's built into the home and monthly mortgage payment. A kid moves out, a kid moves back in, or maybe your parents come live with you. You could even use it for a "mancave" or private guest suite when friends and family come visit. To learn more, visit Lennar.com/Sacramento.

Apologies for the shameless plug, now onto the picks. Given that I have to be there for 11am, I'm keeping this short and sweet.

Main Event

Frankie Edgar defeats Benson Henderson via (T)KO (strikes) in the 5th round (2:48)

Co-Main Event

*Quinton "Rampage" Jackson weighed in 6lbs over and later disclosed it was an injury in training that led to the foul on the scales

Originally, I picked "Rampage" by KO (punch) in the 2nd round - it would have been his first since 2008 at UFC 92 vs. Wanderlei Silva. However, given the circumstances of yesterday, I'm switching my pick.

Ryan Bader defeats Quinton "Rampage" Jackson via (T)KO (strikes) in the 3rd round (3:19)

"Rampage" will announce after the fight that he wants one last fight vs. "Shogun" in Japan before retiring.

Main Card

Mark Hunt defeats Cheick Kongo via KO (punch) in the 1st round (2:26)

Yoshihiro Akiyami defeats Jake Shields via (T)KO in the 1st round (4:33)

Yushin Okami defeats Tim Boetsch via decision

Hatsu Hioki defeats Bart Palaszewski via decision

Joe Lauzon defeats Anthony Pettis via submission in the 2nd round (2:29)

I'm also taking part in a UFC pool at work. Five of us submitted picks only on the seven main card fights, with the result of the main event (method and time) being the primary tiebreaker. $5 a pop, so hopefully this will help pay for the dough I'm shelling out to watch this tonight.

Enjoy the fights!

-Besse

Audio: UFC Lightweight Champ Frankie Edgar

Rich Keefe talked to UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar prior to his title defense against Benson Henderson at UFC 144 this Saturday night in Japan. The two discussed his opponent, the Lightweight division, and the Jersey Shore.

UFC Title Picture By Division

There are 7 divisions in the UFC. The biggest of them all took center stage last Saturday night for the promotions network television debut. Junior Dos Santos defeated Cain Velasquez to become the newest champ in the UFC. What is next for JDS and the rest of the champs? Here is a divisional breakdown of the best-of-the-best.

HEAVYWEIGHT:
Champion: Junior Dos Santos

How: Defeated Cain Velasquez, November 12, 2011 at UFC on Fox

What's Next? Faces the winner of Brock Lesnar - Alistair Overeem, which is set for December 30, 2011 at UFC 141. It will be Dos Santos' first title defense.

LIGHT HEAVYWEIGHT:
Champion: Jon Jones

How: Defeated Mauricio "Shogun" Rua, March 19, 2011 at UFC 128. Defended title against Quinton "Rampage" Jackson, September 24, 2011 at UFC 135.

What's Next? Was set to face Rashad Evans but injuries to Evans have postponed the match up twice, he will now square off against former champ Lyoto Machida, December 10, 2011 at UFC 140.

MIDDLEWEIGHT:
Champion: Anderson Silva

How: Defeated Rich Franklin, October 14, 2006 at UFC 64. Defended title a record 9 times with wins over:
Nate Marquart (UFC 73)
Rich Franklin (UFC 77)
Dan Henderson (UFC 82)
Patrick Cote (UFC 90)
Thales Leites (UFC 97)
Demian Maia (UFC 112)
Chael Sonnen (UFC 117)
Vitor Belfort (UFC 126)
Yushin Okami (UFC 134)

What's Next? Rematch with Chael Sonnen, date TBA.

WELTERWEIGHT:
Champion: Georges St. Pierre

How: (On current run) Defeated Matt Hughes, December 29, 2007 at UFC 79 for Interim Title, defeated Matt Serra, April 19, 2008, to become undisputed champ. Defended title 6 times with wins over:
Jon Fitch (UFC 87)
B.J. Penn (UFC 94)
Thiago Alves (UFC 100)
Dan Hardy (UFC 111)
Josh Koscheck (UFC 124)
Jake Shields (UFC 129)

What's Next: Nick Diaz, February 4, 2012 at UFC 143. (GSP was set to face Diaz at UFC 137, before Diaz was replaced by Carlos Condit because of failure to meet pre-fight responsibilities. GSP was then off the card due to injury.)

LIGHTWEIGHT:
Champion: Frankie Edgar

How: Defeated B.J. Penn, April 10, 2010 at UFC 112. Defended title against B.J. Penn, August 28, 2010 at UFC 118, kept title after a draw with Gray Maynard at UFC 125, and then defeated Maynard at UFC 136.

What's Next: Ben Henderson, February 26, 2012 at UFC 144.

FEATHERWEIGHT:
Champion: Jose Aldo

How: (WEC Title became UFC Title) Defeated Mike Brown, November 18, 2009 at WEC 44. Defended belt 4 times:
Urjiah Faber (WEC 48)
Manny Gamburyan (WEC 51)
Mark Hominick (UFC 129)
Kenny Florian (UFC 136)

What's Next: Chad Mendes, January 14, 2012 at UFC 142.

BANTAMWEIGHT:
Champion: Dominick Cruz

How: (WEC Title became UFC Title) Defeated Brian Bowles, March 6, 2010 at WEC 47. Defended belt 4 times:
Joseph Benavidez (WEC 50)
Scott Jorgensen (WEC 53)
Urijah Faber (UFC 132)
Demetrious Johnson (UFC on Versus 6)

What's Next: TBA likely winner of Faber vs. Bowles which is set for this Saturday at UFC 139.

-Keefe

Couture vs. Toney at UFC 118 in Boston

According to UFC Hall of Famer Randy Couture's twitter account he will be facing professional boxer turned mixed martial artist James Toney at UFC 118 on August 28th at the TD Garden in Boston, MA.

The former heavyweight and light heavyweight champion Couture takes on Toney who will be making his UFC and MMA debut after signing a contract with the organization in March.

Couture: (18-10 MMA)
Toney: (72-6-3 Boxing)

Other potential bouts at UFC 118:

Frankie Edgar (champ) vs. B.J. Penn for Lightweight Title
Kenny Florian vs. Gray Maynard
Randy Couture vs. James Toney
Joe Lauzon vs. TBA

-Keefe

UFC 112 Predictions

UFC 112 on Saturday night features 2 championship bouts. Lightweight Champ B.J. Penn puts his belt on the line against Frankie Edgar and Middleweight Champ Anderson Silva squares off with Demian Maia. Also on the main card is a match up between two past their prime legends Matt Hughes and Renzo Gracie in a Welterweight showdown.

Keefe's Picks:

Anderson Silva def. Demian Maia via TKO in Round 2
B.J. Penn def. Frankie Edgar via submission in Round 3
Matt Hughes def. Renzo Gracie via unanimous decision
Terry Etim def. Rafael dos Anjos via submission in Round 1
Mark Munoz def. Kendall Grove via KO in Round 1

Post fight prediction... after both dominating their fights to retain their respective belts; Anderson Silva will face Georges St. Pierre either at 185 or at a catch-weight of 177; while B.J. Penn will leave the Lightweight division and possibly match up with a Jon Fitch, Dan Hardy, Josh Koscheck, Thiago Alves at Welterweight.

If you want more in depth coverage of UFC 112 check out the Boston Throwdown UFC 112 Preview

As always, enjoy the fights,

-Keefe