All posts by Chris Blain

Jeff Horn vs. Gary Corcoran Odds and Prediction

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Jeff Horn will make the first defense of his WBO welterweight title against England’s Gary Corcoran on December 13th, 2017 at the Brisbane Convention Center in Brisbane, Australia.

Battle of Brisbane 2

Dubbed as the Battle of Brisbane II, Horn will be fighting for the first time since his upset victory over Filipino 8 division world champion Manny Pacquiao last July 2nd. That bout was the original Battle of Brisbane where Horn rose to prominence by dethroning Pacquiao via controversial unanimous decision.

Pacquiao had a rematch clause and was expected to exercise it this November. But Pacman changed his mind due to his busy schedule as a senator in his native Philippines. So Horn will now defend it against Corcoran who will be fighting outside British soil for the first time in his career.

Corcoran is virtually untested as a pro but has won two in a row since suffering an 11th round knockout loss to Liam Williams in July of 2016. The Englishman has a 17-1 record with 7 KOs. In his most recent bout, Corcoran defeated Larry Ekundayo who is considered as Nigeria’s top boxer.

Tough and Gritty

Horn is the solid favorite here at -600, while the challenger Corcoran is the underdog at +350.  Horn’s upset win over Manny Pacquiao clearly had a lot to say about this line. But to Horn’s credit, he proved that despite his lack of athleticism, he is a tough and gritty fighter.

Horn can take a beating yet still stay in the fight. He is an accurate brawler and he is able to slip in short but crisp power shots that make him effective as a counter puncher. Against Corcoran, Horn not only has the advantage in toughness but also in punching power.

Power Is A Factor

Corcoran is a pressure fighter who likes to swarm his opponent from start to finish. Like Horn, he has an aggressive fighting style but unlike the Aussie, he doesn’t pack as much power in his punches. That may be a huge factor in this fight because if the two ever get toe to toe, which is likely given their style, Horn has the power to put Corcoran to sleep.

Horn isn’t really an elite fighter. With all due respect to him, he won the Pacquiao fight with a hometown decision. Still, Corcoran hasn’t fought anybody at Horn’s level. This is the Englishman’s first world title fight and he isn’t just fighting outside England for the first time; he is fighting the champion in his own backyard.

Having said those, we’re picking Jeff Horn to remain unbeaten and keep his title. He won’t need a hometown decision here. It’s going to be his coming out party. Jeff Horn by a tough but clear unanimous decision.

Vasyl Lomachenko vs. Guillermo Rigondeaux Odds and Prediction

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Vasyl Lomachenko defends his WBO super featherweight title against Guillermo Rigondeaux at the Madison Square Garden on December 9th, 2017.

This is a fight between two of the best pure boxers in the business and two former amateur superstars. It may not have the appeal as Canelo vs. Golovkin or even Mayweather vs. McGregor, but this is one of the most anticipated bouts of the year.

Undefeated Fighters

Lomachenko enters the fight with a deceiving 9-1 record. Despite just 10 fights under his belt, he’s already won two world titles in different weight classes. Lomachenko has not lost since losing a controversial decision to Orlando Salido in 2014. He will be fighting for the third time this year and making the fourth defense of his title.

Like Lomachenko, Rigondeaux is undefeated as a pro at 17-0 with 11 KOs. He is coming off a no-contest against Moises Flores in June 2017. Rigondeaux has boxed just a total of three rounds after 2015.  He is moving up two weight classes in search of the biggest conquest of his career.

About The Weight

Lomachenko opened as a huge -500 favorite with Rigondeaux coming back as the underdog ay +350. The line may look surprising but actually it is not. Rigondeaux is moving up two weight classes to challenge Lomachenko so more than skill and talent, the odds are about the difference in weight.

Rigondeaux boxed as a bantamweight during his amateur days and has been fighting at super bantamweight in the pros. However, he is skipping the featherweight weight class and will be going straight up to  super featherweight to challenge Lomachenko for the latter’s WBO title.

Can Be Dropped

There is a absolutely no questioning Rigondeaux’s skills and abilities but the sudden jump from 122 pounds to 130 pounds cannot be ignored.

Another factor to consider is that while Rigondeaux is a terrific defensive fighter, he gets dropped when he gets tagged.  Offensive fighters Nonito Donaire, Hisashi Amagasa and Ricardo Cordoba each put Rigo on the floor. Given that he is facing a bigger, stronger and maybe faster boxer in Loma, that might be a problem.

Lomachenko might be the best pound for pound fighter in the sport today. He is the total package. Loma has a very high boxing IQ, quick footwork and is one of the best in boxing from a distance. He is also a very efficient counter puncher because of his head movement and ability to slip punches.

More Punching Power

Rigondeaux isn’t a pushover but given that he’s moving up in weight and fighting perhaps the best boxer today, he’s got his work cut for him. Lomachenko has more punching power than anybody Rigo has faced and that may be the difference here.

This is going to be a great fight, no doubt. But we’ll have to pick Vasyl Lomachenko to win this fight because he is the bigger puncher here. Vasyl Lomachenko by late stoppage or close unanimous decision.

Miguel Cotto vs. Sadam Ali Odds and Prediction

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Miguel Cotto fights Sadam Ali on December 2nd, 2017 at New York’s Madison Square Garden in what is expected to be the final bout of Cotto’s glorious boxing career.

Cotto is the most decorated Puerto Rican boxer of all-time. The Caguas native has won a total of six boxing world titles in his career and is the current WBO light middleweight champion. He is the only fighter from Puerto Rico to win world titles in four different weight classes.

A Surprise Choice

Earlier this year, Cotto announced that he would be retiring at the end of the year. After winning the WBO 154-pound title, Cotto hoped to fight one more time and face the winner between the middleweight showdown between Saul Alvarez and Gennady Golovkin. But with both headed to a rematch, Cotto decided to look elsewhere. Many were surprised that he picked Sadam Ali.

Known as the World Kid, Sadam Ali was a top amateur prospect who competed for the U.S at the 2008 Olympics. Since turning pro, Ali’s just suffered one loss in 26 fights. That loss was to Jessie Vargas in 2016 for the vacant WBO 147-pound title. Since that defeat, Ali has won two in a row with his most recent win coming over former interim 140-pound title holder Johan Perez last July.

Ali has never fought above welterweight before and it was surprising that Cotto’s camp picked him as the Puerto Rican’s final ring opponent. Cotto, meanwhile, has fought as heavy as middleweight and with this bout for the WBO 154-pound title, Sadam Ali may be David to Cotto’s Goliath.

Going Out in A Blaze of Glory

Cotto is the massive favorite here at -900 while Ali is the underdog at +450. Sadam Ali is a decent boxer but he is way over his head in fighting Miguel Cotto. Cotto doesn’t just have the much better resume and boxing skills, he is also the much bigger fighter here. Having said that, it’s hard to find an area where Ali has the advantage except perhaps in age, height and length.

This is Miguel Cotto’s final bout and he wants to ride into the sunset on a winning note. Ali doesn’t have a good resume and hasn’t proven that he can hang with elite boxers. His biggest fight was against Jessie Vargas and he was outclassed rather easily. Miguel Cotto isn’t just better than Vargas. He punches a lot harder than him.

Cotto’s fighting with diminished skills. He isn’t the feared boxer he was when he was in his prime. Despite that, he is still a much better boxer than Sadam Ali. He’s going to use his power to bully Ali until the latter weakens. Miguel Cotto’s going out in a blaze of glory. We’re picking Miguel Cotto to win by stoppage.

UFC Fight Night 120: Anthony Pettis vs. Dustin Poirier Odds and Prediction

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Former UFC Lightweight Anthony Pettis returns to the octagon at the main event of UFC Fight Night 120 at the Ted Constant Convocation Center at Norfolk, Virginia on November 11th, 2017.  The 13th ranked Pettis will face 8th ranked lightweight Dustin Poirier in an attempt to climb back to the top of the 155-pound weight class he used to rule.

Fall From The Top

Pettis’ fall from the top  is well documented. After yielding the UFC lightweight title to Rafael Dos Anjos at UFC 185, Pettis lost back to back bouts to Edson Barboza and Eddie Alvarez, forcing him to make a surprise move down to the featherweight division. But after missing weight during an interim featherweight title bout (which he lost badly) against Max Holloway at UFC 206, Pettis decided to return to his natural weight class.

Showtime’s 155-pound return against Jim Miller at UFC 216 last July was successful. Not only did he break out of his slump, he looked like the Anthony Pettis of old in that fight. But Pettis’ recent struggles have pulled him down outside the Top 10 in the rankings. He asked for Poirier in August and with the “Diamond” obliging, the UFC booked the fight right away.

Controversial Fight

Dustin Poirier is coming off a controversial fight at UFC 211 against another former lightweight champion in Eddie Alvarez. That bout ended in a no-contest after Alvarez landed several illegal knees on Poirier. Prior to that fight, Poirier won five of six fights, losing only to Michael Johnson during that stretch.

Poirier has always been one of the gatekeepers of the division. If he can pick up a win though against a former champion like Pettis, his stock will surely soar. Diamond has been fighting in the UFC since 2011 but has never fought for the title. A win over Pettis should put him in striking distance of that long awaited title shot.

Odds and Prediction

Showtime Pettis is the favorite in this bout at -125 while Poirier is the underdog at +105. This is going to be a fun fight between two fighters who can finish the fight on the feet as well as on the ground. Both are excellent strikers who can produce knockouts in the stand up game and come up with creative submission moves on the canvass. Having said that, this fight is likely not going to the scorecards.

Both fighters are evenly matched up but Pettis is more athletic and may have the advantage here because of his creativity. Showtime looked great in his last fight and he seems to have broken out of his slump. Poirier is no easy picking but Pettis should win this fight with his speed and unpredictability.

We’re picking Anthony Pettis to win this fight by stoppage due to strikes.  

Can Sergey Kovalev Reclaim His Status As Light Heavyweight Champion?

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Sergey Kovalev looks to regain the first world title he won as a professional boxer when he faces  Vyacheslav Shabranskyy on November 25th, 2017 at the Theater in Madison Square Garden, New York., USA.

Started It All

The WBO lightweight title is one that has sentimental value to the man known as the Russian Krusher because it was the first of three light heavyweight belts he won during his long reign as unified light heavyweight champion. Kovalev won that belt in 2013 when knocked out Nathan Cleverly in Wales. Krusher defended the belt eight times before losing it to Andre Ward in the first of their two fights.

Kovalev’s first loss to Ward was close and as some would say controversial. But Ward knocked out Kovalev in a rematch to settle their score. The losses to Ward were the first in the 34-year old Kovalev’s career and he looks to bounce back not only with a win over Shabranskyy but by reclaiming the belt that started it all.

Big Opportunity

Ukrainian Vyacheslav Shabranskyy is staring at a big opportunity against Kovalev. Not only is the 30-year old about to get a shot at a big name like Kovalev, he also has the opportunity to win his first ever world title after this originally 10 rounder was promoted to the WBO title fight after Ward’s retirement.

Shabranskyy has lost just one time in 20 bouts and that defeat was a knockout loss against Sullivan Barrera last December. Since that defeat he’s racked up two successive victories and will be fighting for the third time this year. Like Kovalev, he is known for his punching power with 16 KOs in 19 wins.

Prediction

This is going to be a slugfest but of two fighters with different styles. Shabranskyy is an aggressive slugger who throws volume punches to the body. Kovalev meanwhile picks his spots first before getting into a slug of war. Shabranskyy is the taller fighter here and because of that, there is a room for upset.

However, Kovalev is the more polished boxer and has the better all around skills. Although he’s coming off back to back losses, those were to the best fighter in the planet. With Ward now retired Kovalev is the man to beat at light heavyweight. Shabranskyy will try to rush in and overwhelm Kovalev but the Krusher has excellent IQ to counter that. He’s going to take his time and try to outbox his opponent. But if Shabranskyy gets too sloppy, Kovalev’s going to end his night early.

We’re picking Kovalev to win by unanimous decision or stoppage in the championship rounds.

UFC 217: Joanna Jedrzejczyk vs. Rose Namajunas Odds and Prediction

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Joanna Jedrzejczyk will defend the UFC women’s strawweight title against Rose Namajunas in one of the three massive title fights slated for UFC 217 at the Madison Square Garden in New York on November 4th, 2017.

Jedrzejczyk has been on a dominating reign as UFC women’s strawweight champion. She is unbeaten in 14 total MMA fights and has successfully defended her belt five times since defeating UFC  women’s strawweight inaugural champion, Carla Esparza. That’s an impressive feat by itself, but Joanna has no plans in slowing down.

Solid Favorite

Namajunas has won four of her last five bouts and is coming off a 2nd round submission win over Michelle Waterson last April. The UFC’s 4th ranked female strawweight fought for the inaugural title in 2014 but lost to Carla Esparza. She hopes to win the belt in her second attempt but will be hard-pressed to do so against one of the top fighters in the UFC.

Jedrzejczyk is a staggering -600 favorite at Bovada and other UFC betting sites, while her challenger who is currently at +400. Jedrzejczyk needs no introduction. She is the best pound for pound female fighter in the UFC today. A former Muay Thai and Kickboxing world champion, Jedrzejczyk uses her legs and knees better than most fighters on the circuit.

Deadly Ground Game

Joanna is a highly efficient striker with great accuracy and a good boxing background. Although most of her fights have ended in a decision, she definitely can finish off her opponent. If this fight stays on the feet, Jedrzejczyk will be unbeatable.

Despite the fact that she doesn’t have a knockout under her belt, Namajunas can hold her own in striking. She is a pressure fighter who likes to mix her jabs with kicks. But what makes Namajunas deadly is her ground game. Five of her seven wins have come via submission. With her upper body strength and long legs, she is dangerous when she gets position on the canvass. One thing you’ve got to watch out for is her going for that rear naked choke.

Has Passed The Test

With her skill-set, Namajunas could be the kryptonite for Jedrzejczyk. If she takes the champion down, she won’t just take her off her biggest strength which is striking, but Rose will have the opportunity to win because she is an excellent submission artist.

But it’s hard to go against someone who is perhaps the best female fighter out there today. Jedrzejczyk has beaten every challenger that has been thrown at her and has passed the test against excellent submission artists like Claudia Gadelha and Jessica Penne. She’s going to keep this fight on the feet and outstrike Namajunas all night long.

We’re picking Joanna Jedrzejczyk to win this one by unanimous decision.

Cody Garbrandt vs. T.J. Dillashaw Odds and Prediction

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Cody Garbrandt defends his UFC bantamweight title for the first time against former champion and ex-teammate T.J. Dillashaw at UFC 217 on November 4th, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden in New York.

No Love Lost

Garbrandt’s nickname is ‘No Love’ and there is absolutely no love lost between these two former Team Alpha Male teammates. It can be recalled that Dillashaw left Team Alpha Male during his peak and title reign while Garbrandt won the belt from Dominick Cruz, the man who narrowly defeated Dillashaw in 2016.

These two former friends and now bitter rivals were originally slated to fight at UFC 213, but after Garbrandt suffered a back injury in May, it was rebooked for the MSG event on November 4th, 2017. It may no longer be the main event of its new schedule but it’s a fight that could steal the thunder from the entire event.

Both fighters have expressed their intention to book a superfight with UFC flyweight king Demetrious ‘Mighty Mouse’ Johnson so that should be an added motivation to win this fight. More than that, though, it’s pride and hate that drives these two elite bantamweights against each other.

Recipe For A Classic

The champion Garbrandt is the obvious favorite (-185 at Bovada) against the ex-champion Dillashaw, who is currently at +150. It doesn’t get any better than this. These are two of the best fighters in the bantamweight division and they absolutely hate each other.  You can’t really find a better recipe for a UFC classic.

Dillashaw has the longer reach and the versatility as a fighter but Cody Garbrandt has the edge in power and athleticism. Both fighters can push the pace for five rounds – no doubt about that – so this could very well go the distance.

In terms of numbers, Dillashaw has the edge, as he lands 5.38 significant strikes per minute, compared to Garbrandt’s 3.58. He also has the slight edge in accuracy at 41% vs 37%.

T.J. also has the better grappling stats with an average of 1.8 takedowns per 15 minutes as compared to Garbrandt’s 1.19. But the most important stat in this match should be Garbrandt’s 82% knockout ratio.

Power is Difference Maker

The champion has stopped 9 of 11 opponents with three of his last four victories coming by way of first round knockout. No doubt Dillashaw is an elusive target who is hard to hit much more knock out, but the same was said of Dominick Cruz before Cody Garbrandt pick Cruz apart at UFC 207.

Garbrandt has shown few weaknesses so far but Dillashaw being a former teammate may know some things that we don’t which he can exploit. Otherwise, it’s hard not to pick Cody Garbrandt in this match-up.  Dillashaw might want to take this fight to the ground to negate Cody’s power punches but Garbrandt has superb takedown defense.

On the feet, this should be an equal battle but Garbrandt’s power should be the difference maker here. We’re going with the champion Cody Garbrandt to win by a close unanimous decision.

Will Georges St. Pierre Make History Against Michael Bisping?

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Michael Bisping defends his UFC middleweight title against former welterweight champion Georges St. Pierre at the main event of UFC 217 on November 4th, 2017 at the Madison Square Garden in New York, USA.

Bisping will be defending the title for the second time since upsetting Luke Rockhold at UFC 199 in June of 2016. The Count defeated Dan Henderson via decision to keep his belt at UFC 204. He has not lost since getting submitted by Rockhold in 2014.

Walked Away

St. Pierre walked away from the sport in 2013, citing wear and tear issues. GSP has won his last twelve bouts with seven of his last eight victories coming by way of decision. St. Pierre was once the best fighter on the planet but a lot has changed in the game since he left.

He will be attempting to make history and become only the fourth fighter to win world titles in different weight classes. Only Randy Couture, B.J. Penn and Conor McGregor are the fighters to achieve the feat.

Out Too Long

As expected, GSP opened as the odds on favorite in this title bout at -130 and the champion Bisping the underdog at +120. The odds have moved a bit with St. Pierre now at -130 at Bovada and Bisping with EVEN odds. Regardless of the numbers, this one should be an interesting fight to watch.

GSP is one of the most complete fighters in the sport and has not lost in a decade. Having spent so much time outside of the octagon leaves plenty of questions regarding his conditioning and ability to be effective especially since he is moving up in weight for this bout.

A Tactical Fight

Naturally, Bisping is the bigger man and has more punching power. He would like to keep this fight on his feet, where he has the best chance to defeat St. Pierre. Not many can keep up with the pace of the Count once he gets his stand-up going. He’s going to pressure GSP and make the Canadian fight going backwards.

St. Pierre, though, is a master of avoiding damage. Against Bisping, he will want to take this fight to the ground to negate the size and power advantage. St. Pierre is a very crafty wrestler who has excellent control in the canvas. This fight could be tactical and boring but that’s how St. Pierre usually wins. Nothing different here.

Bisping’s takedown defense is good but it’s not stellar. It will be put to the test against St. Pierre. We’re picking Georges St. Pierre to win a tactical battle. GSP by decision.

Anthony Joshua vs. Carlos Takam Preview and Prediction

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With Kubrat Pulev out, world heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua gets a new opponent for his October 28th, 2017 bout at the Principality Stadium in Cardiff, Wales.

AJ was expected to make a mandatory defense against Kubrat Pulev but the Bulgarian pulled out of their encounter after suffering a torn muscle in his right shoulder area. Joshua will now defend his belts against the next highest fighter on the IBF’s heavyweight rankings.

Replacement Foe

That man is 3rd ranked Carlos Takam, who lost to WBO heavyweight champion Joseph Parker in a competitive bout in 2015.  Takam has a record of 35-3-1 with 27 KOs. The Frenchman has won two in a row since losing to Parker. He will be challenging for a world title for the second time in his career.

Joshua has made three successful defenses of the IBF heavyweight title he won from Charles Martin in 2016. The 28-year old British superstar knocked out Dominic Breazeale in in seven rounds, Eric Molina in three and then sent Klitschko to retirement last April 29th in the leading 2017 Fight of the Year candidate.

Total Package

Anthony Joshua is a -6600 favorite against Takam, who is currently listed at +200. AJ is considered to be the best heavyweight in the planet and is the total package as a fighter. He has power, hand speed, footwork and boxing IQ. He’s shown few weaknesses so far, although he was dropped by Klitschko during their bout.

Takam is almost nine years older than Joshua and is much shorter than the champion. He has knockout power too and has won four of his last five bouts by stoppage. He has a come forward style but tends to lose steam after a couple of rounds. His best chance against AJ would be in the opening rounds of the bout.

Perfect Record

Given his age and his tendency to drop his hands, his stamina and durability should be a problem if this goes to the middle rounds. But don’t think he is out of shape because even before Pulev pulled out, Takam was already a standby opponent so he is ready. Problem is, Joshua looks unstoppable right now. He has a perfect record of 19-0 with 19 KOs.

Look for Anthony Joshua to send Takam packing early. It’s going to be a quick night in Wales. Nobody’s perfect but AJ will keep his clean slate. Anthony Joshua by knockout before round six.

Battle Of The Liams: Will Williams Get His Revenge on Smith?

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Here we go again. The battle of two of Britain’s up and coming boxing superstars, both named Liam.

Liam Smith and Liam Williams will square off again after their thrilling first encounter ended in controversy. The two will lock horns one more time at the Metro Radio Arena in Newcastle, England on November 11th, 2017 in what the WBO has announced as a title eliminator for their 154-pound belt.

Unfortunate Ending

Smith and Williams engaged in a dogfight last April at the Manchester Arena in England. The bout came to a sudden end after Liam Williams was pulled from the bout after nine rounds because of an eye injury. It was a sorry loss for Williams who was up by one point in all three of the judges scorecards.

Because of the unfortunate ending, an immediate rematch between the two was set and it was initially penciled for October 28th, 2017. But with heavyweight champion Anthony Joshua fighting on that same date, the Liams agreed to move their fight to November 11th, 2017 and settle their dispute once again inside the ring.

Title Eliminator

Their first bout was for the WBO 154-pound title but Smith did not win it because he failed to make the junior middleweight limit of 154 pounds during the weigh-ins. Instead, the title was disputed by Miguel Cotto and Yoshihiro Kamegai last August. Cotto won it and will defend the crown against Sadam Ali on December 2nd. As this bout is a title eliminator, the winner between Smith and Williams will fight for the title next.

The WBO title once belonged to Liam Smith before he was beaten by Saul Canelo Alvarez. Liam Williams, meanwhile, is the British and Commonwealth 154-pound champion and the 2016 Young Boxer of the Year by the British Boxing Writers association. He is looking for his first world title and once again, that road leads to Liam Smith.

Loser is Favorite

Despite losing their first encounter, Liam Williams is the slight favorite here at -120, while Liam Smith is at even money +100. If not for that eye injury, Liam Williams would’ve likely won that fight on points. Williams looked too sharp for Smith in the early goings and kept his more experienced opponent off him with laser jabs.

Don’t forget that Williams had his best round of the fight in Round 8 before the accidental clash of heads in Round 9 forced the Williams corner to step in and save their fighter’s eye from further damage. To his credit, Smith fought back and turned it into a bloody brawl before the accidental headbutt occurred.

Prediction

We know how tough a veteran Liam ‘Beefy’ Smith is and we acknowledge him being a former world champion. But Liam Smith is probably the best 154-pounder in England right now. He has the skills and power to be a world champion.

Again, Williams has the better jab and more powerful punches. Those should be the key. Barring any unfortunate injury in the rematch, Liam Williams should exact revenge on Liam Smith. Williams by unanimous decision or late knockout.