Since I just created this website this week, I will not have a full fight card breakdown for this week, and next weeks card. My goal is to have a full breakdown of the next PPV card, UFC 218. This website is far from complete, and should be fully functioning by early 2018. I will post my bets weekly, and will breakdown the super close fights that I'm betting in the mean time.
Tim Means vs. Belal Muhammad
Let me first start by saying that this one of the better fights that's taking place in Australia this weekend. Tim Means is coming off a well fought win over Alex Garcia back in June. Meanwhile, Belal Muhammad is coming into this contest with back to back decision wins over the likes of Randy Brown and Jordan Mein. My first glance at this fight card, I thought Muhammad stood a really good chance at defeating Means because he is a gritty fighter, and gets better every round. But after going back and watching footage of both of these fighters, I had second thoughts on Muhammad winning this fight.
Belal Muhammad: He's a guy that you have to put away, or you're in a fight until the final bell rings. In all of his fights that he has gone to a decision in the UFC he has won the 3rd round very decisively. He has decent chin, but he is hittable. He likes to go for takedowns through out the fight to mix it up, but he's not very successful, and when he does get someone to the ground they normally get back up to their feet pretty quickly. Muhammad also likes to clinch up for a bit and use some cage control, which is a key part of him winning rounds in his fights. His clinch and takedown attempts tires his opponents out, and that's what gives him the edge the last half of the fight. The thing I do not like for Muhammad is that he is pretty slow when he throws punches. His arms look very heavy and I think it can be predictable against good strikers.
Tim Means: This is a guy that has fought for a long time, and he still seems to be getting better. In his last fight he kept his range very well, and picked his opponent apart with various attacks to the legs, body, and head. He never let his opponent get comfortable on the feet because of his footwork and by mixing up his attacks. When Garcia went for takedowns in Means last fight, Tim defending well, and when he did get taken down, he scrambled up very quickly. My only concern for him is that he doesn't always keep his hands high and gets hit with overhand rights quite often enough. He relies on his good chin to hold up, but there's no telling how long it will hold up for him in fights.
Prediction: Overall, I think Tim Means takes this fight. It's a similar match-up as his last fight. He is by far the better striker, and I think he thwarts off all of Muhammad's takedown attempts. I think Means stays technical and has a lot of success on the feet. Muhammad is a tough guy, so I think Means does enough in the first two rounds to win a decision. Tim Means by Unanimous Decision.
Jake Matthews vs. Bojan Velickovic
This is a fight of two good fighters that are both going through a bit of a rough patch in their careers. Jake Matthews is coming into this fight on a two fight losing streak, and is making his welterweight debut in the UFC. He's very young guy with lots of potential, but Bojan is no easy out. Bojan Velickovic has had a very lackluster run in the UFC (besides giving Nico Musoke the "stanky leg"), but I think its due to the tough competition that he has fought. He's fought some guys that are very strong in the grappling areas, or very strong strikers in almost all of his fights, and he has hung in there and has had success against them. So his career is a little misleading when you look at his UFC record. I see both guys having success in this fight, and it should be a war.
Prediction: With this being Matthews first fight back at welterweight in years, I do have some concerns in this specific matchup. Going up in weight might give him more energy and strength, but I don't see him overpowering Bojan. I see the southpaw, Velickovic, keeping his range with heavy inside leg kicks. Velickovic proved that he has one hell of a chin and recovery against Darren Till. If this fight hits the mat, I give the edge to Velickovic due to top control and guard submissions. My only concern for Velickovic losing this fight is if he sits back too much and lets Matthews edge him out a couple rounds. But overall, this is Velickovic's chance to come out of his shoes and shine with a well rounded dominant performance against a young up and coming prospect. Bojan Velickovic by Unanimous Decision.