MMA FightPicker Head-to-Head: UFC 110 Edition

(Some Silva vs. Bisping hype, courtesy of nicktheface.)

Update: In light of the Rothwell/Cro Cop/Perosh situation, which will henceforth be referred to as the saga of Mirko and "The Hippo," just for laughs, we’ve updated the FightPicker questions. We’ve also replaced Sinosic/Haseman with Lytle/Foster, so there’s that too. You should probably go update your picks accordingly. Picks can be changed until 11 pm PST tonight. If, after that point, any more changes happen to make our existing questions obsolete, we’ll just declare those a tie. Sound good?

It’s the Friday before a big MMA event, and as new tradition dictates, it’s time for BF and I to make our MMA FightPicker picks public so that we can bust each other’s balls on Monday morning. Before we get to it, have you made your own picks yet? And have you considered entering one of the prize pools to win an iPod Touch? Not trying to nag or anything, it’s just that we regret the things we don’t do in this life, you know? Anyway…

1. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira vs. Cain Velasquez at UFC 110: Who will win?
BG: Nogueira. He’ll handle Velasquez standing, and he’s strong enough on the ground to avoid being squashed.
BF: Strong enough to avoid being squashed, yes. But strong enough to avoid being put there again and again and worked over for three rounds? I have my doubts. Velasquez via decision. Maybe then you’ll realize that it is not 2006 anymore.

2. Will Nogueira vs. Velasquez end in a stoppage or decision?
BG: [no selection] Well, my official pick is Big Nog by decision. But between the chances of a Nogueira submission win and a Velasquez TKO, I’m not feeling too confident about it. Therefore, I will use my freedom as an American citizen to not answer the question. It’s called smart play, people.
BF: Way to make your total bitchassness sound like a brilliant and oddly patriotic strategic move. I will use my freedom as a man with a pair of functioning testicles to pick decision.

3. Wanderlei Silva vs. Michael Bisping: Who will win?
BG: I’ll take Bisping for the minor upset. Wandy’s way too predictable these days, and not the same balls-out steamroller that he used to be.
BF: You’ve got a point, but I don’t like Bisping’s chances to hit and run his way to a decision down in Australia. I think Silva takes this and experiences the briefest of career revivals.

4. Will Silva vs. Bisping make it to round 3?
BG: Yes. As long as the Count keeps his head moving and stays out of range, he can pot-shot his way to a decision.
BF: Yes. Bisping doesn’t have the power to put Silva away, and after the loss to Hendo he doesn’t have the utter lack of brains to dive into an all-out striking exchange.

5. Joe Stevenson vs. George Sotiropoulos: Who will win?
BG: Joe Stevenson. The jump in competition will be too much for Sotiropoulos to handle. Stevenson has looked better than ever lately.
BF: Agreed. Stevenson is still somewhat limited as a fighter, but at least he’s playing to his strengths these days.

6. Keith Jardine vs. Ryan Bader: Who will win?
BG: Ryan Bader. Bader’s power and wrestling skills will overcome the experience gap. This could be Jardine’s farewell performance.
BF: Sadly, I agree. Bader isn’t afraid to fight smart even when it means fighting boring.

7. Number of leg-kicks Jardine will land before he’s taken down (less than 5 / 5 or more)?
BG: Less than 5. Yeah, the Dean likes to throw ‘em. Bader’s not dumb enough to take ‘em.
BF: Agreed again. But God I hate questions that involve counting. What is this, Sesame Street?

8. Will Fight of the Night and KO of the Night both go to main card bouts?
BG: Yes. Seems like a safe bet, unless Sinosic and Haseman put together an all-Australian slobberknocker that whips that crowd into a frenzy.
BF: Yeah, there are just too many bangers on the main card to bet against them.

9. Stephan Bonnar vs. Krzysztof Soszynski: Who will win?
BG: K-Sos. By kimura, obviously.
BF: Yep. So long, Stephan.

10. CB Dollaway vs.