Tag: TJ Dillashaw

Gambling Addiction Enabler Head-to-Head: UFC 173 Edition


(Damn it, TJ. You’re supposed to hold the imaginary title belt above your head.)

UFC 173 may not be heavy on star power, but it presents some interesting opportunities for the MMA fan with a crippling gambling addiction looking to make a few bucks this weekend. Join staff writers Jared Jones and Seth Falvo as they break down their favorite fights, underdogs and the most creative ways to flush your hard earned cash down the crapper in a “versus” style edition of the gambling addiction enabler. Will Renan Barao extend his winning streak? Is Daniel Cormier a lock against the aging Dan Henderson? Read on for our picks – with odds courtesy of 5Dimes.eu– and may the winnings be yours.

The Good Dogs

Jared: I’d like to start by preemptively shaming you, Seth, as well as the Potato Nation, and truly, every last so-called “MMA fan” who isn’t giving Dan Henderson a smidgen of hope against Daniel Cormier tomorrow night. Seriously, you guys are the worst.

I don’t care if he’s fighting Fedor on Zeus’ shoulders and both can punch but only Zeus can kick, Dan Henderson should *never* be listed at anything worse than even odds. He’s defeated heavyweights, light heavyweights, middleweights, supposed Emperors, and more legends of the sport than pugilistic dementia. That he’s currently hovering around the +600 mark is not only an insult to the man, the myth, the psuedo-Native American that is “Hollywood,” but a disgrace to this sport on par with YAMMA Pit Fighting. TRT, SchmeeRT, Dan Henderson will walk through Cormier’s punches before delivering his greatest H-Bomb to date, at 2:03 of the second round, amen. Say it with me, folks: Dan. F*cking. Henderson.


(Damn it, TJ. You’re supposed to hold the imaginary title belt above your head.)

UFC 173 may not be heavy on star power, but it presents some interesting opportunities for the MMA fan with a crippling gambling addiction looking to make a few bucks this weekend. Join staff writers Jared Jones and Seth Falvo as they break down their favorite fights, underdogs and the most creative ways to flush your hard earned cash down the crapper in a “versus” style edition of the gambling addiction enabler. Will Renan Barao extend his winning streak? Is Daniel Cormier a lock against the aging Dan Henderson? Read on for our picks – with odds courtesy of 5Dimes.eu– and may the winnings be yours.

The Good Dogs

Jared: I’d like to start by preemptively shaming you, Seth, as well as the Potato Nation, and truly, every last so-called “MMA fan” who isn’t giving Dan Henderson a smidgen of hope against Daniel Cormier tomorrow night. Seriously, you guys are the worst.

I don’t care if he’s fighting Fedor on Zeus’ shoulders and both can punch but only Zeus can kick, Dan Henderson should *never* be listed at anything worse than even odds. He’s defeated heavyweights, light heavyweights, middleweights, supposed Emperors, and more legends of the sport than pugilistic dementia. That he’s currently hovering around the +600 mark is not only an insult to the man, the myth, the psuedo-Native American that is “Hollywood,” but a disgrace to this sport on par with YAMMA Pit Fighting. TRT, SchmeeRT, Dan Henderson will walk through Cormier’s punches before delivering his greatest H-Bomb to date, at 2:03 of the second round, amen. Say it with me, folks: Dan. F*cking. Henderson.

(Also, Francisco Rivera at +150 isn’t a bad pick, and Chico Camus is a proven UFC-level fighter with a wealth of experience over TUF 18 winner Chris Holdsworth, who at just 5-0, is being slightly overvalued as a 3-to-1 favorite.)

Seth: I won’t argue that I don’t deserve shame and all, but let’s not act like Henderson wasn’t getting a “$5 for Shiggles” bet out of my wallet this weekend. As for the other good dogs, Rivera upsetting Mizugaki is as safe of an underdog bet as you’ll find on this card, and far be it from me not to wager on a gritty sumbitch like Chico Camus – who holds two upset victories in his 3-1 UFC run, mind you – bullying a 5-0 TUF winner for three rounds. And since I’ve never been one to let pesky little details like “never having seen either guy fight before” stop me from throwing money at my bookie, I’ll pick Li “The Leech” JingLiang to upset the TUF washout fighting on short notice who can’t even spell “bulldog” correctly. Becuz propper spelleng, yoll.

Stay the Hell Away From

Jared: Varner vs. Krause. Becuz inconcistensee. I put good money down on Varner to beat Abel Trujillo at UFC 169, and for most of the fight, Varner was kicking “Killa’s” ass all over the octagon. Then he got cocky/tired and walked straight into a haymaker from Hell. I just so happened to fall out of  moving van that night, if you know what I mean.

Anyway, the former WEC lightweight champ has been consistent in the entertainment department since unretiring, but inconsistent everywhere else. And I’m not sure whether Krause was faking, confused, or just plain hurt by Bobby Green’s body kicks in his last bout, but I do know that I’m not placing money on either of these dudes because I can’t medically suffer another “accidental” concussion in the next 30 days.

Seth: Robbie Lawler vs. Jake Ellenberger is going to make for a great fight. And that’s the only prediction I’m willing to stake my all but nonexistent reputation on. Just sit back and enjoy this one, okay?

The Main Event

Seth: I think this will sum up the main event nicely…

Jared: Good point, Seth, but I’m thinking something more along the lines of…

 

As for my prediction…here’s some footage of TJ Dillashaw training on an airplane. It will not help him. I am done speaking on this subject.

Other Fights Worth Investing In
Anthony Njokuani (-225) vs. Vinc Pichel (+205)
Sam Sicilia (-140) vs. Aaron Phillips (+130)
Tony Ferguson (-280) vs. Katsunori Kikuno (+255)

Jared: UFC 173 doesn’t present a ton of interesting gambling opportunities in my eyes, truth be told, but Anthony Njokuani at just -225 against Vinc Pichel, a.k.a Rustam Khabilov’s ragdoll, seems like a steal to me. I don’t even know who A-A-ron Phillips is, so TUF 15 alum Sam Sicilia at -150 seems like a safe parlay bet, even though he’s dropped 3 out of 5 in the UFC. Sicilia’s likely fighting for his UFC career at this point, and will hopefully use that extra motivation to TKO this newbie in the first.

Seth: Not so fast, Jared. Aaron Phillips is part of Tim Creuder’s stable of roughneck brawlers from South Louisiana; he should be a tough opponent for Sicilia. Ain’t no way I’m betting on Sicilia to win this one, but Phillips at +130 doesn’t provide an attractive enough ROI to wager on a guy making his UFC debut. So instead I’ll advise everyone that Tony Ferguson is a safe bet against Katsunori Kikuno. “Japanese veteran on American soil” usually doesn’t end well, and Ferguson has proven to be far more competent at fighting than he is at picking out back tattoos (I mean seriously…).

Jared: You fool. Those are quite clearly Max Holloway‘s super-original angel wing tattoos. No? Ben Henderson then? Renan Barao?

Tony gon’ whoop dat ass, tho.

Suggested Stakes for a $50 Wager
Jared: $30 on a Njokuani + Sicilia + Ferguson parlay (nets $69.48)
$10 on Dan F*cking Henderson (nets $57.50)
$10 on Camus (nets $28)

Seth: $30 on Ferguson + Rivera + Njokuani parlay (nets $116.23)
$10 on Camus + Barao parlay (nets $33.35)
$5 on Dan Henderson (nets $28.75)
$5 on Jingliang + Camus + Rivera + Ferguson + Barao + Njokuani #YOLO parlay (nets $243.29)

UFC 173: Renan Barao’s Experience Will Earn Him Decisive Win over TJ Dillashaw

TJ Dillashaw may have bitten off a bit more than he can chew, as he prepares to enter the Octagon against Renan Barao for UFC 173’s main event.
Barao may be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet—even if he doesn’t quite receive a…

TJ Dillashaw may have bitten off a bit more than he can chew, as he prepares to enter the Octagon against Renan Barao for UFC 173‘s main event.

Barao may be one of the best pound-for-pound fighters on the planet—even if he doesn’t quite receive as many headlines of others, such as Jon Jones.

With a 34-1 record—his lone blemish coming when he was an 18-year-old rookie—Barao‘s dominance has been wildly visible.

Mike Chiappetta of Fox Sports tweeted a vivid example of how long it’s been since Barao lost:

Barao hasn’t seen a fight come to a decision since his first bout with Urijah Faber in 2012. Since then, he’s recorded a round-four submission against Michael McDonald, a round-two technical knockout against Eddie Wineland and a round-one technical knockout against Faber.

Need a refresher? Mike Goldberg and Joe Rogan commented on Barao‘s win following UFC 169:

This fight was a perfect example of how Barao‘s experience came into play.

Keeping a good distance from Faber, he felt his way inside with a jab and immediately saw an opening in his opponent’s defenses. What followed was an absolutely brutal right hand, which staggered Faber.

Barao took full advantage of his dazed opponent, taking him to the ground and pummeling him with a barrage of punches until the fight was stopped.

Barao‘s abilities as a striker will prove to be a daunting task for Dillashaw to overcome.

A solid wrestler and accurate striker, Dillashaw won’t back down from Barao; however, that may be his undoing.

As Dillashaw attempts to get close enough for a takedown, he puts himself in harm’s way, as Barao has the accuracy, intelligence and strength to deliver a decisive blow, which could end the fight immediately.

Bleacher Report’s Duane Finley sums it up perfectly with this tweet:

What Dillashaw must accomplish over the course of the fight is to get Barao moving backward and avoid a constant onslaught of punches. This is certainly easier said than done, as Barao has a bevy of techniques at his disposal to counter anything Dillashaw throws his way.

Should Dillashaw decide to stand up to Barao, he’s capable of doing some damage. Here’s a look at some of his greatest moments, courtesy of a tweet from Dana White:

During an interview with Brett Okamoto of ESPN.com, Dillashaw spoke of his strategy coming into the fight:

There is definitely positives and negatives to it. I’ve studied this opponent more than any other I’ve had because Urijah fought him. I don’t want to get too much into thinking, though. I want to have a reaction when I’m out there.

When I’m not thinking, I’m a faster athlete. If you start trying to think about what he’s going to do, it slows you down. I just want to have fun once I step in there and prove everyone wrong.

He’s certainly done his homework; however, it all comes down to experience.

While Dillashaw is a talented fighter, he simply isn’t refined enough to counter Barao‘s superior fighting style.

Dealing with Barao is one thing for Dillashaw, but the pressure of a title fight only adds to the odds being stacked against him in a big way.

Dillashaw has the ability to contend with Barao, but he’s not ready just yet.

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UFC 173: Keys to Victory for Renan Barao

It’s not really a secret that UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao is a justified favorite in his UFC 173 headliner against TJ Dillashaw this weekend.
Barao has been smashing the best of the best at the 135-pound class for a while now, while Dillashaw…

It’s not really a secret that UFC bantamweight champion Renan Barao is a justified favorite in his UFC 173 headliner against TJ Dillashaw this weekend.

Barao has been smashing the best of the best at the 135-pound class for a while now, while Dillashaw is a high-ceiling prospect being given a title shot entirely too soon.

If this fight were to happen in 2016, there would be some serious doubt as to who would win. The fact is, it’s happening in 2014, and there’s a good chance it’s not going to need championship rounds for the Brazilian to retain his title.

Still, Barao‘s got to get there. They don’t just give you your belt for showing up at the venue. You’ve got to go out and win the fight, and in a sport as radically unpredictable and intensely volatile as MMA, nothing is guaranteed.

Dillashaw is absolutely not some stiff, and it’s going to take some mighty careful stepping from Barao to avoid being upset. There are two main parts to that equation: don’t get lost in Dillashaw‘s movement, and don’t let him outwrestle you.

Dillashaw is frenetic in the cage, moreso than the champion and perhaps moreso than anyone who’s challenged him to date. He’s bouncing and hopping from the first bell to the last, usually only stopping long enough to set up a combination or a shot. From there, he’s on his bike again until the next attack.

More than one of his opponents have been thrown off by that movement, as it’s a unique look for an Alpha Male fighter and for a fighter in general. If Barao falls into that trap, Dillashaw has the striking prowess to hurt him should he see an opening.

The other component of a successful title defense for Barao is to avoid a wrestling match with Dillashaw—something he’s historically had no issues with. Coming from Nova Uniao and with considerable grappling experience, taking Barao down is much akin to wrestling a greased pig in an oil slick. It’s just not that easy to do.

Still, it’s important for the champion not to slip up in that area. It’s the one clear-cut advantage for the challenger, and if he scores takedowns and succeeds with ground control, he’ll rack up points early and force Barao to fight from behind.

At the end of the day, however, this is Barao‘s fight to lose. The keys to victory aren’t a secret to anyone, and that includes both he and his challenger.

Anything can happen when the cage door closes, but anything other than a champion leaving Las Vegas with his title intact would be a total stunner.

 

Follow me on Twitter @matthewjryder! 

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UFC 173 Weigh-in Results: Renan Barao vs. TJ Dillashaw Fight Card

The UFC returns to Las Vegas for UFC 173, and the event will be headlined by a bantamweight title clash between champion Renan Barao and No. 4-ranked TJ Dillashaw.
Also in action, Dan Henderson and Daniel Cormier battle it out in a light heavyweight ti…

The UFC returns to Las Vegas for UFC 173, and the event will be headlined by a bantamweight title clash between champion Renan Barao and No. 4-ranked TJ Dillashaw.

Also in action, Dan Henderson and Daniel Cormier battle it out in a light heavyweight title eliminator, and No. 1-ranked welterweight contender Robbie Lawler battles No. 5-ranked Jake Ellenberger.

UFC 173 Weigh-In Results

  • UFC Bantamweight Championship: Renan Barao (135) vs. TJ Dillashaw (135)
  • Daniel Cormier (205) vs. Dan Henderson (199)
  • Robbie Lawler (171) vs. Jake Ellenberger (171)
  • Takeya Mizugaki (135) vs. Francisco Rivera (135)
  • Jamie Varner (155) vs. James Krause (156)
  • Michael Chiesa (156) vs. Francisco Trinaldo (155)
  • Tony Ferguson (155) vs. Katsunori Kikuno (155)
  • Chris Holdsworth (135) vs. Chico Camus (135)
  • Al Iaquinta (155) vs. Mitch Clarke (155)
  • Anthony Njokuani (155) vs. Vinc Pichel (155)
  • Sam Sicilia (146) vs. Aaron Phillips (145)
  • David Michaud (171) vs. Li JingLiang (170)

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Renan Barao Talks TJ Dillashaw and Superfight with Jose Aldo

Renan Barao would rather wait his turn in the chilled shadow of Jose Aldo than step into the cage with someone he looks to as a brother.
The UFC bantamweight champ is without a doubt the most underappreciated champion in MMA history. His résum&e…

Renan Barao would rather wait his turn in the chilled shadow of Jose Aldo than step into the cage with someone he looks to as a brother.

The UFC bantamweight champ is without a doubt the most underappreciated champion in MMA history. His résumé speaks for itself—undefeated for nearly a decade with 22 straight wins. These are feats comparable to heavyweight legend Fedor Emelianenko.

At only 27 years old, Barao really does have the entire world in the palm of his hands.

“I just keep working hard, practicing a lot, practice a little bit of everything,” Barao said through a translator in a phone interview with Bleacher Report. “Just be prepared for everything. That’s the way I always try to see things.”

Barao’s transcendental abilities haven’t changed a selflessness and humbleness that only few have the pleasure of knowing. During the UFC Fight Night 40 media scrum, UFC president Dana White said that “without a doubt” Barao is the No. 2 ranked best pound-for-pound fighter in the world behind Jon Jones.

When asked if he disagreed, Barao explained that more work needed to be done on his part, and instead, he tipped his hat to UFC featherweight champ and fellow Nova União member Jose Aldo.

“I’m happy just doing my job and my best. Maybe in the future Dana will call me No. 1,” he said. “For me, definitely Jose Aldo [is the best fighter in the world]. He’s the most complete fighter, and I train with him every day. I think he’s the best.”

With six UFC title defenses under his belt, Aldo is right behind Jon Jones in a bid to tie or surpass Anderson Silva’s legendary record for 10 successful title defenses. The featherweight division has shown the propensity to churn out new contenders, but thus far, all have been effortlessly swallowed by Aldo’s greatness.

The same could soon be said about Barao, a young phenom with three consecutive title defenses already under his belt. White’s reasoning for placing him ahead of Aldo in the pound-for-pound rankings is performance-based only.

Like Silva, Barao has a flair for finishing opponents inside the Octagon in devastating fashion. He may not command the same kind of following as other UFC champions, but you would be hard-pressed to find a more exciting fighter than Barao.

With that said, things can become stale in a hurry for MMA fans.

Murmurings of potential superfights generally creep up two or three title defenses into a champion’s reign. The top pound-for-pound fighter in the world could be Aldo or Barao, and the two are only separated by a division. It’s a convenience that hasn’t been realized since Silva and Georges St-Pierre’s run as UFC champions.

Unfortunately, it appears that the closest we’ll ever get to seeing Barao compete against Aldo is at the Nova União training center. If White calls for a superfight, Barao leaves no opening for negotiation.

“Me and Aldo are like brothers, and it’s not gonna happen,” he said.

Instead of superfights, Barao is solely focused on defending his UFC title against TJ Dillashaw in the main event of UFC 173.

Team Alpha Male’s Dillashaw, who is serving as a replacement for the injured Raphael Assuncao, boasts a supreme confidence that he will be the man to oust Barao. During an interview with MMAWeekly, he claimed that he intends to shock the world the same way Chris Weidman did when he defeated Anderson Silva for the UFC title.

Talk is cheap for Barao, who fully intends on reminding the world why he is the best at 135 pounds.

“Everyone thinks in a certain way. TJ can speak whatever he wants,” Barao said. “He’s been speaking a lot lately about that. I’m just waiting for the day of the fight, and then I’ll enter the Octagon and prove TJ wrong.”

While Barao respects Dillashaw as an opponent, he honestly believes Assuncao would have been a tougher opponent. The Brazilian was coming off a split-decision win over Dillashaw, but his opportunity at the title was forfeited after suffering an injury in training camp.

“Yes [Assuncao would have been a tougher matchup],” Barao said. “He was the guy who fight [TJ]. He earned the right to have a title shot [by winning] five or six straight fights in the division, but he hurt himself and the opportunity was given to Dillashaw.”

All will be revealed when Barao finally steps into the cage with Dillashaw at UFC 173 on Saturday night at the MGM Grand Garden Arena.

Barao expects a “great fight” against a “really tough opponent.” If things go his way, fans might even get treated to a new post-fight celebratory dance.

“I don’t know what’s going to happen, but it’ll definitely be a surprise,” he said.

 

Jordy McElroy is a featured columnist for Bleacher Report. He is also the MMA writer for Rocktagon. All quotes were obtained firsthand unless otherwise noted.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com

UFC 173: Fight Week with T.J. Dillashaw

LAS VEGAS—T.J. Dillashaw will face the biggest challenge of his life Saturday night.
The Team Alpha Male fighter steps in the Octagon at UFC 173 to face Renan Barao for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. He is the second Team Alpha Male athlete t…

LAS VEGAS—T.J. Dillashaw will face the biggest challenge of his life Saturday night.

The Team Alpha Male fighter steps in the Octagon at UFC 173 to face Renan Barao for the UFC Bantamweight Championship. He is the second Team Alpha Male athlete to face Barao; his teammate and mentor Urijah Faber has twice faced the Brazilian and lost. The stakes are high for Dillashaw as he attempts to become the first from his camp to bring a UFC championship belt back home to Sacramento, California.

Bleacher Report lead mixed martial arts writer Jeremy Botter is embedded with the challenger in Las Vegas. He’ll be providing multiple live blog updates each day, with the intention of giving readers a glimpse into Dillashaw’s life as he endures endless fight-week obligations and puts the finishing touches on his preparations for Barao.

Stay tuned to this post for updates.

Read more MMA news on BleacherReport.com