UFC 138 Predictions and Betting

Main Event: Middleweight Bout - Mark Munoz vs Chris 'The Crippler' Leben

Not the greatest main event for a numbered card but it's didums for us UK fans I guess. Although this is not an A-List main event, expect fireworks (and not just the displays outside). Both men come to fight every time and this will lead to to the fight definatley not going the five round distance. Expect Munoz to look good on the feet, training on a day to day basis with Rafael Cordeiro and mix his striking up with his takedowns. His 'Donkey Kong' ground 'n' pound from top position will have maximum effect and will also work for submissions too.

Prediction - Munoz via 3rd T/KO

Co-Main Event: Bantamweight Bout - Brad 'One Punch' Pickett vs Renan Barao

Barao is currently riding a massive 26 fight winning streak and although not beating a lot of creditable opponents he beat what was put infront of him, quite easily in fact. He mixes striking and takedowns well as shown in his last fight against Cole Escovedo. However Pickett is a class above the guys Barao has fought. For a Brit he has very good wrestling taking Demitrious Johnson down at will, has excellent boxing and very under rated BJJ. Pickett, training out of American Top Team, will be too much for Barao and hand him his first lose since his career debut.

Prediction - Pickett via Dec

Welterweight Bout: Welterweight Bout - Thiago 'The Pitbull' Alves vs Papy Abedi

I've never actually seen Abedi fight so it will be tough for me to say how good he is. Yet looking at his record, he seems very well rounded and could prove a threat to Alves who just hasn't looked the same the last few times out. But making your octagon debut against 'The Pitbull' is not the easiest task in the world. Before he got his shout at GSP for the belt, Alves romped through the 170lbs division defeating the likes of Josh Koscheck and Matt Hughes with ease. Alves will apply constant pressure to Abedi and eventually lead to a stoppage.

Prediction - Alves via 2nd T/KO (KO of the Night)

Lightweight Bout: Terry Etim vs Eddie Faaloloto

This will be the most one sided fight on the card. Etim, coming off an 18 month injury, will make light work of Faaloloto. Terry has extremely crisp striking and a great ground game. Faaloloto struggled with Michael Johnson's striking and Etim on the feet is much better.

Prediction - Etim via 1st T/KO

Light-Heavyweight Bout: Cyrille Diabate vs Anthony Perosh

Perosh needs to get this fight down early if he has a chance to win. The Aussie's grappling is much better than the Diabate's. Yet, if Diabate finds his rhytham on the feet and stuffs the takedowns of Perosh expect the French native to pick Perosh off with his long reach.

Prediction - Diabate via Dec

Welterweight Bout: John Maguire vs Justin Edwards

Maguire has very good BJJ and expect him to drag with fight to the ground and tap Edwards out

Prediction - Maguire via 2nd SUB (RNC and Sub of Night)

Featherweight Bout: Michihiro Omigawa vs Jason 'Shotgun' Young

This is the fight I am definatley most looking forward to on the card. Omigawa has excellent boxing with a good ground game. Young on the other hand was unlucky to get the 'nod' in his UFC Debut against Top Ten 145lber Dustin Poirer. Young will mix his striking up with leg kicks and clinch work. Expect some good exchanged between the two.

Prediction - Young via Dec (Fight of the Night)

Heavyweight Bout - Rob 'The Bear' Broughton vs Phillip De Fries

De Fries has good BJJ and wrestling. Yet, despite Broughton having a poor perfomance not long ago at UFC 135 against Travis Browne, he is very well rounded and will stuff the takedowns and get the finish

Predictionn - Broughton via 3rd T/KO

Welterweight Bout: Chris Cope vs Che Mills

Mills has more experience and has fought better opponents including 'Judo' Jim Wallhead and Yuya Shirai. However Cope, a semi-finalist on TUF 13 who beat early favourite Shamar Bailey. Cope has good striking and takedown defence.

Cope via Dec

Bantamweight Bout: Chris Cariaso vs Vaughan Lee

Don't know much about Lee, but Cariaso showed good stand up against the heavily talented Michael McDonald where he lost via split decision.

Betting via (WilliamHill.co.uk)

Accumulator (5 Folds)

Mark Munoz @ 4/9

Brad Picket @ 11/10

Thiago Alves @3/10

Terry Etim @ 1/5

Cyrille Diabate @ 2/9

Odds - 5.08/1

Underdogs Special