TUF 14 Finale: Bisping vs. Miller LowKick.com Staff Predictions
Posted on December 3, 2011, 06:33 AM by Anton GurevichJason Miller vs. Michael Bisping
Top Prediction: Miller via Submission in Round 3
Trent Reinsmith: The odds in this fight are in Michael Bisping’s favor, but it seems that the majority of fans would much rather see Jason Miller take the victory home. Miller does have a chance in this fight, but that chance is mostly on the ground, a fact that is surely not lost on Bisping. Look for Bisping to do what he does best keep the fight standing and look to gain points on his way to a unanimous decision victory. Michael Bisping by decision.
Anton Gurevich: I consider Jason Miller to be a more well-rounded fighter than Michael Bisping. Mayhem has an excellent ground game and good striking that could give him the edge against the relatively one-dimensional Bisping. More than anything, "The Count" has an incredible thin skin that always puts him off balance. You can't let anyone to get under your skin so easily in top tier MMA competition. The only thing that works against Miller is the fact that he didn't fight over a year, and will definitely have the "ring rust syndrome" during the first minutes of the bout. One way or another, I predict a decisive victory for Miller, Round 3 via Submission.
Joey Santosus: With top Middleweight contender Chael Sonnen recently alluding to a possible showdown with the winner of this one, the man with his hand raised on Saturday night could find themselves within spitting distance of a title shot (no pun intended). At their best, Bisping vs. Miller is a tough fight to call. However, while the Brit comes into the bout riding a three-fight winning streak, including a victory over Jorge Rivera back in February, "Mayhem" has competed just twice in the past two years. Returning to action for the first time since September of 2010, questions loom regarding Miller's current form, and because Bisping has been stopped just once in his 25-fight professional career, I'll take "The Count" to Bully the Beatdown host en-route to a decision victory. Michael Bisping via Decision.
Ryan Ventura: It’s been over a year since fans last saw Jason Miller fight the 2010 version of the Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba. I’m not sure if ring rust will be a factor against Michael Bisping, but what I do know for sure is that “The Count” as much as people dislike him is good when it counts and he has only lost to the best of the best. I don’t think Jason Miller has the power of Dan Henderson or the wrestling skills of Rashad Evans, but I think he’ll out grapple Bisping for the whole fight and will ride out a decision victory.
Deigo Brandao vs. Dennis Bermudez
Top Prediction: Brandao via TKO in Round 1
Trent Reinsmith: Diego Brandao has established himself as an exciting fighter during this season of “TUF”, finishing all his fights within the first round. His opponent Dennis Bermudez will look to use his wrestling background to negate the striking power of Brandao, something I do not think will work out for him. Brandao is hungry and relentless, a UFC fan favorite waiting to happen, look for him to take home the featherweight UFC contract on Saturday. Diego Brandao by first round TKO.
Anton Gurevich: It's hard to predict how Bermudez and Brandao improved since the taping of the Ultimate Fighter. Judging by the show, I would pick Bermudez to win this contest, simply because he seems to me like a more balanced fighter, who's able to control his cool inside the cage or ring. Brandao is 13-7 in his MMA campaign, and I'm absolutely sure that the majority of those losses root down to the fact that Brandao is too offensive every time he fights. Bermudez via Submission.
Joey Santosus: For the first time ever, the UFC allowed viewers to vote on their favorite knockout of the season, and three of the five available to be voted on, were Diego Brandao's trio of victories. I admit, when I initially saw Brandao burst onto the scene with guns blazing this season, I thought surely his aggression would be his downfall by the show's end. And while I still believe this to be true as the Brazilian moves on to face more skilled opponents in the UFC, I'm not convinced Dennis Bermudez is the fighter to exploit it. Diego Brandao via 1st Rnd TKO.
Ryan Ventura: Dennis Bermudez has made a reputation as one of the best grapplers in the house and he’ll be taking on the hard hitting Deigo Brandao. If Dennis can’t take Deigo to the ground, Deigo will knock his head clean into the 3rd row at the Pearls Casino Resort, and it won’t be pretty. Deigo Brandao 1st round.
TJ Dillashaw vs. John Dodson
Top Prediction: TJ via Decision
Trent Reinsmith: T.J. Dillashaw rubbed a lot of people the wrong way by appearing to take an easier fight early in this season of “TUF”, while his opponent John Dodson rubbed people the wrong way by playing the role of mole in notifying Team Bisping of the fights ahead of time. Personalities aside, this is an intriguing matchup. Dillashaw is the bigger fighter with strong wrestling skills, while Dodson has speed and footwork on his side. Dillashaw is going to have a tough time adjusting levels and taking down the much smaller Dodson due to his low center of gravity. I see Dodson’s perceived height disadvantage turning into an advantage here. John Dodson by decision.
Anton Gurevich: I think Dillashaw's height advantage will play a significant role in this encounter. Yes, Dodson is incredible quick and he has a good well-rounded unorthodox game, but T.J. Dillashaw is way more powerful and calculated than his opponent. Dodson will jump around Dillashaw, who will try to pick his shots from distance. My pick is T.J. via TKO in Round 2.
Joey Santosus: I suspect both of these fighters will find some degree of success in the UFC, as each possess a solid wrestling base and come from a well-respected camp. Dillashaw, an undefeated prospect out of Team Alpha Male, relies heavily on his ability to drag opponents to the mat, where he batters them from top position while looking to sink in a choke. Dodson, meanwhile, fights out of Jackson's MMA and prefers to use his wrestling in reverse, keeping the fight upright where his speed often allows him to deliver strikes and move in and out of danger unscathed. The major disparity between the two, however, lies in their experience. While Dodson has competed in 16 professional bouts since 2004, Dillashaw came into the TUF house with just four pro-fights to his name. Though it's hard to predict how any one fighter will react once they've stepped into the octagon for the first time, Dodson is far less likely to suffer an adrenalin dump and should be able to outlast and outwork Dillashaw to take the nod. John Dodson via Decision.
Ryan Ventura: Both fighters had spectacular showings in the house and have truly earned the right to be Bantamweight finalists for The Ultimate Fighter 14. TJ is a very skilled fighter with a strong wrestling background that will give any opponent problems, but I believe John Dodson is much better and will be able to fight against Dillashaw’s wrestling abilities. John Dodson via decision.
Tony Ferguson vs. Yves Edwards
Top Prediction: Ferguson via TKO in Round 2
Trent Reinsmith: “TUF” season 13 winner Tony Ferguson will look to take another step up the UFC ladder when he meets veteran Yves Edwards on Saturday. Look for this one to stay standing even though both fighters are capable on the ground. Ferguson has shown a lot of power and confidence in his hands in his last two fights and they will serve him well in this bout as well. Tony Ferguson by second round TKO.
Anton Gurevich: Yves Edwards is a very experienced fighter, who made his Octagon debut back at UFC 33. Edwards impressed against Rafaello Oliveira, and is currently 9-5 in his UFC campaign. Yes, Tony Ferguson won the Ultimate Fighter 13, but I feel like Edward's experience will be too much for Brock Lesnar's DeathClutch Gym product. Ferguson has a terrific KO power, but I think that's something a veteran like Edwards already knows how to avoid. Yves Edwards via Decision.
Joey Santosus: TUF 13 winner Tony Ferguson looks to make passage into the upper echelon of competition at 155, but must first best the man guarding the gate, Yves Edwards. Edwards, a 14-year veteran of the sport, will enter the octagon for his 60th professional fight on Saturday, with sights set on improving to 4-1 in his current UFC stint. While Edwards will offer "El Cucuy" an interesting challenge stylistically, mixing dynamic striking with a slick ground game, Ferguson has shown steady improvement since his time on the show. After battering Ramsey Nijem to win the six-figure contact, the Team Death Clutch fighter followed-up by punishing Aaron Riley at UFC 135. Though I expect the "Thugjitsu Master" to make him earn it, I like Ferguson to find a home for one of those nasty left hands, both picking up the victory and effectively earning his right of passage. Tony Ferguson via 2nd Rnd KO.
Ryan Ventura: “The master of Thug Jitsu” Yves Edwards is one of the longest active fights in MMA today and he’ll be facing a young and hungry Tony Ferguson. Edwards has more than enough skills on the ground to tap out Ferguson and he has great skills on the feet too. I’d say Yves has the advantage in this fight with his experience combined with his abilities as a fighter. Yves Edwards 3rd round submission.
Louis Gaudinot vs. Johnny Bedford
Top Prediction: Bredford via Decision
Trent Reinsmith: Two fighters that were eliminated during the most recent season of “TUF” will square off in this bout. Johnny Bedford will look to redeem himself after his semifinal loss to John Dodson, while Louis Gaudinot will look to follow the game plan that Dodson laid out for defeating Bedford. The difference in this one will be that Gaudinot’s skill set is not on the same level as Bedford’s and he won’t be able to deal with the wrestling of Bedford. Johnny Bedford by decision.
Anton Gurevich: Once again, it's how to predict how Gaudinot and Bedford improved since their appearance on TUF 14. On the paper, Bedford is bigger and stronger than Gaudinot, with a very good ground game and significantly bigger professional MMA experience. My MMA logic says John Bedford via Submission in Round 2.
Joey Santosus: Bedford showed promise during his time in the house, utilizing his size and reach advantage to overwhelm opponents before eventually being pummeled by John Dodson in the semifinal round. Gaudinot, meanwhile, looked impressive in his knockout victory over Paul McVeigh, but the natural flyweight was outmatched by a physically stronger Dustin Pague in the quaterfinals. Much like his encounter with Pague, Guadinot will once again find himself at a marked size disadvantage on Saturday, as Bedford stands approximately seven-inches taller. Unless he is able to move in and out without getting forced into tie-ups, I expect Guadinot to suffer the same fate as he did on the show. Johnny Bedford via Decision.
Ryan Ventura: I don’t really know much about either guy, but based on what I’ve seen I’d give the advantage to Johnny Bedford. He is the more experienced fighter and in my opinion has the more well-rounded skill set. Bedford has made a reputation as a sort of submission machine, so I’m going to pick him to win 2nd round via submission.
For the complete TUF 14 Finale Weigh-In Gallery, visit CombatLifestyle.com
Comments
Miller is a quality mma fighter and seems to be a quality guy alround.
Unfortunately for him, Bisping has fought and won against fighters of Millers quality and style consistently.
The main question seems to be, has Bisping evolved enough as a fighter to beat Sonnen and reach the prize of meeting Silva.
The answer to that is, in my opinion, no.
However, it's impossible to rule out a top tier fighter against a seemingly more well rounded fighter, so it does remain to be seen.
As much as I don't like Bisping I'm going to have to agree with most of what you are saying.
This is the type of fight Bisping looks good in, I think he will be able to keep the fight standing for the most part and win a decision via superior boxing. (hope I'm wrong)
Where Bisping falls is against the elite of the division, he'll win this fight and then probably get a fight against a Sonnen or Munoz or Maia and he'll get dummied on the ground.
At the end of the day I think both of these guys are good fighters, neither of them is great and the match up just isn't a good one for Mayhem Miller.
Many fans seem to think Bisping has a weakness on the ground but how many times throughout his career have you seen him in trouble on his back? Bisping's biggest weakness is his susceptibility to the overhand right which after Hendo he should have worked on but I don't think he has.
Bisping is a top 5 fighter and will not be a push over for Sonnen or any other fighter in the division.
I agree with you Whitey,
I think they are both good, not great.
It remains to be seen how Bisping has evolved as a fighter since his last showing... I've heard that he has taken his wrestling training pretty seriously, so if the fight does go to the ground, it will be interesting to see what new tricks he has up his sleeve.
I like Millers personality and think he has a good alróund game, but honestly, Miller doesn't have the track record to get in with and hang with the top 5 at this stage in his career.
Bisbing MIGHT be a top 20 fighter. He is no where near the top five. Also, his biggest weakness is his foot work. He consistently circles into his opponents' power. This makes him susceptible to ANY right hand attack. He also isn't great on the ground. Miller has as much of an advantage there as Bisbing appears to have on the feet. The only question is whether or not Miller can keep the fight there. While Bisbing may not have great grappling he is very good at staying off of his back.
@Ichokepeople
There have been quite a few occasions when I have been impressed by your insights. On this occasion, I would like to question one of your points.
"Bisping might be a top 20 fighter", okay? Sounds like you can easily place 20 fighters above him... Who are you thinking off? Perhaps I am missing out on something??
Cheers
And how many times has this terrible flaw lost him the fight ?
@odesahitman That isn't exactly what I meant. I don't think there is any argument for putting Bisbing in the top 10. Every time he fights a top tier fighter he gets embarrassed. After the top ten I think everything gets way more debatable. All of these guys are highly skilled fighters and there are probably 50+ fighters in the world with some claim to slots 11-20. Bisbing is one of those guys but whether or not he really IS top 20 is up for a lot of debate.
Thanks for clarifying that.
i think youre talking about Sonnen
I agree, Bisping isn't a push over for anyoen and people can't look past his personality to accept this fact
I don't think Bisping's personality is that bad! i just think he gets worked up when he has to cut weight plus his last two opponents have both started talking shit about him before he has said anything. I've met him a couple of times and he is very fun to be around, and all this talk about him not fighting the best guys is nothing to do with him as he doesn't get to pick his opponents Joe silver does and i have never heard of him turning down a fight.
This is a very tough fight to call as i like both of them and style wise they seem to cancel out each others strengths, but i think Bispings best way to win is to use the jab, knees in the clinch and ground and pound and for Miller to win he needs to try and land a big shot, or take it to the ground and try to keep control for the whole fight or try and get the back and go for a choke. But who knows whats going to happen!
@Azzkika
Good comments, I'm not sure whether it's susceptibility to the overhand right or general nerves which led him to make such a glaring technical error.
I think Bisping realizes that if there is a time to get his shot, that time must be now, I believe he has to be more aggressive and less tentative with big name fighters.
Personally, I believe that if Bisping can take Chael, then he will have earned the reputation of a very good fighter, the only other alternative IMO, is that he will be remembered as a good but not great fighter.
Looking forward to finding out.
"Personally, I believe that if Bisping can take Chael, then he will have earned the reputation of a very good fighter, "
Pass the bong...
Stinkybrownfist,
You are a prime example of why people should not try crack.
Go to your local NA Meeting and speak about the reason why you were known as stinky brown fist in high school and how that led you to homelessness and crack....
Its probably best if you return the computer from the home you burglarized as the children you stole it from want it back.
Crackhead
I dont know how anyone would think Miller has snowballs chance in hell of beating Bisping.Its not that i have anything against Miller but we should really look at who each of these guys have fought,the guys Bisping has beat shit out of,would beat the out of Miller.If he gets out the 2nd round i would be very surprised!
Jamie Kennedy and Robby Lawler both match up well with Bisbing and Miller beat them. He almost subbed Jake Shields. At MW Shields has a VERY good chance against Bisbing. Bisbing on the other hand has beaten a Who's Who of NOBODIES. His best wins are over Leban and Akiyama for Xst sake!
Miller gave GSP a run for his money!!! WTF are you people talking about???
It's "Bisping" and "Tim Kennedy". Just so you know Kennedy also beat Mayhem in the past. Leben, Akiyama, Dan Miller and Matt Hamill are not nobodies.
Bisping def lost to Hamill, you shouldnt use that win for arguments.
Yeah...and Sonnen beat Silva....is that how it goes ?
And Miller destroyed Bisping last night.
Hamil should have got the W. Dan Miller, Leban and Akiyama Are not nobodies, they are the who's who of nobodies. The creme of the shit heap.
you seem to get the prediction wrong every time ....any explanation ?
I'm torn apart for the main event, both guys are really cool dudes. Bisping acts like a **** in public a lot of the time but you can tell he's actually a decent guy in interviews and stuff he just coems off wrong. Also, Nearly everybody who interviews/talks or does anything with Bisping back stage says he's a reall cool and funny dude but it's his opponents who are listened to when saying that he's a ****. Bisping is one of these guys who nearly always needs to get riled up to fight an opponent, Nick Diaz does the same and even swung for BJ Penn at the weigh-ins but everybody is starting to love him?
Bisping seems to have accepted no matter what people will trash talk him and I don't know if it was genuine or not but he seemed to embrace the "heel" role at the weigh-ins. Look what it did for Koscheck's popularity, it's a smart move.
Now talking about the actual fight, I think Bisping wins by decision all day. He has got some real nice TDD and Miller doesn't have the greatest TDs in the anyway. If Miller does out Bisping on his back I expect Bisping to get up rather quickly and if not he has good sub D so unless Miller takes his back somehow I can't see him subbing Bisping, I'm not counting it out though. If the Count can keep it on the feet, which I expect he can, he will out point Bisping with most boxing combos and a few leg and body kicks thrown in but he will be mainly coming in and out of the pocket staying at range. I think Bisping will put Miller on his back a coupel of times to, just to score some points and even do a little light G&P from the guard before getting back to his feet. I don't think Bisping has the power to knock Mayhem out, Miller has a good chin anyway.
I am expecting this fight to be a repeat of the Bisping vs. Dan Miller fight.
Bisping by dec.
The difference between Sonnen and Bisping: Both have a big mouth and would do well to learn to shut up. Both have hurt people with what they have said. Both are good fighters that could beat somebody great on a given night through their work ethic and a bit of luck. Sonnen is an is trying to be funny with the stupid things he says. Bisping means what the stupid things he says.
That makes Sonnen just thoughtless and stupid and Bisping an arrogant prick (pr1ck).
And rivera ...saying stuff about Bispings kids ?
You forgot steriod cheating, mortgage thieving and tapping in your description of Sonnen.
Bisping is a mouthy turd with no skills whos gonna get schooled tonight.
Miller's been drooling to get back in the UFC and hes not gonna blow it.
@stinkybrownfist,
It's quite a mouthy comment to make, don't you think?
Can you help me out and explain what schooling he is going to get?
How do you know that Miller has been drooling? Do you sleep next to him? What is Miller not going to blow?
Really, you need a position for submission.
now go buy some oversized shoes and a red nose.
@highlife
Interesting presupposition, that I don't already own oversized shoes and a red nose.
It's always nice taking advice from a clown, but I would prefer to wear a fake beard so I can look like your mamma.
Thanks for the set up, anymore set ups are appreciated.
never a beard chitmam though she has been known to wear a tache
@Highlife
Great response! :)
highlife now go buy some oversized shoes and a red nose. Reply 1 day ag...Was a reply to stinkfasts comment.
@odesadipshitman
I don't know about Miller drooling... You're absolutely right.
All I know is that your mom likes it in the ass...
Well, odesahitman, you had that coming. Don't step over the line dude.
Mr Lee,
What specifically did I have coming?
he meant when you talk shite you get shite back...karma
@highlife,
Is that exactly what he meant, word for word, or is that simply a projection of your own highly subjective interpretation. Really, if you can read peoples minds you should be the fastest employee at the drive in at McDonalds by now.
Well we are brothers Stinkfist... So I'm really ashamed that you are banging our mom in the ass....
At least you are back in my old family caravan now Stinkybrownfist, its better than the homeless shelter.
So sad that Bisping won, you have been proved wrong again, but as they say in Philly, "dont believe the pipe" stinky brown fist.
Now go back to mamma, and ask her the truth, I was adopted and you are right, your mamma does like it in the ass.
Please reply stinky brown fist, please give it your best shot...
Just for Today
Stinky brown fist
What I meant about what you had coming was we don't want that kind of trashy comment here. Stick to the fights and minimize your foul mouthed personal stuff please.
Mr Lee,
It's a fair comment.
My apologies.
LOLOLOLOL Bisping is gonna make miller look like an amateur
hE DID JUST THAT LOLOLOL