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Frank Doyle
UFC Fight Night 39 Results: Abu Dhabi Live Updates, Picks
Greetings, gamblers!
It’s been a while since we gathered around the Sports Interaction blog to share our thoughts and feelings about various sporting events and since there’s live face punching on a Friday afternoon, I’m setting out to remedy that.
Really, this UFC Fight Night 39 card is a total toss-up. Case in point, the main event features a bearded Burger King addict (Roy Nelson) and a 37 year-old who has lost three of his last five fights (Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira). The good news is there should be fireworks there and the appetizers leading up to that one look tasty.
Links of note:
Sports Interaction on Twitter – We’ll be updating both here and on the Twitter machine. #UFCFightNight39 and #UFCAbuDhabi
Sports Interaction UFC odds page.
Pre-fight thoughts:
So this is an outdoor stadium kind of thing? AWESOME. It’s like Ali vs. Frazier all over again – minus the political importance, plus a fat guy with a beard, and some jiu jitsu.
How hot is it right now in Abu Dhabi right now anyway. That will seriously play a part in my wager for the main event.
Same thing with the time difference. They’re something like eight hours ahead of ET there so watch out for North American west-coast based fighters. They’re really going to have trouble with it.
The fights and the odds:
Disclaimer – I’m relatively new to UFC betting in the sense that I haven’t seen every UFC event in the last five years. Deal with it. you hardcores will know more than me, but I won’t BS anybody here. I haven’t seen a few of these fighters before, so that this for what it is: FUN FACE-PUNCHING ANALYSIS AND COMMENTARY.
Ramsey Nijem (+215) vs. Beneil Dariush (-333)
Listen, no disrespect to the late, great Michael Jackson, but you can’t walk to the ring with MJ playing. No, Dariush.
I’m going with Nijem here. He’s at home in front of his fans and has the height/reach advantage. Dariush does look like a bad, bad man though.
Dariush owned the first part of the round but got caught with a big left hook and then a knee. He was nearly out and took heavy ground-and-pound.
Fight stopped in the final minute of the round.
Winner: Nijem
Sports Interaction’s UFC Fight Night 39 odds.
John Howard (+265) vs. Ryan LaFlare (-357)
Odds should be closer than they are for this one. John Howard is no joke. If forced to make a pick, I’d side with LaFlare though. He can take the punishment and is looking for a finish here. Expect LaFlare to get the better of Howard on the ground.
A New York vs. Boston fight with LaFlare battling Howard. Excellent.
There’s LaFlare taking the fight to the ground early. Knew that was coming.
Round 1: 10-9 LaFlare. He picked up a couple of takedowns and did some work on the mat. He landed some shots too, but Howard does have major power.
Howard took a nasty low blow there from a knee. He has five minutes to shake it off and will be crazy to take a second less than that after that one. Howard probably had a slight edge at the time of the low blow, landing some big punches early.
Howard tries to continue but LaFlare is attacking the body to try to get Howard out of here before the round is out. Howard responds with some big shots to close out the second.
Round 2: 10-9 Howard. That one’s a coin flip to me.
LaFlare with the early takedown but Howard answers with a couple of strong combos not long after getting to his feet.
Probably another takedown for LaFlare there. That’s key for him right now.
If this goes to a decision, it’s going to be tough for the judges. LaFlare has owned the ground game, but Howard’s scored more significant strikes. GSP vs. Johny Deja vu.
I have it 29-28 LaFlare.
Winner: LaFlare unanimous decision.
Clay Guida (-152) vs. Tatsuya Kawajiri (+110)
Going against one of my favorite all-time fighters here. Guida is the best, but Kawajiri should be able to withstand the early onslaught. Kawajiri is a BIG featherweight.
What do you mean Clay Guida is only 32 years old? He looks older than dinosaur dirt.
Well that didn’t go as expected. Guida dominates with a 30-27 win on all three judges’ cards.
Winner: Guida
Antonio Nogueira (+100) vs. Roy Nelson(-139)
I’m on Nelson here. I think he ground game is still under-rated. Only fear is that he gasses in the heat.
WOW. Nelson with two knockdowns and then a right hand bomb to end it with 1:20 left in the first.
Winner: Nelson
