Lizard's Licking Likelihoods - Fight Predictions

Featured Nugget - PPV Predictions & Results - Bragging Rights & UFC 121 Lesnar vs. Velasquez

so today i was all set to get yet another glimpse into the future by having my pet Bearded Dragon predict the winner of an upcoming match up.

But when i told her, i wanted her to pick the winner of the Undertaker vs. Kane World Heavyweight Title Buried Alive match she lost all interest. Obviously, she's sick of the never ending feud between the 'Brothers of Destruction' and couldn't care less about who wins at 'Bragging Rights' this Sunday. Not even the temptation of live crickets or a frozen mouse would have her decide.

So instead of Lizzy Steamboat's amazing predictions i'm gonna go ahead and post my own thoughts on whats gonna go down in what is a busy weekend of fighting...

 

Although the WWE's pay per view 'Bragging Rights' isn't till the Sunday night, i'm gonna go ahead and get my guesses for those matches out of the way before picking the winners for Saturday nights UFC supercard UFC 121.

WWE Bragging Rights Predictions:


Golduct vs. Ted DiBiase
This match up is a late addition to the Bragging Rights card. One of these guys is on a roll, the other is not. Things aren't gonna change tonight. Also Goldie has a book coming out he has to promote you know?!
Prediction: Goldust  Actual Winner: Ted DiBiase

Divas Championship Match

Laycool vs. Natalya

its the second ppv in a row that a member of Laycool will defend against the Hart Dynasty's Natalya. Miss. Anvil picked up the win last time, but it was a disqualification victory so the title stayed with the 'Flawless' ones. This would all seem to suggest that Natalya is gonna pick up the win proper here and become new Divas champion. I don't see it though. WWE loves to try and swerve the audience and i think most will be expecting a new champ so i'm saying Laycool (and it has to be Layla wrestling this time right) retain.

Prediction: Layla (Laycool) Actual Winner: Layla

United States Champion vs. Intercontinental Champion

Daniel Bryan vs. Dolph Ziggler

This could be match of the night. Bryan is always capable of quality matches and Dolph really performs well at pay per views. I'm hoping they have a nice competitive match up and i'm pulling for Bryan to get a nice convincing win. They might do some stuff involving Dolph, Vickie and Kaitlyn towards the end, maybe have Vickie accidentally cost Dolph the match which could hint at a future face turn for Ziggler?! 

But i hope they don't have too much interference, the match doesn't need it.

Prediction: Daniel Bryan wins via submission Actual Winner: Daniel Bryan

Bragging Rights Tag Team Elimination Match

Team Raw (Captain. The Miz, John Morrison, R-Truth, Santino Marella, Sheamus, CM Punk & Ezekial Jackson) vs. Team Smackdown (Captain. Big Show, Kofi Kingston, Jack Swagger, Edge, Alberto Del Rio, Rey Mysterio & Tyler Reks with Hornswoggle as their mascot)

On recent episodes of both Raw & Smackdown they've had the Big Show along with his team looking dominant. Show even won an inter-promotional battle royal on the Raw leading into the ppv. As dominant as his build up has been i think Team Raw are taking this. The Miz is being built up as the future of the WWE, if he captains the winning team here, and maybe is the lone survivor of the match it'll just give him even more things to brag about along with being Mr. Money In The Bank & just being awesome!

I've no clue as to why Santino Marella is involved in this match up. It might be that he is selling ridiculous amounts of merchandise and they want to showcase the 'Cobra' even more. I highly doubt that this is going to be the start of a serious push for "the greatest of all the times", even though he is a legit tough guy with a background in mma training. He'll probably be eliminated in record time, and i'd guess by other random team member Tyler Reks.

Okay, so i said Team Raw will win, mainly because i think they're will be too much in-fighting with the Smackdown Team. Del Rio & Mysterio have history, Swagger & Edge are involved in a feud and i can't see Big Show single-handedly winning the match for his team even though he has his awful movie to promote. With screwy eliminations caused by their own team mates Smackdown should fall. Plus i think The Miz, Sheamus, CM Punk and the recently returned Ezekial Jackson all deserve a big victory at a ppv.

Prediction: Team Raw win. Because their captain is the Miz and he's Awesome!!! Actual Winner: Team Smackdown

World Heavyweight Championship Buried Alive Match

Kane vs. The Undertaker

It's not only my psychic lizard who is sick of this feud and doesn't care about this match up.
Please, please, please let this be the end of this feud. I really wish the title wasn't wrapped up between these two as well. 
Whoever loses should be taken off tv for at least a few months, and i really can't see the Undertaker missing his 20th anniversary ppv next month at the Survivor Series, so that should answer who i thinks winning. 

Prediction: Undertaker wins, new World Heavyweight Champion. Actual Winner: Kane

WWE Championship Match

Randy Orton vs. Wade Barrett with John Cena

I really, really, really want Wade Barrett to be crowned WWE champion here. Orton is so over he doesn't need the title, and ppv's could be sold better with him built up as the challenger. The way this match is set up, with Nexus & Cena on Barrett's side Orton could easily be screwed out of the title and still come out of the ppv looking strong. My hope is that the Raw following Bragging Rights will be Wade Barrett's inauguration as WWE Champion and also when Cena finally receives his Nexus t-shirt to wear. One scenario i could see coming out of this is Barrett winning the title, having a decent run as champ but mainly hanging onto it because of the Nexus, John Cena winning the Royal Rumble, challenging his leader, and having John Cena vs. Wade Barrett at WrestleMania with Nexus and the championship on the line.

Saying all that, Randy hasn't held the title all that long himself, i'm not sure they'd want to take it off him yet.

I'm gonna go with what i want to happen rather than what i think will happen though...

Prediction: Wade Barrett is your new WWE Champion! Actual Winner: Wade Barrett (by DQ)

UFC 121 - Lesnar vs. Velasquez Predictions:

Spike TV is showing a couple of the preliminary fights before the ppv airs.

Patrick Cote vs. Tom Lawlor

Both coming off back to back losses, this is a must win for both men. Going on Tom Lawlor's awesome imitations of other fighters and even infamous fans at the weigh ins, i'm pulling for him.

Cote is the more experienced fighter though and it would be somewhat of an upset if the former Ultimate Fighter reality show star Tom Lawlor pulled out the win. Both fighters are susceptible to chokes but with Cote having proven knock out power i slightly favor him.

Prediction: Patrick Cote wins by decision. Actual Winner: Tom Lawlor (decision)

Ryan Jensen vs. Court McGee

The season 11 winner of the Ultimate Fighter, Court McGee makes his post TUF - UFC debut. On the show Court came back from an early loss in the TUF competition to win the show and showed off some good submission skills. Jensen is more experienced and has some good ground and pound. But i think Court should  be able to choke him out.

Prediction: Court McGee winner by submission. Actual Winner: Court McGee by submission

Main PPV Card:

Gabriel Gonzaga vs. Brendan Schaub

I'm a big fan of Brendan Schaub and think this could be one of the more explosive fights of the evening. Both fighters have KO power, in hands and feet in the case of Gonzaga. Gonzaga is also alot more experienced than his opponent, but this one really could go down to who catches who first.

Prediction: Gabriel Gonzaga winner by KO Actual Winner: Brendan Schaub by decision

Matt Hamill vs. Tito Ortiz

After a turbulent year in and out of the UFC. This is Tito's comeback fight. It'll be interesting to see if Ortiz is completely over his injuries and shows signs of his old self. A match up between a former Ultimate Fighter coach and his first pick. If Tito loses this, he should probably think about calling it quits, if he wins though, i'd like to see a match up between him and future superstar, Jon Jones.

Prediction: Tito Ortiz winner by decision Actual Winner: Matt Hamill by decision

Diego Sanchez vs. Paulo Thiago

Diego Sanchez hasn't looked the same since his lightweight title loss to BJ Penn and subsequent move back up to welterweight. Thiago can be a dangerous fighter with great jujitsu and KO power in his hands although he too can be disappointing in some fights. Both are on losing streaks, but Sanchez is in a must win situation after suffering back top back losses.

Prediction: Diego Sanchez winner by decision Actual Winner: Diego Sanchez by decision

Martin Kampmann vs. Jake Shields

Former Strikeforce Middleweight champion Jake Shields makes his UFC debut in the welterweight division against Martin Kampmann. If Shields wins he is pretty much guaranteed to become the number one contender for the Welterweight title and will fight the winner of the GSP vs. Koscheck fight for the belt. 

Shields has proven he can ground and control bigger opponents and grind out victories in Strikeforce's middleweight division, especially in his win over Dan Henderson. He should be able to use those same tactics against smaller opponents in the UFC's welterweight division and pick up another victory here. Even with a loss, Kampmann could be set for an exciting rematch against Carlos Condit.

Prediction: Jake Shields winner by decision. Actual Winner: Jake Shields by decision

UFC Heavyweight Championship Match

Brock Lesnar vs. Cain Velasquez

I am so excited for this fight. Brock Lesnar is the biggest name in mma and famous worldwide. His opponent is the very dangerous and undefeated Cain Velasquez. 

Though not as powerful as Brock's last challenger, Cain poses different threats with his quickness, stamina  and viscous ground and pound. Whilst Brock let Shane Carwin punch himself out in his last fight, he will not have that option against Velasquez who has incredible cardio especially for a heavyweight. 

Even though Velasquez did look hugely impressive with his knock out victory over Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira in his last fight, with the size he is giving up to Lesnar, he may not have that same KO power in this match up. 

With Lesnar's biggest strength being his wrestling he still has to be careful as Cain is a very good wrestler himself, who also has the edge when it comes to the stand up. But with Brock's size and takedown ability, Lesnar should be able to get himself into dominant positions in the fight and overpower his opponent.

Velasquez has had more fight experience in the amount of matches he's been involved in, but Brock stands head and shoulders above him when it comes to experience in high profile fights. Nearly everyone of Lesnar's professional mma fights have been a main event. Against Randy Couture, Frank Mir and Shane Carwin, Brock has shown he doesn't freeze up when the spotlight is on him, big game nerves don't seem to be an issue.

Even though Velasquez has got great stamina, his endurance is unproven. He looks to have been rocked by fighters such as Cheick Kongo and it will be interesting to see how he deals with Brock's ground and pound should Lesnar be able to take him down. 

Brock's showed what heart he had with his comeback victory in the fight against Carwin, he looked to have broken his opponents spirit by even surviving the opening round. Could the same happen to Velasquez if things don't go his way?

Whoever wins this match up, the UFC will have an absolute beast as their heavyweight champion. Both competitors are insanely marketable and have bright futures ahead. Even if Cain was to lose, at his age, he is still probably the future of the division.

The way i see it, Brock will use his size advantage to wear Velasquez down and chip away at Cain's spirit. I think if he can take down his opponent and stay on top, he'll be able to force a win through tap out to strikes or even a submission choke hold like against Carwin. Like i said though even with a loss, Velasquez will be back and a force to be reckoned with in the future.

Prediction: Brock Lesnar by tap out in the 3rd Round Actual Winner: Cain Velasquez TKO rd 1

Oh and Paul Heyman has just said on twitter that Brock is keeping his beard for the fight:

@HeymanHustle
Paul HeymanBrock is keeping the beard. And you sucked as President. RT: @GBUSH2004to @arielhelwani will Brock keeps his beard for the fight???

Brock is definitely winning now! :) (or maybe not, the beard is still awesome though...)