TUF Finale Picks!

Alright here are our "expert" picks for The Ultimate Fighter Finale on Saturday, December 13. Feel free to leave plenty of comments on your picks too! We will do this for all UFC/MMA events. Enjoy!!


Phillipe Nover 5' 9" 155 6-0-1
Vs
Efrain Escudero 5' 9" 155 11-0-0


Brandon Stephens
Plenty of people are picking Nover to dominate this fight in every aspect. I, however, will kindly disagree. Escudero is a very accomplished wrestler and showed in his last fight, allbeit with a unmotivated Junie, that he can handle a good striker. Phillipe is destined for a great career in the UFC but I think that he underestimates Efrain. The pressure and comparisons to some of the UFC's best like Silva and GSP get to him and he worries more about not losing as opposed to winning it.

Winner: Efrain Escudero via Split Decision


Jake Winfrey
Well, this should certainly be one of the better fights on the night. Both fighters are the most complete fighters of the ones on the show. Efrain's strengths are with his wrestling, while Phillipe's are with his striking. However, something not mentioned, is that Phillipe is no slouch on the ground. I believe that Phillipe will use his striking to get the fight on the ground, and when he does, will finish Efrain accordingly.

Winner: Phillip Nover via TKO in Round 2


Ryan Bader 6' 2" 205 8-0-0
Vs
Vinicius Magalhaes 6' 3" 205 3-2-1


Brandon Stephens
The Lightheavy weights come in to this fight being absolute experts in both their repective backgrounds. Bader was a 2 time All-American wrestler at Arizona State while Magalhaes is a very decorated black belt in Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu. With that being said I'll assume Bader wants to go to the ground only on his terms and his takedown defense is quality. Bader comes in undefeated while Vinny come in with his last fight before the show was a loss by verbal tap via ground and pound. Although this will be the best Jiu-Jitsu Bader has seen, his strength will be too much for Magalhaes's suspect chin.

Winner: Ryan Bader via TKO in Round 2


Jake Winfrey
This is an interesting matchup in that, while both like to fight on the ground, the styles that they go about doing it are totally contrast. Bader likes to use his wrestling and work the GnP, while Vinny uses his superior Jiu-Jitsu to submit his opponents. I think that neither man will stand for long, and this fight goes to the ground within the first minute. It is there that I think Vinny will use his vast skills in submissions and pull off a quick choke or armbar.

Winner: Vinicius Magalhaes via Submission (Armbar) in Round 1


Kevin Burns 5' 11" 170 8-1-0
Vs
Anthony Johnson 6' 2" 170 5-2-0


Brandon Stephens
This is a rematch of their controversial fight earlier in the year which was awarded to Burns after an illegal eyepoke caused the doctor to stop the fight. Johnson has had surgery to repair his eye and now has it set on avenging the loss. Burns has a better looking record but has a loss to Josh Neer from 2002 that isn't on it and hasn't faced as quality competition. Johnson's only two losses are to Burns and a always tough Rich Clementi. Johnson comes in with power and emotion behind his powerful fists and ends this one early.

Winner: Anthony Johnson via KO in Round 1


Jake Winfrey
As Brandon said, this is a highly touted rematch between two good welterweights. Johnson is a notoriously fast starter and a terrific striker, while Burns fights very methodically. In the first fight, Burns did a good job of avoiding alot of Johnsons' strikes before the fight was stopped. I think we will see more of the same in this one, but this time however, a more motivated Johnson
will win a close decision.

Winner: Anthony Johnson via Split Decision


Jason MacDonald 6' 3" 185 22-10-0
Vs
Wilson Gouveia 6' 1" 185 11-5-0


Brandon Stephens
Both fighters have decent but not outstanding skills with the exception of Gouveia' black belt in BJJ. (He doesn't utilize it enough though) They will both be willing to stand and bang. MacDonald appears to have better power with 2 of his last 3 wins by TKO. Gouveia does have a KO win over Jason "Jello chin" Lambert though. MacDonald's last two losses were at the hands of easily two of the best in middleweight division in Yushin Okami and Damian Maia. Conditioning will likely play a big factor in this fight with that edge going to Jason "The Athlete"

Winner: Jason MacDonald via TKO in Round 3


Jake Winfrey
This is a fight that I am looking forward to watching. Gouveia's BJJ skills vs MacDonald's submission skills. I believe, however, this could turn out to be a standing war. Macdonald has been working vigoriously on his striking, while Gouveia's isn't highly regarded. I think this will be a fast paced fight early, that will slow down later. Give the nod to MacDonald.

Winner: Jason MacDonald via Unanimous Decision


Junie Browning 5' 9" 155 2-1-0
Vs
Dave Kaplan 5' 6" 155 3-1-0

Brandon Stephens
Ahh....Junie Junie Junie. Somehow I knew he'd get his shot at redemption. With above average skills, he is easily the favorite in this fight against Dave "I wasn't completely out" Kaplan. Junie's two previous wins outside the TUF show were both first round wins and it was apparent that his cardio training is very suspect on the show. If and that's a big IF, Kaplan can get him into the later rounds, especially deep into the 3rd round, he has a very good chance of getting a TKO considering his standup is pretty decent. This fight, however, will be won on the ground.

Winner: Junie Browning via Submission (Arm Bar) in Round 2

Jake Winfrey
My PERSONAL show favorite, Junie "No Temper" Browning (I jest) takes on a very dangerous Dave Kaplan. I believe that the outcome of this fight depends on the pace and where the fight takes place. If Kaplan can get it to the ground, and control Junie over 3 rounds, then it's over. However, if Junie, who now trains with Xtreme Couture, has improved any whatsoever, Kaplan will be in for a long night. Let's go with the latter.

Winner: Junie Browning via TKO in Round 2

Krzysztof Soszynski 6' 1" 205 16-9-1
Vs.
Shane Primm 6' 3" 205 1-0-0

Brandon Stephens
Krzysztof was easily one of the best in the house on this season. He got caught in an armbar by Vinny, who has some of the best BJJ anyone will ever see, to miss his spot in the Finals. Shane Primm’s only fight prior to the show was a win over fellow cast mate Tom Lawler. Primm seems to be well rounded with no huge holes but no expertise in any discipline. Krzys will have a decided experience advantage and most of his losses have come at the hands of some top notch competition such as Ben Rothwell, Matt Horwich, and Andy Reese.

Winner: Krzysztof Soszynski via Unanimous Decision

Jake Winfrey
My preseason LHW pick Krzysztof (god what a name) takes on Shane Primm. Krzysztof is very good, while Primm did nothing to impress me. I believe this will probably be a boring fight that could draw the most boos of the night. Hell, I'll go with the guy with the most wierd name.

Winner: Krsysztof Soszynski via Unanimous Decision

Eliot Marshall 6' 3" 205 5-2-0
Vs.
Jules Bruchez 6' 0" 205 0-0-0

Brandon Stephens
Not much to say here really. Eliot Marshall dominates.

Winner: Eliot Marshall via Submission (RNC) in Round 1

Jake Winfrey:
Yeah........umm.....what Brandon said. Jules always has a puncher's chance I suppose, but Eliot is way too well-rounded for him.

Winner: Eliot Marshall via KO in Round 1

Kyle Kingsbury 6' 4" 205 7-1-1
Vs.
Tom Lawlor 6' 0" 205 4-1-1

Brandon Stephens
This could be the best fight not on the main card. Both are relatively well rounded and have good potential. The winner could have a shot at a UFC contract while the other will be sent packing to regroup at best.

Winner: Kyle Kingsbury via Split Decision

Jake Winfrey
Like Brandon, I do think this could be good. Neither of the two's previous fights lasted long enough for me to get a look at their styles. I think that in the end Kingsbury skills won't be as good as his in-house pranks. I'll take Lawlor

Winner: Tom Lawlor via Split Decision


Shane Nelson 5' 9" 155 11-3-0
Vs
George Roop 6' 1" 155 8-4-0

Brandon Stephens
Roop’s hand has had time to heal since the show. Although I don’t think either is UFC material yet this is a good matchup for both. If Roop keeps it standing he’ll win in a landslide. Nelson’s only chance is a submission or elbows from the bottom.

Winner: George Roop via TKO in Round 2


Jake Winfrey
Eh. I don't like Shane at all as a fighter. If Roop's hand is well, he will use it often on Shane.

Winner: George Roop via TKO in Round 2

Well there you have it! Our expertise on who will think will win and why!