Yes and no. They were both NCAA champions (Hendricks twice), while Simpson was merely an All-American (top eight in his weight class). So yes, they were more successful and accomplished amateur wrestlers by a good margin. However, they were also far more accomplished wrestlers than Pierce, who wrestled in college but doesn't have any notable accomplishments that I've heard. And the skill difference between Koscheck/Hendricks and Simpson may be somewhat mitigated by the size difference, as Simpson a big WW while I think Pierce is one of the smaller guys in the division.

Most of Pierce's fights against fellow wrestlers have tended to be close decisions and I think this one will be as well. Pierce has shown himself to be a better offensive and defensive striker than Simpson so he should have the edge. But I'm not counting on the judges to see that.

Pierce, not enough for a bet. Height differential is an issue.

Hoping to get bets out soon but need to wait for Pinny lines to come out etc so I can get our bets down first.

One that I've got most of our money down on is Quieroz in Bellator 75. Got on at 2.5 and 2.45, you can still get 2.45. Going to wait for the little bit I have left to bet and see what the price is tomorrow. Am excited about getting to bet an underdog for once. Him and Phil Harris are my only underdogs on the UFC/Bellator cards and I am going to have 7 favourites.

This, would be betting Pierce otherwise.

I wonder (just thinking aloud here) if judges are biased towards taller fighters. Studies have repeatedly found that tall men get paid more, accorded more respect etc. If you show people pictures of two men squaring up face to face, weigh-in style, they will pick the taller guy as looking more intimidating. Wouldn't surprise me if this translated into the judges rating the taller guy's striking as more effective and thinking they're doing better in octagon control etc. Would go some way to explaining decisions like Edgar v Henderson.

Hallman was 7lbs over, so Tavares cancelled the fight. Pussy.

Johnson and Castillo looks to be a WAR. Probably FOTN.

Stare down between Silva and Browne was epic. Bigfoot looks ready to go, but Browne looks like a ****ing BEAST.

Should be a good card, but hard to pick winners.

I have something like 3.5u Pierce, 1u Nunes, 2u Stephens and 0.5u on the Under in Ellenberger/Hieron. Worried about getting robbed by decision, but i'm confident Pierce should be able to win the fight. FWIW I bet Koscheck against Pierce, but had Pierce winning 29-28, but I had Hendricks beating Pierce 29-28 from memory.

Not a huge fan of this betting card so going small on it, been getting crushed the last few days after a big upswing.

I did throw 10u on Obama today at -300 though and feeling pretty good about that as the first poll numbers post debate are coming out.

Time for Dennis Hallman to receive his walking papers or a forced move to MW. That's twice in 3 fights he's missed weight badly from memory and before that it was the horrible not quite shorts against Ebersole. I'd say let him rot in XFC or IFL or whatever personally, it's not like he's a draw anymore and his fights aren't particularly amazing. Cut him and bring back Charlie Brenneman, his cut was a bit harsh imo (although everyone else who got cut deserved it)

I'd say Dana either needs to cut him or force him to go to MW, you can't miss weight by that much after missing badly once already recently and stay in the division.

Also idk about the card it could go either way, but I agree it's a way worse betting card than most.

Agree on everything Swoop. If you miss weight by 5+ pounds, the UFC should give you walking papers. You're obviously not taking things seriously enough, or in the wrong weight class. Brenneman should get another chance. It wasnt long ago he was headlining an event on short notice, and that stoppage vs Noke was controversial. Next week should be a bit easier for picks. Probably going small on this card and saving up for next week.

Helwani reporting that Hallman has been cut from the UFC.

Good.


"Ariel HelwaniVerified ‏@arielhelwani

More breaking news about @dennishallman coming to @MMAFighting in a minute. He has been released from his UFC contract. One sec."

OK I'm going to do the UFC and Bellator cards together. A bunch of the bets I wanted had the lines crushed while I was waiting for Pinny lines to come out. Annoying. As usual prices are what I got rather than what is now available, which is sometimes good (Quieroz) and sometimes bad (Ellenberger).

Quieroz, Hale or Volkov could all be best bet. I'll go with Volkov I guess but it's very close.

Shame about the Tavares fight, he was one of my better bets in UFC.

To date: 18-7, +4.896u (54 units bet), 9.07% ROI.

Best Bets: 4-1
3-star plays: 3-1
2-star plays: 7-3
1-star plays: 8-6

3-star plays

None.

2-star plays

Ellenberger v Hieron 3u @ 1.29
Santos v Prindle 2u @ 1.163
Volkov v Rogers 2u @ 2.19 (BEST BET)
Hale v Wessel 3u @ 1.35
Quieroz v Holata 2u @ 2.475

1-star plays

Johnson v Castillo 2u @ 1.65 (would be a 2-star play but the line has shortened so much)
Browne v Silva 1u @ 1.48
Volkmann v Roller 1u @ 1.57
Harris v Uyenoyama 1u @ 3.35

BTW Swoop, if you have a sportsbet.com.au account I recommend checking prices before betting Pinny as they're so lazy about moving lines. Johnson had moved to 1.65 or less everywhere else and they still had 1.78. Would only give me $100 though and have moved it to 1.64 now. Unless someone bets the lines they don't check them.

I'll tail that Volkov, know nothing about him though.

I'm on:

Johnson -155
Roller +160
Browne ITD -145
Ellenberger ITD +156

Heard Formiga looked bad at weigh ins, probably will steer clear.

ima go big on brown, and parlay some **** with the upcoming locks franklin rory gustaffin

Tempted to tail you on the bellator fights but I simply know nothing about most of the fighters

@just_mo where did you get that line on Ellenberger ITD, 5d? Tempted to tail it. Don't have a 5d account yet though and annoyingly pinn doesn't do props

Pretty happy with my plays so far on pierce, stephens, under in ellenberger fight and nunes

I might bet the main or some of the other fights when i'm watching live, idk, see how it goes I guess. Overall, the brazil card next week looks better for betting though

idk how Romney could win, the american ppl must be the dumbest people overall if he wins, then again bush won... It's so beyond me how u can vote for that guy, against abortion, a mormon(!!!!), doesn't make his taxes public or w/e.

Just bought 2 tickets for UFC on Fox in Seattle, cost $655. This card better be worth it, I hope the injury bug doesn't ruin any of the decent matches.

Jeremy Stephens arrested this morning, can't see how the police will release him in time for his fight. Looks like that fight won't be going too, should try and pit tavares vs yves edwards


John Morgan ‏@MMAjunkieJohn-
Despite Jeremy Stephens' arrest, Dana White just told me he still expects him to be able to fight tonight.

655 dollars JFC, I paid like 50 for my UFC on Fuel in ticket and that was a fantastic show...

@Swoop, ya that's on 5d. Line may be worse now since I think Ellenberger has been bet a bit, not sure.

My first UFC, my birthdays 4 days before it, thought I'd get the best seats offered didn't really care how much as long as it was under 500/ticket

Also 3 of my fav fighters are nate diaz, shogun, and penn. Hope to run into nick diaz too since hes by far my fav fighter

Stephens held on felony without bail
http://www4.co.hennepin.mn.us/webboo...num=2012027864

Turns out I only had 1u on stephens certainly wont add more if fight isnt cancelled

dana denied fight cancelled who knows

Wonder what he did.

We'll know pretty soon I assume

According to one of Stephen's best friends posts on fb he is out and will be fighting.

I believe the felony charge stems from him beating the shi.t out of a marine at a bar in Des Moines last year. I'm only 50% on that being the particular charge tho.