My UFC on FOX 7 Fight Picks

I'll be attending this show, and I'm looking forward to it. The main and co-main events are fights I definitely want to see.

I'm not doing so well in my fantasy league this year: I'm in last and already 200 points behind. While it's still early, I think it's time to take some more risks and try to gain ground. The leader of the pack almost always picks the favorites, so I'm going to have to gamble quite a bit on big underdogs.

Middleweight Match [FOX7-12]
N/A
Match Points: 2.81
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
MW #132	Clifford Starks (8-1)	+130	3.65	6.46
NR	Yoel Romero Palacio (4-1)	-161	1.75	4.56

I was in the arena when Starks got his only UFC win. I don't recall being impressed. Neither has done that well on the big stage. I'll stick with the favorite on this one.

Lightweight Match [FOX7-11]
N/A
Match Points: 4.19
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
LW #92	Anthony Njokuani (15-7, 1 NC)	-175	2.39	6.58
WW #136	Roger Bowling (11-3)	+144	6.03	10.22

Both fighters have had ups and downs in their recent fights. Njokuani's have come in the UFC while Bowling's have been in Strike Force. I'll again go with the favorite who happens to have a number of UFC fights under his belt.

Bantamweight Match [FOX7-10]
FX
Match Points: 10.54
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
BW #37	T.J. Dillashaw (7-1)	-406	2.60	13.14
BW #51	Hugo Viana (7-0)	+307	32.36	42.90

Viana is a perfect 7-0, but he only has one finish (however, it was in his sole UFC fight). As much as I'd like to pick the underdog here, I think I have to go with Dillashaw.

Lightweight Match [FOX7-09]
FX
Match Points: 11.96
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
LW #20	Jorge Masvidal (23-7)	-153	7.82	19.78
LW #35	Tim Means (18-3-1)	+123	14.71	26.67

This card is littered with Strikeforce versus UFC fights, and many of those seem to be favoring the "invaders". This is the first such fight on the card. The Strikeforce guys have pulled off some upsets so far. This fight, it's the UFC's turn.

Flyweight Match [FOX7-08]
FX
Match Points: 14.53
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
FLW #2	Joseph Benavidez (17-3)	-528	2.75	17.28
FLW #7	Darren Uyenoyama (8-3)	+376	54.63	69.16

Benavidez has only lost three fights to two different fighters: Dominick Cruz and Demetrious Johnson. And the Mighty Mouse fight was a close split decision. Benevidez only loses to guys at the top, and Uyenoyama doesn't match that description.

Lightweight Match [FOX7-07]
FX
Match Points: 9.75
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
LW #25	Myles Jury (11-0)	-284	3.43	13.18
LW #106	Ramsey Nijem (7-2)	+218	21.26	31.01

Jury is a perfect 11-0, and easily dispatched of Michael Johnson in his last fight. Ramsey is on a roll after losing out in the TUF 13 finale. I see this one as a toss up, so I'll take the underdog and try to make up some points.

Middleweight Match [FOX7-06]
FX
Match Points: 12.18
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
MW #21	Lorenz Larkin (13-0, 1 NC)	+115	14.01	26.19
MW #29	Francis Carmont (20-7)	-146	8.34	20.52

Larkin's sole loss was overturned by the commission when his opponent failed his drug test. Carmont's another fighter that I've seen live and wasn't impressed. The underdog is more attractive of a pick here in my opinion.

Featherweight Match [FOX7-05]
FX
Match Points: 13.47
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
FW #11	Chad Mendes (13-1)	-671	2.01	15.48
FW #15	Darren Elkins (16-2)	+448	60.35	73.82

Mendes has been on fire since his loss to the champ dispatching both of his opponents in less than a combined 2 minutes. Elkins just fought in March and is stepping in for an injured Clay Guida. "Money" is likely to win this one, but since I'm quite a bit behind in the standings, I'm taking the risk on the underdog to try to make up some points.

Welterweight Match [FOX7-04]
FOX / Main Card
Match Points: 16.07
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
WW #15	Jordan Mein (27-8)	-356	4.51	20.58
WW #39	Matt Brown (16-11)	+268	43.07	59.14

Mein is in a similar situation as Elkins: fought last month and is stepping in (although not on that short of notice) for an injuried fighter. Brown seems to have turned things around as of late and is riding a four fight win streak. Mein is part of the future of the division, however, Brown has yet to be knocked out (Mein's top way to victory). I'll once again take the underdog in an effort to catch up.

Lightweight Match [FOX7-03]
FOX / Main Card
Match Points: 17.73
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
LW #6	Nate Diaz (16-8)	-201	8.82	26.55
LW #16	Josh Thomson (19-5, 1 NC)	+166	29.43	47.16

Both fighters are coming off of title fight losses. Rumors are that Diaz is moving up to welterweight after this fight and had a hard weight cut. Again, I think Nate probably wins this one, but I could see him falling victim to a let down after his performance in the title fight and with a potential move up in weight, there's not a lot to gain here. I again take the underdog.

Heavyweight Match [FOX7-02]
FOX / Main Card / Co-Main Event
Match Points: 18.90
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
HW #4	Daniel Cormier (11-0)	-426	4.44	23.34
HW #7	Frank Mir (16-6)	+328	61.99	80.89

Cormier is seems like the wrong style matchup for Mir, and Mir is similar to Barneet with whom Cormier had no problems. Add the fact that the guy leading the league might take Mir (which would screw me if Mir wins), and I'll take DC.

Lightweight Match [FOX7-01]
FOX / Main Card / Main Event / Championship
Match Points: 22.93
Rank	Fighter	Line	Points	Total
LW #1	Ben Henderson (18-2)	-281	8.16	31.09
LW #2	Gilbert Melendez (21-2)	+227	52.05	74.98

I'm a fan of Benson Henderson. Not so much of Melendez. Frankly, I thought Gilbert lost to Thomson in his final Strikeforce title defense. This is Gil's chance to finally prove that he is elite, but I think that instead we will find out that he's a bit overrated. Smooth cruises to an easy decision.