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The first event of 2017 is almost upon us, as the UFC’s 103rd fight night card goes down this Sunday evening in Phoenix, AZ. Fan favorite fighters like Joe Lauzon, Court McGee and Ben Saunders are peppered throughout the card, as well as the much anticipated return of “The Prodigy” B.J. Penn, as he takes on white hot rising star, Yair Rodriguez, aka the man with a smile of 1000 suns.
The bout sheet is a little lackluster on paper, but that’s almost a sure indicator we’ll get some glorious sanctioned violence to sate our bloodthirsty appetites. I’m particularly looking forward to seeing Nina Ansaroff and Jocelyn Jones-Lybarger throwing some leather, and I can’t help but wonder if Marcin Held’s UFC tenure is going to be a bust.
This is where Bloody Elbow content partner, Thomas J. Toehold, Esquire comes bearing the gifts of his prediction videos. If you haven’t been following along, this is the perfect time to start. Here’s a trascript of one of his top picks:
“My next pick is Joe Lauzon. Joe is GOLD when it comes to getting finishes in the UFC. He has 12 stoppages in his career with the company. Of the entire card, Joe is the most active on the ground looking for submissions. His opponent doesn't land many heavy shots, has below average takedown defense, and only one UFC fight under his belt. Lauzon overwhelms the young gun with a submission finish.”
One last thing: If you’re not a Fight pass subscriber, a golden opportunity awaits you, as the online platform is under a free trial promotion that runs throughout the weekend.
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