Event: The Ultimate Fighter (TUF) 12 Finale
Date: Saturday, Dec. 4, 2010, at 9 p.m. ET on Spike TV
Location: "The Pearl" at the Palms Resort in Las Vegas, Nevada
Main card:
Stephan Bonnar vs. Igor Pokrajac
Luke Thomas: Read Nate's pick. Couldn't have said it better myself. Bonnar by decision.
Kid Nate: Really hard to get interested in this fight. Bonnar stopped developing as a martial artist in 2008 and Pokrajac has very little upside. It seems like a desperate bid to give Bonnar a win. Bonnar by decision.
Brent Brookhouse: Pokrajac's win over Irvin looks even less impressive as James struggles on the regional scene. I know it's gotten very trendy to write Bonnar off but he is one of the rare guys who makes an intangible like "heart" matter. He's never going to stop trying to get the win and that breaks some guys. It also helps that he has talent to go along with it. Stephan Bonnar by TKO, round 2.
Mike Fagan: I don't want to see Stephan Bonnar in the Octagon ever again if he loses this fight. Stephan Bonnar by decision.
Nick Thomas: Gift fight for Bonnar. Bonnar by decision.
Jonathan Brookins vs. Michael Johnson
Luke Thomas: Brookins is only a slight favorite in my mind, but what separates them is Brookins' general well-roundedness. That should be enough. Brookins by decision.
Kid Nate: Johnson has to walk a tight rope to win this fight and I think Brookins will make him fall. Brookins by submission.
Brent Brookhouse: Johnson isn't a good finisher and he has a bad gastank. You can be a great finisher who tires, or a bad finisher who never gasses...but you can't be both and have long term success. Brookins is also better...so, that kind of factors in. Jonathan Brookins by submission, round two.
Mike Fagan: Brookins is a heavy favorite here. I don't see Johnson having an edge in any aspect of the fight. Plus, he has to be concerned with Brookins ability to finish him. Jonathan Brookins by submission, round one.
Nick Thomas: Brookins is going to grind Johnson out on the ground. Brookins by decision.
Kendall Grove vs. Demian Maia
Luke Thomas: Grove's takedown defense is actually pretty good, but Maia will physically stick to and pressure Grove long enough to win a decision at a minimum. Maia by submission.
Kid Nate: Unless Maia decides to practice his stand up with Grove he'll take a long lanky limb home. Maia by submission.
Brent Brookhouse: I expect Grove to have a moment or two early where he looks like he might pull it off. And then Maia will close distance, get the takedown and get the finish. Demian Maia by submission, round two.
Mike Fagan: A lot of people are taking Kendall Grove as a sexy underdog bet, but I don't see it. Maia will take down Grove at will and do what he does to everybody. Demian Maia by submission, round two.
Nick Thomas: Boy was I wrong in picking Miranda over Maia. Maia is going to get this fight to the ground and win it there. Maia by decision.
Ricky Story vs. Johny Hendricks
Luke Thomas: Story is a talented guy, but outside of his jab he's a poor man's Johny Hendricks. Hendricks by submission.
Kid Nate: Very pumped about this one. These two guys are both PHYSICAL. Hendricks is a little more technical as a wrestler so I'll go with Johny Hendricks by decision.
Brent Brookhouse: Hendricks has the better wrestling and Story has had a lot of trouble making clear cases for his wins. I think they're both very talented but I don't think this is nearly as close as a lot of others do. Johny Hendricks by decision.
Mike Fagan: This should be a great fight. I still think Hendricks might be small at 170, but his wrestling will take him a long way. Johny Hendricks by decision.
Nick Thomas: Hendricks is going to take Story down at will. Hendricks by decision.
Leonard Garcia vs. Nam Phan
Luke Thomas: I suspect for all of Garcia's faults he'll be able to periodically hurt, slowdown and frustrate Phan en route to a decision where his damage wins the round. Garcia by decision.
Kid Nate: Garcia should shellack Phan like Obama in the mid-terms. Garcia by TKO.
Brent Brookhouse: Garcia's finish rate drop off is really stunning to see and it's not just a step up in opponent quality. Still, Phan is a guy who is just good enough to lose fights like these. Leonard Garcia by decision.
Mike Fagan: Garcia can overwhelm the slow-moving Phan and take the usual Garcia decision. I'm hoping karma rears its head though. Nam Phan by decision.
Nick Thomas: It will be good to see Phan at 145. But Garcia will take a close decision. Garcia by decision.