Picks—

For TUF 7, went 5-5.

Justin Buchholz (155) vs. Corey Hill (155)

Buchholz, TKO 2nd.

Hill will be exposed.

Dennis Siver (155) vs. Melvin Guillard (155)

Siver, Submission, 3rd.

Guillard still needs to learn a ground game.

Cole Miller (155) vs. Jorge Gurgel (155)

Miller, TKO, 2nd.

The lanky youngster will take him down and ground and pound.

Justin McCully (236) vs. Gabriel Gonzaga (249)

McCully, KO, 3rd.

I don’t think Gonzaga has regained form since Randy defeated him.

Gleison Tibau (156) vs. Joe Stevenson (155)

Joe Daddy, Submission, 1st.

Joe Daddy’s back.

Marcus Aurelio (155) vs. Tyson Griffin (155)

Griffin, SD, 3rd.

It won’t be pretty, but Tyson will win.

Chris Lytle (170) vs. Josh Koschek (170)

Koschek, SD, 3rd.

Lytle is tough, but Kos will pull this one out.

Ricardo Almeida (185) vs. Patrick Cote (185)

Almeida, Submission, 1st.

This will be upset of the night.

Forrest Griffin (205) vs. Quinton Jackson (205)

Forrest, TKO, 4th.

I think Forrest has his mojo working tonight.

SLOW IRISH’S PICKS  --  TUF 7 FINALE

I love picking fights, and I do it with a very scientific approach.  I will explain each pick.

Rob Yundt vs. Rob Kimmons

Yundt, TKO, Round 3. 

Although I like Kimmons’ ink, Yundt does have “HITMAN” on his pants.  Also, I really like the way the word “Yundt” sounds.

Cale Yarbrough vs. Tim Credeur

Credeur , UD.

This is a tough one.  At first I leaned toward picking Yarbrough because of his name—remember the great stock car driver of the 70s and 80s, Cale Yarbrough, with that famous fistfight in the middle of the track against, I think, A.J. Foyt?  But ultimately, Yarbrough’s sideburns do it for me—guys with those kinds of sideburns just don’t win MMA fights.  Plus, by the pictures posted on the BE website of the weigh-in results, this Credeur has a fighter’s nose.

Dean Lister vs. Jeremy Horn

Horn, Submission, Round 3.

Anybody who has the nickname of, and looks very much like, Gumby…well, how can you pick against him?

Matt Arroyo vs. Matt Brown

Brown, TKO, Round 1.

Arroyo looks like he could very well possibly blow over in a stiff wind—he’s probably a really tough guy, maybe it’s just his stance.  I don’t know, I don’t watch the TUF fight series—never have, in fact, ‘cause I don’t have a TV.  I go over to Mike’s house and watch his.

Drew McFedries vs. Marvin Eastman

McFedries, KO, Round 2.

Eastman looks like he’s cruisin’ for a bruisin’.  Round 2 because I haven’t picked anything yet with round number 2 in it.

Dustin Hazelett vs. Josh Burkman

Hazelett, Submission, Round 2.

Hazelett’s just a big, raw-boned, stomp your ass just as soon as look at you kind of fella.  And I’m on a round 2 roll.

Dante Rivera vs. Matt Riddle

Riddle, SD.

Rivera looks like he should be on a Fruit of the Loom ad somewhere.  And Riddle is a great name—Matt Riddle, say it out loud and it just echoes back, “fighter….”  Or maybe it echoes back “jewelry shop keeper….”  Sometimes you never can tell.

Jeremy Stephens vs. Spencer Fisher

Fisher, UD.

Fisher is the lone exception to the guys with sideburns rule.  Fisher is tough.  I’m wanting to pick him via KO, but I think this is gonna be a long one.

Luigi Fioravanti vs. Diego Sanchez

Fioravanti, SD.

I always pick against Sanchez—it’s my destiny.

CB Dollaway vs. Amir Sadollah

Dollaway, TKO, Round 2.

Whew, this is a tough one—they both have great names, and I’d normally pick against a guy with racing stripes on his head, but Dollaway has this eyebrow action going on that gives me the indication that he’s the one coming out on top.

Kendall Grove vs. Evan Tanner

Tanner, TKO, Round 1.

I love Evan Tanner—what a guy.  I’d pick him over anybody.  Good luck tonight, Evan. 

Don't have much to say on this one, so I'll leave any comments to Bloody Elbow's more astute commentators.  I've always enjoyed Deford's articles, but this one...  I will say he makes some interesting, thought-provoking, although possibly not quite accurate, points.  Anyway, it's got me thinking.  

Here's the link if anybody's interested:
http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2008/writers/frank_deford/04/16/mma/index.html

A night at the amateur fights

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