UFC 141 Predictions, Fight Card, & Odds

Written by Jake Thompson
Friday, 30 December 2011 18:12

We’ll preview the UFC 141 fight card and betting odds before releasing predictions on the 5 biggest matchups.

UFC 141 will be played out at the MGM Grand Arena in Las Vegas, Nevada, and this fight card is full of exciting matchups.  The main event at UFC 141 pits two of the largest men to ever grace the octagon in Brock Lesnar and Alistair Overeem, and it’s a fight that is nearly impossible to make predictions on.  Donald Cerrone and Nate Diaz are two of the most exciting lightweights in the sport and their fight should provide instant fireworks when you consider the bad blood that has come between the two.  We’ll preview the entire UFC 141 fight card and then make some predictions.

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UFC 141 Odds & Fight Card:

Alistair Overeem -150

Brock Lesnar +130

Nate Diaz +245

Donald Cerrone -290

Johny Hendricks +195

Jon Fitch -235

Alexander Gustafsson -335

Vladimir Matyushenko +275

Nam Phan -230

Jim Hettes +190

Ross Pearson -320

Junior Assuncao +260

Anthony Njokuani +155

Danny Castillo -175

Dong Hyun Kim -400

Sean Pierson +325

Efrain Escudero +235

Jacob Volkman -275

Luis Ramos +120

Matt Riddle -140

Diego Nunes -240

Manny Gamburyan +200

UFC 141 Predictions:

Alistair Overeem vs. Brock Lesnar

Lesnar has top-level collegiate wrestling credentials and it will be important for him to get the fight to the mat early.  Although he could land a big shot against the questionable chin of Overeem, he’ll have to do it against a K-1 Kickboxing Champion with some of the heaviest strikes in the fight game.  Lesnar has the pedigree to impose his will and I expect him to get the fight to the mat before he gets popped.  Overeem’s gas tank is one of the worst in the sport and I think Lesnar’s top position will lead to a submission late in the 1st round.

Donald Cerrone vs. Nate Diaz

This is another tough UFC 141 fight to call because it depends entirely on Diaz’s game plan.  Cerrone has excellent striking skills and has the defensive wrestling to likely stay upright, but Diaz’s boxing and submission skills should make for an evenly-matched fight.  Diaz will be best served if he takes the fight to the ground, and Cerrone might walk right into a bad situation if he comes forward as much as he has promised he’ll do.  These two have had some dust ups at the weigh-ins and Diaz may just opt to try and take his head off.  Ultimately I believe that Cerrone is the smarter fighter and he’ll do enough with his striking and late-round takedowns to grab a decision win.

Jon Fitch vs. Johny Hendricks

Fitch is the heavy favorite, but I think Hendricks possesses the skills to pull off the big upset.  The underdog here has more of a wrestling pedigree and is going up against Fitch, a guy that uses his imposing wrestling to win fights.  Look for Hendricks to either use his heavy hands to hurt his opponent, or for him to use his wrestling advantage to grind out a win.  Either way I see this going to decision as Fitch finally loses to someone not named Georges St. Pierre.

Alexander Gustafsson vs. Vladimir Matyushenko

Gustafsson is a top prospect with excellent striking and a big edge in athleticism, but it’s never safe to count out Matyushenko.  The older fighter hits like a ton of bricks and has legitimate wrestling and submission skills that could leave Gustafsson in a bad spot.  Although the big favorite easily dispatch of a wrestler in Matt Hamill not long ago, he was also taken down and submitted within a round against another wrestler in Phil Davis.  The odds call for a bet on the under, and we’ll call for Matyushenko to get it done with a 2nd round submission after he lands a staggering shot on his over-confident opponent.

Nam Phan vs. Jim Hettes

Phan is an exciting striker that has never been submitted, but I still question whether or not he has the power to finish opponents in the UFC.  He has the big edge if the fight stays standing, but he’s facing an undefeated fighter in Hettes and has submitted every single one of the guys lined up against him.  This one could honestly go either way but I have to go with Hettes and his ability to get the fight to the mat.  Phan just hasn’t shown the consistent power that a fighter needs to keep the distance against a ground-based guy like Hettes.  Go with the underdog by decision.