Mann Talk – Tachi Palace Fights 8 Predictions

The WEC may be gone, but the Tachi Palace is still hosting quality MMA. Tachi Palace Fights 8 features two of the world’s best flyweights and several UFC veterans. The card will stream live and free on MMAJunkie at 8:30 p.m. ET on Friday.

Mann Talk has been picking with Ms. Cleo-like precision this year, so check out the predictions and don’t be afraid to actually read the analysis.

Leopoldo Serao vs. David Loiseau
I have to favor “The Crow” in this fight. Sure, he got bounced from the UFC rather quickly and looked less than stellar against Solomon Hutcherson. However, Loiseau will be the far better striker. If this fight goes to the ground Serao will be able to flex some position game, but over five rounds, Loiseau will eventually land some finishing strikes. If the former UFC middleweight title challenger can’t pick up wins on this level, he might have to closely examine his future.
Pick = David Loiseau

Ulysses Gomez vs. Darrell Montague
Nothing gets me excited like a quality fight at flyweight, and this card has two. Gomez is a quality grappler, which you would expected from a Marc Laimon charge. Montague is a game fighter, but he does not have a lot of experience on this level. On top of that, he does most of his work on the feet. Gomez might struggle to get him down, but when he does he will have a huge advantage.

Also, I can’t talk about “Useless” without pointing out that his brother Herculez Gomez was on the U.S. World Cup team.
Pick = Ulysses Gomez

Jussier da Silva vs. Ian McCall
Whenever a new lighter weight class kicks off, fighters from other weights drop down. We have seen it at featherweight and bantamweight. Now we are seeing it at flyweight. McCall went 1-2 for the WEC between 2007-2009 and even fought to a decision against champion Dominick Cruz. Now, he is trying to find new life at 125 pounds.

I favor “Formiga” slightly because he is the number-one flyweight in the world, and he has looked unstoppable on the floor recently. However, McCall will be his toughest test to date.
Pick = Jussier da Silva

Edgar Garcia vs. Mike Moreno
MMA is a fickle sport. The distance between winning and losing can be only a few inches (You can thank Al Pacino for that tidbit of wisdom). Garcia won his only fight in the WEC with an aesthetically pleasing knockout. He then dropped his two fights in the UFC and was released. However, one loss was a split decision against Brad Blackburn. In his other loss, he was in control until DeMarques Johnson pasted him with an upkick and finished with a submission. Even without an Oliver Stone caliber prefight speech, Garcia should pick up a win here.
Pick = Edgar Garcia

Dominique Robinson vs. John Gunderson
Gunderson has a weird place in MMA. He is the type of fighter who is good enough to earn a spot in the UFC. However, once he is there, he is not really good enough to keep that spot. Robinson is a physical specimen, but he should be outclassed here. If he can get some takedowns, Gunderson might be in trouble. I expected Gunderson to be the better striker and land at will on the feet.
Pick = John Gunderson

Steve Lopez vs. Fabricio Camoes
I thought “Morango,” which means strawberry, really got a raw deal in the UFC. Sure he went 0-1-1, but he probably should have gotten the win against Caol Uno and was looking good early against Kurt Pellegrino. On top of that, he is too good for this level. He should be able to easily out grapple Lopez here. Strikeforce let Camoes get away once, and they should not do it again. If he can pick up a few wins on this level, he would make a really nice addition to their lightweight division.
Pick = Fabricio Camoes