UFC 201 takes place on July 30th in Atlanta, Georgia and is headlined by current welterweight champion Robbie Lawler as he takes on contender Tyron Woodley. We’ve already shown you the betting odds for the fights, now here’s our picks.
Robbie Lawler VS Tyron Woodley
As much as I love Lawler’s style, this fight may spell the end of his reign as champion. His last two fights have been absolute wars and he has been fighting for such a long time. At the age of 34, Lawler has been fighting for over (years), which is a long time. His opponent, however, is still relatively young in the sport and packs a serious punch. Woodley is a former D-1 wrestler who transitioned into MMA, becoming an absolute powerhouse. Since Lawler is notoriously known for being a slow starter, I think Woodley can capitalize early, the only handicap being he hasn’t stepped foot in the octagon for about a year and a half. If Woodley can come out strong fast, I think his athleticism, power, and speed will be all too much for the champ to handle.
Pick: Tyron Woodley def. Robbie Lawler via TKO round 3.
Rose Namajunas VS Karolina Kowalkiewicz
This fight is perhaps one of the most important on the card other than the main event, as it most likely produces the next title challenger in the strawweight division. Rose has been on a tear lately, however Karolina holds a flawless record and two UFC wins already under her belt. However, I think Namajunas is just too skilled for Kowalkiewicz and can take this fight three rounds with ease.
Pick: Rose Namajunas def. Karolina Kowalkiewicsz via unanimous Decision.
Matt Brown VS. Jake Ellenberger
Matt Browns last fight was frustrating for me to watch. His opponent had nothing for him on the feet and had to keep it on the ground. Unfortunately for Brown, he did. For Ellenberger however, he has fallen victim to a nasty KO and a unanimous decision in his last two fights. Many people are counting Ellenberger out of this one, but to me, this is a very closely contested fight. However, I just think Matt Brown will be the more confident fighter in this one. I predict a close fight, but ultimately I have to go with Brown.
Pick: Matt Brown def. Jake Ellenberger via RNC round 3.
Francisco Rivera VS. Erik Perez
Sadly, this fight is a simple case of the mental side of things. Rivera hasn’t looked that great since his KO of Alex Caceres. He has dropped 4 of his last 5 fights and isn’t getting any younger. Perez, on the other hand, is much younger and is coming off of a win. Rivera could pull a KO off in this one, but it just doesn’t seem likely.
Pick: Erik Perez def. Francisco Rivera via unanimous decision.