By Benjamin Bieker

Luke Rockhold (-125) vs. Vitor Belfort (+105)
It is amazing that Belfort is the underdog in this fight considering he has gone 8-2 since leaving PRIDE, and those losses have only come to Anderson Silva and Jon Jones. Rockhold’s only loss has come by TKO, and he has not faced a striker like Belfort. That is why it would be worth it to place some money on Belfort, but he is not the best bet on the main card.

Ronaldo Souza (-525) vs. Chris Camozzi (+415)
This is not a good bet either way. You have to place a lot of money on Souza to see a return, and Camozzi does not have a huge chance of winning this fight. This is not the place to bet your money if you are going to.

Rafael Dos Anjos (-190) vs. Evan Dunham (+165)
It is a toss up on whether or not either fighter would win. The odds are spot on considering that it is a 50/50 shot with either of these fighters winning. Dunham has a good shot at winning this fight, and with a $20 bet you could earn a $32 return.

Rafael Natal (-350) vs. Joao Zeferino (+250)
Easily one of the best bets of the night, because Natal is too big of a favorite. Zeferino is an unknown, but he has the ability to keep up with if not outclass Natal on the ground. A good bet for anyone betting on an underdog.

Nik Lentz (-185) vs. Hacran Dias (+145)
Lentz has some of the better wrestling, and he can win this fight by holding Dias down. It is unknown if he could fall prey to a submission, but this could turn out to be very similar to his fight with Diego Nunes. One of the better favorites to bet on this card.

Gleison Tibau (-230) vs. John Cholish (+170)
Cholish chances in this bout are there, but Tibau generally only losses to top tier fighters. At -230 though he is not the best return for a favorite on this card.

Francisco Trinaldo (-350) vs. Mike Rio (+250)
Both are pretty big unknowns going into this bout considering that they have not faced the best competition out there. Considering that Efrain Escudero was able to beat Rio it does not look good for his chances against Trinaldo. Zeferino is the better bet if you are looking for an unknown underdog.

John Lineker (-160) vs. Azamat Gashimov (+130)
Gashimov does not have the experience to deal with someone like Lineker, but he is also very unknown. It is hard to make bets when you have nothing to reference on a fighter so it is safer to not bet.

Paulo Thiago (-180) vs. Michel dos Prazeres (+140)
Prazeres is a machine when it comes to submission, but he will need to be able to take the fight to the ground. That will not happen when he is facing someone like Thiago who has given high level wrestlers trouble. Then again Thiago is very inconsistent and not worth a bet if he falters.

Luri Alcantara (-530) vs. Iliarde Santos (+350)
Alcantara is the favorite here for a reason. He is the better fighter, who has fought tougher opposition, and has gotten past his UFC jitters. Too big of a favorite to make money off of though.

Fabio Maldonado (-260) vs. Roger Hollett (+180)
Hollett could be the best bet out of all of the underdogs. Maldonado has fell to subpar strikers in most of his UFC bouts, and Hollett has decent striking even if he did not show it against Matt Hamill. Probably one of the best bets on the card for an underdog to come away with a win.

Jussier da Silva (-165) vs. Chris Cariaso (+125)
Da Silva has the submission skills to take out Cariaso, but he lacked the instinct to go for the ground in his fight with Dodson. It is too even for either fighter to have an off night to bet on either of them. Make your bets elsewhere.

By Bryanna Fissori

In the wake of the passing of Michigan MMA fighter Felix Pablo Elochukwu, the State legislature has been moved to take long-awaited action on a bill to regulate amateur MMA in Michigan. The bill, known as the “Amateur Mixed Martial Arts Regulatory Act.”

“The Pro events have been sanctioned in Michigan for the past 3 years,” Michigan MMA Promoter Joseph Donofrio (Impact Fight League) told MMAOnline.com, “The amateur has not.”

The Act will place strict requirements on events to ensure the health and safety of the fighters and unify the sport. Under the new rules, promoters will be required to obtain a license for the event, doctors to be on site before and after the bouts, an ambulance, the wearing of proper gear, specific round number and length as well as pre-fight blood tests. The language also allows for a mandatory medical suspension between fights when a competitor loses by technical knock out.

Though there has been no medical correlation announced between the passing of Elochukwu, his is reportedly the third fatality following an unsanctioned MMA event since the beginning of 2012. According to various media reports, the fighter lost via third round TKO and was standing coherently post-fight. Afterword he told his trainers he was not feeling well. He then received medical attention.

Donofrio, who is a strong supporter of the bill stated, “With a medical doctor and ambulance now required, the individual fighter will have immediate attention in the event of an injury.  With the pre fight physical, insurance coverage, blood work, and the other provisions instituted, the promoter will create a much safer domain for the combatant.”

“Most of the bill was presented by myself to the administration over a year ago so my opinion is that I am in full support of the new House Bill 4167.”

Though, as a promoter Donofrio will be subject to increased fees, he is confident that quality promotions like Impact Fight League will continue to thrive. Donofrio’s next event is just a month away. “The fees now associated and the fact that the promoters must adhere to all the guidelines to promote an MMA event will dramatically lower the number of amateur promoters in Michigan flushing out the ones who should not be promoting.”

Below is Donofrio’s official statement on the legislation.

OFFICIAL STATEMENT FROM JOSEPH DONOFRIO ON THE PASSAGE OF HOUSE BILL 4167

Michigan MMA promoter Joseph Donofrio has announced the following statement regarding the Michigan State House’s passing of House Bill 4167, regarding the regulation of amateur mixed martial arts in Michigan:

“Wednesday, April 10, 2013, marked an important day in the Mixed Martial Arts industry with the passage of House Bill 4167 regulating amateur competition in the state.

For too long, the health and safety of amateur MMA fighters have been needlessly at risk because of the lack of state oversight. Sadly, during this time of unregulated combat, a fighter needlessly died. This bill rightly honors the memory of Felix Pablo Elochukwu by ensuring in the future that amateur fighters will be competing under the safest conditions possible.

I’ve been honored to work with Representative Harvey Santana and members of the Michigan legislature toward passing this bill in the House. I look forward to its eventual passage in the Senate and its being signed into law by our Governor.”

By Benjamin Bieker

Robert McDaniel vs. Gilbert Smith

Supposedly McDaniel was the favorite through the competition, but it remains to be seen if he had the actual talent to actually win the competition. Whether it was being submitted by Kelvin Gastelum or knocked out by Uriah Hall, McDaniel did not perform to the best of his abilities. While Smith lost in the first round, his submission game is what will win this fight for him. Look for Bubba to tire in the second round, and for Smith to finish him with a submission.

Travis Browne vs. Gabriel Gonzaga

This fights outcome comes down to whether or not Gonzaga can get it to the ground. Yes, Browne does have a good submission game and Gonzaga has a knockout power, but the ground game is where Gonzaga can out pace almost any heavyweight fighter. If this was before Gonzaga’s short lived semi-retirement then Browne would have a bigger chance. After two back and forth rounds, Gonzaga takes out Browne by third round submission.

Miesha Tate vs. Cat Zingano

It would be easy for anyone to choose Miesha Tate to win this fight, but event hough Zingano’s has less experience that does not make her any less dangerous. Her BJJ credentials are some of the best in the business at 135, because her husband Mauricio taught her who has been a black belt for over 8 years under the Gracies. Fighters stay undefeated for a reason, and look for Zingano to use great ground control to take this fight by decision.

Kelvin Gastelum vs. Uriah Hall

This is probably one of the harder fights to predict on the card. No one expected much from Gastelum on TUF, but he showed what can be accomplished in a short amount of time. Hall on the other hand was impressive from the beginning of his run through the house. He showed that his takedown defense may not be up to snuff, but he does have the ability to knock someone out even off his back. While Gastelum may be a super star down the road, this fight is going to be Hall who will take a second round TKO after a close first.

Urijah Faber vs. Scott Jorgensen

Jorgensen usually wins based off his wrestling, but that will not come into a factor here as Faber is clearly the stronger wrestler. Faber has the advantage in wrestling, striking, and submissions in this bout, and he should have no trouble winning this fight. Sometimes the student becomes the master, but that is not the case for Faber’s former student Jorgensen. Faber finishes this fight by submission in the first round.

Prediction Record: 9-4

Thoughts?

By Benjamin Bieker

Akira Corassani vs. Robbie Peralta
Peralta seems like one of those fighters that is having a slow build in his career, and Akira Corassani seems to be the next fighter in his crosshairs. Corassani’s three losses have come by knockout and 12 of Peralta’s 16 wins come by way of knockout. Sounds like a perfect mixture for a third round knockout in Peralta’s favor.

Diego Brandao vs. Pablo Garza
Garza is an intriguing opponent for any fighter at 145, because he has the ability to put most fighters at bay standing. His biggest fault comes on the ground whether it is a wrestler keeping him down or a fighter’s submission ability. The BJJ black belt in Brandao will show when he earns a second round submission after a standing fight in the first.

Brad Pickett vs. Mike Easton
These are two fighters at bantamweight that were on there way to being contenders but losses in their last fights derailed those plans. Easton is a competent fighter, but is on the other side of the spectrum in terms of finishing ability in comparison to Pickett. The bottom line is that Pickett is a higher output fighter and that is what will win him this fight. After a back and forth fight, Pickett picks up an unanimous decision.

Matt Mitrione vs. Phil De Fries
In what will likely be a loser leaves town match, the hard hitting Matt Mitrione faces off with ground tactician Phil De Fries. If the fight hits the ground, De Fries should have the advantage, but if he will be able to submit Mitrione remains to be seen. We will most likely not find that out, because Mitrione will use his superior striking to take out De Fries in the first round.

Ross Pearson vs. Ryan Couture
Ryan Couture will win this fight. He, like his father, will find a way to win this match, because that is what he has done so far in his career. Yes, he lost one match, but in nearly every fight since he has been the underdog and came out with a win. Couture will use his reach advantage and cage work to take a split decision from Pearson.

Gegard Mousasi vs. Ilir Latifi
It is unknown exactly what Latifi brings to the table, but at two years older and not even a third of the fight experience he does not have much of a chance. If Mousasi does not take him lightly he should have this one wrapped up relatively quickly. Look for Mousasi to hurt Latifi with punches, and follow it up with a submission on the ground in the first round.

By Jonathan Solomon

An ongoing study of professional fighters has led to conclusions that the longer a career lasts and the greater number of fights participated in, a demonstrative impact on the brain can be seen.

A recent study presented by Sarah Banks, PhD, of the Cleveland Clinic’s Lou Ruvo Center for Brain Health (Las Vegas, NV) found that the greater number of years of a professional fighter correlated with a reduced size in specific sections of the brain (the caudate and amygdala) and further trends showed reductions in other areas (the thalamus and putamen).

Instead of examining the brains of deceased athletes, this study looked at a group of active athletes among 104 boxers and 135 MMA fighters and their MRI scans.

Banks said there was evidence of lower connectivity between brain regions based on the number of fights. The evidence points to a direct relationship between the numbers of punches to the head and irreversible changes to the brain.

Although there was no definitive number of fights before changes occurred (there is no uniform amount of fights each year in the career of a fighter), the study found that up to the fifth year of a career, the brain was not altered. However, past that time span, size of the previously mentioned areas of the brain declined. Specifically in the caudate region, volume shrunk by 10% among fighters with 15 years of experience. In other regions (the thalamus or hippocampus), there was little to no reduction.

Perhaps, most interesting, among fighters who said they began competing at 15-years-old or younger, the size of their caudate region were .37% smaller for each fight. For competitors who began after that age, the decline was .10% for each fight.

Also, the study showed there was a correlation in the higher number of fights, longer careers and a reduced connection between the basal ganglia and other brain regions. The basal ganglia has been associated with head trauma of athletes related to chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE).

Banks said she and her associates will recruit more athletes including a group of healthy controls to compare results.

MedPage Today, who first reported on this study, points out this has not been peer-reviewed yet and is only considered  preliminary until then.

By Daniel Holzhauer

As the clock ticks toward the apocalypse, once again, the doomsday preppers are loading their guns and locking their bunkers. Although the Mayans could not foresee their own collapse in the 9th century, it seems likely that they have predicted the end of the world correctly. And like a Japanese schoolboy on New Year’s Eve, I’d rather sit in front of the TV and watch MMA than join the world in making a fool of itself.

So with just one more chance for the best marital artists in the world to prove their greatness, they have descended upon McNichols Arena, the site of UFC 1, for one final night of battle. As the world’s dignitaries begin to file into the arena, which has been relocated deep into the heart of the Rocky Mountains, Joe Rogan welcomes the crowd, since his alien invasion bunker was conveniently located nearby.

Ronald ‘Jacare’ Souza v Damian Maia

The night starts off with two of the most accomplished grapplers in MMA, as Ronaldo ‘Jacare’ Souza takes on Demian Maia. Since BJJ is not a big seller, and neither guy owns a championship belt, they get stuck on the under card while Bill Clinton is still pre-gaming in the VIP lounge.

Both men hold victories over the other in jiu-jitsu competition and neither man has become an accomplished striker in the meantime. Since Massive Mayan Apocalypse rules allow for no decisions, Jacare and Maia take to the mat and go for broke. Souza is able to wear down Maia with pressure and short elbows. Jacare eventually secures an arm triangle in the final chapter of an epic rivalry.

And since paper money has lost all monetary value, Jacare takes the lead for the $10 million Submission of the Night Bonus promised by Dana White.

Hector ‘Lightning’ Lombard & Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort v Chael Sonnen

The next fight guarantees to bring some heat as dangerous striker Hector ‘Lightning’ Lombard takes on UFC legend Vitor ‘The Phenom’ Belfort. Unfortunately, Chael Sonnen is in the ring with a microphone and he has challenged both fighters to a handicapped match for his UFC title. Things take an ugly turn when Sonnen, the caricature of American conservatism, mocks Lombard’s homeland of Cuba and his adopted homeland of Australia by calling them both ‘Islands full of criminals.”

Lombard and Belfort agree to the match and attack the smiling Sonnen before he can hop out of the octagon. Sonnen is left badly beaten, but he never dropped the mic. Dan Henderson, who was somehow distracted during the fight, helps Sonnen out of the cage. Nobody is surprised when Cecil Peoples scores the fight for Sonnen.

“Smooth” Benson Henderson v Gilbert “El Nino” Melendez

With some of the stylistic matchups out of the way, it’s time to bring on the gold. There was going to be a flyweight title fight, but the complaints on twitter were getting in the way of Dana White’s ability to keep up with celebrity death gossip.

Benson Henderson is just two weeks out from his last title defense, but he beat Nate Diaz so convincingly that he’s agreed to take on Gilbert ‘El Nino’ Melendez, as long as Benson is allowed to keep his toothpick.

The bigger Henderson is able to muscle Melendez around and win on the judge’s cards but there are no decisions during the apocalypse. Melendez is a game fighter and doesn’t go quietly. But neither fighter is able to finish. It looks like the Diaz brothers are ready to storm the cage, but Rogan calms them down with some medicinal marijuana. Eventually the smell distracts Melendez and Henderson takes his back to finish the fight.

Clinton and President Obama join the ‘209 crew’ and they quickly forget the defeat.

Frankie “The Answer” Edgar v Jose Aldo

As masses of people begin to pound on the large entrance to the doomsday bunker, the show presses on. In what may be the most exciting fight of the night, and one we will actually get to see, Jose Aldo steps up his recovery to take on former champion Frankie ‘The Answer’ Edgar. It will be Edgar’s first fight at 145 Lbs., the division where he truly belongs, but in an obviously foreshadowed twist of fate worthy of a two-bit romantic-comedy, Aldo shows up to the fight at 160 Lbs. Aldo reasons that he can diet when he’s dead.

Edgar is quick and in great shape, but Aldo is awfully big and powerful. Edgar trades quick jabs for hooks and is bloodied up early. He nearly goes unconscious but Edgar gets back up and begins to turn the tide as the fight drags on. After 5 rounds, there is no end in sight when Edgar’s wife’s best friend J-Wow is seen on the big screen being sacrificed to the gods. As Edgar, who originally bashed the Jersey Shore, fist-pumps in solidarity, he eats a knee from Aldo that crumples him. The fight is over and the human sacrifice proves unsuccessful.

Georges “Rush” St.Pierre v Johny “Bigg Rigg” Hendricks

It’s time for the welterweights and there is no doubt that Georges-St. Pierre makes the card, but as in real life there are a line of challengers. Nick Diaz is too busy having a deep philosophical conversation with Joe Rogan and a cardboard cutout of Dikembe Mutombo, Anderson Silva is being forced to fight someone his own size and Carlos Condit is still healing from his last fight with GSP.

Johny Hendricks is given his rightful shot at the champion and the 2-time NCAA National Champion wrestler is quickly taken down by GSP. They start the second round on the feet, Hendricks unleashes his powerful left hand and GSP takes him down again. The fight continues this way for 60-minutes until the crowd gets restless.

After the 12th round, GSP and Hendricks are moved to a second octagon where they continue to fight while the rest of the card moves on. The apocalypse waits for nobody.

Alistair Overeem v Junior Dos Santos

The heavyweights are up next. The crowd is finally full and Bruce Buffer, ignoring the existence of previous fights, welcomes everyone to the show. There is a quiet rumble that spreads throughout the building and agitates the crowd. It gets louder and louder until Alistair Overeem bounds out of the locker room. Overeem has once again undergone metamorphosis and Ubereem has returned. Junior dos Santos complains about the lack of drug testing, but his pleas fall on deaf ears.

Dos Santos uses his technical striking and footwork to attack from the outside. Ubereem snarls in return and spams left and right hooks. Eventually, Ubereem grabs a hold of dos Santos’s right arm and tears it off. As the UFC champion laid in an ever-growing puddle of blood, Ubereem holds the appendage over his head and screams in victory. He runs through the cage and continues his rampage in the crowd. Animal control units are sent in to tranquilize Ubereem and allow the card to continue.

Fedor Emelianenko v Randy “The Natural” Couture

It’s time for the co-main event and the heavies continue to role. With no Zuffa contracts to hold them back, Fedor Emelianenko and Randy Couture finally square off. With each fighter carrying their respective flag into the cage, the crowd is split into two camps. Vladimir Putin leads the Russians in a red gi and judo black belt. Obama leads the Americans by flying an unmanned drone above the crowd, towing a ‘Crazy Russians’ banner.

The two aging legends put the distractions out of their mind and participate in an epic brawl. Couture pushes Emelianenko against the cage and works short strikes in the clinch. When Fedor creates space, he comes with a big right hand that wobbles Captain America. Couture fights valiantly but ‘The Last Emperor’ is too much. As Fedor celebrates his victory with a small nod of acceptance, the bunkers alcohol reserves are put to the test.

Anderson “The Spider” Silva v Jon “Bones” Jones
Now, it’s time for the main event of the Evening! It’s the fight we’ve all been calling for, even though Dana White has done a good job at making fans think they want a different superfight. UFC champion Anderson ‘The Spider’ Silva will take on fellow UFC champion Jon ‘Bones’ Jones.

The fight starts slow as Silva dances around the cage and Jones looks less than amused. When Jones loses patience and charges in, he’s caught with a counter right and an amused smirk from Silva. Jones eats another right but he’s able to get a takedown. He throws devastating elbows, but Silva dodges them effortlessly. When they start the second round, Jones misses a spinning-back-elbow and eats a kick to the face. Jones is down and out. Silva pounces and Dan Miragliotta stops the fight, about 10 punches too late.

Kazushi Sakuraba v Rickson Gracie

Silva celebrates in the octagon while the crowd begins to file out of the arena and head to their sardine-can sized dormitories, but there is one more surprise. Since Jones refused to play second fiddle to anyone, the final match was kept a secret. Japanese legend Kazushi Sakuraba enters the cage to a huge round of applause. He stands in the center and the crowd waits for his opponent with bated breath. There is an audible gasp when 54-year-old Rickson Gracie comes out.

After years of speculation, and more than a decade past their prime, the ‘Gracie Hunter’ will meet the Gracie Master. Rickson takes a slow walk to the cage as he bathes in the adulation. When he bell finally rings, the crowd becomes completely silent. As the two men lock up, Sakuraba reaches for a single-leg takedown and there is a loud groan from the Earth.

Rickson backs up against the cage and the mountain begins to crumble around them. The stands are swallowed up and just the Octagon remains when the legends hit the mat. Rickson looks for an armbar and Sakuraba stacks him. Sakuraba grabs a leg and falls back for a heel hook. Gracie and Sakuraba are in the 50/50 position when the earth beneath the cage begins to give way. The two legends fight for position as they tumble into the abyss.