UFC 169 Predictions with “The New York Badass” Phil Baroni
By Dave Carpinello
The New York Badass, Phil Baroni has been involved with mixed martial arts for nearly 15 years including a fight career that has spanned across the globe and multiple organizations with 32 MMA fights and seven kickboxing matches. The former PRIDE and UFC veteran is back with his predictions and analysis of three of the fights on this weekend’s UFC 169 fight card.
UFC Bantamweight Title Bout
Renan Barao (C) (31-1-1) vs. Urijah Faber (31-6)
I am a big Faber fan and he has been on a roll, I really like him but Barao is a monster and it is almost impossible to pick against him. Barao is very well-rounded, he has great takedown defense and he punches and kicks very hard with precision. He is aggressive and he is always moving forward but with all that being said, Urijah is my boy and I would really like to see him with the UFC championship belt. Barao is a super tough opponent and he has been a great champion but I like Faber in this fight and I want him to win.
UFC Featherweight Title Bout
Jose Aldo (C) (23-1) vs. Ricardo Lamas (14-2)
Aldo is another one of those fighters like Barao, those Nova União boys are all very well-rounded tough fighters. He comes from one of the best Jiu-Jitsu camps in all of Brazil and as much as it would be good to see two new champions on this fight card I don’t think it is going to happen. I like Lamas, I like his personality and the fact that he earned this title shot, he deserves it but it is just super hard to pick against Aldo. If Lamas though can drag the fight out into the championship rounds he has a chance. That being said though, with Barao being there at training leading up to this fight, pushing him, I think Aldo will just have too much waiting for Lamas. I would probably pick Lamas if Barao wasn’t also on this card but he is so I am going to go with Aldo.
UFC Heavyweight Bout
Frank Mir (16-8) vs. Alistair Overeem (36-13-1)
Frank has been in the UFC forever, I am good friends with him and his family and he is a super good dude. He is a lifelong martial artist, he has been a fighter and an instructor, he lives mixed martial arts. You know his wife and kids are at the gym working out when he is there training and his dad is always there. Everything about his life is martial arts and his career is on the line with this fight. Overeem punches really hard and he has devastating knees and he is probably a heavy favorite coming into this fight and on paper he probably should be. But Frank has always thrived when his back was against the wall and people were counting him out. When Frank is on his last leg and it looks like he has no hope in the fight, he always pulls through and finds a way. He always finds a way to stay alive in the fight and get the win. I think Frank’s UFC career will be extended this weekend after he either gets the submission or TKO over Overeem. I think it will be a devastating submission!
**Injury update – Phil’s injury to his ankle and his lower leg has healed and he is back training. Expect an update on his future fight career in the near future!
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