World Series of Fighting 8 Date: January 18, 2014 Arena: Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino City: Hollywood, FL The World Series of Fighting 8 main card will be live on the NBC Sports Network starting at 9 p.m. ET. You can bet on these and all fights at Several Bookmakerss. In addition to my 3u play on Tyson Nam +100, here are my plays for the rest of the main card fights: Bantamweight bout: Jorge Patino (+100) vs Luis Palomino (-110) Fight Prediction: This is a fight between a pair of well-rounded bantamweights that is very close on paper, and should be a competitive match-up. If it ends inside the distance, I think Patino will be the one scoring the finish. If it goes all three rounds, it could be a toss-up. I like Patino in this spot, because he has a better chin, and is generally the more durable fighter. If he loses, it will be a decision, as I don’t see Palomino finishing him. Patino’s only defeat in the past four years came against current Legacy FC bantamweight champion Carlos Diego Ferreira. At 40 years of age, Patino is arguably in his prime. However, I am keeping my play small because of the fact that this will be Patino’s third fight in three months, and that is including a brutal five round war with Ferreira. Palomino is coming in fresh off a lengthy layoff, so he could pull off the victory just for being more healthy. It’s unknown what kind of injuries Patino may be carrying with him into this bout. That said, at +100, and considering the aforementioned risks, Patino is worth a small play. Gabe’s Pick: Jorge Patino by Submission (guillotine choke, 3:23 round 3) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Jorge Patino +100 1.5u to win 1.5u, and Patino/Palomino Over 2.5 (-150) parlayed with Anthony Johnson (-380) for +110 1u to win 1.1u Womens Strawweight bout: Jessica Aguilar (-325) vs Alida Gray (+295) Fight Prediction: I think this fight will be closer than the odds suggest. If there is a finish, I think Gray will be the one scoring it as she packs some decent power on the feet. If it goes the distance, Aguilar has the edge in taking home the judges’ decision because of her advantage on the mat. I wouldn’t count Gray out from taking the decision, though, as I could see her doing enough to take three rounds. Aguilar will be out to prove she is the best strawweight in Women’s MMA, but she has a stiff test against her in the older, undefeated Gray, who I think is a live dog in this spot. Gabe’s Pick: Jessica Aguilar by Unanimous Decision (48-47, 48-47, 48-47) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Alida Gray +295 1u to win 2.95u, and Aguilar/Gray Over 3.5 rounds (-175) parlayed with Anthony Johnson (380) for -102 1.25u to win 1.23u Light Heavyweight bout: Anthony Johnson (-380) vs Mike Kyle (+340) Fight Prediction: I think Mike Kyle is mostly fighting for a paycheck, while Johnson is striving to be the best light heavyweight on the planet. I think for Kyle to win this fight, he needs to land flush, or get lucky in a transition, and take Johnson’s back. Johnson has a history of poor rear naked choke defense, so I could see Kyle finishing him in that fashion. I don’t think that will happen, though, as I see Johnson outstriking Kyle, and eventually hurting him. Kyle recently retired after the Mousasi loss, so I don’t think his head is 100 percent into fighting anymore. I think as soon as he is really hurt, he won’t want to take much more damage from Johnson, and will take the TKO loss. He did not have to worry about being hurt that badly against Arlovski, as the Russian is past his prime and not nearly as powerful as Johnson. I could see Johnson taking a decision, or even a small chance he could lose one, but more often than not, I think he will come out strong, looking to finish the American Kickboxing Academy product. Considering he is training with striking coach Henri Hooft over at the Blackzillians camp in Boca Raton, FL, I like the odds of him making that happen. Gabe’s Pick: “Rumble” by TKO (strikes, 3:22 round 1) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Johnson/Kyle Under 1.5 rounds (-130) .65u to win .5u, Johnson (-380) parlayed with Patino/Palomino Over 2.5 (-150) for +110 1u to win 1.1u, and Johnson (-380) parlayed with Aguilar/Gray Over 3.5 rounds (-175) for -102 1.25u to win 1.23u Make sure you are following me on Twitter @GabeKillianMMA, as I may have action on the main event, which I am still doing homework on. There are no betting lines for fights on the preliminary card, however I do pick CFA veteran Valdir Araujo to get the upset over Strikeforce veteran Tyler Stinson, and for Strikeforce/Bellator veteran Derrick Mehmen to defeat Bellator veteran Scott Barrett.
