Bantamweight bout: Brandon Hempleman (+425) vs Marlon Moraes (-550) Fight Breakdown: The WSOF 4 main card features a sure to be exciting bantamweight match-up between Brandon “Hot Rod” Hempleman and Marlon Moraes. Hempleman is the heavy underdog at +425 ($100 to win $425) with the return on the large favorite Moraes being -550 ($550 to win $500) at Several Bookmakerss. Brandon Hempleman (9-1 MMA, 0-0 WSOF) is making his promotional debut on a six fight win streak, coming off a December 2012 Cage Warriors Unanimous Decision victory over UK prospect Paul McVeigh. Hempleman grew up training gymnastics, which is certainly the main factor behind his very solid base. He has fantastic takedown defense; very hard to take down. Hempleman can go three rounds any time, as he has great cardio. He is a very talented striker who possesses a great chin; he can really take shots and dish them out harder. He is solid when it comes to his technical striking, though, so he doesn’t take unnecessary punishment. Especially because of his superb striking defense. He’s very fast and has good footwork. Brandon Hempleman is a talented striker who likes to use damaging, fast, whip-like leg kicks that take a lot out of his opponents throughout the fight. Hempleman is also a Brazilian Jiu-Jitsu black belt but I have yet to really observe his skills on the mat, as tape on him is hard to come by. Marlon Moraes (10-4-1 MMA, 2-0 WSOF) is one of WSOF’s stars after upsetting UFC and WEC veteran Miguel Torres in his first fight and knocking out Tyson Nam in his last fight. He enters this bout riding a four fight win streak and hopes to build on it, as I believe he’s got title and/or UFC aspirations on his mind. Training with former UFC Lightweight Champion Frankie Edgar has really improved his game. Moraes has a great ground game but he doesn’t often display his offensive wrestling due to his high confidence in his striking. He loves to outstrike opponents and look for the knockout. His defensive ground game checks out; he is quick and smart with reversals and escapes. He has good takedown defense and solid cardio for a three rounder. Moraes is a heavy hitter who posesses a mean overhand right. He throws solid combinations that could have just about anybody at 135 in trouble. He likes to use his eyes with his striking; he looks high and kicks low, looks low and kicks high… Fight Prediction: Hempleman’s future is at flyweight. That said, I think he is being way over-looked and under-valued in this match-up. Contrary to popular opinion, I see this as being a close striking battle that goes to the scorecards and could go either way. Gabe’s Pick: Marlon Moraes by Split Decision (28-29, 29-28, 29-28) Gabe’s Recommended Play: Over 1.5 rounds +145 — This is a big play, as I see a lot of value in it. I think the line should be at least -300 and we’re getting it at the generous underdog price of +145 — Two fast and solid strikers who can knock anybody out at any given time, but I think their chins hold up past 1.5 rounds much more often than the odds indicate. There is also value in Hempleman +425. I think he could win this fight more often than those odds indicate.
