Photo Credit: Andrew Innerarity / Reuters

Frank Vogel, fresh off two terrible decisions to take rim-protector Roy Hibbert out of the game late in Game 1, got his troops ready to go for Friday night’s contest and no one saw it coming. The Pacers led at one point in the 1^st quarter by 12 and the Heat were very lucky to come out of the period only down 6. Hibbert asserted himself quickly with 10 points and was able to dominate the paint. Miami had no answer. The Heat trailed by as many as 13 in the 2^nd with a minute to play, and with Haslem, Bosh, and Anderson in foul trouble, Erik Spoelstra turned to the always banged up sharp-shooter, Mike Miller. In that closing minute the 13-point Pacers’ lead diminished to six after Mike Miller’s buzzer beater three found the bottom of the rim and sent Miami into halftime with all of the momentum.

So now all of the good things that Indiana had seemed to accomplish in the 1^st half had gone to waste because they allowed the defending champs some daylight, and that is all they usually need. As the 3^rd quarter came to a close, Miami grew closer to the lead as they trailed by a lone bucket. LeBron had completely put his stamp on the game and was un-guardable. He had all of his tricks going in the game: the drive, the mid-range jumper, the three-pointer, the defense, and the determination of not losing the game.

So, Indiana barely held the lead heading into the last period. Would they allow another game to slip away? Maybe the Jim O’Brien Pacers would, but not Frank Vogel’s. With Miami down two going into the 4^th quarter I will guarantee that at least 95% of the viewers watching thought the Heat would take control and come away up 2-0 in the series. Paul George and Co. had another thought, surprise them all and tie it up. The Heat grabbed a four-point lead with just over six minutes remaining after Chris Bosh was found in the corner for an open three.

Vogel called time and hammered into his players’ heads that they had been here before and this time they were going to win the game. Well, after a few empty possessions by both teams, Lance Stephenson knocked down a huge three that cut the deficit to one. Over the next three minutes Hibbert and James traded buckets which resulted in a tie ball game with three minute left. Then with 1:12 left and the score tied at 93 apiece, Chris Bosh intercepted a bad pass from Stephenson. He pushed the ball up court to Wade, where Wade forced a ten footer over two players which resulted in a bad miss.

Two George Hill free throws followed that play and Miami was left with the ball down two and 48 seconds left in regulation. Following a timeout by Erik Spoelstra, LeBron possessed the ball and a chance to do it all over again like did in Game 1. Well, Bron decided to dish the rock to Ray Allen on the left elbow, except David West intercepted the pass and caused a huge turnover. If LeBron had gone with the simple bounce pass it would have gotten underneath West’s high placed hands. Lucky for LeBron he would get a chance at redemption after Miami forced a 24-second violation on the defensive end of the court. With 17 seconds left LeBron once again had the ball in his hands at the top of the key and the game on the line. With Roy Hibbert on the court this time, LeBron drove to the hole and proceeded to stop with an attempt to kick out the ball to a wing shooter to try and make a basket. Unfortunately, George Hill stole the pass this time and sealed the game with two free throws following the forced turnover.

Indiana did it. Somehow they withstood the Heat at home, and outplayed them for the second time this series. If not for a coaching blunder at the end of Game 1, Miami would be down 2-0 in the Eastern Finals heading to Indiana. This was only Miami’s 4^th loss in 50 games dating back to the regular season, but it most certainly won’t be their last. Indiana is for real. Their height and constant defense have proven to be two things that won’t go away. Hibbert has combined for 48 points and 19 rebounds in both games and Miami simply is not tall enough to defend the enormous center. Indiana’s top of the line team defense is stunning and besides LeBron, no one has shown they have what it takes to help out on Miami. Wade and Bosh each shot an average 6-14 from the field and combined for only 31 points in Game 2. LeBron scored an efficient 36 points on 14-20 shooting, but with no help from the rest of the “Big Three” they will not win this series. Mario Chalmers has looked awful, as well as Norris Cole. The two guards played a combined 48 minutes on Friday night, but only scored nine points total! Ray Allen has played very good defense, but he is on the team to stretch the defense with his three point shot that will find him in the Hall of Fame one day. Ten points so far in the series does not cut it for Allen and he will need to step up big time.

Their big key to the victory in Game 1 was Chris “Birdman” Anderson’s 7-7 shooting from the field and his 16 points. In Game 2 Anderson played only 15 minutes in part due to foul trouble, and his presence was deeply missed.

Throughout the regular season Indiana prided themselves in shutting the opposing team down and just getting away with their poor offense. So far in the playoffs, it seems that the offense is thriving somehow and the defense hasn’t gone anywhere. Paul George, this year’s Most Improved Player of the Year, has emerged as a bona fide star and is taking over this series along with Hibbert. At the end of the 3^rd quarter in Game 2 George pulled off an emphatic slam over Chris Anderson, which was then followed by a buzzer beater three from LeBron. After the play, both players, LeBron and George, acknowledged each other for their outstanding play as a way of just telling us that they are both playing at a level only a select few in this world can play at. George has averaged 24.5 points a game so far in the Eastern Finals and LeBron has averaged 33 points a game, but the difference is what help they are getting from their teammates.

When you look at the Heat it seems to be the LeBron show with Wade, Bosh, and Co. struggling mightily; but when you glance at Indiana’s other contributors you see a solid 18 points from their point guard George Hill, a dominating 29 points from Hibbert, and even 13 from David West. There is just a more balanced offensive attack coming from Indiana and now the series shifts to the Bankers Life Fieldhouse in Indiana. Both of their regular season matchups with the Heat in Indiana resulted in two double-digit Pacer wins. If you ask me at the way this series has gone so far, there is nothing you can show me that can convince me Miami has what it takes to win one game on the road. If Wade and Bosh can regain their form that won them the title last year, then we are talking a whole different ball game, but the fact of the matter now is that they are not. Indiana is here to stay and they have what it takes to knock the defending champs out of this playoff race for good. Stay tuned.

-Huberman

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Seth Wenig

When the 2013 season started, many Mets fans believed that Davis would continue where he left off last season. Unfortunately that has not been the case. So far, Davis is batting an abysmal .143, including a current 1-for-42 stretch, with four home runs and only nine RBI. Unlike last year’s early struggles, which were somewhat justified due to the fact that he missed the end of the 2011 season, there’s no reason Davis should be struggling this badly.

His struggles mean that once again, there is a debate on whether Davis should be demoted to AAA (now in Las Vegas).

One argument on why the Mets should keep Davis in the majors is that the Mets do not have a great option to replace Davis at first base. Also, many believe that the Mets will not contend this year anyways, and thus have nothing to lose by keeping up Davis. As Tyler Kepner of the New York Times points out, “The Mets are not contending this season, a path they chose with their moves last winter. To win in the future, they must determine if Davis is a viable major league first baseman.”

While the Mets may not contend this year, they are not that far off from being a force in the National League. They will soon have a great young pitching staff anchored by Matt Harvey and Zach Wheeler, and once catching prospect Travis D’Arnaud gets called up, they can potentially have a great 3-4 combination with him and David Wright. Davis has proven that he can be an important part of the Mets’ future plans, but he needs to find the swing that made him such a dangerous hitter in the second half of last season. A trip to the minor leagues will remove a lot of pressure off of him, and will allow him to focus on fixing his swing.

I am not an Ike hater. He seems like a really cool guy to be around, and has acted like a professional through his struggles (unlike a certain Yankees third baseman). As a Mets fan, I just want what’s best for him and the team. I know that it’s a hard decision for manager Terry Collins to make, but demoting Davis could be the best thing for his future. While a demotion is not something that Davis wants, it would help him regain his confidence at the plate, which would enable him to be a key contributor as the team heads into its bright future.

-Hollenberg

via livefightstream.com

Main Event Breakdown: Cain Velasquez vs Antonio Silva

They say when two fighters are fighting each other for the 2^nd time, don’t expect the fight to look anything like the first fight. For the most part that’s incredibly true. Take a look at the vast majority of rematches and trilogies in this sport and you will see differences in each fight. This fight, however, I just can’t seem to get the images of the first fight out of my head. It was a beatdown. Velasquez caught the kick, took him down, and just mauled him. I don’t think “Bigfoot” will make the mistake of throwing another kick, but I don’t think that will make a difference. Velasquez is a highly decorated wrestler and has repeatedly taken down all of his opponents down with ease.

We have seen Antonio Silva struggle on the feet against smaller/faster heavyweights. Mike Kyle dropped him, Daniel Cormier finished him. If Cain doesn’t take him to the ground right away, he knows how to use his footwork to create angles and hurt him on the feet as well. Velasquez is one of the fastest heavyweights in the sport, and Bigfoot is one of the slowest. He shouldn’t have trouble finding a home for his punches. After what happened in his first fight against JDS and what Silva has done in his last two fights, I highly doubt Cain will want to spend any time exchanging with Silva in the first place.

Silva’s best chance in this fight is to use his jiu-jitsu. He needs to get into top position. Assuming he doesn’t score an early KO, he will end up on his back at some point. He can’t let Cain pass his guard. He needs to get wrist control and work towards a sweep. If he can pull that off he can administer some vicious ground and pound that could finish the fight.

If this fight does go into deeper waters, there’s a big edge in cardio for Velasquez. He sets a pace for 25 minutes that no other heavyweight on the planet can keep up with. We saw that in his 2^nd fight against JDS, landing a high volume of punches and takedowns. Even if Bigfoot can survive early, things won’t get easier for him as the fight goes on.

The Pick- Cain Velasquez once again wins by round 1 TKO. This is a safe pick if you want to bet on the fight. For a prop bet go with the fight not going to a decision. This prediction gets 4/5 starts on the confidence level. With heavyweights you never know.

Co-Main Event Breakdown: Junior Dos Santos vs Mark Hunt

“Cigano” sounds like a motivated man after losing his belt. He has arguably the best boxing in the division, good technique and speed that generates serious power. We haven’t seen it in the octagon yet, but he’s a BJJ black belt that constantly trains with the Nogueira brothers. He has hinted at taking the fight to the ground in some prefight interviews, and that could serve him well during the fight.

Hunt is on a four-fight winning streak with three KO wins. He’s known for his legendary chin and his decorated kickboxing history, but this old dog may actually be learning a few tricks. He’s easily dismissed as being a one-dimensional MMA fighter, but since coming into the UFC he has shown improvement. Landing some takedowns, stopping takedowns, fishing for submissions, escaping submissions, etc. Hunt will never be great in these areas, but going from poor to passable is vital to keeping him competitive amongst the very best.

Despite the strides Hunt has made, it’s tough to see it being enough to beat an elite HW like Dos Santos. Junior is faster, holds a significant cardio advantage, and has a good beard as well. Hunt may have gotten better in other areas, but like I said they remain weaknesses. Hunt has no submission victories to his name, and six of his seven losses come via submission. He’s in no man’s land on the floor. He also dealt with issues getting a VISA last week, it’s now been cleared, but it must have been mentally exhausting. He now has less time to get accustomed in the country due to the delay. JDS has a six inch height and three inch read advantage as well, but Hunt did just fine against the “Skyscraper”.

The Pick- Junior Dos Santos wins by decision. Because of the volatility of the heavyweight division where one punch can change any fight, I’d suggest staying away from wagering on this. I’ll still give the pick three stars though.

Main Card Picks & Quick Thoughts

Glover Teixeira vs James Te-Huna- Probably evenly matched standing up, but on the ground it’s a different story. Teixeira is a black belt in BJJ and has finished 1^st and 2^nd in the Brazilian ADCC trials. Five wins by submission, no losses via sub. Te-Huna has three legitimate submission losses.

The Pick- Glover Teixeira by submission in round 2. 4/5 stars.

Gray Maynard vs TJ Grant- Dunham was able to takedown Grant three times in their fight, and he doesn’t have the same strength and wrestling credentials that Maynard has. He is very well rounded though and looks good at 155. Maynard consistently fought better competition though, giving Frankie Edgar all he can handle. Big step up for Grant.

The Pick- Maynard by decision. 3/5 stars.

Donald Cerrone vs KJ Noons- Both fighters come from strong kickboxing backgrounds, so expect fireworks. Noons is probably a little bit better at letting his hands go due to pro boxing background as well, but Cerrone has the better submission game. Both guys are tough to finish. Cerrone’s resume is a bit more impressive, and Noons has lost four of five.

The Pick- Cerrone by decision. 4/5 stars.

Prelim Picks

Rick Story vs Mike Pyle- Pyle by decision. 1/5 stars.

Dennis Bermudez vs Max Holloway- Bermudez by decision- 3/5 stars.

Robert Whittaker vs Colton Smith- Smith by decision. 4/5 stars.

Khabib Nurmagomedov vs Abel Trujillo- Nurmagomedov by KO in round 2. 4/5 stars.

Stephen Thompson vs Nah-Shon Burrell- Thompson by KO in round 1. 5/5 stars.

Brian Bowles vs George Roop- Bowles by decision. 3/5 stars.

Jeremy Stephens vs Estevan Payan- Stephens by KO in round 3. 5/5 stars.

Original article posted here: http://clutchmma.blogspot.com/2013/05/ufc-160-predictions-analysis.html

-CltuchMMA

Pound-For-Pound

1. Anderson Silva
2. Jon Jones
3. Georges St-Pierre
4. Jose Aldo
5. Benson Henderson
6. Cain Velasquez
7. Ronda Rousey
8. Renan Barao
9. Demetrious Johnson
10. Johnny Hendricks

Heavyweight

1. Cain Velasquez- The reigning champ has the ability to have a stranglehold on this division for years to come. Next fight- Title defense against Antonio Silva in a rematch on 5/25 at UFC 160.
2. Daniel Cormier- Easily dispatched Silva, Barnett, and Mir. Friend and teammate of Cain Velasquez, may drop to LHW instead of fighting him. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
3. Junior Dos Santos- The former champ has arguably the best boxing in MMA, and very good takedown defense to go with it. Night fight- Possible #1 contender match against Mark Hunt on 5/25 at UFC 160.
4. Antonio Silva- 2 KO wins against top 10 opponents in his last two fights, “Bigfoot” has some scary power. Next fight- Challenging for the belt against Cain Velasquez in a rematch on 5/25 at UFC 160.
5. Fabrico Werdum- An unbelievable grappler, “Vai Cavalo” has won five of six and is knocking on the door of a title shot. Next fight- The Ultimate Fighter coach rematches Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira on 6/8 at UFC on Fuel TV 10.
6. Alistair Overeem- Was cruising against Silva before getting cocky and dropping his hands. The strong and talented striker is looking to bounce back. Next fight- Not officially announced, but likely against Travis Browne on 8/31 at UFC 164.
7. Frank Mir- The former champ has lost two in a row for the first time in his career. Mir is a hard worker who constantly tries to improve, he’s still a tall order for most guys in the division. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
8. Mark Hunt- One of the best stories in MMA, “The Super Samoan” has rattled off four in a row. With an iron chin and K-1 background, Hunt always has a chance standing up. Next fight- Possible #1 contender match against Junior Dos Santos on 5/25 at UFC 160.
9. Roy Nelson- “Big Country” has won 3 straight in the first round by KO. All it takes is one punch, and Nelson might just have the best one punch KO power in the division. Next fight- Nothing official, but according to Dana White likely to be against Mark Hunt or Daniel Cormier at a time TBD.
10. Antonio Rodrigo Nogueira- “Big Nog” is 3-3 in his last six and likely in the final stages of his career. One of the greatest HW to ever grace the sport. He still sports excellent jiu-jitsu, boxing, and a solid chin. Next fight- The Ultimate Fighter coach rematches Fabrico Werdum on 6/8 at UFC on Fuel TV 10.

Honorable Mention- Josh Barnett

Light Heavyweight

1. Jon Jones- The reigning champ has been incredibly dominant, and 25 years of age it’s crazy to think he’s only going to get better. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
2. Lyoto Machida- The former champ has won two straight as he works his way towards getting another crack at the title. Next fight- Nothing official, but likely against Alexander Gustafsson at a time TBD.
3. Dan Henderson- The former two division pride champion is coming off a split decision loss, but “Hendo” is like a fine wine that seems to get better with age. Next fight- Against Rashad Evans on 6/15 at UFC 161.
4. Alexander Gustafsson- The talented young Swede has won six in a row and excelled in his first big test in competition against “Shogun”. Next fight- Nothing official, but likely against Lyoto Machida at a time TBD.
5. Glover Teixeira- Demolished “Rampage” in his last fight and carries an 18-fight win streak with 16 finishes. A fast riser in the division and a legitimate contender. Next fight- Against James Te-Huna on 5/25 at UFC 160.
6. Antonio Rogerio Nogueira- “Lil Nog” didn’t impress anybody with his victory over Rashad Evans, but a win is a win. Next fight- A rematch against Mauricio Rua on 6/15 at UFC 161.
7. Rashad Evans- The former champ has dropped 2 straight, he needs a W to stay relevant in the division. Next fight- Against Dan Henderson on 6/15 at UFC 161.
8. Maurico Rua- The former champ is 4-4 in his last eight. Knee issues have hampered his cardio and overall ability. Next fight- A rematch against Antonio Rogerio Nogueira on 6/15 at UFC 161.
9. Phil Davis- “Mr. Wonderful” has won two straight. Excellent wrestling pedigree and he’s working on his striking game. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
10. Ryan Bader- The Ultimate fighter season eight winner is 3-1 in his last four fights. A strong wrestler with heavy hands makes him a tough matchup for anybody. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.

Honorable Mention- Gegard Mousasi

Middleweight

1. Anderson Silva- Arguably the greatest mixed martial artist of all time. 16-0 in the UFC, 11-0 in title defenses. Next fight- Title defense against Chris Weidman on 7/6 at UFC 162.
2. Chris Weidman- An outstanding wrestler who is solid all around. A very real threat to dethrone “The Spider”. Next fight- Challenging for the title against Anderson Silva on 7/6 at UFC 162.
3. Vitor Belfort- Two straight highlight reel knockouts for “The Phenom”.  Still has some of the fastest hands in the sport. Next fight- Nothing announced.
4. Yushin Okami- Has won three straight fights. Grinding style of fighting always frustrates his opponents. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
5. Michael Bisping- “The Count” has a good overall game, but no specific area where he’s great at. The lack of one great skill set is what hurts him from becoming great. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
6. Ronaldo Souza- The submission wizard has won four straight and made a statement in his UFC debut. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
7. Mark Munoz- Munoz was on the cusp of a title shot before his loss to Weidman. A good wrestler with dynamite in his hands who is looking to get back on track. Next fight- Against Tim Boetsch on 7/6 at UFC 162.
8. Luke Rockhold- Rockhold was on a roll until Belfort knocked him out. Talented fighter heading into his prime. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
9. Costa Philippou- Undefeated at 185 and is very underrated. Good boxing skills. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
10. Tim Boetsch- It may not always be pretty, but he gets it done. 4-1 since dropping to MW, and it was a head-butt and eye poke that turned the tides in his loss. Next fight- Against Mark Munoz on 7/6 at UFC 162.

Honorable Mention- Hector Lombard

Welterweight

1. Georges St-Pierre- The champ continues to cruise to clear-cut decision victories. Getting close to clearing out the division. Next fight- Nothing scheduled, but widely speculated it will be against Anderson Silva or Johnny Hendricks at a time TBD.
2. Johnny Hendricks- A highly decorated wrestler who’s able to constantly find a home for that big left hand of his. Next fight- Nothing scheduled, but widely speculated it will be against Georges St-Pierre at a time TBD.
3. Carlos Condit- Despite two straight losses, Condit hasn’t done anything to lower his stock. “The Natural Born Killer” is a finisher who remains in the title hunt. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
4. Martin Kampmann- Kampmann may only have a 7-4 record since dropping to WW, but his performance is far more indicative of his record. A diverse striker with a ton of heart. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
5. Jake Ellenberger- Outside of his loss to Kampmann, you have to go back five years to find a clean loss on his record. Can hurt you with punches and get the fight to the ground. Next fight- Against Rory MacDonald on 7/27 at UFC on Fox 8.
6. Rory MacDonald- The only setback of his career was to Condit and that was a poor stoppage. The 23-year-old had no problem beating up a legend in BJ Penn. The sky is the limit. Next fight- Against Jake Ellenberger on 7/27 at UFC on Fox 8.
7. Demian Maia- Maia has a new lease on life since dropping to WW. Much stronger now and his jiu-jitsu is off the charts. Next fight- Against Josh Koscheck on 8/3 at UFC 163.
8. Jon Fitch- Fitch won’t wow you with his ability, but his cardio and strength neutralizes what he makes up for in natural athleticism. Next fight- Against Josh Burkman on 6/14 at WSOF 3.
9. Ben Askren- Very similar to Fitch. Well decorated wrestler who is undefeated in 11 pro fights. Next fight- Against Andrey Koreshkov at a time TBD.
10. Tarec Saffiiedine- On a four-fight winning streak, Tarec was the last Strikeforce WW champion. Next fight- Against Robbie Lawler on 7/27 at UFC on Fox 8.

Honorable Mention- Robbie Lawler

Lightweight

1. Benson Henderson- The champ hasn’t been dominant in his title fights, but continues to do enough in the eyes of the judges. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
2. Gilbert Melendez- Came up short in a hotly contested fight against Henderson. Should get another chance at the belt sooner than later. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
3. Gray Maynard- “The Bully” can hurt you, but he needs to do a better job at capitalizing on his openings and finishing the fight. Next fight- Against TJ Grant on 5/25 at UFC 160.
4. Michael Chandler- The Bellator champ is fun to watch. Excellent at mixing up his strikes and takedowns. Next fight- Against Dave Jansen on 6/19 at Bellator 96.
5. Eddie Alvarez- Alvarez is currently involved in a contract dispute. We can only hope it gets resolved quickly so he can fight the best at 155. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
6. Josh Thomson- Coming off a KO of the night win, previous fight was a closely contested battle against #2 Melendez. Injury prone, but he’s fantastic at 100%. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
7. TJ Grant- Undefeated in four fights at LW, vicious elbows in his win against Wiman. Tough to finish and excellent at finding submissions. Next fight- Against Gray Maynard on 5/25 at UFC 160.
8. Donald Cerrone- “The Cowboy” is an excellent kickboxer and also has some great submissions to his name. Always dangerous with the pace he sets. Next fight- Against KJ Noons on 5/25 at UFC 160.
9. Pat Healy- Unfortunately for Healy, his latest win over Jim Miller was overturned due to a positive marijuana test. Doesn’t take away from his performance though and would have been his 7^th straight. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
10. Jim Miller- Has hit a bit of a skid recently, but Miller remains a durable guy with good wrestling and grappling. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.

Honorable Mention- Shinya Aoki

Featherweight

1. Jose Aldo- The champ continues to dispose of what’s put in front of him. Close to clearing out the division. Next fight-Title defense against Anthony Pettis on 8/3 at UFC 163.
2. Frankie Edgar- The former LW champ started slow against Aldo, came alive in the 3^rd, but it wasn’t enough to get the decision in the judge’s eyes. Next Fight- Against Charles Oliveira on 7/6 at UFC 162.
3. Chad Mendes- You think losing to Aldo lit a fire under Mendes? Three straight KO wins, all coming inside two minutes. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
4. Ricardo Lamas- The winner of four straight, three of them against top 10 ranked opponents. Next fight- Chang Sung-Jung on 7/6 at UFC 162.
5. Chan Sung-Jung- “The Korean Zombie” is never in a dull fight. He’s won three straight with finishes, two against top 10 opponents. Next fight- Against Ricardo Lamas on 7/6 at UFC 162.
6. Pat Curran- The Bellator champ is 6-0 since dropping to FW and has looked unstoppable in the process. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
7. Cub Swanson- Has won four straight fights, three by KO. With seven submissions to his name, Swanson is a versatile fighter. Next fight- Against Dennis Siver on 7/6 at UFC 162.
8. Dennis Siver- A creative striker who is 2-0 since moving down to FW. His fight against Phan was one of the most lopsided decisions in the history of the sport. Next fight- Against Cub Swanson on 7/6 at UFC 162.
9. Erik Koch- Hit a speed bump against Lamas, but the 24-year-olds best days are still ahead of him. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
10. Tatsuya Kawajiri- “The Crusher” is a perfect 4-0 since dropping to FW, he continues to work the Japanese circuit. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.

Honorable Mention- Clay Guida

Bantamweight

1. Renan Barao- The interim champ has now won 30 in a row. Still waiting on Dominick Cruz to unify the belt. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
2. Urijah Faber- The former FW kingpin has also found success at 135, but hasn’t had luck winning the gold in this division. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
3. Michael McDonald- Couldn’t get past Barao, but at 22 his star still shines bright. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
4. Eddie Wineland- Wineland can pack a punch and always puts on a show for the fans. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
5. Brad Pickett- Always exciting to watch, “One Punch” has earned post fight bonuses in four of his last five fights. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
6. Raphael Assuncao- Perfect 3-0 since dropping to 135. Next fight- Against Vaughan Lee on 6/8 at UFC on Fuel TV 10.
7. Bibiano Fernandes- 5-0 since returning to the division. Continues to work the Asian circuits. Next fight- Against Koetsu Okazaki on 5/31 at One FC: Rise to Power.
8. Scott Jorgenson- Has lost three of his last four, but those were against the cream of the crop. “Young Guns” is always a treat to watch. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
9. T.J. Dillashaw- Has won four straight fights, 3 by finish. An excellent wrestling base with an always improving all-around game. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
10. Erik Perez- Won his last eight fights, perfect 4-0 in the UFC, 3 in the 1^st round. Still very raw but tons of upside. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.

Honorable Mention- Eduardo Dantas

Flyweight

1. Demetrious Johnson- The champ is able to outwork his foe with great lateral movement and world-class speed. Next fight- Title defense against John Moraga on 7/27 at UFC on Fox 8.
2. Joseph Benavidez- A split decision loss to the champ is the only blemish on his record since moving to 125. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
3. John Dodson- The Ultimate Fighter Season 14 winner is a freakish athlete. Rare blend of speed and power. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
4. Ian McCall- “Uncle Creepy” has had a rough go recently, but has no reason to be ashamed of his performances. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
5. John Moraga- Has won 7 in a row, with 3 finishes in the first round. Next fight- Challenging for the title against Demetrious Johnson on 7/27 at UFC on Fox 8.
6. Jussier Formia- A skilled grappler, but needs to improve his standup if he wants to contend for the belt. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
7. John Lineker- Has won two straight, his last fight an absolute beat down against Gashimov. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
8. Darrell Montague- Has won four straight. Needs to step away from the small circuit to move up the rankings. Next fight- Against Sean Barnett on 6/30 at Gladiator: Summer Heat.
9. Will Campuzano- The LFC champ has now won four straight. The UFC is likely to bring him back into the fold soon. Next fight-Nothing scheduled.
10. Chris Cariaso- The drop to 125 hasn’t resulted in immediate success, but “Kamikaze” will make some noise soon enough. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.

Honorable Mention- Darren Uyenoyama

Women’s Pound-For-Pound

1. Ronda Rousey- The champ continues to snatch up armbars in the first round in each fight. Next fight- Title defense against Cat Zingano at a time TBD.
2. Cristiane Santos- “Cyborg” breaks her opponents before the fight even starts. Big power in this division. Next fight- Rematch against Marloes Coenen on 7/13 at Invicta FC 6 for the title.
3. Cat Zingano- Zingano and Tate put on a show last month and her performance got her a title shot. Next fight- Challenging for the title against Ronda Rousey at a time TBD.
4. Jessica Aguilar- Has won six in a row, sits on top of the Strawweight division. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
5. Megumi Fuji- Many feel that the only two losses on her record were robberies. Despite being ranked #5 she has a legitimate case to be ranked #1, as odd as that may sound. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
6. Meisha Tate- Has lost two of her last three, but they were to the #1 and #3 fighters. Was cruising against Zingano before the stoppage, which some feel was early. Next fight- Against Liz Carmouche on 7/27 at UFC on Fox 8.
7. Marloes Connen- The former Strikeforce BW champ is a submission specialist with a wealth of experience. Next fight- Rematch against Cristiane Santos on 7/13 at Invicta FC 6 for the title.
8. Sarah Kaufman-Has beaten some of the best the division has to offer. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
9. Michelle Waterson- The Invicta champ has now won 5 straight, including four impressive finishes. “The Karate Hottie” is quickly rising in the sport. Next fight- Nothing scheduled.
10. Alexis Davis- One of the best grapplers in Womens’s MMA, Davis has won two straight and looks to carry that momentum into her UFC debut. Next fight- Against Rosi Sexton on 6/15 at UFC 161.

Honorable Mention- Sara McMann

Original article here: http://clutchmma.blogspot.com/2013/05/mma-rankings-as-of-5212013.html

-ClutchMMA

The future looks brighter than ever for the New York Islanders. After a strong season the Isles made a nice showing against the top seeded Pittsburgh Penguins. The team surprised many and gave Pittsburgh a run for their money, outplaying them in four out of the six games. Penguins star defenseman Brooks Orpik responded to the series by claiming the Islanders are a team on the rise and the Penguins were outplayed throughout the series and lucky to be moving on. The Islanders, who ranked last in the league in attendance, sold out all three games played at Nassau Coliseum. The organization asked the fans to “Rock the Barn,” referring to the Coliseum, and the fans were heard all 188 minutes of hockey played there. The arena that housed four Stanley Cup-winning Islanders teams, nicknamed “Fort Neverlose,” was back. It was enjoyable to see the oldest arena in the league come back to life.

Photo Credit: MARK BLINCH/REUTERS

22-year-old Hart Trophy Finalist John Tavares had three goals and five points in the series and has developed into an all-world player and the team’s unquestioned leader. Veteran forwards Kyle Okposo, Michael Grabner, 23-year-old Josh Bailey and young vets Matt Moulson and Frans Nielsen all “grew up” this season and stepped up their game in the playoffs. The third line was anchored by 24-year-old Matt Martin and 22-year-old center Casey Cizikas. Young defensemen like 22-year-old Travis Hamonic and 26-year-old Andrew McDonald were strong throughout and ate up top pair minutes on defense. Just making the playoffs this season was a great stepping stone for these young players to build on. Their performance was a bonus.

via niagaraicedogs.net

Of course, there is more good news on Long Island as there is more help on the way. The Islanders have drafted well in recent years and they own one of the deepest pools of young talent in the league. The list of forwards is led by 19-year-old Ryan Strome and a pair of 20-year-olds in Brock Nelson and Nino Niederreiter. All three are recent first round draft picks and are projected top six forwards. They are expected to join the team on Long Island this fall. The Islanders’ 2012 first round pick was rugged 19-year-old defenseman Griffin Reinhart. Reinhart, who stands at 6’4” and weighs over 200 lbs. is the son of former NHL defenseman Paul Reinhart. He is expected to help anchor the Islanders defense corps for the next decade. Two collegiate players are also expected to make an impact in the near future. Notre Dame center Anders Lee and hulking Denver shutdown defenseman Scott Mayfield have signed entry level deals with the club and are expected to continue their development at the teams minor league affiliate in Bridgeport, and eventually join the big club in the near future. The Bridgeport team is stocked with prospects like 23-year-old power play quarterback Matt Donovan and former 1^st round pick Calvin DeHaan. The 22-year-old DeHaan has all the talent in the world but injuries have derailed his progress. If healthy, you will see DeHaan playing games with the Islanders next season. In addition, the Islanders hold the 15^th overall pick in this year’s extremely deep NHL Entry Draft. The last time the Islanders picked 15^th overall, they selected NHL bust Ryan O’Marra, but as a true fan I prefer to think about their 15^th overall way back in 1977. That was the year they chose the greatest pure goal scorer in NHL history, Hall of Famer Mike Bossy. So while I’m not sure in what direction General Manager Garth Snow will go, expect another high-level prospect to join the team’s pipeline.

Photo Credit: Brad Penner-USA TODAY Sports

The offseason will hold a lot of questions. Goaltender Evgeni Nabokov is an unrestricted free agent. While he has expressed interest in returning to Long Island, the asking price will probably be high. He was great in the regular season and a wonderful influence on his younger teammates. The downside is he is 37 years old and had a difficult playoff vs. the Penguins. Expect him back on a one or two year deal. Forward Brad Boyes, who signed a one-year deal with the Isles last summer, is also a UFA. Boyes had a good season on Tavares’ wing but could be replaced by one of the kids. I don’t believe they will bring back Boyes, but will not rule it out if the price is right. I would not bring back team captain Mark Streit. The 35-year-old defenseman is unrestricted and didn’t have a strong season. While still effective on the power play his defensive play hurt the team and he was a third pair defenseman by seasons end. Streit is believed to be asking for a three-year deal north of four million per season. That would be too rich for me and I would let him go. VVeteran Lubomir Visnovsky could easily replace Streit as the power play quarterback and young defensemen like Donovan and DeHaan could start to ply their trade with the big club. With the move, the Islanders would be expected to name John Tavares the 14^th captain in Islanders’ history. Other UFAs include Radek Martinek, Marty Reasoner and Keith Aucoin. All are replaceable parts although I really liked Aucoin’s contribution, and it never hurts to have a veteran depth defenseman like Martinek, so I would consider signing the two to one year deals.

I believe that the Islanders are back, and their late season run and their series with the Penguins put the NHL on notice. The young core has been built, and more high level top prospects are on the way. This team is already looking forward to next season and should be in the playoffs for years to come. All I can say is: It’s About Time!!

-Malamud

This isn’t really a knock on Allen and Prince, it’s more of an argument based on the matchup presented by the Spurs. Allen might be the worst “shooting” guard in the NBA and Prince usually hangs around the 18-20 foot jumper range and hasn’t been looking for his shot. The problem is the Spurs do not have to worry about how that duo can space the floor when they’re on the court, which allows them to completely cheat on defense and double-team, and even triple-team, Zach Randolph.

By allowing the Spurs to pack it in, the Grizzlies have to counter that by placing all of their best shooters on the perimeter. It’s the only way to get the Spurs defense to respect the outside shooting of the Grizzlies and allow Randolph to operate with some space.

It’s no coincidence that the Grizzlies’ big run in the fourth quarter of Game Two, and in the third quarter of Game One, came with the duo of Bayless and Pondexter (two proven three-point shooters) spacing the floor and forcing the Spurs to play Randolph honest. Plus, in a series where there is no Kevin Durant, the defensive prowess of Allen and Prince isn’t as relevant. Yes, San Antonio has Tony Parker, but he’s been picking apart the Grizzlies anyway, so you might as well respond with better offense on the other end.

I know that may not sound right at first, but what I’m saying is, if Parker is burning Allen, Mike Conley and whoever you throw in front of him anyway, why not take that risk on defense and improve your spacing and shooting on offense? The numbers in this series speak for themselves. So far, this is the comparison between Allen/Prince vs. Bayless/Pondexter:

It’s not like Grizzlies Head Coach Lionel Hollins hasn’t noticed that Bayless and Pondexter give them the best shot at spacing the floor and running their offense. Pondexter played eight more minutes in Game Two than in Game One and Bayless played 13 more minutes as well. And while Allen’s minutes remained the same, Prince already saw a decline of 12 minutes in Game Two.

Even if Bayless is shooting a below-average 40 percent from the field, he can get his own shot and the Spurs have to respect his three-point shooting. Meanwhile, Pondexter has been terrific hitting corner threes.

I expect to see Hollins mixing and matching Bayless and Pondexter into the lineup as best as he can.

Clearly this isn’t the only issue that Memphis needs to change. If the Grizzlies want to go back to Texas with the series tied at 2-2, they need to play way better team defense and find a way to contain Parker and the Spurs’ perimeter game. But that’s already something we all know.

-Zamarripa

The St. Louis Cardinals, the Cincinnati Reds, and the Pittsburgh Pirates all have been playing outstanding baseball so far and especially in the month of May. The Cardinals are leading the division at 30-16 and have the best record in baseball. The Reds and Pirates are at second and third in the division and are currently residing in both wild card spots. It could be a very NL Central-filled postseason if this trend continues.

(AP Photo/St. Louis Post-Dispatch, Chris Lee)

Tremendous starting pitching helped elevate the Cardinals to the top and the rotation shows no sign of slowing down. The combination of Adam Wainwright and Shelby Miller has combined to lead a team hurt by the loss of another ace in Chris Carpenter. Wainwright’s ERA of 2.38 has given the Redbirds a chance in almost every game he has pitched. Miller’ even lower 1.74 ERA and five wins in nine games has alleviated the pressure felt after Carpenter’s spot was left open because of injury. However, spotty hitting may leave the Cardinals with a disappointing October. Luckily there .264 as a team ranks them third in league batting average. Sometimes a team can peak too early and fans are hoping baseball in St. Louis only goes up from here.

Besides the Cardinals, the Reds and Pirates are a close second at only 1.5 and two games back respectively. Cincinnati has also been led by good pitching. The Reds have the 3^rd lowest ERA by a pitching staff in the Major Leagues at 3.31. Unfortunately for Cincinnati, the Cardinals have the lowest ERA in baseball (3.16) and the Pirates (3.27) have the second lowest. While good pitching has ruled this division so far, hitting may be the Achilles heel. The Pirates (.242) are ranked 12^th in the MLB based on team batting average and the Reds (.254) sit at the number six spot. The question remains if these teams can continue dominating the mound for an entire season and cover for sub-par hitting or if when October comes, they find themselves on the outside looking in. But as you can see, nearly every team is hitting poorly.

Baseball is a game of numbers and statistics. Sometimes the best team wins and sometimes despite all odds, they lose. The Cardinals, Reds, and Pirates all look pretty good right now, but there is a lot of baseball between now and early October. As exemplified by teams past, August and September can contain some spectacular collapses and some equally impressive runs to the postseason. The Pirates have found themselves on the list of some spectacular collapses, and the Cardinals have seen their share of impressive streaks. It is hard to know what teams will be playing come October, but it looks like fans are in for a great summer of baseball.

-Reynolds

Photo Credit: Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times

Matt Kemp’s power outage is very real. His batted ball distance on homers and fly balls this year averages 269.79 feet, last year he lead the league with a 313 foot average distance. MLB average is 275-280 feet. The offseason shoulder surgery is the obvious culprit.

The Dodgers likely wouldn’t risk long-term injury by having him play every day if he wasn’t feeling 100%, so that’s the good news. Power is usually the last thing to come back in the recovery process. I think the Dodgers will likely administer a cortisone shot in the near future. It’s what turned Ryan Zimmerman’s season around last year while he was nursing a bum shoulder, and Kemp received one in September last year and cranked out 6 HR that month. I’m not a doctor, but experts in the field have suggested the same thing.

That won’t be the cure to all of his problems though. It won’t improve his hand-eye coordination. K% is up, BB% is down, but Kemp has likely been pressing at the plate due to high expectations of him. Hopefully the HR in Milwaukee series was the confidence booster he needed.

I’m bullish on the AVG and HR to improve, but I just can’t project them to come back at the high levels fantasy owners got in ’11 and ’12. Still too much uncertainty with how Kemp and the Dodgers are managing the shoulder. Think .280, 17 HR the rest of the way as a modest projection.

Photo Credit: Joy R. Absalon/USA TODAY Sports

Manny Machado has been great, but just how great? Assuming he plays in all 162 games (a tall order), he’s on pace for 18 HR/14 SB. Good, but not the type of numbers that usually wind up inside the top 30 on the Y! player rater. It’s the AVG and RBI/R that give him a lot of value. Machado doesn’t exactly have great plate discipline, not working the count and putting balls in play that he shouldn’t be chasing. A high BABIP is fueling his average. Remember he never hit for a great AVG in the minors, he’s more of a .270-.275 hitter. A lower AVG also means lower counting stats. With a high probability of regression and potential fatigue, he’s likely to hit a speed bump this year.

Photo Credit: AP Photo/Ross D. Franklin

Gerardo Parra has been a nice surprise, but he’s only on pace for a 14/14 season while playing over his head. Let’s not act like he’s a world beater. Adam Eaton is due back soon which will cut into his playing time as well. He’s a good bet to fall off the fantasy map in most formats.

Photo Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Normally I wouldn’t say to trade for a pitcher with an ERA over five that’s on the disabled list, but David Price is the exception to that rule. Still has a K/9 above eight, sub 2.5 BB/9, and nothing alarming in his batted ball data.

He has lost some juice on the fastball, but since he’s actually gained some zip on his curve and changeup, I’m optimistic the flames will come back. Playing in the AL East is always a tall task, but his matchups have been even tougher than usual. Only one offense he’s faced has been in the bottom half of league scoring, and that’s the Blue Jays who are number 16 out of 30. Soon enough he will wind up with a soft schedule to pad his stats.

Photo Credit: Frank Victores-US PRESSWIRE

Marco Estrada has a K/9 above eight, BB/9 under three, inducing more grounders/fewer liners/less fly balls, yet his HR/9 is up. SwStr% is up slightly, and his contact rate is down. Velocity is down a bit and he’s not working inside the strike zone as much, but his pitches are still doing what they’re supposed to do. Late movement on the fastball, off-speed pitches are still breaking hard, etc.

Photo Credit: AP

Hisashi Iwakuma has been a big surprise and a great story, but everything I see screams that a decline is certain. 180 degree in his batted ball data, more fly balls/less grounders, and his HR/9 is somehow down. The batted ball distance is down 1.3 feet, virtually identical. Velocity is down on all of his pitches. His pitch selection remains close to the same as last year. Batters are swinging at the same rate as last year and making the same amount of contact inside the zone. How he’s been able to miss more bats is puzzling.

The biggest improvement is his control, big slash in BB/9. He’s throwing more first pitch strikes and constantly working inside the strike zone. Considering he was known for his control in Japan, it makes sense that this would return after a year of experience in America.

I also worry about his endurance. During his time in Japan he wasn’t able to eat up innings, dealing with a shoulder injury that would bark up from time to time. He’s on pace to throw for a career high 230 innings, but he only logged 119 in 2011 and 125 last season. He could slow down or have that injury bark up again.

None of this is meant to bash Iwakuma, but to highlight the unsustainable numbers he’s put up. He’s the #9 SP in the Y! player rater. If you can convince someone he’s an ace, sell him high.

Original article posted here: http://clutchfb.blogspot.com/2013/05/3-bats-3-arms.html

-ClutchFB

#1 Overall Pick

Nerlens Noel to the Cleveland Cavaliers

Photo Credit: (Joshua C. Cruey/Landov)

Let the NBA conspiracy conversations resume once again! This was gift-wrapped up way too beautifully for the Cavaliers to not seem suspicious. Regardless, the Cavs are the first on the clock, and can definitely use another threat in the frontcourt. Noel looks to be a major defensive presence with raw offensive skills whose sky is the limit. However his knees are an issue as he’s recovering from a torn ACL. The Cavs future could finally be shaping up with Kyrie Irving, Dion Waiters, and Nerlens Noel along with solid counterparts and financial flexibility. Could this be the last piece to convince the King to come back to his hometown…?

#2 Overall Pick

Trey Burke to the Orlando Magic

Photo Credit: (Greg Nelson/SI)

This franchise needs anything to help turn things around. Obviously the #1 pick would have been a great start, but have no fear Magic fans there is hope with this pick! Trey Burke can be a confident, electrifying gamer that this organization needs to rebuild and look forward to. His game pours out his inner passion to do anything to help his team win. He is a perfect floor leader with insane range from three, great passing skills, and nasty handles. He can be the best player to come out of this draft.

#3 Overall Pick

Otto Porter to the Washington Wizards

via fullscalesports.com

When I look at this roster I see a lot of potential and some quality players who just aren’t panning out together. They have two players that might be pieces to build around in John Wall and Bradley Beal. Whatever direction this franchise decides going forward they will be looking for someone to play alongside those two. Otto Porter fits the bill well. He does everything pretty well, not spectacular, but enough for what the Wizards need.  He has length, a smooth stroke, and athletic tangibles that can be exactly what the Wizards need to improve for the first time in five years.

#4 Overall Pick

Ben McLemore to the (soon to be) Charlotte Hornets

Photo Credit: (David E. Klutho/SI)

These guys have been the punch line of the league for far too long. They need help, now! Of course the 4^th pick doesn’t help too much. However, the position that they are in relatively to everyone else is surprising. They will select a prospect who has a beautiful jumper and smooth athletic ability. Some people think he can be the best scorer out of this draft. But there are others who believe he disappears too much in game situations. It could be a sweet combination with Kemba Walker and Michael Kidd-Gilchrist.

#5 Overall Pick

Victor Oladipo to the Phoenix Suns

via sportsbycolin.com

This team is another squad that clearly has no direction with their roster and needs help with one side of the ball that for some reason they never worked on. DEFENSE. Victor Oladipo plays his heart out with tenacious defense and scrap at every play to do what’s necessary to win. He’s also known for his athletic ability, energy, and executing multiple clutch plays. He can be a player full of pride to set the tone for the future of the Suns.

- Schreck

Hibbert, who signed a four-year, $58 million contract this offseason, is quietly the most overpaid center in the NBA. Yes, Hibbert is a superior defender who will constantly alter shots throughout the course of a game. But his shortcomings come on the other side of the ball, where you would expect a 7’2 mammoth of a man to dominate. His numbers indicate far from that.

via nba.com

Throughout the regular season, Hibbert never scored more than 28 points in a game and only reached 20 points on nine occasions. Hibbert averaged 11.9 points per game and an alarmingly career-low 44.8 percent from the field, which is not an anomaly since Hibbert is a career 47.3 percent shooter from the field. Those are laughable statistics for a center who is supposed to be the anchor of a conference final team and who primarily shoots inside the paint (and we are not even going to get into the fact that Hibbert averaged 8.3 rebounds per game this season).

Granted, you can point out that Hibbert’s PPG numbers aren’t as high as they should be because he averaged less than 29 minutes per contest. But that doesn’t change the fact that Hibbert might be the worst finisher around the rim in the NBA and shoots an incredibly low percentage from the field.

To his credit, he has been just a bit better in the playoffs, averaging 14 PPG on 47.3 percent from the field and 9.6 rebounds per game. But those are numbers that aren’t good enough for a player of his potential and who’s getting paid as much as he is.

Photo Credit: (USA Today Photo)

So why is this relevant? With the upset-minded Pacers coming into town to take on the Heat, don’t expect Hibbert to be any kind of deciding factor on offense. He will alter shots and have an impact on the defensive end (and even that is up for debate, since Chris Bosh will force him to step out on the perimeter to defend his jumper, one of Hibbert’s weaknesses defensively), but he can’t be counted on as someone who will anchor the Pacers’ offense. For what it’s worth, Hibbert averaged 9.7 PPG on three games against Miami this season.

I don’t expect the Pacers to beat the Heat, but if they do, it will be because Paul George and David West take over offensively. Don’t expect Hibbert to be a factor. He hasn’t done it all year, why would it start against Miami? Maybe it’s time Hibbert starts being held accountable for not fulfilling his massive offseason contract and massive shortcomings.

-Zamarripa