Written by LineStar contributor, combat sports enthusiast, and practitioner, Chris Guy. Instagram: @therealsethgeko | Twitter: @DadHallOfFamer

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Main Card

Islam Makhachev (-340) vs. Ian Garry (+270)

Makhachev: DK: $9.2k | Garry: DK:$7k

Dear Islam,

I DM’d you, but you still ain’t callin’. I left my cell, email, and my X handle at the bottom. I sent two comments back in autumn; you must not have got ‘em. There probably was a problem with the server or something; sometimes they get flagged and reported when I jot ‘em. But anyway, fook it, how’s Khabib? I know you probably hear this every day, but I’m your biggest fan. I even watch the underground fights you did in Dagestan. I got a room full of Adriano Martins voodoo dolls, man. I like the shit you did to JDM too; that shit was phat. Anywho, I hope you get this soon; hit me back. I know you have a big fight, but maybe we could chat.  

Truly Yours,

Your Biggest Fan, the Twenty Twen Man.

Dear Islam,

You haven’t responded or liked my comment; I hope you have a chance. I ain’t mad; I just think it’s fooked up you don’t follow fans. Just last night, I knocked you out in a dream I had. It was messed up, and I wanted to apologize even though I didn’t have to. I could’ve left you on the mat, looking down at you. Instead, I offered you a hand, and you just said no. That’s pretty shitty, man. You're like my fookin’ idol. No one loves you more than I do. But now it’s like I’m your biggest rival. King Green is jealous because I talk about you 24/7. Cuz he didn’t beat you like I beat you, Islam, only one man did. You gotta reply, man; I’ll be the biggest fan you ever lose.  

Sincerely Yours,

The Tweny Twen Man

P.S. We should train together too.

Dear Mr. I’m Too Good to Like a Comment or Follow My Fans,

This will be the last DM I send your ass. It’s been six hours since I knocked you out; still no word. I don’t deserve it? I know you got the last two; I stole my neighbor’s Wi-Fi; that shit is fookin’ perfect. Hey, Islam, I smoked an ounce of Indica; you dare me to drive? All I wanted was a lousy comment or a like. I hope you know I’m no longer sorry I knocked you out in that fight. I loved you, Islam; we could’ve trained together; think about it. You ruined it now. I hope you can’t sleep and you dream about it. And when you fight Ian Garry, you scream when you think about it. See, Islam? Shut up, Jack, I’m trying to talk. That’s JDM screaming in the trunk. I can take him down, too. I’m just like you. Well, gotta go; I’m almost at the arena now. Oh shit, I’m out of data; how am I supposed to send this shit out!

I’ve always said if I knocked out Islam Makhachev in a dream, I’d wake up and apologize. I’d repent and sentence myself to exile on some Book of Eli type-shit, wandering aimlessly in El Centro, Yuma, or some other sweltering, desolate outpost. It’s true; I picked JDM to beat Islam. It wasn’t my best WKO moment. Makhachev spent so much time on top of JDM that shit got awkward...

“So... Are we like a thing now?”

“I don’t know. Do you want to be a thing?”

“Well, it’s been almost twenty minutes, how long do you expect me to lay around and wait?”

Islam was on top of JDM so long that the state granted them a common-law marriage. I’m sure JDM had a hard time explaining that to wifey. Homie had to file for annulments between rounds. Islam will fight Ian Garry while legally separated. Homie racked up so much top control time he left his likeness imprinted on JDM’s chest like a holy image on the Shroud of Turin. The Shroud of Islam. If JDM was smart, he’d charge people an admission fee to see it.

What can I say about Islam? He’s finished eight of his last ten fights. He’s been kicking so much ass he’s tracking mud in the house. MF has to fight in galoshes. His homies from the Far East let him keep his shoes on in the house, so his feet don’t stink up the place. But Ian Garry will be his toughest opponent to date. As good as Islam’s striking has gotten, he doesn’t want to stand and trade with Garry for long. Garry is one of the best point fighters in the game, and few use their range as effectively. Islam will have to find an answer for Garry’s lateral movement and long up-the-middle attacks. While JDM depends on exchanging in the pocket, Garry stays outside of it. This matchup is a complete 180 from the JDM fight.

Ian Machado-Prates-Garry is back. Quit playing, DJ, and hit that 50 Cent “Many Men!” Many men, many, many, many men, wish death upon Ian Garry. Is it because he has a lower back tat (tramp stamp if you wanna be a Richard about it) on his ankle? Is it because he took on the name of his wife’s ex-husband? Maybe so, but don’t think he’s some type of Wanksta. This guy has only one official loss and one street loss (the Prates fight) on his record. Garry’s special power is using his range to stifle opponents’ offense and make fights boring.

All of Garry’s dubs are ugly dubs. His dubs have to wear a snorkel while he smothers them with a pillow during sexy time. Those butherface dubs. Go watch the MVP fight. No, don’t! That dub was a brown bagger, not the nice Trader Joe's joints with convenient handles, but the old school grocery store ones you used to use as book covers in high school. Is that still a thing? Dubs are dubs, and we only shame them on rare occasions. But we never demand apologies. Garry has dubs over Prates and MVP. I can’t hate—well, I can, but I won’t—on that. Garry is a pace car on the feet. The caution flag comes out every round. You have to pull up in the Wonder Bread NASCAR and go full Ricky Bobby. You gotta put that evil on Ian Garry. Makhachev will have to take the fight to Garry or Garry will be more than happy to win a pitcher’s duel on the outside.

Makhachev is the (-360) favorite, and Garry is the (+290) live-ass dog. Yes, live-ass. These odds are too wide. Garry rocks an 80% takedown defense. His length is an added buffer against takedowns. He also has long range kicks that will make it difficult for Islam to consistently close the distance. On the feet, I see this as a lot like Pereira vs. Gane. If Makhachev can’t close the distance, he can’t shoot. The value bet is a Garry TKO/KO. This is dog or pass for me. If Islam wins, it will likely be a decision similar to the JDM fight. Garry will have to finish the fight to get his hand raised. 

The main event dub streak is now seven. We’re cookin’. I picked Salkilld to beat Gamrot but felt stupid for picking a decision. I’ve never seen anyone do that to Gamrot, not even Charles Oliveira. There’s a lot riding on this pick. With a WKO record of ten main event dubs in a row within sight, I have to go with proven money. Islam Makhachev via decision. Put that shit on wax.

Props

Makhachev: TKO/KO (+900) Sub (+225) Dec (+110)  

Garry: TKO/KO (+900) Sub (+4500) Dec (+425) 

Winner: Islam Makhachev | Method: Decision

Makenzie Dern (-218) vs. Gillian Robertson (+180)

Dern: DK: $9k | Robertson: DK: $7.2k

Normally, I would cue up the Mr. Nice Guys theme music and declare this matchup an official smoke break. But it features Mackenzie Dern. And the kids should be in bed by the time the co-main event begins... This ain't your grandpappy’s grappler vs. grappler matchup. It features two ground specialists, but one can’t take down a flyer (Dern), and the other can out-grapple anyone except her opponent on Saturday night (Robertson). You already know what that means: we’re in for a Shaun T cardio kickboxing match. 

This might be the first time a fighter has no clear path to victory. There are roadblocks in every direction. I think Gillian Robertson is the best grappler in the division. But taking down Dern is like swimming with sharks or taking a shit with gorillas. Dern’s Achilles heel is her Mackenzie Dern takedowns. And Robertson is going to take the fight to the mat for her? Dern will submit Robertson from her back. Her submissions are world-class. She’s the most decorated Jiu-Jitsu player in women’s MMA. The catch-22 is that Robertson can’t beat Dern on her feet either. Not that Dern is some kind of Justin Fookin’ Gaethje on her feet—well, compared to Robertson, she is. Robertson’s stand-up gets heckled. It gets boo’d off stage.

“Smithers, are they booing me?”

By the end of the first round, Robertson is covered in rotten fruits and vegetables. Not even Netflix would give her stand-up a special. Robertson is a far better striker on the mat than on her feet. She’ll beat you like war drums on Capitol Hill from the top—beat you like a Mackenzi Dern weigh-in Short on Instagram. But on her feet, she’s cruising in a motorcade with the top down. 

So, what does that leave us with? Mackenzie Dern landing enough overhand Sloppy Joes to win a decision. As incoherent as her striking is, I can say this for Dern: she goes for it. She strikes like nobody is watching. Dern will land the more impactful shots and more volume, averaging 3.4 SLpM compared to Robertson’s 2.7. If Robertson takes down Dern, she will get submitted or reversed and beaten up. If she stands and bangs, she will get her block knocked off like gentrification.

Dern is the (-270) favorite, and Robertson is the (+220) mangy-ass dog. I thought the odds would be wider. Robertson has this going for her: every time I completely write off someone in flowing Declaration of Independence script, they win—sometimes. If she gets Dern down, Robertson has to create damage. She can’t play around in Dern’s guard. If you make her defend strikes, she can’t throw up submissions. I think this one goes the distance, but I like the value in playing a Dern submission. I can see her reversing from the bottom and catching Robertson’s neck. Mackenzie Dern via decision. On wax. 

Props

Robertson: TKO/KO (+1200) Sub (+1200) Dec (+300) 

Dern: TKO/KO (+1400) Sub (+200) Dec (+150)

Winner: Mackenzie Dern | Method: Decision

Esteban Ribovics (-600) vs. Edson Barboza (+470)

Ribovics: DK: $9.4k | Barboza: DK:$6.8k

Spicy Dustin Poirier is back, aka Southern Hemisphere Dustin Poirier, Esteban Ribovics. “Va a estar mal, mi carnal.” Ribovics is the Freaky Friday version of Poirier. Ribovics ’ fights are like someone hit the SAP button during a Poirier fight. All you hear is the Bumblebee Guy’s voice from The Simpsons saying, “Aye yi yi!” every time Ribovics lands. Meanwhile, Edson Barboza is a Play It Again Sports used—has somebody else’s name written on him in faded Sharpie—version of his former self. The prime version of Barboza wouldn’t even recognize the current version if they ran into each other outside a 7/11.

“Hey, homie! Hey, Big Gulps, huh? Alright... well, see you later!” 

The only thing more worn out than Barboza’s chin is the handle on Lizzo's fridge. Barboza has lost three in a row and six of his last eight. At forty years old, my man is now officially over the hill and tumbling head over heels like those people who chase a wheel of cheese down a hill in England. For as long as his chin holds up, this will be a dope little stand-up banger.  

For all his defensive flaws, Esteban Ribovics cracks like the 80s when the CIA flooded inner-city streets with cocaine through South American cartels, creating notorious figures like Freeway Rick Ross. My man cracks like Robert Downey Jr. in the 90s. He cracks like Lawrence Taylor on Monday Night Football. Ribovics throws only chest-level shovel punches like Dustin Poirier. They're short hooks and overhands from a low hand position. His special power is extending combinations. He would never stop throwing if the bell didn't ring.

But all that offense leaves little time for defense. Ribovics fights as if Deadpool starred in a Final Destination movie. He fights like he’s Kenny from South Park with unlimited lives. “OMG, they killed Ribovics!” He fights like someone pressed up, up, down, down, left, right, left, right, select + start just before the bell rang. He carries his chin high on a platter like they carry sizzling fajitas at Casa Bonita. Ribovics is willing to take one to deliver a baker’s dozen in return, as long as it’s not the spinning wheel kick that knocked out Terry Etim.

“Back up, Terry! Hit reverse!”

Barboza still owns the nastiest wheel-kick KO of all time. He left Terry Etim stiffer than my socks in high school. He still uses Etim to iron his fight shorts. Barboza hit Etim so fast that rigor mortis set in before he hit the ground. But that was a lifetime ago when Barboza’s chin was still under its manufacturer’s warranty. Now his chin is just Hanging by a Moment. Yo, DJ! Hit that Lifehouse banger! Barboza’s chin looks rusty and weathered like patio furniture. They put Vaseline over Barboza’s eyes and hit his chin with a spritz of WD-40 before he steps into the Octagon.

They say the last thing to go is your power, but the first is your speed. Barboza’s foot speed used to be faster than most fighters’ hands. His hands left streaks across the cage like comets in the sky. Now he can’t get off the combinations he once did. He has become more of a one-punch striker. He still has the power to knock out Ribovics, but I don’t think he has the hand speed to mix it up with him in the pocket. The key for Barboza is committing to leg kicks like his vintage self. Ribovics is already easy to hit, but if Barboza can hobble him too, he’ll have a chance to pull off the upset.

And what an upset it would be. Ribovics is the (-510) favorite, and Barboza is the (+385) stray dog running on the freeway. Ribovics only engages in firefights, and Barboza’s chin can’t take any more firefights. As soon as it senses one, his chin hits the eject button. Barboza’s chin doesn’t want any part of a firefight with Ribovics. But Ribovics rarely gets out of a fight unscathed. Barboza could find his chin in a blackout. The play for Barboza is a decision. There is value in a Ribovics decision, but I like a late TKO/KO. Give me Esteban Ribovics via TKO, round three. Put it on wax. 

Props

Ribovics: TKO/KO (-185) Sub (+1000) Dec (+300)

Barboza: TKO/KO (+900) Sub (+3500) Dec (+1000)

Winner: Esteban Ribovics | Method: TKO Rd.3

Chidi Njokuani (+260) vs. Joel Alvarez (-325)

Chidi: DK: $7.3k | Alvarez: DK: $8.9k

I have no idea what’s going on with the bout order for this card. It has changed multiple times. At one point, this matchup was on it. Joel Alvarez is stepping in on short notice for Geoff Neal. This is a better matchup than the original. I’m a Joel Alvarez Stan. Even though he was dominated in his previous bout, Alvarez remains a sleeper. He is 23-4 with 22 finishes (5 TKOs/KOs and 17 subs). Until the Yaroslav Amosov (who I slept on) fight, nobody wanted to face Alvarez. His opponents would have their mothers call out sick for them. They’d forget they had a doctor’s appointment at 7pm on a Saturday night. Don’t be surprised if Chidi Njokuani comes down with a fever, a tummy ache, or a bad case of athlete’s foot the day before the fight.

Joel Alvarez is a modern-day Conquistador setting sail on a mission to colonize the division. Don’t let his three times as many submissions as TKOs/KOs fool you; Alvarez is an elite striker. His specialty is throwing elbows, which are better than his hands. Standing or on the mat, he will carve you up like topiary animals outside the Overlook Hotel. His elbows are like spurs on a cock (rooster if you don’t want to be a Richard about it). Homie is like the fourth Musketeer the way he wields his elbows. He even has the lil twisty mustache to match. MFer be yelling, “Engard” before he slices you up.

After the Amosov fight, I took a closer look at Alvarez’s record. I thought maybe I overlooked something. While his only losses came against elite world-class grapplers, his dubs are a little suspect. They’re not quite brown baggers, but they don’t look as good in the Uber on the way back to the telly as they did in the club. His best win is Vicente Luque, who was the only man Alvarez didn’t finish. What’s left of Luque is like the ring around the tub after the water drains. He’s the last sip of milk you leave in the fridge for weeks so you don’t have to throw away the container and take out the trash. I say all that to say this: I’m still a Joel Alvarez Stan. I’m doubling down! Yo, DJ! Hit that Leo DiCaprio Wolf of Wall Street!

“I’m not leaving! I’m not fookin’ leaving! The show goes on!”

Alvarez can win this fight on the feet or on the mat. The only place he can’t win is in the clinch. Chidi (Don’t you dare call him Shitty) is a woodchipper in the clinch. Never forget when he turned Brazilian Deebo (Gregory Rodriguez) into a morbid Frida with a massive gash between his eyebrows. That shit was wider than the Strait of Hormuz. Homie turned Deebo into a bad-ass Anthony Davis. Deebo looked like the MMA Mona Lisa after that. Chidi’s clinch game is along the lines of Anderson Silva’s. Whoa, whoa, whoa, buddy! I’m serious like T.I.’s first album. He has the size to dominate Alvarez in the clinch. Alvarez spent most of his UFC career at lightweight. 

Chidi Bang Bang is one of the most frustrating fighters. He looks the part of an elite striker, but he has a knack for finding ways to lose. Homie is the Indiana Jones of discovering ways to lose. He might have found his Holy Grail after losing to the extraordinarily mid Carlos Leal. His downfall in this fight will be his ground game if Alvarez commits to grappling. Chidi looks lost every time he gets taken down. He looks like he just stumbled into the Employees Only area at Sprouts.

“Hey, pal. Do you work here?”

“No, I’m just looking for the shitter, buddy.”

Chidi looks like my mammy any time she has to drive somewhere she’s been a thousand times. He’s the walking John Travolta meme every time his ass hits the mat. The good news is that Alvarez is far from Makhachev when it comes to takedowns, and Chidi has a respectable 75% takedown defense. If the fight stays standing, it will be a toss-up. Chidi’s hands are still faster than the NFL season. One minute you’re watching the first preseason game and the next it’s New Year’s, and the Cowboys are eliminated from the playoffs again. And Chidi has nasty round kicks and standing knees.  

Fantasy-wise, this will be a good fight to target. Chidi averages 5.2 SLpM compared to Alvarez’s 4.5. Although Alvarez has a clear path to victory on the mat, I don’t have faith that he will attempt to take it. I think he will opt to stand and trade with Chidi. I’m not sure Alvarez will be the same caliber of finisher at welterweight as he was at lightweight. I like playing this for a decision. There is value in a TKO/KO in either direction. Either guy can get got on the feet. What separates them is their ground games. That’s why, even on short notice, Alvarez is the (-260) favorite, and Chidi is the (+215) live-ass dog. I’m not confident in Alvarez’s urgency to get the fight to the mat. This is closer to a toss-up. But you already know who I’m riding with. Joel Alvarez via decision. On wax.  

Props

Alvarez: TKO/KO (+275) Sub (+165) Dec (+350)  

Chidi: TKO/KO (+550) Sub (+3000) Dec (+650)

Winner: Joel Alvarez | Method: Decision

Jalin Turner (-155) vs. Kaue Fernandes (+133)

Turner: DK: $8.6k | Fernandes: DK: $7.6k

As I was posting, the Charles Johnson vs. Jose Ochoa fight was scrapped, and this matchup moved to the main card. I apologize to Jalin and Kaue for not giving them the full WKO write-up experience on short notice. You can never trust Jalin Turner’s ground game, but this should be a kickboxer’s delight. Turner is built like Kevin Durant; he’s the Durantula of MMA. He’s longer than night in Barrow, Alaska. He’ll have a massive reach advantage against Kaue Fernandes. But Fernandes has something for that ass: calf kicks. You’ll be walking out of the Octagon with colostomy bags hooked up to your legs after he kicks the shit outta them. If he can get to Turner’s legs early, he can use his wrestling and grappling late.

It’s anybody’s fight on the feet, but Fernandes will have an advantage on the mat. He took down Guram Kutateladze twice, and that guy is harder to take down than the Great Pyramids. Turner rocks a 75% takedown defense, but his ground game belongs on the curb on Tuesday mornings. My man looks lost on the mat. His wifey nags him every time he gets taken down, “Why don’t you just pull over and ask for directions!” Turner is like ships in the Bermuda Triangle on the mat; he just straight disappears without a trace. If Turner can stay upright, I like his chances to use his range to control the stand-up enough to out-point Fernandes.

Fantasy-wise, this is one to target. Turner averages 5.8 SLpM compared to Fernandes’s 4.3. If the fight stays standing, we should see moderate-to-high strikes landed. Turner is the (-155) favorite, and Fernandes is the (+133) live-ass dog. Anybody with ground game is a live-ass dog against Turner. Turner retired last year but returned ten months later. Where is his mental game? Is he fighting with one ass cheek already out the door? The dogs haven’t barked in recent cards. The neighborhood has been awfully quiet. But I think this is a good spot to pick one. Turner just can’t be trusted like farts after a night of drinking. Never forget the time he all but killed Renato Moicano in the first round, then laid down and rolled over in the second. Turner is the bigger finishing threat, but I think this goes to the judges. Give me the dog. Kaue Fernandes via decision. Wax on, wax off.   

Props

Turner: TKO/KO (+175) Sub (+380) Dec (+600)  

Fernandes: TKO/KO (+250) Sub (+900) Dec (+750)

Winner: Kaue Fernandes | Method: Decision

Prelims

$7k Value Menu

Vicente Luque ($7.8k): Even as dusty as Luque is, he has a specialty: Anaconda chokes. He can land that choke on any planet, in any galaxy. He also still has nasty leg kicks and an Alex Pereira-like left hook. The last person you can trust is Tresean Gore. Gore has been one of the biggest disappointments from The Ultimate Fighter show. He looked like a future contender but hasn’t come close to realizing that potential. Luque is a savvy vet with a better special move than Gore’s (Gillies). I think Luque is the finishing threat in this matchup.

Kaue Fernandes ($7.8k): This dude is an undercover slick striker. He has quietly been kicking ass. After losing his debut, Fernandes has won three in a row, including a three-round domination of Guram Kutateladze, who many people (including me) thought could contend for a title after beating Mateusz Gamrot in their debuts. Fernandes not only out-struck Guram but also landed two takedowns and out-grappled him. His lowest Fantasy total during his current win streak is 94. The other fights were over 100. Fernandes can stand with Jalin Turner or take him down. Turner has solid takedown defense (75%) but terrible grappling. Fernandes has two paths to victory.

Chidi Njokuani ($7.3k): Again, I’m a Joel Alvarez Stan, but this fight is dangerous. It depends on which Chidi shows up: Chidi Bang Bang or Shitty Bang Bang. Sometimes, Chidi is nowhere to be found; no call, no show. My man is on a final warning. Alvarez has the ground game to dominate Chidi but lacks the takedowns to do so. If Chidi stuffs one takedown, he will stuff them all. On the feet, it’s anybody’s fight. Chidi has all the weapons to counter Alvarez’s arsenal. He can go punch for punch, kick for kick, knee for knee, and elbow for elbow. This could turn into a high-scoring kickboxing match with a finish threat on both sides.

 $6k Clearance Rack  

Dustin Stoltzfus ($6.7k): Dustin Stoltzpus, I mean Stoltzfus, is back. I’m going with him over Charles Johnson because Stoltzfus is fighting Mansu Abdul-Malik, who I think is a fraud. I picked Yousri Belgaroui to beat Malik in March because I suspected as much the first time I saw him fight. This might be a good rebound fight for Malik. He has the physical gifts to run through Ol’ Stultzy. But if he doesn’t, things could get interesting real quick. Stoltzfus has solid wrestling/grappling. If Malik can’t get the early stoppage, he will fade, and Stoltzy will drag him to the mat. Neither guy is worth a bag of Funions on the feet. If it stays standing, it will come down to who can land the biggest haymaker first. I think there’s some value in a Stoltzfus upset if he can show some resistance early.

Twenty-Twen-Twen Sleepers

Kaue Fernandes (+140): Fernandes will be at a disadvantage in experience but will have an edge on the mat. He also has dangerous stand-up to go toe-to-toe with Jalin Turner if he can’t get him down. The key for Fernandes will be leg kicks. He is an excellent leg kicker. Though at a height and reach disadvantage, he can bring Turner down to his level by chopping his legs out from beneath him. If he can hobble Turner early, he can take him down late and steal close rounds. Never forget the time Turner retired after losing to Ignacio Bahamondes, getting dominated on the mat by a fellow striker. The retirement lasted ten months but offers insight into Turner’s mental game. Give him a reason to doubt himself and he will.

Chidi Njokuani (+220): I’m not sold on Joel Alvarez as a welterweight. I don’t know if his power will translate. Alvarez has a clear advantage on the mat but relies on the clinch to land takedowns. The clinch is Chidi’s specialty. In the clinch, Chidi will eat you alive like a plate of oysters. He gave Deebo, aka Gregory Rodrigues, the Joker’s smile on his forehead with a knee in the clinch. In a straight-up kickboxing match, it’s anybody’s fight. The red flag for Chidi is that he tends to fight scared. He has inexplicable lulls in activity, especially if you can hit him early.

Ian Garry (+280): I think this will be a closer fight than most expect. Garry could get rag-dolled for twenty-five minutes as JDM did. But Garry poses a greater risk on his feet than JDM. He’s not only physically long but also fights long. Not all tall, long fighters know how to use their reach. All may day-ones remember Stefan Struve. If he can buy time on his feet late in the fight like Dustin Poirier did against Islam, he can land a Leon Edwards head shot. Head shot, bang! Poirier had a lot of late success attacking Islam’s body. It was the only fight where Islam looked like he had been in a fight afterward. Also, Garry attacks up the middle well with long-range teeps and knees. The value in this fight is a Garry TKO/KO.

Loooongshot Parlay

You gotta fight… for your right… to paaaaaaarlay! It’s been rough for dogs on recent cards. I didn’t mention Neil Magny, but he’s a live dog against Ramiz Brahimaj. So, I’m adding him to the mix in a three-leg parlay.

Neil Magny (+122)

Kaue Fernandes (+133)

Islam Makhachev (-360)

Total (+561)

Pick ‘Em

Masur Abdul-Malik (-600) vs. Dustin Stoltzfus (+450)

Winner: Mansur Abdul-Malik

Method: Decision

Charles Johnson (-120) vs. Eduardo Henrique (Even) 

Winner: Charles Johnson

Method: Decision

Donte Johnson (-245) vs. Eric McConico (+205) 

Winner: Donte Johnson

Method: Decision

Vicente Luque (Even) vs. Tresean Gore (-120)

Winner: Vicente Luque

Method: Anaconda Choke Rd.2

Rafael Tobias (+240) vs. Lucas Fernando (-290)  

Winner: Lucas Fernando

Method: Decision

Neil Magny (+112) vs. Ramiz Brahimaj (-133)  

Winner: Neil Magny

Method: Decision

Jeremiah Wells (+650) vs. Myktybek Orolbai (-1000)  

Winner: Myktybek Orolbai

Method: Decision

Thanks for reading LineStar Weekly Knockout! We'll be back next Thursday with another one. Until then, good luck and support your local MMA Gym.

About Me

My name is Chris Guy, and I’m an avid combat sports enthusiast and practitioner. I’ve been a fan of MMA since the early 2000s when Limewire was still around, and I downloaded Bas Rutten’s Big Book of Combat. In 2004, I started training Muay Thai at City Boxing in San Diego, CA. I competed as an amateur for many years, and I've also dabbled in Jiu-Jitsu. I follow many different disciplines, such as Combat Ji-Jitsu, Muay Thai, Glory Kickboxing, Boxing, and MMA.

I’m equally as enthusiastic about the craft of writing, and in addition to writing about combat sports, I also write short fiction and music. I hope to bring unique prose to sports writing, and along the way, encourage people to not only become Martial Arts fans but to also become Martial Artists themselves.

In the future, you may see me refer to the Thunderdome; it's an ode to the old Mad Max movie and refers to the world-class training facility I built in my one-car garage. It's complete with throw dummies, wrestling mats, heavy bags, and six months' worth of Chef Boyardee cans from when I thought the world was going to end back in March.

I hope you enjoy my work, and if you don’t, the Thunderdome has an open door policy.