UFC 144 is drawing near and that means everyone is eager to give their picks for the evening’s action, especially the lightweight title main event between Frankie Edgar and Ben Henderson. While we’ll have our official Bloody Elbow staff picks going up tomorrow, Sherdog has their standard round-up of picks by MMA pros.
With eighteen different pros offering a pick (and a nineteenth giving no prediction) Edgar has the 61% edge.
Perhaps the most relevant prediction comes from a man who may well be in line to face the winner of the bout, Jim Miller:
Jim Miller: I think Frankie’s got better wrestling and better hands. If Ben is able to take him down, I think Frankie’s going to pop right back up and get back to doing what he does and just outwork him. It’s going to be a tough fight; can’t count Ben out. He’s a tough guy, very athletic, comes in good shape, he’s got good striking and he’s got good subs, but I don’t think they’re good enough to beat Frankie.
I’ve only got a few hours left before I have to turn in my personal pick for our predictions post and I’ve been flip flopping back and forth on this fight for days. I like the boxing and wrestling of Edgar but don’t feel that his edge is so big that it can’t be offset by the pacing and tenacity of Henderson.
It’s truly set up to be a fantastic end to what has every chance to be one of the UFC’s best ever cards.