The UFC returns to Madison Square Garden for the third consecutive year as Daniel Cormier will put his UFC heavyweight title on the line vs No. 2 ranked heavyweight contender Derrick Lewis in the UFC 230 main event.
Cormier holds both the the UFC heavyweight and light heavyweight title belts, and will look to hold off “The Black Beast”, who is on a scary KO terrain in the heavyweight division.
It’s a stacked card from top to bottom with exciting matchups that should send fans in the Garden home happy.
Not to flap my gums any longer, let’s jump into the predictions for the main card and prelims for this Saturday’s PPV event.
Daniel Cormier (-700) vs Derrick Lewis (+450)
Daniel Cormier is a huge favorite going into his first UFC heavyweight title defense vs the dangerous Derrick Lewis, and for good reason. Cormier is superior in terms of hand speed, mobility, fight IQ, technique, motor, and wrestling. To put it bluntly, Daniel Cormier is a better mixed-martial artist than the Houston native.
So how does Derrick Lewis have a chance in this one? His knockout power. He’s a ferocious slugger and brawler, something he prides himself in. And as we saw vs Alexander Volkov last month at UFC 229, with his back against the wall and in deep waters, he can dig through and still display his frightening punch power which has led to him winning nine out of his past 10 octagon appearances.
A few things concern me with Lewis right off the bat, though. One, he’s coming off a fight less than a month ago, historically that’s a bad omen. Two, he’s fighting a guy who will punish his body and push him to his limits. This is the most concerning because Lewis’ gasses in fights fairly quickly and sometimes can be so prodding in his attack and approach that he’s unprepared for grappling exchanges and takedown attempts.
We’ve seen Daniel Cormier push men far more durable and with a better toolbox than Lewis to their limits and broke them. Yes, it’s a huge risk for Daniel Cormier. He’s 39 years old fighting a man who only needs one good punch to put his foes to sleep, but Cormier is far too polished a fighter and too sophisticated in his thinking.
While we all love us some Derrick Lewis, he’s in over his head here and we all know he’s happy just to be here (for the check). He’ll be dominated soundly in this one by a superior fighter.
Prediction: Daniel Cormier by Round 3 TKO
Chris Weidman (-185) vs Jacare Souza (+150)
Once upon a time Jacare Souza was the scariest man walking the earth at 185 pounds. How quickly things have changed. He’s looked mortal with three losses over his last three fights. Considering this is a short notice opponent flip for both, Weidman is more equipped to handle his adversary in this one than the other way around. Keeping a steady pace against Souza on the feet, Weidman inches closer to a title shot.
Prediction: Chris Weidman by unanimous decision
David Branch (-370) vs Jared Cannonier (+280)
David Branch was set for a much more difficult matchup with Jacare Souza before Luke Rockhold pulled out of his co-main event bout with Chris Weidman a little over a week ago. Now he gets Jared Cannonier, who has remarkably bounced from light heavyweight to middleweight in recent fights. Cannonier is exciting and rugged, but is in tough going up against a New York native here who will build off his most recent win over Thiago Santos here.
Prediction: David Branch by unanimous decision
Karl Roberson (-275) vs Jack Marshman (+250)
The Dana White Tuesday Night Contenders Series fighter Karl Roberson is 1-1 in his early UFC career, and while there’s potential there, there’s also plenty of room for improvement. Jack Marshman has been in the cage far more than Roberson and has solid power, but he’s also a guy suspectible to giving up his neck on the ground. That’s the difference here.
Prediction: Karl Roberson by Round 2 SUB
Israel Adesanya (-335) vs Derek Brunson (+255)
Israel Adesanya showed he wasn’t a product of hype in his five-round demolition of Brad Tavares back in July in his last fight. He gets a better wrestler in Derek Brunson here, but a wrestler who at times can get sloppy on the feet with his hands down and his chin in the air coming forward. Brunson is a dangerous striker, but we are looking at a fighter in Adesanya ahead of the game and actually is improving as a grappler. The roll continues for “The Style Bender”.
Prediction: Israel Adesanya by Round 3 TKO
Prelims
Jason Knight vs Jordan Rinaldi
Jason Knight by Round 3 SUB
Sijara Eubanks vs Roxanne Modafferi
Sijara Eubanks by Round 2 SUB
Julio Arce vs Sheymon Moraes
Julio Arce by Round 2 TKO
Lyman Good vs Ben Saunders
Lyman Good by Round 3 TKO
Matt Frevola vs Lando Vannata
Matt Frevola by unanimous decision
Shane Burgos vs Kurt Holobaugh
Shane Burgos by Round 1 KO
Brian Kelleher vs Montel Jackson
Brian Kelleher by split-decision
Adam Wieczorek vs Marcos Rogerio de Lima
Marcos Rogerio de Lima by Round 1 KO
What are your thoughts on UFC 230? Leave your comments below!
When Russell Crowe said he was “Father to a murdered son, husband to a murdered wife and I will have my vengeance, in this life of the next,” did anyone think he meant in a sequel to Ridley Scott’s swords and sandals epic “Gladiator?”
According to Deadline, a sequel to the 2000 Best Picture winner is officially moving forward with Scott posed to direct and “The Town” screenwriter Peter Craig, who also penned the upcoming “Top Gun” sequel, is set to helm the script.
Joaquin Phoenix (left) and Russell Crowe (right) starred in the original 2000 “Gladiator.” Photo courtesy of socialpsychol.wordpress.com
If you’ve seen “Gladiator” you might be wondering how there could be a sequel since Crowe’s character, Maximus, doesn’t make it to the credits (and if you haven’t seen “Gladiator” you can’t be mad at me for spoiling an 18-year-old classic!). Deadline says that the sequel will follow Connie Nielsen’s character’s son and Joaquin Phoenix’s character’s nephew.
The real question is when will this movie be shot? Scott’s IMDb page says he has three other projects in the work — a sequel to “Alien: Covenant,” a movie about a special ops agent on the run after an assassination attempt goes wrong and a film about the WWII Battle of Britain. Of course, he could easily free his schedule up, and likely will, but it’s nonetheless fascinating to see the 80-year-old Scott, who’s been working consistently since the 60’s, showing no signs of slowing down.
Are you at all hyped up for “Gladiator 2” or do you think they shouldn’t risk messing with the legacy of the original? Let me know in the comments below!
With the Oscars moving up a month and taking place at the beginning of February, studios are releasing their big awards contenders earlier. Throughout November, more and more movies are coming out, at least in limited release, that hope for a spot at Oscar gold.
“WIDOWS”
After a five year hiatus after directing “12 Years a Slave,” Steve McQueen is back with “Widows” starring Viola Davis, Colin Farrell, Liam Neeson and Michelle Rodriguez. Once their husbands die trying to pull off a heist, Davis and Rodriguez form an all-female team to pull off one last heist.
“Ocean’s 8” was this summer’s big female heist movie, but “Widows” doesn’t seem to be trying to replicate it. Rather, this seems like a dark and gritty look into Chicago’s criminal underground. It also looks like McQueen’s most accessible movie to date, after “Hunger” “Shame” and “12 Years a Slave.” I’m not sure if “Widows” will be able to walk the fine line between gritty action hit and awards contender, but we’ll see once it’s released on November 16.
“AT ETERNITY’S GATE”
Willem Dafoe is playing Vincent Van Gogh in the new biopic “At Eternity’s Gate.” The 63-year-old actor is playing the painter, who died at 37, which might not be the best option, but Dafoe’s star is on the rise after his great and grounded performance in “The Florida Project.” This movie may come and go without any buzz or awards consideration, but it also may pop up as a contender for the Best Actor race.
“At Eternity’s Gate” will come out in limited release starting on November 16.
“THE GIRL IN THE SPIDER’S WEB”
Just like everything else these days, Lisbeth Salander’s story is getting a reboot. The original Swedish novels “The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo” were a sensation. You couldn’t go on a bus or subway without seeing a copy being read. The books were turned into a Swedish language trilogy starring Noomi Rapace and then David Fincher decided to make an English remake with Rooney Mara and Daniel Craig. Mara got an Oscar nomination for playing the tattooed hacker, but after its less than stellar box office performance, Sony Pictures decided not to continue with the remaining two installments.
After completing the original trilogy, author Steig Larson was mysteriously murdered. A fourth book, “The Girl in the Spider’s Web” was written by David Lagercantz, and is now being turned into a rebooted movie, starring “The Crown” and “Unfriended’s” Claire Foy. Honestly, the trailer doesn’t look great and I don’t really see it doing amazingly. It probably won’t be nominated for any awards, as it kind of looks like a mess and I can’t imagine it being a big smash at the box office.
This new iteration of Lisbeth’s Salander’s story will be released on November 9.
“GREEN BOOK”
This one is a weird outlier. Directed by one of the Farrelly brothers (known mostly for their broad comedies like “There’s Something About Mary” and “Dumb and Dumber”) this feel-good comedic drama stars “Moonlight” star Mahershala Ali and Viggo Mortensen. Mortensen will be playing a bouncer who becomes the personal driver for classical pianist Ali in the 1960s.
It seems like the kind of movie that would be made 20 years ago and really doesn’t look all that fresh or exciting, but it’s received a fair amount of positive buzz, so it may end up being a surprise hit. However, I’m looking for something more challenging in my movies that a traditional “small town racism is bad,” but it could end up being really good. We’ll have to wait and see when it’s released on November 21.
“THE FAVOURITE”
Yorgos Lanthimos is one of my favorite working directors. I genuinely think his movie “The Lobster” is one of, if not the, best movie of the 2010s. Its realistic yet stilted look at relationships works as a perfect metaphor for trying to find a relationship within the modern world of dating apps. His newest film “The Favourite” is a period piece following Queen Anne (Elizabeth Coleman) and the two woman fighting to be her right hand (Rachel Weisz and Emma Stone).
It looks weird, just as all of his movies are, but since this is his first directorial effort that Lanthimos isn’t also directing, “The Favourite” may have more mainstream appeal than his usual works. Plus, with Emma Stone hot off her Oscar win and Coleman’s star quickly rising, this could end up being a real hit. I know it’s my most anticipated film of the month and I can’t wait for its November 23 release.
“IF BEALE STREET COULD TALK”
Finally, we have Barry Jenkin’s follow up to “Moonlight.” Based on the James Baldwin novel of the same name, “If Beale Street Could Talk” follows a pregnant woman as she tries to prove her fiance’s innocence while he’s stuck in jail. As if Jenkin’s filmography wasn’t enough to inspire confidence, the Baldwin source material promises that this will be a poignant look into race relations. It will be coming to theaters in limited release on November 30.
What are you looking forward to seeing this November? Do you think any of these movies have a shot at Best Picture or any of the other major awards? Let me know in the comments below!
“The Witcher” is a series of novels, video games, comics and short stories that follow the monster hunter Geralt. Fresh off of “Mission Impossible: Fallout” Henry Cavill has taken on the lead role, and Netflix released his screen test with the role.
Adorning a long white wig, the “Superman” actor looks like a pimped out Legolas, and not in a good way. I’m not familiar with “The Witcher” series, so this probably won’t be my cup of tea regardless, but honestly, I think this screen test makes him look ridiculously stiff and corny. He looks like he wishes he was a “Game of Thrones” character.
You would think a big production like this would throw more money for a decent wig, instead of this Party City knockoff thrown on his head.
This is what Henry Cavill decided to do to stick it to DC, showing he doesn’t need to be “Superman.” I don’t see this as inspiring confidence in him or making the DC movie executives shake in their boots. If anything, this should solidify him on his way out of the limelight.
What do you think? Are you familiar with “The Witcher” and whether you are or not, will you give it a try once it comes to Netflix? Do you find Cavill’s wig equally ridiculous? Let me know in the comments below.
“Clap along if you feel like a room without a roof” unless you’re President Trump.
Pharrell Williams’ lawyer sent President Trump a cease-and-desist order to stop playing "Happy" at his rallies, after he did so on the same day as the Pittsburgh synagogue mass shooting: "There was nothing 'happy' about the tragedy inflicted upon our country on Saturday." pic.twitter.com/isISqc6kTE
After playing the Pharrell Williams song “Happy” at one of his rallies, President Trump has been threatened with a lawsuit by the singer.
The song, originally attached to “Despicable Me 2” has become, whether you like it or not, a staple of the times. You can’t walk through a grocery store or a mall without hearing it. And let’s not forget about when he performed at the Oscars and did the shimmy with Lupita Nyong’o and Meryl Streep!
Are Trump supporters big Pharrell fans? Would they really become happier after hearing “Happy?” I don’t think so, but honestly, I can’t be sure. I can totally see where Pharrell is coming from. He doesn’t want his name, his song or himself at all associated with Trump, and I can’t blame him for that.
Do you think Pharrell is in his rights or just being dramatic? Let me know in the comments below.
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