...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Dan Moore, MMATorch UK Columnist
I only dropped 8 points this weekend yet I didn't even finish in the top half of the pool. Yes the big favorites all won, but you still have to pick them, and you did just that in abundance. This was easily the best collective performance i've ever seen in over three years of playing and running the game.
Some of you will feel slightly cheated that Rafael dos Anjos picked up a decision win over Evan Dunham. But sadly that's the fine line between winning and losing. More than one of you had Dunham to win - and would have ended up going 13-0 - but it just wasn't to be. Ladies and gents it was a great effort from each and every one of you.
CONFIDENCE GAME FIGHT PREDICTIONS
51 people submitted entries for this card. Here’s a combined breakdown of how many confidence points you placed on each fighter (Winner in bold):
Vitor Belfort - 187
Luke Rockhold - 115
Ronaldo Souza - 575
Chris Camozzi - 0
Rafael dos Anjos - 220
Evan Dunham - 81
Rafael Natal - 371
Joao Zeferino - 15
Nik Lentz - 191
Hacran Dias - 95
Francisco Trinaldo - 332
Mike Rio - 45
Gleison Tibau - 372
John Cholish - 18
Paulo Thiago - 255
Michel Prazeres - 17
Yuri Alcantara - 471
lliarde Santos - 9
John Lineker - 176
Azamat Gashimov - 50
Fabio Maldonado - 294
Roger Hollett - 33
Jussier Formiga - 193
Chris Cariaso - 35
Lucas Martins - 234
Jeremy Larsen - 15
CONFIDENCE GAME RESULTS
Tommy Strong (91 points) defeats Alex Potapoff (83 points) to become the new MMATorch Confidence Picks Champion. No Hall of Fame run for Alex who suffered defeat in his first title defense. To come up against a challenger who goes 13-0 in his first title shot is extremely unlucky. Alex only dropped 8 points on Hollett, Prazeres and Dunham - but it wasn't enough to beat The Ranter. Congratulations, Tommy.
Up next for the new champion is Ben Heather ... and ... Harry "Super" Cooper. Several of you headed into the main card boasting perfect records - but only two survived the entire 13 fights with a 100% record in tact. Anyone who has a perfect game therefore deserves a title shot. Both guys will face off against Tommy in a triple-threat match-up at UFC 160 next weekend. Well done lads on your impressive performances.
Here are the results of the Confidence Picks pool:
91 - Ben Heather
91 - Harry "Super" Cooper
90 - David Little
90 - Chris Houten
89 - Richard Race
89 - Daniel Clark
88 - James Brown
88 - Avery Clarke
88 - Scott Pipher
88 - Brad Walker
88 - Julie Dunn
87 - Nick Williams
87 - Charles Mickael
87 - "The American Dream" Mark Sacchetti
86 - Jimbo Slice
86 - Mark Bunce
86 - Lee Hopwood
85 - Adam Tranter
85 - Chris Wood
85 - Danny Hakker
85 - Dave Hughes
85 - Jack Broadey
85 - Michael Douglas
83 - Dan Moore
83 - "Slick" Rick Thayer
82 - Paul Connellan
82 - Jason McKee
81 - Anthony Sinnott
81 - Dennis "The Crustacean" Fagan
80 - Mandeep Singh
79 - Adam "Dead Last" Lindley
78 - Eugene Kim
77 - Shaun Louis
76 - Bill Gallagher
76 - Ben Studer
75 - Ed Gibbons
75 - JayMon1002
74 - Joel "Chico Guapo" Wielenga
70 - David Clatterbuck
69 - Casey Carmody
69 - Clay Burley
65 - Paul Henry
65 - Jamie Gaitens
65 - Gareth Moores
64 - Joe "The Phenom" Williams
61 - Steve Goobie
55 - Ray Thompson
36 - Brandon Ashcraft
Note: Should either champion, or challenger(s) fail to submit picks for UFC 160 (Velasquez vs. Silva), David Little would step up as a challenger, and so on. Everyone else will be fighting for the No 1 contender slot on the night, and the right to face off against Tommy, Ben or Harry at UFC 161 next month.
MMATORCH CONFIDENCE PICKS INTERNATIONAL CHALLENGE
Team UK (332 points) defeat Team USA (327 points) to win the first ever MMA Torch sponsored International challenge. In a very close match-up the UK lads did just enough to see off their transatlantic counterparts. Ben Heather (91),Tommy Strong (91), Jack Broadey (85) and Paul Henry (65) just edged out JayMon1002 (75), Bill Gallagher (76), Mark Sacchetti (87) and Rich Race (89).
As per the agreed forfeit, everyone in #TeamUSA will now proudly show the Union Flag as their profile picture on Twitter, until UFC 160 starts next Saturday.
BETTING GAME RESULTS
Tommy Strong ($2278.16) defeats Jimbo Slice ($1232.32) to become the new MMATorch Betting Champion. This was a world class match-up between two competitors in great form. The pre-fight banter reached epic levels and one guy was always going to end up with egg on his face. That man turned out to be long time champion Jimbo - because Tommy romped to victory. He didn't even waste a single cent in the process. Congratulations.
Jimbo Slice: $1232.32
$150 on Lineker for $243.75
$200 on Belfort for $410
$200 parlay on Lineker, Maldonado and Natal for $578.57
Tommy Strong: $2278.16
$200 on Lineker for $325
$200 on Formiga for $321.21
$400 on Belfort for $820
$200 parlay on Formiga, Lineker and Thiago for $811.95
Next up for the new champion is Mark Bunce who turned over a very respectable $2223.89 this weekend. Mark's superior parlay was enough to edge out both Adam Tranter and Ben Heather. Both guys also doubled their stake money, yet just fell short to the new No1 contender. Congratulations, Mark.
Here (in no particular order) are the results of the Betting Picks pool:
Mark Bunce: $2223.89
$500 on Belfort for $1025
$100 on Lineker for $162.50
$200 parlay on Lineker, Thiago and Belfort for $1036.39
Adam Tranter: $2130.78
$150 on Lentz for $231.08
$200 on dos Anjos for $305.26
$500 on Belfort for $1025
$150 parlay on Thiago, Souza and Belfort for $569.44
Ben Heather: $2039.42
$500 on Belfort for $1025
$200 parlay on Formiga, Lentz and Belfort for $1014.42
Dan Moore: $615.00
$300 on Belfort for $615
Richard Race: $1562.40
$50 on Martins for $69.23
$50 on Formiga for $80.30
$500 on Maldonado for $692.31
$50 on Belfort for $102.50
$200 on Maldonado, Thiago and Tibau for $618.06
Eugene Kim: $512.50
$250 on Belfort for $512.50
Dennis "The Crustacean" Fagan: $240.91
$150 on Formiga for $240.91
Adam "Dead Last" Lindley: $1741.64
$100 on Maldonado for $138.46
$500 on Souza for $595.24
$200 on Natal for $257.14
$200 parlay on Alcantara, Lentz and Belfort for $750.80
"The American Dream" Mark Sacchetti: $1044.15
$250 on Tibau for $358.70
$50 on Maldonado for $69.23
$200 parlay on Thiago, Lentz and Natal for $616.22
James Brown: $945.02
$200 on Belfort for $410
$100 parlay on Formiga, Lineker and Belfort for $535.02
Nick Williams: $1286.79
$300 on Maldonado for $415.38
$300 on Belfort for $615
$100 parlay on Maldonado, Thiago and Souza for $256.41
Mandeep Singh: $762.64
$200 parlay on Formiga, Thiago and dos Anjos for $762.64
Avery Clarke: $572.50
$100 on Lineker for $162.50
$200 on Belfort for $410
Scott Pipher: $615.00
$300 on Belfort for $615
Jason McKee: $715.98
$100 on Tibau for $143.48
$100 on Lineker for $162.50
$200 on Belfort for $410
David Little: $1483.44
$100 on Formiga for $160.61
$100 on Lineker for $162.50
$200 on Thiago for $311.11
$200 on Belfort for $410
$200 parlay on Tibau, Natal and Souza for $439.22
Jack Broadey: $475.47
$400 on Alcantara for $475.47
Gareth Moores: $846.27
$200 on Tibau for $286.96
$200 on Formiga for $321.21
$200 on Souza for $238.10
Ed Gibbons: $615.00
$300 on Belfort for $615
Charles Mickael: $1828.05
$500 on Formiga for $803.03
$200 on Lentz for $308.11
$200 parlay on Formiga, Thiago and Tibau for $716.91
Paul Connellan: $1095.16
$200 on Belfort for $410
$200 parlay on Maldonado, Formiga and Lentz for $685.16
Michael Douglas: $1805.84
$500 on Thiago for $777.78
$200 on Belfort for $410
$200 on Maldonado, Thiago and Tibau for $618.06
Anthony Sinnott: $307.50
$150 on Belfort for $307.50
Harry "Super" Cooper: $480.56
$200 on Lineker for $325
$100 on Thiago for $155.56
Shaun Louis: $977.52
$300 on Thiago for $466.67
$200 parlay on Maldonado, Tibau and Trinaldo for $510.85
Joel "Chico Guapo" Wielenga: $1718.24
$500 on Belfort for $1025
$450 on Lentz for $693.24
Alex Potapoff: $418.22
$250 on Tibau for $358.70
$50 on Souza for $59.52
"Slick" Rick Thayer: $205.00
$100 on Belfort for $205
Ray Thompson: $395.70
$125 on Lineker for $203.13
$125 on Lentz for $192.57
Casey Carmody: $637.78
$200 parlay on Thiago and Belfort for $637.78
Bill Gallagher: $783.37
$200 on Formiga for $321.21
$300 on Lentz for $462.16
Lee Hopwood: $410.00
$200 on Belfort for $410
Chris Wood: $1329.91
$400 on Souza for $476.19
$200 on dos Anjos for $305.26
$200 on Belfort for $410
$100 on Maldonado for $138.46
Daniel Clark: $825.23
$50 on Belfort for $102.50
$200 parlay on Formiga, Lineker and Maldonado for $722.73
Ben Studer: $1522.19
$400 on Belfort for $820
$250 on Thiago for $388.89
$100 parlay on Alcantara, Natal and Belfort for $313.30
Jamie Gaitens: $1034.83
$500 on Souza for $595.24
$200 on Tibau for $286.96
$100 on dos Anjos for $152.63
Danny Hakker: $1913.20
$300 on Thiago for $466.67
$300 on Belfort for $615
$200 on dos Anjos for $305.26
$200 parlay on Tibau, Lentz and Souza for $526.27
Dave Hughes: $102.50
$50 on Belfort for $102.50
Trey Witzell: $820.00
$400 on Belfort for $820
Steve Goobie: $0
Brandon Ashcraft: $0
JayMon1002: $0
David Clatterbuck: $0
Clay Burley: $0
Chris Houten: $0
Joe "The Phenom" Williams: $0
Note: Should either champion, or challenger fail to submit picks for UFC 160 (Velasquez vs. Silva), Adam Tranter would step up as a challenger, and so on. Everyone else will be fighting for the No 1 contender slot on the night, and the right to face off against Tommy or Mark at UFC 161 next month.
RECAP
MMATorch Confidence Picks Championship Match Up (UFC 160)
Tommy Strong (Champion) vs. Ben Heather (Challenger) vs. Harry Cooper (Challenger)
MMATorch Betting Picks Championship Match Up (UFC 160)
Tommy Strong (Champion) vs. Mark Bunce (Challenger)
Performer of the Night: Two championship victories, a perfect night of picks and bets, and he also (kind of) captained Team UK to victory in the inaugural international challenge match against Team USA. This is the stuff of legends and for Tommy Strong, it surely can't get better than this. Enjoy the moment. An honorable mention must also go to Ben Heather who earned his first title shot and doubled his betting money to finish 3rd in the pool.
Goat of the Night: All but one of the favorites won last night, yet Brandon Ashcraft still managed to turn in a big fat stinking turd of a performance.
We're back during the week for UFC 160 which takes place next Saturday. I'll also be announcing detailed news on a "Champion of Champions World Cup" competition that players can qualify for with a good performance at UFC 160.
Feel free to follow me on Twitter, @MMATorchDan
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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