MMATORCH PREDICTION CHAMPIONSHIP

Lindley Hardie successfully defended the MMATorch Prediction Championship for the second time.  Hardie and challenger Rich Boles predicted the same in all but two fights.  In those two fights Hardie correctly picked Renato Sobral and Randy Couture to win, while Boles predicted the losers David Heath and Gabriel Gonzaga.  Hardie will next be looking to tie MMATorch columnist Mike Jarsulic's successful title defense record of 3.  Ladies and gentlemen, still your MMATorch Prediction Champion -- Lindley Hardie.

MMATORCH BETTING CHAMPIONSHIP

Jerry Cattelane has held the MMATorch Prediction Championship on two occassions.  He captured the MMATorch Betting Championship for the first time at UFC 73.  Like his previous championship runs, though, Cattelane once again failed to defend his title, this time losing to challenger Brian Fuller.  Ladies and gentlemen, your new MMATorch Betting Champion -- Brian Fuller. 

Here are the championship bets:

Jerry Cattelane (c) - UFC 74 Betting Championship Wagers

$100 Bet on Alberto Crane = $0 Payout

$150 Bet on David Heath = $0 Payout

$250 Bet on Marcus Aurelio = $0 Payout

$500 Bet on Frank Mir = $786 Payout

Total Payout = $786 (No Profit / Loss = $214)

Brian Fuller - UFC 74 Betting Championship Wagers

$400 Bet on Renato Sobral = $578 Payout

$300 Bet on Frank Mir = $471 Payout

$200 Bet on Randy Couture = $440 Payout

$100 Bet on Alberto Crane = $0 Payout

Total Payout = $1489 (Profit  = $489)

NO. 1 CONTENDER PREDICTION CONTEST

The winner of the UFC 74 Prediction Contest is John Taylor. Taylor will go head-to-head with our champion Lindley Hardie at UFC 75 on September 8.  Hardie and Taylor have squared off for the championship once before, with Hardie winning.  Now Taylor will have a second shot at glory at UFC 75: Hardie vs. Taylor II. 

John Taylor went a perfect 9-0 with his UFC 74 picks. There were 4 people who were able to go 8-1 with their predictions, but no one matched the perfection of MMATorch columnist John Taylor.  

Here are the top performers:

1. John Taylor (9-0)

2(tie). Mike Jarsulic (8-1) [6.75 points] (former champion)

2(tie). Tyson Kubas (8-1) [6.75 points] (former champion)

4. Joey Putman (8-1) [6.5 points]

5. Jayce Simmons (8-1) [4 points]

6. James Nicholson (8-1) [3.25 points]

The following people went 7-2 with their picks -- Shawn Ennis, Tony Howell, Jon Huntley and Josh Wilson.

NO. 1 CONTENDER PLAYING WITH MONEY CONTEST

The winner of the UFC 74 Playing with Money Contest is Joe DeRouen. DeRouen will go head-to-head with our new champion Brian Fuller at UFC 75 on September 8.

Joe DeRouen managed to win the contest, despite only wagering $900 of his alloted grand.  DeRouen's entry included 2 $500 bets on Randy Couture and Patrick Cote.  Since we have to bet on at least three fights with a minimum bet of $100, DeRouen was penalized $100, which was deducted evenly from his two bets.  Even with his bets down to $450, though, DeRouen smoked the competition with a huge payout. 

Here is the winning wager formula:

Joe DeRouen - UFC 74 Playing with Money Wagers

$450 Bet on Randy Couture = $990 Payout

$450 Bet on Patrick Cote = $1305 Payout

$100 Penalty = $0 Payout

Total Payout = $2295 (Profit = $1295)

Here are some other notable entrants, who managed to turn a profit:

Jonathon "Pac" Maness - UFC 74 Playing with Money Wagers

$500 Bet on Georges St. Pierre = $704 Payout

$200 Bet on David Heath = $0 Payout

$300 Bet on Randy Couture = $660 Payout

Total Payout = $1364 (Profit = $364)

Tony Howell - UFC 74 Playing with Money Wagers

$100 Bet on Clay Guida = $165 Payout

$400 Bet on Antoni Hardonk = $0 Payout

$500 Bet on Randy Couture = $1100 Payout

Total Payout = $1265 (Profit = $265)

The Mickulz - UFC 74 Playing with Money Wagers

$250 Bet on Clay Guida = $411 Payout

$250 Bet on Frank Mir = $393 Payout

$150 Bet on David Heath = $0 Payout

$200 Bet on Josh Koscheck = $0 Payout

$150 Bet on Randy Couture = $330 Payout

Total Payout = $1134 (Profit = $134)

Lindley Hardie- UFC 74 Playing with Money Wagers

$500 Bet on Marcus Aurelio = $0 Payout

$400 Bet on Randy Couture = $880 Payout

$100 Bet on Thales Leites = $135 Payout

Total Payout = $1015 (Profit = $15)

UFC 75 (September 8, 2007)

Our next championship matches and new number one contender contests will be held at the next UFC event.  UFC 75 will air on Spike TV.  Here are our next head-to-head title match-ups:

MMATorch Prediction Championship

Lindley Hardie (c) vs. John Taylor

alternates: Mike Jarsulic and Tyson Kubas *

* - if Taylor were to not be able to compete, the title match-up would become a three-way with the two people who tied for second place

MMATorch Betting Championship

Brian Fuller (c) vs. Joe DeRouen

alternate: Jonathon “Pac” Maness