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Dec 30, 2008 - 7:14:27 PM By Matt Pelkey, MMATorch Columnist Well folks, UFC 92 was a perfect way to close out the year, and we had ourselves quite the performance in the contests. For the first time in quite a while, we crowned a new champion. I guess Rashad Evans and Frank Mir showed us how its done. We also had an amazing number of good performances in the betting contest. So let's get to the results, shall we?
PREDICTION CONTEST:
As is becoming a disturbing trend around here, one of our #1 contenders no-showed his title shot. I can't figure out why someone would put in all the hard work to climb up that ladder and then leave the opportunity on the table. Well the precedent has been set, so we went to the next best performer from the previous contest and slid them into the title shot. In this case that was performers, plural. After Jerry Cattelane (the no-show in question) the next best at UFC 91 was myself, and the two Brians, Murphy and Fuller. That's right; we had ourselves a good 'ol Fatal Fourway. In the end it didn't matter because longtime reigning champ Gavin "The Juggernaut" Byrne sent us all packing. Can anyone stop him? There's hope. At long last, one of the Torch's own, news blog aficionado Alex Williams led the pool with an 8-2 record. He moves on to lock horns with Byrne in a few short weeks at UFC 93. Congratulations and good luck to the champion and new challenger!
Complete Results:
Championship- Gavin Byrne (c) 9-1 def.
Brian Fuller 8-2
Brian Murphy 7-3
Matt Pelkey 5-5
The Pool- Alex Williams 8-2 def.
Chris Gawn 7-3
Brandon Lawrence 7-3
Scott Hart 7-3
Nut 6-4
Jamie Penick 6-4
Boles 5-5
Kubi 4-6
Overkill 3-7
Frank Hyden 2-8
BETTING CONTEST:
Now here is where the fun started. First of all, we have a new champion. Longtime contest doormat (and I swear I say that as a term of endearment) Chris Gawn didn't exactly set the world on fire, but his small $200 successful bet on Rashad Evans was enough to unseat defending champ and arch-rival Rich Boles, as Boles whiffed on every bet he made. Congrats to the new champ. Its been a long time coming, and Gawn made the most of his opportunity.
Now the pool was a whole other animal. Never have I seen so many good performances. I was the only entrant to not turn a profit, and even I hit on a $400 bet on Rashad. Prediction Champ Gavin Byrne assumed he had a title shot waiting after wagering $500 on Mir to go along with a successful $200 bet on Patrick Barry. Despite well over doubling up his money, Byrne only managed a third place finish as an unreal FIVE betters were able to at least double there money. No one was able to best Antonio "The Dark Monster" Bruzzese, who wagered his entire $1000 on winners. He's the new #1 contender, and he moves on to provide a tough challenge for new champ Chris Gawn. Again, congrats to both!
Complete Results:
Championship- Chris Gawn $200 on Evans for $420 def.
Rich Boles (c) $0
The Pool- Antonio Bruzzese $300 on Mir for $1125
$300 on Blackburn for $855
$400 on Evans for $840
Total Payout: $2820
Brian Fuller $400 on Mir for $1500
$300 on Evans for $630
$200 on Jackson for $373.91
$100 on Dalloway for $154.05
Total Payout: $2657.96
Gavin Byrne $500 on Mir for $1875
$300 on Barry for $462.16
Total Payout: $2337.16
J $500 on Evans for $1050
$300 on Mir for $1125
Total Payout: $2175
Vu Van $500 on Mir for $1875
$100 on Evans for $210
Total Payout: $2085
Alex Williams $500 on Okami for $649.25
$200 on Blackburn for $570
$300 on Evans for $630
Total Payout: $1849.25
Nut $300 on Okami for $389.55
$400 on Barry for $616.22
$300 on Evans for $630
Total Payout: $1635.77
Nick Underwood $400 on Mir for $1500
Total Payout: $1500
Scott Hart $300 on Blackburn for $855
$300 on Evans for $630
Total Payout: $1485
Brian Murphy $400 on Jackson for $747.82
$400 on Hardonk for $497.56
$100 on Hamill for $119.05
Total Payout: $1364.43
Kubi $300 on Dalloway for $481.82
$200 on Mir for $750
Total Payout: $1231.82
Brent $300 on Blackburn for $855
$100 on Mir for $375
Total Payout: $1230
Joe Derouen $500 on Evans for $1050
Total Payout: $1050
Matt Pelkey $400 on Evans for $840
Total Payout: $840
Well there you have it. Keep an eye out later this week for the return of the Writers' Rountable, and, as always, stay tuned to MMATorch.com for all of your MMA needs.
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