Feb 22, 2009 - 12:42:55 PM By Matt Pelkey, MMATorch Columnist
A fantastic night of fights at UFC 95 didn't crown any new champions in the Ultimate Fighting Championships, but it did help us crown a new one of our own here at the Torch. At long last the tyrannical reign of Gavin "The Juggernaut" Byrne is over. Number one contender Brian Fuller was able to best Byrne 7-3 to 6-4 to claim the Prediction Championship.
On the betting side, reigning and defending champ Chris Gawn had a mediocre night, finishing just below even, but it was plenty to take down his challenger Overkill, who only managed a $200 bet on heavy favorite Diego Sanchez.
One man ruled the day in both pools, and his name is Rich Boles. He went a fantastic 9-1 on his picks and nearly doubled his money on his bets. No one has ever successfully won both titles in one contest, but that doesn't mean it can't be done. In what seems like a drawn-out pro wrestling fued, Boles will once again do battle for the Betting title with nemesis Chris Gawn. In predictions, he'll battle longtime competitor and multiple time champ Brian Fuller. It'll all happen in just a couple short weeks at UFC 96 in Columbus, OH, my home away from home. The results were as follows:
PREDICTION POOL:
Rich Boles 9-1
Scott Hart 7-3
Jamie Penick 7-3
Overkill 6-4
Chris Gawn 6-4
Tower 5-5
Matt Pelkey 5-5
Kubi 4-6
Frank Hyden 4-6
Nick Underwood 3-7
BETTING POOL:
Rich Boles- $500 on Hardy for $1000
$200 on dos Santos for $268.97
$300 on Dunham for $720
Total Payout: $1988.97
Gavin Byrne- $500 on Maia for $685.19
$400 on dos Santos for $537.93
Total Payout: $1223.12
Brian Fuller- $300 on Ciesnolevicz for $560.87
$100 on Thiago for $450
Total Payout: $1010.87
Antonio Bruzzese- $500 on Sanchez for $669.49
$200 on Maia for $274.07
Total Payout: $943.56
Scott Hart- $300 on Ciesnolevicz for $560.87
$100 on Sanchez for $133.90
Total Payout: $694.77
Tower- $300 on Etim for $425
$200 on Sanchez for $267.80
Total Payout: $692.80
Vu Van- $500 on Sanchez for $669.49
Total Payout: $669.49
Adam Fabbro- $500 on Kelly for $653.85
Total Payout: $653.85
Nick Underwood- $100 on Marquardt for $130.77
$300 on dos Santos for $403.45
Total Payout: $534.22
Kubi- $200 on Dunham for $480
Total Payout: $480
MRich- $300 on Maia for $411.11
Total Payout: $411.11
Stephen Legaree- $300 on Sanchez for $401.69
Total Payout: $401.69
Matt Pelkey- $0
PERFORMER OF THE NIGHT:
This was an easy call. Rich Boles lapped the field in both contests, so he gets the nod. Honorable Mention to Brian Fuller who took out longtime champ Gavin Byrne and was one of only three to turn a profit in the betting contest.
GOAT OF THE NIGHT:
This was a slightly tougher call at first as we had a couple of competitors who were under .500 on the predictions and lost the majority of their money, but in the end it was obvious. The Goat of the Night is your's truly. I'm giving myself this (dis)honor as sort of a Lifetime (lack of) Achievement Award. I went 5-5 and was the only participant to put up the goose egg in the betting contest. It continues a long trend of mediocrity, but hey, there's a new contest in a couple weeks. Til then...
Congrats to new prediction champ Brian Fuller... reminds me of GSP vs Serra
1.
You now I'm out of form with my tips when even Penick out performs me!
Ah well... looks like i'm back in the general pool with the common folk.
and congrats to Gawn on another defence,
but be careful amigo... Bowles is a man on a mission!!!
regards,
The Former Champ
Boles
22 Feb 2009, 23:33
No 'w'
cegawn
23 Feb 2009, 01:56
Whats this "mediocre night" nonsense? Umm, title defence = succesful!
Haha!
Thanks juggernaut. And yes I do know that Boles (no 'W'!) is a man on a
mission. But Im more than up to the task.
And dont worry about the Goat award Matt. My luke warm run must be coming
to an end soon, and Im sure I'll take that title a few times in the near
future.
the juggernaut
23 Feb 2009, 05:26
apologies for the 'W' Mr. Boles
Looks like the MMA Torch Prediction & Betting contests will be the more
interesting than UFC 96 itself.
