...OH, ONE MORE THING - PLEASE BOOKMARK US & VISIT DAILY!
By: Tommy Strong, MMATorch UK Columnist
2015 has started with a bang, and the fireworks are set to continue this weekend at the MGM Grand Garden Arena for UFC 183. This Saturday we'll finally see the return of Anderson Silva for the first time since breaking his leg just over a year ago, where he'll be facing the unpredictable Nick Diaz, who himself has been inactive for almost two years after losing via unanimous decision to GSP at UFC 158.
Also on the card, Tyron Woodley vs. Kelvin Gastelum compete in a welterweight bout in the co-main event of the evening, women's bantamweight fighters Miesha Tate and Sarah McMann square off, and top flyweight contenders Ian McCall and John Lineker battle it out, with the winner edging ever closer to the fight for the title.
All UFC 183 picks should be submitted to tommy.strong@talk21.com before the first prelim fight on Saturday night.
Star Prize 4/4 Giveaway:
It's the fourth and final event this weekend and the last chance to win our star prize. Everything is still to play for, with the top six places only separated by 6 points.
Richard Race leads the way on (191 points) after a very good score last time out.Mac Kinder drops one place and is now down to second on (189 points), whilst Alex Potapoff has (187 points), Michael Douglas (186 points), Ben Silva (186 points) and Tommy 'Gumbo' Strong on (185 points).
The limited edition print of Renzo Gracie has been signed by the man himself courtesy of Guy Smalley Cartoons,(@cartoonlogos).
To check out his stunning artwork and where you can purchase prints, to limited edition signed work and even better his newly published book. Go to his website.
MMATorch Confidence Picks Championship Match Up:
Michael Douglas (Champion) vs. Richard Race (Challenger)
Everyone else will be battling it out in the pool for the right to face the champion at UFC 184 (Weidman vs. Belfort)
MMATorch Betting Picks Championship Match Up:
Anthony Sinnott (Champion) vs. Richard Race (Challenger)
Everyone else will be battling it out in the pool for the right to face the champion at UFC 184 (Weidman vs. Belfort)
UFC 183 FIGHT CARD:
Anderson Silva vs. Nick Diaz
Kelvin Gastelum vs. Tyron Woodley
Al Iaquinta vs. Joe Lauzon
Thales Leites vs. Tim Boetsch
Jordan Mein vs. Thiago Alves
Miesha Tate vs. Sarah McMann
Ed Herman vs. Derek Brunson
Ian McCall vs. John Lineker
Rafael Natal vs. Tom Watson
Diego Brandao vs. Jimy Hettes
Richardson Moreira vs. Ildemar Alcantara
Thiago Santos vs. Andy Enz
CONFIDENCE PICKS GAME AND RULES
1. UFC 183 is a 12 fight card. Therefore, the point values you assign must range from 12 (most confident) down to 1 (least confident).
2. Additionally, please list your prediction for method of victory, along with the round. Choose either TKO, KO, SUB, UD (Unanimous Decision) or SD (Split Decision).
3. Using UFC FN 59 as a template, here is how a simple entry might look:
12- McGregor TKO2
11- Hall TKO1
10- Holohan UD
9- Larkin TKO2
8- Case UD
7- Rosa SUB2
6- O'Connell TKO3
5- Sanchez UD
4- Wade UD
3- Tibau UD
2- Spencer UD
1- Cerrone UD
4. When you email me your entry, please sort the entry numerically (as shown) from high to low. Thanks.
5. The first tie-breaker is the sum of confidence points. Using the examples above, a McGregor victory would earn 12 points. Cerrone winning would earn just 1 point, etc.
6. If two participants earn the same number of confidence points, the next tie-breaker will be the total number of winners predicted. If Player A earns 40 points on 7 winning picks, and Player B earns 40 points on 6 winning picks, Player A would be declared the winner.
7. The next tie-breaker is the number of victory methods predicted correctly. Next would be predicted rounds of victory. If both players are still tied at this point, both players will be declared the winner. If the tie is for a championship, they would match up again at the next event, along with the winner of the pool. If the tie occurs in the pool itself, both challengers would advance to face the champion at the next event.
BETTING GAME AND RULES
Here are the UFC 183 betting lines courtesy of 5Dimes:
Anderson Silva -470
Nick Diaz +375
Kelvin Gastelum -120
Tyron Woodley +100
Al Iaquinta -190
Joe Lauzon +165
Thales Leites -475
Tim Boetsch +380
Jordan Mein -140
Thiago Alves +120
Sarah McMann -210
Miesha Tate +175
Derek Brunson -550
Ed Herman +425
Ian McCall -230
John Lineker +190
Rafael Natal -175
Tom Watson +155
Diego Brandao -170
Jimy Hettes +150
IIdemar Alcantara -175
Richardson Moreira +155
Thiago Santos -170
Andy Enz +150
8. Using UFC FN 59 as a template again, here is how a simple entry might look:
$450 on Cerrone
$300 on Spencer
$50 on Wade
$200 Parlay on Cerrone,Wade,Sanchez
9. Every player has $1000 of fake, imaginary, theoretical, play money to wager on each event. This is not a real money game, it is strictly for fun.
10. Players must place a bet of at least $50, but no more than $500, on each of 3 or more different fighters. Bets may be in any denomination, as long as the amount falls in the range of $50 - $500.
11. Players may also play a parlay bet. A parlay bet is a bet placed on multiple fighters. All fighters in the parlay must win their fights in order for the parlay to pay off. Parlay bets pay off at a higher rate than a bet on a single fighter. The parlay bet may be placed on either two or three fighters.
12. The minimum parlay bet is $50. The maximum parlay bet is $200. This money comes out of the $1000 allotted to each player. The parlay bet is NOT separate from the $1000 budget. A player is not required to play a parlay bet. The maximum number of parlay bets a player may wager is one.
13. Whether or not a player chooses to place a parlay bet, the player must still place at least three straight bets. It is not legal to place two bets on individual fighters and one parlay bet. No entry is considered valid unless there are a minimum of 3 straight bets placed on individual fighters.
14. If a fight ends in a draw, any money bet on said fighter will be refunded, with no fake money commission taken. If a fighter in a 3-fighter parlay is involved in a draw, that fighter will be removed from the parlay and the 3-fighter parlay will be treated as a 2-fighter parlay. If a fighter in a 2-fighter parlay is involved in a draw, that fighter will be removed from the parlay and the 2-fighter parlay will be treated as a straight bet on the remaining fighter.
JOKER CARD:
15. Joker card can be placed on any fighter up to the maximum value of 4 confidence points, 1 being the minimum.
For example, if you placed your joker card on a fighter with 4 confidence points and the fighter goes onto win, you earn an extra 4 points to your overall total.
If your fighter is to lose, not only do you lose your 4 points, an additional 4 points will be taken from your total.
If it's 3 points on a fighter, an additional 3 would be added to your total, and for a loss 3 extra points taken from your total, and so on.
*The Joker Card (DOES NOT) have to be played, it's very much optional.
FURTHER INSTRUCTIONS:
16. If a fighter has a positive number such as +150 next to his name, he is the underdog, which means a successful bet on that fighter will pay off at a higher rate. That means that if the fighter wins, the bet will payout $150 net profit for every $100 bet on him. If a player were to bet $500 on a +150 fighter, and the fighter wins, the player will profit $750. If a player bets $500 on a +150 fighter, and the fighter loses, the player will lose his $500 bet.
17. If a fighter has a negative number such as -200 next to his name, he is the favourite, which means a successful bet on that fighter will pay off at a lower rate. That means that if the fighter wins, the bet will payout $100 net profit for every $200 bet on him. If a player were to bet $500 on a -200 fighter, and the fighter wins, the player will profit $250. If a player bets $500 on a -200 fighter, and the fighter loses, the player will lose his $500 bet.
Structure for each game
18. For each UFC numbered (or listed otherwise) event, both the Confidence Picks and Betting Game will feature a champion and a challenger facing off against one another. The winner of the head to head battle will be declared the reigning champion.
19. All other players for each UFC numbered (or listed otherwise) event will compete against each other for the right to face off against the reigning champion at the next UFC numbered event. This is known as The Pool.
20. As games administrator, I have the subjective right to eliminate any entry for any reason I deem worthy.
21. Entries may be submitted via email (tommy.strong@talk21.com), or on the comment section of this post. Email is the preferred method, because if a player posts an invalid entry, I have no way to make sure I can get hold of the player so that it may be corrected. Please, under no circumstances should you both email and post on the board your entry. One or the other please,preferably via email.
22. If you have any questions, please email me and ask. For game updates follow me on Twitter, @MMATorchTom
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Jamie Penick, editor-in-chief
(mmatorcheditor@gmail.com)
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