We roll around to another Writer vs Fighter showdown this week, this time for UFC 258.
In the first three weeks, the writers jumped out to a nice lead, picking up two wins and a draw. However, the fighters finally got on the board in a big way from the big man, Dalton Rosta. Rosta not only bested editor Jay Anderson, but put up the highest point total of anyone all year, and it wasn’t even close. Let’s take a look at where that puts us for the year:
Joe McDonagh def. Randy Costa (3-2) – Fight Island 7
Doug Murray def. Bryan Barberena (2-1) – Fight Island 8
Shawn Bitter DRAW Mike Rodriguez (1-1) – UFC 257
Dalton Rosta def. Jay Anderson (7-2) – UFC Vegas 18
WRITERS LEAD 2-1-1
Here’s how it works: both writer and fighter must pick the winner of the main event, co-main event, and featured main card bout. A correct pick will earn one point. Both must then pick a “lock” — the fighter they are most sure will win their fight — from the entire card. That’s two points. The “dog” comes next, and a correct underdog pick earns three points.
It’s that simple. Five picks: Main, co-main, and featured fight winners, lock, and underdog. To the winner go the spoils. Not actual spoils, but bragging rights anyway.
This week it’s our own Heath Harshman figuratively squaring off with UFC veteran Austin Arnett. Are their any picks they see eye-to-eye on this week? Let’s take a look.
Two of the three fights on the main card seem to be easier picks for both, with no disagreement on Kelvin Gastelum or Alexa Grasso picking up wins in their respective bouts. However, Arnett has gone out on a limb and taken the underdog Gilbert Burns in the main event, while Heath thinks the champ will retain.
But even if Arnett were to whiff and we see #AndStill, he still has a chance to make up ground where it counts – the underdog and lock. He’ll be riding with Ricky Simon in his bout with Brain Kelleher for his lock. He also likes Gillian Robertson as an upset pick over up and comer Miranda Maverick in their flyweight bout.
Heath will be going with jiu jitsu first for his lock and dog. For the lock, he is feeling Rodolfo Vieira, who looks to make it three straight against Anthony Hernandez. He also likes the sub skills of Jim Miller to take out Bobby Green for the upset. Well it looks like that fight is off, so Heath is going with Maki Pitolo.
May the best writer/fighter win! We’ll have the results up after the event!
Results: Gillian Robertson was a late scratch from UFC 258, but it didn’t matter for Austin Arnett. His lock Ricky Simon came through, and he picked correctly in the Gastelum and Grasso fights. Heath picked both of those correctly as well, as well as the main event. But both his dog and lock came up short, giving Arnett the win 4-3! And the fighters draw even with the writers.
