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What happens to all those bad pick segments?

This is a question that has been bugging WKR for some time. Writers and pundits often make horrible predictions yet no one holds them accountable (except for our readers, of course). The bloated size of the Internet often allows us to hide our mistakes behind the ether of electrons and photons, but not here at WKR.

We are introducing a new feature we are calling Monday Morning Pick Roast where we will recap our major event Picks Segment FJM-style. Our observant readers will notice that our first edition is already a day late which we wouldn't have any other way. But the point of this feature is to allow our readers to see our horrible mistakes in bold helvetica font.

SBN coverage of UFC 110: Nogueira vs. Velasquez

The first writer to fall on their sword is our fearless leader:

With Bisping's inability to avoid the most basic weapons of his opponent, e.g., circling into Henderson overhand right, and suspect chin, he could easily be felled by Wanderlei who still has striking power. Silva via TKO Round 2.

CON-GRAT-U-FUCKING-LATIONS WANDERLEI SILVA!

You narrowly pulled off a decision victory over Michael Bisping. MICH-AEL FUCKING BISPING! 

Is the Wanderlei Silva war wagon being pulled by horses?!

Remember Matt Hamill!

What the hell? Get a life dude! This isn't some Eastern European country remembering the Russian invasion after the fall of Napoleon. GET OVER IT!

Stevenson is the better grappler and has been a smarter fighter since joining Greg Jackson. That is a bad mix for George who will be (a) making his main card debut and (b) overexcited as he is fighting in his native country. If Stevenson can survive an early swarm then George tires out and is submitted. Stevenson via Submission Round 2.

HARF! HARF! HARF! Stevenson is a better grappler? Let me guess, you think Carson Palmer is better than Ben Roethlisberger?

Chris Lytle is chasing "Fight of the Night" money and that has made for some entertaining and close fights. When you are playing with that kind of fire (see: Sean Sherk) it eventually catches up to you. Foster by Split Decision.

Kneebar?! Kneebar?! REALLY! REALLY!?  When in the hell did Chris Lytle --the the head hunting firefighter who throws punches like he is slinging an axe-- decide to use jiu-jitsu? I feel like I was cheated on. All I know is taht Kurt Russell is disappointed in you Chris Lytle. Kneebar--PSH!

Next up is Nick Becker:

Plain and simple, I don't buy into the Velasquez hype. Defeating Ben Rothwell didn't make me a believer and if he throws the same weak ground strikes against Nogueira that he did against Cheick Kongo he get subbed pronto. Nogueira has the better boxing and when the fight hits the ground, "Minatauro" will hold the edge there too. Unless Big Nog is suffering from another severe staph infection I don't see how he'll lose. Nogueira via Submission Round 2.

Jeez, this is humiliating....Where do I even begin? I was wrong about every single facet of the fight and I feel like an idiot. I must say that now I'm a big believer in the power and potential of Cain Velasquez and to emphasize that, I'm planning on going out and getting my very own "Brown Pride" tattoo.   

I believe that Bisping will try to employ the same strategy he did against Chris Leben, staying on the outside and countering Wand's wild strikes. The thing is at some point Silva will force his way inside and rock "The Count." When "The Axe Murderer" smells blood in the water, he'll go in for the kill and finish the fight in devastating fashion. Wandy by KO (of the Night) Round 2.

Color me a bit disappointed that Wand didn't get the highlight-reel finish, but still it was a good performance for "The Axe Murderer" so I'm happy. The win also allowed us to hear the best line of the night when Wand said in the post-fight interview, "...I look pretty, no?" LOL.

I believe that Jardine will wear Bader down in order to slow down his shot and curb his explosiveness. It's difficult to pick Jardine with any amount of certainty, but if he can survive the first two minutes, I see him rising to the occasion and thoroughly controlling the fight. Jardine by Unanimous Decision.  

I should have listened to my gut and picked Bader to win. In the future, I'm only going with Jardine if he's allowed to wear a medieval helmet. 

Poor Stephan Bonnar. The guy hasn't won a fight in two and a half years and instead of being handed a jobber, he has to face the talented Soszynski. Krzysztof's a tough opponent for "The American Psycho" and I suspect Dana White's words of Bonnar having a UFC job "for life," will be put to the test after this one's over. Soszynski via Unanimous Decision.

I'm betting Bonnar will be really happy the next time he shows up on the MMA Live set. At least there he doesn't have to worry about Jon Anik nailing him with a spinning back elbow or Franklin McNeal busting him open with a head-butt...

I fully expect this bout to make it onto the broadcast portion of the PPV as these guys will both leave it all in the cage. Lytle via Split Decision in the Fight of the Night.     

I knew something special would happen in this fight, I just didn't expect Chris Lytle to channel his inner-Oleg Taktarov and pull off a sick kneebar.   

In a sneering contest, I'll go with Dolloway. In a fight, I'm going with Reljic. Reljic by TKO Round 2.

Time for me to hop on the C.B. Dolloway bandwagon. *looks around* Plenty of room in here, might as well put my feet up.

How could I possibly pick against the winner of the 2009 CFC Light Heavyweight Grand Prix? I mean, that's a pretty prestigious title, right? Te-Huna via TKO Round 1.

You heard it here first: 2010 DREAM Light Heavyweight Grand Prix Winner: James Te-Huna. 

Velasquez is the future of the division, but Nog isn't done quite yet. I expect this to be an absolute war, with Cain coming out strong and Nogueira doing what he does best - refusing to die and finding a submission late. Nogueira, Sub, Round 3.

Nog didn't have any say in the matter. This was all Cain Velasquez and it was a tremendous performance.

Plain and simple: until Michael Bisping beats a big name, I won't pick him to beat a big name. Plus, Wanderlei is feisty heading into this match... expect an explosion! Wanderlei, TKO, Round 1.

No first round TKO, but The Bisping Theory is now an official part of my MMA world.

So much of me wants to pick the Aussie, but I just can't see him making the jump from beating Jason Dent to beating Joe Stevenson in one fight. Stevenson has great wrestling and the ability to control a fight from top position, as well as the better stand-up of the two. I wouldn't be shocked by an upset, but I don't expect one. Stevenson by Unanimous Decision.

Should have went with my gut.

If Jardine gets out of the first round, he wins. That funky style is too much to deal with, especially for a young kid like Bader. The Dean of Mean works with too many great wrestlers to not have solid takedown defense, and while his chin is suspect, he'll keep Bader guessing with the hunchback legkick assault of old. Jardine by Split Decision.

The takedown defense was good, he got out of the first round... everything was looking great until that damn chin continued to let me down. Damn you Keith Jardine!

If this fight happens, Cro Cop better win... and he should. Two days isn't enough to prepare for anyone, even the shell of a once deadly striker. Cro Cop by TKO, Round 2.

BINGO!

Should be a battle, but Bonnar just hasn't shown me enough in the last, I dunno, ever to make me believe he gets passed a tough Polish test. Soszynski needs to be first every time, and I think he will be. Soszynski by Unanimous Decision.

These two need to do it all over again... and not ram their heads together.

Fight of the Night. Write that down. Lytle gets cut, bleeds like a stuck pig and absorbs all kinds of punishment. Basically, it will be a typical Chris Lytle fight, with Foster doing the more damage and taking the decision. Foster by Unanimous Decision.

Or Chris Lytle will turn to his little used submission skills, slap a kneebar on Brian Foster and earn Submission of the Night honors.

There will be no doubt that Dollaway is tapping this time around. Reljic is legit and everyone who forgot about him since he manhandled Wilson Gouveia at UFC 84 will be reminded why he was a highly-regarded prospect. Reljic by Submission, Round 1.

Yeah, picking the guy who hadn't fought in nearly two years was just plain stupid, no matter how much I loathe sneering CB Dollaway.

Finally it is Zach's turn to face the music:

The same reason I hate gambling is the reason I love it.  I went 4-4 last night in picks racking up a .500 pick percentage, far from impressive (better than I thought I did though).  However, I went 2-2 with my bets and made some decent money.  I think it was UFC 108 where I went 3-1 on bets (went for favorites) and lost money, but here I pick worse and make money, amazing.

I am the first person to critique myself and generally use self deprecation as my go to move, but some of my lost picks really were not that bad for 110.  I mentioned that I was unsure of Reljic due to rust, I admitted Foster was strictly picking with my heart over mind, and even though Bisping did not win, he was able to secure the takedowns I thought he would.  Too bad I think he landed zero punches following those takedowns, Bisping cannot fight a right handed fighter (not a good thing), and The Count almost got choked out.  Okay, that was a bad pick, but it was somewhat close.  At least I have that going for me.

However, all this changes when we discuss the Joe Stevenson/George Sotiropoulos fight.  I literally think this could be the worst prediction in the history of WKR picks.  Not that I was crazy to pick Joe, but everything I said would happen did not and everything said I would not happen did happen.  I was literally incorrect with every statement and thought I had about this fight.

Case and Point why girls in your office tournament pool win by picking the mascot names they like, none of us really know.

I said Stevenson's wrestling would prevent George from gaining top position-incorrect.  I said Stevenson was too big a jump in competition-incorrect.  I though George appeared stronger in past fights because he was fighting physically weak fighters-incorrect.  Finally, I said Joe Stevenson would not only win, but finish George in the second round via TKO-not quite.

Until next time when I top this prediction with something for foolish.