UFC 124 Picks & Predictions: Alves vs. Howard
By Drew Sharper
MONTREAL, QUEBEC (TheSpread) - In a bout that should feature a lot of exciting action, Thiago Alves squares off with John Howard in a welterweight bout at UFC 124 on Saturday.
UFC 124 takes place from the Bell Center in Montreal, Quebec, Canada and will air live on Pay-Per-View at 10PM ET. Here is a look at both fighters and a pick for this explosive showdown.
Thiago Alves (17-7) -290
Alves is coming off back-to-back losses to Jon Fitch and Georges St. Pierre, but prior to that he was considered the most explosive fighter in the division. Alves is a tremendous striker with powerful leg kicks and big punches. His weakness is in his takedown defense as superior wrestlers have been able to get him to the ground and control him. That shouldn’t be a concern in this fight as he faces a similar-style opponent.
John Howard (14-5) +215
Howard is like Alves where he mixes up good striking with knees, kicks, and punches. He is a compact and strong fighter for 170 pounds but also struggles with his grappling. He is coming off a loss to Jake Ellenberger, who was able to get him toe the ground and inflict some heavy damage. Howard does have 6 submission wins in his career, but he is primarily a striker and if he comes up on the short end in the striking battle, he doesn’t have the skills to get Alves to the ground.
Who To Pick?
Alves is in desperate need of a win to stay relevant in the division while Howard needs a win to perhaps keep his job with the UFC. Both men should come out looking for the knockout, which makes for an exciting fight. Ultimately, Alves has the experience and technique to win the striking battle and I expect him to show better form and conditioning to outlast Howard and score a TKO in the third round.
FREE PICK – THIAGO ALVES -290