There’s a lot of major MMA and pro wrestling events coming to us this weekend in the form of Bellator 193, NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo (Days 1 & 2), UFC On Fox 27, WWE NXT Takeover: Philadelphia & WWE Royal Rumble.
The Bellator 193 card is going to be headlined by UFC veteran Lorenz Larkin facing Fernando Gonzalez, while NJPW New Beginning is being headlined by IWGP Intercontinental Champion Hiroshi Tanahashi defending against Minoru Suzuki (Day 1) and IWGP United States Champion Kenny Omega defending against Jay White (Day 2), while UFC On Fox is headlined by Ronadlo Souza facing Derek Brunson, with WWE NXT Takeover: Philadelphia headlined by Andrade “Cien” Almas defending the WWE NXT Title against Johnny Gargano and the WWE Royal Rumble event is headlined by the men’s and women’s Rumble matches.
Bellator 193:
(Note: John Moorehouse & Bryan Rose didn’t make any picks for this event.)
Fernando Gonzalez vs. Lorenz Larkin
Picking Gonzalez: David Tees, James Lynch & Carlos Toro
Picking Larkin: Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin & Jeremy Lambert
Final Tally: Gonzalez (3) – Larkin (5)
Saad Awad vs. JJ Ambrose
Picking Awad: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, James Lynch & Jeremy Lambert
Picking Ambrose: Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Awad (7) – Ambrose (1)
Kendall Grove vs. AJ Matthews
Picking Grove: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook & James Lynch
Picking Matthews: Pat Fannin, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Grove (5)- Matthews (3)
Steve Kozola vs. Jake Smith
Picking Kozola: David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp, Pat Fannin, James Lynch, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Smith: Kyler James & Ryan Cook
Final Tally: Kozola (6) – Smith (2)
Here are the staff predictions for NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo Day 1:
IWGP Intercontinental Title Match: Hiroshi Tanahashi (C) vs. Minoru Suzuki
Picking Tanahashi: David Tees, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski & Jeremy Lambert
Picking Suzuki: Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Tanahashi (7) – Suzuki (5)
IWGP NEVER Openweight 6 Man Tag Team Title Match: Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga & Tonga Loa) (C) vs. Togi Makabe, Ryusuke Taguchi & Toa Henare
Picking Bullet Club: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Makabe/Taguchi/Henare:
Final Tally: Bullet Club (12) – Makabe/Taguchi/Henare (0)
Katusya Kitamura “Best Of Seven Series” Match #2: Katsuya Kitamura vs. Michael Elgin
(Note: Pat Fannin didn’t make a pick for this match.)
Picking Kitamura: James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski & Jeremy Lambert
Picking Elgin: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Kitamura (3) – Elgin (8)
Chaos (Jay White, Sho & Yoh) vs. Bullet Club (Kenny Omega, Nick Jackson, Matt Jackson)
Picking Chaos: David Tees, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, James Lynch, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Bullet Club: Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Bryan Rose & Alex Pawlowski
Final Tally: Chaos (8) – Bullet Club (4)
Chaos (Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto & Gedo) vs. Los Ingobernables (Evil, Sanada & Bushi)
Picking Chaos: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, Bryan Rose, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski & Carlos Toro
Picking Los Ingobernables: Brandon Howard, John Moorehouse & Jeremy Lambert
Final Tally: Chaos (9) – Los Ingobernables (3)
Chaos (Will Ospreay & Yoshi-Hashi) vs. Los Ingobernables (Tetsuya Naito & Hiromu Takahashi)
Picking Chaos: Kyler James, James Lynch & Jeremy Lambert
Picking Los Ingobernables: David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, Alex Pawlowski & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Chaos (3)/Los Ingobernables (9)
Kota Ibushi, David Finlay & Juice Robinson vs. Bullet Club (Cody, Hangman Page & Marty Scurll)
Picking Ibushi/Finlay/Robinson: Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, Bryan Rose, James Lynch & Carlos Toro
Picking Bullet Club: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, John Moorehouse, Alex Pawlowski & Jeremy Lambert
Final Tally: Ibushi/Finlay/Robinson (6) – Bullet Club (6)
Chaos (Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Bullet Club (Chase Owens & Yujiro Takahashi)
(Note: Kyler James didn’t make a pick for this match.)
Picking Chaos: David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, James Lynch & Alex Pawlowski
Picking Bullet Club: Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Chaos (9) – Bullet Club (2)
Kushida, Tiger Mask IV, Jushin “Thunder” Liger, Manabu Nakanishi & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Suzuki-Gun (Takashi Iizuka, Taichi, Taka Michinoku, El Desparado & Yoshinobu Kanemara)
Picking Kushida/Mask IV/Liger/Nakanishi/Tenzan: Kyler James, Bryan Rose & James Lynch
Picking Suzuki-Gun: David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Kushida/Mask IV/Liger/Nakanishi/Tenzan (3) – Suzuki-Gun (9)
WWE NXT Takeover Philadelphia:
WWE NXT Title Match: Andrade “Cien” Almas (C) vs. Johny Gargano
Picking Almas: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Gargano: Bryan Rose
Final Tally: Almas (11) – Gargano (1)
WWE NXT Women’s Title Match: Ember Moon (C) vs. Shayna Baszler
Picking Moon: David Tees, Brandon Howard, Pat Fannin & Alex Pawlowski
Picking Baszler: Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, James Lynch, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Moon (4) – Baszler (8)
WWE NXT Tag Team Title Match: The Undisputed Era (C) vs. The Authors Of Pain
Picking The Undisputed Era: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Authors Of Pain: James Lynch
Final Tally: The Undisputed Era (11) – Authors Of Pain (1)
Extreme Rules Match: Aleister Black vs. Adam Cole
Picking Black: David Tees, Kyler James, Ryan Cook, John Moorehouse, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski & Carlos Toro
Picking Cole: Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Pat Fannin, Bryan Rose & Jeremy Lambert
Final Tally: Black (7) – Cole (5)
Kassius Ohno vs. The Velveteen Dream
Picking Ohno: Ryan Cook & James Lynch
Picking Dream: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Ohno (2) – Dream (10)
Here are the staff predictions for UFC On Fox 27:
#3 Ronaldo Souza vs. #8 Derek Brunson
Picking Souza: Kyler James, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Brunson: David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp & James Lynch
Final Tally: Souza (7) – Brunson (3)
#11 Dennis Bermudez vs. Andre Fili
Picking Bermudez: David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, James Lynch & Jeremy Lambert
Picking Fili: Kyler James & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Bermudez (8) – Fili (2)
Jordan Rinaldi vs. Gregor Gillespie
Picking Rinaldi: David Tees, Kyler James, John Moorehouse & Jeremy Lambert
Picking Gillespie: Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, Bryan Rose, James Lynch & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Rinaldi (4) – Gillespie (6)
Drew Dober vs. Frank Camacho
Picking Dober: Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin & James Lynch
Picking Camacho: David Tees, Kyler James, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Dober (4) – Camacho (6)
Here are the staff predictions for NJPW The New Beginning In Sapporo Day 2:
IWGP United States Title Match: Kenny Omega (C) vs. Jay White
Picking Omega: Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking White: David Tees
Final Tally: Omega (11) – White (1)
IWGP Junior Heavyweight Tag Team Title Match: The Young Bucks (Matt & Nick Jackson) (C) vs. Roppongi 3K (Sho & Yoh)
Picking The Young Bucks: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Roppongi 3K: Brandon Howard
Final Tally: The Young Bucks (11) – Roppomgi 3K (1)
Katsuya Kitamura “Best Of Seven Series” Match #3: Katsuya Kitamura vs. Juice Robinson
(Note: Pat Fannin didn’t make a pick for this match.)
Picking Kitamura: Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook & James Lynch
Picking Robinson: David Tees, Brandon Howard, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Kitamura (4) – Robinson (7)
Chaos (Kazuchika Okada, Hirooki Goto, Yoshi-Hashi, Will Ospreay & Gedo) vs. Los Ingobernables (Tetsuya Naito, Bushi, Evil, Sanada & Hiromu Takahashi)
Picking Chaos: Kyler James, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Los Ingobernables: David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse & Bryan Rose
Final Tally: Chaos (5) – Los Ingobernables (7)
Kushida, Kota Ibushi & David Finlay vs. Bullet Club (Cody, Marty Scurll & Hangman Page)
Picking Kushida/Ibushi/Finlay: Brandon Howard, Pat Fannin, James Lynch & Jeremy Lambert
Picking Bullet Club: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Ryan Cook, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, Alex Pawlowski & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Kushida/Ibushi/Finlay (4) – Bullet Club (8)
Michael Elgin & Hiroshi Tanahashi vs. Suzuki-Gun (Minoru Suzuki & Takashi IIzuka)
Picking Elgin/Tanahashi: David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose & James Lynch
Picking Suzuki-Gun: Kyler James, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Elgin/Tanahashi (8) – Suzuki-Gun (4)
Toa Henare, Togi Makabe, Manabu Nakanishi & Hiroyoshi Tenzan vs. Bullet Club (Bad Luck Fale, Tama Tonga, Tonga Loa & Chase Owens)
Picking Henare/Makabe/Nakanishi/Tenzan: James Lynch & Carlos Toro
Picking Bullet Club: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, Alex Pawlowski & Jeremy Lambert
Final Tally: Henare/Makabe/Nakanishi/Tenzan (2) – Bullet Club (10)
Chaos (Toru Yano & Tomohiro Ishii) vs. Bullet Club (Yujiro Takahashi & Leo Tonga)
Picking Chaos: David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, James Lynch, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Bullet Club: Kyler James & Alex Pawlowski
Final Tally: Chaos (10) – Bullet Club (2)
Jushin “Thunder” Liger, Syota Umino, Ryusuke Taguchi & Tiger Mask IV vs. Suzuki-Gun (Taka Michinoku, El Desparado, Taichi & Yoshinobu Kanemaru)
(Note: Ryan Cook didn’t make a pick for this match.)
Picking Liger/Mask IV/Umino/Taguchi: Kyler James, James Lynch & Jeremy Lambert
Picking Suzuki-Gun: David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, Alex Pawlowski & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Liger/Mask IV/Umino/Taguchi (3) – Suzuki-Gun (8)
WWE ROYAL RUMBLE 2017
WWE Universal Title Match – Triple Threat Match: Brock Lesnar (C) vs. Kane vs. Braun Strowman
Picking Lesnar: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Kane:
Picking Strowman: Pat Fannin
Final Tally: Lesnar (11) – Kane (0) – Strowman (1)
WWE World Heavyweight Title Match – Handicapped Match: AJ Styles (C) vs. Kevin Owens & Sami Zayn
Picking Styles: David Tees, Kyler James, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, James Lynch, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro
Picking Owens/Zayn: Alex Pawlowski
Final Tally: Styles (11) – Owens/Zayn (1)
WWE Raw Tag Team Title Match: Seth Rollins & Jason Jordan (C) vs. The Bar (Sheamus & Cesaro)
Picking Rollins/Jordan: Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Pat Fannin, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski & Jeremy Lambert
Picking The Bar: David Tees, Kyler James, Ryan Cook, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose & Carlos Toro
Final Tally: Rollins/Jordan (6) – The Bar (6)
WWE Smackdown Tag Team Title Match – 2 Out Of 3 Falls Match: The Uso’s (Jimmy & Jey) (C) vs. Shelton Benjamin & Chad Gable
Picking The Usos: David Tees, Kyler James, Bryan Rose, James Lynch & Carlos Toro
Picking Gable/Benjamin: Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Alex Pawlowski & Jeremy Lambert
Final Tally: The Usos (5) – Gable/Benjamin (7)
Women’s Royal Rumble Match
Asuka (David Tees, Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Ryan Cook, Pat Fannin, John Moorehouse, Bryan Rose, James Lynch, Jeremy Lambert & Carlos Toro)
Ronda Rousey (Kyler James)
Becky Lynch (Alex Pawlowski)
Men’s Royal Rumble Match
The Miz (David Tees)
Shinsuka Nakamura (Kyler James, Ryan Cook, John Moorehouse & Carlos Toro)
Roman Reigns (Sean Ross Sapp, Brandon Howard, Pat Fannin, Bryan Rose, James Lynch, Alex Pawlowski & Jeremy Lambert)
If you agree or disagree with what the Fightful staff picks for the events, then share your thoughts in the comments section below.
