Featherweights
T.J. Laramie (12-3) vs. Darrick Minner (24-11)Laramie is still just 22 years old, despite being on the radar as a top Canadian prospect for what feels like ages. There are reasons to be concerned about Laramie in terms of pure ceiling—he is not an elite athlete and he does not have a true standout skill on which to fall back—but given his age, he is a shockingly rock-solid fighter who can hold his own anywhere. The real intrigue comes when Laramie tries to break into the upper tiers of the featherweight division, but for now, he gets a fun test a 35-fight veteran. Minner has a relatively simple approach, attempting to blitz his opponent, usually via scrambles and submissions, for a quick finish, with the understanding that things will go off the rails by the second round. That should make for an entertaining first few minutes, but Laramie is poised and skilled enough, particularly on the mat, to be able to outlast Minner’s opening salvo and take care of things shortly thereafter. The pick is Laramie via second-round stoppage.
Continue Reading » Nam vs. Rivera