Picking & Grinning: UFC 124 Prelims

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The UFC 124 preliminary card is examined by Sherdog.com staff:

Dan Miller vs. Joe Doerksen

Tony Loiseleur: It would be uncharitable to say that Doerksen's best days are behind him, but he certainly is slowing down. As grizzled a veteran as they come, I still don't think he'll get past Miller, who will meet Doerksen on the ground and mash his way to a decision.

Brian Knapp: Despite his recent struggles, I feel like Miller is vastly underrated. He has too many tools for Doerksen. Miller by decision.

Lutfi Sariahmed: When both Millers are on the same card they're obligated to at least go 1-1. I have Oliveira beating Jim so Dan will beat Doerksen. As for actual analysis, I look at this bout in the same way I do the Doerksen-Dollaway fight...It's hard to back Doerksen to win most fights in the UFC, given where he is right now in his career. Miller has to get sloppy to lose.

Ricardo Almeida vs. T.J. Grant

Jordan Breen: I thought Grant got a raw deal in his bout with Johny Hendricks; he won two rounds and hardly deserved a point deduction. He's got the wrestling to keep the fight largely standing against Almeida's flimsy takedowns, and the improved stand-up to best him there. Almeida is a submission threat, but he's not a positionally dominant grappler. I like Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia's second favorite athlete to bust Almeida standing en route to a unanimous decision. And, at +150, he's one of the most appealing bets on the card.

Freddie DeFreitas:Grant looks to win back-to-back fight for the first time in his UFC career but has no easy task in front of him when he meets the Renzo Gracie protégé. Coming off the first submission loss of his career this past August, Almeida will need to utilize his superior grappling to get the fight to the ground and maintain top position. Almeida by decision.

Rob King: I really wish this fight was on the main card cause it is second behind only the main event in terms of which fight I want to see most on the card.  Almeida needs to bounce back from the Hughes loss, where as a win for Grant would probably earn him a huge step up in competition for his next fight.  You have to give an edge to Almeida on the ground, and that slight advantage is going to be enough for Almeida to take a razor close decision over Timothy Jerome Grant.

Dustin Hazelett vs. Mark Bocek

Tristen Critchfield: Hazelett's ground game can be a thing of beauty, but he took a significant pound at the hands of Paul Daley and Rick Story in his most recent fights. A move down to 155 should be beneficial, but Bocek is hardly easy pickings. This one should be a back-and-forth chess match on the ground. Bocek wins a close decision to make the home crowd happy.

Tomasz Marciniak: If the cut to lightweight isn't problematic, Hazelett will have his way with Bocek, who just isn't the type of power puncher that makes Hazelett grimace in pain. The Canadian is a competent grappler and a legitimate black belt, but he's not at the level of his opponent.

Loiseleur: Both have fantastic grappling abilities, but I favor Hazelett by decision. I expect to see both men hitting the canvas in no time, with Hazelett looking to bring home an arm, and Bocek searching for a way to secure a choke. I don't think either one puts the other away, but it'll be fun to watch them hunt for subs.

Matt Riddle vs. Sean Pierson

Knapp: Riddle's a handful for almost anyone at 170, and I don't think Pierson will be able to stay off his back, and once there, the bout swings dramatically in Riddle's favor. I'll take Riddle by second-round TKO.

Sariahmed: Is Riddle getting to the point where we have to see a step forward from him? Is it too soon to expect something like that? I don't honestly know the answers to those questions. He's 5-1, but his last three fights were the loss to Osipczak, the DQ win over Soto and the win over DaMarques Johnson. I like him over Pierson, but I wonder when Riddle will start to make a discernible move upward and if its right for us to expect that from him yet.

DeFreitas: Pierson -- a UFC newcomer and fellow Toronto native -- will have no easy task in front of him when he makes his promotional debut in Montreal.  Pierson gets the nod when it comes to experience, but Riddle's raw strength might just be the difference in this fight provided he can take the Canadian down and make Pierson work from his back.  Riddle by split decision.

Jesse Bongfeldt vs. Rafael Natal

Marciniak: Despite starching Travis Lutter, Natal's striking didn't look as sharp against Attonito. Bongfeldt's kicking arsenal might also pose problems for the Brazilian, but ring rust might rear its head for the Canadian later in the fight. Bongfeldt should put on early pressure, but I figure he'll fade later on and Natal will get him on the ground for the comeback win.

Breen: Though I'm sure there's some joke to be made about one guy being nicknamed "Water" and the other being nicknamed "Frog," I'll resist. I like Natal, but not with much confidence. He's got the striking power and the grappling game, but his technique on the feet is lacking and his cardio lacks. Bongfeldt is resilient and slick on the floor, but with his layoff and personal issues, I struggle to pick him in the fight. I favor Natal by submission or on points, but Bongfeldt historically has been able to notch some eyebrow-raising upsets for himself, and if he's well prepared, this could be another.

King: Bongfeldt should send Jason MacDonald a bouquet of flowers, because MacDonald's injury is the reason Bongfeldt got this matchup. Natal will get a quick submission victory in the first.

John Makdessi vs. Pat Audinwood

Knapp: Makdessi may be a little rough around the edges, but he's a good looking prospect at 155. I'll take him by first-round TKO here.

Critchfield: Audinwood had a rude introduction to the UFC with a submission loss to Thiago Tavares. Now he gets a chance to welcome Makdessi to the promotion much the way Tavares welcomed him. Just having the experience of one fight on the big show will pay off here. Audinwood by decision.

DeFreitas: Little is known outside of the province of Quebec with regards to "The Bull," but Makdessi will turn heads as he makes an "Awesomely Awesome" debut at the expense of Audinwood.  Makdessi by TKO in the second.